Reviewing the news: Parking and flooding

July 11, 1924: Traffic laws are no joke

Some owners of cars seem to regard that section of the new traffic ordinance, limiting the parking of cars on Main Street to one hour, as a joke.

The police have not been over zealous in its enforcement, believing that all concerned will abide by its provisions, as soon as they come to a full appreciation of the rights of others, and not assume to himself special privileges.

In order to not be too severe at once, the police gave a gentle reminder to those who continue to violate “the hour” provision by tagging the cars. The next move we may look forward to is that the police court will be called upon to settle the question.

July 12, 1974: River overflows several times a day

Ducks have been swimming on the sidewalk in the Cheboygan downtown boat harbor in the past few days due to some freak weather.

Many times a day the river rose 10 to 12 inches. It overflowed its banks and then went down again in a little while.

People watching the river in the area from Division street north could see it happen. While they watched water came out of the river and started moving across the sidewalk that runs along the river edge. Soon the sidewalk was covered in depth of 4 inches, or in some cases a lot more.

In 15 minutes or a half hour or more, the water started moving back into the river so steady that it could be seen.

A dock in front of the Anchor In Marina is an example. As a reporter watched, a yacht came in for gasoline Thursday and a young woman attendant walked barefoot through several inches of water on the dock to tie the boat up and hand the hose. The dock normally is high and dry. In the short time necessary to gas the boat, the dock was dry again. But in a few minutes the river rose once more and the young woman was standing in water on the dock.

The marina said that the river has been rising and falling like this about 10 inches, seven times a day.

Carl Dunster, regional supervisor for the Michigan Waterways Commission, said the rise and fall were apparently due to a combination of wind and air pressure factors, acting on the water. The water level fluctuated because of equally conditions, he stated. The wind blowing for a prolonged period of time combined with the barometric condition, he explained, to cause the situation.

The fluctuation occurred at the DNR building where he had his office. The river rose and came over the new seawall, a rise of about 8 inches, and then went back in an hour’s time.

“People notice the fluctuation because the current water level is so high,” he commented.

The fluctuation was noticed at the Lund marina on east side of the river in downtown Cheboygan also. When the river rose it moved inland on the Lund side, then retreated in a little while. Some of the docks where the many boats are tied up at Lund’s were at water level or under water when noticed by a reporter.

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Reviewing the news: Parking and flooding