For Friday, Aug. 30, 2019

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1 – People with plans for the long Labor Day weekend are being urged to play it safe, and take it easy on the environment. 

For campers, leave your campsite better than you found it, and use safe campfire practices. Ninety percent of wildfires are caused by people. Never leave a fire unattended.

If you’re planning on boating over the holiday weekend, wear a life jacket, boat sober and stay alert while you’re out on the water. Drowning is the cause of death in 76% of all boating-related fatalities, according to Michigan officials.

Also be mindful of high water levels on the Great Lakes and pay attention to the color flag warning system at designated state park swim areas. Just like a traffic light: green means go, yellow means caution and red means stop. 

 

2 – Wildlife Drive is back open. 

The scenic auto route through the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge in Saginaw County returned to its regular daily opening schedule this week. The follows progress on a Maankiki Marsh restoration project. 

The drive previously opened July 15 with a limited schedule and was mainly open during weekends. 

For the next month, visitors can enjoy 6.5 miles of “pure wildlife based enjoyment” every day, officials say. 

Wildlife Drive traditionally sees a few thousand visitors a month. The open hours are from sunrise until one hour before sunset.

The drive is scheduled to be closed Sept. 14 and 15 for a youth deer hunt. 

The drive is set to reopen Sept. 16 and remain open, as usual, through Sept. 30. 

– Mr. Great Lakes is heard Friday mornings in Bay City, Michigan, on Delta College Q-90.1 FM NPR. Follow @jeffkart on Twitter #MrGreatLakes

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