Mi-TRALE gets Grant from Yamaha
It was at Mi-TRALE's 10th Anniversary Dinner at Twilly's in Bruce Crossing that the organization heard that they have received a $10,000 Yamaha OHV Access Initiative grant. The GRANT was awarded as part of Yamaha's OHV access Initiative promoting safe, responsible riding and open, sustainable riding areas. The grant is going to provide Mi-TRALE with the funds to produce and print an extensive Western Upper Peninsula OHV Trail Map. The grant also helps the club in purchasing and erecting signs to the trails and routes on the map.
"With this grant from Yamaha, Mi-TRALE will also be able to raise funds to help with trail maintenance and developing new trails," stated Mi-TRALE President Skip Schulz.
The letter informing Mi-TRALE of the grant from Yamaha states, "As you know, the Yamaha OHV (Off Highway Vehicles) Access Initiative combines the strength of Yamaha's national dealer network and customers to create a unified force supporting safe, responsible riding and sustainable, open riding areas. We are excited about Mi-TRALE's efforts and are happy to contribute to it's success."
That wasn't the only good news that was announced at Mi-TRALE 10th Anniversary Dinner. The club also received news that the Michigan DNR has approved the club's request to designate the P Trail for funding in 2012. The P Trail, formerly the Pioneer Trail, was started by TRALE-UP in 1993, and finished in 1995 by the Michigan National Guard, US Army Reserve, Army Corps of Engineers, Michigan DNR, and Ottawa National Forest. When TRALE-UP dissolved in 2000, Mi-TRALE picked up much of the maintenance on the P Trail. The maintenance was done by club volunteers.
A portion of the P Trail goes through private landowners. All of which have provided Mi-TRALE with an OHV Trail Agreement. One of those landowners is Plum Creek Timber. Howard Lindberg of Plum Creek was one of the featured speakers at the 10th Anniversary Dinner. Lundberg commended Mi-TRALE for it's 'passion for the sport,' and the club's willingness to promote safe and responsible riding on Plum Creek Timber roads that are open to OHV Riding.
"It's important that OHV Riders respect the roads we have open and to not ride on roads that we have gated or bermed. We have those gated and bermed to protect the resources," stated Lundberg.
Plum Creek was given a special Commendation Award for providing Mi-TRALE and OHV Riders with multi-use trails.
The majority of the P Trail goes through the Ottawa National Forest. Jeff Mell of the ONF spoke and stated that the Ottawa is in the process of sending the MDNR with the necessary paperwork to get the P Trail as a Designated OHV Route. Mell also told the club that the Ottawa NF would like to see a collaborative effort between Mi-TRALE and the ONF in continuing to work on opening OHV connector trails.
"We will be working on these (connector trails) in 2012, and hope to have them open by 2013," stated Mell.
Mi-TRALE proposed OHV Connector Trails in the Ottawa in January of 2006. This was after President Bush signed the Travel Management Rule (TMR) in November of 2005. The TMR only allowed OHV riding on designated trails and roads within all US Forests. This law also eliminated OHV Connector trails from the IRM Trail (Iron River to Marenisco grade) to the SB Trail (Sidnaw to Bergland). The law also made the P Trail as the only trail that connects the SB Trail to the Bill Nichols Trail in Greenland.
One of Mi-TRALE's proposed OHV Connectors is extending the IRM Trail from Marenisco to Wakefield. It also includes connecting the LL Trail from Land O Lakes to Watersmeet, then from Watersmeet to Paulding. Mell did not know if any of these proposed trails could be opened sooner.
Mell talked about the work that Mi-TRALE Board Member, Cathy Wainio is doing on expanding and improving the Courtney Lake Equestrian Trail. This includes a parking area, signing, and possibly expanding this trail to Dog Mushing in the winter. Mi-TRALE received a $5000 grant from the Ontonagon Resource Advisory Committee for this project.
Wainio was given a Mi-TRALE President's Award for her work on this project. Also receiving the President's Award was Don Helsel.
Helsel worked with the Michigan DNR, and numerous private landowners in opening a new OHV Route between the BN (Bill Nichols) Trail and Baraga State Park. Helsel then worked with Don Mankee of the MDNR, and Bill Menge of the Baraga County Board of Commissioners in opening an OHV Route from Baraga State Park to the Baraga Plains ATV Trails. The new OHV Route from the BN Trial to the Baraga State Park now provides OHV Riders with a chance to go to 2 of the 3 State Parks in Michigan that are open to OHV Riders. Something that was acknowledged by Mankee, one of the featured speakers at the dinner.
"Not only do we now have the two (State) Parks connected, this project brought a close working relationship between Mi-TRALE, DNR Forestry Division, and the DNR's Parks Division," commented Mankee. Mankee was given the Mi-TRALE "Unity" Award for his work in bringing users, and groups together.
Helsel stated that Dan Dowdy of Baraga State Park has other projects and events planned that will bring OHV Riders to both State Parks. One of which is an OHV Trail Head and an official "Ribbon-Cutting" ceremony. Both of which are in the planning stages for 2012.
Two members of the Michigan Natural Resources Commission spoke at the dinner. That is John Matonich and JR Richardson. Richardson was at the June 30th, 2007, 'ribbon-cutting' of the P Trail. That ribbon cutting was the official opening of the trail by the Ottawa National Forest. Richardson talked about the importance of Mi-TRALE in keeping the NRC informed of issues pertaining to multiple trail use. Richardson also commended Plum Creek for all that they have done to provide access on Plum Creek Land by the public.
Matonich talked about issues that he and Mi-TRALE have been working on. One of which is to change the group riding permit fee, and OHV Trail Signing. Matonich was also instrumental in helping Mi-TRALE in getting a "Trail Crossing" sign erected south of Watersmeet on US 45.
"I think this is the first Trail Crossing Warning sign on a State or Federal Highway in Michigan," commented Schulz. "Now motorists can be warned that OHV's cross these highways, just as snowmobiles do." concluded Schulz.
Also speaking at the organizations 10th Anniversary Dinner was Randy Harden and Hank Woznial of the Wisconsin ATV Association. They talked about WATVA and Mi-TRALE joining together through the popular "Trail Tales" Magazine. Harden commended Mi-TRALE for the club's work in developing the UP ORV Trail Development Association. This new Association unites OHV Clubs throughout the Upper Peninsula. Woznial also talked about the work the two organizations have been doing over the past 10 years to provide OHV Connector trails between the two states.
Currently the only OHV Connector Trail between Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula within the Mi-TRALE 5 Western UP County area is the LL Trail from Watersmeet to Land O Lakes, Wisconsin. Addressing that trail was Roger Flaherty of the Land Over Club, an OHV Club from Land O Lakes and Conover.
"While Mi-TRALE has 400 miles of OHV Trails, we have 4 tenths of a mile," commented Flaherty. Flaherty talked about an individual from Northern Wisconsin that has led the Anti-OHV campaign in Wisconsin. Flaherty talked about work his organization is doing in opening County and Local Roads to OHV use. It was the Land Over Club that received Mi-TRALE's first "Unity" award in 2007.
This years recipients of the 'Certified Pride to Ride (CP2R)" Award were announced. Dan Cote of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, received his 4th consecutive CP2R Award. A group from Lower Michigan rode Mi-TRALE's required 250+ miles to get the award this year. That included Chris and Foster Kooyers, Jamey Burchfield, Todd Forner, Mike Spicuzza, Denny Evans, Mike Lamb, Enrique Abelman, and Junior Post.
Schulz commended State Representative Matt Huuki and State Senator Tom Casperson for working with Mi-TRALE and OHV users in working on new OHV Legislation in Michigan. Schulz ended the dinner by thanking the speakers and everyone for attending and stated, "If we had this good of a turnout for our 10th Anniversary, can you imagine how good of a turnout we'll have for our 20th?"
Mi-TRALE will now hold it's Annual General Membership Meeting on Monday Night, November 7th, at Twilly's. That meeting, set to start at 7:00 pm EST, will include officer and board election. The public is always invited to attend any and all Mi-TRALE meetings.
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