Tourism Promotion Dollars - Who Should Pay?

The Convention and Business Bureau for the Mt Pleasant MI area is being threatened by the possibility that the largest member of the coalition may pull its support out of the organization. Each participating hotel organization levies a two percent tax which is passed on to the convention bureau. Labelle Management is reported to own forty percent of the hotel rooms in the Mount Pleasant market. They may decide to withdraw their participation which would financially cripple the bureau.
Labelle's action may be a move to level the playing field. Recently a major hotel, formerly the Holiday Inn, was purchased by the Soaring Eagle Resort division of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe. The tribe does not participate in the marketing coalition, thus the bureau lost a big chunk of change when the property changed hands. The other hotels in the area pass the two percent cash along to the bureau. If Labelle pulls out, the Mt Pleasant area will loose their travel and tourism marketing arm.
But will that mean an end to tourism? I doubt it. The Soaring Eagle Resort does a lot marketing. We hear their commercial on radio stations through out the state. Billboards along the highways surrounding Mt Pleasant promote concerts and other events coming to the resort. All of that attracts visitors to Mt Pleasant.
Its time for another change. Time for the bureau to close it doors.
What do you think?

Remembering Days at School Section Lake

Reading an article on the front page the Morning Sun newspaper about the first African-American settlers in Isabella County made me think about School Section Lake. As a boy our family would travel west of Mt Pleasant thirty five miles or so to the lake. Its a small beautiful lake with a large field stone concession building on the east shore. The building was a house or hotel many, many years ago. However in the 1960's is was a very cool concessions building. Inside they sold Schwann's ice cream treats, popcorn, soda, and candy bars. It was a special occasion to go to the lake, swim for hours, and then enjoy an ice cream sandwich and a soda.

Standing to the south of the concession building was and still is a historical marker. The sign describes the early Black settlers of the area. The text reads that Old Settlers came to the park at School Section Lake each summer for a family reunion.

On one quiet, sunny, summer afternoon I stood facing the lake and closed my eyes. I could hear the voices of the children playing, smell the food cooking on the camp stove, and I could picture the large family gatherings from the early part of the 1900's. I remember that moment like it happened today.

I encourage your to take a journey back in time and visit the oldsettlersreunion.com web site soon. Let me know what you discover on your visit.

New Look, New Direction

The new look of Mt Pleasant.com has been launched and receiving positive critical acclaim. New opportunities are available for local bloggers to link to Mt Pleasant.com. Other features of note include an updated weather feature, new shopping options, and a great photo gallery. Click on the "Entertainment" menu and scroll down to the photo gallery. We are accepting additional photos, please consider submitting your photos today.


The site was redesigned by TyStatic (http://www.tystatic.com/).

Please let us know what you think of the new site. Thank you.

Mayor JJ - is he joking?

I thought the fever pitch of complaints and positive comments about the posture Mayor Jon Joslin took regarding the proposed body art palor in downtown Mt Pleasant would fade away, like a cheap tattoo. But the issue has really gotten under the skin of area residents.

Two weeks had past and people were still sounding off in the local newspaper. Now more positive comments were being printed. Which opened my eyes to a more honest view of the situation. This is a small town and a local politician (not public servant) is going to massage the system to benefit his or her personal agenda. Not much different that Breckenridge or Lansing.

However, two years ago the Morning Sun wrote in the January 15, 2006 edition that Joslin said one of the mayor's primary responsibilities is to act as the face of the city to other communities and other governments, particularly the state.

Some think its the face of a joker the mayor is wearing. What do you think?

Frank Horning Was A Great Man

Serving his family and his community was Frank Horning's first goal in life. He wanted to help who ever, when ever and where ever he could. Frank was the number one volunteer at the Broadway Theatre in downtown Mt Pleasant. He could fix the air conditions, sweep the floor, run to the store to get bags of ice for the concesion stand, shovel snow off the front walk, and stuff programs with inserts.

Frank loved his wife, his grand kids, and his church. God took Frank home Monday, January 14, 2008.

He was too young to go home. At only 66 Frank could have contributed so much more to our community. I will remember Frank's good deeds and do all Ican to be as good of a man as Frank Horning.

Another year, a diffferent sort of winter

"The insects are buzzing back and fourth on the south side of my house." Those were some of the words I used in a December 2006 blog describing the weather out side my house near Mt Pleasant MI. Today, this January day 2008 its a lot different. We have had more snow so far this winter, and the temperatures have not been very pleasing to flying insects. Of course the weather changes often. Today its foggy and the air temperature is above freezing, but not warm enough for the bugs to come back to life.

Dreary weather makes me anticipate the summer. We are going to bring back the ticket give away for Mt Country Music and Mt Rock Music festivals. Full details will be made public in April 2008.

Something new is coming to Mt Pleasant.com. We have been working on a new design for our web site. If all goes well, it will be launched by mid-February. Please return soon see the site. Your comments are always welcome and appreciated.

Still Third Planet From The Sun

No matter how often I surf the net or physically travel the surface of the earth, I come home to Mt Pleasant to realize this is a great place to live.


I feel safer being "on top of the mountain" in Mt Pleasant MI. The UN continues to publish messages of the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The polar ice cap's seemingly irreplaceable stock of frozen tundra melt more each season. The coastal areas of the planet can expect to see water levels rise as much as four feet. Storm prone areas experience more severe and destructive tempests.


In Mt Pleasant MI i am safer but not fully removed from the probable effects of global warming. We may have less severe changes in weather patterns that impact our daily lives, however we will not escape all the implications of the trapped greenhouse gases. The way each citizen of the planet experiences climate change is a matter of degrees. Michigan, particularly central Michigan will be a better place to live.