Harsens Island Ferry Closing Notice

I just spoke to the Champion's Auto Ferry office so this is the update:

The ice is flowing heavy on the North Channel of Harsens Island.

The plan is for the ferry to stay open until 8pm tonight (IF POSSIBLE) and then close for the night.....it all depends on the ice, so make your plans early and get to the place you want to spend the night...island or mainland.

Closing the ferry for the night allows the ice to set up and freeze together so the ferry can then make a path in the morning.

That is the plan for today.

Check back here for updates.

Thanks for the Donations !!!

A few people have sent in donations to help defray the costs of keeping Harsens Island News coming to you.

In these tough economic times I really appreciate you thinking of us!!!

Idle Hour Skip Day Cancelled

The Idle Hour has no water at this time so.....skip day had to be cancelled.

We'll let you know if they reschedule.

Headline News

Sunday, January 30, 9AM – 2PM

This Sunday the Lake St. Clair Walleye Association presents the 14th Annual Children’s Ice Fishing Event.  Registration located at Metro Beach near the Day Sail Launch area.  This area has heated restrooms.  This is a free event.  All kids must be accompanied by an adult.  Call Mark Tews at 586.557.3767 for more information.

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Identity of man found dead on I-94 remains a mystery

Port Huron Times Herald

CHESTERFIELD TWP. -- Police are still trying to solve the case of a man found dead early Friday morning on Interstate 94.

Chesterfield Township police were called about 3:20 a.m. by a truck driver who said he hit what he believed to be a body on westbound I-94 at the 23 Mile Road overpass.

Thousands of fish turn up dead in area waters

Detroit Free Press
Bob Burns of Friends of the Detroit River said he has received reports from Monroe to Lake St. Clair of the dead fish. Doug Martz, former Macomb County ...


2 Algonac men arraigned; items from break-ins recovered
Port Huron Times Herald
St.- 1:44 am Two Algonac men arrested Wednesday in connection with several home invasions in southern St. Clair County were arraigned Friday in 72nd ...


Algonac, Clay Twp. look at combining fire services
Port Huron Times Herald
The Algonac City Council and Clay Township Board gave officials the OK last week to move ahead on building a proposal that would outline how a fire ...


BREAKING ICE ABOARD THE BRISTOL BAY
Port Huron Times Herald
The ship had traveled from Algonac to Lake St. Clair on Tuesday morning, ... While leaving Algonacon Tuesday, thick ice stopped the Bristol Bay cold. ...

Select Alert Notice

Citizens of St. Clair County:


A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10:00AM EST SATURDAY, JANUARY 29

Something to do Next Friday!

Can get difficult to come up with new things to do here on Harsen's Island in the winter.

Mark your calendar for Idle Hour Skip Day and come for a visit!

Ice Update

Good Evening,

With the help of the rain and warmer temperatures, the Mackinaw, Samuel Risley, Bristol Bay, and Neah Bay continued flushing the ice currently plugging up the St. Clair River. Though three vessels were successfully escorted through the river today, limited results were achieved in flushing the ice due to the southerly winds pushing the ice back up the channel. Additionally, as the ice flows down the river, it gets into tighter areas and can make the flushing more difficult in the long run. The latest reports indicating that the thickest brash ice is around Willow Point, reaching from one to five feet in places. We will continue to monitor water levels in the river and lake to avoid potential flooding situations due to this ice jam.

We will not be breaking into the North Channel tomorrow. However, temperatures are expected to drop in the coming days, which may significantly slow the flow of ice down the river and create a potential flooding situation. We will reassess the conditions tomorrow and make a determination as to whether to break the North Channel on Thursday.

We will continue to update you on changing conditions, and should the need arise we will give you advanced notice via this blog, 911 alerts, and press statements of our intentions. Again, we appreciate everyone’s patience during this busy operation.

Coast Guard Officer now Member of Harsens Island News!

As you can see from the below post I have extended an invitation of blogger/posting privileges to:

Lt Justin Westmiller
Public Affairs Officer
US Coast Guard
Sector Detroit


Lt Westmiller has accepted my invitation to post directly to Harsens Island News.


This is GREAT news!  We will definately be in the loop with Justin on board!

Harsens Island Ferry

After last nights ferry closing, things are back to normal with occasional delays.

I spoke to Champions Auto Ferry a bit ago, and this is the plan:

Regular scheduled service today.
Switch to every 1/2 hour sometime tonight.
Resume regular service early Thursday morning.

No exact times were given

Snow Plows are on the Island

The roads have been a mes since the snow yesterday, but I just saw a snow plow/salt truck go by so things should be improving!

Bluegrass Festival on Harsen's Island

We will be there with several booths!!!

We will have OFFICIAL H.I.M. Harsen's Island Militia T's tanks and other gear, made by RockIt, one of our subsidiary companies.  When you purchase official H.I.M. gear, a portion of the sale proceeds goes to CHARITY...as it should.

RockIt Gear will be there with Harsen's Island related T Shirts, Tanks and other gear including the exclusive RockIt Romper.

We will also have hand made jewelry, paintings, photos.

Time Off & Summer Gearing Up

After ice update time of year, I like to take a much needed break!

I've also had a string of injuries which have slowed me down...all is healing well and I'm able to get around much better now, thank you!

The kids are still having their ups and downs with the dysautonomia (rare disorder that screws up your life!)

The one year anniversary of my mother's death has recently passed...tough times for all the family.

I'm working on new T shirt designs and will be selling these online and at Weaver's market exclusively.  Marlow Mackie, the fearless leader of H.I.M. has given me exclusive rights to produce and sell HIM T's, tanks, shorts and other gear, plus design some new looks for HIM gear...look for those soon at Weavers and on the T Shirt tab above.  David Bryson, owner of Champion's Auto Ferry,  has given me the OK to design and sell Harsen's Island Ferry T's & gear which will also be sold here and at Weaver's.

Busy, busy, busy!

Seaway Island Fire

Thanks to Melanie Most for these photos of the fire yesterday:


Seaway Island is on fire and is blowing smoke and ash all over the flats.

Seaplane crashes along St. Clair River, killing 1

CLAY TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — A single-engine seaplane crashed into a dock near a home on the St. Clair River, killing the 80-year-old pilot.

The St. Clair County sheriff's department says the Grosse Pointe man was flying the plane about 1 p.m. Thursday when witnesses said the plane circled, went sideways and crashed into a dock in Clay Township.

His name wasn't immediately released.

Dock owner Ronald Mikolajczyk tells the Times Herald of Port Huron he heard a propeller buzzing and then the sound of the plane hitting the dock.

Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Elizabeth Isham Corey says the pilot was the only person aboard. The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board were investigating the crash about 30 miles northeast of Detroit. 


Man dies after plane hits St. Clair River dock
Detroit Free Press
CLAY TOWNSHIP — The plane that crashed into a St. Clair River dock is owned by Michigan Sport Aviation LLC out of Grosse Pointe, according to Federal Aviation Administration records.

The plane has tail number N853CZ and is a fixed-wing, single-engine craft manufactured in 2007. 

Police said the pilot, who was killed, was an 80-year-old man. His name and residence are not being released pending notification of family. 

St. Clair County Sheriff Tim Donnellon said the pilot was the only person in the plane. The craft was flying south over the river’s North Channel when it banked hard and hit the dock at 4965 Pointe Tremble Road about 1 p.m. 

Liz Cory, an FAA spokeswoman, said officials are investigating. The lead investigator is the National Transportation Safety Board.

She said there is no indication of why the plane crashed. An investigation typically takes several weeks, she said. 

Ronald Mikolajczyk, who owns the dock, said he heard a propeller buzzing and then the “thump” of the plane hitting the dock.

Mikolajczyk, 53, said he and neighbors rushed to the plane, and the pilot was unresponsive and had no pulse. He said the plane hit the dock at a 45-degree angle.

“It is real nerve-racking, a terrible scene,” he said.

Mikolajczyk said the craft is a small amphibian plane, which allows it to land and take off from the water.

“It was a big thump with a crunch,” he said of the plane crashing. “You know it was a sound of something happening that shouldn’t happen.”

Mikolajczyk, who has lived in the house for 11 years, said he’s never seen anything like it.

“Boats run into the docks, but not airplanes,” he said.

According to a Times Herald reporter on the scene, the plane’s nose is in the water, smashed into the dock. The tail of the plane is bent over the cockpit. 

The plane is silver, with blue on the tips of the wings. There is a blue and red stripe down the side.

80-Year-Old Man Killed in Small Plane Crash WXYZ CLAY TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WXYZ) - The pilot of a small plane was killed when his plane crashed in a channel near Harsens Island. The plane crashed in the North Channel of the St. Clair River. The 80-year-old pilot who died was from Grosse Pointe. He was flying alone when the crash happened. St. Clair County Sheriff Tim Donnelon says the pilot was flying south at a low altitude. "He circled toward the north, the plane went sideways, and he crashed into the dock just after one o’clock this afternoon,” Sheriff Donnellon reports. A couple was outside doing yard work when they reportedly saw the plane crash. The husband and wife said the plane nearly hit their home. That's when they say it did a nose-dive and crashed into the water. They say they rushed over to help, but say the man did not have a pulse. It is not known where the man was coming from or headed to. The pilot's name is not being released until members of his family are notified.

Algonac Fire - Arson

 Algonac fire deemed arson
Port Huron Times Herald
Algonac Fire Chief John Stier said a blaze that ripped through about 150 acres of brush March 18 was intentionally set.

The fire started shortly before 5:40 p.m. in a grassy area near a bike bath in the Algonac State Park.

Stier said the flames originated at the end of the path near Sherwood Lane and Michigan Street and spread from the city into Clay Township.

He said they are also investigating a second fire in the area that was reported about 9 p.m. March 24.

Stier said the second fire was quickly extinguished because the charred area didn’t have much fuel for the flames.

Ferry & Ice Conditions Update

As soon as we posted that the airboat would run I dashed to get across...had to pick up prescriptions.

The ice was moving pretty good in the middle of the North Channel as we went across, but no problems with Bobby's excellent captain skills.

Thanks to the kind gentleman who drove me to the drug store...sorry I'm terrible with names.

I was back to the DNR in a flash, but had to wait there for nearly 2 hours.  The line was long...I immediately calculated I would be on the 6th airboat trip back to the Island.

Not too bad except in my haste to get off the Island, I was only wearing canvas slip on shoes and a light jacket...no gloves, no hat...not too bright for an Island Girl!

My daughter, Shannon, was on the Island side at the Boy's Club waiting for me and giving me updates...the airboats were not going over any more...they were sitting at the island.  I called Daryl and got the scoop...the ice was now moving too fast for safe airboat transport and we would have to wait for it to slow down.

The temperature kept dropping as the now approximately 20 people jumped from foot to foot trying to keep warm.

After what seemed an eternity the airboat started running again...then along comes the US Coast Guard cutter heading down the North Channel...we all groaned thinking they would get the ice moving again and delay our frozen bodies return to a warm place once again, but their presence seemed to make no difference in ice movement...thank God!

After waiting 4 trips, (it would have been one, but Middle Channel Mike could not be bribed with the offer of a free T Shirt!) it was my turn to go.  I jumped (not literally) onto the airboat just after the sun had set and the temperatures had plummeted...I could no longer feel my feet...but that was great for my foot injury.  The return trip to the Island was freezing but uneventful.  We could see the USCG still working the ice downriver from the ferry...hope they are successful tonight!

Once I got home and started to thaw I began to notice the severe pain in my recently injured, frozen foot....guess two hours on my feet was too much, but it was the only way to stay warm.  Then my nurse mind started taking over...need to elevate that foot and put some ice on it...oh great!

Ferry Remains Closed

The conditions have not changed so the ferry to Harsen's Island remains closed at this time.

The airboat is running now and will continue until 7pm.

The situation will be assessed as conditions change...remember Champion's wants to run...they don't make any money with the ferries sitting in the docks.

Lot's of rumors and predictions being spouted out there, but unless someone has a crystal ball.....

Please let us know by Email or comment if you have more information...we'll keep our ears open too and will post as events happen...thanks for your help!

Ferry Closed Today

Due to ice in the North Channel, Champion' Auto Ferry to Harsens Island is closed today.

Bob Bryson will be running the airboat from 4pm to 7pm later toady.

The Coast Guard is working the ice and conditions could change....we'll keep you posted.

All upbound traffic has been halted for 24 hours

Ice halts northbound ships
Port Huron Times Herald

Freighters heading north up the St. Clair River and into Lake Huron have been halted as the Coast Guard works to flush ice out of the area.

Lt. Dixon Whitley with the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Detroit said several ships are working today to break up the piles of slushy ice clogging the shipping channel.

“It’s a very abnormal situation,” he said. “It was kind of the perfect storm of the wind, the current … and just the stage of the ice that was pushed in there – very thick and water-logged ice.”

U.S. Coast Guard icebreakers Mackinaw and Biscayne Bay are working alongside Canadian ship Griffon to clear ice in southern Lake Huron, while the U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker Neah Bay is working in the north and middle channels near Harsens Island.

Whitley said all upbound traffic has been halted for 24 hours.

Whitley said the ships will likely continue efforts to clear the ice Tuesday.

“We’re going to continue until it’s gone, which hopefully is sooner rather than later,” he said.

Middle Channel is now JAMMED

Nancy just posted a comment that the Middle Channel has jammed and there is still lots of ice coming down the St. Clair River from the Blue Water Bridge.

Check the LIVE web cam at :http://www.boatnerd.com/livecam/porthuron/