Prehistoric musk ox skull found in William Schlicht’s farm field in 1915 in Manchester. On display in the University of Michigan’s Natural History Museum, April 2026. Photo by Sara Swanson.

by Sara Swanson

In the summer of 1915, workmen digging a drain on a farm field that is today located in the Manchester City limits (just northeast of today’s high school) discovered a fossilized skull of a prehistoric musk ox about four feet down. The skull, only the second to be discovered in Michigan, went on to be a key talking point in a more-than-century-long fight over the categorization of prehistoric musk ox species, and is on display today in the University of Michigan’s Museum of Natural History in Ann Arbor. 

The field was owned by William John Schlicht (1865–1948), who lived with his wife, Katherine, and their children just across the township line in Sharon. (Note: This is William J. Schlicht, not to be confused with his first cousin, Bridgewater Township’s William H. Schlicht, for whom the 3-story Schlicht-Parker barn on Lima Center Road had been constructed.) An article about its discovery was published in the Manchester Enterprise sometime around the beginning of August, which brought it to the attention of Dr. Ermine Cowles Case (1871–1955). 

Dr. Ermine Cowles Case, the paleontologist who took possession of the musk ox skull and published the first paper about it. Photo credit: University of Michigan

Case was a prominent American paleontologist, internationally known as one of the world’s leading authorities on prehistoric life. He taught at the University of Michigan from 1907-1941, and was a professor of geology and paleontology. He was also the Director of the Museum of Geology, and when it changed in 1928 to the Museum of Paleontology, Case became that institution’s first Director.

We don’t know how the conversation went when Case approached the Schlicht family, but the skull made its way to the University of Michigan’s burgeoning fossil collection and shortly afterwards Case published a short paper about it. A search was conducted, but other than fragments from the nose bone inadvertently broken off by a spade during its discovery, no other bones were located.

The skull found in Manchester had an interesting peculiarity, a large cavity in the left cheek. Case speculated that the animal had suffered a severe injury in some combat from which it had, in part at least, recovered, as the edges of the wound were rounded and partly replaced by new bone.

Case’s paper asserts incorrectly that the skull was discovered 3 miles north east of Manchester, which would put the discovery in Sharon or Freedom Township, depending on how far east you interpret the “east” to be. Schlicht corrects this mistake after the fact but it has been picked up and repeated in about half of the subsequent papers, articles, and books that include the find, and is even incorrect on a new, still-in-beta, interactive online map of fossil discoveries made by mindat.org. 

The first correction comes in print 8 years later. Schlicht was contacted by Oliver P. Hay, the author of a book about vertebrate animals from the Pleistocene discovered in the eastern half of the US and Canadian published in 1923. Hay notes in the text that Schlicht sent him a written description and plat showing the location of the discovery.

So where was the discovery? Hay reports it as 0.5 mile northwest of the town, near the center of the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 1, township 4 south, range 3 east. At the time this was north of the village limits but exists within the city limits today. The location is still an agricultural field, private property, but is located kitty-corner to the mowed practice field area to the east of Manchester High School. The northeast corner of the practice fields abuts the southwest corner of the agricultural field the skull was discovered in. 

In Case’s paper, he easily identifies the musk ox as belonging to a large bull from the extinct prehistoric species Symbos cavifrons. At that point the only other prehistoric musk ox fossils discovered in Michigan were found seven years earlier in Moorland Township in Muskegon County and were identified as belonging to the smaller Boötherium sargenti. Case notes that there was debate at the time whether Symbos and Boötherium were actually one species. He doesn’t make a strong argument for the two species position, but suggests it makes sense at least provisionally to consider them two separate species. 

Interestingly he states that the argument for one species was that the smaller Boötherium was actually the juvenile form and Symbos the mature form. While this may have been AN argument, it appears the prevailing argument at the time for one species was that of sexual dimorphism, differences in size and structure of the males and females of one species. And this as it turned out was the case. After multiple papers arguing the contrary over the decades, in 1989, the Smithsonian Institute published a paper placing Symbos and Boötherium together in the same species called Boötherium as it was the older of the two names. In it, Case’s 1915 paper on the Manchester skull was cited (and the correct location of the discovery was given.)

Although the 1989 paper is the beginning of the end for the two separate species theory which had been the prevailing theory in the scientific community since the 1850’s, the nail in coffin came in 2018 with a paper titled “Molecular resolution to a morphological controversy: The case of North American fossil musk oxen Bootherium and Symbos” which documents the use of DNA to finally demonstrate that indeed individuals previously categorized as Bootherium and Symbos are in fact members of the same species. Whether or not the Manchester skull, cited in many of the previous papers participating in the debate was used is unknown (because the paper is behind a paywall only institutions can access) but it is unlikely as the abstract states that the samples came from specimens that were not fully fossilized. 

At different times the prehistoric musk ox has been called Harlan’s musk ox, wood ox, woodland musk ox, helmeted musk ox, or the bonnet-headed musk ox. It diverged from its closest living relative, the musk ox you are probably thinking of, around 3 million years ago. It was significantly taller and leaner with thicker skulls and longer snouts than musk oxen found today.

The prehistoric musk ox wasn’t the only large mammal living in Michigan during its lifetime. During the Pleistocene, mastodons, mammoths, giant beavers, flat-headed peccaries, stage moose, elk, caribou, white-tailed deer lived here. But it went into decline, and eventual extinction, approximately 11,000 years ago, along with many of the other species of megafauna at the end of the last Ice Age.

Photo of the skull published in the Michigan Daily, Nov. 7, 1915.

The University of Michigan Daily, the student newspaper still published today, ran an article about the skull on November 7, after the skull had been collected and brought to Ann Arbor. The article, by Walter A. Atlas, reports that Mr. W. H. Buettner, of the geology department, prepared the specimen and photographs were made of it and that “as soon as an appropriate place can be found for it in the museum it will be taken from it’s box and placed on exhibition”.

If you are having trouble imaging the picture these dry facts are painting, Atlas also narrates the life of the musk ox whose skull was discovered on Schlicht’s farm: 

“About 20,000 years ago when the last traces of the terrible glaciers that had covered the country as far south as the Ohio river were disappearing from what is now the state of Michigan, a huge musk-ox led his herd about the country near the present site of Manchester, Mich.

“He was a powerful old bull, about four feet high, and slightly more than six feet long. He weighed about 13,000 pounds and his thick brown hair was long and shaggy. His horns, which measured twenty-four inches from tip to tip, and which were thirteen and a half inches in circumference where they parted from the forehead, were of a peculiar shape.

“Upon emerging from the forehead they first curved slightly backward, lying close to the head, then swept straight downward, turning forward and outward, and finally tapering upward to the pointed tips.

“When the gigantic glacier retreated it dropped in it’s wake mosses and various kinds of herbage. They were evergreen trees and shrubs in abundance and with a great deal of labor the oxen were able to get a plentiful supply of food.

“One day when the supply of food was becoming scarce some sharp-horn-ed animal attempted to poach on the grazing territory that the musk-ox considered his own, and a terrible battle ensued. The musk-ox, although heavy and short legged was quick and strong, and emerged from the struggle victorious. In the melee, how-ever, his antagonist stabbed him through the left check and inflicted a deep wound. A short time afterwards, while foraging for supplies, the musk-ox fell into one of the morasses which abounded in the region, and being unable to extricate himself because of his great weight, perished.”

Today the skull found in Manchester carries the catalog number 3450, is one of six cataloged musk ox specimens from Michigan at the University of Michigan Museum of Paleontology, and is the only one on display in the University’s Museum of Natural History. You can see it yourself in person in the Michigan gallery on the first floor of the museum which is located at 1105 N University Ave in Ann Arbor. They are open daily from 10am to 5pm this summer (please check to confirm before you go) and admission is free. 

One fun detail and an indication of how recent the conclusion to the “one species or two” debate was reached is that the card on display identifying the skull still reads Symbos cavifrons.

William Schlicht  had many descendants, including his great-grand daughter, local historian Laura Sutton, who lives less than a mile from where the skull was discovered. She reports that the discovery of the prehistoric ox skull is not a story her grandfather passed down. However, her grandfather, William’s son Clarence would have been 13 the summer the skull was discovered and Sutton reports that the summer of 1915 he was bed-ridden with polio so it is understandable how this family story may have been lost over time.

While the musk ox skull is the only recorded large prehistoric animal fossil discovered in the City of Manchester, we are surrounded by many sites of fossil discoveries! Mastodon bones have been found all along Pleasant Lake Road in Sharon, Freedom, and Lodi Townships. In 1979, a half complete mastodon skeleton known as “The Pleasant Lake Mastodon” was found in Freedom that gained fame as it showed compelling evidence of butchery and tool use, lending credence to the theory that the animals were over-hunted. Mastodon bones have been discovered along US-12, just east on Bridgewater Township, including a find in 1992 of preserved mastodon footprints which are also currently on display at U of M’s Natural History Museum. Mastodon fossils have been discovered just west of the Village of Clinton and elk fossils have been discovered in Fay Lake in Norvell Township.

Who knows what fossils are currently under your feet as you read this!

Thanks to Jaimie Schmidt, Laura Sutton, and Fritz Swanson for help with the research, maps, and photos.

William and Katherine Schlicht and children in front of their home in Sharon Township. Left to right: William, Henry, Anna, Katherine, Bertha (standing), Emma, and Clarence. Photo courtesy of Laura Sutton.

William and Katherine Schlicht in the Village of Manchester, 1940’s. Photo courtesy of Laura Sutton.

1915 Plat map of Manchester Township. William Schlicht’s property (labeled as W. J. Schlecht) where the skull was found is shown along the top. Public domain.

The skull from the side with the injury visible. Photo by Sara Swanson.

Close up of the injury. Photo by Sara Swanson.

Poem written about Manchester’s prehistoric musk ox.

Helen Drysdale is all smiles as her friends join her for a 100th birthday celebration at Frank’s Place on May 6. Photo by Marsha Chartrand.

by Marsha Chartrand

Helen Drysdale of Sharon Township gathered with her Red Hat group at Frank’s Place in downtown Manchester last Wednesday for a very special birthday celebration—her 100th! The group held the luncheon in her honor. About 12 ladies attended. Helen was delighted to have so many friends surrounding her for this special occasion. A good time was had by all, even the “inanimate” members of the group (see featured photo).

A longtime resident of the Manchester community, Helen worked for many years as a realtor.

A good number of Red Hat Ladies joined in the celebration. Photo by Marsha Chartrand.

A contingent of Red Hat Ladies gathered last week to wish Helen Drysdale a “Happy 100th.” Photo by Marsha Chartrand.

The food pantry at the Community Resource Center located in Riverside Intermediate School will be temporarily moving to Klager Elementary for the summer while Riverside undergoes renovations. Mirror file photo/courtesy of Carol Wotring.

submitted by Carol Wotring, Executive Director, Community Resource Center Inc. 

The Manchester Community Resource Center (CRC) will be temporarily relocating this summer while major renovations take place at our regular home in Riverside Intermediate School. Beginning Tuesday, June 9, CRC will be operating out of Klager Elementary School, 405 Ann Arbor St. Our food pantry will be set up in the art room, and our office will be in the band room. CRC will have its own dedicated entrance. To reach it, visitors should access the building from Dutch Drive. Signs will be posted to guide you to our entrance.

The move will take place over the weekend of June 6–7. We will be closed on Monday, June 8, to get settled in, and will reopen on Tuesday, June 9. Our summer hours will be Monday, Wednesday, Thursday: 9am to 4pm; Tuesday: noon to 7pm; and closed on Fridays. All of our core programs will continue without interruption, including the food pantry, grocery delivery, and the Wooden Nickels farmers market token program.

We know that a change in location can be an inconvenience, and we appreciate your patience as we make this transition. Our goal is to make the move as smooth as possible so that neighbors who depend on CRC’s services experience as little disruption as possible. We expect to return to our permanent home at Riverside Intermediate School by the end of the summer—we’ll share a specific date soon.

If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at 734-428-7722 or info@manchestercrc.org. We’re grateful for the community’s support and look forward to continuing to serve the City of Manchester and the surrounding townships from our temporary home at Klager.

Left to right: Lucy Baran, Lucy Ann Lance, and Natalie Coughlin. Photo courtesy of The Lucy Ann Lance Show.

submitted by Denise Frost, Sarah Caswell Angell Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution

Lucy Baran, this year’s Manchester Jr/Sr High School National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Good Citizen Award winner, was interviewed on The Lucy Ann Lance Show on WLBY 1290 AM on May 6 along with Saline High School’s DAR Good Citizen award winner, Natalie Coughlin. If you missed it live you can listen to it at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/050626-dar-good-citizen-winners-emily-salvette-lucy/id1747985760?i=1000766629916. After the interview Lance stated, “I am absolutely amazed at how well-poised and thoughtful this year’s DAR Good Citizen Award winners are! Bravo, Lucy and Natalie. You young women are going places!”

Everyone lends a hand making 300 sandwiches in an assembly line. Photo credit: Jim Hodel.

by Sara Swanson

Manchester’s James Hodel recently created a beautiful photo essay documenting a major mission project of Bethel Church. The photo essay can be viewed in its entirety here: Feeding the Homeless-The NOAH Project -Final copy.

Bethel United Church of Christ is one of about two dozen southeast Michigan churches that support Detroit’s Networking Organization Advocating for the Homeless (NOAH) Project in its mission of providing lunches to the homeless in Detroit four days a week. Bethel provides a lunch for 300 about once a month.

The photo essay shows what goes on behind the scenes to make that happen:

Work starts a week before the delivery is to be made. A small team shops for ingredients and collects food donations from church members.

On Saturday, a small group sets up food production in the fellowship hall. After Sunday service, approximately 30 congregants gather in the hall to make sandwiches, bag cookies and snacks, and work on whatever other food preparation needs to occur. Sandwiches are put together assembly-line style by the church members. If the lunch is going to include hot foods, food prep may continue on Monday.

The lunches are usually delivered on Tuesday. Early that morning, hot food is warmed and packaged for transport. The delivery cars are parked in loading position outside of Bethel’s fellowship hall and loaded up and driven to Detroit by Bethel volunteers.

A NOAH staff member meets the volunteers and helps move the lunches upstairs to the second floor. The food is unpacked and made ready for distribution. At 10:30am, everyone in need of a lunch that day lines up and signs in and lunch service begins. Of the 300 lunches, about half will be served there. The remainder will be shared with shelters and community outreach volunteers bringing food to the people.

The Bethel volunteers then return to Manchester and get ready for next month!

Adults and children pitch in to bag cookies for each individual lunch. Photo credit: Jim Hodel.

Because the weather has been cold, church members decided to include hot chili as part of their February food offering. Hot soup was part of their April food offering. Photo credit: Jim Hodel.

Room temperature and cold food are loaded first with hot foods loaded last. Photo credit: Jim Hodel.

Bethel volunteers unloading in NOAH parking lot in Detroit. Photo credit: Jim Hodel.

Everyone is given the option of what items they would prefer. Photo credit: Jim Hodel.

Hot soup is an option along with the usual bagged lunches. Photo credit: Jim Hodel.

City Hall. Mirror file photo/courtesy of Carrie Keller.

by Marsha Chartrand

At its May 4 meeting, Manchester City Council was presented with both new and old issues to follow.

Under Public Participation at the April 20 meeting, City resident Rick Finger expressed concern regarding the proposed mining operation near Watkins Lake in Norvell Township. Acknowledging that the project will not directly affect most City residents, he argued that the increased traffic as well as environmental issues may require further investigation. Following up, Council determined last Monday to pass a resolution encouraging Norvell Township authorities to do due diligence on the matter.

Next on the agenda was a presentation from City Manager Michael Sessions regarding overdue sewer and water billings. Once delinquent, the accounts are added to the summer tax bills. Because the City switched away from the “postcard” version that had been used for years, many residents may be overlooking the current mailings. In contrast, for those who are using the automated system, delinquency has decreased. Sessions proposed initiating a “paper statement” fee to those who don’t wish to use the automated system, and offering a $10 credit to those current customers who have not yet signed up. This topic will be considered further.

The DPW is purchasing a used forklift from KD Equipment in Chelsea at a price not to exceed $9,000.

A quote for new facade installation at City Hall was received from Mardy Kaidan Building. Although he was unable to obtain the materials from CEI in Manchester, as originally planned, a different supplier was located at a price that was compatible with his quote. Council voted to hire Kaidan for the project.

A court order of demolition will be required to complete tear-down and restoration of the property at 109 Riverside Dr, which was destroyed by fire two years ago. Sessions has consulted with City Attorney Fred Lucas, who will proceed with filing the court order.

Chi-Bro Park. Mirror file photo/courtesy of Kindra Weid.

by Sara Swanson

The Manchester Wellness Coalition is hosting a free, relaxing group walk on Tuesday, May 26, at 11am. All are welcome. Meet at Chi-Bro Park, 209 Ann Arbor St. Support your physical and mental well-being!

The Team poses with the 46th Manchester Metrics Boys Championship Plaque! Photo courtesy of Michael Coltre.

submitted by Michael Coltre, Coach, Manchester Track and Field

Boys are Manchester Metric Champs! Girls Finish 7-1 in Conference Play!

Manchester, Mi the Boys took the crown and are Champions of the 46^th Manchester Metrics! On the first day of May, the team locked into this unique Relay meet to score 85 points and defeat 2^nd place Milan (79 points), and six other local schools.  It came down to the last event with the Dutch holding on to a two-point lead.  The last event was new this year, which was the Co-Ed 4x400m Relay and Valorie Hieber and Siera Jedele made sure the boys could lock up 1^st place as they both split season best times to put Gavin Horky and Grant Johnson into position to win the event in 3:59.37.  Siera and Val both contributed to another big Co-Ed victory when they teamed up with Michael Navitskis and Grant to win the Shuttle Hurdles in 1:10.39.

Those were not the only 1^st places today.  The Distance Medley Relay which is a 1200m-400m-800m-1600m and run by Justin Gale, Gavin Horky, Cade Sayer, and Alec Dodak set a Manchester DMR record in 11:52.36!  The Girls took 1^st in the 4x1600m with a team of Caroline Mason, Charlotte Williams, Amanda Hieber, and Teagan Clarke!  Charlotte would run a PR time, and Amanda and Teagan would run season best times. Our Boys Long Jump crew of Grant Johnson, Gavin Lindeman, and Jayden Johnson would take 1^st in the event with a combined distance of 54’2.5. The Boys 4x200m Relay team of Ethan Hittle, Grant Johnson, Gavin Lindeman, and Jayden Johnson would take another 1^st place!  Jayden Johnson had one of his best anchor legs of the season and he would move us from 4^th to 1^st in the last 80m of the race!

Brennan Woods would PR by four inches in High Jump to 6’0 and team up with Donte Johnson to take 2^nd place in the High Jump Relay. Our Boys 4x1600m Relay team ran great but were running against one of the best distance crews in the area in Jonesville, but we still ran a great time of 20:31.33 to take 2^nd. Valorie Hieber, Ava Rentfro, and Giuliana Brothers would take 2^nd place in the Shot Put!  Another new event this year, the 4x100m Pole Vault Relay was another place of success as our team of Teagan Clarke, Eli Finnegan, Natasha Seaman, and Ethan Hittle took 2^nd in the event.

Ava Rentfro had the best women’s Discus throw of the day and when teamed up with Teagan and Isabella Rattray they would take 3^rd in the event! Olivia Woods and Audrina Lauer would take 3^rd in the High Jump Relay. Giuliana Brothers, Isabella, Teagan, and Ava would team up in the 4x100m Throwers Relay and take 3^rd in the event.  The Boys 4x400m Relay of Brennan Woods, Cade Sayer, Wesley Earhart, and Gavin Lindeman took 3^rd in the 4x400m Relay!

The Girls would finish 4^th place overall.

PR Shout Outs:

• Discus: JC Amrhein,
• 1600m: Gavin Horky, Liam Pierce, and Charlotte Williams.

Hanover-Horton/Vandercook Dual Meet Recap

Horton, Mi the Girls were on a mission even though they were short a couple athletes on Tuesday May 5th, and they were still able to deliver as they posted a 2-0 record on the day as they defeated Vandercook Lake 111-8 and then in a closely contested meet, they would defeat Hanover-Horton 78-58. Some of the Girls stepped outside their comfort zone to do some events they don’t normally do, but they passed the test with flying colors!  With their efforts tonight to close out the Conference Dual Meet season, the Girls are 7-1 overall and currently in a tie for 2^nd place.  The Dual Meet season counts for 50% of the chase for a League Championship. The rest is decided at the Conference Championship on Tuesday May 19^th at Jonesville.

The Girl’s were led by Siera Jedele who would take first in the 100m Hurdles and 300m Hurdles. Siera would take 2^nd overall in the 200m with a season best time and be on the winning 4x400m Relay team.  Valorie Hieber had an outstanding night as she would throw a PR in the Shot Put of 28’11.25 and the win, to go along with a new event in the 100m dash where she would run 13.96 and take 2^nd and just behind one of the fastest girls in the conference.  She would also take 2^nd in the 300m Hurdles and run on the winning 4×4 Relay team. Teagan Clarke would win the Pole Vault, take 2^nd in the Long Jump in her first time doing it, take 2^nd in the 3200m, and be on the winning 4x200m Relay team.

Elle Woods would win the pivotal 400m dash in a near season best time.  She would also be on the winning 4×2 and 4×4 Relay teams, as well as taking a 3rd in the Pole Vault. Ava Rentfro continued her strong throwing season as she would win the Discus and take 3^rd in the Shot Put.  Natasha Seaman continued her improvement in the hurdles as she would drop more than a half second in the 100m Hurdles as she would run an 18.80 and take a big 2^nd place. She would follow that up with a 2nd place in the 100m against Vandercook.  She would also take 2^nd in the Pole Vault and be on the winning 4×2 Relay team. Charlotte Williams had a big night as well in winning the 3200m in a PR time, taking 2^nd overall in the 1600m, and taking a 3^rd in the High Jump.

Caroline Mason ran on the winning 4×4 Relay, and would take 2^nd in the High Jump, and 3^rd overall in the 800m and 1600m.  Amanda Hieber would take 2^nd to Vandercook Lake in the 400m, 800m, and a 3^rd in the Long Jump against both teams. Giuliana Brothers would run on the winning 4×2 Relay team, as well as take 2^nd in the 200m against Vandercook.  Isabella Rattray would take 2^nd place against Vandercook in the Discus.

On the Boys side, they would come away with a Conference split in defeating Vandercook 85-45, and falling to a D3 power in Hanover-Horton 57-74.  The boys fought hard and finish the dual meet season 6-2 and tied for 3^rd place. Grant Johnson led the way as he would win the 300m Hurdles (season best time) and Discus, and then take 2^nd overall in the 110m Hurdles and 200m dash.  The Boys 4x800m Relay set the tone early in winning over a strong HH team.  Our team consisted of Cade Sayer, Justin Gale, Alec Dodak, and Gavin Horky.  Ethan Hittle had a great night as he would PR in the Pole Vault to 10’0 and 200m to 25.27. He would take 2^nd overall in Pole Vault, and 3^rd overall in the 200m.  He would also run on the winning 4×2 Relay over Vandercook and the winning 4×1 Relay team over HH. Alec Dodak would PR in the 3200m (10:34.15) and take 3^rd place overall against HH’s vaunted distance crew.  Jayden Johnson would take 2^nd in the 100m and anchored the winning 4×2 Relay team against Vandercook.

Gavin Lindeman would run on the winning 4×1 Relay against HH and winning 4×2 Relay against Vandercook, as well as take 2^nd overall in Long Jump and 2^nd to Vandercook in the 100m.  Michael Navitskis would take 2^nd overall in the 300m Hurdles, and 3^rd overall in the 110m Hurdles. Cade Sayer led off on that winning 4×8 Relay as well as taking 2^nd in the 800m.  Justin Gale was a part of that winning 4×8 and he would also take 3^rd overall in the 800m.  Brett Brothers would take 2^nd to both HH and Vandercook in the Shot Put and throw a PR in Discus. Brennan Woods would take 2^nd to both HH and Vandercook in the High Jump. Liam Pierce would take 2^nd against Vandercook in both the 1600m and 3200m. Wesley Earhart would be apart of the winning 4×1 against HH and winning 4×2 against Vandercook. Anthony Cencer would lead off on the 4×1 that would defeat HH.

PR Shout Outs:

• Discus: Thomas Cunningham, Milo Ryan, Sullivan LaHuis, Tommy Simpson
• Shot Put: Giuliana Brothers
• 100m: Thomas Cunningham

Next week, you can see how the Dutch did at the EJ Dome Classic which is a meet run similar to Regionals.  Today, (Monday May 11^th) the Dutch are running in the Last Chance Pre-Regional at Napoleon to get their last competition in until the Regional on Friday May 15^th at Concord. Go Dutch!

Siera Jedele hands-off to Grant Johnson in the Co-Ed 4x400m Relay which ended up clinching the meet for the Boys team. Photo courtesy of Michael Coltre.

State Rep. Carrie Rheingans is coming to Manchester this Friday. Courtesy photo.

by Sara Swanson

State Rep. Carrie Rheingans is coming to Manchester this Friday, May 15, from 4:30pm to 6pm, for a constitute happy hour and will be at Over the Edge Sports Bar, located at 230 E Main St, for a casual conversation about things happening in Lansing and in our community. She states that this will be a great opportunity to ask questions and share concerns.

Rheingans, a Democrat, represents the 47th district, which runs from Summit Township in the west to Scio Township in the east, and in the Manchester area includes Manchester, Sharon, and Freedom townships.

Mothing light and screen set up along the fen at Iron Creek Preserve last summer. Mirror file photo/by Madelene Gackenbach.

by Sara Swanson

Last summer we reported on a nighttime mothing event at Iron Creek Preserve located at 11703 Noggles Rd in Manchester Township. This summer the event will be held on Thursday, June 18, from 9pm to 11pm, and opened up to public participation. If this is something you are interested in, register early as registration is limited to 15 participants.

Legacy Land Conservancy states, “Join local entomologist and educator David Cappaert for an evening of nighttime exploration as we observe and learn about the diverse moth species that call this preserve home. This event offers a rare chance to see nature come alive after dark and gain a deeper appreciation for these important (and often overlooked) pollinators.”

To register, fill out the Google form at https://legacylandconservancy.org/events/ and scrolling down and clicking on “Preserve Event 6/18/26: Moth Night at Iron Creek Preserve” then clicking “Register”.

Feel free to arrive 15–30 minutes early to get set up while it is still light out. Bring a flashlight or headlamp. Dress for the weather and in clothes you don’t mind getting dirty—dark clothes are best for keeping insects off you and on the sheet. Wear a long-sleeved shirt, pants, and closed-toe shoes, regardless of the temperature. It will help protect you from poison ivy and ticks. Bring a water bottle and bug spray.

This event is informal and open to beginners. No prior knowledge or experience is necessary!