Pedestrian attacked by dogs

A 47 year-old Northport woman was treated for multiple dog bites after being attacked while walking on N Overlook Road in Leelanau Township.  Janice K. Schmuckal was walking on the shoulder of the road at 10:30 am Thursday when two large dogs ran away from their owner and began to bite her.  She was bitten on the arm and leg multiple times by the two dogs.

A passing motorist stopped and called 911 for the victim.  Leelanau Township Deputy Steve Bailey responded several minutes later and was assisted at the scene by Animal Control Deputy Wayne Kalchik.  The dogs owner, Jane A. Weaver, 61, came to the road and took the dogs back to the house.  She told investigators that the most aggressive dog had bitten someone in the past but the other one had not.

Weaver was cited for having a dog that shows vicious habits and molests or bites a passerby when such person is lawfully on the public right of way.  The dogs must be quarantined for 10 days to ensure they are not rabid.  The decision of whether or not the dogs will be destroyed will be made by the Leelanau County Prosecutor's Office.

                                                 Explosion destroys NPS restroom

An early morning explosion rocked an area of Cleveland Township and destroyed the restroom at the School Lake Boat Launch.  The launch is located on S Bohemian Road and is on National Park Service property.

Leelanau Dispatch received a call at 4:29 am Sunday morning from a citizen near the intersection of Maple City Road and W Harbor Highway.  The caller reported hearing a large explosion that shook his house and it was not lightning.  The man searched the area before calling and was unable to locate what may have caused the noise.

Leelanau County Sheriff's deputies were sent to the area but were also unable to locate any sign of an explosion.  The launch site is not visible from S Bohemian Road and is nearly 2 miles away from the home of the man who called 911.

Later in the day, dispatch received a call that the outhouse at the School Lake boat launch had been severely damaged.  NPS rangers were sent to investigate and discovered that the structure appeared to have been blown up.  They secured the scene and remained there until bomb technicians from the FBI and Michigan State Police Bomb Squad arrived on Monday morning.

The technicians determined that a bomb had been placed in or next to the structure and was the cause of the blast.  Further details of the investigation are not being released at this time.  Estimated damage to the site is $14,000 and the launch site has been re-opened to the public.

The National Park Service is investigating the incident and questions regarding the matter should be directed to Chief Ranger Phil Akers at 231-326-5135.  Anyone with information on the persons responsible for the explosion are asked to contact the NPS or the Leelanau County Sheriff's Office at 231-256-8800 or the Confidential Tipline at 231-256-8696.  Email information should be sent to tips@co.leelanau.mi.us.