| Local
News Summary - November 4, 2026 Edition
Lowe’s grants $102K to Habitat for Humanity
Northeast Michigan to support home repair projects
HILLMAN – Habitat for Humanity Northeast Michigan has received a $102,000 grant from Lowe’s to help repair at least 12 homes within their coverage area of Alpena, Alcona, Montmorency, Presque Isle, and Oscoda counties.
These critical home repairs will allow homeowners to stay in their current homes by providing safety and mobility updates as well as essential repairs, including roof and furnace replacement. Habitat for Humanity Northeast Michigan Critical Home Repair Coordinator Kristen LeSage heads up these projects, allocating grant funding and coordinating with local contractors to get the repairs completed in a timely manner to ensure homeowners, including seniors and veterans, are safe in their own homes.
“We’re in a low-income area and these residents can’t afford the repairs needed to keep their homes safe,” LeSage said. “If we didn’t help, they would let the repairs go. These repairs provide a safe space and allow them to stay in their homes independently.”
LeSage’s efforts have allowed Habitat NEMI to lead Michigan in the number of home repairs completed annually, as the local affiliate is on track to complete nearly 120 critical home repairs in 2026 alone. The national average per affiliate is 10 to 12 critical home repairs in a year, according to Habitat for Humanity International. Habitat NEMI is completing 11 times the average amount of critical home repairs, thanks to LeSage’s hard work and dedication.
This Lowe’s grant funding allows Habitat NEMI to continue its efforts to make homes safer and healthier, building stability and strengthening communities.
In addition to Lowe’s grant funding, Lowe’s red vest associates volunteered in Hillman on Wednesday, Oct. 14 to build raised garden boxes for each of the three new Habitat homes on Pine Street. Lowe’s Gaylord Manager Gary Timmons arranged for eight Lowe’s volunteers to come build the garden boxes on-site using donated lumber from Lowe’s. The project was completed within two hours, providing yet another reason for local Habitat homeowners to feel a sense of pride in ownership as they prepare to receive the keys to their new homes.
Timmons said his Lowe’s team enjoys getting to help the communities where they live. He added that they appreciate all that Habitat for Humanity has done for Northeast Michigan.
The projects are part of Lowe’s commitment to deliver 10 million square feet of impact in communities nationwide this year. The initiative includes enabling 20 local Habitat affiliates to complete 200 repair projects across the United States. Lowe’s continued partnership with Habitat for Humanity International supports home repair and preservation efforts in owner-occupied homes, helping neighbors safely remain in the homes they cherish. Since 2003, Lowe’s and Habitat have worked together to help more than 18,000 people build or improve a place to call home.
For more information about Habitat NEMI’s Critical Home Repair and/or Homeownership programs, call 989-354-5555 or visit the Habitat Office and ReStore at 2630 U.S.-23 South, Alpena. Information is also available online at habitatnemi.org.
Electric vehicle charging station discussed by Briley Twp. Board
Board members of Briley Township received an estimate for the initial cost of having a third party manage and maintain the charging station for electric vehicles in Atlanta. The matter was discussed at the regular township meeting on Oct. 28.
Presque Isle Electric & Gas Coop, the entity that installed the charging stations, no longer wants to maintain the stations. Gordon Green, township clerk, said P I E & G wants to remove their infrastructure by the time the ground freezes. According to ChargePoint, the initial township cost to install a system that collects payments from customers charging electric vehicles ranges from $10,000-$16,000.
Some grant funding might be available through P I E & G, and the township would receive a percentage of what customers pay. Ken Werner, township supervisor, said the system would have to pay for itself over time, because the township isn’t going to use taxpayer dollars to pay for people to charge their vehicles.
“No matter what, it’s going to be worth it to have people coming through this town,” concluded Evelyn White, township trustee.
Escaped Crawford County
inmate quickly captured
A Crawford County inmate who escaped on Oct. 26 was captured within hours. Casey Jo Helsel, 44, was dressed in a white T-shirt and shorts when he escaped through a door propped open by jail staff members who were transferring items. Helsel was later found hiding under wood and debris in the swamp behind the Grayling Country Club.
The sheriff’s office has indicated the door was not left open intentionally to aid the escape. Michigan State Police Aviation, Roscommon County Marine Patrol and other agencies assisted in the search. An airboat and thermal camera were used to locate Helsel. His record includes eluding and fleeing police as well as assault and battery.
The Crawford County sheriff’s office is conducting a detailed review of the incident and plans to update policies and procedures to prevent similar escapes. Helsel escaped at about 1:30 p.m. and was apprehended at 3:58 p.m. Nearby residents assisted during the manhunt.
Death
Notices
Full obituaries are in the Tribune print & paid online edition
Marion Mae Kelley
Rhonda K. Reed
|
News
Stories
Classifieds
Court/Sheriff Report
Advertise
With Us
Subscribe
Click
to view sample issue
Subscribers
Click
here to login and view
current and past issues
of the Tribune.
Want to sign up?
Go to our sign
up page.
|
