Grand Traverse County

State-confirmed presumptive positive COVID-19 cases in northern Michigan:

Last updated March 28, 2020 at 4 p.m.

Charlevoix: 4

Clare: 1

Crawford: 1

Dickinson: 1

Emmet: 4

Gogebic: 1

Grand Traverse: 5

Kalkaska: 4

Leelanau: 1

Manistee: 1

Marquette: 1

Mecosta: 1

Missaukee: 1

Newaygo: 1

Oceana: 1

Otsego: 15

Roscommon: 1

Wexford: 1

The Grand Traverse County Health Department says a symptomatic person who later tested positive for COVID-19 may have spread the disease in the community last week.

The sick person was on a Delta flight from Detroit Metro Airport that arrived in Traverse City at about 5 p.m. last Monday. The health department says people who were on that flight should self-quarantine until next Monday.

The Grand Traverse County Health Department repored its first positive case of COVID-19 on Sunday.

The resident is a man in his 20s who has a history of international travel. He is recovering at his home. 

The Health Department says its working to identify and contact anyone the man potentially exposed. 

A lawsuit filed in federal court Thursday alleges that inmates of the Grand Traverse County Jail can't get prescribed medications from health care officials.

Greg Hall filed the suit with his mother Cheryl Hall and brother-in-law Brad Lafuze, both of whom have been incarcerated at the Grand Traverse County Jail.

The 86th District Court in Traverse City has changed their policy on third party bond payments. It comes after a letter sent Tuesday from The American Civil Liberties Union that accused the court of using an unconstitutional bail policy.

In a letter to the court and the Grand Traverse County Sheriff's Office, the ACLU says the court used bail payments from the family and friends of defendants to cover various court costs on their cases, which they say is unconstitutional.

More than 50 people wanting to recall Rep. Larry Inman, R-Williamsburg, met at the Traverse Area District Library yesterday, asking people for help collecting signatures and donating money and supplies.

Petitioner Sandy Hardy says the group seeks a recall because Inman is not serving his constituents.

“So we are here because we want representation and we feel we deserve it,” she says.

Many people were upset Inman has missed over 80 legislative votes since May and that he is still collecting a salary. 

Two controversial agenda items proposed by the Grand Traverse County Commissioners supporting Line 5 and the U.S. Census question were postponed Wednesday.

The State of Michigan Court of Appeals says Traverse City Circuit Court Judge Thomas Power showed “extreme bias.”

Last year Power sentenced Samantha Lynn Hughes to 13 to 24 months in prison for methamphetamine use. Hughes was pregnant at the time, and the sentence would have kept her in prison for the birth of her child.

“Thinking about [Hughes] versus the unborn child I think I know whose side I’m on,” Power said.

In their decision, the Court of Appeals said that sentence was unfair.

Grand Traverse County health officials say there has been a confirmed case of measles in the county.

Green Lake Township currently relies on other deputies from across Grand Traverse County, but now the county will assign an officer to the township.

Interlochen Center for the Arts, Green Lake Township and Grand Traverse County will split the bill. Overall, the officer will cost about $130,000, which includes training and equipment costs.

Vice President of Finance and Operations at ICA Pat Kessel says an officer nearby will make campus safer.

The Grand Traverse Sheriff's Office has appointed a new jail administrator.

Lieutenant Christopher Barsheff has been promoted to Captain, and will now oversee the Corrections Division. Barsheff has been with the Sheriff’s Office since 1996, and has led the community policing program and supervised deputies.

Barsheff’s predecessor, Todd Ritter, was accused of misusing funds and using his position to engage in sexual relationships with former inmates.

The daily lake trout limit for anglers on Grand Traverse Bay is reduced from two fish to one - effective immediately.

The Michigan Natural Resources Commission announced the change Friday.

They say it was necessary because last year’s recreational harvest limit for lake trout in Grand Traverse Bay was exceeded by nearly 16,000 pounds.

“We would encourage anglers to keep the first lake trout they catch and then shift to targeting other species,” says Heather Hettinger, a local DNR fisheries biologist.

The Grand Traverse County Health Department is telling coffee shops to stop serving Cannabidiol (CBD)-infused drinks. So far they’ve sent cease and desist letters to three cafes that served CBD-infused lattes: Espresso Bay, Black Market and Cuppa Joe.

CBD is a derivative of cannabis without the psychotropic effects of the drug.

Dan Thorell with the Grand Traverse County Health Department says CBD oil is still new, so many people don't know the rules.

After nearly 20 years, Addiction Treatment Services in Traverse City will stop performing court-ordered drug tests.