Beach Bums: New Brew Pub - and Batters - Up

Fans will see major league changes this summer at Wuerfel Park, home of the Traverse City Beach Bums, who launch their seventh season of Frontier League play tonight at the Florence Freedom ballpark in Florence, Kentucky.

The TC squad plays its first six games on the road before hosting the Windy City Thunderbolts in the TC home opener on Friday, May 25.

A new Microbrew Pub, along with a Beach Bums Café, have been added to the ballpark. The Ticker checked out the new digs, along with Chad Cooper, Bums director of media and broadcasting.

“For the first time ever, fans will be able to enjoy draft beer at Wuerfel Park,” says Cooper. “The brew parlor will feature four Bell’s microbrews, including Oberon, Two Hearted Ale, Amber Ale and Oarsman.”

A tasty 16-ounce Bell’s will set you back $6. But here’s a tip: The Bums offer seven “Thirsty Thursdays,” when all beers are discounted by $1.  more

5-16-12: At approximately 12:00, Grand Traverse deputies responded to a burglar alarm at Shooter’s Range in Blair Township. An investigation showed six handguns had been taken. Video revealed that the suspect, carrying a claw-style hammer, was a large white male wearing an orange stocking cap, a long sleeve shirt and black gloves. Around 1:40 a.m., a Grand Traverse sheriff’s deputy observed a 1999 full-size conversion van make an improper turn onto Racquet Club Drive from South Airport Road. During the traffic stop, the deputy determined that the driver of the vehicle had a warrant for his arrest for contempt of court and arrested the driver. Noting the driver’s large stature – approximately 6’6” tall and 290 pounds – was similar to the suspect captured on video, the deputy searched the vehicle and found an orange stocking cap, grey shirt, and a claw hammer. A search warrant at the driver’s residence then enabled deputies to recover five handguns, which matched the dserial number of the guns taken from Shooters. The suspect, a 34-year-old Traverse City man, is being held in the Grand Traverse County Jail on the bench warrant and awaiting charges for the breaking and entering. 

5-11-12: The Traverse City Police Department is investigating a personal injury accident involving a bicyclist at the intersection of East Eighth Street and Lake Street. A 2007 Jeep driven by a 33-year-old Traverse City man was northbound on Lake Street at Eighth Street and stopped to make a right-hand turn. The bicyclist, westbound on the sidewalk, stopped at Lake Street. Both individuals started to proceed at roughly the same time. The driver of the Jeep did not see the bicyclist whom, after striking the side of the Jeep, was driven over and dragged approximately 10 feet. The 47-year-old bicyclist was transported to Munson Hospital for treatment of several injuries that were not life threatening.

5-11-12: The Grand Traverse Sheriff's Department is investigating a robbery that occurred at the Walgreen's Store located at 975 W. South Airport Road in Garfield Township. An unknown male subject drove up to the pharmacy drive-thru window and handed a note to a Walgreen's employee, which indicated he had placed a bomb inside Walgreen's. The note also instructed the employee to give him prescription drugs. After receiving an unknown amount of prescription drugs, the suspect left in the vehicle. The vehicle, which had been stolen from a parking lot in Garfield Township, was located abandoned in a parking lot within a mile of the Walgreen's. The suspect is described as a male wearing a gray, hooded sweatshirt and large, black sunglasses. He also had longer, dark colored hair.

5-9-12: UPDATE: The break-in at NMC's Beckett Building last week has been resolved. Following the report of information provided by staff and contract employees at NMC, police were able to execute a search warrant on a home in Kingsley, where the items stolen – a Dell Desktop Computer, a 55” Samsung Monitor, wireless keyboard and mouse – were recovered. A 23-year-old male (and NMC student) was arrested for the breaking and entering and lodged at the Grand Traverse County Jail pending his arraignment.

5-6-12: Shortly after 2 p.m. a white Dodge minivan driven by a 40-year-old Kalkaska man traveling eastbound on M-72 East, crossed the center line and struck a westbound red Ford Ranger pick-up truck. The driver of the red pick-up, 65-year-old Frank Howard Rutherford of Traverse City died at the scene. A third vehicle following the red pick-up was struck; its driver, a 46-year-old female, was uninjured. The driver of the white minivan was transported to Munson Medical Center. Alcohol and excessive speed are not believed to be a factor. It is unknown at this time why the white Dodge minivan crossed the center line.

5-6-12: The Traverse City Police Department responded to Fit For You, 1226 South Garfield Avenue on a theft complaint. Upon arrival officers spoke to the reporting party whom stated they were missing money from a cash drawer. It appears someone entered the business overnight between 5-5-12 and 5-6-12 and stole cash. The method of entry is unclear at this time, and the amount of cash missing is still being determined. Anyone with information on this crime is ask to contact the Traverse City Police Department’s Detective Bureau or the Silent Observer Tip Line.

5-6-12: The Traverse City Police Department is investigating a break-in at Fit For Yo at 1226 South Garfield Avenue. Upon arrival, officers spoke to employees who reported cash missing from a cash drawer. It appears someone entered the business overnight Saturday and stole cash. Police say the  method of entry is unclear and the amount of cash missing is still being determined. Anyone with information on this crime is ask to contact the Police Department’s Detective Bureau or the Silent Observer Tip Line.

5-6-12: The Traverse City Police Department arrested a 22 year-old man after his vehicle struck a church building. Upon arrival at Immaculate Conception Church, City Police officers found a silver Jeep that had driven off of 2nd Street onto a walkway, and struck the northeast corner of the church and a light pole. The church building was damaged and the Jeep had extensive damage. Upon speaking to the driver he was unsure of what had happened. The driver stated he was sorry and was just trying to go out and buy some “smokes." He admitted to drinking earlier in the night. An investigation was conducted and he was arrested for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. After the arrest his blood alcohol test showed a .34%. He was lodged in the Grand Traverse County Jail on an OWI enhanced charge. He was uninjured.

5-5-12: The Traverse City Police Department responded to Immaculate Conception Church, 720 Second Street on a report of a silver Jeep that had driven off of Second Street onto a walkway, striking the northeast corner of the church and a light pole. The church building was damaged and the Jeep had extensive damage. Upon speaking to the driver he was unsure of what had happened. The driver admitted to drinking earlier in the night. His blood alcohol test showed a .34 percent. He was lodged in the Grand Traverse County Jail on an OWI enhanced charge. The driver was a 22-year-old Traverse City man. He was uninjured in the accident.

5-4-12: UPDATE: The man arrested for the robbery at the Northwestern Bank in Kingsley on 5-3-12 has been identified as Eric Michael Martin, a 50-year-old Fife Lake man.

5-4-12: The Traverse City Police Department is investigating a break in that occurred in the Beckett Building on the campus of Northwestern Michigan College. Officers have determined that someone entered the building through a window and removed a computer, monitor and stand. Anyone with information on this theft is asked to contact the Traverse City Police Department Detective Bureau or the Silent Observer Tip Line at 947-TIPS.

5-3-12: This morning at approximately 9:00 a.m. the Grand Traverse Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a robbery at the Northwestern Bank in the Village of Kingsley. Police were told that a white male had entered the bank, provided a teller with a note, and asked the teller to give him money from the drawers. The teller provided the suspect with cash. As the suspect left the bank, he made a comment referring to a bomb being in the parking lot. The suspect was seen getting into a green SUV and leaving eastbound onto M-113. Upon arrival, deputies secured the scene and searched it with a Grand Traverse Sheriff’s Office explosives dog. No explosives were detected. Due to information received in the early investigation the Sheriff’s Office was able to determine a likely identity of the suspect involved. When the suspect vehicle was discovered at the Turtle Creek Casino by a Traverse City police detective, GT County sheriff’s department officers, the Michigan State Police, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation responded to the area, and located the suspect and another subject inside the casino. Both were ultimately detained by awaiting officers and agents. The 50 year-old white male suspect, from Fife Lake, was arrested for the robbery. The other subject was interviewed and will be released.