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2011年6月22日星期三

Dexter bear hasn't crossed into Jackson County, but we've had our share of past bear sightings

A four-legged subject of fascination has been riling up residents of one of Jackson’s neighbors to the

east.

A black bear that was spotted roaming around the Dexter area has achieved somewhat of a celebrity status

in the town since the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office confirmed its presence there last week.

The animal has its own Twitter account, Facebook page and has sparked specials at local businesses,

despite pillaging property in the area and raiding a backyard chicken coop, according to AnnArbor.com.

The bear, apparently content with its Dexter fame, has not made its way west into Jackson County. There

have been no recent bear sightings in the county, according to the Michigan Department of Natural

Resources.

However, Jackson has had its share of vagabond bears.

A black bear with cubs was reported in Leoni Township in 2009, but the sighting was never confirmed by

authorities.

A year earlier state wildlife biologists attempted to trap a bear near the Waterloo Recreation Area so

it could be fitted with a radio collar and tracked. The bear was first sighted in Henrietta Township

then made its way over to Manchester, where it was spotted foraging in a potato field.

Wildlife biologists estimate Michigan has 15,000 to 19,000 black bears, mostly in the Upper Peninsula.

Bears can be seen between Mount Pleasant and St. Johns and are rarely spotted south of that area, but

have been moving deeper into the Lower Peninsula.

The DNR is urging people to avoid feeding or trying to attract the bear.

2011年4月23日星期六

The Coop restaurant opens in Chapin

Chicken knickknacks on the shelf and fried chicken on the stove will often greet customers when they step into Chapin’s newest eatery.

The Coop opened its doors April 11 at 418 Superior St., the former location of Granny’s Icebox, a longtime restaurant that closed last summer.
Fried chicken is the special every Wednesday and Sunday at The Coop, said owner and operator Tracy Galloway of rural Arenzville. Catfish and buffalo fish are the Friday special.

Galloway, who has a lot of experience as a restaurateur, is happy with her new venture’s success thus far.
“Business has been surprisingly great,” she said. “The people in Chapin have really supported the restaurant.”

Galloway grew up near Chapin and knows many of her customers.

The Coop offers breakfast all day, as well as lunch and dinner.

“We have a lunch special every day,” she said. “My tenderloins are hand breaded. We also make cream pies, pudding and cinnamon rolls. I like to offer good home cooking.”

Galloway bought the building in January and spent a few months getting the place ready for The Coop.
“We totally refurbished the interior,” she said. “We painted everything, added some tables and a counter and redecorated.”

The restrooms were also updated and a new roof was installed.

“I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish opening The Coop without the help of Jody Whited,”

Galloway said. “She has been a huge asset. I have also had a lot of help from friends, family and the Chapin community.”

Galloway and her husband, Mike, owned Galloway’s Cafe in Mount Sterling from 1990 to 1995 and since then she has worked in several area restaurants.

She said after her husband died in 2007, she returned to the Arenzville area, where several people encouraged her to open a restaurant in the Triopia community.

“People say you can never come back home, but I believe you can,” Galloway said. “The Chapin community has been behind me 100 percent.”

The Coop is open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday; 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday; and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

The restaurant has a separate banquet room available for parties and meetings. Both the restaurant and banquet room can seat about 62 people.