Monroe County Reporters

***Update ***
All lanes are back open.
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***Traffic Alert***

Monroe City Fire, Monroe City Police and MCA are on scene of a injury accident at Monroe and Elm. It's reported multiple people including a child are injured

Southbound lanes of Monroe Street are closed and Elm is closed west of Monroe Street.

Savvy Sliders Monroe plans to open their new location in Monroe this month.

Give them a follow on Facebook for future deals and Grand Opening!

***Out of county news***

DNR teams with City of Mt. Pleasant to safely relocate bear

A 150-pound black bear that wandered into a Mt. Pleasant neighborhood and climbed a tree directly over a white-picket fence was captured and safely relocated to a northern Michigan swamp Tuesday.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources partnered with Mt. Pleasant police, firefighters and city workers to isolate the male bear in the tree and then tranquilize and tag the animal before transporting it about 60 miles away to the Houghton Lake area.

With a crowd of residents watching from a safe distance, the tranquilized bear fell unharmed about 18 feet into a thick pole vault pad borrowed from Mt. Pleasant High School.

“Sometimes bears wander in and out of developed areas, but this one was so far inside the city limits that we thought it best to intervene and take the bear out of this situation in a safe manner,” said Mark Boersen, a DNR wildlife biologist who participated in the effort. “Eventually, he would come down out of the tree, probably at night, but removal is the safest situation for people and their pets and the bear. Everything worked out well.”

Tuesday morning, Mt. Pleasant police and DNR Conservation Officer Michael Lator responded to reports of the treed bear near Fancher and Mosher streets, a residential area north of Central Michigan University. The DNR’s Wildlife Division was called in to tranquilize and transport the bear. Assisting in that effort were Boersen; Scott Larsen, the DNR’s state wildlife veterinarian; and Brian Piccolo, a DNR wildlife biologist and field operations manager.

The City of Mt. Pleasant provided a bucket truck to help biologists discourage the bear from climbing further up the tree. The animal was then tranquilized with a dart rifle. Once the bear was safely down from the tree, biologists did a medical workup of the animal – finding it healthy – and attached an identifying red ear tag.

It wasn’t immediately known where the bear originated, but Piccolo said it likely ventured over from the Chippewa River corridor, which is about a mile and a half west of the neighborhood.

The capture and relocation come three weeks after the DNR confirmed a bear sighting in the Carleton/Flat Rock area in southeast Michigan’s Monroe County. While the vast majority of Michigan’s more than 12,000 bears live in the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula, it’s not uncommon to see them in mid-Michigan and even occasionally in southern Michigan.

“In a general sense, you may encounter a bear anywhere in the Lower Peninsula,” Boersen said. “Obviously they’re less likely as you go south. But people in the Lower Peninsula should not assume that they would never have a bear come in their yard.”

He added that bears are covering long distances to find new sources of food and, soon, mates.

“Bears are actually getting into the breeding season now. So you could find a bear just about anywhere in the state," Boersen said. "You don’t have to be in the backwoods. Just because you live in the city doesn’t mean you won’t encounter wildlife there.”

To live harmoniously with bears, Michiganders should take down bird feeders, especially in the spring and summer, clean grills after use, don’t leave pet food outside and wait until collection day to put out their trash.

Share from Michigan DNR

Planning to boat or operate an ORV? Don’t wait to earn the required recreational safety certificate.

Safety classes take place throughout the year and availability can vary. If you or a friend/family member need to get their certificate, start planning today.

*Hunting classes will begin picking up later in summer.

We’ve dropped some helpful resources in the comments to get you safety certified.

Share from Michigan DNR

'Three Free' Weekend June 13-14 means free fishing, ORVing and state park entry

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources encourages everyone to take advantage of “Three Free” Weekend, coming up Saturday, June 13, and Sunday, June 14.

It's two full days when Michigan residents and out-of-state visitors can grab a fishing rod, ride the off-road trails and visit state parks, boating access sites and other outdoor locations – all free of charge.

"This season, we’re encouraging newcomers to discover the outdoors and inviting longtime outdoor explorers to dust off their gear and get out there," said DNR Director Scott Bowen. "Whether you want to cast a line, hit the ORV trails or relax in Michigan's award-winning state parks, 'Three Free' Weekend checks all the boxes."

Enjoy it all
The DNR's "Three Free" Weekend includes:

●Free ORV Weekend. Legally ride 4,000 miles of state-designated routes and trails and the state's six scramble areas without purchasing an ORV license or trail permit. Visit Michigan.gov/ORVinfo for the latest ORV trail, safety and closure information.

●Free Fishing Weekend. Fish for all in-season species, all weekend long, without a license. All other fishing regulations apply. Visit Michigan.gov/FreeFishing for more information.

●Free entry to state parks. To encourage people to pursue free fishing and other outdoor fun, the DNR Recreation Passport that grants vehicle access to Michigan's 103 state parks, 1,000-plus state-managed boating access sites and many other outdoor spaces is waived for the weekend. Learn more about Passport benefits at Michigan.gov/RecreationPassport.

Stay safe, protect nature

For the best outdoor experiences, the DNR urges everyone to protect our natural resources and put safety first when enjoying Michigan's woods, water and trails.

●When off-road riding, please remember to Ride Right to make it home safe to family and friends. Ride at a safe speed, ride sober and ride on the right side of the trail. For all trail users, keep trail etiquette top of mind.
●Boaters can help prevent the spread of invasive species by removing mud and debris from all surfaces, draining water from all bilges, wells and tanks, and drying all equipment before transporting boats over land.
●Trail users can do their part for invasive species prevention by removing dirt and debris from shoes, gear and vehicles before heading to the next location.
●Helpful safety tips – for ORV, boating, beach, fire and other topics – are available at Michigan.gov/DNREducation

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Berlin Fire, Monroe County Sheriff's and MCA are on scene on Newport road near Park Ridge circle for a two vehicle injury accident.

It's reported one person has a head injury.