Latest local news, weather and high school sports for Northern Michigan

Thursday, March 21, 2013  Remaining calm probably saved the life of a 41 year-old Traverse City man who went through the ice.

Tuesday, March 12, 2013  UPDATED WITH VIDEO: Sheriff's officials from both Leelanau and Grand Traverse County are searching for a man who has targeted more than a dozen prescription drug shops in the last 6 years.

Tuesday, March 05, 2013  Fire crews were called to the log cabin in Leelanau County just after 1am Tuesday.

Tuesday, February 19, 2013  The Leelanau County Sheriffs Department is alerting people to stay off of the roads in Leelanau County due to extremely hazardous conditions.

Wednesday, February 06, 2013  A Michigan Senate committee is considering a series of bills that would expand DNA collection to include all people arrested on suspicion of a felony charge.

Friday, January 18, 2013  Leelanau County Sheriff's Deputies will get a $625,000 settlement stemming from accusations the then-sheriff and undersheriff eavesdropped on private conversations.

Monday, January 23, 2012  7&4 News was told Monday by the Leelanau County Sheriff's Office that charges are expected on this case this week.  No other information is being released by any of the investigative agencies, or the school until charges are filed.

Thursday, November 10, 2011  UPDATE: The missing teen has been located and is safe.

Friday, March 18, 2011  A man is accused of kicking a 12-week-old puppy 18 feet at a Leelanau County home.  The puppy died from internal injuries.

Wednesday, February 09, 2011  UPDATE: 1:02 p.m. One lane of Bugai Road is now open.

Sunday, December 12, 2010  M-72 is open to traffic once again after whiteout conditions shut down a portion in Leelanau County for more than an hour.

Monday, December 06, 2010  An investigation stemming back to 2006 is paying off big for the Leelanau County Sheriff's Office. About four years back, Detective Sergeant Clint Kerr sparked an illegal immigrant investigation of a grounds-keeping service called RCI; a company he discovered was staffed almost exclusively with illegal aliens. “I had a citizen that knew me, trusted me, give me some information. That's all they wanted to do with it. I convinced them to speak with federal agents and that's what started the whole thing,” Kerr said. It later surfaced that RCI had employed over 1,000 illegal immigrants and failed to pay taxes in excess of $15.5 million. Authorities seized $3.5 million dollars in cash and property. And thanks to Sergeant Kerr’s efforts, more than $180,000 was forked over to the Leelanau County Sheriff's Office. “It's great that in the tough budget times we are able to have the cushion of money to use to get items that may not be approved in the budget otherwise. Things that make our jobs easier, make us better investigators and keep us safe” said Kerr. The successful investigation also resulted in the prosecution of RCI President Richard Rosenbaum, who was sentenced to 10 years in jail.

Tuesday, October 06, 2009  An organization is claiming that Leelanau County deputies are violating constitutional law and now the group is taking action.  The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan Northwest Branch recently sent a letter to the sheriff's office about their concerns.  The ACLU says they cite five instances in the letter which deputies entered homes demanding that college-age students take breathalyzer tests.

Wednesday, December 03, 2008  The Leelanau County Sheriff's Department is now releasing the identity of a man who died in a car fire last weekend.