It is in the news recently that the plans to repeal Michigan's motorcycle helmet law are making great headway. They hope that this time the governor will repeal it. This legislation has been pushed by State Representative Jon Bumstead (R-Newaygo)Of course, I wonder sometimes if the existing helmet laws are really being obeyed. I see many riders wearing helmets that look like cereal-bowl sized Sgt Schultz helmets, which I can't imagine are much protection at all.
But I am not a motorcycle rider, so I really can't have a strong opinion on this. Are any of my other
readers motorcycle riders who would like to weigh in on this one?Jon Bumstead is from Newaygo. I have no idea if he can make a mean 2 foot tall sandwich, though, or if his wife is blonde.
But he is not the only political figure from Newaygo County. There's also Newaygo Newt, who ran for President on the Pizzle Ticket (see the above postcard)
Newt Gingrich, who likely has no idea what or where Newaygo is, and might venture that it is the name of a new Segway ripoff if you asked him, might like Candidate Newaygo Newt's slogan:
"A Vote for Newt is Bound to Suit".
Addendum: "Books in Northport" has a post on the recent passing of another West Michigan politician, Howard Wolpe. Whatever your political pursuasion, check into his work he did with Africa.
"Ernest Jack Sharpsteen was born on July 8, 1888. He later became known as Ernest Jack Sharp or his pen name of "Newaygo Newt"... Sharpsteen thought it would be nice to write down some of the traditional stories of the ba
ckwoods that he had heard from the old-timers. He started sending postcard views of his resort to friends and an editor friend, with four-line verses pertaining to nature under the heading of "Newaygo Newt Sez". The postcard were also placed in newspapers. The verses connected with the public, and soon people were asking for longer verses, so the verses became longer, and the title was changed to 'Tall Tales of Newaygo Newt" (from Newaygo County 1850-1920 by the Newayo County Society of History and Genealogy'.
If Pennsylvania can have a Senator Joe Sleestak, why can't Michigan have a Representative Dagwood Bumstead?
The book Tall Tales of Newaygo Newt is available from some libraries. And Newaygo Newt is today's entry in the infrequent but occasional "Michigan Hometown Heroes" series of posts.
Here are a co
uple of Newaygo blogs to visit:
ckwoods that he had heard from the old-timers. He started sending postcard views of his resort to friends and an editor friend, with four-line verses pertaining to nature under the heading of "Newaygo Newt Sez". The postcard were also placed in newspapers. The verses connected with the public, and soon people were asking for longer verses, so the verses became longer, and the title was changed to 'Tall Tales of Newaygo Newt" (from Newaygo County 1850-1920 by the Newayo County Society of History and Genealogy'.If Pennsylvania can have a Senator Joe Sleestak, why can't Michigan have a Representative Dagwood Bumstead?
The book Tall Tales of Newaygo Newt is available from some libraries. And Newaygo Newt is today's entry in the infrequent but occasional "Michigan Hometown Heroes" series of posts.
Here are a co
uple of Newaygo blogs to visit:Newaygo Newt is just one of several odd figures from Michigan history that show up on postcards and elsewhere. These include Rock the Suttons Bay Hermit, Raymond W. Overholzer and his "Shrine of the Pines", Angus MacHigan, honorary Polish Indian named Stanley Smolak, and Spikehorn Meyers (the bear guy of Harrison)
I am not aware of any bookstores at all in Newaygo County to direct you to. But there is the Book Nook and Java Shop in nearby Montague, Michigan. I've never been there, but it sounds like a good place.
7 comments:
There was a lovely little bookstore in Newaygo for couple of years, but then it disappeared. Tough go in small town off expressway, as I well know.
Your nods to political characters in Michigan is interesting. I was kind of relieved the post wasn't too "political," or we might have been on opposite sides. :)
I don't remember who Howard was running against, but yes chances are I probably favored the other guy.
We might agree on the name that comes to mind when I think of the worst West Michigan politician of all time. Mark Sijander... He once declared that to defeat his election opponent was to "Break the back of Satan". He ended his career having apparently switched party affiliations from the Republicans to Al Qaeda. Any politician who calls his opponents devils and is more likely to have a picture of Bin Laden on his wall than Ronald Reagan might well make my 'worst politician ever' list.
And I should have made Ernie Harwell a "Michigan Hometown Hero" also. Oh well. I actually have plenty more material on him for a later post.
This was an interesting post. You folks have some real characters there running for office. Its good to see a sense of humor in politics.
You mean our senate members aren't Sleestaks?
And this started out as just commentary on the helmet law change.
They enforce those helmet laws about as much as they do those "don't use a cell-phone while you're driving" laws.
Will: Actually, they must enforce them. Or something. I hardly ever see any motorcycle rider without a helmet.
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