ELBERTA, MI – After a “Herculean” fundraising effort, 35 acres of land on the shores of Lake Michigan and Betsie Bay have been purchased by a Northern Michigan land conservancy.

The project in Elberta will result in a nature preserve, an expanded municipal park, a trail extension and economic development – and save this shoreline area from commercial development, officials said.

The Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy secured gifts and pledges of $19.5M in less than six months, meeting the Dec. 15 deadline to purchase the land.

This was “the largest funding needed for a single property in the conservancy’s 33-year history,” said Jennifer Jay, director of communications and engagement for the conservancy. That, coupled with the short timeline to raise the money, made this purchase a “Herculean effort,” she said.

More than 600 families donated to the project with the smallest gift coming in at $7 and the largest at $9 million. More than 200 gifts were from first-time donors.

“People who love Benzie County really love Benzie County, and they want to retain the small-town character of the shoreline communities like Elberta and Frankfort,” said Glen Chown, the conservancy’s executive director. “People gave from their hearts to ensure a future for Elberta that aligns with the community’s vision.”

The property was recently targeted for a large resort development, but that plan was withdrawn.

The land extends from Elberta Beach to the Historic Waterfront Park and then to the village’s northern edge with 578 feet of Lake Michigan frontage and 3,120 feet on Betsie Bay, plus 10 acres of dunes.

Plans for the 35 acres include a 10-acre nature preserve managed by the conservancy. This area includes steep, forested critical dunes.

The conservancy plans to transfer 16 acres to the village of Elberta to be used as a community park. This area near the Elberta Pier at the mouth of Betsie Bay, includes 578 feet of Lake Michigan shoreline and 2,000 feet of Betsie Bay shoreline. This will allow the Betsie Valley Trail to extend through the property, connecting Frankfort’s and Elberta’s Lake Michigan beaches.

The final 9 acres, including 1,120 feet of Betsie Bay shoreline, has been set aside for economic development; the Michigan Land Bank Authority will lead this effort.

The total cost of the project is estimated at $27.5 million. Fundraising for the last $8 million has already begun.

Associated Press

Michigan Wolverines (9-1, 1-0 Big Ten) vs. Oklahoma Sooners (9-1)

Charlotte, North Carolina; Tuesday, 9:30 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: No. 20 Michigan and No. 10 Oklahoma square off at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The Sooners have a 9-1 record in non-conference games. Oklahoma scores 92.6 points while outscoring opponents by 32.5 points per game.

The Wolverines have an 8-1 record in non-conference play. Michigan scores 84.6 points while outscoring opponents by 30.1 points per game.

Oklahoma scores 92.6 points, 38.1 more per game than the 54.5 Michigan allows. Michigan averages 24.5 more points per game (84.6) than Oklahoma gives up to opponents (60.1).

TOP PERFORMERS: Payton Verhulst averages 2.6 made 3-pointers per game for the Sooners, scoring 13.8 points while shooting 44.1% from beyond the arc.

Olivia Olson is averaging 16.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.5 steals for the Wolverines.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Michigan football got off the transfer portal sideline and landed two key pickups in the secondary on Monday.

Defensive backs TJ and Tevis Metcalf, brothers who last played at Arkansas, committed to the Wolverines after a weekend visit to Ann Arbor.

The brothers, cousins of NFL wide receiver DK Metcalf, announced their decision on social media with On3. Both players acknowledged their move in separate posts, trumpeting the maize and blue.

TJ is a 6-foot-1, 200-pound safety with two years of eligibility remaining. He totaled 57 tackles, three interceptions and 10 pass deflections as a sophomore in 2024, highlighted by a two-interception game at Auburn.

Tevis is a 5-foot-10,192-pound cornerback who played primarily on special teams in 2024. He has three years of eligibility left.

Both players were consensus three-star prospects out of high school according to 247Sports. While they grew up in Pinson, Alabama, TJ graduated from Pinson Valley High Schol and Tevis graduated from Clay-Chalkville. Jim Harbaugh’s staff offered TJ a scholarship out of high school.

Their arrival could not come at a better time for Michigan. Wink Martindale’s secondary is set to lose a pair of starting safeties, Makari Paige and Quinten Johnson, and cornerback Aamir Hall to expiring college eligibility, while All-American cornerback Will Johnson has declared for the NFL draft.

There’s also uncertainty surrounding veteran safety Rod Moore, sidelined during the 2024 season after suffering a torn ACL, and whether he will return.

The Metcalif brothers join former Indiana wide receiver Donaven McCulley, a former all-Big Ten honorable mention wideout, as Michigan’s three transfer portal adds this offseason. And more are expected.

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