MANISTIQUE - Residents of Manistique can now earn a reward for clearing their sidewalks of ice and snow as part of the city's first Manistique Snow Removal Challenge, according to organizers.
Kerry Ott, Sault Tribe Strategic Alliance for Health community coordinator, said Manistique residents have two opportunities to win $25 in Manistique Merchants Cash, which can be used at businesses belonging to the Manistique Merchants Association.
One part of the challenge is the Golden Shovel Awards, where the name of one city street will be drawn after a snowfall of at least four inches, explained Ott.
The street is then visited by members of a committee, who enter all addresses with clear sidewalks on that street into a drawing for one of the $25 certificates.
In the Scoop and Sculpt Contest, residents can submit their address and a photo showing their cleared sidewalks and a creative use of their snow, such as building a snowman or snow castle, to MSTQsidewalks@gmail.com. Participants in this contest are also entered for a chance to win one of the certificates.
Though the city has not received four inches of snow since the contest kicked off last Thursday, Ott said there are approximately a dozen Manistique Merchants Cash certificates that will be presented to winners. The challenge runs through the end of March.
"The purpose of the contests is to both inform and motivate area residents to keep their sidewalks clear of ice and snow," said Ott. "There are many residents who need to traverse our community using non-motorized transportation no matter what the weather is, and we need to find a way to work together, as neighbors, to keep our sidewalks and crossings clear throughout the winter months."
The money used to purchase the awards comes from part of Manistique's winnings from the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan's "Let's Get Moving Community Challenge," in which Manistique won the $2,000 first-place prize over three other communities in 2011.
"Clear sidewalks make it safer for children going to and from school, for those without access to a motor vehicle, for seniors, for U.S. Postal Service carriers, and for anyone else that wants to continue to get out and enjoy some fresh air all throughout the year," Ott explained. "Working together, we can tackle the snow on our sidewalks and keep all of our residents safer as they move about our community this winter."
The challenge is made possible by the city of Manistique and the Sault Tribe SAH - Non-Motorized Transportation Project. The non-motorized transportation project is a proposed joint venture between the city and a number of groups to implement a non-motorized biking and walking pathway around and through the city of Manistique. The plan for the project is in its final development stages, according to Ott, with plans to apply for grants for project completion.
For more information on the contests, email MSTQsidewalks@gmail.com or call Ott at 341-9561.