This HTML code represents the content of a web page, likely an online article. It includes:This HTML code represents the content of a web page, likely an online article. It includes: – Author Information: – Author: Then Cherry – Credit: Community Columnist – Paragraphs of Text: – Text about a warm summer that reminded the author of the 1988 Drought. – Personal experiences and memories from that summer. – Information about the drought’s impact on Lenawee County, including water restrictions and fire hazards. – Comparison of the current summer to the 1988 summer and the author’s water conservation efforts. – Call to Action (CTA): – Request for readers to subscribe for the latest local developments and sports updates. – Partner Banners: – Several banner ads are included throughout the page, labeled as “partner-banner” and “partner-inline.” – Timestamp: – A timestamp at the bottom of the page indicates the article’s publication and update dates. The HTML is well-structured, using proper headings and paragraph tags to organize the content.
| Community Columnist
I remember when I was a teenager, I experienced my first really warm summer. It was a summer that surpassed the previous summers I had spent near Devils Lake.
That particular summer became known as the 1988 Drought.
Although this year is not comparable to a drought, it was a pretty warm summer. For some reason it reminded me of the summer of 36 years ago.
I have had to water the garden a few times this summer, although the remnants of Hurricane Beryl last week largely ended our need to carry water to the vegetable plants. I remember, growing up with a garden, how 1988 unfolded.
As May turned to June, it was clear that the season was going to be dry in the long run. The lack of rain was causing the grass to turn brown, just a few weeks after it had emerged from its winter slumber. I consulted the Daily Telegram archives to see how my memory had stood the test of time.
In early June, the lack of rain was indeed a topic of conversation in Lenawee County. By June 9, the word “drought” was already being used by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. By June 16, city and town officials across the county announced they were closely monitoring water supplies but were hesitant to announce restrictions on use. Two days later, the Lenawee County Fire Chiefs Association requested a ban on outdoor burning. Unfortunately, several fires covering dozens of acres kept firefighters in the region busy for the next week.
On June 27, Lake Adrian’s water level dropped to 16 inches below the dam’s edge, prompting city officials to issue one of the first water restrictions of the season.
By July 4, firefighters in the county had fought 20 grass or field fires, including one that encompassed 20 acres near Lake Hudson. On July 5, a ban on watering lawns was announced for residents in Adrian and Clinton. Forecasters saw little to no chance of rain, and small showers are either passing elsewhere or breaking up before reaching Lenawee County.
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At Devils Lake, the shoreline grew as the waters slowly receded. The water became stagnant, with rings of gasoline forming in the shallow bays. The first substantial rainfall in more than three months swept through Lenawee County on July 16, giving some people hope that the drought was ending. The rain, however, was only a temporary relief. A strict watering ban was enforced in Adrian on July 19.
While the drought eventually passed, its effects were still being calculated as the summer drew to a close. The tomato crop, for example, was estimated to be down 50%. However, water restrictions were lifted in Adrian in early September as water levels recovered.
That summer I became more conscious of saving water, I dragged buckets of grey water to the garden day in and day out. I got into the habit of sending used water from the sink or washing machine to the lawn or garden; I have continued that habit this year, now that the plants are longing for the rain from above.
— Dan Cherry is a historian from Lenawee County.
