Monday, June 11, 2018


Village of Ashley Country Christmas Committee Chairman Roger Keck, along with committee members Connie Andersen, Beth Russell and Lynn Schulz are shown presenting a check for $50,000 to Village Council President Ann Paksi. This is repayment of the money that the village put up for the North Pole Express when it first came to town five years ago. At that time the decision was made about where to spend the money that was earned from the event. The village applied for a DNR Land & Water conservation grant to be used for parks and recreation improvement and a walk way around the village. The village received $109,000 and the Country Christmas matched that amount. The work has already started for the new playscape at the park. The old equipment has been removed in preparation for work to start when the weather gets warmer.

The village also received a grant from MDOT for the Safe Sidewalks to School initiative. The Country Christmas will add $90,000 to that grant. The grant money will be used to improve and add new sidewalks to make the walk to school safer for the children of Ashley.