WEST BRANCH – For about 25 years, the advertisement display off exit 212 was empty. As of Aug 28, the billboard has been restored.
Ogemaw County resident Sean Gilbert made this endeavor happen. Tired of seeing this billboard empty, Sean reached into his own pocket to design the project.
The layout honors the late Chippewa Chief Ke-ke-to, (locally known as Chief Ogemaw) speaker for the local Chippewa tribe in the 1800’s. He was a chief narrator for several Native American tribes and also spoke before congress.
Unlike tradition, Ogemaw Ke-ke-to did not become chief by ancestry. He was a well admired and respected warrior and highly regarded because of his eloquent speaking skills.
The chief passed away in 1840 and was first buried in a colonel’s uniform from the American Revolution on property now known as Twenty Second and Water Streets. The uniform was a gift from President Thomas Jefferson, who was impressed by the intelligence of Ke-Ke-to. He will forever be remembered in local history for helping bring peace between the First People and the settlers.
Gilbert said he worked on the billboard to give people a taste of local history, as well as another reason to shop in Ogemaw County. Gilbert and his wife, Kellie, own Made in the USA, located in the mall off I-75. They store retails just American made products.
“We have every intention of making this store become the biggest thing in the state of Michigan. We do understand for (us) to be successful; our surrounding community must be successful as well. One hand washing the other you might say,” Gilbert said.
Gilbert believes Ogemaw County can be a beacon of Northeast Michigan.
“When vehicles drive (past) our community, it doesn’t benefit our community,” he said. “This is why (we’ve) completed this magnificent project in only three weeks. With zero tax dollars.”
Check out the billboard the next time you’re near exit 212, welcoming you to Ogemaw County, the “Final Oasis to the Great North”.
Hoping the change is positive and successful, Gilbert reminds the community not to wait for good things to happen, but to find good people that can make them happen.
