EMPIRE— Federal workers at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore came back to the office today to collect back pay and get started on key projects.

The shutdown put them behind schedule on clean-up and maintenance that needs to be done before winter. But today, the sound of leaf blowers and chainsaws was in the air.

When the government shut its door last month, the Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes knew it was time to bring their tractors and help pitch in.

“We were able to help out with kind of immediate safety dangers,” said Laura Ann Johnson, executive director of The Friends. “So, for example, if a tree fell over the sleeping bear heritage trail, our crew could come out and take care of that removal.”

But now, the federal workers are back in the field, cleaning up comfort stations, p

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