Michigan beach safety gets closer look

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) - Two summertime drownings and rip tide concerns at two popular northern Michigan beaches have prompted a closer look at beach safety across the region.

Two men drowned last August in separate incidents at Peterson Beach in Benzie County and Van's Beach in Leland.

U.S. Park Service officials say they reviewed safety at its beaches and determined more signs warning of rip currents are needed.

Tom Ulrich, Sleeping Bear Dunes' deputy superintendent, tells MLive.com park officials will take other steps to promote beach safety, including disseminating rip current warnings at its visitor's center and publishing information about Lake Michigan rip currents in the Park Service newsletter.

Ulrich says it's not feasible to have lifeguards on all park beaches. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore has more than 35 miles of shoreline.