Arlo Joseph Pritchard is the 2014 New Year’s baby

by Peter Jakey–Managing Editor

Arlo Joseph Pritchard is the 2014 New Year’s baby.

Born Jan. 4 at 6:22 a.m., he is the son of Tim and Mary Pritchard of Rogers City, who many know as the owners of the downtown business Domaci Gallery.

The Pritchards, who have been married since 1998, recently purchased a home along South Sixth Street that was once owned by Dr. Richard Foley. It relates to the story because Dr. Foley helped birth many babies at Rogers City Hospital over the years.

Mary was due Christmas Day and went in for an appointment last Friday at McLaren Northern Michigan hospital in Petoskey.

“They said, ‘go back home, you’re not even close,’ ” said Tim. “We drove back home.”

The contractions picked up and were only three minutes apart when the couple started the drive back to Petoskey later that day.

“The wind was blowing through Moltke and it was total whiteout,” he said. “The roads were terrible and it was cold.”

Not wanting to have a baby in a vehicle stuck in a ditch, Tim drove with extra caution to ensure they got there without any mishaps.

“There were contractions through the night,” said Tim. “She started pushing about 5:30, and out he came.”

Arlo was w

elcomed home by big sister, Amelia, 4, who has many plans for her new brother.

“I can teach him how to be smart,” said Amelia, who wrote a letter to him a few days before with her mother. “He’s cute. When he gets older, he can have my little motorcycle.”

His grandparents are Joe and Jean Veselenak of Rogers City and Ray and Helen Welburn of Olivet.

Presque Isle Newspapers awards gifts to a New Year’s baby each year, thanks to the generosity of many fine sponsors. The couple was given certificates from many participating businesses, including a one-year subscription to the Advance.

Arlo succeeds Fisher James Mertz-LaFleche, the first baby of 2013.