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January

3 – Gwinn residents Paula Hanskett-Nolan, left, and Austen DeBacker welcomed their new baby girl at OSF St Francis Hospital & Medical Group in Escanaba. Aria Alena DeBacker was the first baby born at the hospital in Escanaba for 2018.

4 – The Schoolcraft County Board chose Larry Mersnick as the new board chair and Dan Hoholik as vice chair at its

Daily Press file photo Officials break ground for the new Delta County Chamber of Commerce building at the U.P. State Fairgrounds.

annual organizational meeting. No others were nominated for the post.

4 – The Manistique City Council was unable to choose a mayor at its organizational meeting Monday night. Newcomers Mike Perilloux and Kim Shiner were nominated for the post. Each nominee drew two votes.

4 – Escanaba’s City Engineer and Public Works Superintendent Bill Farrell ends his more-than-17-year career with the city today after accepting a new position working for OSF HealthCare St. Francis Hospital.

22 – The Escanaba School Board unanimously approved seeking a 2.2 mill ($2.20 tax per $1,000 of taxable value) sinking fund millage at a special meeting.

24 – Members of Gladstone and Rapid River’s school boards met to discuss the discontinuation of the districts’ early college programs during a special combined meeting. Gladstone and Rapid River Superintendent Jay Kulbertis apologized to both boards, the people and organizations affected by the programs’ closure.

Daily Press file photo A labor dispute prevented the replacement of the Escanaba River Bridge to be completed by fall 2018. The project will continue in 2019.

25 – Wording on petitions seeking elections to recall four officials from Fairbanks and Garden townships was not approved by the Delta County Election Commission during a clarity hearing at the county courthouse. Larry Kelley of Garden filed petitions to recall three Fairbanks Township officers — Supervisor Ronald Collins, Clerk Kathryn Denholm and Trustee James Dalgord. Garden resident Cristi Currie filed a recall petition against Garden Township Supervisor Morgan Tatrow.

February

5 – The Delta County Planning Commission approved conditional use permits for 14 proposed wind turbine site plans. These site plans were in addition to the 22 proposed wind turbine site plans approved in January.

7 – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) confirmed the first influenza-associated pediatric death of the 2017-18 flu season. The death was a child from the

Upper Peninsula.

Daily Press file photo Delta County Sheriff Ed Oswald inspects a cell at the new Delta County Jail.

13 – The Gladstone and Rapid River’s school boards approved disciplinary actions that will be taken against Jay Kulbertis (who serves as superintendent for both districts) during a special meeting.

13 – Members of the Bay College Board of Trustees and the Northern Lights YMCA Board agreed to work together on a potential construction and renovation project at the YMCA during a special joint meeting.

18 – After 34 years in business, local eatery Elmer’s Restaurant closed. “It’s been 34 wonderful years, and it’s just time to retire,” said Owner Jane Sarnowski.

Feb. 21 – An Escanaba man remains lodged in jail in lieu of a half-million-dollar bond after being charged with 14 felonies related to child pornography during his arraignment Tuesday in Delta County District Court. John Paul Schiska, 57, of 1410 S. 15th St., Escanaba, was arrested by Michigan State Police.

18 – Discrepancies between the number of students enrolled in an online program through the Gladstone Area School District and the number of students reported to the state as enrolled in the program will mean a drop in revenue for the district — nearly $300,000, according to information cited in a memo prepared by the Delta-Schoolcraft Intermediate School District.

18 – Two former Escanaba residents — Ulla Theoret and her son, Paul Theoret — were found murdered in Ulla Theoret’s home in Burks Falls, Ryerson Township, Onatrio.

March

13 – The former Rapid River couple who failed to properly care for their two daughters and lost their parental rights last year has lost their appeal with the Michigan Court of Appeals. The appeals court ruled in favor of the local court’s decision. On St. Patrick’s Day in 2017, Michael Lavoie and Tammy Fryer’s 3-year-old daughter was found by a neighbor whose dog “Peanut” had alerted its owner to the girl outside. The child was found naked lying curled up in a ball in the snow during below-freezing temperatures that morning.

14 – Students in Delta County were among youth from across the nation who participated in walkouts in remembrance of the school shooting in Parkland, Fla. Gladstone and Escanaba students stood in silence for 17 minutes in honor of the 17 victims who lost their lives at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Feb. 14.

22 – The Delta Animal Shelter in Escanaba received 44 dogs and one rabbit after a resident in Gladstone surrendered the animals to the shelter. Sue Gartland, shelter manager, explained all the dogs are a small mix-breed known as “chiweenies,”

which are crosses between a Chihuahua and dachshund (sometimes called wiener dogs). To the shelter’s knowledge, the canines have never been outside were not house trained.

23 – Delta County Administrator Ryan Bergman’s resignation was officially accepted during a committee of the whole meeting. Bergman has served in the position of county administrator since May 2015.

29 – A former Iron Mountain resident is leaving her mark in towns throughout the Upper Peninsula by creating murals that embody the spirit and future of those communities — using one word. In July, Mia Tavonatti will be painting a mural on the Peoples Department Store building in downtown Manistique.

April

9 – Despite being separated by more than 730 miles, the cities of Gladstone, Mich., and Gladstone, Mo., share more than a name. Following a resolution approved by the Michigan city, the two municipalities are now officially sister cities.

10 – Delta County has officially found a replacement for outgoing County Administrator Ryan Bergman. The Delta County Board of Commissioners voted to ratify the committee of the whole’s recommendation that Delta County Prosecutor Philip Strom be hired for the position during its statutory meeting.

17 – Dr. Gina Pepin was among 10 Michigan educators that have been named as 2018-19 Regional Teachers of the Year.

17 – A tugboat anchor struck underwater oil and electrical lines and caused an insulation fluid spill in the waterway connecting Lake Michigan and Lake Huron earlier this month, Michigan’s attorney general said. Bill Schuette said he notified VanEnkevort Tug & Barge of Escanaba that he’s planning civil action against the company.

24 – A proposed $9 million apartment complex in downtown Escanaba — previously nixed by the city’s planning commission — was unanimously approved by the city’s appeals board during a meeting in council chambers Tuesday.

May

3 – Family Fun Park, Inc., located at 2929 3rd Ave. North in Escanaba, was sold last week and will close its doors permanently.

3 – Escanaba City Council appointed Lisa Glish as the new city clerk.

8 – Voters in the Escanaba School District voted against a sinking fund millage proposal in Tuesday’s election.

8 – Voters in the townships of Garden and Fairbanks denied a pair of proposals to adopt ordinances that would have created planning commissions for the townships in Tuesday’s special election.

11 – An iconic restaurant in Rapid River reached an important milestone this year. Jack’s Restaurant, located at 7897 Main St., has been serving up homemade dishes to locals and visitors alike for 75 years.

11 – More than three dozen people were present for a parole appeal hearing in Delta County Circuit Court, but the future of Hans Christian Nelson, who was convicted of murdering his uncle Todd Newman in 1995 in Escanaba, remains undecided.

16 – After more than 20 years, the Delta County Jaycees announced Wednesday the group will no longer be hosting its annual Duck Races. The event began in Ford River, but for many years has been held at Van Cleve Park in

Gladstone.

17 – The John and Melissa Besse Foundation has made a $1 million donation to the U.P. State Fair Authority.

21 – The Escanaba School Board approved a proposal to consolidate kindergarten students at Webster Elementary School Monday night.

23 – Delta County’s newly-selected prosecutor met with his future staff at the county courthouse, as well as visited city and county law enforcement in Escanaba. Brett Gardner, 63, of downstate Muskegon, was recently chosen from a pool of seven applicants.

June

4 – Aquila Resources, the company behind a planned mineral mine in Menominee County, announced it has received the fourth and final permit necessary for the mine to be constructed and begin operations.

11 – An Escanaba man was sentenced to prison Monday for severely injuring his infant son in January. Jerry Jay Munger III , 22, was sentenced to six years, eight months, to 10 years in prison for second degree child abuse.

16 – Escanaba softball team won their first state title, beating South Haven 5-0 in the Division 2 state championship game at Michigan State University

16 – A 19-year-old man who pleaded guilty to first degree criminal sexual conduct involving a young girl in Escanaba was sentenced to up to 60 years in prison recently. Austin Lee Schalau, of Escanaba, was 17 at the time of his arrest on one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct.

16 – The Hannahville Indian Community will contribute $4.8 million through November 2042 towards efforts to expand and renovate Bay College’s gymnasium facility and other areas of the Northern Lights YMCA building.

July

3 – A Gladstone woman has pleaded guilty to lesser charges in the drowning death of her toddler in a bathtub last year.

Michaela Denise Maupin, 29, a single mother of three children, was arrested for murder following investigation into the Oct. 7 death of her 15-month-old daughter, Melina. The child drowned while left unsupervised in the family’s bathtub with the water running for 20 minutes, according to Gladstone Public Safety.

6 – After more than 22 years in prison, Hans Christian Nelson, who was convicted of murdering his uncle Todd Newman in 1995, has been paroled, following a written decision issued by 47th Circuit Court Judge John Economopoulous to deny an appeal from Newman’s family.

9 – The installation of solar panels for a solar energy garden at the Delta County Airport was recently completed.

26 – The 59th Annual National Trappers Convention and Sport Show came to the U.P. State Fairgrounds July 26-28.

August

1 – Though issues related to contract negotiation have continued to have an impact on work on the U.S. 2 and 41 bridge over the Escanaba River, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) was still hoping to complete the project before 2018 ends.

8 – Delta County voters approved a millage proposal, which will fund the operation of the Menominee-Delta-Schoolcraft Community Action Agency (MDSCAA) Senior Services Program in the county.

10 – Escanaba City Clerk Lisa Glish submitted her intent to resign from the position.

15 – People involved with the establishment of the Delta County Forest attended a dedication ceremony for the community forest Tuesday.

28 – The city of Gladstone has officially found a new assessor. The Gladstone City Commission voted to approve a contract with Janice Ketcham.

28 – A Gladstone woman who was initially charged with murder after her child drowned in a bathtub last year was sentenced Monday to up to 15 years in prison. Michaela Denise Maupin, 30, was charged with second degree murder following an investigation into the Oct. 7, 2017, death of her 15-month-old daughter, Melina.

September

6 – An ongoing labor dispute has led to a statewide lockout by the Michigan Infrastructure & Transportation Association (MITA) against Operating Engineers 324 (OE324), according to representatives of organizations linked to the situation. This dispute has affected work on the U.S. 2 and 41 bridge over the Escanaba River, along with other projects in the Upper Peninsula and across Michigan.

12 – After nearly four years of inactivity, the Escanaba Brownfield Redevelopment Authority met Tuesday to discuss designating the Delta Plaza Mall and former Super One grocery store as brownfield properties. The board opted to designate the mall as brownfield eligible, but the fate of Super One is still undecided.

18 – Mission XV of the Upper Peninsula Honor Flight took place.

27 – Public Health Delta ad Menominee Counties is investigating 11 cases adenoviral illnesses in the Central U.P. There has been one adenovirus-associated death among these cases, according to the agency.

28 – New Escanaba Interim City Clerk Tammy Weissert was officially sworn into office.

October

11 – The Escanaba Recreation Advisory Board has approved consolidating the city’s ice skating rinks.

19 – A four-year-old doe killed on a deer damage shooting permit in Dickinson County’s Waucedah Township has tested positive for chronic wasting disease, marking the first confirmation of the incurable deer disease within the Upper Peninsula.

19 – The Escanaba City Council unanimously approved a brownfield redevelopment plan for the Delta Plaza Mall Thursday and set a public hearing to discuss further tax incentives for the rehabilitation of the mall property.

November

7 – Voters in three school districts defeated all sinking fund millage proposals on Tuesday. While two of these proposals were defeated by wide margins.

7 – Ed McBroom is going back to Lansing after his win of the Michigan State Senator 38th District contest. T

7 – Incumbent Beau Matthew LaFave (R) will continue his role as the 108th House District State Representative. LaFave was re-elected.

7 – Northern Michigan has spoken and elected Republican Jack Bergman to represent the region in the United States House of Representatives..

10 – Efforts to establish a new Delta County Correctional Facility at the Delta County Service Center are nearly complete, according to officials involved with the project.

17 – Delta County’s next treasurer has been found. The Delta County Treasurer Appointment Board unanimously voted to appoint Sherry Godfrey to the position.

24 – President/CEO of the Community Foundation for Delta County and the Community Foundation of the Upper Peninsula Gary LaPlant will be retiring at the end of 2018.

29 – Outdoors enthusiast, radio host and columnist Tim Kobasic is being remembered by the many people whose lives he touched. Kobasic, of Escanaba, died Sunday of complications due to a massive stroke at the age of 65.

December

3 – Delta County Probate Judge Robert Goebel will be retiring at the end of 2018.

5 – Delta County will be responsible for some additional costs for work on a new Delta County Correctional Facility at the Delta County Service Center, County Administrator Philip Strom said.

6 – Marijuana became legal for adult recreational use in Michigan.

17 – A Gladstone landmark is getting a new purpose and being restored. The old Stropich building at 503 S. 9th St. in Gladstone had been used as storage for the Parks and Recreation Department until recently when it was purchased from the city by Greg Styczynski of Rock Electric Service.

20 – The small dog that rallied a community to donate above and beyond to cover the medical expenses due to injuries from neglect is ready for adoption just in time for the holidays. Little Chevy, a Jack Russell terrier mix, is back at Delta Animal Shelter from her foster home and is medically cleared for adoption. Since her return to the shelter on Dec. 10, Chevy is spayed, up to date on all vaccines and went through a behavioral assessment.