ESCANABA — Like the rest of the world, the coronavirus pandemic dominated the local news in 2020. As 2020 draws to a close, here’s a look at some of the major local news stories of the year.

January

1 — Escanaba residents Georgios Sitaras and Jami Hentz welcomed OSF St. Francis Hospital and Medical Group’s first baby of the new year at 7:32 a.m. Nicoletta Elizabeth Sitaras weighed 7 pounds, 1.9 ounces and was 19 inches long. She was the couple’s first baby together.

10 — Delta County Sheriff’s Department now has two K-9 units after Deputy Chad Newton and K-9 Officer Sage completed training. Newton and Sage, a female Dutch shepherd, are a certified K-9 unit after weeks of being trained by K-9 Master Trainer Marty Munger of Superior K-9 Training, based in Marquette.

14 — Soo Hill Elementary School Principal Paulette Wickham was chosen to become the principal at Lemmer Elementary School for the 2020-2021 school year.

17 — The Verso Corporation Escanaba Mill celebrated a milestone in 2020. As of Jan. 17, the mill has been making paper for 100 years.

24 — A Bark River man, charged in the murder of his adoptive father, was bound over to Menominee County Circuit Court this morning. District Court Judge Robert Jamo made his decision after weighing testimony, evidence and arguments provided in a preliminary hearing in Menominee County District Court. A five-day jury trial was later set for May 11-15, but was delayed by the pandemic.

February

4 — After hearing arguments for and against a proposed resolution to make Delta County a “sanctuary county” for the Second Amendment from county residents, the Delta County Board of Commissioners narrowly voted to adopt the resolution.

8 — After an absence of several years, Cardboard Classics is back as a two-day event at the Gladstone Ski Hill at the John and Melissa Besse Sports Park in Gladstone this weekend.

11 — Judy Akkala signed her name as the newest member of the Gladstone City Commission. Akkala filled in the vacant seat left after former commissioner Dave Phalen resigned from the commission due to moving out of the city limits.

13 — While the city of Escanaba is still far from allowing marijuana establishments within its borders, the possibility of retail sales and even marijuana-themed events was closer to being a reality following the Escanaba Planning Commission’s decision to send a proposed ordinance to the city council. The commission worked on the ordinance for months before passing it on to the city council.

13 — Schoolcraft County has joined other Michigan counties — including Delta County — in becoming a Second Amendment sanctuary county. A resolution making Schoolcraft’s sanctuary county status official passed on a split vote of the Schoolcraft County Board of Commissioners.

20 — The Escanaba City Council approved a three-year moratorium on the construction of new hotels and motels in the city. The moratorium was proposed by Proxima Management, which is planning to build a hotel at the site of the old Delta County Correctional Facility.

21 — Escanaba High School was recently awarded the Advanced Placement Computer Science Female Diversity Award by College Board. “I was actually surprised when I got the notice on it, because it wasn’t anything we applied for,” said Escanaba High School Principal Darci Griebel. “… When we received that distinction it was out of the blue and really nice.”

24 — A citizen attempted to assist a Delta County Sheriff’s Department deputy in apprehending a man in posession of methamphetamine. A deputy tried to make contact with a driver during a traffic stop in Escanaba when the man got out of the vehicle and fled on foot. After the short pursuit, the man was apprehended. During the foot pursuit, a citizen, Scott Jasmund, attempted to slow the man down. He was later presented with a Delta County Sheriff’s Office challenge coin for his assistance.

26 — The Northern Lights YMCA is aiming to make substantial improvements to its building on Bay College’s Escanaba campus. Plans for a $6.4 million expansion and remodeling project at the facility were discussed during a special meeting of the Bay College Board of Trustees. Ground was not predicted to be broken on the project for two years.

28 — After three years of upgrades, the expansion of Hannahville’s aquaponics program, which was first started by Hannahville’s Youth Services Department in 2013, is now operational.

29 — Husband and wife, Ken Hinzman and Rawan Alhabbal, of Escanaba, welcomed their new baby boy at OSF St. Francis Hospital and Medical Group in Escanaba. Adam James Hinzman was born on Saturday, Feb. 29. Feb. 29, also known as Leap Day or Leap Year Day, only occurs every four years. Adam James Hinzman was the only baby born on Leap Day at the hospital in Escanaba. He was delivered at 11:33 p.m. Saturday, weighing 7 pounds, 3 ounces and was 20.25 inches long. Because the baby was born on Leap Day, the hospital provided a frog onesie celebrating the “leap baby.”

March

2 — After months of discussion, an ad hoc committee focusing on the future of solar power in Escanaba Township shared its recommendations with the Escanaba Township Planning Commission.

5 — Despite questions about the morality of giving tax incentives to a developer that blighted its own building by capping a sewer, the Escanaba City Council unanimously approved a Brownfield Redevel

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opment Plan for the former Super One Foods building. The owner of the building, Dial Properties, hopes to have the site developed into a hotel.

10 — Listening to a friend really paid off for a 19-year- old Bark River man who won $199,122 playing the Michigan Lot- tery s 50X The Cash Fast Cash game. “My buddy and I were in the store and he bought a 50X The Cash ticket and lost,” said Jarret Vanenkevort. “I asked him what game I should try, andhetoldmetobuya50XTheCash ticket. I listened to his advice, and the next thing I know, I’m staring at a ticket worth almost $200,000.”

10 — Menominee County voters also chose to support the 911 and Central Dispatch services and the county’s library by authorizing millage proposals during the primary election.

11 — A FIRST Robotics competition scheduled to take place at Escanaba Area High School this week was postponed indefinitely in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

15 — Passengers who took a flight from a U.P. airport to Canada earlier this month are advised to contact their health care provider after a passenger tested positive for COVID-19. The passenger, a Canadian woman in her 50s from Algoma District in Ontario, returned to Algoma on March 15 from the United States. The woman developed respiratory symptoms and notified Algoma Public Health on March 16. She was taken by ambulance to Sault Area Hospital for testing the same day.

18 — A Wisconsin man previously reported as missing was found dead in Escanaba Wednesday. The cause of death was hypothermia, according to police. Dustin Feavel, 36, was reported missing March 15.

18 — In lieu of hosting physical events for a student art exhibit, the Bonifas Arts Center presented student awards online Wednesday. Every March, the Bonifas holds its Youth in Art exhibit, which highlights the creativity of K-12 students in the area. This year’s exhibit included about 800 pieces made by students from across Delta County.

22 — After holding out as the last U.S. region not to be affected by the novel coronavirus pan demic, the Upper Peninsula was notified of its first presumptive case of COVID-19 in Chippewa County.

25 — Many people living in Delta County are stuck at home due to the coron avirus pandemic. Escanaba residents Tim and Julie Bishop, however, were in a very different situation — they were stranded in Honduras and attempting to get back to the United States. The Bishops, who were involved in a mission group that has been active in La Paz, Honduras, for about 11 years, flew into Honduras on Feb. 25. They were set to fly back to the U.S. on March 25.

27 — In response to the coronavirus pandemic, Bay College announced plans to postpone its commencement ceremonies and hold physical ceremonies later in 2020.

29 — Delta County’s first positive test for COVID-19 was announced by Public Health, Delta and Menominee Coun- ties (PHDM) .

30 — Two people were killed and three others were injured in a fire at the Delta Inn Motel in Escanaba.

April

3 — A local church has temporarily shifted gears in order to help meet the needs of people in the area during the coronavirus pandemic. Wellspring Community Church, located in the Delta Plaza Mall, started responding to the threats posed by coronavirus in mid-March.

8 — Not long after the announcement of the first positive case of COVID-19 was discovered in Schoolcraft County, Delta County received notification of the first death of a Delta County resident from the disease.

8 — In response to the coronavirus pandemic, local laser engraving and woodworking business Kobasic Creations has been making “intubation boxes” for hospitals in the Upper Peninsula and beyond. According to Jake Kobasic, who co- owns the business with his wife Valine Kobasic, these Plexiglas boxes are meant to be placed over the heads of COVID-19 patients while they are being intubated. The boxes protect healthcare workers, who stick their hands through holes on one side, from particles and bodily fluids while still allowing them to see what they are doing.

9 — Public Health Delta & Menominee Counties said Menominee County’s first positive case of COVID-19 has been confirmed.

11 — The Krusin’ Klassics Car Club decided earlier this week to cancel the 2020 Fun Run Car Show and Swap Meet, including all 35 features and events planned, except the raffle that will take place on schedule.

16 — In reaction to the threat of COVID-19, the Schoolcraft County Jail has taken steps to reduce its population by releasing some inmates on tether and bond.

23 — Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Upper Peninsula Honor Flight (UPHF) will not be able to hold Mission XVIII on May 20 as was previously scheduled. The mission was postponed to September, but was later pushed back to 2021.

27 — Matt Marenger, owner of Mr. Bike, Ski & Fitness, gave local residents a chance to get rid of their returnable cans and bottles while supporting homeless people in the area. In May, the project was taken over by the Escanaba Salvation Army.

May

1 — The Island Resort and Casino announced it will reopen its facility on Wednesday, May 6 at 8 a.m. In a press release, casino management said they have worked with the Nevada and National Indian Gaming Commission standards and procedures to safeguard customers and employees. The casino was closed on March 21 and will have been closed for seven weeks.

4 — Menominee County Prosecutor Jeffery T. Rogg has issued charges against a Wallace man running for the county’s open sheriff seat in connection with alleged violations of Michigan election law. Joseph John Grinsteiner, 41, of Wallace, was charged with three counts of False Designation of Incumbency.

8 — Due to the current and ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Manistique Recreation Department’s Folk Fest Committee has made the decision to cancel Folk Fest 2020. The festival had originally been scheduled to take place July 10 and 11 in downtown Manistique.

21 — Despite concerns raised by members of the public and one Escanaba city council member over the financial impact the coronavirus has had on residents and local businesses, the council approved the 2020- 2021 fiscal year budget Thursday — moving forward with double-digit rate increases for water and wastewater.

26 — A 120-pound male black bear was removed from a tree in Escanaba and released outside city limits. The bear was sleeping in a tree at a private residence near the corner of South 11th Street and 8th Avenue South, and was about 20-25 feet off the ground.

28 — Less than a week after Escanaba’s last bear-related incident, a second bear was removed from a tree on the 200 block of Lake Shore Drive.

June

1 — Landon Phillips received a Citizen Appreciation Certificate Award recently from the Gladstone Public Safety Department for saving the lives of his family when their home caught fire April 27.

4 — Despite uncertainties over the legality of large gatherings due to the pandemic, the Escanaba City Council voted to move forward with fireworks at the city’s planned Independence Day celebration after one council member proposed rules that included shooting violent protesters at the event. “‘Any person throwing objects at police, shooting at anyone, looting and setting fires will be shot in both legs and left lying there till dawn, and at dawn, each person will need to crawl to the hospital,'” read Council Member Ralph Blasier from his proposed press release before adding, “I mean, this text for your public announcement, people might want to alter it some. This is just the first draft. If I were alone in charge of the city, this is what I would publish, but I can see where some people might, change it a little bit.” Blasier apolgized for the comment the next day.

7 — Hundreds of people were in Escanaba Saturday for a peaceful demonstration about racism and police brutality both locally and across the country.

11 — Four members of the Escanaba City Council issued a statement Thursday in response to controversial comments from Council Member Ralph Blasier, but the creation of the statement may have violated Michigan law. The statement — which includes the names of Mayor Marc Tall, Mayor Pro-Tem Peggy O’Connell, and council members Tyler DuBord and Karen Moore — was submitted to the Daily Press Thursday in response to a comment made by Blasier at the June 4 city council meeting. The statement issued by the rest of the council Thursday was drafted by multiple council members, who contributed and agreed to support the statement by email. The emails constituted a quorum of the council, which means the council failed to comply with the public notice and participation requirements of the Open Meetings Act.

11 — Escanaba Council Member Ralph Blasier responded to a petition seeking his recall over comments he made at a recent city council meeting about shooting rioters at the city’s upcoming Independence Day fireworks display. The petition language was approved on June 30 but ultimately failed to garner enough signatures in time to put it on the November ballot.

17 — Public Health, Delta and Menominee Counties (PHDM) has introduced “New Points,” a syringe service program providing access to sterile syringes, needles and clean paraphernalia for people who are addicted to street drugs.

17 — Douglas Orr, 55, of Cooks was shot. He died June 30 of his injuries. Trevor Lee Gault, 33, and his girlfriend Alyssa Jean Arnold, 20 were arrested in connection to the shooting and arraigned on June 22 related to the incident. on July 22, Arnold was charged with harboring a fugitive. Gault was initially charged with assault with intent to murder and felony firearms, however the assault charge was later upgraded to murder after Orr’s death.

22 — Gladstone Parks and Recreation Director Nicole Sanderson and the Gladstone City Commission agreed to cancel the 4th of July parade this year due to the coronavirus and current road work conditions through town. After discussing different ways to celebrate the 4th of July, or even whether to allow any events, the Gladstone City Commission approved a watered-down version of Fourth activities to be held in Van Cleve Park.

23 — In response to an expected decline in state funding, Bay College has cut approximately $1.8 million from its budget for its 2020-21 fiscal year.

30 — Members of the Escanaba Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Board chose Scott Czasak of Macomb, Mich., to serve as the authority’s next executive director in a special meeting.

July

1 — Due to ongoing concerns related to COVID-19, the U.P. State Fair — one of the area’s largest annual events — has officially been canceled for 2020.

3 — The Great Lakes Logging & Heavy Equipment Expo, which was set to take place at the U.P. State Fairgrounds Sept. 10-12, was canceled. 2020’s expo would have marked the 75th anniversary of the event.

9 — The U.P. Steam and Gas Engine Associa- tion announced the cancelation of its 45th annual show Wednesday.

9 — The U.P. State Fair Authority approved a plan Wednesday for a livestock expo to beheld Aug.17-22 at the U.P, State Fairgrounds. The expo is a modified version of the shows and auction that were planned for the 2020 U.P. State Fair, which has been postponed until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

15 — Two children and 39 animals were removed from an unsanitary Manistique home on Schoolcraft Avenue after a search warrant was served by Manistique Public Safety. A search of the home found that 39 animals were being kept there, including nine dogs, 12 cats, four bearded dragon lizards, 13 chickens and a hamster. Most of the animals were in poor physical condition, and were suffering from severe flea infestation and unsanitary living conditions. Nine people were also living in the home, and eight of the residents were present when the search warrant was served. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services was called to remove two children — a 10-year-old and a 16-year-old — from the home. The department also investigated the possible neglect of two elderly vulnerable adults found in the home.

16 — The Delta Animal Shelter held a grand opening for its new dog walking trail. Before the event, staff, volunteers, Ambassadors of Delta County, and dogs with their humans took part in a ribbon cutting.

16 — A Delta County citizen and the director of Escanaba Public Safety were recently honored for actions they took during a fire at the Delta Inn Motel this spring. Delta County resident Angel Lozada was given an outstanding citizen award from Escanaba Public Safety and a key to the city from the City of Escanaba in appreciation for what he did during the fire. According to LaMarche, Lozada helped people escape from the burning motel before Escanaba Public Safety arrived at the scene, putting his own life in danger in the process.

21 — An Upper Peninsula bald eagle launched an airborne attack on a drone operated by a Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) pilot last month, tearing off a propeller and sending the aircraft to the bottom of Lake Michigan. The brazen eagle vs. EGLE onslaught took place near Escanaba on July 21 when EGLE environmental quality analyst and drone pilot Hunter King was mapping shoreline erosion for use in the agency’s efforts to document and help communities cope with high water levels.

August

4 — After two decades with the city of Gladstone, Parks and Recreation Director Nicole Sanderson retired last week, ending her time at the helm of fun and relaxation in the city known as “The Year Round Playground.”

9 — Personnel from the Michigan Departments of Natural Resources and Environment, Great Lakes and Energy investigated a fish kill that took place along the lower reaches of the Middle Branch of the Escanaba River. The fish kill — which was reported Aug. 9 and responded to by state agencies the following day — occurred near Gladstone, downstream of Verso Corporation’s Escanaba Paper Mill. It was later announced, more than a dozen species of fish were killed in the release of an organic pollutant, called “black liquor” from the nearby paper mill.

10 — Michigan’s first rail trail is 50 years old. A yearlong celebration of the Haywire Grade, a multi-use trail that crosses the Upper Peninsula north to south from Shingleton to Manistique, kicked off in February with a snowmobile ride and will continue throughout the year with equine, ORV/ATV and bicycle events as local, regional and state officials commemorate the trail’s history.

13 — The Delta County Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner — which normal- ly puts a spotlight on what local people and busi- nesses have achieved over the past year — will not be held as planned in 2020.

20 — After a comment that some felt was anti-union, Escanaba City Councilman Ralph Blasier apologized Thursday, saying his issue was not with unions but rather with the city council taking a more active role in the management of Harbor Tower. “Two weeks ago at the city council meeting I made comments, which I admit that I made and I also admit they were stupid,” said Blasier. “It makes it sounds like I hate Teamsters or hate unions or hate union members — it’s not true.”

20 — Livestock exhibitors and their family members were at the U.P. State Fairgrounds for the first day of the Lori Branstrom Memorial Livestock Expo.

24 — Sixty-five adult dogs — almost all female — and 69 puppies were taken from a puppy mill in Maple Ridge Township by police. Many of the dogs were pregnant or had recently had a litter of puppies. Most dogs found at the puppy mill, such as Goldendoodles, Labradoodles, German Shepherds and Aus- tralian Shepherds, were from larger breeds; some smaller dogs such as Yorkshire Terriers and teddy bear dogs were taken, as well. “All the dogs are safe at the shelter and being processed and medically cared for,” Shelter Manager Susan Gartland said. 18 horses were later seized from the property.

31 — A tornado touched down west of Escanaba Monday evening, carving a swath through a self-storage facility and top- pling trees in its path.

September

17 — An indoor concert that took place last weekend has been identified as a site of possible COVID-19 exposure. Public Health, Delta & Menominee Coun- ties (PHDM) recommended Thursday that all people who attended Lake Shore Live between 7 and 11 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12 monitor themselves for symptoms of COVID-19. The event was held at the Ruth Butler Building on the U.P. State Fairgrounds.

23 — A Menominee Township man who was sentenced to up to 50 years in prison for murdering his former girlfriend in 2015 will remain in prison after losing his second attempt at an appeal earlier this month. Attorneys for Gregory S. Ihander — who is now age 53 and lodged in the Chippewa Correctional Facility — have never argued against the second-degree murder conviction that sent him to prison in 2017 for killing Jolene Eichhorn. Instead, the appeals have focused on challenging the sentence itself, with the ultimate goal of having Ihander resentenced for the crime.

29 — A long-running feud between a former Gladstone City commissioner and the city itself took a new turn recently, when Mike O’Connor submitted a petition he spearheaded asking the city to eliminate the first installment payment of the 9th Street Special Assessment.

October

2 — Only hours after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced the Upper Peninsula would be rolling back to phase four of the MI Safe Start Plan, the emergency powers underpinning the order were struck down by the Michigan Supreme Court.

7 — The Wilson Seventh-day Adventist Church, located on County Road 551 in Wilson, recently held its grand opening. It was rebuilt after being destroyed by fire after a lightning strike in 2017. According to the church building committee, the Wilson Seventh-day Adventist Church has been on the same land since 1908 and counting the fire in 2017, burned down twice.

15 — Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital (SMH) has received approval for USDA funding to begin Phase 2 of its building expansion project on the US 2 Manistique campus. The new construction and renovation plans will reduce barriers for rural residents increasing access to vital healthcare services closer to home, according to hospital officials. The board of trustees and senior leadership team announced the $12.6 million project is underway and scheduled for completion in the fall of 2021.

15 — Public Health Delta & Menominee Counties was notified on Thursday, October 15, of a horse in Menominee County that had died from Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). The horse became ill on Oct. 3, 2020. This is the first confirmed animal case of EEE in Menominee County this year.

20 — Ground was officially broken on the new Baybank location in Escanaba. The new bank branch will be located at the former site of Elmer’s Restaurant.

27 — The Upper Peninsula marked it’s 100th death from COVID-19, as the south-central Upper Peninsula solidifies itself as the hardest hit region in the state based on cases per million residents.

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23 — In response to an expected decline in state funding, Bay College has cut approximately $1.8 million from its budget for its 2020-21 fiscal year.

30 — Members of the Escanaba Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Board chose Scott Czasak of Macomb, Mich., to serve as the authority’s next executive director in a special meeting.

July

1 — Due to ongoing concerns related to COVID-19, the U.P. State Fair — one of the area’s largest annual events — has officially been canceled for 2020.

3 — The Great Lakes Logging & Heavy Equipment Expo, which was set to take place at the U.P. State Fairgrounds Sept. 10-12, was canceled. 2020’s expo would have marked the 75th anniversary of the event.

9 — The U.P. Steam and Gas Engine Associa- tion announced the cancelation of its 45th annual show Wednesday.

9 — The U.P. State Fair Authority approved a plan Wednesday for a livestock expo to beheld Aug.17-22 at the U.P, State Fairgrounds. The expo is a modified version of the shows and auction that were planned for the 2020 U.P. State Fair, which has been postponed until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

15 — Two children and 39 animals were removed from an unsanitary Manistique home on Schoolcraft Avenue after a search warrant was served by Manistique Public Safety. A search of the home found that 39 animals were being kept there, including nine dogs, 12 cats, four bearded dragon lizards, 13 chickens and a hamster. Most of the animals were in poor physical condition, and were suffering from severe flea infestation and unsanitary living conditions. Nine people were also living in the home, and eight of the residents were present when the search warrant was served. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services was called to remove two children — a 10-year-old and a 16-year-old — from the home. The department also investigated the possible neglect of two elderly vulnerable adults found in the home.

16 — The Delta Animal Shelter held a grand opening for its new dog walking trail. Before the event, staff, volunteers, Ambassadors of Delta County, and dogs with their humans took part in a ribbon cutting.

16 — A Delta County citizen and the director of Escanaba Public Safety were recently honored for actions they took during a fire at the Delta Inn Motel this spring. Delta County resident Angel Lozada was given an outstanding citizen award from Escanaba Public Safety and a key to the city from the City of Escanaba in appreciation for what he did during the fire. According to LaMarche, Lozada helped people escape from the burning motel before Escanaba Public Safety arrived at the scene, putting his own life in danger in the process.

21 — An Upper Peninsula bald eagle launched an airborne attack on a drone operated by a Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) pilot last month, tearing off a propeller and sending the aircraft to the bottom of Lake Michigan. The brazen eagle vs. EGLE onslaught took place near Escanaba on July 21 when EGLE environmental quality analyst and drone pilot Hunter King was mapping shoreline erosion for use in the agency’s efforts to document and help communities cope with high water levels.

August

4 — After two decades with the city of Gladstone, Parks and Recreation Director Nicole Sanderson retired last week, ending her time at the helm of fun and relaxation in the city known as “The Year Round Playground.”

9 — Personnel from the Michigan Departments of Natural Resources and Environment, Great Lakes and Energy investigated a fish kill that took place along the lower reaches of the Middle Branch of the Escanaba River. The fish kill — which was reported Aug. 9 and responded to by state agencies the following day — occurred near Gladstone, downstream of Verso Corporation’s Escanaba Paper Mill. It was later announced, more than a dozen species of fish were killed in the release of an organic pollutant, called “black liquor” from the nearby paper mill.

10 — Michigan’s first rail trail is 50 years old. A yearlong celebration of the Haywire Grade, a multi-use trail that crosses the Upper Peninsula north to south from Shingleton to Manistique, kicked off in February with a snowmobile ride and will continue throughout the year with equine, ORV/ATV and bicycle events as local, regional and state officials commemorate the trail’s history.

13 — The Delta County Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner — which normal- ly puts a spotlight on what local people and busi- nesses have achieved over the past year — will not be held as planned in 2020.

20 — After a comment that some felt was anti-union, Escanaba City Councilman Ralph Blasier apologized Thursday, saying his issue was not with unions but rather with the city council taking a more active role in the management of Harbor Tower. “Two weeks ago at the city council meeting I made comments, which I admit that I made and I also admit they were stupid,” said Blasier. “It makes it sounds like I hate Teamsters or hate unions or hate union members — it’s not true.”

20 — Livestock exhibitors and their family members were at the U.P. State Fairgrounds for the first day of the Lori Branstrom Memorial Livestock Expo.

24 — Sixty-five adult dogs — almost all female — and 69 puppies were taken from a puppy mill in Maple Ridge Township by police. Many of the dogs were pregnant or had recently had a litter of puppies. Most dogs found at the puppy mill, such as Goldendoodles, Labradoodles, German Shepherds and Aus- tralian Shepherds, were from larger breeds; some smaller dogs such as Yorkshire Terriers and teddy bear dogs were taken, as well. “All the dogs are safe at the shelter and being processed and medically cared for,” Shelter Manager Susan Gartland said. 18 horses were later seized from the property.

31 — A tornado touched down west of Escanaba Monday evening, carving a swath through a self-storage facility and top- pling trees in its path.

September

17 — An indoor concert that took place last weekend has been identified as a site of possible COVID-19 exposure. Public Health, Delta & Menominee Coun- ties (PHDM) recommended Thursday that all people who attended Lake Shore Live between 7 and 11 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12 monitor themselves for symptoms of COVID-19. The event was held at the Ruth Butler Building on the U.P. State Fairgrounds.

23 — A Menominee Township man who was sentenced to up to 50 years in prison for murdering his former girlfriend in 2015 will remain in prison after losing his second attempt at an appeal earlier this month. Attorneys for Gregory S. Ihander — who is now age 53 and lodged in the Chippewa Correctional Facility — have never argued against the second-degree murder conviction that sent him to prison in 2017 for killing Jolene Eichhorn. Instead, the appeals have focused on challenging the sentence itself, with the ultimate goal of having Ihander resentenced for the crime.

29 — A long-running feud between a former Gladstone City commissioner and the city itself took a new turn recently, when Mike O’Connor submitted a petition he spearheaded asking the city to eliminate the first installment payment of the 9th Street Special Assessment.

October

2 — Only hours after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced the Upper Peninsula would be rolling back to phase four of the MI Safe Start Plan, the emergency powers underpinning the order were struck down by the Michigan Supreme Court.

7 — The Wilson Seventh-day Adventist Church, located on County Road 551 in Wilson, recently held its grand opening. It was rebuilt after being destroyed by fire after a lightning strike in 2017. According to the church building committee, the Wilson Seventh-day Adventist Church has been on the same land since 1908 and counting the fire in 2017, burned down twice.

15 — Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital (SMH) has received approval for USDA funding to begin Phase 2 of its building expansion project on the US 2 Manistique campus. The new construction and renovation plans will reduce barriers for rural residents increasing access to vital healthcare services closer to home, according to hospital officials. The board of trustees and senior leadership team announced the $12.6 million project is underway and scheduled for completion in the fall of 2021.

15 — Public Health Delta & Menominee Counties was notified on Thursday, October 15, of a horse in Menominee County that had died from Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE). The horse became ill on Oct. 3, 2020. This is the first confirmed animal case of EEE in Menominee County this year.

20 — Ground was officially broken on the new Baybank location in Escanaba. The new bank branch will be located at the former site of Elmer’s Restaurant.

27 — The Upper Peninsula marked it’s 100th death from COVID-19, as the south-central Upper Peninsula solidifies itself as the hardest hit region in the state based on cases per million residents.

November

2 — The new Peninsula Federal Credit Union office on the corner of 3rd Avenue North and North 30th Street in Escanaba is officially open for business following a ribbon cutting ceremony.

3 — After months of planning, preparation, and more than a little uncertainty, polling places across the nation opened Tuesday. Voters were lined up outside the Wells Township Hall, waiting for their chance to vote. Unlike in Wells Township, which experienced lines throughout the day, many other communities and precincts experienced early-morning surges followed by a steady stream of voters.

3 — Michael T. Holmes was elected to serve as the Menominee County sheriff.

6 — The coronavirus pandemic of 2020 has triggered the cancellation of an Escanaba tradition. The Escanaba Christmas Parade, which was scheduled to take place on Friday, December 4, will not be held this year out of “an abundance of caution related to the pandemic.,” organizers said.

7 — High school students, not only in the Escanaba area, but across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula will soon have an opportunity to receive a quality, Catholic, classical education. Holy Name High School (HNHS) in Escanaba will reopen after 50 years, beginning with the 2021-22 school year offering both in person and remote learning.

11 –Just in time for Veterans’ Day, the Delta County Veterans Memorial Park in Gladstone got a new monument to recognize those who served and died in battle on the Korean Peninsula during a conflict left out of many history books. The events formally known as the “Korean DMZ Conflict” and colloquially as the “Second Korean War,” were a series of battles that took place in the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea between 1966 and 1969. While 92 American lives were lost in clashes with North Koreans in the DMZ, the battles were overshadowed by the larger conflict taking place in Vietnam during the same period.

12 — Public Health, Delta & Menominee Counties (PHDM) warned residents that individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 may not receive a call due to the strain from a surge in cases locally. PHDM said it was notifying residents in Delta and Menominee counties that 1,113 cases were added within the two-county jurisdiction in the last three weeks, placing a significant strain on available resources. Even with assistance from partner organizations, capacity has been reached, and individuals testing positive and their close contacts may not receive a call from PHDM.

13 — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer took legal action to shut down a pipeline that carries oil beneath a channel that links two of the Great Lakes. Whitmer’s office notified the Canadian company that it was revoking an easement granted in 1953 to extend a roughly 4-mile section of the pipeline through the Straits of Mackinac. The revocation will take effect within 180 days, at which point the flow of oil must stop.

19 — Public Health, Delta & Menominee Counties (PHDM), along with the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department (WUPHD) and the Dickinson-Iron District Health Department (DIDHD) announced the appointment of Robert Lorinser, MD, MPH, MSW as their new medical director.

11 — Both Delta and Menominee Counties passed grim milestones when Delta County passed 2,000 COVID-19 infections and Menominee County passed 1,000.

24 — Escanaba’s annual Christmas tree lighting was a brief and quiet event Tuesday. The event, which usually draws crowds, was streamed live on Facebook but residents and shoppers taking part in the annual Black Friday on Tuesday promotion were discouraged from gathering at the tree to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

25 — Volunteers loaded Thanksgiving meals with all the fixings into to- go boxes for distribution. Forty-nine turkeys were prepared for the meals over the course of a week. The meals also also included green bean caserole, mashed potatoes and stuffing. Carla Porath, the Salvation Army’s cook, said the more than 300 meals were made to be distributed to the cars waiting in the Escanaba Salvation Army parking lot the day before Thanksgiving.

29 — Tom Casperson, the Escana- ba Republican who served in the state legislature for 14 years, has died following a battle with lung cancer. He was 61.

30 — Charges have been file against a Maple Ridge Township woman in the investigation of an alleged “puppy mill,” according to the Delta County Prosecutor’s Office. On November 17, Rebecca Sue Johnson, of Maple Ridge Township, was charged with felony abandoning/cruelty to 25 or more animals, a charge punishable by up to seven years in prison, and misdemeanor animal shelters/pounds – unregistered, punishable by up to 90 days in jail. On November 23, Johnson posted a $60,000 cash or surety bond and is not allowed to purchase, possess, or care for animals. A ‘not guilty’ plea was later entered.

December

3 — Delta County passed 2,500 cases of COVID-19, with 2,256 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 298 probable cases.

3 — While this year’s Christmas in the Village event was canceled, that didn’t stop Santa from making a visit to the Antique Village at the U.P. State Fairgrounds. The U.P. Steam and Gas Engine Association held an alternative, “drive by” event to celebrate the beginning of the Christmas season.

4 — A former Menomonee County Sheriff’s Department deputy was sentenced to a jail term and probation on a charge of attempted accosting for immoral purposes of a then 15- year-old Menominee teen. Brian William Helfert, 57, of Menominee was sentenced to five years probation and six months in jail, according to Menominee County Prosecuting Attorney Jeffrey T. Rogg. Helfert was originally bound over from district court to circuit court in February on two counts of criminal sexual conduct – third degree, a 15-year felony, following alleged assaults against a minor he knew through his roles as a school resource officer and a Menominee County juvenile crime investigator.

7 — More than 250 Yoopers have died of COVID-19. The U.P. had 12,821 confirmed cases of COVID-19, 2,461 probable cases, 256 deaths and 50 probable deaths linked to the disease, according to state officials.

9 — A Wisconsin-based fighter jet crashed in the Hiawatha National Forest in Delta County while on a training mission and searchers were looking Wednesday for the pilot, who was the only person aboard, authorities said. The F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the Wisconsin Air National Guard’s 115th Fighter Wing at Truax Field Air National Guard Base in Madison crashed about 8 p.m. Tuesday, the Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs said in a statement.