Daily Press file photo A group protests the firing of former Delta County Administrator Emily DeSalvo outside the Delta County Courthouse in February.

EDITORS NOTE: The year 2023 was a time that brought changes to the area  — and often controversy. Controversy dominated the Delta County Board of Commissioners with no end in sight in 2024. There were big changes at Escanaba’s paper mill ranging from a new future to a tragic illness. Escanaba saw its first cruise ships dock, only to have the venture end a few moths later. Here is a look back at 2023 and some of the stories that shaped our lives.

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JANUARY

2 — Rafael Benjamin Lopez Torres was the first baby born in Delta County in 2023. Rafael arrived at 7:25 p.m. on January 2 at OSF HealthCare St. Francis Hospital & Medical Group in Escanaba, weighing 6 pounds, 10.8 ounces and was 21 inches long. He is the first son of Amber and Ismael Lopez Torres of Gladstone.

4 — A section of sidewalk on Ludington Street collapsed, revealing the inside of a tunnel once used to pump steam-heat to buildings in the heart of downtown Escanaba. The hole was opened when Radio Results Network Operations Manager Mike Daniels brought his pickup truck onto the sidewalk outside the RRN Media Plaza at 1101 Ludington Street to drop off a load of sidewalk salt. While the truck was on the sidewalk, the front driverside tire broke through the pavement and into the steam tunnel below.

15 — An Escanaba man was killed in a two-vehicle crash that left portions of US-2 closed for nearly three hours. The crash took place in the Bayview area between Escanaba and Gladstone. An initial investigation revealed a pickup truck blew a tire, causing the vehicle to cross the median into oncoming traffic. The truck then struck another pickup truck driven by 55-year-old Michael Englund of Escanaba, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

18 — After more than a decade of managing the county’s parks, the Delta Conservation District announced its intent to terminate its agreement with the county Tuesday, ending a contract that would have left the district in charge of parks for the next 10 years and starting months of debate and public outcry over who would manage the facilities.

19 — After months of discussion about making the relationship with Interim City Manager Jim McNeil more permanent, the city council unanimously voted to hire McNeil as the city’s permanent city manager Thursday night. “I’ll put my best foot forward and hope to make the citizens of Escanaba proud,” McNeil told the council upon his hire.

26 — A proposed conversion of the Escanaba paper mill to produce paper- board was given a vote of support by the state Legislature. The state House and Senate both approved $200 million to support the project in the state’s spending bill, which was later signed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

27 — Two people were killed in Garden Township when their SUV collided head-on with a semi-truck, Michigan State Police at the Gladstone Post said. Gerald Weaver, 47, and Tara Weaver, 46, of Escanaba were pronounced dead at the scene.

29 — A Manistique resident, 88-year-old Orvill Erickson, was badly burned when his home caught fire. When officers arrived they found the man had been rescued from the home by residents in the neighborhood. He succumbed to his burn injuries early Tuesday, Jan. 31.

30 — Firefighters responded to a home in Masonville Township Monday after a discarded cigarette ignited a mattress and the home’s occupant was unable to escape the building on his own. Michigan Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer Stephen Butzin and Michigan State Police Trooper Zane Weaver were the first to arrive on scene. The two officers entered the building and removed the man, whose wife had called 911 after she returned home to find the house filled with smoke.

FEBRUARY

2 — After lengthy public comment and some debate among the council members, the Escanaba City Council voted Thursday to reject a moratorium that would have stopped the city from accepting and processing applications related to marijuana businesses for a period of three months.

5 — The Upper Peninsula Construction Council announced an innovative new program  called Construction Connect UP. The program is skill-based, labor-and industry-approved and directly linked to real workplace situations. Students attend school in the mornings, then spend the afternoons working, learning – and earning – on job sites.

6 — A toddler with a lighter was the cause of a fire at the Sand Hill Town Homes, an Escanaba apartment complex, according to the Escanaba Public Safety Department. The original apartment sustained major damage and all the contents inside were destroyed. The attached apartments on both sides were saved, and water and smoke damage were contained to that apartment.

7 — The Delta County Board of Commissioners drew ire from a crowd of residents that overflowed

into the hallway at the Delta County Service Center Tuesday by voting to terminate Delta County Administrator Emily DeSalvo. The move came after the administrator gave a public statement about her treatment and accusing board members of a pattern of unethical behavior.

13 — Firefighters respond to a house fire at 208 South 4th Street Monday afternoon. According to bystanders, flames were visible through the roof of the building when firefighters arrived on scene and it was evident that the upper story had filled with heavy smoke. No one was home at the time of the fire, though it is believed a cat was trapped in the house.

14 — Escanaba saw its second house fire in two days. The blaze was reported shortly after 4 p.m. at 400 S. 12th St. on the city’s southside. The cause of a house fire was later ruled to be electrical.

15 — The Delta County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to appoint County Controller Ashleigh Young as the county’s interim administrator during a packed meeting at the Delta County Service Center.

18 — A Gladstone man died Saturday after the side-by-side he was driving went through the ice on Little Bay de Noc. The driver of the side-by-side was identified as Joseph Demuse, 65, of Gladstone. Demuse had been fishing in that area daily for about a week. Officers believe the ice had cracked and refrozen overnight, creating a thin spot in the ice that Demuse had previously traveled on and believed to be safe. Demuse had a passenger with him in the side-by-side when the vehicle broke through the ice. The man was able to unbuckle his seat belt, managed to open the passenger side door of the vehicle, and was able to escape with the assistance of nearby anglers.

27 — Firefighters believe a home oxygen tank that caught on fire is responsible for a blaze at an Escanaba apartment building at 302 North 15th St. Two tenants were transported to OSF St. Francis Hospital for minor injuries sustained in the fire.

28 — Public Health Delta & Menominee Counties was notified of several atypical pneumonia infections in individuals employed at the Escanaba Billerud Paper Mill. Testing indicated the infections were caused by a fungal infection called blastomycosis.

MARCH

2 — K-9 officer Dag retired this week after being with the department since 2012. In addition to the extra pets from Escanaba Mayor Mark Ammel and a standing ovation from the Escanaba City Council, Dag was honored with a certificate from the city for his service.

3 — Students from across the Upper Peninsula and some from Lower Michigan are converged on Escanaba for the FIRST in Michigan district robotics competition.

3 — Finlandia University announced it was ending operations and will not enroll students for the coming school year.

7 — The Delta County Board of Commissioners voted to approve a contract with new Interim County Administrator Ashleigh Young, despite the contract not being written yet. “It was just the points. The contract has not been written. It will have to come back for signatures,” said Young. Despite not having a written contract to approve, the board voted in a 3-2 split vote to “accept the interim administrator’s contract.”

11 — For the first time in three years, there was a Special Olympics Basketball Tournament in Escanaba. The tournament was held at the Escanaba High School gym. The tournament was not held the past several years due to the pandemic.

13 — A cooperative project resulted in the installation of an osprey nesting platform in Masonville Township is situated near a Michigan Department of Natural Resources boating access site in an area where the Rapid, Whitefish and Tacoosh rivers empty into Lake Michigan at Little Bay de Noc. The osprey nest platform installation project, which was completed by wildlife technicians from the DNR and U.S. Department of Agriculture and linemen from the Alger Delta Cooperative Electric Association, replaced a worn and heavily used nesting platform on land owned by the Smith & Sons Lumber Co. of Rapid River.

14 — The Delta County Chamber of Commerce selected Matthew Valiquette to serve as the Chamber and U.P. State Fair’s operations manager.

14 — A man was arrested after claiming to be a police officer while demanding to use the bathroom at an Escanaba business. Escanaba Public Safety responded to the business in the 900 block of North Lincoln Road in response to a complaint of a man identifying himself as a police officer. An investigation revealed the suspect, 45-year-old Shawn LeClaire, of Escanaba, walked into the business, identified himself as a police officer, demanded to use the restroom, and threatened to arrest a worker before leaving. A few hours later, he was located and arrested for impersonating a peace officer, a misdemeanor.

17 — At approximately 3:20 a.m. troopers from the Negaunee Post of the Michigan State Police were dispatched to a vehicle fire on West Maple Ridge Road in Ewing Township. When the fire was extinguished, it was discovered the vehicle contained human remains. The body was later identified as that of Cole E. Possi, age 26, of Rock.

30 — A closing shift led a Delta County lottery club to winning a $1.41 million Doubler Wild Time Progressive Fast Cash jackpot from the Michigan Lottery.

The two-person Wally’s Club lottery club bought the winning ticket at Wally’s Bar, located at 917 Delta Avenue in Gladstone. The club members were Thomas Derusha and Jennifer Boulley-Wicklund.

APRIL

2 — A crowd gathered at the United Steel Workers Local 2-21 Hall on Sheridan Road in Escanaba for a pancake breakfast and bake sale to raise money and offer support for those affected by the outbreak of blastomycosis associated with the Escanaba Billerud Paper Mill.

2 — A Gladstone woman died after being struck by a vehicle on M-35 on March 1. The woman was identified as 29-year-old Tasha Adams.

11 —  A group of young people, ranging in age from 16 to 20, protested against social media postings by Delta County Board of Commission Chair Dave Moyle and other actions by Molye and commissioners Bob Petersen and Bob Barron before and during a statutory meeting of the commission.

13 — Billerud announced that the paper company is idling the Escanaba paper mill for up to three weeks as a precautionary to protect the health and safety of employees and contractors due to a blastomycosis fungal infection outbreak.

14 — After more than five years leading the Daily Press through everything from technology changes to a pandemic, Publisher Corky DeRoeck retired today.

14 — One person, a contractor who worked at the Billerud paper mill in Escanaba, has died from blastomycosis, a fungal infection that has sickened close to 100 people who work at or have visited the mill.

14 — A Rapid River woman was killed in an ORV crash in Nahma, Michigan State Police at the Gladstone Post said. LeeAnne Moore, 52, of Rapid River was killed in the crash.

14 — Escanaba Public Safety officers were called to Walmart at 4:05 p.m. after a report of a man inside the store smashing property with hammers. On the scene officers encountered the man while he was damaging property and he was taken into custody. Walmart evacuated the store, which was closed until repairs could be made. Walmart was open the next day.

14 — A full-page advertisement was published in the Daily Press with the names of Escanaba Township and Cornell Township residents who signed petitions to annex roughly 19,000 acres from Escanaba Township to Cornell Township. The annexation proposal was spearheaded by Delta County Commissioner Bob Barron, and the advertisement sparked months of controversy over the plan, Barron, and the potential solar development that could come to much of the annexed land if it were approved by the county board.

18 — The Daily Press is officially under new leadership. Sarah Maki, who has served as an advertising professional with the paper for 14 years, has been selected to take the helm as the Daily Press’ newest publisher.

21 — The number of people infected with blastomycosis passes 100 — reaching 104 confirmed and probable cases. As of this date, 13 people had been hospitalized by the fungal infection and one person had died.

22 — Stormtroopers and other Star Wars characters were a common sight at Bay-Con Strikes Back, held at Bay. The event also featured a wide variety of vendors offering modern and vintage toys, video games, vinyl records, movies, comics and pop-culture art.

23 — United States Navy veteran, Jeff Thayer, known for never wearing shoes, Jeff was already planning a four and a half month long barefoot hike through the Appalachian Trail for fun, but decided to use his trip to support the Eva Burrell Animal Shelter in Manistique through Vets4PetsUS.

29 — The Escanaba Public Library Bookmobile made its debut at the Northern Lights YMCA Funfest in Escanaba. The bookmobile is funded entirely through federal grant dollars and sponsored by the Friends of the Escanaba Library.

MAY

2 — The Bay College Board of Trustees voted unanimously to select Dr. Nerita Hughes, of Minnetonka, Minn., as the college’s next president.

2 — After months of discussion on the future of Delta County Parks, the County Board of Commissioners voted to approve a contract with the Delta Conservation District, which would extend the district’s management of the parks until the end of the calendar year.

2 — Despite voting in April to postpone the hire of a municipal attorney until after a permanent county administrator is hired, the county moved forward and approved contracting with Attorney Scott Graham.

5 — Three Nigerian men await extradition to the U.S. for allegedly committing sexual extortion that resulted in the death of a Marquette teen, Jordan DeMay. On March 25, 2022, 17-year-old DeMay, was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

“Kids, teenagers and even adults can be a target of sextortion. We urge you to have discussions about this and have a plan for your children to reach out if it does happen to them,” DeMay’s family said in a statement.

8 — Holy Name Catholic School and Holy Name High School — A Chesterton Academy are the recipients of an endowed fund worth a total of $500,000, the newly-created Ken and Patricia Gartland Holy Name High School Tuition Assistance & College Scholarship Endowed Scholarship Fund. To kick off this new endowed fund, Ken and Patricia will guarantee each 2023 eighth grade HNCS graduate who is a Delta County resident and shows need — along with any incoming ninth grader from another Delta County area public school going on to attend HNHS — who shows need, a $2,000 scholarship to help pay for their high school tuition.

8 — The Escanaba paper mill resumed operations Monday after being idled on April 13 as a precautionary measure against blastomycosis, a fungal disease that has affected mill employees in unprecedented numbers.

9 — During a particularly heated meeting where one commissioner called the board corrupt and another threatened to leave mid-meeting, the Delta County Board of Commissioners voted to officially hire Ashleigh Young as the county’s permanent administrator.

10 — The Seney National Wildlife Refuge held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new visitor center and open house.

11 — Two Menominee men were arraigned in the 95-A District Court after a meth lab exploded in the city of Menominee. Menominee County Prosecuting Attorney Jeffrey T. Rogg charged both David Allen Erdman, 43, and Donald Mark Myers, 50, in multiple-count felony complaints, after explosion at a suspected methamphetamine labora- tory, located at 1012 18th Avenue in Menominee, on Sunday, May 7.

11 — A juvenile male has been arrested after investigation into a string of stolen vehicles, according to the Escanaba Public Safety Department. Within the last week and a half, the juvenile stole a bread truck, semi and pickup within the city limits of Escanaba. All the vehicles were recovered and processed for evidence.

14 — Passengers and crew of the the first American Queen Voyages cruise ship to dock in Escanaba received a warm welcome from local dignitaries and residents Sunday morning. A large crowd gathered at North Shore Marine Terminal & Logistics Dock — behind the Escanaba Public Library — to greet the American Queen Voyages cruise ship Ocean Navigator and its approximately 200 passengers to the city.

16 — A Upper Peninsula man who was receiving methamphetamine and fentanyl pills in the mail hidden in a teddy bear has been sentenced to a prison term. William John “Billy” Strauss, 34, of Daggett, was sentenced to 4 to 15 years in prison for Possession of Methamphetamine, according to Menominee County Prosecuting Attorney Jeffrey T. Rogg.

17 — A Rapid River woman, Kelly Marshall, 44, died after her vehicle rolled over in Ford River Township.

22 — School officials, athletes and members of the community gathered at Escanaba High School Monday to dedicate the school’s new “Abrahamson Courts” tennis complex. An open house was held, followed by a dedication ceremony.

23 — Michigan State University Extension Bioenergy Educator Charles Gould was in Escanaba to speak on how agricultural practices and solar developments can coexist, but his presentation was met with hostility from a vocal group of residents that opposed all forms of utility-scale solar projects. During the presentation, one resident suggested angry hunters would shoot solar panels with guns. Gould replied with, “Please don’t shoot the solar modules.”

27 — Big Bay de Noc High School senior Caleb Jasmin has been selected as the Daily Press 2022 Student of the Year.

31 — After a year and a half of planning, ground was broken for the Hannahville Indian Community’s new Health Clinic and Government Services Building.

31 — Citing her physical and mental health and differences with the county board, Delta County Airport Manager Andrea Nummilien submitted her letter of resignation today. Her last day was June 2.

JUNE

10 — Village Days & Music Festival, a free event hosted by the U.P. Steam and Gas Engine Association, took place.

10 — The IXL Historical Museum at W5551 River St. has a new feature in its multi-building complex — a working blacksmith shop, where local smith David Hudson will do live demonstrations once a month during the summer.

10 — The city of Escanaba has announced Escanaba Public Safety Detective/ Lieutenant John Gudwer has been promoted to director of the department. The promotion followed the retirement of Public Safety Director Robert LaMarche.

11 — At approximately 3 a.m. Sunday, Delta County Sheriff’s Department Deputies were dispatched to the area of II Road and 11th Road in Fairbanks Township on a report of a one-vehicle accident. The driver of the vehicle, a 22-year old woman, was transported to U.P. Health Systems in Marquette, where she was treated for non-life-threatening injuries sustained in the crash. The passenger, 20-year-old Connor Dalgord, of Garden, was ejected from the vehicle and died as a result of his injuries.

20 — The Delta County Board of Commissioners voted not to move forward with a controversial plan to annex more than 19,000 acres of Escanaba Township into neighboring Cornell Township Tuesday.

21 — A unprecedented special election for the Delta Conservation District  resulted in two new faces on the conservation district board. A staggering 801 ballots were submitted for the election — up from only nine in 2022. Of those ballots submitted, 795 were valid with the remaining six early ballots being invalidated due to voters not inclosing copies of their legal identification. When the counting finished late Wednesday, challengers Joe Kaplan and Nate Brockman had defeated incumbents Dave Nelson and James Yoder.

23 — Just over a month after the first American Queen Voyages cruise ship made the voyage to Escanaba, the company has announced it will end Great Lakes cruises after this season.

26 — The Escanaba Vet Center celebrated the grand opening of its new loca- tion at 301 N. 30th St., which was relocated in April, with a ribbon cutting and open house today.

29 — A Rock woman is facing multiple counts of Medicaid fraud. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced that Medicaid fraud charges have been filed against Nicole Stouffer, 42, of Rock. The criminal complaint charges a total of nine counts, all four-year felonies.

JULY

1 — A search and rescue operation took place in Little Bay de Noc after a boat crashed into the Escanaba Municipal Dock during Saturday’s fireworks display. Luckily, a man who had fallen overboard from the vessel, Jason Livingston, 47, was able to reach shore after a very long swim.

3 — Official efforts have begun to recall three members of the Delta County Board of Commissioners. Recall petition language was submitted to the Delta County Clerk’s Office seeking the recall of Commissioners Robert Petersen, Dave Moyle and Robert Barron.

10 — An Escanaba man was charged with murder after the body of a woman was found in the woods in Ford River. Tavaris Lee Jackson, Jr., age 32 of 611 S. 13th Street in Escanaba, was arraigned in Delta County District Court for the murder of 22-year-old Harley Corwin, also of Escanaba, whose body was discovered July 9. According to posts made by Corwin of her personal Facebook page prior to her disappearance and the discovery of her body, Corwin was pregnant.

11 — A Menominee man was charged today, faced the possibility of life in prison, after he allegedly robbed the Menominee Dollar General and threatened to cut an employee with a knife on July 9. According to court documents and information presented in open court, a Dollar General employee reported to Menominee Police Department officers that a store patron, later identified as Lawrence Arthur Meeks, age 22, had stolen merchandise, including frozen meat. When the employee confronted Meeks about the theft, Meeks brushed past him and exited the store. In the parking lot, Meeks told the employee, “I have a knife and I will cut you, you bastard.”

12 — A car was involved in a crash with a buggy driven by an Amish family. In addition to a woman, two young girls were inside the buggy at the time of the crash. The crash took place on M-35 in Gladstone, on the hill just southeast of the John & Melissa Besse Sports Park. Minor injuries were reported.

17 — The Escanaba Elks Lodge #354 was able to help a local family meet a goal to get a new bike for their daughter, Jorja, who has seizure disorder, severe multiply handicap (SXI) and hydrocephalus. The Kressin family had been trying to raise funds to be able to purchase a Van Raam Opair Wheelchair Bike. The Opair is a wheelchair bike with which you can transport a wheelchair user. A seat for the wheelchair user/passenger is affixed to the front of the bike. From the back, the cyclist has an overview on the road and view of the passenger.

17 — The language for petitions to recall three Delta County Commissioners — Dave Moyle, Bob Barron, and Bob Petersen — was approved  by the Delta County Election Commission during a clarity hearing.

18 — Despite an eleventh-hour push by County Commissioner Bob Barron to move forward with the plan, the Delta County Board of Commissioners officially rejected a proposed annexation of more than 19,000 acres of Escanaba Township into neighboring Cornell Township.

18 — The Delta County Board of Commissioners voted not to support the U.P. Area Agency on Aging’s 2024 Annual Implementation Plan because they believed doing so would support racism and an LGBTQ+ agenda due to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) requirements. Commissioner Bob Barron, who was vehemently opposed to the requirements, said, “Unfortunately, what that is is the continuation of racism. Basically it perpetuates the contempt or hatred for God, country, family and especially, especially straight, white, Christian men” and “This is a nation founded on following God, not on Sodom and Gomorrah.”

19 — Delta County Commissioner Dave Moyle intends to fight a recall that could remove him from office, but he does not intend to seek reelection in 2024, Moyle told the Daily Press.

20 — L&M Fleet Supply in Escanaba is celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon cutting.

20 — County Commissioners Bob Barron and Bob Petersen followed Commission Chair Dave Moyle’s lead and filed appeals to the July 17 approval of petition language by the Delta County Election Commission.

24 — The first-ever Northern Lights Music Fest is officially in the books, thanks in part due to an unusual source of last-minute financial support, the Delta County Board of Commissioners, which approved a $250,000 loan from the county to Visit Escanaba to support the event. While firm numbers weren’t yet finalized, the total cost of bringing the two-day event featuring country music superstar Keith Urban to the U.P. State Fairgrounds was somewhere between $1.4 and $1.5 million — between $300,000 and $400,000 more than was originally budgeted for the event.

27 — The National Trappers Convention kicked off at the Upper Peninsula State Fairgrounds.

27 — A national gathering of Potawatomi tribal council members held in Battle Creek, Mich. voted to form a historic confederation of 12 Nations, representing tens of thousands of members across North America.

AUGUST

1 — After multiple months without a written contract between the county and newly-hired County Administrator Ashleigh Young, the Delta County Board of Commissioners officially offered Young a contract.

5 — A second stabbing has been reported in Escanaba in less than a week. The latest incident early Saturday morning has left a man with serious injuries, according to Escanaba Public Safety officers.

Another man was stabbed in the forearm Thursday, Aug. 3 in Escanaba. The two stabbings are not related.

The latest stabbing occurred at 12:24 a.m. Saturday in the back lounge area of the Granada Bar, 330 S 10th St., in Escanaba. Escanaba Public Safety officers were called to the bar after a report of a man being stabbed. When they arrived at the bar, officers found that a man had been stabbed in the abdo- men. He suffered serious injuries and was taken to St. Francis Hospital for treatment by Rampart EMS.

7 — A circuit judge rejected the appeals of three Delta County Commissioners who challenged the language for petitions seeking their recall during a hearing. “The recall language is crystal clear, and the reason for the recall is specifically and precisely stated. It is surprising to this court that anyone could suggest otherwise,” Judge Christopher S. Ninomiya told commissioners Bob Barron, Bob Petersen, and Dave Moyle during the hearing.

8 –The Bark River-Harris School District has announced the appointment of Jeremy Pach as superintendent.

8 — Manistique man was found not guilty in the shooting death of 55-year-old Douglas Orr of Cooks. Trevor Gault, age 36, faced charges including open murder and a felony firearms in connection with Orr’s death, but was found not guilty by a jury on all charges.

The shooting took place on the evening of June 17, 2020. Orr was critically injured during the incident at his home in Cooks, and died ten days later after being airlifted to Marquette for treatment.

15 — Bridget Paidl, 17, is crowned the 2023 Upper Peninsula State Fair Queen by 2022 Fair Queen Kassey Labadie. Paidl attends Stephenson High School and was sponsored in the contest by Paidl’s Hardware. Also recognized during the crowning ceremony was frist runner up in the queen category Trinity Busick, 18; 2023 Upper Peninsula State Fair Princess Kora Beaudo, 15, who was sponsored by To-Ne-Hil Farms LLC; first runner up in the princess category Abilene Axtell, 14; 2023 Upper Peninsula State Fair Junior Princess Alayna Johnson, 13, sponsored by Christian Park Village; first runner up in the junior princess category Liana Beaudo, 10; and second runner up in the junior princess category Kadence Lemanski, 11.

15 — Steers were judged in the beef show ring at the U.P. State Fair  The heavyweight grand champion steer, shown by Emma Verbeek, weighed in at 1409 pounds. The reserve champion winner was shown by Levi Hill.

16 — After months of debate and delays, Delta County Administrator Ashleigh Young officially signed her contract with the county.

18 — A Gladstone man has been killed in an airplane crash in Wisconsin, according to the Waupaca County Sheriff’s Office. Bruce Flannery, 78, was killed in an airplane crash at the Central County Airport in the Town of Helvetia. Preliminary investigation revealed the single engine plane piloted by Flannery overturned while landing. Flannery suffered fatal injuries.

19 — A Wells man was arraigned on child pornography charges, according to the Michigan State Police. The Michigan State Police (MSP) Computer Crimes Unit, Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force said Alex James Wigand, 32, of Wells, has been arrested for child sexually abusive material – aggravated possession and using a computer to commit a crime.

23 — The Delta County Conservation District voted to ask the state Attorney General to look into the actions of Conservation District Manager Rory Mattson. While the newly-seated board of the conservation district had a number of grievances related to Mattson’s management, the chief concern for the board Wednesday was Mattson’s request made at the Aug. 15 Delta County Board of Commissioners meeting to modify an easement across his property that accesses the county forest in Cornell.

29 — The Michigan Department of Natural Resources Trust Fund has spoken: the modification of an easement crossing property owned by Conservation District Manager Rory Mattson violates the terms of the grant that facilitated the purchase of the county forest in Cornell.

SEPTEMBER

5 — According to court documents, on Sept. 5 a concerned citizen reported to the Menominee County Sheriff’s Office that a man later identified as Michael Joseph Egan, 53, of Gainesville, Fla. aggressively approached them in a parking lot and stated the “county stole my wife, family and van” and that he was there to “f– shoot everyone.” Egan then stated he was “going to shoot Jeff Rogg in-between the eyes.” Egan was charged with false report or threat of terrorism. The charge is a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

7 — The Great Lakes Logging & Heavy Equipment Expo kicked off today. The annual event, which alternates between Escanaba and Green Bay, Wis., gives a unique opportunity for timber professionals, truck drivers, and the general public to learn about the latest and greatest in the forest products industry.

11 — A member of the Gladstone Area Pickleball Board of Directors stepped up to the podium to make a big announcement at Monday’s Gladstone City Commission meeting. The group successfully raised enough money to get a matching grant to construct a pickleball facility in Gladstone.

14 — The first ever cooking show at the Island Resort and Casino in Harris took place and brought around 200 guests to the convention center where the Daily Press, chefs, vendors and sponsors came together to make “Taste of the Island” happen.

19 — A “run, fight, hide” text message sent to Bay College students was a false alarm caused by a technical glitch, according to Escanaba Public Safety. The message was sent shortly before 10:30 a.m. and was immediately followed by a second message indicating there was no threat to students.

19 — Just hours after a “run, hide, fight” message was sent to Bay College students and staff in error Tuesday, officers were back at the college’s Escanaba campus to investigate a report of a subject carrying an assault rifle — which was later discovered to be a prank gone wrong.

According to a release issued by Escanaba Public Safety, officers were dispatched to the college at 11:01 p.m. on a report of a subject walking around the Bay College dormitory carrying an assault rifle, wearing a mask, and knocking on the dorm room doors. Officers simultaneously worked with Bay College staff to review surveillance footage and interview students while searching for the suspect. Through the interviews and video, officers learned that three suspects were wearing Halloween masks and one was carrying a plastic Halloween machete.

No real weapons were involved in the incident and officers learned the students — who were identified and interviewed — were attempting to prank other students.

25 — The newest member of the Gladstone Public Safety Department was introduced to city commissioners. Public Safety Officer Nadeau-Enright presented K-9 Bico, Gladstone’s new, already-successful police dog.

26 — Approximately 150 people attended the Daily Press Senior Expo at the Ruth Butler Building on the Upper Peninsula State Fairgrounds.

OCTOBER

2 — The last American Queen Voyages cruise ship, the Ocean Voyager, docked in Escanaba.

5 — The Escanaba City Council decided to forgo the annual review process for City Manager Jim McNeil and instead give him high marks for his first year on the job.

10 — Robert Ranstadler started his new role as the manager of the Delta County Airport.

18 — One person was injured and passengers were evacuated Wednesday after an explosion in the engine room of a small cruise ship docked in Maine’s Portland Harbor, officials said. The ship had made frequent stops to Escanaba this summer.

NOVEMBER

2 — The Inaugural Ceremony for Dr. Nerita Hughes, sixth president of Bay College, will took place on Bay College’s campus in Escanaba today.

2 — Thick smoke on the third floor of the Escanaba Comfort Suites prompted guests to evacuate. No one was injured as a result of the incident.

3 — The second annual Upper Peninsula Ice Fishing and Hunting Expo, orga- nized by the Daily Press, kicked off today.

7 — A man was ejected from Tuesday’s Delta County Board of Commissioners meeting for clapping. Law enforcement was called to the Delta County Service Center Tuesday to remove Tony Seymour, who repeatedly clapped aggressively and yelled at Commission Chair Dave Moyle repeatedly when being advised he was out of order. Moyle warned Seymour three times he was out of order, to which Seymour responded with statements like “It’s not political” and “Let’s do it. Let’s do it.”

8 — Both houses of Michigan’s legislature approved a plan that would reduce local control of solar and wind energy developments. Whitmer first proposed taking control of solar development from local municipalities and giving it to the Michigan Public Service Commission just three days after her visit to the Upper Peninsula State Fair in Delta County — which has arguably become the epicenter of disputes over solar development in Michigan.

18 — Escanaba is experiencing one of its largest spikes in COVID-19 cases in the last three years according to an unlikely source — sewage. According to the Sentinel Wastewater Epidemiology Evaluation Project (SWEEP), the most recent sample had a higher viral load than 96% of all samples collected at the Escanaba Wastewater Treatment Plant.

19 — A Wells Township home was damaged in a fire, according to the Escanaba Public Safety Department. At 10:04 p.m., officers were called to 6501 H.25 Road in Wells Township for a report of a house filled with smoke. Prior to arrival, an off-duty officer reported that flames were coming from the back of the residence. When officers arrived, the back of the house was fully engulfed with flames coming through the roof.

20 — A logging truck was destroyed after in caught fire near Hyde Monday, according to Escanaba Public Safety officers. At 4:43 p.m., Escanaba Public Safety was called to U.S. 2 and 41 just east of I Road after a report of a logging truck on fire. When officers arrived on scene, the cab of the semi was fully engulfed in flames. The fire was quickly extinguished before it could extend to the full load of wood the truck was carrying. No injuries were reported.

21 — The case against Tavaris Jackson, who is accused of murdering Harley Corwin, will be prosecuted by the Michigan Attorney General’s Office and not Delta County Prosecutor Lauren Wickman. On Oct. 30, a motion was filed by Jackson’s attorney arguing Wickman could be a potential witness in the matter, due to her involvement and assistance with the investigation at the scene of the execution of a search warrant seeking evidence in the case. A review by the AG’s office following the motion determined a special prosecutor was needed.

25 — The Bark River man convicted in the near-fatal beating of his ex-wife in August 2022 will spend at least 35 years in prison before he is eligible for parole. Lloyd Travis Jarvi, 62, was sentenced in Dickinson County Circuit Court after a jury in October found him guilty of assault with the intent to murder, home invasion in the first degree and unlawful driving away of a motor vehicle. Circuit Court Judge Mary Barglind gave Jarvi 25 to 50 years for assault

with intent to murder and 10 to 40 years for home invasion-first degree, to run consecutively. The five to 15 years handed down for unlawful driving away of a motor vehicle will run concurrently with the other charges.

29 — The Manistique Board of Education has selected Dr. Kristina M. Hansen as the new superintendent for the school district. She will officially begin on January 1, 2024 and replaces Howard Parmentier, who will retire on December 31, 2023.

30 — The planned conversion of the Escanaba paper mill to produce carton- board has stalled due to economic conditions, according to company officials. “Given that the macroeconomic environment and operating conditions have changed dramat- ically over the past 12+ months, we need more time to evaluate alternatives for the most cost-effective way to manufacture Cartonboard products at our Escanaba Mill. As a result, we will not decide on the complete Transformation Program investment by the end of the year as previously announced and will revert when ready,” said said President, General Counsel for Billerud North America Kevin Kuznicki.

DECEMBER

1 — Michigan officials approved a $500 million plan to encase in a protective tunnel a portion of the aging Line 5 oil pipeline that runs beneath a channel connecting two Great Lakes.

2 — Parade organizers said they ended up more than 80 entries in this year’s Escanaba Christmas Parade. Holy Name Catholic School took first place and the $200 prize for the float with the theme “The World Needs a STABLE Influence.” Students from the school participated in the nativity scene and handed out candy.

7 — The blaze at the three-story building in downtown Stephenson brought multiple fire departments to the scene from both Menominee and Delta counties. The structure housed a dog groomer and chiropractor on its lower floor. The upper floor had four occupied apartments. The fire started in one of the apartments.

11 — A third and final Delta County commissioner will have his name appear on the ballot in May, the Delta County Clerk’s Office announced. Commissioner Bob Petersen joined commissioners Dave Moyle and Bob Barron in having enough signatures for his recall validated by the clerk’s office.

See Part 2 of the Year in Review in Tuesday’s Daily Press