This is the fourth and final Year in Review installment, dealing with October through December.

OCTOBER

2 — The Escanaba City Council approved plans to establish Obsolete Property Rehabilitation District No. 29 and the OPRA exemption for Spaulding Real Estate LLC to rehabilitate what used to be Crispigna’s Restaurant into a cocktail lounge.

3 — A contractor died while working at the Upper Peninsula Power Company’s Hoist Dam in Negaunee Township.

Plowed snowbanks and gusting snow are seen in this view of Escanaba's Ludington Street on Dec. 29, 2025. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)

4 — Peter Frank, a long-haul canoeist from Escanaba, was nearly done with his journey to circumnavigate the Great Loop, which consists of a roughly 6,000-mile nautical journey through waterways in eastern U.S. and Canada.

6 — Hunter Grizz Gallagher, 24, appeared virtually in the 47th Circuit Court and pleaded guilty to kidnapping and assault charges after being accused of holding a female against her will in April, then fleeing downstate.

6 — One of six Oscar Mayer Wienermobile was seen in the Upper Peninsula and photographed as it traveled through Escanaba, likely on its way to Negaunee.

7 — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed an $81 billion state government budget, finalizing a bipartisan compromise with long-term road funding, a new marijuana tax and more after months of uncertainty.

7 — The Delta County Board authorized a total of $425,000 to be spent on the Delta County Airport’s Airport Capital Improvement Program.

Celebrating his return after his Great Loop journey circumnavigating the eastern United States in a canoe, Peter Frank rings a bell on the Escanaba Municipal Beach, where he was greeted Oct. 20 with a warm welcome by family and followers. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)

8 — Registered nurse Jenna Leigh Furmanski appeared in the 94th District Court for her arraignment on one count of larceny in a building, which comes after being accused of stealing morphine in June at an assisted living facility in Escanaba.

9 — The Escanaba City Council accepted Old State Development LLC’s $75,000 bid for a 5.17-acre city-owned parcel near Willow Creek Road and Third Avenue South, where the company plans to develop 25 condominiums. The city’s move to put the 5.17-acre parcel up for sale — at Old State Development’s request — sparked debate because it reversed a 1977 decision designating the land for public and recreational use.

13 — Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel visited Menominee-Delta-Schoolcraft Community Action Agency to sit down with Executive Director Gary Willoughby, as well as board members and staff for the organization.

14 — Judge John Economopoulos of the 47th Circuit Court ruled Tavaris Jackson, a man accused of killing his pregnant ex-girlfriend in 2023, can have six previous acts brought up at his trial by prosecutors.

14 — Attorneys representing seven chimpanzees at the DeYoung Family Zoo in Wallace appeared in the Michigan Court of Appeals over whether the seven chimpanzees should be granted habeas corpus rights.

Tavaris Jackson, 35, appeared virtually in the 47th Circuit Court of Delta County on Oct. 14 for a defense motion to exclude certain evidence in trial. Jackson has been accused of open murder in the death of his pregnant ex-girlfriend in July 2023. (Sophie Vogelmann | Daily Press)

15 — The White Cane Safety Walk, in which participants took a stroll in downtown Escanaba with various blindfolds and canes, took place to show people unfamiliar with vision impairments what it’s like to have no or low sight.

17 — An anonymous donor contacted the Daily Press to fully fund the Escanaba Township Fire Department’s power hose roller fundraiser, hosted by Kindness Rocks U.P. Michigan, after reading an article on the fundraiser.

17 — The Michigan Court of Appeals ruled chimpanzees in Michigan are not “persons” with human rights, so the owners of the DeYoung Family Zoo in the Upper Peninsula do not need to defend confinement of seven chimpanzees.

17 — A two-vehicle crash on U.S. 2/41 near the Highland Golf Course claimed the life of Derec Nelson, 26, of Escanaba.

20 — Long-haul canoeist Peter Frank returned to Escanaba after 16 months of travel doing the Great Loop, a roughly 6,000-mile nautical journey through waterways in eastern U.S. and Canada.

20 — The third-annual Michigan State University Spartan Bus Tour visited the university’s MSU Forestry Innovation Center in Escanaba.

20 — A 25-year-old journeyman lineman, Jack Rantanen of Marquette, was killed by a motor vehicle that also struck two trucks in a work zone on M-553 in Marquette County.

22 — Ten Tribal Nations in Michigan filed an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court urging them to reject an attempt by Canadian oil pipeline company Enbridge Energy to have a federal court settle a lawsuit first brought by Attorney General Dana Nessel in 2019, asking instead to have the case remain in state court.

22 — Current 108th District state House Rep. Dave Prestin announced he will run for the 38th District state Senate seat in 2026 to replace Ed McBroom, who is term-limited from seeking re-election.

23 — A large fire destroyed Race Ramps, an industrial site at 2003 23rd Ave N. The fire damaged a couple of Escanaba Area School buses near the site, and at least two power poles also caught fire.

23 — Jenna Leigh Furmanski, a registered nurse accused of stealing morphine at an assisted living facility where she formerly worked, was denied a bond modification that would have allowed her to handle medications at a different care facility.

24 — The state of Michigan acquired a life ring that washed ashore 50 years ago from the Edmund Fitzgerald, as part of a $600,000 settlement for a police misconduct lawsuit filed by Larry Orr. The state later returned the life ring to Orr.

27 — A split Michigan Court of Appeals said the Republican-led House of Representatives had a clear duty to present nine Michigan House bills passed during last year’s lame duck session for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s signature.

27 — The Gladstone City Commission adopted new municipal harbor rates for boaters at the Gladstone Municipal Harbor, increasing rates about 10% next year.

28 — Former state Rep. Beau LaFave launched his state Senate campaign to replace term-limited state Sen. Ed McBroom, R-Waucedah Township, in Michigan’s 38th District.

30 – A solar-powered electric vehicle charging station was installed at the Secretary of State building in Escanaba as part of an initiative to transition the state government’s light-duty fleet to zero emissions by 2033.

30 — Steven Prestridge, 33, accused of setting fire to the Rapid River Pub early Labor Day, was ordered to receive inpatient treatment to restore competency to stand trial.

NOVEMBER

1 — The Menominee Delta Schoolcraft Community Action Agency Head Start and Early Head Start programs faced closure amidst the federal government shutdown.

2 — The Escanaba Eskymos triumphed over the Freeland Falcons 17-13 in a district football playoffs opener at Escanaba Athletic Field.

3 — The Michigan State Police promoted Capt. Christopher Gerard to commander of the Eighth District, which covers the entire Upper Peninsula.

3 — Crystalyn Dixie Knuth, charged with one count of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder or by strangulation, was ruled competent to stand trial after being forensically examined.

4 — Nicole Marie Stouffer pleaded guilty to two counts of Medicaid fraud-false claim and as a habitual offender-second offense in Delta County 47th Circuit Court.

4 — Votes took place on various issues: North Central Area Schools gained approval for a $10.3 million bond issue to consolidate two schools; Escanaba voters rejected a proposal that would use funds from a 1965 city utility sale to pay debts to Escanaba’s retirement plan; residents of Gourley and Nadeau townships in Menominee County voted against Carney-Nadeau Public Schools’ operating millage proposal; Menominee voters overwhelmingly backed capping the number of marijuana retail outlets in the city at nine; and incumbents Joe Thompson and Steve O’Driscoll, along with newcomer Whitney Maloney, were elected to the Gladstone City Commissions.

7 — The Bark River-Harris Broncos defeated the Iron Mountain Mountaineers 41-20 in a 11-player football district championship game at Bark River-Harris School.

10 — Scott Allen Demeuse, a local contractor accused of failing to finish or refund a roofing job, pleaded no contest to one count of larceny by conversion – $1,000 or more but less than $20,000, a felony, in the Delta County 47th Circuit Court.

10 — Two individuals graduated from the Delta County Drug/Sobriety Court in the program’s 16th graduation ceremony in the Delta County 47th Circuit Courtroom.

12 — Escanaba’s first Kwik Trip convenience store opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and speech from Kwik Trip CEO Scott Zietlow.

13 — The Michigan Senate passed bipartisan legislation to reform Michigan’s petition circulation process by banning per-signature payments to circulators, requiring them to offer a factual summary of proposals, and ensuring only one signature counts if a voter signs multiple times.

16 — A pickup truck driver died after crashing into the rear side of Dunham’s Sports at the Delta Plaza Mall.

17 — A 51-year-old Munising man died after a commercial delivery truck collided with the pickup truck he was driving in Masonville Township.

20 — PetSmart is slated to open at the Delta Plaza Mall in Escanaba after reconstruction is completed.

21 — The Whitmer Administration is seeking an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court after a federal appeals court held that Michigan is not immune to legal action for its decision to revoke Enbridge’s easement to operate a pipeline in the Great Lakes.

24 — Michigan’s Gun Violence Prevention Task Force called on the state to ban assault weapons, close a concealed pistol license “loophole” and increase the minimum age to buy guns to 21 in their report.

26 — A house fire caused heavy damage at 911 First Ave. S. in Escanaba, but no injuries were reported.

29 — Avian flu was detected in a backyard flock of domestic birds in Ontonagon County.

29 — First Lt. Jeremy Hauswirth was appointed the new commander of the Michigan State Police Negaunee Post after having served as commander at the Iron Mountain Post since 2020.

DECEMBER

1 — Hundreds of flights were delayed and canceled after a winter storm in the Great Lakes region created post-Thanksgiving travel problems across the entire Midwest.

1 — One person had minor injuries after a house fire at 604 S. 17th St. in Escanaba.

1 — The Gladstone City Commission agreed to a six-month contract for Robert Spreitzer as interim city manager, along with a one-month training contract with current manager Eric Buckman.

4 — The U.S. Navy cancelled a multi-billion dollar contract with Fincantieri Marinette Marine, a shipbuilder in Marinette, Wis. The company then laid off nearly 100 workers.

4 — Escanaba City Manager James McNeil announced at a council meeting he plans to leave his role in May.

4 — Escanaba City Council voted to adopt an ordinance to rezone property near Willow Creek Road and Third Avenue South for a proposed condominium project by Old State Development. The project on the former city-owned 5.17-acre parcel sparked debate because it reversed a 1977 decision designating the land for public and recreational use.

5 — The House of Ludington — known as Escanaba’s “crown jewel” — might be a total loss after fire tore through the upper floor of the historic building, which contained bars, a restaurant, apartments and hotel rooms. It affected nine tenants and 14 employees.

8 — Michigan’s statewide firearm deer harvest was reported to be down about 5% from 2024, with local counties dropping even more than that.

9 — The Houghton County Board rejected a proposed resolution, authored by Commissioner Joel Keranen, declaring there are only two sexes — male and female — in a meeting that drew about 150 speakers, most in opposition to the resolution.

13 — The Nonhuman Rights Project filed an application with the Michigan Supreme Court to overturn a Court of Appeals decision on the rights of seven chimpanzees at the DeYoung Family Zoo in Wallace. The application also asked the court to grant the chimpanzees a trial court hearing for habeas corpus relief.

13 — Houghton County reported one of Michigan’s first snowmobile deaths in the 2025 winter season when an Illinois man, 44, was killed in a crash on an Elm River Township trail.

14 — Three people were injured, two critically, in a fire at 411 Fourth St. in Iron Mountain. All three adults were taken to Marshfield Medical Center-Dickinson, with two of the patients transferred to another facility.

15 — Hunters in Michigan may be allowed to use a mobile app to show they are authorized to kill certain animals, refraining from using paper kill tags. The Natural Resources Commission is expected to vote on the issue at its January meeting.

16 — The Michigan state House budget committee canceled nearly $645 million in funding for state departments’ projects heading into 2026.

16 — The Delta County Board decided to support Isabella County and contribute $4,000 toward the county’s attorney fees for a pending U.S. Supreme Court case over how a Michigan county government seizes and sells property for unpaid taxes.

17 — U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker ruled that federal pipeline safety law leaves Michigan no room to shut down the Enbridge Inc. Line 5 pipeline in the Straits of Mackinac.

17 — In a 2-1 opinion, a federal appeals court blocked Michigan’s ban on conversion therapy for minors who are LGBTQ+, declaring it violates the First Amendment rights of therapists and counselors.

18 — A Gladstone Area School bus and passenger vehicle collided on U.S. 2 and 41, leaving two people injured.

18 — Judge John Economopoulos ruled past statements made by a woman regarding an assault in February 2023 can be used in the trial of Tavaris Jackson, a man accused of killing her later that year.

19 — In a historic confirmation, a new trail camera photo indicates two cougar kittens are still alive and living with their mother, nine months after they were first documented in the western Upper Peninsula.

19 — Lonnie Davey broke Gladstone High School’s record with 10 three-pointers as the Gladstone Braves defeated the Escanaba Eskymos, 67-48.

20 — A couple of local teams of fourth- and fifth-graders are among 48 that traveled to Mason, Mich., for the state championship of FIRST robotics’ LEGO League Challenge. The Retro Rockets from Rapid River, the Brave Diamond Diggers from James T. Jones Elementary in Gladstone and the Sandy Knoll Coders from Sandy Knoll Elementary School in Marquette all took part in the state competition.

21 — A 61-year-old Luxemburg, Wis., man died when the snowmobile he was operating left a trail in Gogebic County and hit a wooden post, according to Michigan State Police at the Wakefield Post.

22 — Lundin Mining Corporation announced plans to merge its U.S. branch with the U.S.-based Talon Metals Corporation, which will own Eagle Mine and the Humboldt Mill.

28 – Much of the Upper Peninsula and the northern Midwest experienced blizzard conditions, with the National Weather Service estimating about a foot of snow in Escanaba and more than 2 feet of snow in some areas of Marquette County. Many homes and businesses also lost power due to the storm.