Local News

Water Lily Gifts & Gather honored with Community Ambassador Award

Opening a new business takes vision, determination and optimism. Opening one just as the street in front of your store closes for reconstruction? That takes an extra measure of all three! That was the challenge facing Brandy Torvinen when she opened Water Lily Gifts & Gather at 1113 Ludington Street in downtown Escanaba this spring. Rather than letting construction define her business's beginning, Brandy embraced the opportunity to introduce something special to the community. Her enthusiasm, creativity and welcoming spirit earned Water Lily Gifts & Gather the 2026 Delta County ...

Bay College TRIO seeks donations for annual Silent Night Auction

ESCANABA — Bay College's TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) program is preparing for its annual Silent Night Auction, inviting students, faculty, staff, and community members to donate items and participate in the fundraiser. Donations are being accepted now through November 22, 2026, with ...

Developing waterfront

Solar ordinance, wildlife impacts reviewed for Delta

ESCANABA — At their regular meeting Tuesday, the Delta County Board of Commissioners reviewed the final draft of the 2026 Solar Ordinance Amendment to the current Delta County Zoning Ordinance. The ordinance details Solar Energy Systems (SES), utility-scale SES requirements, utility solar energy production and more. The draft was approved by the Delta County Planning Commission on Oct. 5, and it was submitted to commissioners for final adoption. A public hearing was held on the issue on April 13 earlier this year. The ordinance states SES are “intended to serve a single ...

Delta County Board signs indigent defense contract

ESCANABA — Delta County has entered into a contract in an effort to regionalize Michigan Indigent Defense Commission (MIDC) services for this fiscal year. The Delta County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday signed the contract between Iron Defense, doing business as Superior Defense -- a ...

Prepare to fish, hunt, craft

ESCANABA — Two events are on the Upper Peninsula State Fairgrounds today — the fifth-annual U.P. Ice Fishing and Hunting Expo and the second-annual Craft it U.P. 906 Craft Show. The expos began Friday and continue Saturday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. To enter, people are asked to donate a ...