We’re not big fans of so-called blue-ribbon committees that, it seems, are very often established by big wheel politicians seeking to bury a nettlesome problem. These groups often produce findings and reports that few people read and even fewer care about — all at taxpayer’s ...
This week’s bouquets go to: From Maureen Lapinski of Bark River: Escanaba recently had the opportunity to host the showing of the 9/11 World Trade Center Memorial Quilt Project. It was impressive how, when asked, people gave a positive response. Volunteers helped with the set-up and ...
Severe weather can strike quickly and create a variety of dangerous situations. With this in mind, Upper Peninsula Power Company (UPPCO) suggested the following the safety tips: Power lines Always consider a power line to be energized even if it is on the ground. Do not touch a downed ...
The government shutdown that Trump says could last “a long time” without funding for a border wall may hurt farmers by delaying the administration’s ability to steer through the approval for year-round sales of a 15 percent ethanol blend for gasoline before the summer begins. That’s up ...
Many drivers are cheering action in Lansing that — beginning in about a year — will allow Michigan residents to reduce their automobile insurance costs. The legislation is a solid step toward reducing Michigan’s highest-in-the-nation auto insurance premiums. Critics of the measure mourn ...
It’s the annual time to remind residents of the region to leave the fawns they might find alone. The first week of June usually is near peak for fawns to be born in the Upper Peninsula. Like most prey species, deer tend to give birth at about the same time, a natural strategy that means ...
This week’s bouquets go to: From Christine Bergquist of Bark River: Belated but sincere thanks to the Shriners and all the businesses who helped sponsor the Shrine Circuses that were in our local areas recently. It takes a lot of caring businesses and individuals to bring the magic of ...
Father’s Day is a day to celebrate dads and the important role they play in the lives of their families and children. It’s also a great day to encourage men to celebrate a tobacco-free life, and to support current tobacco users in their efforts to quit. Tobacco use is the number one cause ...
A story that we ran in Tuesday, May 21’s Mining Journal out of Lansing said only 25 percent of Michigan teachers recommend the job. On Sunday in The Mining Journal, Bryan DeAugustine, NICE Community Schools superintendent, wrote an op-ed in defense of a career in education. We agree with ...
In honor of National Pet Preparedness Month, the Michigan State Police, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division (MSP/EMHSD) is encouraging Michiganders to create an emergency preparedness kit for their pets to ensure complete family readiness during an emergency or ...
In Wednesday’s edition came the news that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration has created a new office within the Michigan Department of Natural Resources that aims to focus on the outdoors not just as a natural resource worth preserving, but also an economic resource worth ...
This week’s bouquets go to: From Mike “Chief” Olson of Escanaba: Recently millions of Americans were saddened to discover that we had lost two movie, TV and stage legends, Doris Day at 97 and Tim Conway at 85. Doris Day, back in the 50s and 60s, was every boy’s dream girl who lit up ...
Laws are not optional. If they were, they’d be called guidelines. Yet a Lansing State Journal investigation showed the majority of mid-Michigan school districts are not following Matt’s Law, which requires all Michigan school districts to investigate reports of bullying and inform school ...
Even before one fight to restrict abortion in Michigan has been resolved, activists are pushing another, more severe limit that clearly runs afoul of the guidelines of the Roe v. Wade decision. Last week, the Michigan House and Senate passed separate bills to outlaw a procedure commonly used ...
In 2017, there were 116 drownings in Michigan, and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is urging residents to observe water safety practices around pools, lakes and spas this summer. May is National Water Safety Month, an observance designed to remind Michiganders to ...
This week’s bouquets go to: From Dan Block: Spring has finally arrived at Lemerand Park in Escanaba, home of the 2018 softball State Champion Escanaba Eskymos (MHSAA Division 2). During the afternoons and evenings of this time of year, you’re likely to find the Eskymos playing against ...
Is K.I. Sawyer going to turn into Cape Canaveral? Probably not quite, but there is an effort underway to establish spaceport operations and command center facilities in northern Michigan, and Sawyer is in the running. Involved in the effort is the Michigan Launch Initiative, a ...
Michigan faces competing challenges that deserve lawmakers’ attention, from fixing the roads to reducing outrageous auto insurance rates. Parents in the state believe that improving schools is even more important, however, and that should serve as a wake-up call to elected leaders. A poll ...
With school almost over, the weather warming up and the upcoming Memorial Day weekend marking the unofficial start of summer, many will begin enjoying Michigan’s more than 11,000 inland lakes and over 36,000 miles of rivers and streams. National Safe Boating Week is May 18-24. The Michigan ...
For communities to grow economically, resources such as attainable housing and accessible child care oftentimes must be in place. And while these needs may not touch as many individual lives in Northern Michigan as in the state’s more densely populated areas, getting the resources in place ...