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A Smoldering History

The deadliest wildfire in the U.S. was the 1871 Peshtigo Fire. It scorched well over a million acres, torched 17 villages, and killed more than 1200 people. The personal accounts are horrific. And, this was a time when relatively few people lived in the northern hinterlands. Most the fire was in Wisconsin, with roughly 150,000 acres creeping into the southern Upper Peninsula along Green Bay. In the same year, well beyond 2.5 million acres burned across the Lower Peninsula in the Great Michigan and Thumb complexes. In 1881, another million acres burned through the Thumb. These ...

Gremlins eliminate Eskymos from playoffs

ESCANABA — Escanaba volleyball had upset on their minds but it wasn’t to be as they dropped a MHSAA Division 2 district semifinal to the Houghton Gremlins (25-15, 25-20, 25-16) here Wednesday. “Our girls fought really hard,” Eskymos coach Beverly Ziebell said. “We played some of ...

Escanaba Speedway crowns champions

ESCANABA – The Escanaba Motor Speedway held its annual banquet on Oct. 24 where they crowned the 2026 champions and started preparations for the 2027 season. The raceway will have new faces on the Board of Directors as Bob Bourdeau comes in as Vice-President and Chris Olson and Zach Yelle come on as members. The Banquet crowned the 2026 champions in each division as Matt Valiquette took the sport mod division. This marks the third championship for Valiquette over the last four seasons. “It’s always a huge blessing to be crowned as a champion,” Valliquette said. “There is ...

Prep Schedule Nov. 5

Today’s games Great Lakes District B tournament Bay College vs. Marian University-Plymouth at Grand Rapids C.C., noon Volleyball districts Division 2 Championship match at Escanaba, Negaunee or Kingsford, 6 p.m. Division 3 Championship match at Menominee or Norway, 6 p.m. Division 4 Championship match at Felch North Dickinson, Crystal Falls Forest Park or Powers North Central, 6 p.m. Friday’s games Women’s basketball Bay College at Henry Ford College, 5:30 p.m. Volleyball district Division 4 Championship match at Ishpeming, Munising or Rapid River, 6 ...

Great Lakes Eight releases All-Conference teams

ESCANABA — The Great Lakes Eight East Conference has released its All-Conference teams for the 2026 season and here are the results. Team of the Year: North Dickinson Coach of the Year: Mike Christian, North Dickinson Offensive Player of the Year: Nolan Ruleau, Sr. ...

Jets escape with close win over the Wolves

SPALDING — Powers North Central volleyball coach Rick Mick recently expressed concern about facing rival Carney-Nadeau in a third dual match this season. As it turned out, his concerns were legitimate as the Jets escaped with a hard-fought 3-1 (25-22, 22-25, 25-19, 25-23) victory over the Wolves in a Division 4 district tournament opener here Monday night. The Jets (8-14-1), who won both regular-season matches in three sets, visit second-ranked Crystal Falls Forest Park tonight at 5. The Wolves finished 4-15-2. “They were hungry and played very well tonight,” Mick said. ...