In The News

Bear cub bill could affect U.P. tourist attraction

Mlive.com Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Oswald's Bear Ranch has become a staple of summer U.P. tourism, where visitors can interact with black bear cubs. But a new bill in the state is trying to regulate the attraction in new ways.

Excerpt: A former Bay City firefighter who owns what he calls the nation’s largest bear ranch is confident Michigan will enact legislation allowing his customers to have their pictures taken with bear cubs.

Dean A. Oswald owns Oswald’s Bear Ranch in the Upper Peninsula town of Newberry. Oswald retired as a Bay City firefighter in 1982 and moved to Newberry the next year, then started the bear ranch in 1984.

For the whole article, click here.

Source: Mlive.com

Trenary Outhouse Classic draws spectators from all over

UpperMichigansSource.com Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Outhouse racing isn't unique to the U.P., but nobody does it quite like they do in Trenary. This year marked the 20th annual Trenary Outhouse Classic.

Excerpt: More than 2,500 people flooded into Trenary Saturday for the 20th Annual Trenary Outhouse Classic.

Twenty-three teams raced their homemade outhouses across the finish line. Many of this year's outhouses held a '20s theme in honor of the 20th anniversary.

For the whole article, go here

Source: UpperMichigansSource.com

Johnsonville Sausage co-founder, U.P. native, dies at 96

Green Bay Press Gazette Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Johnsonville Sausages are a favorite across the U.P., for the company's ties to the U.P. and Wisconsin. Founder Alice Stayer, born in the Keweenaw, died this week after a remarkable life.

Excerpt: Alice B. Stayer, co-founder of Johnsonville Sausage and the driving force behind the company’s creation, died Saturday in Naples, Fla. She was 96.

Ralph C. Stayer, Alice’s son, said his mother’s gifts were many.

For the whole story, go here.

Source: Green Bay Press Gazette

Public forum discusses climate change in the U.P.

UpperMichigansSource.com Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Climate change is often discussed on a global scale, but it has effects with a more local and regional focus, too, which is something local groups want the community to be thinking about.

Excerpt: Members of the Superior Watershed Partnership (SWP) say "global climate change is a reality" and it's affecting the Great Lakes.

The SWP along with the Greal Lakes Integrated Sciences and Assessment Center (GLISA), Michigan State Extension and the City of Marquette held a public forum at Lakeview Arena in Marquette Wednesday.

The whole story can be found here.

Source: UpperMichigansSource.com

Former U.P. sports reporter wins on 'Millionaire'

UpperMichigansSource.com Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Who hasn't seen "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" and thought they could probably do pretty well on that show? A U.P. native proved he could, actually.

Excerpt: A former TV6 Sports Reporter walked away with a lot of cash Wednesday on "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" a game show that is shown from 11 a.m.- 12 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday on TV6.

Dave Ellis, originally from Eagle Harbor and now living in East Lansing, won a whopping $68,600 on the game show.

For the whole story, go here.

Source: UpperMichigansSource.com

'Titanic' researcher finds U.P., Michigan connections

Grand Traverse Insider Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Maybe the most well-known U.P. connection to the famed Titanic is fur magnate John Jacob Astor, a sometime Mackinac Island resident. But in fact, quite a few Titanic survivors settled in the U.P.

Excerpt: Kenneth Vrana knows natural resources when he sees them, and understands their value. That is why he was happy to donate his time last weekend in support of the Northwestern Michigan College Archeology Club.

A leading and respected researcher, Vrana is now the co-director of the Titanic Mapping Project. Seemingly answering a genetic call, the scholar’s interest is steeped in his own family history. His own ancestors made an Atlantic crossing eerily similar to the Titanic’s in the early 1900s as they completed their migration from Bohemian roots.

For the whole article, click here.

Source: Grand Traverse Insider

Tourism takes bigger piece of Michigan economy

Mlive.com Wednesday, February 20, 2013

The story of Michigan for several years now has included how to move away from auto and other heavy manufacturing as our cities collapse, and what to build in their places. Tourism is becoming a bigger piece of the puzzle than ever.

Excerpt: Massachusetts resident Delia Marshall came to Michigan last summer for a family reunion at a beach house on the shores of Lake Michigan. A week later, she left as an ambassador for a state that claims to be home to "the perfect summer."

"We stayed in a house with a private beach and I just can't say enough about how beautiful the lake was," Marshall said. "There was this sense that nature was with us and that Michigan is not just about making automobiles."

For the whole story, go here.

Source: Mlive.com

U.P., Montana emergency broadcast systems hacked in zombie hoax

YouTube Wednesday, February 13, 2013

So the story that's gotten the most attention so far this week about the U.P. is definitely the interesting emergency broadcast sent out Monday evening to several local TV stations warning of attacking zombies. It also aired in Montana and has been tracked to a possible overseas source. Below is a video of what some local viewers saw and heard. Be sure and have the audio up all the way to hear what the emergency alert said.

For the video, click here.

Source: YouTube

Keweenaw lottery ticket still unclaimed

MINBC.com Wednesday, February 13, 2013

A Mega Millions jackpot won in the U.P. could mean how many pasties now? The Michigan Lottery officials have come up with some U.P.-themed estimates in a bid to draw the attention of whoever has failed to claim the ticket.

Excerpt: Michigan lottery officials are having fun with Upper Peninsula culture as they wait for someone to step forward and claim a $19 million jackpot.

A ticket sold in Houghton matched the numbers in Tuesday's Mega Millions drawing, but the winner hasn't been identified.

For the rest of the story, click here.

Source: MiNBCnews.com

Some U.P harbors, marinas on dredging list

Mlive.com Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Several Upper Peninsula harbors have applied for state or federal help with dredging due to low water levels. A new list from the state of Michigan would supply that help.

Excerpt: Harbors and marinas from the Upper Peninsula to metro Detroit would get some financial help under an emergency dredging plan developed by state officials in response to declining Great Lakes water levels.

The plan would rely on $21 million as proposed by Gov. Rick Snyder in his budget plan announced last week.

For the whole list, go here.

Source: Mlive.com

Auburn Hills company taps Brimley for research location

The Detroit Free Press Wednesday, February 13, 2013

The Upper Peninsula actually is home to several auto industry research and development locations, especially for testing winter conditions. This story profiles an up-and-coming development track in Brimley.

Excerpt: There are no signs from the highway or main road, but tucked in behind the trees near the tiny Upper Peninsula community of Brimley is the hidden gem that is Continental's development center for its automotive systems.

Continental is an auto supplier headquartered in Auburn Hills that started with tires but has expanded into a number of areas including chassis and safety electronics, brake systems and driver-assist technologies so that half the company now works on automotive products not related to tires.

For the entire article, go here.

Source: Detroit Free Press

Copper Country school looking at grant to consolidate

UpperMichigansSource.com Wednesday, February 06, 2013

Consolidating has been a buzzword in Michigan as school districts, universities, public agencies and private companies look for the most efficient ways to operate. One school district is now getting grant funding to do so in the U.P.

Excerpt: A school district in the Copper Country could possibly receive over $60,000 from the State of Michigan to support the cost of consolidating services.

The Copper Country ISD is one of several districts that will be receiving grant money from $10 million of state funds set aside to aid districts in consolidations.

The entire article is online here.

Source: UpperMichigansSource.com

I-500 brings racers to Sault Ste. Marie

Sault Ste. Marie Evening News Wednesday, February 06, 2013

The I-500 snowmobile race is one of the biggest events in the U.P. each winter, and the Sault Ste. Marie Evening News has plenty of updates if you couldn't make it over to see the races.

Excerpt: Maybe Bunke Racing has done what few teams have in the 45 years of the International 500 Snowmobile Race: figure out how to dominate the ever-changing track and conditions.

Gabe Bunke and Aaron Christensen won the I-500 for the second straight year and fourth time overall on the No. 74 Bunke Racing Polaris.

For the whole article and more I-500 coverage, go here.

Source: Sault Ste. Marie Evening News

Keweenaw Co-op joins national association

Gourmet Retailer Wednesday, February 06, 2013

One of the oldest cooperatives in the U.P. is taking a new tack, as the Keweenaw Food Co-op's addition to the National Cooperative Grocers Association was announced.

Excerpt: The National Cooperative Grocers Association announced three new members and three new associate co-ops, while two former associates have joined as members, bringing the association to 134 food co-ops in 36 states with combined annual sales of more than $1.5 billion.

For the whole article, click here.

Source: Gourmet Retailer

Marquette bishop to head Portland, Oregon archdiocese

Catholic News Agency Wednesday, February 06, 2013

The U.P.'s Catholic Church leader, Bishop Alexander Sample, will be leaving for a new post--with the new title Archbishop--in Portland, Oregon.

Excerpt: Pope Benedict XVI has named Bishop Alexander K. Sample of Marquette, Mich., to shepherd the archdiocese of Portland, Ore.

In a Jan. 29 statement, Archbishop-designate Sample noted his “excitement and joy at taking up this new challenge that God has placed before me.”

For the whole article, click here.

Source: Catholic News Agency