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Engagement announcement: Taylor Swartz and George Kanyuh

February 7, 2025

Tom and Amie Nolan of Munising are delighted to announce the engagement of their daughter, Taylor Swartz, to George Kanyuh. George is the son of George and Lisa Kanyuh of Rapid River.

Winery is a family affair

January 31, 2025

Editor’s note: This is the second article on Sage Creek Winery in Memphis, Michigan, an enterprise started and operated by Munising natives Mike and Jeff Dausey. The first story was published in the Jan. 24 issue of The Beacon.

Whiskey versus bourbon: What’s the deal?

January 31, 2025

Do you prefer whiskey or bourbon? The answer should be both. Why? Because, as the saying goes, “All bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon.” That’s right.

Valley Spur groomer on the trail

January 31, 2025

What began as a looming crisis for the Valley Spur cross-country ski trails near Munising has blossomed into a heartwarming success story, thanks to a groundswell of support from the community and beyond.

U.P. roots, global reach

January 24, 2025

Growing up in Munising, Mike and Jeff Dausey experienced the kind of childhood only the Upper Peninsula can offer — adventuring through endless forests, discovering hidden waterfalls and learning the value of hard work from an early age.

Birth announcement: Daniel James Boucher

January 24, 2025

Born Nov. 13, 2024, Daniel James Boucher arrived weighing 8 pounds, 10 ounces and measuring 20 inches long. Known to his family as “Danny” or “Handsome Dan,” he came into the world with an angel kiss birthmark on his nose and a heart full of love.

Let’s embrace winter: Your guide to adventure

January 17, 2025

Winter has arrived in full force, and for those of us who’ve been snow dancing — we did it! Munising is a winter wonderland, and we couldn’t feel luckier. The fresh snow isn’t just beautiful; it’s an open invitation to bundle up and explore all the magic our hometown has to offer.

‘We’re just getting started’

January 10, 2025

Editor’s note: This article is the second in a two-part series on the Munising Bay Trail Network and its place in the area’s recreational offerings. Establishing the Munising Bay Trail Network wasn’t without hurdles.

Mary Jayne Hallifax

January 10, 2025

Our dear mother, mentor and friend, Mary Jayne Hallifax, age 96, moved on to her heavenly home to join family and friends on Jan. 4, 2025. Mary Jayne was born Jan. 3, 1929, in Marquette, Michigan, to Oliver and Margaret (Gaspar) Shampine. Mary Jayne spent her entire life in her hometown of Munising, attending Sacred Heart Grade School and graduating from William G. Mather High School in 1946 as valedictorian of her class, which she frequently reminded her children. Her membership on the committee for “The Torch,” the first yearbook published at Mather since the late 1920s, helped shape her history in becoming Alger County’s pictorial historian. When the yearbook staff was looking for someone to supply the candid photos, Lucille Buckley, the school secretary and avid photographer, sought out a student to help develop film and print pictures. This opportunity introduced Mom to the world of photography. From there, her family can hardly recall a day when Mom did not have a camera anchored around her neck.

Bringing history to life

January 3, 2025

Munising author Chloe Platias has swiftly carved a niche for herself in the world of children’s and young adult literature with her creative approach to history. At just 23 years old, Platias is the author, illustrator and self-publisher of four children’s books and one young adult book, blending her passion for history with engaging storytelling.