News

Tonya Heikkinen of Upper Peninsula Michigan Works! was awarded Michigan’s “Shining Star” award by the Michigan Works! Association for going above and beyond to help job seekers and employers in the area.

National Fire Prevention Week commemorates the anniversary of two of the most devastating fires in United States history: the great Chicago Fire and the Peshtigo Fire. Both fires began around 9:00 p.m. on October 8, 1871 and continued through the next day. The Chicago Fire took the lives of 250 people, left another 10,000 homeless and consumed 17,400 structures over 2,000 acres. The wildfire in Peshtigo was the worst of the two fires, yet many people have never heard of it. Within one day, 1,200 people perished in the Peshtigo conflagration. Seventeen towns were consumed and 1.5 million acres were scorched.

Members of the Michigan State Police and the Pictured Rocks Lakeshore law enforcement spoke with the public at a “Faith & Blue” Coffee With A Cop event at Gallery Coffee Company on Monday, Oct. 9. Leadership from both organizations answered questions from the public over a cup of joe in promoting transparency and opening lines of communication between law enforcement and the public.

Phantasm continues to grow Alger County residents taking larger part in festival The Fall Phantasm, a live art and performance festival, continued to grow for its third straight year, with people from all over the region enjoying the event held at Lakenenland on Saturday, Oct. 7.

The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians announced that it will appeal an August 24, 2023, ruling from U.S. District Court Judge Paul L. Maloney that would regulate all 1836 Treaty Tribes’ fishing rights for the next 24 years.

PLEASE NOTE: We will be closing on Thursdays at 5:00 p.m., NOT 8:00 p.m., until further notice due to short staffing. We are still open until 8:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. That being said, there is still an open library aide position here at the library—we are hiring! Call the library at 906-387-2125 for more information on how to apply.

The annual Alger County Communities That Care (AC3) fundraiser Pizza With A Purpose raised $20,466.50 this year to help with suicide prevention efforts in Alger County. “Alger County is extraordinarily giving,” AC3 Treasurer Elise Bunce said.

The Michigan Attorney General’s office has filed for dismissal regarding a challenge to the state’s scheduled income tax increase. The lawsuit, initially brought forth by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy with support of various co-plaintiffs like local State Senator Ed McBroom (R-WaucedahTownship), has garnered attention not only for its potential financial implications but also for the diverse coalition it represents.

The Michigan Energy Innovation Business Council named state Rep. Jenn Hill (D-Marquette) Public Official of the Year last night. Hill won the award for her forward-thinking legislation to lower solar energy costs for consumers and enhance Michigan’s energy security. Hill, a member of the Energy Reliability, Resilience and Accountability Task Force, issued the following statement on the award: “I’m honored to receive this recognition. Our transition to clean energy needs to be a rising tide that lifts all boats. As policymakers, business leaders, advocates and citizens, it’s up to us to develop a positive vision of how life will be better for all of us under a carbon-neutral standard. We need to make sure that every community has access to clean energy — especially those most impacted by pollution — and that the transition benefits businesses and consumers alike. I will continue to work hard to advance legislation to make our energy system more efficient, increase reliability and lower energy costs for families in the U.P. and throughout our state,” Hill said.