Brrrr... It's cold outside. As I'm sitting here, next to a warm wood fire, it's five below zero outside. Some places are seeing lower temperatures than that.

Saturday, February 17, will be the 13th Annual Curtis Winter Carnival, sponsored by the Curtis Area Chamber of Commerce, on the South Manistique Lake ice in downtown Curtis. There will be a chili cook-off, music, Curtis fish coop with ice fishing (the children really enjoy this event), food booths, bake sale, children's games and piñata, turkey bowling, kid's mini sled challenge, family snowman building contest, and fireworks over the lake, sponsored by the Independent 3-Lake Area Fireworks Council. For more information, call (906) 586-3700 or 800- 652-8784.

Saturday, February 17, and Sunday, February 18, will be the eighth annual Ice Fishing Derby at McDonald Lake in Gulliver, also featuring a Kids Derby for children younger than 14. Advance registration of $5 is required at the BG's Mini Mart fish registration station at the public access site on McDonald Lake.

Come join the fun Saturday, February 24, at Millecoquins Lake Winter Carnival, on the east side of the lake. You will find fishing contests, soup and chowder cook-off, polar bear snow-cross ski race and fun run, concessions and games, youth snowmobile slalom race (for children 12 and younger), U.P. championship euchre tournament, predator hunt, and snowmobile runs on the ice. Contact the Hiawatha Sportsman's Club office at (906) 477-6592 for more information.

It's the winter free fishing weekend, Saturday, February 17, and Sunday, February 18. Michigan's free fishing weekends are two days when all fishing license fees will be waived for residents and out-ofstate visitors, on both inland and Great Lakes waters. All fishing regulations will still apply. If you need more information, stop by or call your local Department of Natural Resources office.

Happy birthday to Heather Troyer February 8, Stacy Vallier February 10, Sharon Leveille and Roger Berry II February 12, and Jessica Davis, Barb Hobbs, Fred Burton Jr., and Susan Fosdick February 15.

Happy anniversary to Ed and Becky Freed February 11, Mike and Karene Kerbersky February 13, and Leroy and Leanne Frazier February 14.

Happy Valentine's Day to my wonderful family, and to all of you.