November 27, 2008 RSS feed / Front Page

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County To Honor Shelter Volunteers

Public Reception Planned for George and Jo Ann Ford
By Karen Gould
Not long after George Ford volunteerer to walk dogs at the Mackinac County Animal Shelter in St. Ignace, he saw a need and acted on it. More...

Gas Prices Plunge Below $2/Gallon in Straits Area

Some Say Pocketbooks Already Feeling Relief
By John S. DeMott

Gasoline prices are plummeting, in many cases dipping below $2 a gallon and likely to head lower as the holiday driving season looms. Local drivers say they welcome the relief on their business and household budgets. More...

HOLIDAY HOURS

The St. Ignace News office will be closed Thursday, November 27, and Friday, November 28, in observation of Thanksgiving. DEADLINE CHANGES DECEMBER 4 ISSUE Display advertising deadline - Wed., November 26, 5 p.m. More...

'Practice Makes Perfect' for Monday's Concert

Seasonal music will fill LaSalle High School gymnasium Monday evening, December 1, during a Holiday Concert presented by the school bands and choirs. The concert begins at 6 p.m. and people are asked to arrive early. More...

Legislation Clears Way for Tribal Land Transfer for New St. Ignace Hospital

Legislation approved last week by the U.S. Senate finally clears the way for the transfer of land by the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians to the new hospital being built in St. Ignace. More...

News

School's Mission Statement and Finances Impact Technology and Busing

By Michael Springsteen Superintendent St. Ignace Area Schools

We are over a quarter of the way through this school year. The Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year holidays are at hand. The year is going well from both an academic and athletic perspective. More...

Medicare Drug Program Holds Open Enrollment Until Dec. 31

Seniors citizens may take advantage of the Medicare prescription drug program's open enrollment period from November 15 until December 31, 2008. U.S. More...

Mackinac Island School Gives Deadline to Parents Who Owe Hot Lunch Money

By Ryan Schlehuber

Parents who have an outstanding lunch bill for their children at Mackinac Island Public School are required to settle it up before August 1, 2009, according a new policy passed by the board of education. More...

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Sports

Adam Dingman To Present Medals at Division 8 Football Championships

By David Latva

Adam Dingman, a senior at Cedarville High School and a member of the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) student advisory council, will assist in presenting medals to the Division 8 football champions at the state finals between Cryst More...

Eagles' Elisa Hobbs Named EUPC Player of the Year

Junior Elisa Hobbs of Engadine was named volleyball Player of the Year, selected by coaches in the Eastern Upper Peninsula Conference. More...

Extension of Unemployment Benefits Becomes Law

Unemployment benefits were extended by seven weeks in all states Friday, November 21, and the Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2008 provides an additional 13 weeks of benefits in states such as Michigan that have unemployment rates above More...

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Opinion

Making Cedarville Bay a Boater Destination Again

To the Editor: Two articles dealing with ecological issues of Cedarville Bay have appeared in this paper during the past month. Reporter Jonathan Eppley has effectively highlighted a number of points on those issues. More...

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Columns

Michigan Politics

The Colors of Enviro-speak
By George Weeks

After meetings with assorted world leaders, Governor Jennifer Granholm has been promoting creating jobs in a global "green economy" that cleans the environment through alternative energy. More...

Mackinac Island

By Jeannette Doud 847-6298

Wishing you the comfort of home and the closeness of family as you gather to celebrate Thanksgiving. It's Sunday, November 23, a dark, dreary day with very little sunshine. More...

St. Ignace

By Deb Perry Writing for Miriam Blair 643-7815 • debperry@juno.com

As the season brings its first traces of snow, the snow birds begin to head to Florida, including Miriam Blair. She will be traveling to Indiana to meet with relatives and then on to Bonita Springs. More...

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13 Given Layoff Notice at Cedarville School District

Potential for Job Cuts Is There if Deficit Conditions Worsen
By Jonathan Eppley

Seven teachers and six support staff at Les Cheneaux Community Schools were notified Wednesday, November 19, that they may be laid off because of a $120,000 revenue deficit that could grow worse. More...

Local Employers Hit With Solvency Tax

Must Pay Interest on Funds for Jobless Workers
By Ellen Paquin

Local business owners are among about 40,000 employers in the state who learned last week that they must pay a solvency tax, triggered this year because the state had to borrow federal funds to make its payments to a rising tide of unemployed worke More...

Signs Point To Smaller Deer Harvest

By Ellen Paquin

Deer hunters didn't flock to the Upper Peninsula in response to this year's ban on baiting downstate, something wildlife managers thought might happen, and, in fact, hunter numbers and harvest numbers appear to be down so far this season, compared More...

DDA Picks Up Lighting Costs From Marina

By Karen Gould

Four spotlights directed at the Wawatam Lighthouse were turned back on Friday evening after the St. Ignace Downtown Development Authority (DDA) agreed earlier in the day to take over the estimated $1,400 annual electric bill from the city marina. More...

Book Program, Christmas Toy Drive Among Projects Earning Grants at St. Ignace

Community Foundation Distributes $10,065 For 10 Local Projects
By Karen Gould

By the time a local child turns five, he or she could receive 60 hardcover books, one per month beginning at birth. The free book program offered by Eastern Upper Peninsula Intermediate School District (ISD) received a $2,000 grant from the St. More...

Funding Crunch Means Reduced Winter Plowing

State Highway Department Announces Road Plans

Snowplowing by the Michigan Department of Transportation will be reduced in Mackinac County on M-123, M-129, M-134, I-75 Business Loop, and M-185 on Mackinac Island, as well as on other routes in the state. More...

Social

Thanksgiving Brings Memories of 'Mom's Kind' of Pumpkin Pie

A New Recipe Is No Match for a Family Favorite
By Mollie Cox Bryan The Christian Science Monitor

While trying out a new pumpkin pie recipe for a cookbook I was writing, I was suddenly struck by a feeling of betrayal. For the recipe I was using was not my mother's masterfully prepared pie that I always loved and anticipated at Thanksgiving. More...

Gifts Gathered Locally Will Be Sent to Children Around World

More than 110 small boxes containing candy, school supplies, socks, T-shirts, and other items are ready to be sent to needy children around the world. More...

Santa's Letters Accepted at City Hall

A special mailbox will be placed on the first floor in St. Ignace City Hall from Monday, December 1, to Thursday, December 11, for children to write to Santa Claus to tell him what they would like for Christmas. More...

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Obituaries

Ronald Rickley Jr.

Ronald Rickley Jr., 31, of St. Ignace, died Saturday afternoon, November 22, 2008, at Spectrum Hospital in Grand Rapids. He was born January 4, 1977, in St. Ignace to Ronald and Cindy (nee Huskey) Rickley. Mr. More...

Howard Thompson

Howard R. Thompson of Pickford died Thursday, November 20, 2008, at War Memorial Hospital in Sault Ste. Marie. He was 65. He was born June 18, 1943, in Pickford to Norman Loren and Margaret Elizabeth "Bessie" (nee O'Brien) Thompson. More...

Richard Briolat

Richard P. Briolat, 70, of St. Ignace, died unexpectedly Thursday afternoon, November 20, 2008, while blowing snow in his driveway. He was born June 19, 1938, in Detroit to Casimer E. More...

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