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December 11, 2008 / Front Page

Townships Must Pay Half of Road Costs Up Front

Bigelow, Cece New Road Commission District Foremen

By Karen Gould

Townships now are required to pay 50% of their costs for road maintenance and construction before work begins on all projects. The decision was approved by Mackinac County road commissioners during their Tuesday, November 25 meeting. More...

Pastor Tari Stage-Harvey To Lead Church in Alaska

By Karen Gould

"It's not a pastor that makes a congregation, it's a congregation that grows a pastor, and they really have done that for us. They've made me the pastor I am now," said Tari Stage-Harvey of the members of Zion Lutheran Church in St. Ignace. More...

Brevort Township Eyes Savings on Fireworks

By John S. DeMott

The Brevort Township board wrestled Tuesday, December 2, with how to save $400 on fireworks for February's Ice Jamboree on Brevort Lake and Fourth of July fireworks display, but ultimately left the matter to a business group. More...

Santa Visits Children at Les Cheneaux

By Jonathan Eppley

Hessel and Cedarville residents joined together Sunday, December 7, to celebrate the holiday season at the Clark Township Community Center on M-134. More...

Mackinaw City Asks Attorney To Study Blight Issue

By John S. DeMott

"We have a real serious problem," Mackinaw City Village President Ron Wallin declared Thursday, December 4, as he began the council's examination of blighted buildings in the downtown area. More...

News

'Unified Ask' Campaign Begins

The Les Cheneaux Community Foundation mailed out letters asking for donations for nine area nonprofits, as well as for the foundation itself, in its third annual Unified Ask campaign. More...

Holiday Giving Opportunities in Our Community

Several opportunities are available for donating to needy families in the community during the holiday season, including the following: • Mackinac County Children's Toy Drive: Cash canisters are available in St. More...

Health Insurance Restrictions Are Cause of Concern in Potential School Layoffs

Les Cheneaux District Checking Into Other Options To Solve Problem

By Jonathan Eppley

Of the several factors contributing to the revenue deficit at Les Cheneaux Community Schools, employee health insurance is causing headaches for the Board of Education. More...

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Sports

LaTour, Colegrove Join Hall of Fame

By David Latva

This is the fifth and final story in a series about the LaSalle High School Hall of Fame inductees that will be held December 28 and December 29. More...

Teams Begin Girls Basketball Season

By David Latva

St. Ignace Saints girls basketball team is 2-1 after the first week of the season, following a 59-34 road win over Gaylord Blue Devils in the opener Tuesday, December 2. More...

Lakers Hoops Sweep Rockets in NLL Opener

By David Latva

Mackinac Island Lakers boys and girls basketball teams swept the Paradise Rockets in a Northern Lights League (NLL) season-opening weekend series Friday, December 5, and Saturday, December 6. More...

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Opinion

Bridge Commuters Are Customers Crossing for Varied Reasons

To the Editor: The way Mr. Sweeney is portraying commuters to the general public and his board of directors at the Mackinac Bridge Authority (MBA), you would think we are all criminals cheating him out of tolls and not repeat customers. More...

State Roads in Bad Shape Put Us at Risk

To the Editor: It is no secret that Michigan roads are in terrible shape, just ask the Michigan citizens who have to replace flat tires, bent rims, and busted tie rods. More...

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Making It Merry and Bright

At left: Alicia Sheber (left) and Carly Jo Atkinson find concentration and exact placement important when placing ornaments on the State Street tree their class is decorating for the holidays Thursday, December 4. More...

Volunteer Group Wants To Save 13 School Jobs

Les Cheneaux District

By Jonathan Eppley

When employees at Les Cheneaux Community Schools in Cedarville learned 13 coworkers were given 60 days notice they may be laid off, they took action. Faculty and citizens formed a group to raise funds to address the district's revenue deficit. More...

Study: Wood Heat Could Save Money

St. Ignace Schools

By Karen Gould

A savings of $79,000 a year could be realized if St. Ignace Area Schools burns wood chips to heat the buildings, a new study concludes. The preliminary assessment was discussed during the school board meeting Monday, December 8. More...

If Home Falls in Market Value, Why Will Property Taxes Still Go Up?

Amendment Would Lower Taxes - and City Revenue

By Jonathan Eppley

If a home loses value in a bad economy or real estate market, is it fair to see its property taxes stay the same, or even increase? More...

County Officials Take Oath of Office

Performing the swearing in ceremony Friday, December 5, Judge William Carmody thanked newly elected officials for their coming service to Mackinac County, which would be during difficult economic times. More...

3% Pay Raise Approved for Moran Twp. Officials

By John S. DeMott

Having gone without pay raises for several years, Moran Township officials voted themselves a 3% increase Wednesday, December 3, at their scheduled monthly meeting. The raise applies only to the highest three elected township board officials. More...

Obituaries

James 'Jay' Blackwell

James "Jay" Cecil Blackwell, 68, of Kinross, worked as a truck driver for many years. Mr. Blackwell died Tuesday, December 2, 2008, at War Memorial Hospital in Sault Ste. Marie. He was born June 27, 1940, in Clay County, Arkansas, to Walter C. More...

Daale Maier

Daale E. Maier, 76, of East Lake, died Monday, December 1, 2008, at home with his wife, Janice, at his side and under the care of North Woods Hospice. More...

Donald Cottle

Donald Robert Cottle, 58, of Pickford, died Thursday, December 4, 2008, at Marquette General Hospital in Marquette. He was born July 17, 1950, in Sault Ste. Marie. He grew up in Pickford, and was graduated from Pickford High School in 1969. More...

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Columns

St. Ignace

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

"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas," and especially when walking downtown in St. Ignace. The evergreen garland lightly hugs the lamp posts while the colorful Christmas lights give off a shiny twinkle. More...

DeTour

By Judy Jones Writing for Barbara Buschbacher

Old Man Winter worked hard to put a snowy, windy face on DeTour's fourth annual Village Christmas, but still couldn't knock out all the fun. More...

Engadine Consolidated Schools

HOME OF THE EAGLES•KNOWLEDGE LETS YOU SOAR

by Stu Hobbs Superintendent

approaching and students are anxious for the time off. Engadine Consolidated Schools will be out for the holiday from December 24 to January 2, 2009. School will resume January 5. First semester and second quarter will come to an end January 23. More...

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