Looking to the West: U.P. Sees Tourism Advantages
Population Centers Closer Than Many Realize, Nemacheck Says
By Ellen Paquin
      A story in The St. Ignace News' ongoing series bringing our readers fresh perspectives on the top issues facing the Straits area and the Eastern Upper Peninsula.
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Family Will Get New Home
Habitat House To Be Dream Come True for O'Brien and Grandsons
By Karen Gould
      Patti O'Brien is a seamstress. She crafts satin, taffeta, tulle, and lace into wedding dresses, but for now, her work is on hold. Threads in all shades, special needles, and scissors are packed away in one of the many boxes that fill every available inch of the cramped two-bedroom St.
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City Council Recognizes 25 Attorneys Since 1883
Work Progressing at New Bus Station
By Karen Gould
      A plaque recognizing 25 attorneys who have served the City of St. Ignace since 1883 was hung at city hall during the city council meeting Monday, April 20. It will join plaques listing the city's mayors, city managers, and clerks on the walls of the council chambers on the second floor.
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Clark Twp. Leases Out Dump Site
By Jonathan Eppley
      The Clark Township Board of Trustees signed a one-year lease agreement with Smith Sanitation Thursday, April 16, to operate the Clark Township waste transfer station. The Rudyard-based sanitation company will pay the township $500 to run the facility on State Avenue in Cedarville.
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School Mulls Outsourcing Custodial, Maintenance Work
Les Cheneaux
By Jonathan Eppley
      Les Cheneaux Community Schools is investigating whether it will outsource its custodial and maintenance services next year and the school board, meeting Monday, April 20, said it will ask three companies for proposals. Superintendent Rod Goehmann said such a move would be expected to save the district between $15,000 to $20,000.
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Work To Resume Monday on US-2 Cut River Bridge
      Construction work will resume Monday, April 27, to replace the deck and repair steel on the US-2 Cut River Bridge. The project, which began last year, also includes partial painting and joint replacement. This project requires a detour on nearby Cut River and Prater roads, adding seven to 10 minutes in travel time, according to the Michigan Department of Transportation.
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Funding Drop of One-third Means Doors Close Early at St. Ignace Library
Penal Fines Funding Plunges, and State Aid Also Threatened
By Ellen Paquin
      Public library hours in St. Ignace will be cut by an hour or two each day in the face of a projected 32% drop in library funding. Taking a $16,640 bite out of the library's budget this year, the cutback in penal fines funding in Mackinac County pushes financial support for the library back to the lowest levels in 16 years.
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Mackinaw City To Pay Projects With Bond
$700,000 Bond To Cover Repair, Vehicle Purchases
By Ryan Schlehuber
      Mackinaw City will sell $700,000 in bonds to fund scheduled capital improvements and equipment. The money will be used to make necessary repairs and upgrades to infrastructure, including road improvement to North Huron Street and the purchase of a new ambulance and new pumper truck for the fire department.
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