EDC Proposal Handed Off to Planning Commission
By Ryan Schlehuber
      Whether now is a good time to create and invest in a county-wide economic development program will be determined by the Mackinac County Planning Commission, which will conduct a feasibility study.
More ...

Hospital Work in Full Swing
By Karen Gould
      Before 7 a.m. Wednesday, April 29, trucks begin lining up at the construction site of the new hospital in St. Ignace. Red and white trucks deliver 200 yards of cement, pumping it through a long tube into a second floor window and onto a steel sub-floor, where crews in tall boots and rubber gloves finish it to a smooth surface.
More ...

Mackinac Tribe To Test Treaty Fishing Rights
BIA and DNR Both Take Notice of Plan
      Members of the Mackinac Tribe of Odawa and Ojibwa Indians plan to confront a treaty rights issue by setting commercial fishing nets in Lake Michigan off Boulevard Drive near St. Ignace Thursday, May 7, and retrieve them the following day at noon.
More ...

Hessel Lots Are Rezoned for Parking
By Jonathan Eppley
      Despite an outcry from neighboring property owners, lots 22 and 23 in Hessel were rezoned from residential to commercial Thursday, April 30. The Clark Township Board of Trustees voted 4-1 to rezone the lots at a public hearing and special meeting attended by about 35 area residents.
More ...

Ferry Tickets Dropped $1 at Urging of Island Council
By Karen Gould
      The price of an adult round-trip boat ticket to Mackinac Island dropped one dollar Friday, May 1, to $24, after all three boat lines agreed to reduce their fare at the urging of Mackinac Island City Council.
More ...

Foreclosure Counseling Now Offered
Programs Available for Local Homeowners
By Mark Tower
      In a state that ranked sixth in the nation last year in home foreclosures, some local organizations are offering homeowners a helping hand. Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME) of Mackinac County now offers a variety of options to residents facing possible foreclosure, including counseling and advice.
More ...

St. Ignace Council Moves Closer to Charter Compliance
By Karen Gould
      The St. Ignace City Council is not likely to amend the St. Ignace City Charter, but it doesn't know what to do about a provision to publish the city audit in a local newspaper, a requirement that it fears could cost too much money. So the city will ask its auditors how much of the 100-page document the city would have to publish and still meet the provisions of the charter.
More ...

Cedarville Limestone Quarry Completes $14 Million Rebuild
Regional Trends - Industry
By Jonathan Eppley
      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. Over the past two years, the Carmeuse Lime and Stone quarry in Cedarville completed a major rebuild of its entire facility to introduce new technology and replace aging equipment.
More ...

Probable Swine Flu Case Seen in Chippewa County Monday
      A likely case of H1N1 (swine) flu was reported by the Chippewa County Health Department Monday, May 4, and another suspected case sample has been sent for testing. The department is awaiting test results from the Center for Disease Control and the Michigan Department of Community Health laboratories.
More ...