Dave Price, CBS Early Show Film Live From Island; Fisher Awarded Trip



“We’re clear,” was echoed across the temporary set of the CBS Early Show as the two-hour live broadcast from the porch of Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island ended Thursday, August 23. Moments earlier, the CBS crew had awarded Barb Fisher, Island resident and school secretary, a vacation to the British Virgin Islands in recognition for her volunteer work. She was […]

New Century Club To Help Fill Funding Gaps for School



A new club has been formed to help fill in some of the funding gaps at Les Cheneaux Community Schools. The group of local citizens headed by Joe Forrester launched the Trojan Century Club in reaction to budget cuts, and Monday night, August 20, the school board formally agreed to accept money raised by the club. The board will also […]

Star Line’s Craig Skutt Saves Lansing Man From Drowning



Craig Skutt of St. Ignace saved the life of a Lansing man just off just off the Star Line dock on Mackinac Island Saturday, August 18. His lifeguard training, quick thinking, and communication skills saved the man from drowning, his heroic efforts drew praise from the Michigan State Police, and an Island chef named a hero sandwich after him. The […]

Law Enforcement Prepares for Labor Day Weekend Safety



More than 500 Michigan law enforcement agencies will participate in the a drunk driving crackdown through Labor Day, September 3, to keep holiday motorists safe. Motorists with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or above will be arrested. The Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning (OHSP) is coordinating the enforcement effort by administering federal traffic safety funds to more than […]

New LIFT Group Wants To Help Prevent Suicides by Aiding Troubled Youth

"We have a responsibility as parents and community leaders to help." - Lana Causley, LIFT chairperson

Spurred by the suicides of at least six young people from the Eastern Upper Peninsula in the past year, including the June 23 death of Lucas Izzard of Cedarville, 22 citizens have formed the Lucas Izzard Foundation for Teens (LIFT). The group wants to develop programs to help young people cope with psychological pain, drug and alcohol problems, and challenges […]

Miss Michigan Kirsten Haglund Enjoys Straits Visit



When Kirsten Haglund, Miss Michigan 2007, stood atop a Mackinac Bridge tower Saturday, July 28, she found herself immersed in history, in awe of the landscape, and honored to share the 50th anniversary of Mighty Mac with Miss Michigan 1957, Valerie Strong Agresta, whom she had met the night before at the Kewadin Shores Casino anniversary banquet. Near a replica […]

Request Denied To Expand Murray Street Boardinghouse



St. Ignace property owner Mike Compton’s request to change the zoning of his six lots on Murray Street from two-family (R-2) to a mixed residential (R-3) to expand his employee housing was denied by the St. Ignace Planning Commission Wednesday, August 22, in response to concerns voiced by neighbors at the meeting. Mr. Compton, who owns Goodfellow’s Bar and Grille […]

Plane Missing After Leaving Island Airport



Debris suspected to be from a missing plane was found washed ashore just east of Cheboygan Monday, August 27. The small, single-engine plane with two people on board left Mackinac Island Airport Friday afternoon, August 24, enroute to Bad Axe, although the plane never reached its destination. The pilot is Karen Dodds, 51, and the passenger is Brooke Stauffer, 55, […]

Island Marina To Close Sept. 4 for Renovations



The Mackinac Island Marina will close Tuesday, September 4, as a $5 million renovation project gets underway. A portion of the facility will remain open about a week longer to honor a few reservations made earlier this year, said Thomas Paquin, park and recreation manager from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Cheboygan office. Plans call for the revamped […]

‘Building’ Creativity

Great Lakes Boat School Projects Taking Shape

At left: Julie Whiting of Zionsville, Indiana, shows the metal centaur sculpture she cast Wednesday, August 22, during the class at the Great Lakes Boat Building School. A former Eastern Upper Peninsula resident who has been away for 10 years, she still comes here to visit an aunt and uncle in Rudyard, Clara Jo and Henry Jarvie. She heard about […]