Ceremony Will Mark Bridge Opening Date Nov. 1



On a sunny Indian Summer day November 1, 1957, vehicles lined up for a mile at each end of the new Mackinac Bridge, toll collectors readied their change drawers, and some of those responsible for the “great web of steel” climbed into a convertible to lead the traffic as it flowed over the Straits of Mackinac for the first time. […]

Appraisal Bid Gets City’s OK

For Potential Star Line Property Offer

G.R. Gotshall Associates’ bid to appraise 1.2 acres of waterfront property near American Legion Park was approved by St. Ignace City Council by a vote of 6-1 at its regular meeting Monday, October 15. The $3,350 fee will be split between the city and its Downtown Development Authority. Council received two bids for the independent appraisal of Star Line’s property, […]

Straits History Inspires Purin To Build Sainte Marie Model



Charles Purin’s scaled model of the railway ferry Sainte Marie is so detailed and realistic, hearing the blast of the horn and seeing a plume of black smoke spew from its stacks would be no surprise. The 68-year-old U. S. Coast Guard retiree from Pewaukee, Wisconsin, has been a model maker for more than 55 years. Mr. Purin’s latest model […]

Townships To Vote on Change inWaste Plan



To keep trash pickup costs low in the Eastern Upper Peninsula, while maintaining good customer service, the Eastern Upper Peninsula Solid Waste Management Committee has proposed changes to the region’s solid waste plan that will allow a second contractor to do business here. The plan is based on an agreement among Luce, Mackinac, and Chippewa counties. If passed by the […]

Curtis Chamber of Commerce Building Will Be Relocated



The Curtis Chamber of Commerce building will be moved by October 31 to a parcel of property at the corner of H-33 and Sandtown Road, reported township assessor Richard Oliver at the Tuesday, October 9, meeting of the Portage Township Board of Trustees. The chamber building is located in the center of Curtis, on the same parcel as St. Timothy’s […]

Sportsmen: Clearing Growth Will Provide Deer Habitat



To create a “wilderness field” for deer, grouse, and other game animals, the Straits Area Sportsmen’s Club completed a clearing project Saturday, October 13, “smack in the middle of Edison Deer Yard,” said club president Louis Colegrove of St. Ignace. The wildlife opening, north of M-134 in the Hiawatha National Forest, is near Edison and 16 Mile roads. The two-acre […]

Proposed Boathouse for Historic 96-foot Canim Discussed by Twp. Planners



Clark Township Planning Commission heard the first public announcement of a proposed boathouse to shelter the historic, 96-foot wooden yacht Canim during its Tuesday, October 9 meeting. Owners want to store and maintain the yacht at Hessel. Commissioners said they appreciated the information distributed at the meeting, and briefly discussed the project, but will schedule a public hearing to follow […]

Lake Levels Theorists Call for Public Support



Low water levels in Lakes Huron and Michigan are causing public concern in waterfront communities like the Les Cheneaux Islands, where hundreds of island cottagers need enough depth to reach their island property. Water levels are important to the local commerce, which depends on recreational boating and fishing to help feed the economy. Low water levels touch nearly everyone on […]

Tribe Purchases Training Simulator for Officers



The MILO Range Pro shooting simulator system that the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Police Department purchased in August is every video game player’s dream, with lifelike action, surround sound, and real weapons. The purpose of the simulator, however, has nothing to do with entertainment, and everything to do with improving public safety and security. The tribe purchased […]

Grondin Catches 22.8-pound Muskie in Brevoort Lake