Richard Frank



One of the early historic preservation architects who helped define the Straits of Mackinac for millions of tourists died , Monday, January 28, 2008, at the age of 77 in Detroit. Richard Frank, a resident of Gregory, northwest of Ann Arbor, began his career in historical restoration at Fort Mackinac and Colonial Michilimackinac and went on to state and national […]

Keenan Marshall



Keenan Joseph Marshall, who was nearly three years old, died Thursday, February 21, 2008. He is the son of Mike and Kris Marshall of Rockford. Keenan was full of fun and joy, family members said, and his favorite toy was Spiderman, but he also liked playing with his toy turtles, pirates, and watching “Bear in the Big Blue House” on […]

Lillian Ledy



Lillian Alice Ledy, 91, was a onetime restaurant owner on Drummond Island who worked as a professional cook for restaurants, lodges, and homes. Mrs. Ledy died Thursday, February 21, 2008, at her home on Drummond Island. She was born June 25, 1916, on Drummond Island to Frank and Alice Mary (nee Church) Satago. She grew up on Drummond Island, and […]

Edna Nye



Edna Nye, 89, of Ontario, California, died Sunday, February 10, 2008. She was born October 13, 1918. She married Jorden Nye, formerly of Hessel, in 1943, when he entered the United States Army. He served three years until 1946, when they moved to a farm in Palms, Michigan. Their three sons grew up on the farm before they moved to […]

Post Office Hours Shouldn’t Be Cut



To the Editor: The postal service is at it again. Upper postal management has decided, in order to save money, they are going to close northern Michigan post offices from half an hour to 1.5 hours per day. Saturday office hours will also be eliminated in some offices. Therefore, once again, the people of northern Michigan become second-class citizens in […]

Too Much Criticism of City



To the Editor: Joe Durm needs his own column in The St. Ignace News. Call it “watchdog.” [Building Inspector] Paul Sved is competent, trustworthy, educated, and we (the collective pilgrims of this hard tack town, doing its best in an economic slump statewide) are lucky to have him. He’s a bargain. Paula McNamara St. Ignace

Michigan Politics

More Calls for Judicial Election Reform

“…judicial elections are becoming political prizefights where partisans and special interests seek to install judges who will answer to them instead of the law and the Constitution.” – Retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor Michigan, Exhibit A in the compelling case made by O’Connor, this year will have what is likely to be the most expensive judicial race […]

Autos Across Mackinac: Vacationland Returns to Michigan; Sold to Canada

PART 59 - From A Robber to A Priest

For the past year, the St. Ignace News has been serializing Les Bagley’s manuscript, “Autos Across Mackinac,” a history of the Michigan State Ferries, which carried automobiles across the Straits before the Mackinac Bridge opened in 1957. Following the bridge opening, the ferries were sold or scrapped. The largest in the fleet, the icebreaker Vacationland, was first sold to transport […]

St. Ignace



The formation of ice in the Straits led to the first snowmobilers crossing from Mackinac Island to St. Ignace Thursday, February 21. Jason St. Onge, Cub Horn, and his son, Brett Horn, made the crossing. Howard Alkire enjoys volunteering at the St. Ignace Hope Chest resale store. He says he is anxious for spring to arrive, so he will be […]

DeTour Area



The month of February will soon be history, and March 1 is fast approaching. Can this mean spring is not too far away? Looking out at the shoreline, with the tall ice mountains, it appears winter and its beautiful scenery will be with us for a while. In DeTour, the annual winterfest, now referred to as the ELF (Everyone Loves […]