The landscape of St. Ignace changed forever in the predawn hours of Wednesday, August 3. The foundation of the old railroad track elevator on the Wawatam Dock gave way and left a pile of iron and timber rubble in its wake. The failure ended the life of the waterfront’s distinguishing feature and undermined the city’s efforts to embrace its historic […]
Millages in Garfield and Portage, Library in DeTour Get Voter Approval
Voters approved renewal millages in Garfield and Portage townships in Mackinac County and in DeTour Township in Chippewa County Tuesday, August 2, the only August elections held in the Eastern Upper Peninsula. The resulting levies will maintain and improve roads, provide fire and ambulance operating funds, and keep a library open. Portage Township Voters renewed two mills for three years […]
What to Do With the Ferry Franchise Fee Windfall
To the Editor: What to do with its ferry franchise fee windfall was discussed at the July 27 Mackinac Island City Council meeting, according to the July 30 Mackinac Island Town Crier report [The St. Ignace News August 4]. One City Council member called for a plan listing intended uses for this revenue, which so far has totaled $228,564.98, over […]
Let’s Be Neighborly: It’s Just a Dirt Road
To the Editor: I’m the great-granddaughter of Chief Joesph Santigo, whose Indian Settlement was at the eight-mile junction (Mackinac Trail and M-123 highway north of St. Ignace). Also on what was once Santigo Settlement is Santigo Lake, as well as an old gravel pit, which was dug when 1-75 was put in. Running into Santigo Lake is Martineau Creek. Disputes […]
Camp Has Pivotal Role on Capitol Hill
Michigan PoliticsNorthern Michigan’s three Republican congressmen joined the majority of the state’s House delegation and Democratic Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow last week in voting to raise the debt limit by at least $2.1 trillion, thus preventing a U.S. default. One of them, Dave Camp of Midland, could be a pivotal player in the next step—figuring out where to make […]
Divers Come From All Over the World To Explore Straits Shipwreck Preserve
Underwater Treasure Hunt To Challenge Divers at St. IgnaceIt’s cold, quiet, and dark. Everything is fuzzy and gray. Then, looming behind layers of silt, a shipwreck appears. “It’ll just open up. It’s like someone just opened the curtains and it’s right there,” said Dan Friedhoff, secretary for the Straits of Mackinac Shipwreck Preserve. Divers come from all over the world to dive the shipwrecks in the Straits area. […]
Women’s Native American Drum Group Takes Part in Fab Friday Activities at St. Ignace
Six women sit in a circle at the Father Marquette memorial, beating on their small hand drums and letting their voices carry Ojibwe words through the streets of downtown St. Ignace. They are the Grandmother Moon Singers, a women’s Native American drumming group from Cheboygan, giving a presentation and practicing their drumming as part of downtown Fab Friday festivities. Women’s […]