Carol Bell Is Ambassador of Year



Carol Bell has been named the Ambassador of the Year Award for 2012. Judy Wyse, who presented her with the award at the St. Ignace Chamber of Commerce dinner Thursday, May 17, called Mrs. Bell a high profile figure with a low-profile demeanor, noting that she often smiles and waves at traffic when she is planting flowers and doing other […]

Erskine Chosen To Lead Parade

Memorial Day Weekend in Mackinaw City

Vern Erskine, a World War II combat veteran from St. Ignace, will be this year’s grand marshal of the Mackinaw City Memorial Day parade this weekend. Memorial Day weekend will draw thousands of visitors to Mackinaw City and begin the summer tourist season. Many of the celebratory events planned are traditions in the village. The Fort Michilimackinac Pageant and Memorial […]

American Legion Gives $10K To Hospital



The St. Ignace American Legion has pledged $10,000 over five years to Mackinac Straits Health System Foundation, bringing the hospital closer to its $400,000 target for a matching grant. The pledge was presented at the annual St. Ignace Chamber of Commerce dinner Thursday, May 17. If the foundation succeeds in raising $400,000 by June 30, Richard and Jane Manoogian of […]

County Candidates On August Ballot



Two new candidates, Mary Swiderski and David Sudol, will enter the race for a seat on the Mackinac County Board of Commissioners when elections for Mackinac County are held Monday, August 6. All candidates are running unopposed. Running for two-year terms are incumbent Jim Hill for District 1, Mary Swiderski for District 2, David Sudol for District 3, incumbent Diane […]

Native American Festival Is Highlight in St. Ignace



A Native American Festival will be Saturday, May 26, and Sunday, May 27, at the Museum of Ojibwa Culture in St. Ignace. It is open to the public. See story, inside. Many years ago, according to Anishinaabe legend, a great leader named Black Elk was concerned about the future of his people as he neared death. He asked the creator […]

Holiday Services Planned



Memorial Day, a holiday to remember those who died in military service to the United States, will be celebrated in local communities Saturday, May 26, Sunday, May 27, and Monday, May 28. The traditional holiday is the last Monday in May. Services will be in St. Ignace, Mackinac Island, Mackinaw City, Cedarville, Pickford, Raber, Stalwart, Goetzville, De- Tour, Kinross, and […]

Mackinac Island Horsemen Suggest Island Could Be Marketed as Equestrian Destination

Withdraw Request To Host Show Stallions on Island

The Mackinac Horsemen’s Association withdrew its permit request for the Tempel Lipizzans to visit Mackinac Island for the Festival of the Horse in August, and presented an idea to the Mackinac Island City Council to market the Island as a prime location for equestrians and carriage drivers throughout the country. At a meeting May 2, the city could not decide […]

Mackinaw City Businesses Hear Results of Visitor Survey



Knowledgeable, positive employees can help generate a positive impression among visitors, while staff who complain or ignore customers can create a negative one. This was one observation revealed in a Mackinaw City visitor survey last year, and was among many outlined when Bill Marvin gave a presentation on customer service at the Mackinaw City Chamber of Commerce annual community breakfast […]

Michigan Politics

Centrists a Fading Factor In United States Politics

The shrinking center in American politics is evident in both parties but is especially prominent of late in the increasingly ideologically divided GOP. This was underscored this month by the Indiana primary defeat of longtime Republican U.S. Senator Richard Lugar, a reasonable fellow noted for promoting compromise, and the announced retirement of Senator Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), a consensus-builder and one […]

Candidate Slate Announced for Chippewa County August Ballot



Candidates for the August 7 election in Chippewa County have been announced. Patrick Shannon will challenge incumbent Lowell Ulrich for a sixyear term as probate judge. Paul Rambo, Emil Mattson, and James Parr will challenge incumbent Robert Savoie for a four-year term as sheriff. Rob Stratton will challenge incumbent Brian Peppler for a fouryear term as prosecutor. Susan Wilds will […]