Events Will Bring War of 1812 to Life

American, British, and Indian Fighters to Reenact Key Battle on Mackinac Island

Visitors to Mackinac Island during the first weekend in August will be treated to a slate of activities and events marking the bicentennial of the 1814 battle on Mackinac Island. A reenactment, tours of the U.S. Brig Niagara, and concerts are scheduled to take place Friday, August 1, through Monday, August 4. The centerpiece of the celebration will be a […]

Straits Pipeline to Get More Supports

Metal Braces to Be Added on Lake Floor

More steel supports will brace up the Enbridge Energy oil pipeline on the lake floor beneath the Straits of Mackinac, in a project that will begin in early August. The pipeline supports are placed at an average of 54 feet apart, but in some places there are not enough braces to comply with a state agreement that mandates support every […]

New Tropical Vibe For Music Festival



Air Margaritaville, a Jimmy Buffett tribute band, will take center stage at Bayside Music Festival at the St. Ignace city marina Saturday, August 2, from 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Musician Mike Ridley of Indian River will open the show and perform between sets. This is the first year that the music festival will consist of a full concert by […]

VanSlotens and Gaylors Honored



Floyd and Johanna VanSloten have been named Citizens of the Year at Rudyard, and Martin and Cathy Gaylor of Gaylor Trucking were honored with the Business of the Year award for their service to the community. The Rudyard community presented these annual awards at Rudyard’s Summerfest celebration Saturday, July 26. The VanSlotens were praised for their willingness to assist others […]

Dedication to History Brings Reenactors To Battlefield



There is a special dedication to history among the soldiers who will reenact the battle of Mackinac Island Monday, August 4. The free public exhibition, to be staged at 3 p.m. on Wawashkamo Golf Course, will be exactly 200 years from the time and date of the real battle, when American forces tried to take back Fort Mackinac from the […]

Federal, State, and Local Elections Will Be on Ballot This Tuesday



The state primary election is Tuesday, August 5. Voters will cast ballots on issues ranging from their choice for Michigan’s next governor to millage requests for county projects to political races and tax requests in local townships. For citizens running for office, the primary will narrow the list of candidates and determine who will run in the Tuesday, November 4, […]

Hospital Asks Voters to Renew Millage



Residents of Mackinac County will vote on a request for a health services renewal millage of up to 1.2 mills at the Tuesday, August 5, election. The current millage expires at the end of 2014. If approved, the millage will be levied from 2015 through 2019. About half of the funds generated will be directed to Evergreen Living Center, a […]

Proposal One: Personal Property Tax Could Be Eliminated



Proposition One would eliminate the personal property tax paid by businesses if voters approve it Tuesday, August 5. The state legislature voted to phase it out in March, but the change will only go into effect if voters say “yes” to Proposition One. The Personal Property Tax annually charges businesses for all of their “tangible personal property,” which includes furniture […]

Newton Twp. Voters Will See Two Local Millage Proposals



Voters in Newton Township will have two millage requests on the ballot for the Tuesday, August 5, primary election. The first is for township fire department and ambulance operation expenses, while the second is for improvement of roads. Both of the fouryear taxes are renewals. The ambulance and fire millage is for one mill, or $1 per every $1,000 of […]

Local Businessmen Discuss Concerns With State Politicians



Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives Jase Bolger, Speaker Pro Tempore John Walsh, and Representative Frank Foster visited St. Ignace’s Village Inn Friday, July 25, for a business roundtable. Twenty local businessmen attended to discuss the economic concerns of St. Ignace, the Straits area, and the Eastern Upper Peninsula. Local attendees raised topics including the Graymont mining proposal, the […]