The Wakefield Chamber of Commerce board voted to temporarily suspend operations (“hibernate”) instead of permanently closing due to low participation and the inability to replace its retiring president, secretary, and treasurer since October 2025.TheDailyGlobe reports the Chamber, a financially stable 501(c)(6) nonprofit, will cease all functions and fundraising after a final meeting on May 21st, … Read more
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has set varying deadlines for ice shanty removal across the state. Shanty owners must remove their structures by the deadline, after which they can only be used and removed daily. Lake St. Clair’s deadline was Feb. 20. Most Lower Peninsula counties must remove shanties by March 1. A … Read more
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany are demanding the Lac du Flambeau tribe repay the town $600,000 paid for road access. Tiffany called the tribe’s 2023 road barricades over expired easements and the subsequent federal trespassing lawsuit “extortion.” Tribal President John Johnson Sr. rejected Tiffany’s claims as “false and inflammatory,” asserting … Read more
Upper Peninsula residents interested in carpentry can apply for the returning U.P. Hammer Time Boot Camp, a partnership between Carpenters and Millwrights Local Union 1510 and Michigan Works!. Open to U.P. residents with a high school diploma or GED, the program teaches hard skills in carpentry, job site orientation, and safety, along with essential soft … Read more
Ashland residents urged the city council on the 10th to prohibit local police from assisting federal immigration enforcement, citing joint ICE-police operations and December 2025 arrests. As reported in TheAshlandDailyPress, resident Bailey Kroll proposed a resolution to bar the Ashland Police Department from aiding federal agents, sharing information on foreign-born individuals, or inquiring about immigration … Read more
Although the Rink and The Glide in Boulder Junction are now closed for the season, Winter Park has purchased a Kubota tractor with a power broom to improve ice quality and reduce volunteer effort next season. TheVilasCountyNewsReview reports Town Chairman Dennis Reuss saidthe new equipment enhances existing resurfacing tools, improving safety, efficiency, and surface consistency, … Read more
The Northwoods Children’s Museum in Eagle River, led by Executive Director Danielle Larson, has formed a collaboration with Feed Our Rural Kids (FORK) to operate a free, 24/7, “no questions asked” food and hygiene pantry. WXPR public radio reports Larson calls the partnership a “natural fit,” connecting play with addressing food insecurity. A new refrigerator … Read more
The UP Regional Blood Center (UPRBC) is facing a critical blood shortage of all types across the Upper Peninsula. The UPRBC, with collection sites in Marquette, Hancock, and Escanaba, is the primary supplier to UP hospitals. They also host community drives. All donations stay in the UP, enabling local patient treatment. A single, hour-long donation … Read more
After a Jan. 30 ultimatum from Vilas County DA Karl Hayes, Presque Isle finally gave The Lakeland Times the year-old public records on the town’s multi-year investigation into potential misuse of its own computers, which prompted the open records request. Despite months of delay and advice from attorney Steven Garbowicz that the records were public, … Read more
Ashland’s new $11.5 million water intake pipe in Lake Superior is now operational after the contractor repaired six construction-damaged areas at their own expense. TheAshlandDailyPress reports Public Works Director John Butler said “everything has been working great” since the November fix. The new pipe replaces one built in 1891, includes an ice-preventing intake grate, and … Read more