Local News

The Mount Franklin wildfire on Isle Royale is smaller than initially believed. Initially estimated at 11 acres based on preliminary information, Isle Royale National Park officials yesterday said that firefighters on the scene have sized it at 5.7 acres. Favorable weather and low wind have kept the fire from growing, …

The first step in trying to keep Buffalo Reef from being overtaken by stamp sands will be a big wall. Michigan Department of Energy, Great Lakes and Environment officials confirmed yesterday that the state’s new budget includes $10 million to build the barrier south of Gay. The jetty will extend …

The Army Corps of Engineers is beginning to work on the Environmental Impact Statement for a potential tunnel under the Straits of Mackinac. The tunnel has been proposed, and would be paid for, by Enbridge. It would house the company’s Line 5 pipeline, and other utilities that are currently located …

The Upper Peninsula State Fair is underway. Opening activities were held at the fairgrounds in Escanaba last evening. The fair will be open full days from now through Sunday, with animals, exhibits, and a midway.  Featured grandstand entertainment includes the percussion ensemble Boom tonight, the ABBA tribute band Abracadabra tomorrow, …

Michigan Tech’s many forested lands are a forestry students dream laboratory and playground. In total the school owns more than 5,000 acres of forest, with various satellite locations set up throughout out the Upper Peninsula. In Lake Linden a 658 acre MTU forest is home to a mixture of hardwoods, …

After an off road crash severely injured their father, Hannah and her brothers, Carson and Jordan Kariniemi, began planning a fundraiser. On Fourth of July weekend, their father, John Kariniemi was traveling with a friend, when their side by side ORV lost control, killing the driver, and sending John to …

UPDATE: Funeral plans have now been announced. See details in the obituary. The body of a Toivola native killed while fighting a wildfire in Oregon was returned to the Copper Country Saturday evening.  Twenty-seven-year-old Collin Hagan died when he was struck by a falling tree on Wednesday. He was working …

Pasty Fest is Saturday, and organizers are encouraging those who wish to be in the parade to sign up now. There is no charge to be in the parade, but Main Street Calumet’s Leah Polzien says it really helps organizers set the parade lineup if they know who’ll be there… …

As Labor Day approaches, some highway construction projects are reaching their conclusions. The westbound detour on US-2 in Bessemer will be lifted this morning. and traffic will return to its usual lane. The eastbound detour will remain in place. The Michigan Department of Transportation is rebuilding 2.7 miles of the …

Gasoline prices continue to fall. AAA Michigan’s most recent survey shows the statewide average for a gallon of unleaded regular at $3.95. Prices remain higher in most of our region, with Houghton County at $4.13, Keweenaw County at $4.29, and Ontonagon County at $4.19. Baraga County is the low spot, …