Local News

The U.S. Coast Guard has begun ice breaking operations in the northern Great Lakes. Operation Taconite began a week earlier than last year, as ice began to cover ports and critical shipping lanes. The cutter Katmai Bay will be responsible for keeping the shipping lane between Sault Sainte Marie and …

The Michigan Tech Board of Trustees will meet this morning. Among the items trustees will review are recommendations from the University Senate that the School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, and School of Business and Economics both be elevated to college levels. The recent University Senate resolution that calls …

On the heels of yesterday’s report of a successful Giving Tuesday campaign by the Portage Health Foundation, Finlandia University is also announcing good news. Marketing and Communications Director Olivia Myers tells us the university raised $62,403.25 on December 3rd. That total includes a $20,000 matching grant from Finlandia Board President …

The state is working to keep the main entrance road to Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park from washing into Lake Superior. High water levels and violent fall storms are threatening the 107th Engineers Memorial Highway, which runs from Silver City to the Union Bay Campground, the ski hill, and the …

This year’s Portage Health Foundation Giving Tuesday campaign will pump nearly a third of a million dollars into 15 local nonprofits. The December 3rd event brought in $217,781 from around 550 donors. PHF matched the first $100,000 in donations dollar-for-dollar, for a total of $317,781. PHF Executive Director Kevin Store …

The UP Regional Blood Center is critically short of O-negative and B-negative blood. If you can donate, call the Blood Center’s office in Hancock at 483-1392. There are also two blood drives scheduled in the area next week – one at Baraga County Memorial Hospital in L’Anse Tuesday between 2:00 …

The Houghton County Fair Board will hold its annual meeting tonight (December 12th). Last year’s fair will be reviewed, a bylaw change will be considered, and directors will be elected. The meeting begins at 7:00 in the Sisu Room at the Houghton County Arena. The public is welcome. Only members …

One of the Upper Peninsula’s brightest Christmas displays will be lit Saturday. Copper Harbor’s Winter Wonderfest features a holiday marketplace with items from local artists from 10:00 until 6:00. Kids can make ornaments at 4:00, as Santa arrives on a fire engine at the Mariner North. At 6:00, the light …

31 Backpacks is preparing for its annual Christmas effort to provide meals for kids over the holidays, and the organization is looking for help with the effort.  Three truckloads of food are scheduled to arrive this afternoon at 2:00 at Good Tidings Church in Hancock. Volunteers are needed to help …

The Portage Health Auxiliary handed out some early Christmas gifts yesterday. The group distributed $15,700 in donations to community organizations. The largest check went to 31 Backpacks – $3,000 to help in their effort to make sure kids from low income families have enough to eat. Other large donations included …