Michigan Trails Week Challenge: Run, hike, ride or paddle

August 31, 2021

Every mile counts! Michigan Trails Week is the perfect time to hit your favorite trail or find an all-new adventure. During Michigan Trails Week (Sept. 19 to 26), join us to collectively travel 100,000 miles on trails across the state and earn badges (and maybe some prizes) along the way. How to register The 2021 Michigan Trails Week Challenge is open to trail veterans and newcomers alike – and it's free! Simply log your miles spent on any local, county, state or federally managed trail. For each badge earned, you'll be entered in a drawing for cool outdoor gear and Michigan-branded ...

Unemployment Insurance claimants issued new debit cards

August 31, 2021

LANSING — The Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) is reminding claimants who receive their benefit payment on a debit card that a new debit card for accessing their funds was issued by U.S. Bank. Claimants began receiving their new debit cards in early August. The State of Michigan changed its debit card provider for unemployment benefits from Bank of America to U.S. Bank earlier this year. As of Aug. 25, new unemployment funds will post to the new U.S. Bank debit card. Claimants may continue to use their current Bank of America debit card until Nov. 30. Bank of America extended the ...

KDL announces 10th Annual Write Michigan Short Story Contest

August 31, 2021

HANCOCK – Kent District Library, Hancock School Public Library, Schuler Books and three other libraries from across Michigan announce the tenth annual Write Michigan Short Story Contest, which drew almost 1,000 Michigan writers last year. Writers of all ages are invited to enter, with separate categories for youth, teens, adults and Spanish language (12 and younger). Winning entries will be published and receive cash prizes. “Writing is powerful for storytelling and artistic expression, but also has healing power,” said Katie Zuidema, Marketing Communications Specialist at KDL. ...

Patients benefit from new bariatric parallel bars purchased by Aspirus Ontonagon Hospital Foundation

August 30, 2021

ONTONAGON – Aspirus Ontonagon Hospital Foundation donors provided funding for the purchase of a new set of bariatric parallel bars for the hospital’s inpatient physical therapy department. The new bars have a higher weight capacity and an ergonomic design for better patient comfort, can ...

First mosquitoes of 2021 carrying Eastern Equine Encephalitis virus found in Barry County

August 30, 2021

LANSING – Michigan residents are being reminded by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) to protect themselves from mosquito bites following the detection of the first Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE)-positive mosquito pool of the year in Barry County. The discovery in Barry County follows a report by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of an EEE-positive horse from Livingston County and underscores the need for both Michigan residents and horse owners to take precautions. “These discoveries indicate that the EEE virus is here in ...

Stabenow, Peters announce over $200,000 in support for Ahmeek Fire Department

August 30, 2021

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (MI) and Gary Peters (MI) today announced that the Ahmeek Fire Department will receive $213,942 in federal funding to improve operations and safety for firefighters and personnel. These federal funds come from the Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. “Our firefighters put their lives on the line to protect our families, homes, and communities,” said Senator Stabenow. “These new resources will help keep the public safe and give our first responders the equipment they need to do their jobs more ...