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Editorial

Final piece of funding for new lock at Soo great news for area, nation

It’s been a long and difficult journey that has spanned multiple governors and presidents, but the budget to build a new lock at the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie is — at last — fully funded. The final piece of the estimated $1.3 billion needed to build the new lock has come into place, with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers receiving $479 million from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to invest in the locks. The news was announced Wednesday by U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing, and Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Hills, who said the investment made possible by the act ...

Not counting nursing home deaths unacceptable

Numbers matter, especially when policymakers’ decisions have life or death consequences. That’s precisely why we waited in anticipation of the release of a Michigan Auditor General’s report that determined state public health officials undercounted the number of people who died in nursing homes during the first year of the pandemic. That report, months in the making, determined state public health officials didn’t include 2,386 COVID-19 deaths in the state’s fleet of smaller long-term care facilities in their ongoing assessment of the virus’ impact. We’re frustrated ...

Betty White Challenge a success here, elsewhere

We have to think Betty White is smiling in heaven. The Betty White Challenge earlier this week was a huge success all over the United States, including in the central Upper Peninsula. For those who missed it, the challenge was posted on social media. The idea was to honor beloved actress White, a longtime supporter of animal causes. White died on Dec. 31, 17 days before her 100th birthday. In her memory, the challenge was issued for people to donate $5 or more to a local animal shelter or other charity that supports pets. The results at several U.P. shelters were ...

After Oxford, what’s on our lawmakers’ table?

When in doubt, form a study committee. That is often the go-to play in the legislative playbook on how to deal with some issues that have captured the public’s attention. So it is with the world after the Oxford school killings, as the Michigan House has formed a bipartisan committee on — what else? — school safety. If you are bracing yourself for a knock-down, drag-out battle over gun control, you can pretty much forget that. At least that is the insightful analysis from one of the two Republican co-chairs of the group. State Rep. Luke Meerman, R-Coopersville, a dairy ...

Deputies of the year deserving of honor

Enforcing laws has its own unique challenges, from overseeing peaceful situations to handling law-breaking individuals. It requires a special person to accomplish this. We are glad to hear that two Marquette County Sheriff’s Office deputies were honored for their 2021 service. MCSO Corrections Division deputy Jeff Giroux was named the county’s Deputy of the Year for that division while MCSO Road Patrol Division deputy Dean Rushford was named Deputy of the Year for the patrol. Supervisors, who are in a good position to determine how employees perform, select the winners in ...

Many Thanks from Trinity Episcopal

To the editor: I write to extend profound thanks to the dozens of hopeful and generous neighbors, and all the superbly talented musicians, who created and attended the Concert for Afghanistan at Trinity Episcopal Chruch last Saturday. The beauty of the music and the outpouring of support for Afghan Refugee resettlement prove-- as if any proof were needed-- that the Holy Spirit is in the very air we breathe in the Keweenaw. Many at the show asked if we will do this sort of thing again. On the strength of last week’s harmonies, we intend to. Until then, we proceed in faith and ...