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Editorial

Appreciate fireworks, any fireworks

Some things are just out of your control. Marquette’s Fourth of July fireworks show at Mattson Lower Harbor Park fascinated and entertained many people, judging from comments on social media. Unfortunately, the fireworks finale was missing. The Marquette Area Fourth of July Celebration Committee provided an explanation on Facebook. “A device malfunctioned, severing power to the equipment that detonates those shells,” it wrote. “No pyrotechnicians are on the ore dock, as the show is electronically fired. Everyone is safe. The show was originally scheduled to be 21 ...

Build that bonfire with safety in mind

Summertime means picnics, camping, backyard barbeques and family gatherings. For a lot of people, it means making campfires or bonfires, and doing so safely. Here is a common sense listing of 10 things to keep in mind when making a fire, this or any weekend. The list is compiled by Reserve America. 1. Know the rules Before you strike a match, make sure you know the fire regulations of the campground or wilderness area in which you are planning to build a fire. Fire rules change, and a campground that allowed campfires the last time you visited my have a temporary ban on them if the ...

Avoid E. coli by staying dry after a storm

Water tests sometimes show high levels of E. coli bacteria in local waters. The bacteria can appear at any time, sometimes for no obvious reason. That’s why the water at 16 area beaches is tested weekly all summer. Routine sampling on June 23, for example, found E. coli levels at eight times safe amounts at Northport Marina Beach. At that level, Michigan Environment, Great Lakes & Energy standards recommend no body contact with the water. The Benzie Leelanau Health Department tested seven other beaches that day, all of which fell within safe limits. Follow-up tests typically show ...

Police K-9 Nitro was one-of-a kind, will be greatly missed

We join the Marquette City Police Department and the rest of the community in mourning the passing of K-9 Nitro, one of the department’s bomb-sniffing dogs. Nitro passed away on his eighth birthday Monday after being hit suddenly with a terminal condition. His passing was announced on the MPD Facebook page as well as on the page dedicated to Nitro. The photos that accompanied the news were incredibly touching. One could feel the love the dog and his handler, Officer John Waldo, had for each other. On the Facebook page dedicated to K-9 Nitro, a goodbye was posted Monday afternoon ...

Change needed at Finlandia

To the editor: Recently, as a follow-up to the Finlandia faculty’s unanimous vote of no confidence in President Johnson, all head athletic coaches also voted unanimously to support the vote of no confidence and echoed the faculty’s call for an immediate change in the University leadership. The Finlandia faculty and coaches remain committed to delivering the best education possible to all students. They also feel that now is the time for a change in leadership to strengthen the university in the future. This is not an anonymous action. You may find all of our names in the staff ...

It takes a village to end child abuse

We read with great concern News staff writer Crystal Nelson’s recent report that the rates of children living in families investigated for abuse or neglect had skyrocketed over the last decade. That rate more than doubled in Presque Isle and Alcona counties, nearly doubled in Alpena County, and shot up in Montmorency County. Those increases far outpaced the statewide rate hike, according to the annual Kids Count Data Book released this week. The rate of confirmed victims of child abuse or neglect also increased in Presque Isle and Montmorency counties. It’s important to note ...