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Preserving the land brings us all onto common ground

Finding common ground with our neighbors has been a struggle during the past half decade. Americans seem to have managed to split opinions on nearly all aspects of life, even the parts where working together would serve an obvious common good. In many instances, it seems to take more effort to disagree, yet somehow folks find ways to cement themselves in their corners. Maybe that’s why it has been so refreshing to watch Michiganders in northwest Lower Michigan chip in with such robust support for the ground we stand upon. After all, that land played a substantial role in bringing ...

Before lighting up fireworks, consider effects on others

While Fourth of July remains more than a week away, reports already are coming in of fireworks being set off in the area. While pyrotechnics may seem like a fun way to celebrate after a year of being cooped up, for some fireworks are an annual ordeal. It’s led to ordinances in several area communities on just what, when and where fireworks can be used. So before deciding to set off fireworks, best be aware of what’s allowed in your community. Michigan law establishes 12 days in which local governments can’t ban fireworks, all around federal holidays. They are: — Dec. 31 ...

Harrowing crash an awful reminder of how quickly tragedy strikes

One split second can change everything. Two cars travel on I-75 in Gaylord on a Sunday afternoon. A 2006 Mercury sedan heads south, driven by a 21-year-old Harrison woman. A 2014 Prius heads north, full of young people. Their parents were in the car ahead of them, a family making the Up North Michigan pilgrimage for some vacation time together. How many of us are fortunate to have taken a family vacation up north in our lives? How many traveled I-75 to get there? How many families loaded the stuff into more than one car, how many times did the young people gratefully volunteer to drive ...

Reinstatement of circuit judge here a good move

We understand and usually support state initiatives to trim costs, the general idea being government very often has been guilty of spending too much and getting to little in return. But a state effort to save money some years back by reducing the number of sitting judges in the state has proven to be a poor decision. Up until 2017, Marquette County was long the home of two 25th Circuit Court judges. That year, though, a 2011 law finally went into effect and one judgeship was dropped. According to the remaining circuit court judge, Jennifer Mazzuchi, the number of felony cases in ...

Hot, dry weather elevates fire danger in UP this weekend

Michigan’s warm, dry, weather has created a lot of beautiful days for outdoor activity — and a steeply increased risk of fire. That means taking extra care when camping, burning or using equipment outdoors, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. “Although there have been scattered rains, rainfall is below normal and it’s dry out there,” said Paul Rogers, DNR fire prevention specialist. “People cause the vast majority of wildfires, so it’s critical to use common sense and be careful.” Fire danger is elevated from the southwest corner of the state ...

Juneteenth a day to celebrate end of slavery in US

The word “Juneteenth” is much more than a cute play on words. It is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. From its Galveston, Texas, origin in 1865, the observance of June 19 as the African American Emancipation Day across the United States, explains the website juneteenth.com thusly: “Today, Juneteenth commemorates African American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement,” the website reads. “It is a day, a week and in some areas a month marked with celebrations, guest speakers, picnics and family ...