Seven homes on Minneapolis Avenue in Gladstone have been removed from the assessment of the 9th Street Project. The Gladstone City Commission approved the ordinance change this week. Commissioner Brad Mantella says underground utilities in the area were found to be in good shape and major telephone and gas lines would have been difficult to move. Instead, the city found other ways to address drainage issues without digging up the street.

Listen to Craig Woerpel's full newscast

Escanaba School Superintendent Coby Fletcher says various factors were considered before closing the junior and senior high school building last Friday to prevent the spread of COVID-19. He says they used a “matrix” that is provided by Health and Human Services to determine how to respond.

Listen to Craig Woerpel's full newscast

The Na Tah Wahsh Public School Academy building in Hannahville closed Friday for COVID-19 contact tracing. It will now remain closed through Oct. 12. Students there will turn to online learning. Escanaba students in the Junior and Senior High School building are also starting online instruction today after the building was closed Friday. Doug Leisenring, superintendent of the Delta Schoolcraft Intermediate School District, says some of the factors in deciding to close a school building is the risk factor in the county and spread of COVID-19 among students.

Listen to Craig Woerpel's full newscast

The Upper Peninsula reported its highest single-day increase in new COVID-19 cases and deaths yesterday with 90 new cases and three new deaths. Two people died in Delta County from COVID-19. Health and Human Services says Delta County also had 29 new cases yesterday for a total of 281 confirmed cases and 7 deaths.

Listen to Craig Weorpel's full newscast

The Escanaba School District is dealing with a large number of students moving from classrooms to on-line learning back to classrooms as the students and staff are quarantined during contact tracing when others are confirmed with COVID-19. Escanaba School Superintendent Coby Fletcher says infections can affect whole classrooms in the lower grades and large number of students in the upper grades who move from class to class.

Listen to Craig Woerpel's full newscast

Parents of newborns are finding themselves isolated at a time they need help from family members and friends. Lannie Berg with Welcome Newborns says the COVID-19 pandemic is keeping families apart when normally they are together.

Listen to Craig Woertpel's full newscast

Escanaba City Manager Patrick Jordan will testify against the re-appointment of Victoria Enyart to the Michigan Tax Tribunal this week in Lansing. The Escanaba City Council last week voted to oppose the re-appointment. Jordan says Enyart is part of a problem with the tax tribunal assessing property values. The city is currently in a lawsuit with Menard’s on the Dark Store tax loophole.

Listen to Craig Woerpel's full newscast

An event Saturday in Escanaba has been identified as a potential COVID-19 exposure site in Delta County. Public Health Delta and Menominee Counties says attendees at Lakeshore Live that was moved to the U.P. State Fairgrounds due to weather may be at a higher risk for exposure.

Listen to Craig Woerpel's full newscast

Listen to Craig Woerpel's full newscast

Listen to Craig Woerpel's full newscast

Listen to Craig Woerpel's full newscast

Listen to Craig Woerpel's full newscast

Delta County confirmed another 7 new COVID-19 cases yesterday for a total of 168 cases and three deaths. 25 cases were reported yesterday in the Upper Peninsula.

Listen to Craig Woerpel's full newscast.

Listen to Craig Woerpel's full newscast

Listen to Craig Woerpel's full newscast

Listen to Craig Woerpel's full newscast

Listen to Craig Woertpel's full newscast 

The number of dogs that the Delta Animal Shelter is dealing with from a seizure in Rock last week is growing as more puppies are being born. Police took 134 dogs and puppies taken from a home under conditions that the Sue Gartland at the animal shelter has called “horrible.” Since the seizure, 41 more puppies have been born and Gartland says they expect another 70 puppies in the next week. 

Listen to Craig Woerpel's full newscast

A tornado reportedly touched down on U.S. 2 west of Escanaba last night near K Lane, downing power lines and damaging trees and property. The Delta County Sheriff’s office says storage units at Pine Ridge Storage were damaged, spreading debris from the facility.

Listen to Craig Woerpel's full newscast