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Local News Archives for 2020-11

Newscast Monday, Nov. 30, 2020

Former State Sen. Tom Casperson of Escanaba is being remembered as a friend of the Upper Peninsula. He passed away Sunday at the age of 61. Escanaba Mayor Marc Tall ordered flags in Escanaba to be lowered to half-staff today in honor of Casperson. 

 

Listen to Craig Woerpel's full newscast

 

 

Newscast Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2020

The city of Gladstone has half the number of delinquent utility bills this year than last year. Those bills still delinquent have been added to the winter tax bill.

 

Gladstone City Commissioner Brad Mantella says there are fewer delinquent utility bills this year despite a pandemic that could have led to more payment problems.

 

Listen to Craig Woerpel's full newscast

 

 

Newscast Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2020

The Escanaba City Council took steps to begin breaking away from operating Delta County’s 911 Central Dispatch. The council approved the transfer of ownership of the Ski Hill Communications Tower to the Delta County 911 Authority.

 

Listen to Craig Woerpel's full newscast

 

 

Newscast Monday, Nov. 23, 2020

The Escanaba City Council has agreed to swap land with the Escanba Public School District to provide a safer access to the Webster Kindergarten Center.

 

Escanaba City Manager Patrick Jordan says the city will get the land it currently leases for the wading pool and the school district will receive city land for parking and better bus access.

 

Listen to Craig Woerpel's full newscast

 

 

Newscast Friday, Nov. 20, 2020

Bay College this week sold $2.8 million in bonds to a consortium that includes two local banks to fund its infrastructure projects. Bay President Laura Coleman says it shows community support for the college.

 

She says it is part of a five year infrastructure plan already in place.

 

Listen to Craig Woerpel's full newscast

 

 

Newscast Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020

The Delta County 911 Authority has one year to separate its self from Escanaba Public Safety. The city of Escanaba is asking the authority to take over the responsibility of Central Dispatch. 

 

Delta County Administrator Emily DeSalvo says the facility will remain at Escanaba Public Safety but the city is cutting its ties with the program’s operation.

 

Listen to Craig Woerpel's full newscast

 

 

Newscast Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2020

Sixth, seventh and eighth grade students at the Escanaba Jr. High School are joining the Sr. High School students online today for the next three weeks of remote learning. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration moved all high schools in the state online in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.

 

Although the Jr. High students were not required to go virtual, Escanaba School Superintendent Coby Fletcher says the school board felt it made sense because the 6-12 students are all in the same building.

 

Listen to Craig Woerpel's full newscast

 

 

Newscast Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2020

The director of medical services at OSF St. Francis Hospital & Medical Group says a misunderstanding of how COVID-19 testing works may be a factor in Delta County’s large Coronavirus numbers in the U.P.

 

Dr. Bill Hook says people mistakenly believe they can test their way out of quarantine. He says it could be contributing to the high COVID-19 numbers in Delta County.

 

Listen to Craig Woerpel's full newscast

 

 

Newscast Monday, Nov. 16, 2020

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration on Sunday ordered high schools to stop in-person classes, closed restaurants to indoor dining and suspended organized sports — including the football playoffs — as an attempt to curb the state’s coronavirus cases.

 

The restrictions will begin Wednesday and last three weeks. They are not as sweeping as the stay-at-home order last spring but are extensive. They were announced during a briefing last night as Michigan faces surging COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations statewide and rising deaths.

 

Robert Gordon, director of the state Department of Health and Human Services, says the new order is targeted and temporary.

 

Listen to Craig Woerpel's full newscast

 

 

Newscast Friday, Nov. 13, 2020

At least 117 people were tested for COVID-19 Monday at OSF St. Francis Hospital, a new daily record at the facility.

 

Dr. William Hook, director of medical services at OSF, says the high number of people being tested for COVID-19 causes staffing problems at the hospital.

 

Listen to Craig Woerpel's full newscast

 

 

Newscast Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020

It may be a few more weeks before the Coronavirus peaks in the Upper Peninsula. Officials at OSF St. Francis Hospital and Medical Group say they expect the virus to peak in early December. They continue to handle the surge in patients as numbers climb. Lacey Crabb, chief nursing officer at OSF, says they have had to expand their bed capacity at the hospital.

 

Listen to Craig Woerpel's full newscast

 

 

Newscast Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2020

Students at the Escanaba Jr and Sr. High School will begin alternating day schedules starting Monday. School Superintendent Coby Fletcher says they will divide the student body in half to lower the number of students at the school building during the day.

 

Listen to Craig Woerpel's full newscast

 

 

Newscast Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020

The Mid Peninsula School closed to online instruction yesterday through Nov. 30. Superintendent Eric VanDamme says they have several students and 8 staff members who tested positive for COVID-19 or are quarantined, a significant increase from Nov. 1, he said, when no one had tested positive.

 

Listen to Craig Woerpel's full newscast

 

 

Newscast Monday, Nov. 9, 2020

Coronavirus infections and quarantines are spreading through city services in Escanaba as COVID-19 numbers climb in the county.

 

City Manager Patrick Jordan says infections have occurred at city hall, public safety and utilities. Department heads met Friday to talk about what might happen if the Upper Peninsula is moved back to Phase 3 in the MI Safe Start Plan.

 

Listen to Craig Woerpel's full newscast

 

 

Newscast Friday, Nov. 6, 2020

Delta County Sheriff Ed Oswald says law enforcement has been called on to get patients to the hospital as emergency services are overwhelmed by COVID-19 responses. He is concerned about the ability to respond to COVID-19 cases in the area.

 

Listen to Craig Woerpel's full newscast

 

 

Newscast Thursday, Oct. 5, 2020

Delta County has been planning for the possibility of the Whitmer Administration moving the Upper Peninsula back to Phase 3 on the MI Safe Start plan. The move could mandate massive closures and force schools back to online learning. 

 

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Tuesday that she is not ready to move the U.P. from Phase 4 to Phase 3 but Delta County Administrator Emily DeSalvo says she is concerned about the possibility.

 

Listen to Craig Woerpel's full newscast

 

 

Newscast Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020

Delta County Commissioner Dave Rivard was defeated in a three-way race in District 5. Bob Barron defeated Rivard 1,738 to 1,201. Bob Peterson came in third as an independent with 460 votes.

 

Dave Moyle won re-election to the county board in District 4, defeating Rebecca McIntyre 1,025 to 453. Moyle switched parties from Democrat to Republican. 

 

That means, Republicans now control the Delta County Board of Commissioners 4 to 1. Theresa Nelson, who was unopposed in District 3, is the lone Democrat on the board.

 

John Malnar defeated Jerry Tatrow in the August Republican primary and was unopposed yesterday. Delta County chair Pat Johnson in District 2 was unopposed.

 

Listen to Craig Woerpel's full newscast

 

 

Newscast Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020

Delta County Clerk Nancy Przewrocki says she is hoping that today’s election is smooth and peaceful as voters head to the polls to cast their ballots.  Despite differences, she says we all face the same goals.

 

Listen to Craig Woerpel's full newscast

 

 

Newscast Monday, Nov. 2, 2020

State Sen. Ed McBroom says he is very disturbed by the new restrictions but into place Thursday by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration. Health and Human Services now limits venues to 50 people, indoor gathers to two households of 10 people and limit dining seating to six people. Restaurants must also collect names and phone numbers of patrons starting today.

 

Listen  to Craig Woerpel's full newscast

 

 

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