A group of local restaurant and bar owners concerned about COVID-19 restrictions expressed their fears and anger at a meeting Tuesday night in Escanaba. They met to see what can be done to reopen their businesses.

Delta County Commissioner Dave Moyle says more than 30 people attended.

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High School students in the Gladstone and Rapid River schools returned to the classroom for two days following a four-week state shutdown. School Superintendent Jay Kulbertis says was important to get students back together before the winter break.

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U.P. farmers being told to reimburse Dean Foods for milk the company purchased just before declaring bankruptcy in 2018 will have a court hearing in January to see what their obligations are.

Gary Rasmusson in Menominee County is one of 10 farmers in the U.P. that direct ship to the processor in Marquette. He is being told to reimburse $15,000 or settle for $5,000.

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Escanaba City Manager Patrick Jordan is concerned that a bill passed by the state legislature last week to protect homeowners from utility shutoffs will only make the problem worse.

Lawmakers voted Thursday to prohibit water shutoffs through March. Jordan says some city residents take advantage of the situation.

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Gladstone is applying for a grant to repair a portion of its boardwalk destroyed by high water. Gladstone Downtown Development Authority Director Ron Miaso says the boardwalk is very popular.

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Delta County has extended its State of Emergency to deal with the Coronavirus pandemic. The Board of Commissioners approved the resolution at its meeting Tuesday.

Delta County Administrator Emily DeSalvo says the declaration will help the county get the resources it needs to address the pandemic and allow the county board to meet virtually.

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Coronavirus vaccines are expected to be available soon at OSF St Francis Hospital and Medical Group in Escanaba.

Hospital president Dave Lord says they will know this week if they will be part of the first wave of vaccines that will be available in the state. Regardless, they are getting ready to vaccinate those who need to get the vaccination first.

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The COVID-19 pandemic is causing more families than normal to need assistance. Major Alex Norton with the Salvation Army in Escanaba says they are seeing a major spike in the number of people needing food. Many of them have not needed help before.

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Although Career Technical Education at Intermediate School Districts were not shutdown during the 12 day extension that closed high schools in the state due to COVID-19, the Delta Schoolcraft ISD chose to stay with online instruction for now.

Delta Schoolcraft ISD Superintendent Doug Leisenring says that’s because many school districts are not running buses making it difficult for students to attend. But, he says, some students are getting in-person help.

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The Wisconsin Air National Guard’s 115th Fighter Wing said last night that the F-16 pilot who crashed in the Upper Peninsula Tuesday night has been found dead. No details were given.

The plane went down in the Hiawatha National Forest in Delta County at about 8 p.m. Tuesday during a routine training mission.  115th Fighter Wing commander Col. Bart Van Roo says they are deeply saddened by the tragic loss.

A multi-state, interagency search for the pilot and aircraft immediately followed the crash. Delta County Sheriff Ed Oswald says the isolated area made it difficult to respond.

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The dogs and horses caught up in the alleged puppy mill case in Delta County may be able to find new homes soon.

The Delta County Prosecutor plans to file a forfeiture motion to take the animals from Rebecca Johnson who is charged with cruelty and running an illegal shelter.

Assistant Prosecutor Lauren Wickman says a forfeiture hearing could be held in January.

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An F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the Wisconsin Air National Guard crashed in the Upper Peninsula around 8:00 p.m. last night. Crews are searching for the pilot north of the Garden Peninsula along the Delta Schoolcraft county line in the Hiawatha National Forest.

The plane is part of the 115th Fighter Wing at Truax Field Air National Guard Base in Madison, Wis.

Alice Sabuco was at her home last night on Forest Road 442 between Forest Highway 13 and Thunder Lake Road when she heard the jets overhead.

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Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration yesterday extended the partial shutdown in the state through Dec. 20 to determine the full impact of the Thanksgiving holiday on the state’s efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Whitmer hinted at her press conference yesterday that restrictions may take longer than 12 more days. 

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The Coronavirus pandemic has slowed the pending development of city property and former jail site in Escanaba. Proxima Management Group plans to build an $18.3 million hotel and waterfront facility on the property. 

Escanaba City Manager Patrick Jordan says he talked with the company’s brownfield redevelopment consultant last week who says the company is still working with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation on the project.

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Delta County may have money that can be used to support homeless services in the community such as a warming center or homelesss shelter.

Delta County Administrator Emily DeSalvo says she has begun talking with Escanaba City Councilman Tyler Dubord about what the county could do after he made a plea for help at city council meeting.

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Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says it’s too early to know if restrictions put in place before Thanksgiving to limit indoor gatherings, move high school students to online learning and ban in-person dining should be extended. The current order ends Dec.8.

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The shops at the annual Christmas in the Village event in Escanaba will not be open this year and the horses will not be pulling the wagons but Jim Yoder says they are attempting to hold some type of event this weekend to keep the tradition alive.

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