Members of the Wisconsin Air National Guard that received food from the Michigan State Police after a fighter jet crashed on the Hiawatha National Forest has repaid the kindness.

1st Lt. Gregg Cunningham with the Gladstone State Police Post says they used funds raised at Elmer’s County Market during its Blue Goose food collection in December to help feed military personnel who responded to the crash Dec. 8.

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State Sen. Ed McBroom says it was a big surprise that during one of the most mild winters recently in the U.P. that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer would declare a propane emergency. Unlike past propane emergencies, McBroom says he and other lawmakers and even the propane industry were not informed that it was coming.

McBroom said on the Senate floor Tuesday that it is part of a bigger communication problem that they have been struggling with in the Governor’s pandemic-related emergencies.

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A railroad spur is being planned at Rapid.River to distribute propane in the Upper Peninsula. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer included $10 million in her budget proposal to build the spur and a distribution facility where the Enbridge terminal is north of Rapid River.

The news caught lawmakers as well as railroad and energy officials by surprise. State Rep. Beau LaFave says it was brought up during a call with U.P. officials and a liaison to the Governor.

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When will we know that the COVID-19 pandemic is over? That’s a question U.P. lawmakers are asking nearly a year after closures and restrictions were implemented to curb the spread of Coronavirus.

State Sen. Ed McBroom says the legislature has been asking since the beginning of the pandemic what the end might look like.

State Rep. Beau LaFave wonders when we can stop wearing a mask and what needs to be done so that masks are no longer needed.

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Several hundred homeowners in Escanaba are being asked to run their water to prevent freeze up during the sub-zero temperatures that have been occurring during the past two weeks. Escanaba City Manager Patrick Jordan says the water department has notified those known to have problems.

Health officials in Delta County are trying to determine how many homebound people might be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine but can’t get out to get it.

Delta County Administrator Emily DeSalvo says she has been working with Health Officer Mike Snyder at Public Health Delta and Menominee Counties to identify those who might be homebound. She say it’s a group that has been overlooked.

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Delta County is taking steps to expand the terminal at the Delta County Airport to improve security check-ins and better handle larger airplanes that are expected to eventually serve the airport. County Commissioners gave their approval to go ahead with an Airport Terminal Update Survey to assess the needs of the airport terminal.

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As schools consider how to bridge learning loss as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gladstone and Rapid River school superintendent Jay Kulbertis says they first need to connect with students or they may not have the opportunity again.

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The Northern Lights YMCA is moving to the former M-TEC center at Bay College. They signed a 50-year agreement yesterday and plan to begin construction in a few weeks to begin the first phase of the project. YMCA Director Gary Nash says they hope to be able to move into the new facility in August.

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Two Upper Peninsula Honor Flights scheduled for May have been cancelled. Organizer Scott Knauf says the national organization is not allowing any Honor Flights before June 30.

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Wedding receptions still cannot be held at the Terrace Bay Hotel between Escanaba and Gladstone due to the Coronavirus pandemic — it amounts to about a third of their business — but Jared Drown says reopening of the Freshwater Tavern at the hotel on Monday has already started to attract visitors who stayed away because restaurants were closed.

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The Bay College Board of Trustees and Northern Lights YMCA board of directors approved a lease agreement in separate meetings yesterday that may include the use of the former M-TEC building at the college.

The Bay College Board of Trustees meet online at 4 p.m. They did not discuss the agreement publicly.

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The city of Gladstone is taking steps to address excessive discharge into Little Bay de Noc from its wastewater plant. The city coommission approved a contract with the consulting group C2AE for $71,500 to look at the options and develop a plan. City Commissioner Brad Mantilla says a Sewer System Evaluation Survey will start the process of upgrading the wastewater plant.

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Smaller shipments of COVID-19 vaccines being delivered to the Upper Peninsula has affected OSF St. Francis Hospital & Medical Group in Escanaba. OSF President & CEO Dave Lord says it has been a challenge meeting the demand for vaccines.

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The Escanaba City Council is considering changes to its dog ordinance that limits the number of dogs in a home following a compliant that a foster home for dogs had more than four dogs they were caring for from an alleged puppy mill near Rock.

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A ban on high school winter sports was lifted Thursday by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s administration, days after frustrated parents and anxious teens rallied at the Capitol to try to persuade officials that basketball, wrestling and hockey could safely take place during the pandemic.

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Officials in Delta County are concerned that the Upper Peninsula may see a decrease in COVID-19 vaccines as a result of a federal change in vaccine allocation and availability throughout the state.

Delta County Administrator Emily DeSalvo says if the county is going to receive a decrease in the number of vaccines that they receive weekly, it is going to create problems and prolong the vaccination process.

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State Sen. Ed McBroom says changes in the allocation of the Coronavirus vaccine may not be good for the Upper Peninsula. He says fewer vaccines are being distributed in the U.P.

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Gladstone State Police Post Commander 1st Lt. Gregg Cunningham says the 51 drug users from Delta County and the 137 others who participated in the Needle Exchange program at Public Health Delta and Menominee Counties does not reflect the total extent of the drug problem in the area.

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Restaurants and bars are reopening today after 75 days of no indoor dining due to COVID-19 restrictions. Delona Restaurant is one of those that began Friday to get ready for today. They had not been serving take out so they had to work to do. Andrew Thomas says it was like starting a new restaurant.

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