Speed may be a factor as to why traffic deaths were up in Michigan last year even with fewer drivers on the road during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gladstone State Police Post Commander 1st Lt Gregg Cunningham says speed as well as impaired driving may be the reason that crashes were more deadly in 2020.

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Escanaba is one of many school districts that will be holding gradation this weekend for high school seniors. School Superintendent Coby Fletcher says it’s important to recognize students for their achievements despite COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

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The Gladstone Fourth of July Parade and other July 4th activities will be held this year.  The city commission had put the event on hold pending Coronavirus restrictions. City Commissioner Brad Mantella says it is good news for the community.

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A portion of 7th Avenue North in Escanaba remains closed at North Lincoln Road where a new water pipe had to be inserted under the highway.

Escanaba City Manager Patrick Jordan says a new 10 inch pipe was inserted into an existing 10 inch pipe in a unique way.

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The Department of Health and Human Services is recommending that students should still wear masks while inside at schools for the remainder of the school year, even if they are fully vaccinated but is not requiring them. 

Delta Schoolcraft Intermediate School District Superintendent Doug Leisenring says Bark River-Harris and Escanaba schools of the eight school disrticts in the ISD are allowing those fully vaccinated to not wear a mask. Those attending classes at the ISD will still have to wear masks.

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COVID-19 numbers have been improving in Delta County and the U.P. With recent double digit positivity rates, Delta County is now at 6.6 percent, the lowest in two months. But Delta County Administrator Emily DeSalvo says they would like to get that number lower.

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Delta County is looking at the possibility of moving the courthouse to the county service building.

Administrator Emily DeSalvo says the discussion came up at a Building and Grounds Committee meeting as they talked about repairing the courthouse roof, moving the boilers and chillers and other needed renovations at the courthouse.

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A 72-year-old Gladstone man who had been missing since Monday has been found dead. Gladstone Public Safety says the body of Alfred Henning was found along the shoreline in the 2000 block of South Lakeshore Drive at about 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

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Escanaba seems to be in search of an identity. The Escanaba Planning Commission talked about what the city is trying to achieve and why as it reviewed its master plan last week.

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No one was injured in an early morning fire in Escanaba Saturday. Escanaba Public Safety says a resident in an apartment home on 10th Street was alerted to the fire by a smoke alarm just after 3 a.m.

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An ordinance in Escanaba that limits the height of canopies in front of buildings to 20 feet is being eliminated by the Escanaba Planning Commission.

The commission was asked to exempt the construction of a drive-thru canopy at the planned Parkview Assisted Living project on Willow Creek Road so it could be built at 24 feet. But commissioner Richard Clark asked why the city had a height restriction to begin with.

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Jury trials are again backing up in Delta County as COVID-19 restrictions cause concerns for the justice system in the state. Jury trials were allowed to restart in Michigan in March but were shut down again a few weeks later because of rising Coronavirus cases.

Delta County Prosecutor Brett Gardiner says they had to deal with the decision that jury trials were going to take a back seat to the protection of the public in the legal system.

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Right now, the Gladstone 4th of July parade would not be held this year but the city is continuing to move forward on plans for the parade in case COVID-19 restrictions change. Gladstone City Manager Eric Buckman says they still hope to be able to hold the parade within the state guidelines.

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An effort is being made this year to increase the walleye plantings in Little Bay de Noc that are supported by Bay de Noc Great Lakes Sport Fishermen. Frank Pearson says the group has planted 300,000 walleye fry at a pond in Alger County and in June will move some of the fingerlings to a pond in Kipling for a fall planting in Little Bay de Noc.

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There has been little public comment on the direction the city of Escanaba is taking with its new budget. No one spoke at last week’s city council meeting. There is one more hearing before the city council will vote on the budget. Mayor Marc Tall says a big priority for the city will be replacing water service lines and expanding the wastewater treatment plant.

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Delta County Sheriff Ed Oswald says that Sheriff’s Departments are not well represented on the newly formed Michigan Jail Reform Advisory Council. The council was formed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in April. Oswald says the Sheriff’s Departments are the ones tasked with running the jails and should have a say in the recommendations of the council.

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Delta County Commissioners again extended its COVID-19 emergency declaration, something it has been doing on a regular basis for year. Delta County Administrator Emily DeSalvo says it allows the county to continue to address the Coronavirus pandemic even as the state is relaxing more COVID-19 restrictions.

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Police responded with multiple vehicles to a 911 call from Walmart in Escanaba last night just after 9:30 p.m. Escanaba Public Safety says they received a report that a man entered the store with a rifle. Officers searched the building as employees and customers evacuated. After reviewing security surveillance cameras it was determined that store merchandise was mistakenly identified as a rifle as the person entered the store.

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The city of Escanaba has started Phase 2 on its West Side Recreational Area. Volunteers with Delta County Non-Motorized Trails has been laying new boardwalk through swampy areas to allow more access on the trails through the summer months.

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Schools have now received guidance on how to handle larger gatherings under the current COVID-19 restrictions. It may be in time for upcoming graduations but Delta Schoolcraft Intermediate School District Superintendent Doug Leisenring says it may too late for events such as proms.

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