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Local News

Newscast Monday, May 1, 2023

Renovations are set to begin this week at the Centre Court building on Ludington Street to provide a public restroom for the center of downtown. Escanaba Downtown Development Authority Chair Sue Parker says it would replace the portable outhouse that has been used since the beginning of COVID.

 

Listen to Craig Woerpel's full newscast

 

 


Newscast Monday, April 24, 2023

Six counties have been added to a state emergency declaration due to rapid snowmelt and flooding in April. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer added Alger, Baraga, Dickinson, Iron, Marquette and Ontonagon Counties Friday. Whitmer previously declared state of emergencies in Gobegic and Houghton Counties.

 

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Newscast Friday, April 21, 2023

The Escanaba City Council has set a public hearing for the establishment of an Obsolete Property Rehabilitation District or OPRA to include a business at 723 Ludington Street. Lake Effect Distillery is in the process of renovating the former Northern Michigan Bank building. Escanaba City Manager Jim McNeil says the designation would give Lake Effect Distillery a tax break for 12 years.

 

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Newscast Thursday, April 20, 2023

The Michigan State Police say Ontonagon, Baraga, and Marquette Counties are expected to be added to the state emergency declaration in the coming days for damage due to flooding caused by rapid snowmelt. All three counties have declared local emergencies.

 

Listen to Craig Woerpel's full newscast

 

 


Newscast Wednesday, April 19, 2023

The Delta County Board of Commissioners last night voted to table the discussion of a new contract with the Delta Conservation District to operate the county parks through the rest of this year. The conservation district ended it new 10 year contract in January that is to take effect in June. The county board wants the district to continue operating the parks for the rest of this year.

 

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Newscast Tuesday, April 18, 2023

Early Childhood Education is undergoing changes at the Delta Schoolcraft Intermediate School District. ISD School Superintendent Doug Leisenring says they are creating two positions to replace Tara Weaver who was killed in a traffic crash in January.

 

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Newscast Monday, April 17, 2023

A contractor at the Escanaba Billerud Mill with a case of blastomycosis has died. Public Health Delta and Menominee Counties says the death is associated with the fungal infection outbreak at the mill. Health Officer Mike Snyder says they are saddened by the news.

 

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Newscast Thursday, April 13, 2023

Local officials want those who are victims of crime to know there are resources available to help them get through tough situations whether it’s the Delta County Child Advocacy Center, Tri-County Safe Harbor or the advocates at the Delta County Prosecutor’s office. Prosecutor Lauren Wickman says she wants those who are victims of crime to know that they are there for them.

 

Listen to Craig Woerpel's full newscast

 

 


Newscast Wednesday, April 12, 2023

Steps are being taken for the development of Gladstone’s North Shore. Gladstone City Manager Eric Buckman says a group of investors from Marquette are looking to build housing on the nearly 30 acres of land on the north shore.

 

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Newscast Tuesday, April 11, 2023

The Bay College Board of Trustees has approved four finalists in the national search for the College’s next president to replace Laura Coleman, who is retiring on June 30.

 

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Newscast Monday, April 10, 2023

The Bay College Board of Trustees has approved four finalists in the national search for the College’s next president to replace Laura Coleman, who is retiring on June 30.

 

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Newscast Friday, April 7, 2023

Escanaba is looking to apply for funds to help reconstruct its water and wastewater systems. The Escanaba City Council held public hearings last week to apply for state Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund and Clean Water State Revolving Fund loans.

 

Listen to Craig Woerpel's full newscast

 

 


Newscast Thursday, April 6, 2023

Delta County will operate its own parks after the end of this year rather than seek an independent contractor. It has been 12 years since the county ran its own park system. At that time, the parks were in poor shape and not well managed. Delta County Chair Dave Moyle says they feel they can do a better job this time by building on the success of the Delta Conservation District.

 

Listen to Craig Woerpel's newscast

 

 


Newscast Wednesday, April 5, 2023

Delta County Commissioners last night were split on the qualifications for a new county administrator. On a 3-2 vote, Commissioners are seeking a candidate with at least a Bachelor’s degree in business or finance and three to five years experience. Commissioners Steve Viau and John Malnar opposed the move.

 

Listen to Craig Woerpel's full newscast

 

 


Newscast Tuesday, April 4, 2023

A 29-year-old Gladstone woman struck by a vehicle Saturday off of M-35 in Delta County has died of her injuries. The Delta County Sheriff’s office says deputies were dispatched just after 8:30 p.m. to M-35 near 25th Rd, for a welfare check on a woman walking in and out of traffic.

 

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Newscast Monday, April 3, 2023

A preliminary onsite Health Hazard Evaluation was conducted last week at the Escanaba Billerrud Mill as Public Health Delta and Menominee Counties continues to investigate an outbreak of blastomycosis among workers at the mill.

 

Listen to Craig Woerpel's full newscast

 

 


Newscast Friday, March 31, 2023

State Rep. Dave Prestin of Cedar River says too much emphasis in Lansing is being put on renewable energy at the expense of reliable energy. Prestin says the state is attempting to move too quickly away from its base load provided by gas, coal, nuclear and hydro generation, calling it “almost like a religion.”

 

Listen to Craig Woerpel's full newscast

 

 


Newscast Thursday, March 30, 2023

OSF HealthCare St. Francis Hospital and Medical Group was lock downed briefly yesterday after a report of a man hiding near the emergency room entrance with a rifle. Escanaba Public Safety says officers immediately found and arrested the suspect. No firearm was found. The person is facing charges involving a fictions call.

 

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Newscast Wednesday, March 29, 2023

Gladstone City Commissioners toured the city’s public works facility this week as they consider options to build a new one. Commissioner Brad Mantilla says the currently facility is not large enough for the city’s equipment. It also does not have heat and the roof leaks.

 

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Newscast Tuesday, March 28, 2023

Sue Parker says it is important that Escanaba makes an effort to welcome those coming on cruise ships this summer. She is chair of the Escanaba Downtown Development Authority. American Queen Voyages is making 26 stops in Escanaba with up to 5,600 people visiting the area.

 

Listen to Craig Woerpel's full newscast

 

 


Newscast Monday, March 27, 2023

Keith Urban will headline a new Northern Lights Music Festival planned for Escanaba in July. Visit Escanaba says the two-day summer festival on July 21 and 22 features rock and country performances, food vendors and on-site camping at the U.P. State Fairgrounds. Visit Escanaba CEO Robert Micheau, says they intend to make it an annual summer event.

 

Listen to Craig Woerpel's full newscast

 

 


Newscast Friday, March 24, 2023

Next week is spring break for area K-12 schools including Gladstone and Rapid River schools. School Superintendent Jay Kulbertis says the week-long break is a great opportunity for student to regenerate before the final weeks of school. That’s when they will participate in annual state assessment testing.

 

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Newscast Thursday, March 23, 2023

Delta County Commissioners are looking at the possibility of expanding staff in its Veterans Service Office. Dave Dziewoir has been the lone Veterans Service Officer in Delta County for seven years. He took the job then when the position was expanded from a 10-hour a week position to full-time to keep up with what other counties in the U.P. were doing. He says it is again time to look at expanding veteran services.

 

Listen to Craig Woerpel's full newscast

 

 


Newscast Wednesday, March 22, 2023

Delta County Commissioners last night tabled the job description for a new county administrator, six weeks after firing former Delta County Administrator Emily DeSalvo. The board could not decide on the amount of experience that the administrator would need. Delta County Chair Dave Moyle says the county shouldn’t limit itself to asking for five years of government administrative experience.

 

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Newscast Tuesday, March 21, 2023

The Michigan Natural Resources Commission will be dealing with new deer hunting regulations this year. Commissioner Dave Anthony of Bark River says it is important to make sure that the interest of hunters in the Upper Peninsula are considered while addressing several statewide issues such as an overpopulation of does in the lower peninsula.

 

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Newscast Monday, March 20, 2023

A meeting for businesses interested in learning more about the cruise ships that will be coming to Escanaba this will be held at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow at the Delta Commerce Center. American Queen Voyages is planning 26 stops from May through October. Delta County Economic Development Alliance Director Ed Legault says it will have an immediate economic impact that will carry on into the future.

 

Listen to Craig Woerpel's full newscast

 

 


Newscast Friday, March 17, 2023

The Escanaba City Council voted to support the proposed expansion of utilities to the Bay View Location in Wells Township. Their vote was in support of state legislation to fund the project. It would expand city water and sewer service to the area for the proposed housing development by the Hannahville Indian Community.

 

Jared Drown at the Terrace Bay Hotel told the council it would also help the development of the entire area.

 

Listen to Craig Woerpel's full newscast

 

 


Newscast Thursday, March 16, 2023

Efforts are already underway to plan this year’s Upper Peninsula State Fair. Shelia Krueger, Associate Director at the Delta Chamber of Commerce, says the grandstand acts have been confirmed. We will find out who they are in May.

 

Listen to Craig Woerpel's full newscast

 

 


Newscast Wednesday, March 15, 2023

The Gladstone City Commission is getting ready to approve an $11 million budget. City Manager Eric Buckman says the general fund is the most challenging part of the budget this year, especially with the demands of public works. The money in the general fund is divided up between four departments. Buckman says public safety dominates that fund.

 

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Newscast Tuesday, March 14, 2023

The Upper Peninsula Arts and Cultural Alliance wants to know what the impact that art has in the U.P. The group is conducting an economic impact study to determine what it might be. Sue Roll says they want to use the study to convince others to support the expansion of arts in the U.P.

 

Listen to Craig Woerpel's full newscast

 

 


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