The Sand Point Lighthouse and Delta County Historical Museum will be open Monday, Dec. 26, and Tuesday, Dec. 27, from 1 to 4 p.m. Charles Lindquist says the annual free holiday event is a gift to the community for their support in restoring the lighthouse in 1986.

Author JL Hyde will be signing books in downtown Escanaba Thursday, Dec. 22, at Leigh’s Garden Winery. 

The former Escanaba resident has written four books, three based in the Upper Peninsula. They are Delta County, Summer of ’99 and Midnight in Delta County.

The book signing at Leigh’s will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 22. Books will be for sale at the winery or you can bring a book to be signed.

OSF St. Francis Hospital and Medical Group exceeded capacity this week for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began, causing it to execute its emergency plan to make more room available at the hospital.

Delta Schoolcraft Intermediate School District Superintendent Doug Leisenring says the school districts within the ISD are moving quickly to respond to continuing cases of COVID-19. Leisenring also received the Educational Excellence award from the Delta Chamber.

Delta County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Lauren Wickman says cocaine is becoming a bigger problem as dealers move into the area.  The prosecutor's office has two positions open in its victim unit. Plus, we talk about serving a juror at the courthouse. 

JL Hyde based her second suspense book on Escanaba where she grew up. Readers will recognize the features of the town even if the story is new. The book, "Delta County: A Novel" is about returning home ten years after an unspeakable tragedy for a class reunion. Jamie talks about how she started writing and using her hometown as a backdrop.

Gladstone City Manager Eric Buckman and GHladstone City Commissioner Brad Mantella talk about the purchase of more than 20 acres for the North Shore Development Project. The commission also approved a proposal to build eight pickleball courts at the sports complex and offered support or the Build Back Better Regional Challenge known as MITTEN. Absentee ballots are also ready for November's city election. 

Delta County Sheriff Ed Oswald says they have been able to keep COVID-19 from spreading through the general jail population. He also talks about how they will handle 17-year-olds now considered juveniles, school bus safety and being called to jury duty.

Community Service Coordinator Joanna Wilbee-Amis at OSF Healthcare St. Francis Hospital & Medical Group talks about the community health needs assessment survey and how it will helps to set the goals and priorities for the year in community based health programs.

A flu shot clinic is being held Saturday at the hospital for those 19 and older from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the OSF Drive Thru Testing Center behind the hospital.

WDBC broadcaster Jim Pinar is remembered for his years of sports broadcasting. Al Gereau, Dan Flynn, Dennis Grall and Tracy Hudson talk with Craig Woerpel about the impact that Jim had on area sports.

Craig Woerpel talks about his years at WDBC at 604 Ludington Street with Kevin Chown on the last day of broadcasting from the studio. A new studio will be in the Penstar Building in Escanaba.

Listen to the Delta County Drug Court gradiuation program and all five stories of drug addiction.

Five participants in the Delta County Drug Court graduated from the program yesterday. They meet at the Delta County District Court while others watched online.

District Court Judge Steve Parks told the five several rules to live by including not being a prisoner of their past.

“If people judge you by your past, then they are not really worth worrying about,” he said. “You have your whole future ahead of you and I hope you take advantage of it.”

He also urged them to be honest to themselves and others.

Graduating were Mike Bizeau, Sarah Doutree, Karl Schmidt, Zach Tryan and Kasey Rudden-Stoerck. Like others in the drug court, Rudden-Stoerck starting using marijuana at a young age.

“My drug use started at the young age of 13,” she recalled. “In high school, I drank and started to use drugs. It began with marijuana, then cocaine then opioids. I started to skip school which turned into truancy and eventually I was expelled from two school.”

She was in and out of jail and says her life was in shambles before deciding to take the offer of drug court rather than serve her time.

“Drug court has dramatically changed my life. I went from being jobless and homeless to having two jobs that I enjoy, an apartment of my own and two years of sobriety.”

Judge Parks says it was disappointing to have to hold the graduation program online because of the Coronavirus pandemic. Drug Court graduations are usually held in the larger Circuit Court packed with supporters.

Listen to the interview with Phyllis LaBranche, owner of Swedish Pantry in Escanaba, and Jackie Ballou, owner of U.P. Iron Skillet Cabins and Bed & Breakfast in Munising and Wetmore and Yooper Clean Service.

The Delta County Board of Commissioners approved a resolution yesterday to support businesses closed due to COVID-19 restrictions imposed by the state.

The current ban on indoor dining ends Friday. The Governor has not said if she will extend it.

Commissioner Dave Moyle read the resolution.

“The Delta County Board of Commissioners shall support no endeavor, financially or through ordinance, that will in any way single out, harm, discriminate against any business owner that opens their establishment with responsible PPE and social distancing,” he read.

The resolution goes on to say that it does not have the power of law and cannot be used to avoid state penalties. 

Moyle ended the meeting yesterday saying he is going to advise bar and restaurant owners that if Governor Gretchen Whitmer doesn’t allow them to reopen with indoor dining that they take steps to protect themselves.

“I would actively consider forming a rapid response militia of very well educated armed people stand at my property line,” he said. “I’m not talking about redneck guys spitting tobacco with firearms but it is coming to that point. I hope I’m wrong. I hope she is the bigger person and starts unlocking.”

The resolution is being sent to the Governor and other elected officials. The county yesterday extended it own emergency declaration another 28 days.

Listen to the interview with Sue Gartland at the Delta Aimal Shelter.

The dogs and horses seized in August from an alleged puppy mill in Rock can now be adopted.

Rebecca Johnson, who is charged with cruelty and abandonment of the animals, yesterday agreed to the forfeiture action and gave up all her rights to the animals.

The Delta County Prosecutor’s office says the action makes the animals immediately available for adoption. The Delta Animal Shelter has been caring for nearly 217 dogs and puppies and 23 horses.

Because of the large number of animals, the prosecutor’’s office says the shelter will provide information on the availability of the animals and adoption process on Facebook and Instagram.

Johnson has a court hearing on January 22. She face up to seven years in prison.

As a healthcare provider, Dr. Beth Knudsen of Knudsen Dentistry in Escanaba was one of the first in the community to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. She says it has given her a sense of relief.

It was no different, she said, then getting a flu shot.

"It was actually pretty routine," she said. "We got an email from the health deaprtment that said we were eligible because we are health care providers in the area. We have contact, obviously, with patients right up close so we called, made our appointment and went over. It was very simple. Just like getting any other flu vaccine or any other shots that I've taken."

Most of the staff has received the vaccination including her husband Eric who is a partner in the practice.

Even though they are getting the vaccination, Knudsen said they will continue to take the precautions they have developed since the beginning of the pandemic.

"We certainly are taking precautions and we're going to be taking them for quite awhile becasue it is still out in the general public and it's going to take a long time, a couple of months i'm going to suspect, for the general public to receive the vaccines," she said.

Knudsen said they are finding that some of their patients, especially their older ones, are deciding to stay home rather than come in for routine care. Otherwise, she says the staff does a good job assuring patients that they are safe.

Patients are screened before and during their appointments and they’ve installed new air purifiers in the rooms. Medical staff will also continue to wear extra PPE including masks and face shields.

The vaccination requires them to get a second round of shots. Knudsen said it will take a few weeks after that for the vaccine to take effect.

Alice Sabuco heard planes flying overhead last night and saw an "orb" of light near her home on the Hiawatha National Forest. She talks with Craig Woerpel about what she saw after a F-16 Wisconsin Air National Guard jet crashed in the Upper Peninsula.

Phil Lynch has been collecting vinyl records including Christmas recordings. He joins Craig Woerpel on the WDBC morning show to spin a few. Enjoy!

Craig Woerpel gets us ready for Thanksgiving with music and news. He is joined by Wendy Irving who has already decoradted for Christmas, Wendy Pepin with the Wendy Wednesday Blues For A Cause Pick Of The Week (and cooking pies) and Patty Woerpel who is getting ready to cook for Thanksgiving. Enjoy! And, count your blessings on this Thanksgiving.

Join Trails & Tales Outdoors Radio host Craig Woerpel for the annual Deer Report. He is joined today by Bruce Belongie with the Great Lakes Timber Show, Ken Bucholtz, with Wheelin' Sportsmen and Roy Dahlgren with the U.P. Trappers Association.

Join Trails & Tales Outdoors Radio host Craig Woerpel for the annual Deer Report. He is joined today by Al Ettenhofer with U.P. Whitetails Association, Tonya Ettenhofer with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area and Bruce Belongie with the Great Lakes Timber Show.

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Join Trails & Tales Outdoors Radio host Craig Woerpel for the annual Deer Report. He is joined today by Al Ettenhofer with U.P. Whitetails Association, Tonyia Henderson, owner of Derouin's Auto Body & Collision and Tim Kobasic's daught Lisa Kobasic Gramza.

Join Trails & Tales Outdoors Radio host Craig Woerpel for the annual Deer Report. He is joined today by Shawn Cannon at Cannon Forestry, Rod Stende at Elmer's County Market and Leroy Destrampe.

Nick Nolde and Craig Woerpel talk with "Doozy" band member Brett Moberg about their music and having to hit the brakes when COVID-19 hit.

Nick Nolde and Craig Woerpel talk with "Doozy" band member Brett Moberg about their music and having to hit the brakes when COVID-19 hit.