News

Gas prices are up in Michigan this week. AAA Michigan reports the current statewide average is just over $3.58 per gallon, up 8 cents from last week and about 15 cents less than this same time last year. Of the cities surveyed by AAA Michigan, the cheapest price for self-serve …

The Ottawa National Forest wants your input, as it begins a study of the forest’s road system. The Forest Service manages 3,800 miles of roads within the Ottawa’s boundaries. Each road will be the subject of 25 questions regarding its usefulness, condition and environmental impact. Three “Road Study” open houses …

On the calendar, we have three more weeks of summer. Meteorologically, summer ended this past weekend. You’ll not be surprised to learn that our summer was wetter and cooler than average. National Weather Service figures compiled in Marquette placed June temperatures a half-degree above average… but July was more than …

Today marks a special anniversary for a renowned local broadcaster. It was 50 years ago this afternoon that Dick Storm did his first radio show in the Copper Country. Dick grew up in Toivola, but had moved away to attend a broadcast school in Wisconsin. He worked at a station …

Copper Country kids begin heading back to school today. Students in Houghton, Hancock, Dollar Bay, Adams Township, Baraga, L’Anse, and the Copper Country Christian School begin classes this morning. At Lake Linden-Hubbell, students begin this afternoon, after a teacher in-service this morning. Chassell students begin class tomorrow. Students in the …

Nearly half of households in the Copper Country don’t bring in enough income to be considered financially stable. That figure comes from a report prepared by the Michigan United Way. The report used the costs of housing, child care, food, transportation and health care to determine the cost of living …

The number of new students at Finlandia University is up this fall. Finlandia is welcoming 227 freshmen and transfer students. That’s 12 percent more than the 202 who began last fall. It reverses a three-year trend of declining enrollment at the Upper Peninsula’s only private University. Vice President of Advancement …

Rain dampened yesterday’s Portage Health Labor Day Bridge Walk, but didn’t wash it out… LUSKIN. Organizer Angela Luskin says this was the first time in the event’s history that rain was a significant factor. The poor weather also affected the turnout at the Mackinac Bridge Walk at Saint Ignace. Around …

One of Finland’s most successful entrepreneurs will be speaking this afternoon in Hancock. Juha Vidgren is Chairman of the Board of the Ponsse Company, which manufactures high-tech logging equipment. Finlandia University International School of Business Dean Kevin Manninen says Ponsse began as a one-person business, started by Vidgren’s father… MANNINEN …

Despite efforts to make Michigan a more affordable location for businesses to locate, our state still doesn’t fare very well when compared to surrounding states. The Michigan Economic Development Corporation recently conducted a “secret shopper” campaign to make the comparison. The MEDC developed a fake project, and pitched it to …