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Holiday means good times but use caution, common sense

With the Fourth of July right around the corner, a great many people are scrambling to finalize their shopping lists and to-do lists for the big holiday. But the Red Cross wants to remind the public that there is a few other things to keep in mind on Independence Day. The website, www.redcross.org, states, “If you are setting fireworks off at home, follow these safety steps: • Never give fireworks to small children, and never throw or point a firework toward people, animals, vehicles, structures or flammable materials. Always follow the instructions on the packaging. • Keep a ...

Speed-involved crashes have decreased

Exceeding the speed limit is more than just breaking traffic laws–it represents dangerous behavior that threatens the safety of everyone on the road. Driving at high speeds with impatience or carelessness not only puts the vehicle’s occupants at risk but also endangers pedestrians, cyclists and other motorists. Data indicates that speed enforcement and public education efforts are yielding positive results in Michigan. To further encourage safer driving this summer, the Michigan State Police, as well as officers from city and county police departments across the state, will be ...

Hard to succeed without reading

If you’re able to read, and, hopefully, understand, this opinion, then you’ve got a skill that some people may never learn. Possessing the ability to read is something many of us likely take for granted. It’s a skill we learned years ago as children back in school, when the scrapes on our knees we got from recess meant more than the lessons we were taught on the chalkboard. But there’s a lifelong value in learning to read, particularly at a young age, that should not be overlooked, even in this day and age when some youngsters can’t write cursive or tell what time it is by ...

Take care to be safe when out on ATVs

Summer in the Upper Peninsula can mean breaking out the UTVs or ATVs for some off-road adventures in the north woods. The region is rich with ORV trails in counties on both sides of the Michigan-Wisconsin border. It offers hours of recreational riding through some of the best scenery to be found in the Midwest, perhaps in much of the U.S. Yet as the numbers of trail users rise with the season, so do the numbers of serious injuries, according to Wausau, Wis.-based Aspirus Health, which has several facilities in the Upper Peninsula. Already this month, an 18-year-old from downstate ...

Keep your car on road during holiday weekend

What are your plans for the upcoming holiday weekend? Are you planning a camping trip somewhere in the Upper Peninsula? Maybe you are planning to visit friends of relatives downstate? Perhaps you have just planning to drive to some of the nearby celebrations. One of the things that can ruin your plans quicker than a thunderstorm is car trouble. This is a case where a little prevention goes a long way. “As you finalize your travel plans, don’t forget to check your vehicle’s condition,” said Adrienne Woodland, Public Relations Manager for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “A simple ...

June is National Gun Violence Awareness Month

Most people we know aren't adverse to reasonable gun control laws. There is nothing wrong with trying to keep innocent people safe while giving people access to firearms. It's with that in mind that we underscore that June is National Gun Violence Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about gun violence and its impact, and to promote gun safety and prevention. It's also a time to honor victims and survivors of gun violence. The month is often marked by events and campaigns, such as "Wear Orange" to show support for ending gun violence.  Here's a general breakdown: • ...