JAYMIE DEPEW

If my records are right, this will be the 75th column I’ve written that The Mining Journal has published since I started working for the Alger County Chamber of Commerce/Greater Munising Bay Partnership, Munising Downtown Development Authority and Munising Visitors Bureau in May 2019.

While it’s been a pleasure sharing bits and pieces of Alger County and especially my hometown, Munising, with you, the time has come to start another chapter.

(I must first apologize to my Papa, Jim Depew, and dear friend Mary Barkow. My two consistent and – as far as I know – sole followers: this is the last you’ll see of me in the paper for a while. But don’t fret because in terms of writing, I’m just getting started.)

Anyway – when I say the last four years have been a wild ride, I mean it.

After commuting from Marquette to Munising for a year, I bought a cottage in the middle of town, a block and a half away from the house I grew up in, which once belonged to my great grandparents, Bob and Edna Runsat.

Since then, we collectively as a human race faced a pandemic that – if we survived – sometimes put us at odds with one another.

I knew that one day I’d live in Munising again. What I didn’t know was that it would be a haven for when the world seemingly fell apart. I adapted like many people did … by getting a dog and an air fryer (two decisions that I’ve been grateful for ever since).

The chamber adapted, too.

Conferences and meetings were held virtually.

Pat Sanderson from the office discovered an old newsstand that she had refurbished so we could fill them with packets of information about area attractions, businesses, maps, etc. That way, during the midst of the pandemic, we could maintain a window service rather than having our office space open to thousands of people.

Even though visitors have been able to set foot inside the office since 2021, the packets are still available 24/7 outside of the building.

During the pandemic, my job heavily focused on writing projects, mostly marketing material for local businesses, the Munising visitors guide, this column, managing several social media pages, and so on. Fortunately, I had the opportunity to work remotely when I wasn’t in the office talking to tourists, delivering boxes of guides and maps to businesses for the visitors bureau, filling dog poop bag stations in town, and so on and so forth.

Personally, the projects that stick out the most are: the 12 Days of Rekindle – a video series that was created during the pandemic in place of an annual in-person event, which I wrote the scripts for; booking bands/helping with Pictured Rocks Days – the largest summertime event in Munising; assisting with installing Art in the Alley; planting flowers for the DDA; and brainstorming for art projects.

Speaking of which, if you ever find yourself on the east side of Whisky Dick’s in Munising, you’ll see a creative rendition of a real-life Prohibition-area photo featuring a still bust in Alger County.

I’m related to three of the six people in that mural – and surprisingly, it’s the sheriff and his two sons. It’s ironic, though because then-sheriff Frank Runsat once owned a tavern prior to the alcohol ban and now, his great, great, great granddaughter (me) works at a local brewery.

Anyway, a highlight was when my grandma, Laurie Depew (Runsat), her brother Rick Runsat, and cousin Fred Matson snapped a photo in front of that mural, standing next to their family in the display. My family.

Munising, where I have vivid memories of loved ones howling along with the 9 o’clock whistle. Munising, where I’ve loved and lost the most in my life. Munising, where I’ll always remember the Golden Heart Chinese Restaurant, Mitchy’s Movies and Bob’s IGA. But, as Bob Dylan says: “You better start swimming, or you’ll sink like a stone – for the time’s they are a-changing.”

Life’s short and there’s a big world out there, my friends, and the desert has been calling. I reckon it’s time I answered.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Jaymie Depew served as the communications and special project assistant for the Alger County Chamber of Commerce/Greater Munising Bay Partnership for Commerce Development, Munising Downtown Development Authority and Munising Visitors Bureau for four years. Her input on this page will be sorely missed. The Mining Journal wishes her good luck with her future endeavors.