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Shopper’s delight: Big Holiday Craft Show features more than 70 vendors

KINGSFORD — Get into the holiday spirit early at the annual Daily News Newspapers in Education Big Holiday Craft Show on Saturday in Kingsford. The 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. event is expected to draw thousands to Kingsford Middle/High School, 445 Hamilton Ave. Admission is free. The Big Holiday Craft Show grows more popular every year, drawing crafters and vendors from throughout the Upper Peninsula and Wisconsin, plus many direct sales companies. It once again is sold out with more than 70 vendors — many of them new this year, said Jennifer Flynn, Daily News regional circulation ...

Doug Bovin opposes ending special assessments

GLADSTONE — During Monday’s regular meeting of the Gladstone City Commission, the last one before the election, former Commissioner, Mayor, and State Representative Douglas R. Bovin expressed his opposition to the ballot proposal to change the city charter. A proposal following a citizen ...

Local food pantries see uptick in need, seek donations

ESCANABA — Local food pantries are in need of donations as demand increases. Food pantries in the area are generally seeing an uptick in demand for service, including pantries at Bay College, Salvation Army, St. Vincent De Paul, and the Escanaba Seventh-Day Adventist Church. Each food pantry works with other organizations, suppliers, and stores to get food, donations, and other supplies, including Aldi, Walmart, Meijer, Elmers, Gordon Food Service, Feeding America, and more. Local individuals, clubs, churches, and other groups support the pantries through monetary and physical ...

Officers take fire safety message to schools

ESCANABA — The Escanaba Public Safety Department spent the month of October informing the community and school children about fire safety during Fire Awareness and Prevention Month. The department visited multiple schools throughout the month, capping it off with a visit to ...

Saaranen, Sullivan face off for Houghton County sheriff

HOUGHTON — Houghton County’s sheriff race is a rematch of 2022’s ballot. Joshua Saaranen, who was appointed sheriff to replace the late Brian McLean in 2022 before being elected to a partial term, is running for a four-year term against Roger Sullivan. Saaranen, who is running as a Republican, said he had learned a lot in his three years in office. His priorities in office would include working with the community to help build a new county jail, continuing the work of fighting crime locally, and working with local partners on mental health issues in the county. He also plans ...

Makela found guilty of resisting/obstructing officer

HOUGHTON — A Houghton County man was found guilty on all counts, including a felony charge of resisting and obstructing a police officer, after a one-day trial in Houghton County Circuit Court Thursday. Douglas Makela, 33, is also facing an investigation for allegedly threatening a witness in his case. The two-year felony charge stemmed from a Sept. 17, 2022 incident in Calumet Township. The jury also found Makela guilty of a misdemeanor charge of disturbing the peace from the same incident. Helmer noted that the 2-year-old case is part of the inherited backlog his office is ...