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Rock Co-op history cited

ROCK — Consumer co-operatives gained popularity in the latter half of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century in response to economic downturns, exploitive shopkeepers and a lack of food safety. Consumer co-operatives or co-op stores are businesses owned by members who are individuals that pay a certain amount of money into the business. They operate to serve the needs of their members, not to create profit. If the business does create profits, that money is either reinvested into the business or returned to the members as a dividend. In the central Upper Peninsula, ...

Jim’s South Side embezzler draws jail, restitution

ESCANABA — An Escanaba woman who embezzled from Jim’s South Side grocery while working at the store was sentenced Monday. Jamie Lynn White was sentenced to one year in the Delta County Jail with credit for 243 days served. She was ordered to pay $57,871.04 restitution to Jim Berthiaume, former owner of the store, and will be placed on three years probation. “You’re on the razor’s edge regarding prison, and we don’t have any room for error. As a matter of fact, you’re kind of like somebody whose treading water just barely, where you’re not even with your chin above ...

Ontonagon County: Hospital, ER closure now unavoidable

ONTONAGON — Despite searches for a last-minute solution, there is no outcome that will prevent closure of the Aspirus Ontonagon Hospital emergency room and hospital after its planned closure on April 20, Ontonagon County officials said Monday. Three Ontonagon County representatives met last week with Top Upper Peninsula administrators from Aspirus to discuss the impending closure of the Aspirus Ontonagon Hospital and see if there was any chance to keep the facility open. On April 20, Aspirus will close the hospital and emergency room, reducing operations to an outpatient-only ...

Clouds, rain may dampen eclipse viewing

ESCANABA — Mother Nature may have a soggy surprise for Delta County residents hoping to view Monday’s solar eclipse. The weather forecast is calling for less than ideal viewing conditions. The forecast calls for a 50 percent chance of showers with mostly cloudy skies throughout the day locally. A high of 47 degrees is predicted. Delta County is not alone. Cloudy skies are predicted Monday for much of the path the solar eclipse will take in the United States. Although the event is a total solar eclipse, residents of Delta County will see a partial eclipse of the sun, with 82% of ...

New life for an old building

ALPHA — The iconic school that has anchored the Village of Alpha’s historic circle for a century is being spared from demolition. Joe and Anne Novitsky of Berkley, Mich., recently took ownership of the Porter School. The New Porter LLC formed with the intent to bring life back to the 100-year-old complex so it can continue to benefit Alpha as well as all of Iron County. The Porter School was built in 1914 at the top of the hill on County Road 424, as it was planned around the Alpha Mine. The gym was added later and used by the community for years. The downstate couple ...

Bonifas exhibit benefits artists impacted by fire

ESCANABA — The Bonifas Arts Center is giving a helping hand to the artists of the East Ludington Gallery. An exhibit of their work opened Thursday at the arts center gallery. The building that previously housed the East Ludington Gallery was damaged in a fire in downtown Escanaba in ...