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Editorial

Goings and Dymond: Much in common

At a glance, Helen Dymond and Starla Goings are two women who seem to have a lot in common, beyond the obvious fact that both disappeared without a trace from Upper Peninsula locations. Both were upstanding members of their respective communities. In Goings’ case, it was the Alger County area while Dymond hailed from Tilden Township in western Marquette County. Neither was particularly young at the time of their respective disappearances; Dymond was 48 when she went missing in 1981 while Goings was 65 when she vanished about a year ago. Goings was last known to be at the U.P. State ...

Students warned against relying on energy drinks

While it's still too early to pull all-nighters for studying, students heading back to classes at all levels may be tempted to seek an "energy drink" to manage the shift to early mornings, homework, athletics and busy afterschool schedules. But experts with Aspirus Health caution that energy drinks are not a safe or healthy way for children and teens to stay alert. Energy drinks often contain high levels of caffeine, added sugars and other stimulants that can affect sleep, mood, hydration and heart health. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends adolescents avoid energy drinks, ...

Flock cameras equal surveillance

The more we hear about Flock cameras the less we like them. These cameras, positioned along roadways across the state and country, read license plate numbers in passing vehicles, reporting that and other information in real time to centralized data bases that law enforcement and others can access and share. Some police — certainly not all — neighborhood associations and private property owners argue the cameras, often powered by an attached solar cell, help find the bad guys and that they are, in essence, no different than an officer sitting on the side of the road keeping an eye ...

States stress need for vaccines as children return to schools

As several area school districts start classes this week, there's been some recent disquieting developments concerning childhood vaccinations. The Associated Press reported a week ago that U.S. kindergarten vaccination rates inched down again last year and the share of children with exemptions rose to an all-time high, according to federal data. The fraction of kids exempted from vaccine requirements reached 4.2%, up from 3.6% the year before. That's an estimated 155,000 children nationally during the 2025-2026 school year, according to AP. It's the fourth consecutive year the ...

AAA: Speeding becoming the norm carries dangerous risks

Feel like you're going too slow by following the speed limit when driving? Recent research shows you're not alone in that perception. Speeding has become so common that many drivers consider going 10 mph over the posted speed limit acceptable, while nearly half believe keeping up with traffic is safer than obeying the speed limit, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. The findings suggest many drivers no longer define speeding by the posted speed limit alone, AAA states in a news release. Three in 10 drivers agreed with the statement, "No one actually drives the speed ...

NMU’s Fall Fest coming up

One of the really nice activities open to Northern Michigan University students each year is happening Monday at the Northern Center lawn on campus. Fall Fest is scheduled to run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday. It’s a can't-miss opportunity for students to learn more about local businesses and non-profits, NMU departments and student organizations. While Fall Fest is designed to literally have something for everyone, we’d especially recommend attendance for new NMU students, as it provides a golden opportunity to find out what’s happening on campus and off, what might a good fit ...