It seems to be that every year when Marquette West Rotary hosts its Harbor Fest, the weather poses its own challenges.And so it was this past weekend, when Mother Nature dumped a bit of rain on the Mattson Lower Harbor Park at various times during the event. Undaunted, area residents, plus a ...

The State of Michigan, in an effort to make school accountability simpler for parents to understand and more transparent as a whole, released a new color-coded rating system a few years ago.It seems to us that rather than simplify the process, these new School Accountability Scorecards have ...

Hats off to five Upper Peninsula counties - led by Marquette County - in their successful joint bid to secure $143,000 in Michigan State Housing Development Authority grant funding to help raze 11 blighted residences.We think this is great news and continues efforts by Marquette County ...

Walgreens has decided it will not relocate its corporate headquarters from the United States to Switzerland by acquiring a Swiss drugstore chain.The company would have saved money in the move, but, as a storefront retailer, risked alienating customers.Walgreens deserves credit for staying put, ...

We must regrettably report another telephone scam being worked in our area, and like many of the others previously reported, this one seems to single out elderly residents.According to a story in Thursday's Mining Journal penned by Staff Writer Mary Wardell, Chocolay Township Police Chief Greg ...

Motorcycle groups often are presented in movies as lawbreakers and thugs, a stereotype that probably has been kicking around since the first time a motor was slapped on a two-wheeled vehicle.Of course, there may be some people who ride motorcycles who are troublemakers, but we believe the ...

The lingering snow from the winter of 2013-14 and cool, wet weather this spring and summer have spared the Upper Peninsula from a major wildfire season, but it's a much different story in the West.Severe drought and the lack of precipitation this year in several western states have spawned ...

Evaluation time is here for the city of Marquette.The city charter requires an annual review for City Manager Bill Vajda and City Attorney Ronald Keefe. However, it's not just one person performing the reviews.A newly formed committee consisting of Mayor Pro Tem Fred Stonehouse and city ...

Although some, perhaps many, might argue that it's a waste of time, we wholeheartedly support moves made in recent months by the Marquette County Health Department to prepare for Ebola cases that might appear in this area.Certainly readers are aware that the disease has reared its deadly head ...

The work being done by the Senior Provider Network is getting some much-deserved recognition by the state of Michigan for its innovative use of collaboration among many senior services agencies to help stop some of our most vulnerable citizens from slipping through the cracks.Founded six years ...

In recent days, state officials have been urging propane customers to start thinking about the upcoming heating season now.They say filling propane tanks early, locking in a price for the winter and inquiring about potentially available budget payment plans can help consumers avoid being stung ...

For 25 years, the Annie E. Casey Foundation has been compiling valuable information on the well-being of children, both nationally and in individual states. While the foundation's annual Kids Count reports have found some areas of progress, the overall trend of child welfare in Michigan is ...

We noted with pleasure that law enforcement officials, locally, regionally and across the state, have kicked off a new effort to aimed at finding, and arresting, drunk drivers.This one is called "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over." Everything got started Friday and will run through the Labor Day ...

Today marks the anniversary of two American cultural milestones.It's the 75th anniversary of the Hollywood debut of "The Wizard of Oz" and the 45th anniversary of the start of the Woodstock Music and Art Fair.After sneak previews in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, and Cape Cod, ...

We join the collective outpouring of grief and sympathy being expressed at the unexpected death of Robin Williams. He was much too young and much too loved and admired to die as he did. Yet, as this tragedy kindles the discussion and debate on this troubling topic, we find that his celebrity ...

Politicians come and go, but not all of them receive the fine tributes that have come the late Frank Sciotto's way.The former city of Marquette mayor, city commissioner and assistant fire chief died Friday at Marquette General Hospital.At Monday's city commission meeting, members of the ...

Give the Ishpeming Police Department a good measure of credit. Officers last Friday night were called upon to handle a situation that was more reminiscent of the old west than modern police work. That said, they got it done, and with no reported injuries.This unusual situation started at about ...

The U.P. Veterans Expo put on Friday and Saturday inside the Superior Dome in Marquette likely helped a lot of people.Hundreds stopped in to learn about benefits they may have been eligible for for years, but had no idea about.The expo put a special emphasis on Vietnam-era vets, a group that ...

County and municipal officials in Marquette County are continuing to seek financial aid for communities whose public works department budgets were devastated by last winter's deep freeze.Nine counties, including six in the Upper Peninsula, were jointly seeking federal disaster aid to help local ...

We've heard and seen it all before.But until Congress and the White House agree to a new way to provide medical care to the nation's military veterans, there is little reason to think the latest deal - cooked up under the pressure of lawmakers itching to go on vacation - will serve us any ...