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Editorial

Federal fire grants are investment in regional safety

The more than $2.1 million in federal fire grant funding headed to Upper Peninsula and Northern Michigan communities is welcome news — and a reminder that protecting our residents begins with ensuring our firefighters have the equipment, training and staffing they need to do their jobs. For communities across the U.P., where rural distances, harsh winters and limited infrastructure can complicate emergency responses, these grants are more than financial assistance. They are investments in public safety, the people who provide it and the communities that depend on them. Seven Upper ...

Guest editorial

"The Tab Man" Jim Brolin of Florence, Wis., is still collecting pop tabs. I have teamed up with Stacey Lantagne of Florence to support families served by the Ronald McDonald House. Stacey's family has a personal connection to the cause. Several years ago, her family spent a month in Milwaukee when her grandson, Ezra, unexpectedly became critically ill. During that difficult time, her daughter and son-in-law, Kelsey and Skylar Newman of Kingsford, were able to stay at the nearby Ronald McDonald House while their 2-year-old son fought for his life next door at Children's ...

UP fires may be waning, but fire risk still high

Warmer-than-normal temperatures and gusty winds in the Upper Peninsula weather forecast, coupled with more people working and playing outside, creates a wildfire risk that's higher than usual this late in the season, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources warns. "If you're at deer camp for archery season, camping, riding ORVs or working outdoors, be aware of the fire danger," Paul Rogers, fire prevention specialist for the Michigan DNR, said in a news release. "It's warmer than normal, and fallen leaves and dry grasses increase the risk of a spark from equipment or an ember from a ...

MSP officer recognized for success hostage negotiations

Hats off to a Michigan State Police officer working out of the agency's St. Ignace post for winning a state-wide award for excellence in hostage negotiations. MSP announced this week that Sgt. Jacob Hubbard was unanimously selected to receive the Michigan Association of Hostage Negotiators' 2026 "Negotiator of the Year" award for his role in a Jan. 3-4 incident involving an armed suspect, a woman and four children held against their will and numerous dogs at a rural residence in Marquette County. Hubbard was selected from a group of candidates who demonstrated outstanding work in ...

National Drug Take Back Day on Saturday

The Michigan State Police is once again taking part in a national initiative that encourages residents to dispose of expired, unused and unwanted prescription pills. All of MSP's 31 posts will participate in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. This is one of two annual events held in partnership with the Drug Enforcement Administration and other police agencies, MSP advises in a news release. "Safely disposing of unused and expired medications is a simple step that can have a lasting impact on our communities," said Col. James F. Grady II, ...

Karlyn Rapport embodies spirit of Evergreen Award

Marquette County is stronger because of leaders like Karlyn Rapport, whose decades of service have opened doors, strengthened lives and created opportunities for generations of women and girls. Some people make a difference in their communities through a single accomplishment. Others spend a lifetime identifying needs, bringing people together and building solutions that endure long after the work begins. Karlyn Rapport belongs firmly in the latter category, and her selection as the 2026 Evergreen Award of Marquette County recipient is a fitting recognition of a remarkable legacy of ...