On the news, sometimes we mention phone numbers and websites that you need. But you don't always have time to write the number or link down. We now have them right here, saved for at least seven days, on the "Local News-Plus" service, only from the Radio Results Network.

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9/2/10

The Dickinson County Fair is celebrating its 100th anniversary this weekend. The fair opened Wednesday night at the fairgrounds in Norway, and it runs through Labor Day Monday.  A magician will appear during the weekend, a demolition derby is planned, and there will be bingo. Click here  to read more about this year's Dickinson County Fair, which is the last fair of the summer in the Upper Peninsula.


9/2/10

The Hiawathaland Council of Boy Scouts, which covers the entire Upper Peninsula, has donated $10,000 to help the Mackinac Island State Park Commission make renovations to the "Scout Barracks' kitchen" on the island. Click here  to read more about the donation, and the renovation project.

 

 

 

The Mackinac Bridge Walk is scheduled for Monday morning. Thousands of people from around the country will be on hand for the event, which is the only day that you are allowed to walk across the five-mile-long bridge. There will also be 400 people running across the bridge, including Governor Jennifer Granholm. Click here  and here  for more on the Bridge Run. Click here  for more on the annual Bridge Walk.


9/1/10

President Obama delivered a primetime speech Tuesday night, declaring an end to combat operations in Iraq. Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow was one of only 23 senators to vote against the Iraq War Resolution in 2003, which authorized the war, and she has repeatedly voted to set a firm deadline to withdraw our forces from Iraq. 

Stabenow issued the following statement:

“This has been a long and difficult conflict for our country.  As the last combat troops leave Iraq, we need to honor the brave men and women who have served and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.  Now, we must ensure that our service members get all the support they need as they return home."

9/1/10

Michigan's Early Canada Goose hunting season begins on Wednesday. It runs through September 10th here in the Upper Peninsula, September 15th in most of Lower Michigan. For more on Canada goose hunting season, click here .

 

 

 

The Bay deNoc Brewers are planning the fifth annual UPtoberfest event, set for Saturday October 9th in Escanaba. It's a celebration of products made by microbrewers from across Michigan and Wisconsin. The money raised from the event supports the United Way of Delta County. Tickets are $25 for the event, and it includes beers, wines, and snacks. Click here  to order a ticket on-line. Click here  to learn more about the Bay deNoc Brewers.


8/31/10

A production company plans to shoot a documentary in Manistique on Tuesday. The feature film will be called "Waterwalk", retracing the long journey of Fathers Marquette and Joliet to the Upper Peninsula more than 300 years ago. Click here  to see information about the documentary film.

 

 

 

An effort to rid our communities of invasive plant species is under way, thanks to a grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It's called "RRIP-IT-UP", standing for Rapid Response Invasive Plant Intervention Team of the Upper Peninsula. The conservation districts around the Upper Peninsula are recruiting volunteers to get trained on what weeds to pull, and then organize groups to go out and pull them. Click here  for more information. In Delta County, call 428-9469, Extension 3, and ask for Rachel.


8/30/10

The state DNR is concerned about an invasive wild grass that is growing in wetlands areas across the Upper Penninsula. The phragmites can grow to as high as 15 feet tall, and crowds its way past other plants that animals rely on for food. The problem is acute in the Portage Point swamp area in Delta County, where crews will treat the area with herbicides this week. Click here  to read about the program. Click here  to read about phragmites, and what you can do to get rid of them.

 

 

 

A teenaged boy drowned in the waters of Lake Superior off of Picnic Rocks Friday night. He is the sixth person to drown in the lake this summer, and the third to die off of Picnic Rocks. The City of Marquette does not recommend people swimming in this area, due to unpredictable currents. The National Weather Service has put together information about the currents near Picnic Rocks. Click here  to see that information.

 

 

 

 

 

Northern Michigan University's WiMax 4G wireless internet system has expanded to include the Ishpeming, Gwinn, and KI Sawyer areas. Students who live off-campus can use their university-issued laptop computers to log onto the Internet. Students need to use the university's WiFi service while on campus. Click here  for more information on how the WIMax service works, including a coverage map that shows where a usable signal is available.

 

 

 

Michigan Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Weaver abruptly resigned on Thursday, and Governor Jennifer Granholm appointed Alton Davis to the judgeship. Weaver was a Republican from Traverse City, and Davis is a Democrat from Grayling. The move gives Democrats a 4-3 control on the Supreme Court. Click here  to read the statement from the governor's office. The Michigan Republican Party is not happy. Click here  to read the GOP statement.


8/26/10

The 70 men and women of the 1437th Engineering Company of the Michigan National Guard came home on Wednesday, after spending a year in Iraq. The unit is based in Sault Ste. Marie, but includes people from throughout the U.P. and nothern lower Michigan. The busses carrying the troops were met with cheering crowds alongside US-2 in Menominee, Escanaba and Manistique. There was also a large welcome-home ceremony in the Soo. Click here  to read more about the unit.

 

 

 

The Michigan Public Service Commission has issued a "Consumer Alert" about the use of portable electric generators. The alert comes in the wake of severe storms that have hit most of Michigan in the past few weeks. The pamphlet describes how generators work, sfatey tips, and how much wattage you will need to power your home if the electricity goes out. Click here  to download that pamphlet and tips sheet.

 

 

 

The Michigan Department of Agriculture confirmed that some of the millions of eggs that are being recalled due to slamonella contamination have been sold here in Michigan. Click here  to see a list of effected brands from the Egg Safety Center. Click here  to see the full statement by MDA Director Don Koivisto.


8/25/10

There's still time to take advantage of the state's "Appliance Rebate Program". This gives you cash-back when you get rid of an old household appliance and buy a new energy-efficient model. So far, 75,000 Michigan residents have taken part in the program, so almost two-thirds of the money in the federally-funded program has been claimed. You can still take part in this program. Click here  to see how you can qualify for one of these rebates.

 

 

 

 

 

A new business will open on October 1st in Escanaba. Remy Battery will open a store at 1814 North Lincoln Road. Click here  to read more about the company, which has been based in Milwaukee since 1831.

8/24/10

Law enforcement officers from across Michigan will take part in the "Law Enforcement Torch Run" to raise money for Special Olympics. They will run in five-mile segments from Copper Harbor in the western U.P. to Sterling Heights in suburban Detroit. This 750-mile run will happen between September 13 to 17. Click here  for more information on the event, and how click here  to see how you can donate.

 

 

 

Some Michigan families can get a special $79 check from the state to pay for Back-to-School clothes for their children. Click here  to read more about the program through the Michigan Department of Human Services.

 

 

 

A group of Ishpeming teenagers are making quilt blankets to be given to the children of the U.P. troops who will be leaving for Afghanistan this fall. About 165 members of the Michigan National Guard 1430th Engineering Company is based out of the Marquette and Gladstone armories, and will be leaving in October. You can help by giving a donation to the Greater Ishpeming Area Youth Advisory Council (to help cover the cost of materials). Call Shannon at 485-4311. Also, a "Blanket Bee" will be held on September 8, 6 p.m., at the Marquette Armory where you can come and help the kids with the project.

8/20/10

The fifth annual Upper Great Lakes Economic and Workforce Development Summit will be held at Northern Michigan University on September 8. It's a chance for business leaders, local governmental officials, and average citizens, to get together and brainstorm about ways to improve the Upper Peninsula economy. Registrations are being taken now. The cost is $59, and includes lunch. Click here  for more on the summit. Click here  to register on-line.

 

 

 

The Michigan Natural Resources Commission has made changes to the state's crossbow regulations. The biggest changes include expanding the use of the crossbow to all of Michigan, and the lowering the minimum age to use a crossbow from 12 to 10. Click here  to see a list of the regulation changes.


8/17/10

The Michigan Department of Education is out with its list of the state's worst-performing 92 schools. None of those schools are in the Upper Peninsula. Click here  to see the list. How did your school perform? There is a tool available on the MDE web site that can show you the stats for your school. Click here, then click the link under DOCUMENTS.

 

 

 

The Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning is out with a new commercial that shows how a drunk driving arrest can change your life. It features a man dragging a beer keg that's attached to his leg with a chain. It's part of the MOHSP's "Drunk Driving: Over The Limit, Under Arrest" enforcement campaign. Click here  to see the commercial.

8/16/10

State Senator Jason Allen has decided NOT to ask for a recount in the First Congressional District Republican primary election. Allen lost to surgeon Dan Benishek by 15 votes, out of more than 72,000 votes cast. Allen says it's time for all conservatives to band together, and he will be supporting Benishek. Click here to read Allen's entire statement.  Benishek praised Allen as a "man of courage" who chose the best interest of the Republican Party over his own interests. Click here to read Benishek's entire statement.  Benishek will face Democrat Gary McDowell in November.

 

 

 

The "Pure Michigan Hunt" contest is still going on across the state. It's a chance for a hunter to win the ultimate license, with permission to hunt for elk, bear, wild turkey, antlerless deer, and others. Three winners will be picked statewide. It costs $4 to apply, and you can apply as many times as you like. You have until December 31st to get involved. Click here  for more on the contest, and how to apply. Click here  to listen to Lieutenant Governor John Cherry talk about "Pure Michigan Hunt".

8/13/10

There's federal money available to help Michigan homeowners who are facing foreclosure. The Michigan State Housing Development Authority will be doling out the $128 million, on top of $154 million approved back in June. Click here  to read how the program works. Click here  to see a list of banks and credit unions that are participating in the program.

8/12/10

A newsletter is being jointly produced by the Michigan DEQ and Cleveland Cliffs about the amount of selenium that is being put into the Goose Lake from the Tilden and Empire Mines in Marquette County. The report suggests that people should eat fish from the lake only sparingly because of the pollution. Click here  to read the six-page-long newsletter, and to see what is being done to protect the environment near the mines.

 

 

 

The state has launched the MI-Build Initiative, designed to boost support for Habitat For Humanity chapters across the state. If you would like to help build homes for people currently living in substandard housing, there are three Habitat chapters in the Central Upper Peninsula. The Hiawathaland Chapter serves Schoolcraft, Alger and Luce Counties. Call 341-7437. The Marquette County  Chapter serves Marquette and Delta Counties. Call 228-3578. The Menominee River Chapter serves Dickinson and Iron Counties. Call 779-5377. Click here  for more on the MI-Family program itself.

 

 

 

The Marquette Catholic Diocese has launched its first-ever capitol fundraising campaign. The goal is to raise $10 million over the next four years to support the parishes, missions, and Catholic schools across the Upper Peninsula. Click here  to read more about the campaign in a 12-page brochure. There is also a video here .