Historic Newberry High School’s uncertain future

By Sterling McGinn Exactly 100 years ago, the Newberry community was faced with a dilemma—where are we going to put the new high school? Residents voted to pass a bond proposal for its construction, and the high school was built where it still stands today. Now,...

New owner takes the helm at Mick’s Bait Shop in Curtis

By Carol Stiffler In recent weeks, Mick’s Bait Shop in Curtis quietly changed hands. It’s not obvious from the exterior; the sign still says “Mick’s Bait Shop” and it feels the same as ever. Go inside these days and you’ll be greeted by Todd Gilsdorf, a friendly and...

Noah Bentley: The fishin’ whiz kid

By Carol Stiffler Noah Bentley is a tall young man who, at age 18, has accomplished what seems like a lifetime of work. He completed a boat-building internship at age 10. He spent a summer as a teen working at a metal forge on Mackinac Island. He started his own...

Man on a mission: Teaching kids to fish for life

By Carol Stiffler Germfask resident Joe Smith is a man on a mission. He wants kids to learn how to fish. Period. He comes by it naturally. Smith got his first fly fishing rod when he was 10 years old, and he fished with his father and grandfather. He caught a 12-inch...

Stas Venglevski brings accordion music to Curtis

By Carol Stiffler Last week, 18 accordion players arrived to Curtis for a week-long rehearsal and recording event under the direction of world-renowned accordionist Stas Venglevski. Venglevski had already been to Curtis a handful of times, performing at the Erickson...

‘Meteorological bomb’ shocks, awes U.P

By Sterling McGinn Luce County, like the entire Upper Peninsula, was hit with a historic winter snowstorm beginning on Sunday, December 28 lasting through the early morning hours of Tuesday, December 30. Weather alerts began more than a day in advance, but the storm...