You can eat out on Friday

May 20, 2020 | Features

By Carol Stiffler Restaurants, bars, and retail shops in the Upper Peninsula and Traverse City region can re-open at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, May 22. Governor Gretchen Whitmer made the announcement on Monday, May 18, leaving restaurant owners very little time to prepare...

Businesses begin the slow re-open

May 6, 2020 | Features

By Carol Stiffler Shortly after Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer ordered the state’s restaurants to close dining rooms and switch to carry-out or delivery, Timber Charlie’s owner Ray Mahaffy decided his restaurant would simply close. Whitmer’s mandate came on March...

A new mandate

Apr 29, 2020 | Features

By Carol Stiffler Wearing a mask in public seems commonplace in some countries, like China, where air quality is very poor at times. But in the Upper Peninsula, it is far outside the norm. Until now, that is. On Friday, April 24, Governor Gretchen Whitmer extended the...

Three new cubs at Oswald’s Bear Ranch

Apr 17, 2020 | Features

By Carol Stiffler There are three new bear cubs at Oswald’s Bear Ranch, and the Oswalds want your help in naming the cinnamon-colored one. The babies came to the ranch from Wisconsin on March 24, both lucky and unlucky. They’re separated from their mothers, probably...

Here’s to the Class of 2020

Apr 8, 2020 | Features

By Carol Stiffler When Jared Wallace packed up the contents of his locker on Friday, March 13, he had no way to tell it would be the last time he walked the halls of Newberry High School as a high school student. Wallace, an excellent student, played basketball and...

Look for the helpers

Apr 1, 2020 | Features

By Carol Stiffler Fred Rogers always knew what to say to make us feel better. Mr. Rogers, as he was known, shared his intense love, compassion, and understanding with us and would have known just what to say as we face the coronavirus pandemic, arguably one of the...