The Munising News

04/01/2021

After more than 125 years of providing Alger County and beyond with a permanent record of weekly happenings, it is with heavy hearts that we must bid farewell. We would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for your part, no matter how big or how small, in helping to make The Munising News a century-old legacy and an integral part of our local history.

To our community, we thank you for your loyalty and allowing us the privilege to come into your homes each and every week to inform, entertain and keep you abreast of local happenings.

To our advertisers, we couldn’t have done it without you. From our churches, local businesses, organizations and municipal governments who remained strong with us throughout the years, you made it all possible. You recognized the value of a hometown newspaper and, for that, we thank you.

To our staff, you may never know just how much we respect what you have accomplished, especially during these difficult times. Virginia has been a part of our team since we first purchased the newspaper. We treasure her and the loyalty she has given us. Readers like you have enjoyed the final product each week but what we were privy to was the strong team who worked diligently behind the scenes to make that possible. Their dedication and hard work go unmatched. Our gratitude and a heartfelt thank you goes out to Virginia, Angela, Ted, Romaldo, Patti, Hannah, Mary Jayne and Kay.

We would also like to say thank you to Dr. Surrell for providing us with health articles and to those who submitted articles, recipes, and Letters to the Editor. In addition, we would also like to acknowledge the United States Post Office, United Parcel Service and FedEx for their exemplary services and for making it possible for everyone to receive their newspapers.

The Munising News has been our life. It has been the only newspaper in the entire world with a vested interest in and genuinely cared about Alger County and its citizens. We continue to hold onto hope for an interested buyer who shares the same belief that a small-town newspaper is essential to the breath of a community. We will forever continue to support and advocate for the importance of local journalism.

Again, thank you to each and every one of you who helped in any way to make The Munising News a precious memory to last our lifetimes.

– Willie and Nancy Peterson

03/04/2021

To all our valued customers, subscribers, friends and
community:

We are saddened as we have to announce that after 125 years, we will no longer be publishing The Munising News or Alger County Shopper after March 31, 2021.

Along with this, our office supply storefront and print shop will also be closing, at no specified date as we will be liquidating our current inventory until it's gone.

Until our official closure, if you find you still have printing needs please feel free to contact us at 387-3282. As always, we will do our very best to serve you.

Thank you for all your business and support, past and present,

~ The Munising News Team

02/04/2021

Munising has recently welcomed a new business into its downtown district. Attorneys William and Diane Marie Kay Hougaboom (pronounced Hoog-A-Boom) opened their doors to their Law Office at 225 E. Superior Street (the old Thompson Veterinary Clinic) on September 4, 2020.

If you are in need of their services or just want to stop in and say hello, please feel free to contact them by stopping by their office or by calling (906) 387-3100. Office hours are 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday – Friday or by appointment. All phone messages will be received, including those after hours.

01/15/2021

If you are a lover of whitefish like us here at The Munising News, or even just want to show your support for a vital business in Alger County, please join us in sending this letter to Director Eichinger.

Feel free to print this letter out and add your own personal note, sign and mail to:

Director Dan Eichinger
Michigan Department of Natural Resources
525 W. Allegan
PO Box 30028
Lansing, MI 48909

01/13/2021

Road Commissioner Doug Miron retired December 31, 2020

Doug Miron, a 26-year veteran Road Commission Board member, officially retired on December 31 due to health reasons. Doug served as Chairman for most of that time.

John Hermann succeeded Doug as Chairman, on January 4, and credited him with having accomplished many milestone improvements over his career. A few of the more renowned projects were the completion of H-58 (connecting Munising and Grand Marais), the paving of CR440 (along the Alger/Delta County Lines), and the construction of the Munising Garage and Office Facility. Mr. Hermann stated, “Doug Miron is recognized, statewide, as a champion for county roads. His dedication and cooperative spirit were largely responsible for the paving of H-58 – which really put Alger County on the map!”

The current Alger County Road Commission board recognized Doug’s service, and presented him with a plaque to commemorate his career.

01/13/2021

Superior Central student, Henry Mallory, decided for his birthday this year, that instead of presents, he would collect food and money to purchase food for the Alger Community Food Pantry. Henry and his mother pulled up to the pantry with a pickup load of food, and thanks to Henry a lot of people will have food on their table.

Good job and Happy Birthday, Henry!

01/04/2021

Upper Peninsula Power Company (UPPCO) announced the winners of the holiday lighting contest it hosted this year. The contest was held to celebrate the Holiday Season and create a greater sense of community and goodwill throughout the region. The Company received 60 entries and has selected 10 contest winners.

Contest winners, 10 in total, will be receiving a $250 gift card to a business in their community in an effort to support local businesses during these challenging times.

2020 Contest Winners (in no particular order):

Doug and Susan Pearson, Ishpeming – Griswold
Joe Ackerman, Munising – Griswold
Robert and Margaret Landsparger, Houghton – Griswold
Benito Cadena, Hancock – Griswold
Mike and Geri Niemi, Ishpeming – Griswold
Dale Damsteegt, Atlantic Mine – Traditional
Gary and Marie McQuisten, Munising – Traditional
Steve and Tanya Borowski, Munising – Traditional
Robert Myers, Gladstone – Griswold
Tony Vezetti, Ontonagon – Traditional
Photos of the participating displays and contest winners can be seen at www.uppco.com.

12/23/2020

After decades of high-standing public service, Chief Judge William W. Carmody of the 11th Judicial Circuit Court has made his final sentencing decision. He is officially hanging up his weathered robe, laying down his storied gavel and entering the promised land of retirement.

Read the full article by Kay Vertz on the front page of this week's Munising News, or online at our website:

by Kay Vertz After decades of highstanding public service, Chief Judge William W. Carmody of the 11th Judicial Circuit Court has made his final sentencing decision. He is officially hanging up his wea

11/25/2020

All About Town with Mary Jayne

"Many years ago when the funeral home used to do all the ambulance work for Alger County, the Bowerman Hallifax Funeral Home use to be a lot different.

Anyway, deer season was a big deal in Alger County, and there used to be a group of Lower Michigan businessmen who use to come up for deer season. They had a friend at Doe Lake area where a Munising lady would be hired as a cook for a few weeks. The men would drive up from Lower Michigan to have a great week of hunting, playing cards, renewing their friendships, etc. This group always used to hire either Dick or I to go to their deer camp to take a few pictures of the group and some with their deer.

This particular year, Dick took the time out to go take the pictures and as he was ready to leave the camp, the fellows all encouraged him to stay a few more hours to visit and have dinner with them. So as he was enjoying dinner with the fellows, he happened to notice that one of them appeared to be in physical distress, so the fellows suggested he just lie down for a bit. However, Dick said he felt they should perhaps bring the fellow in to the hospital to be checked out. As Dick had the station wagon with him, he decided to bring the gentleman in, in the wagon (which occasionally had been used as an additional ambulance when needed).

Well, they brought the gentleman into the Munising Memorial Hospital and it happened he died during the night. So the fellow hunters were quite grateful that Dick had insisted on bringing him to medical help, at least it had been the right move.

So, as they went to the funeral home midmorning to make arrangements to get the gentleman back to his home in Lower Michigan, there appeared Dick, of course they were somewhat surprised. However, he explained that he indeed was also the funeral director.

Then, since it was a sudden death and unexplained, in those days, you had to have a coroner give an opinion as to the cause of death. It later became a job for a medical examiner.

So they said they would have to call the coroner and low behold, Dick was one of the local coroners.

So, let’s retrace a bit, first Dick was the photographer, then the ambulance driver, then the funeral director and low and behold the coroner. An earlier time in Alger County when folks wore many hats."

"This shows Dick and I in the darkroom looking at negatives."