News

MDHHS confirms detection of influenza A H1N2 variant (swine flu) in Michigan resident

MICHIGAN – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), Kent County Health Department (KCHD), and Ionia County Health Department have identified a human case of influenza A H1N2 variant (swine flu) in an Ionia County resident who was a swine exhibitor at the Kent County Youth Fair, according to an MDHHS press release on Friday. The fair took place Aug. 3-8 at the Grand Agricultural Center of West Michigan in Lowell. The individual tested presumptive positive at the MDHHS Bureau of Laboratories for swine flu and was confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and ...

Montmorency police update

Recent actions taken by law enforcement agencies in Northeast Michigan. This has been only lightly edited. MONTMORENCY COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE News Release Aug. 10, 2026 Total: 128 Alarms: 4 Animal Control: 9 Traffic Arrests: 0 OWI Arrests: 1 Drug Arrests: 0 Warrant ...

One-time funding won’t fix financial strain for DNR’s Fisheries Division

LANSING — Officials from the Fisheries Division of the Department of Natural Resources say further cutbacks on staffing and fish stocking are likely as the costs of operations rise. The division relies on licenses for much of its budget, but the price has remained consistent for more than a decade. Only restricted, one-time funding was included in the latest state budget. Some key lawmakers who oppose increased fees have said the DNR is mismanaged and shouldn’t get more public funding. Jim Francis, the coordinator of the Lake Erie Basin at the DNR, said Fisheries is already ...

Harness racing brought back to Alpena

Even sheep need haircuts

Youth volunteers help reach 4,000-piece trash goal in Alpena

ALPENA — Members of the Youth Volunteer Corps and Great Lakes Great Responsibility (GLGR) completed a summerlong cleanup series Friday at Sytek Park, meeting a goal of collecting 4,000 pieces of trash across Alpena. Meag Schwartz, CEO of GLGR, confirmed the target was achieved. “Yes, ...