News
COVID-19: How do we compare?
Local News
ALPENA — For four lucky weeks, as the coronavirus spread downstate and hospitalized thousands in Southeast Michigan, Northeast Michigan remained one of the few fortunate areas of the state with zero known infected residents. But, in the three weeks since the region’s first case was ...
State: 33 infected in Alpena-area nursing homes
Local News
ALPENA — At least 33 residents of Northeast Michigan nursing homes have tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus that is especially deadly to the elderly and those with preexisting conditions. Two Alpena County coronavirus residents have now died, public health ...
Officials: Hard to say when we may safely reopen
Local News
ALPENA — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer may have eased some of the restrictions in her stay-at-home orders meant to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, but it could be some time in Northeastern Michigan before further reopening can be achieved. On Friday, Whitmer extended her stay-at-home order ...
Protesters, professors debate rights amid shutdowns
Local News
While protesters across the country defy stay-at-home orders to defend their freedoms at anti-quarantine rallies, constitutional law professors say the cases they are trying to bring against governors probably wouldn’t hold up in court. Protesters in the state capitals of Maine and ...
Resident rights before Whitmer orders, PI sheriff says
Local News
ROGERS CITY — Presque Isle County Sheriff Joe Brewbaker on Friday told the county board he will first consider the constitutional rights of residents before weighing them against Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s stay-home orders meant to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Brewbaker’s ...
Presque Isle County seeks two tax renewals, ponders layoffs
Local News
ROGERS CITY — The Presque Isle County Board of Commissioners on Friday approved language for two property tax renewals to be placed on the Aug. 4 ballot. Layoffs also are possible for county employees, commissioners said. The Presque Isle County Board of Commissioners will ask voters to ...
Alpena Community College apartments open to area first responders
Local News
ALPENA — Students aren’t using them, so Alpena Community College has offered 16 apartments to people on the front line in the fight against the coronavirus. Since residential students had to be sent home when colleges statewide began closing in mid-March as a precaution against the spread ...
Whitmer extends stay-home order thorugh May 15
Coronavirus
LANSING— Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Friday lengthened her stay-at-home order through May 15, while lifting restrictions so some businesses can reopen and the public can participate in outdoor activities like golf and motorized boating during the coronavirus pandemic. The measure immediately ...
Now known as essential, grocery worker says she’s just doing her job
Local News
ALPENA — For years, grocery store employees were perhaps overlooked for their importance to society and taken for granted for their role in helping ensure food and other products are readily available. They are not overlooked anymore, as they have become critical pieces in the supply chain ...
In a new way, pharmacist brings comfort to Rogers City
Local News
ROGERS CITY — Closing his lobby doors to customers was nerve-wracking at first, pharmacist Tom Gajewski said. Forced to keep the public he serves away to keep the coronavirus at bay, the provider of medicines in Rogers City, like many other pharmacists in the area, found a new way to keep ...
DNR team tapped to aid virus response
Coronavirus
When it comes to fighting wildland fires, members of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ incident management teams are accomplished pros. An Upper Peninsula team led by Brian Mensch also has helped with natural disasters such as the historic 2018 flooding that devastated parts of ...
Area nursing homes prep for virus surge
Local News
ALPENA — Staff and residents at area nursing homes continue to follow safety precautions as the number of coronavirus-infected Alpena County residents reached nearly 50 as of Thursday afternoon. Many of those infected live or work at MediLodge of Alpena. Last week, an eldery woman who ...
High driver may be area’s first charged with violating Whitmer order
Local News
HARRISVILLE — Driving while high may lead an Alcona County man to be the first local resident charged with violating the stay-at-home order issued by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on March 23 to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. “It was probably very clearly unessential travel to be driving ...
College grads missing sendoffs
Local News
Graduating college is typically a proud moment for both the graduate and the family, but this year, for most college seniors, graduations have been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While students will still graduate, many say they will miss a sense of closure to their education without ...
City flirts with ignoring Whitmer coronavirus order
Local News
ALPENA — The Alpena Municipal Council on Monday strongly considered ignoring a portion Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s coronavirus-related executive orders. All five council members were in favor of voting to allow landscapers and yard service businesses to return to work in spite of the ...
Alpenans find silver linings while living in lockdown
Local News
ALPENA — Michiganders have been ordered to stay home since March 24 to prevent the spread of the coronavirus and are doing what they can to stay busy. Prior to the pandemic, Alpena resident Heather Burgess bought five buff orpington chicks for her sons, Noah, 8, and Isaiah, 6, to raise. The ...
Seniors say goodbye to RC High
Local News
News Photo by Julie Riddle Seniors clean out their lockers and say goodbye to their school building at Rogers City High School on Thursday. Students were allowed into the building this week to pick up books, personal belongings and, for seniors, the caps and gowns they were planning to wear ...
Republicans vow to cut Whitmer’s emergency powers
Coronavirus
LANSING — Republicans who control the Michigan Legislature said they will meet Friday to pass bills to rein in the emergency powers of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and create a committee to oversee the state’s response to the coronavirus outbreak, a dramatic strike against the Democrat amid the ...
UPDATED: 9 more Alpena County residents, 3 more PI County residents infected
Local News
ALPENA — Nine more Alpena County residents and three more Presque Isle County residents have tested positive for coronavirus infection, according to figures released by District Health Department No. 4. That brings the total number of positive cases in those counties to 49 and nine, ...