People still have two days to vote for the Benzie Aquatic Center in the nation-wide State Farm grant competition. If awarded, the money would be used to help the nonprofit start their journey to getting an integrated wellness facility, according to Diane Tracy, President of Board of Directors for Benzie Aquatic Center. Benzie Aquatic Center has to finish in the…

A Northern Michigan man with a passion for disc golf is offering a free “Introduction to Disc Golf” clinic on Saturday at Maple Grove Campground in Lake City. With the same rules and terminology as regular golf, disc golf is becoming more and more popular throughout the United States. Chris Stronach, a local disc golf player, has been playing the…

After taking last year off due to COVID, the Kingsley Branch Library held their annual Monarch release party. The event happens every August and teaches children about the importance of the Monarch species. “The Kingsley Branch Library, and our children’s garden specifically, became a Monarch way station about nine years ago and that’s when we started doing a Monarch release…

A new park is open to the public in Pere Marquette Charter Township in Mason County. The new Pere Marquette Conservation Park has been in the works for years. The nearly 300 acres of land was once owned by the Dow Chemical Company. The township acquired the property in November 2020. The township was able to acquire the land through…

It’s been several days since Afghanistan’s capital city fell to the Taliban’s. Many in the United States, particularly veteran’s and the families of those killed fighting in Afghanistan, say they are upset with how quickly the Taliban regained control. “I think getting our troops out after twenty years is a good thing,” said Starla Owens, President of Northern Michigan’s Blue…

The winery at Young Farms has a new blueberry picking machine. Photojournalist Zach Razminas gives us a look in today’s Sights and Sounds of Northern Michigan.

The City of Grayling announced they are getting a new five-story apartment complex right downtown. According to the city, Sawmill Lofts, LLC is planning to replace two vacant buildings right downtown next to Michigan Brew. The development will include 42 residential units, which will be studios, one-bedrooms and two-bedrooms. The project comes at the same time Gov. Whitmer announced her…

Love In the Name of Christ, also known as Love INC, is kicking off their annual fundraiser on Friday. The non-profit is hoping to raise $25,000 in 25 days to help those in need. The organization is taking donations starting Aug. 2 through Aug. 27. Each year, Love INC receives nearly 2,000 calls per year from community members looking for…

The Wexford County Sheriff’s Office was called to the intersection of East 34 Road and South 39 Road around 3 Friday afternoon. They were told a vehicle crashed into a house. Deputies say a 34-year-old Cadillac Man lost control of the vehicle, ran off the road and crashed into a house. Witnesses tell us they saw a black car drive…

For today’s sights and sounds, photojournalist Zach Razminas takes us to Torch Lake, where stand up for Great Lakes spent one afternoon cleaning up the waters.

Campers are back having fun and learning at the Cadillac Area YMCA’s Camp Torenta. This year they say the challenge isn’t COVID-19, it’s staffing shortages. However, community partners have stepped in to help offer day camp programs. Those partners include Cadillac Area Public Schools, MSU Extension, 4-H and Wexford Physician Hospital Organization. The YMCA says they’re now offering more programs…

This week, the Michigan State Police are participating in Operation Safe Driver Week. During this week, motor carrier officers of MSP’s Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division are partnering with the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance to focus on unsafe driving practices of commercial vehicles. Michigan State Police say that commercial vehicles will be seeing an increased number of officers on the road…

For today’s sights and sounds of northern Michigan, photojournalist Zach Razminas takes us to the beach in Manistee.

A project is underway in Isabella County to improve the Chippewa River. The goal is to enhance the natural resource that attracts so many visitors. The Isabella County Parks and Recreation Commission is in the first phase of their Chippewa River Erosion and Canoe Launch Project. The project will improve two canoe launches and add another launch in Deerfield Nature…