Hometown Escanaba

Kevin Chown has been a part of my radio program for six years. Each week he would come in to talk about music, life and his vision for Escanaba. Cancer took his life this week at the age of 56. He seamlessly transitioned between the world and national stage as a musician and his hometown. Today, his sister Amy, Marvin Szukalowski, Joe Hellberg, Mark Woerpel and Pete Ammel reflect on the life and m...

Elmer’s County Market is bringing the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile to the Ludington Street Cruise car show in May. Elmer’s General Manager and LSC Committee member Kurt Strassler says the Wienermobile will be at Elmer’s on Friday, May 29, in the parade that evening, and at the car show on Saturday. This is in addition to the Smokey and the Bandit re-enactors, Eastbound and Down, presented by Edward Jo...

Jeff Lampi, Escanaba Water Wastewater Superintendent, and Darren Pionk, Project Manager at C2AE, provide an update on construction on Ludington Street and other parts of the community. Milling is set to begin Thursday and Friday. Ludington Street from 6th to 8th Streets is added to the closure.

Bay College graduation is May 9. College President Nerita Hughes tells us what that means for the students and what their futures might hold. Hughes is also preparing for a legislature luncheon May 1 that will highlight the college's Manufacturing Innovation Center. And, Hughes is serving on the American Association of Community Colleges board.

Gallery Director Kate Oman and Education Coordinator Noah Johnson talk about upcoming classes at the Bonifas Arts Center, the show in the gallery, Spring raffle and need for art and craft vendors to register for Escanaba LogJam Music Festival.

The band ToHuBoHu is going to be taking on a different sound when they play at Leigh's Garden Winery this weekend. John Beck says he will be playing the grand piano at the winery. A bit different from the electric keyboard and guitar that he normally plays. Joining him will be Bruce Cassell on tuba and Dave Potvin on drums. ToHuBoHu will be playing from 6 to 8 p.m. on Saturday.

Enhance Escanaba is working to raise 75-thousand dollars through the Patronicity website by June 30 to fund a refrigerated outdoor ice rink. Board President Karen Moore says if the goal is met, the project will qualify for a matching grant through the Public Spaces Community Places program, along with an additional 25-thousand dollars in accessibility funding. Mary Gail Blaiser remembers the days...

Phil Lynch joins us on a Monday morning to spin records on the turntable. He has a new used watch that is uniquely significant. Mike Markwell shares some recognitions he has received. Justin Lauscher brings us up-to-date on the Ludington Street Cruise.

As Ludington Street closures expands, Sue Parker, chair of the Escanaba Downtown Development Authority, says it is important to connect with downtown businesses. She also talked about upcoming events like Spoil Mom Week, Ludington Street Cruise and Escanaba LogJam Music Festival.

Jane Lynch with the Escanaba Public Library talks about all of the activities planned for May. It includes a poetry reading night and celebration of the Winter Little Library program. Plus, Lynch is getting ready for the Live on the Lawn music series this summer.

Sign up for Ludington Street Cruise car show will be available this weekend at the GreenTree Auto Styling car show. Cruise Chair Justin Lauscher talks about how to register for Ludington Street Cruise. The event will be May 29 and 30. It includes Smokey and the Bandit reenactors Southbound and Down sponsored by local Edward Jones financial advisors and Rhino Dino to measure horsepower.

Marvin Szukalowski is getting ready to go fishing but first we are taste testing a passion he is once again creating, a pizzasty. Al Ettenhofer says there is still time to get tickets for U.P. Whitetails' Spring Banquet. Bill Cook talks about his new book, Beyond the Crest. It details his journey along the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail and explores how that experience shaped his perspective over...

The story of the man who gave $3.65 million to the Escanaba School District's scholarship fund has caught school officials by surprised. School Superintendent Coby Fletcher says they had no contact with the 1947 Escanaba graduate before Dr. David Millard Locke passed away last year. Locke contributed the funds in the name of his mother, Catherine Locke Livermore who taught at the Escanaba schools...

BayCon kicks off its fifth year on Friday at Bay College. This is the first year the pop culture convention will be held for two days. Organizer Dave Laur says that is because the event continues to grow. BayCon celebrates everything from vintage video games and comics to cosplay and celebrity culture. There will be more than 100 tables at the event along with celebrity guests and game rooms. It w...

Ludington Street closes this afternoon from 9th to 14th Street. The intersection at 10th Street will remain opened. Project Manager Darren Pionk of C2AE says the construction company needs to get started before milling the street. Construction is also planned for 6th to 9th Street but Pionk says that portion of the street is being handled by a different construction company.

The Delta County Airport reopened Tuesday following a week of flooding that closed the runways. Delta County Administrator Emily DeSalvo says flooding issues are receding throughout the county. They have been taking reports from those who have been affected by flooding. Delta County is also creating a new airfield operations manager position at the airport to oversee activity.

The final touches are being completed on the entrance project at the Rapid River schools. School Superintendent Jay Kulbertis says it took a lot longer than expected. Gladstone schools is also starting it strategic planning.

Author Bill Cook talks about his new book, Beyond the Crest: A Trail Through Time. It details his backpacking journey along the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail and explores how that experience shaped his perspective over the following five decades.

The parade route for Ludington Street Cruise is being altered to accommodate the construction that will be occurring on Ludington Street this summer. Committee Chair Justin Lauscher says the annual car parade on May 29 will begin in Ludington Park as usual start down Ludington Street.

Weather is affecting the delivery of trees for the Delta Conservation District tree sale. Ben Marchant says pickup for those who purchased trees as part of the conservation district tree sale has now been scheduled for May 1 and 2 at the U.P. State Fairgrounds. The Delta Conservation District is also selling native plants. That sale is open until May 10. 

The group continues to talk about proposed license changes for deer hunting in Michigan. And, Ben Marchant with the Delta Conservation District says pickup for those who purchased trees as part of the conservation district tree sale has now been scheduled for May 1 and 2 at the U.P. State Fairgrounds. The Delta Conservation District is also selling native plants.

Escanaba City Manager Jim McNeil talks about the planned construction for downtown Escanaba and the rest of the community. The Escanaba City Council has approved the purchase of a new ladder truck for Public Safety. It will take up to four years to receive it. And the council has made another offer to fill McNeil's position.

The Upper Peninsula Arts and Culture Alliance has been awarded two competitive grants totaling 50-thousand dollars from the National Endowment for the Arts. Sue Roll says the funding includes a 30-thousand dollar Grants for Arts Projects award that will support a regional mini-grant program. A second grant of 20-thousand dollars will fund a research study examining how arts and cultural activity c...

The milling of Ludington Street and ultimate closure has been delayed a week. The street was to close on Monday but construction equipment could not be brought into Escanaba because of seasonal road restrictions. Stacy Eagle, civil engineer at C2AE, says construction is now scheduled to begin on Monday, April 27.

Ed Legault, executive director of the Delta County Economic Development Alliance, talks about upgrades at Billerud, construction starting in downtown Escanaba and DTE's construction project planned for Escanaba. Also, provides information on the Chamber of Commerce golf outing in June.