Effective Monday, Natural Resources Director Keith Creagh will have led all three of the state’s resource-based departments as he takes over as interim director of the Department of Environmental Quality. Governor Rick Snyder announced Mr. Creagh’s appointment, and named DNR Deputy Director Bill Moritz as interim director in that department, on Wednesday as the administration works to fill the gap left by the resignation Tuesday of Environmental Qu…ality Director Dan Wyant. Snyder spokesperson Dave Murray said it was not yet clear what efforts would be undertaken to name a permanent director for the DEQ. “This has all happened very quickly,”… Read More »

US Census Bureau Report: Michigan’s population grew slightly from 2014 to 2015, helped by births and immigration, but the rate of growth is slow enough that the state could lose another congressional seat, figures released Tuesday by the U.S. Census Bureau showed. In fact, Kurt Metzger, founder of Data Driven Detroit and mayor of Pleasant Ridge, said it is clear that Michigan will lose another U.S. House member following the 2020 census and there is nothing the state can do to stop it. Mr. Metzger said there is also some troubling data in the latest report, as it shows the… Read More »

SAULT STE. MARIE — The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Tribal Transportation Program has been awarded a $300,000 competitive Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Tribal Transit Grant. The funding is aimed at building and strengthening partnerships throughout the tribe’s service area to meet the transportation needs of its most vulnerable members. The grant will fund start-up and operating costs associated with the Sault Tribe Regional Transit Project to collaborate with current transportation providers on expanding routes and schedules, upgrading services with additional fixed routes and expanding schedules to ensure reliable and equitable transportation access throughout the tribe’s seven-county service… Read More »

From The Petoskey News: ELMIRA — Elmira has been an interesting place to be over the past few weeks to say the least. More specifically, the railroad tracks running through town, across M-32, have been a captivating area bustling with activity as several enormous pieces of equipment have arrived by train. This equipment was later transported to the Alpine Power Plant as the Wolverine Power Cooperative-owned project continues to advance toward completion. “Everything is on schedule and we are excited with how (the project) has advanced,” said Ken Bradstreet, government affairs consultant for Wolverine Power Cooperative. “It’s been very good… Read More »

SAULT STE. MARIE November 9, 2015 – Essar Steel Algoma Inc. announced today that it has sought protection under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in order to strengthen its financial health and solidify its long-term business prospects. The Company has initiated a corresponding filing in the United States under Chapter 15 to recognize and give effect to the Canadian filing. The Company fully expects to continue normal operations during its restructuring. “We have taken aggressive measures that succeeded in curtailing costs and significantly enhancing productivity, ranking Essar Steel Algoma among the top… Read More »

People involved with local food production and distribution came together Wednesday at LSSU for the EUP Food Summit. They all have an interest in building a stronger local food system in the area, and these sessions create a greater sense of collaboration in regional efforts.

The U.S. Small Business Administration announced today that federal economic injury disaster loans are available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of all sizes located in Michigan as a result of excessive snow, freeze and extremely cold temperatures from Jan. 1 through June 3, 2015. The disaster declaration includes the following counties: Alger, Allegan, Antrim, Arenac, Baraga, Barry, Bay, Benzie, Berrien, Cass, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Chippewa, Clare, Clinton, Crawford, Delta, Dickinson, Eaton, Genesee, Gladwin, Grand Traverse, Ingham, Iron, Isabella, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Kalkaska, Kent, Lake, Lapeer, Leelanau, Lenawee, Livingston, Luce, Mackinac, Macomb,… Read More »

The mayor of Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., honored longtime manager of the International Bridge by proclaiming Wednesday, October 21ST, Phillip M. Becker Day in the city. Becker, who recently announced his plans to retire in 2016, is completing 29 years of public service with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), including 15 years serving as general manager of the International Bridge Administration (IBA). Sault Ste. Marie Mayor Anthony Bosbous praised Becker for his strong community involvement, keen interpersonal skills and engaging personality, and cited him as a key proponent for the signing of the 2012 Sister Cities agreement by Sault… Read More »

Algoma District School Board, in partnership with Sault College, Tenaris Algoma Tubes, The Professional Engineers of Ontario and Staples wish to announce a new competition robotics league coming to the Sault this year. The VEX IQ competition program is a new league to the Algoma District, and offers an exciting platform for elementary school students to try their Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics skills in a cooperative and competitive program. Parents of students from grades 3 to 8 are encouraged to form a team of 2 to 10 students and register for this exciting league, which competes in over 20 countries world wide.  Community groups,… Read More »

Lake Superior State University mechanical engineering projects manager Mark Rodriguez (center, reaching) checks out the control panel of a newly delivered Haas TL-1 computer numerically controlled (CNC) lathe on Oct. 6. The machine is owned by Sault Ste. Marie Advanced Resources and Technology, Inc., but will be housed in the manufacturing laboratory of LSSU’s Center for Applied Science and Technology (CASET). LSSU students and faculty – along with Sault Ste. Marie SmartZone clients, many of whom are partners with student teams on senior engineering projects – will use the TL-1 to master CNC techniques and fabricate specialized parts. A USDA… Read More »