PACKED IN TIGHT AND FEELIN’ ALRIGHT!

It’s one of those weekends again in Marquette County.  Packed full of events and activities to take in during this Father’s Day weekend.  From a Scandinavian Summer Festival to a rodeo to a classic car show it’s out there!  From a live music concert series at Presque Isle to the Relay for Life at Al Quaal, it’s out there this weekend!  There are so many things going on, even outside of the county with Bridgefest and the Rotary Seafood Fest up in Houghton to the Concert on the Shore in Gladstone, it’s going to be a great weekend to get out and take it all in!  So DO IT!

CHECK OUT THE COOL RIDES, DADDY-O!!

BARRY JAMES SAYS "COME SEE THE CARS, DADDY-O!!"

As part of the annual Father’s Day tradition, Barry James from the Michigan Iron Industry Museum in Negaunee Township came in to talk about the 21st Annual “Iron, Steel and the Automobile” Antique Automobile Show being held on Sunday, which is Father’s Day, at the museum.  This year’s show features over 50 vintage cars, trucks and more and the show will run from noon to 4-pm.  To listen for more details from the interview with Barry, please click “HERE“.  It’s a great way to spend a Father’s Day and the weather looks like it’s going o be great.

A BUSY WEEKEND ABOUNDS!

Have fun this weekend, everyone!  We will see you next week and chat with you then!

See you all later here on the Big Ol’ World Wide Web!

-Walt

THE MAJOR IS FAR FROM BEING A MINOR!

"CAKE OR DEATH?" "CAKE, PLEASE!"

Today is the 50-th birthday of our own Major Discount, Todd Noordyk, the owner and operator of our parent company Great Lakes Radio, Inc.  The cake is to the left and the birthday boy is on the air!  Congratulations to the Grand Old Man of Great Lakes Radio.  Hopefully the next 50 years are as eventful as the last!

Happy Birthday, Todd!

Be Safe and Fruitful!

IT’S ANOTHER Y WEDNESDAY!

LAURA AND JENNA FROM THE YMCA.

Thanks to Laura Murawski and Jenna Zdunek with the YMCA of Marquette County for joining us on the big program this morning for the latest edition of “Y” Wednesday.  They joined us for a full rundown of programs and activities that are currently underway at both of the locations of the YMCA in Marquette County, as well as those that are planned for the near future.  They also discussed activities for children AND adults to be utilized during the summer months to keep kids and their parents active while school is out.  To listen to the interview with Laura and Jenna, please take a moment and click “HERE“.  For more information about the YMCA of Marquette County, please click “HERE“.

THAT’S A WRAP!

See ya all later here on the big ol’ blog!

(And if you see Todd today, wish the old man a Happy Birthday!)

-Walt

A NEW HOTEL IS COMING TO FOUNDER’S LANDING IN MARQUETTE.

ARTIST'S RENDERING OF THE NEW HOTEL SLATED FOR FOUNDER'S LANDING.

About 100 community and business leaders gathered this morning at Founder’s Landing along the Lake Superior shore in Marquette to hear a special announcement concerning the future development of the northern portion of the site.  At the special event, officials with TJ & RM LARSON, INC. announced the plans to construct a three-story, 80-room hotel and meeting facility.

The design of the hotel, as shown to the left, will follow the design cues already being utilized by other development along the parcel as well as the surrounding landmarks such as the ore dock.  Mark Evans had a chance to sit down with the company’s controller, Scott Kelsey, to find out more about the plans for the development and more.

Kelsey outlined the service levels planned for the facility as well as how it will be designed to seamlessly integrate into the surrounding space along the lakeshore.  To listen to the interview with Kelsey, please click “HERE“.

GO TIGERS!

HANGING WITH THE MISSUS AND TIGERS MASCOT "PAWS" AT COMERICA PARK IN DETROIT.

Yup, it was fun to watch the Detroit Tigers come out with a win on opening day.  I hope they continue their winning ways all the way to the World Series.  That would be fun and I am sure that the City of Detroit would not mind the boost of good energy for a change.  Just remember, though, if the Detroit Tigers win the World Series this year (or any year, for that matter), PLEASE do not burn the city down in an alcohol-induced “celebration”.  1984 was bad enough!!  But anyway, I digress…GO TIGERS, GO!  Let’s have a winning season and bring the World Series trophy back to Detroit!

MARQUETTE TOWNSHIP LOOKS TO ITSELF FOR DIRECTION.

MARQUETTE TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS ATTEND LAST NIGHT'S PLANNING SESSION.

Marquette Township Supervisor Dennis Liimatta came by the studios this morning to discuss and recap the first public input session that was hosted by the Marquette Township Board of Trustees designed to gather and organize comments and ideas from township residents in an effort to maintain transparency in the strategic planning process for the future of the township.  The meeting was fairly well attended for a first session, and according to Liimatta, they expect to get an increase in township residents attending the sessions as they continue over the rest of this month.  To listen to the comments from today’s interview with Dennis, please click “HERE“.  To log on to the Marquette Township website, please click “HERE“.

SMART TALK ABOUT MICHIGAN’S ECONOMIC CRISIS.

MSU PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS, DR. CHARLES BALLARD.

Dr. Charles Ballard, Professor of Economics at Michigan State University in East Lansing visited the studios this morning for a conversation promoting a presentation on campus.  Dr. Ballard shared some very logical arguments for changes in our current state and national political systems to get the state of Michigan out of it’s current financial crisis.  With a sensical approach to eliminating the political rhetoric and getting down to actual financial business, Dr. Ballard’s points make a high degree of sense and anyone concerned about the fiscal future of our state should take a few minutes and listen to the interview.  To do so, please click “HERE“.  For more on Dr. Charles Ballard and his academic and fiscal background and his history as an economic educator, please click “HERE“.

GOOD STUFF!

-Walt

IT’S A NEW MONTH AND THE BLOG ROLLS ON!

Here it is…the month of April!  There is certainly a lot going on, and this blog is ready to reflect it!

So…here we go!

THE MARQUETTE CITY COMMISSION MAKES A DECISION.

MARQUETTE MAYOR JOHN KIVELA.

Following a unanimous vote by the Marquette City Commission to extend an offer to William Vajda, Marquette Mayor John Kivela joined us to discuss the details of how the decision was reached.  To listen to the comments of Mayor Kivela and what the next steps will be, please click “HERE“.  To log on to the City of Marquette’s official website, please click “HERE“.

GOOD FRIDAY SERVICES ON THE RADIO!

PASTOR TIM BERNARD.

Pastor Tim Bernard from Messiah Lutheran Church in Marquette joined us to let us know the schedule for a special ecumenical Good Friday service going on at Messiah.  He also talked about why the service is set up like it is and how you can take part.  Listen to Pastor Tim’s comments by clicking “HERE“.

A SPECIAL EARTH ISSUES EVENT.

AIMEE CREE DUNN FROM NMU.

Aimee Cree Dunn with the Center for Native American Studies at Northern Michigan University joined us to talk about the upcoming Indigenous Earth Issues Summit.  The event, planned for this upcoming Monday is running from 9-am to 9-pm and features a series of workshops and seminars looking at a wide variety of earth issues discussed from a Native American perspective.  There will also be a keynote address with educator Ward Churchill.  To listen to Aimee’s interview, please click “HERE“, and for more information from the Center’s website, please click “HERE“.

THE MONTH BEGINS!

So far, good weather and a lot of information.  What more could you ask for from Marquette County’s most community-connected morning radio show and super-duper blog!

Have a great Easter weekend!

CHEERS!

-Walt

WELCOMING THE FUTURE OF BROADCASTING!!!

MARK AND SOME OF THE KIDS FROM GILBERT ELEMENTARY.

It was one of those mornings today, to say the least!  Not only was the show a busy one, but we focused on the kids in our community, which is always a fun way to spend the morning!  We chatted with Tamra Bott, Principal of the Graveraet Intermediate School and Carrie Jurasin, 5-th grade teacher at Graveraet in Marquette to find out more about the changes in the works for 5-th grade classes scheduled to transfer from the Graveraet school to the Bothwell School.  We have more on that below.

BIG NEWS GUY SURROUNDED BY LITTLE PEOPLE.

We also welcomed the Gilbert Elementary 3-rd graders from Gwinn this morning.  We had a total of 33 kids from Mrs. Dunham’s and Mrs. Sather’s classes get a complete tour of our station studios and offices as part of a special field trip that also included lunch at Bonanza and an afternoon stop at the U-P Childrens’ Museum.  As you can see from these photos, all of those smiling faces can make it a crowded studio!  But it was great to have all of the kids visiting  in our little radio ranch and we welcomed them with open arms!  Here’s to the future of Marquette County!

UPDATE ON THE PLANNED 5-TH GRADE CLASSROOM TRANSFER IN THE MARQUETTE AREA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT.

TAMRA BOTT AND CARRIE JURASIN FROM THE MARQUETTE SCHOOLS.

Tamra Bott, Principal of the Graveraet Intermediate School and Carrie Jurasin, 5-th grade teacher at Graveraet in Marquette joined Mark & Walt to have a discussion about the changes in the works for Marquette Area Public School’s 5-th grade classes who are scheduled to be transferred from the Graveraet school to the Bothwell School.  They shared their insight into the challenges and opportunities presented by the transfer for both the students and the parents affected by this decision.  To listen to the complete interview, please click “HERE“, and to log on to the Marquette Area Public Schools website, please click “HERE“.

ALWAYS FUN TO SEE THE KIDS!

We always love to have a chance to have kids’ groups come by for a tour of our station facilities. For a bunch of old, grizzled and jaded broadcast veterans like us to have a chance to see the kid’s faces light up when they can get on the air or actually see how the whole process works, it downright priceless!  If you have a group that would be interested in a tour, just give us a call at 228-6800 or drop us an e-mail!  We’d love to have you come on by!

CHEERS!

-Walt

AN UPDATE WITH MARQUETTE MAYOR JOHN KIVELA.

MARQUETTE MAYOR JOHN KIVELA

Marquette Mayor John Kivela joined Mark & Walt this morning for an update on the City Manager search by the City Commission as well as information about the planned municipal infrastructure development projects on the immediate horizon in the city.  The mayor also discussed the status of a few of the construction projects and residential efforts being undertaken by independent contractors.  To listen to the complete interview with Mayor John Kivela, please click “HERE“.

A QUICK UPDATE AS WE HEAD INTO THE WEEKEND!

SHY BUT THANKFUL, IT'S MARK EVANS!

Folks! Thank you so much for your contributions for Mark’s taking of the Polar Plunge on March 20th.  As of Friday at noon, over $300 in contributions has been raised for Mark to forward on to the Special Olympics of Michigan.  We will keep reminding you about making a contribution through the next week, but if you can’t wait, please follow the link below in the previous blog posting to make an online contribution.  Mark thanks you, I thank you and the kids in Special Olympics thank you!

If you haven’t given yet, WE WILL FIND YOU!

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK!

-Walt

IT’S ANOTHER “Y” WEDNESDAY AND A CHANCE FOR YOU TO GET INVOLVED!

KAREN KASPERZAK AND SAM CROWLEY.

Sam Crowley, kayak instructor for the YMCA of Marquette County joined us for “Y” Wednesday to tell us about a special opportunity for the public to help out the YMCA win a competitive grant from Pepsi to assist them with funding with the kayak program at the Y.  The program is set to award money to the programs in the competition that gather the most votes through online voting.  Karen Kasperzak, Youth Center Supervisor from the Lake Superior Village in Marquette, joined us as well to tell us about how the kayaking education program has been a big hit with the kids at the village and why it’s important for the community to step up and vote for the program at the YMCA.

To listen to the interview with Sam and Karen, please click “HERE“.  For more information about the program and the YMCA of Marquette County, please click “HERE“, and to vote for the program online, please click “HERE“.

THIS IS GOOD CHANCE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO STEP UP!

The online voting for this grant is a great chance for Marquette County to step up and show their support for the YMCA and all of it’s programs.  Don’t hesitate to get involved!

CHEERS!

-Walt

AUTHORITIES RELEASE AN UPDATE OF INVESTIGATION INTO MARQUETTE TOWNSHIP MURDER.

MSP COMPOSITE SKETCH UPDATE

State Police at the Negaunee Post have released an update of their investigation into a recent murder in Marquette Township, and Federal authorities have increased the reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a suspect or suspects in the case.   The investigation is continuing into the shooting death of Robert Dusseau at the ‘Quick Cash & Guns’ store in Marquette Township on Tuesday, February 23-rd.  Detectives say the suspect stole an undetermined amount of cash as well as a long gun, a handgun and a digital video recorder and monitor.

There is also a new composite sketch and description of the suspect that has been released to the public.  The suspect, who was seen in the store around 5-pm on the 23-rd, is described as a white male in his late twenties or early thirties in a tan hooded sweatshirt with a zippered front.  The suspect was also seen on a surveillance video walking away from the victim’s vehicle after it was parked in a lot near the Birchwood Apartments on Werner Street in Marquette Township around 7:30-pm on the 23-rd.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms has increased the reward to $10-thousand dollars for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect or suspects in this case.  If you have any information related to this case, please contact State Police at the Negaunee Post at 475-9922.