HERE’S THE KEY INFORMATION YOU NEED TO KNOW.

FIDO IS CONCERNED.

For those of you who are concerned dog owners and have heard about the Hartz Mountain dog food recall due to salmonella related issues, we present the following text from a press release issued recently by the Food and Drug Administration:

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The Hartz Mountain Corporation is voluntarily recalling one specific lot of Hartz Naturals Real Beef Treats for Dogs due to concerns that one or more bags within the lot may have been potentially contaminated with Salmonella. Hartz is fully cooperating with the US Food and Drug Administration in this voluntary recall.

Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems, all of whom are at particular risk from exposure and should avoid handling these products.

Salmonella symptoms may include fever, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and nausea in both dogs and humans. Anyone experiencing the symptoms of Salmonella infection should seek immediate medical attention. Owners of dogs exhibiting these symptoms should also seek veterinary assistance.

Hartz Mountain Corporation is recalling 74,700 8-oz bags of Hartz Naturals Real Beef Treats for Dogs, lot code BZ0969101E, UPC number 32700-11519, which were imported by Hartz from a Brazilian supplier, Bertin S.A., and which were distributed to a number of customers in the United States. While regular testing conducted by Bertin (prior to shipment to the US) did not detect the presence of Salmonella in any packages of this product, random sample testing conducted by FDA did indicate the presence of Salmonella. Hartz is aggressively investigating the source of the problem.

Although Hartz has not received any reports of animals or humans becoming ill as a result of coming into contact with this product, Hartz is taking immediate steps to remove the product from all retail stores and distribution centers. Dog owners having purchased this product should check the lot code on their bag, and, if the code is not visible, or if the bag has lot code BZ0969101E imprinted thereon, they should immediately discontinue use of the product and discard it in a proper manner.

Consumers can contact Hartz at 1-800-275-1414 at any time with any questions they may have and for information on how to obtain reimbursement for purchased product.

THE SEASONS ARE A-CHANGIN’

THE VIEW FROM THE STUDIO DOOR.

As the fall-like weather ushers in the cloudy skies of autumn over the treeline behind our new facilities in the Superior Lanes building in Marquette Township, it becomes obvious to this blogger that the summer has drawn to a close and the fall will soon be upon us.  So on that note, we present the following entries on the blog with the Superintendents of two area school districts…Negaunee and Marquette.  Enjoy!

GETTING READY FOR THE YEAR IN THE IRONTOWN.

NEGAUNEE SUPERINTENDENT JAMES DEROCHER.

Negaunee Public Schools Superintendent James Derocher joined us to get families ready for the new school year in Negaunee.  He spoke about some of the new plans and programs in place for this new school year and also how many of the students are already back in school, in effect, through extracurricular programs such as sports and the very popular marching band.  He also outlined information for parents concerning bus routes and other matters that have been mailed out in the district.  To listen to the comments of Superintendent Derocher please click “HERE“.

MOVING INTO THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR IN MARQUETTE.

MAPS SUPERINTENDENT JON HARTWIG.

Marquette Area Public Schools Superintendent Jon Hartwig visited recently to provide the latest information for folks to be aware of as the new school year approaches in the Marquette District.  Several changes have been put into effect that have affected class and school populations as well as building usage and all of those items were discussed by the Superintendent.  To listen to the complete comments of Superintendent Hartwig, please click “HERE“.

SO THERE IT IS!

Time to sharpen the pencil and take your seats.  The new school year starts on Tuesday.  Have fun, learn something and be safe!  And don’t forget to bring a shiny new apple for the teacher!

CHEERS!

-Walt

WELCOME TO SEPTEMBER!

I guess that means it’s almost fall.  Well, I refuse to believe such claptrap!  It may be September, and it may be cooling down a bit, but it’s still summer in my book.  Classes are back in session at Northern Michigan University, but K-12 classes are not starting until next week.  Thusly, I still consider it summer.  So there!

GET YOUR KIDS REALLY READY FOR SCHOOL.

DR. HEIDI JOHNSON.

Dr Heidi Johnson, from the Superior Eye Health Center, joined us recently to talk about the importance of your children having their vision tested as the new school year approaches.  This aspect of effective learning is often 0verlooked by parents and Dr. Johnson reminded us about how good, clear vision is the single-most necessary conduit for effective information gathering that leads to permanent learning.  You can find out more about Dr. Johnson’s services by clicking “HERE” to log on to the official website for the Superior Eye Health Center.  You can listen to Dr. Johnson’s comments by clicking “HERE“.

IT’S BLUES FEST TIME AGAIN!!

MARK STONEROCK, FESTIVAL DIRECTOR AND RACONTEUR.

Mark Stonerock, Festival Director with the Marquette Area Blues Society stopped in to give us a reminder of the Seventh Annual Marquette Area Blues Fest.  It’s coming up this weekend at the Ellwood Mattson Lower Harbor Park in Marquette.  This year’s festival, as always, features a wide variety of local, regional and international acts showcasing the wide variety of blues styles.  For more about the festival with Director Stonerock, please click “HERE“.  To link up to the Marquette Area Blues Society website, please click “HERE“.

PRE-GAME FUN IN THE IRONTOWN.

SMARTCAR SOELTNER AND KATIE MECHLING.

The one and only Scott “SMART CAR” Soeltner from FOX Negaunee joined Katie Mechling from Charter Communications to chat with Mark about the ESPN Tailgate Tour Skill and Agility test coming up this Friday evening in Negaunee prior to the Miner’s home football opener.  The event is being held at the Negaunee Miner practice field and is open to all kids who want to take part and find out about their level of football skills and agility.  To listen in on the comments of “SMART CAR” and Katie, please click “HERE“.

SO THERE YA GO!

Back to School, Labor Day Weekend, Pre-football game festivities…maybe it is fall after all.  Oh well, Happy September every body!

CHEERS!

-Walt

THE TIMES, THEY ARE A-CHANGIN’!

YOURS TRULY ALONG WITH GOVERNOR GRANHOLM, NICOLE WALTON AND BILL HART.

Yesterday was one of those days where I felt the passage of time and the winds of change blowing around me.  Governor Jennifer Granholm was in Marquette as part of a tour of locations around the Upper Peninsula that was concluding with a stop at the U.P. State Fair in Escanaba for Governor’s Day activities.  As part of the run through Marquette, she was on campus at Northern Michigan University to do a presentation on the economic future of the state.  She also agreed to do a “Media Meet” taping at the campus Public TV station while she was in town.  For all intents and purposes, this was most likely her last scheduled trip to the U.P. prior her stepping down after two terms as Governor.  I was asked to be on the news panel and was happy to take part in the show.

ON THE SET WITH THE GOVERNOR.

As we were preparing to record the episode, the issue of this being her last Media Meet came up and she mentioned that it was going to be kind of sad for her to not do the show anymore.  Then she said to me that she recalled doing the show several times over the years with me as a panelist and that we had done some of the first ones when she was still Attorney General.  It struck me that that would have been nearly ten years ago.

Then I looked to my right at the host of the show, Bill Hart and remembered when he was my boss when I started working at the campus Public Radio station in 1987.  Then to my left was Nicole Walton, who is currently the News Director at Public Radio 90,  and I remembered training her in when she started at PR 90 shortly after I did.  (Some of you may remember her when she worked at Sunny for a while as well.)

It was a funny feeling, to say the least, when the passage of over two decades of time seemed to culminate in that one moment sitting on the set of the show.  It can be a depressing thing sometimes when things like that happen, but I have to say that for me, it was a cool moment to stop and look around and see people like Bill who have been influential in my broadcasting career and be considered a colleague.  It’s also enjoyable to see someone that I helped out get started in their career in radio being a success as well.  And I have to admit, it’s nice to still be in the game myself!

After the taping was over, Governor Granholm gave me a few minutes to before she was whisked off to another event across campus to answer a few questions about some of the economic challenges we are facing in the state and how businesses in the U.P. are responding to those challenges.  We also talked about what she is the most proud of in terms of her accomplishments as Michigan’s first female governor and what she is going to miss the most after she leaves office.

I have posted our chat “HERE” if you’d like to listen to her full comments.  The full Media Meet episode air this weekend on WNMU-TV Public TV 13.  You can click “HERE” to check for the schedule.

CHEERS!

-Walt

WEATHER, NOT A SPECIFIC SCIENCE, BUT VERY IMPORTANT.

MATT ZIKA WITH THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

Today’s show had a fun bent to it due to chatting about the weather.  Well, actually, not so much what’s in the forecast for the next few days, but more about how the weather is predicted.  The focus of today’s main interview segment was an open house at the National Weather Service that is planned for next week at the NWS offices in Negaunee Township.  Matt Zika, senior meteorologist with the National Weather Service joined us to talk about the open house and what is going to be going on at it.  To listen to the interview with Matt, please click “HERE“.  To log on the the website of the National Weather Service,  please click “HERE“.

THAT’S A LOOK AT THE WEATHER!

Be sure to keep an eye on the weather as you get out and about this weekend.  We’ll be back with you all here on the internetz and on the air next week.

CHEERS!

-Walt

SOMETIMES IT SOUNDS LIKE WE ARE BLOWING OUR OWN HORN, BUT WE’RE NOT!

TA-DAA!! IT'S YOUR FAVORITE MORNING SHOW!

As the saying goes, “It ain’t braggin’ if you can back it up!”  As we have always attempted to do since we went on the air in 1998,  Sunny 101.9 and “Mark & Walt in the Morning” has worked to be your choice for the station and morning radio show to turn to to find out what’s happening here in our community.  It’s what we feel separates us from the rest of the pack on the dial in Marquette County.  Instead of hiding shortcomings behind more music or out-of-town based satellite programming or just giving an ancillary few moments to a handful of agencies and groups, we have always brought you long-form, in-depth interviews with leaders and organizers in our community.  Today’s blog is a prime example of that.  Read on and listen in to interviews about events, activities and municipal plans that affect the entire county.

CITY OF MARQUETTE DISCUSSES BEACH-FRONT SAFETY.

CITY MANAGER VAJDA

MAYOR KIVELA

Marquette Mayor John Kivela and City Manager William Vajda joined us recently to discuss the latest in the plans to increase the safety of the beaches in the city.  The action comes after the drownings that have happened this summer in the waters of Lake Superior right off of some of Marquette’s most popular beaches.  A public forum was held about the matter and according to both Vajda and Kivela, the input that was given by the public was very positive and offered several good ideas that are all currently under consideration by city officials.  To listen to the comments of City Manager Vajda and Mayor Kivela, please click “HERE” for their interview.  To log on to the City of Marquette’s official website, please click “HERE“.

COMMUNITY AGENCY UPDATE FROM THE “Y”.

THE "Y"'S LORI SMOLINSKI.

Lori Smolinski, Child Development Director at the Vandenboom YMCA offices joined us today for a “Y” Thursday (instead of  “Y” Wednesday)  to tell us about upcoming child and youth activities at the YMCA of Marquette County.  The “Y” is presenting a full slate of activities and classes for kids of all age groups that can keep your kids busy and occupied during this fall “back to school” time.  To listen to her explanation of options for this season for your family, please click “HERE” to hear Lori’s interview.  To head over to the YMCA of Marquette’s website, please click “HERE“.

WHAT’S UP AT THE GREAT LAKES CENTER FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT??

THE GLCYD'S PAUL OLSON.

Paul Olson with the Great Lakes Center for Youth Development joined us this morning to talk about the upcoming survey of “youth assets” that will take place in Marquette and Alger Counties.  These assets are tabulated in the two counties every two years and the results are used to shape and define projects and policies adopted by the GLCYD.  He also gave us a run-down of the upcoming U.P. non-profit agency conference that is going to be held this fall in Marquette.   To hear all of the detail from Paul’s interview, please click “HERE“.  Fore more information about the Great Lakes Center for Youth Development, click “HERE” to visit their website.

WALKING IN OLD TOWN AND EATING CHICKEN TO HELP OUT THE NEGAUNEE MINERS.

GO MINERS!

We talked with Dan Thompson with the Knights of Columbus of Negaunee who told us about two special fund raising events being held this Saturday in Negaunee that will benefit the High School athletic program in the Irontown.  The K of C are hosting a Poker Walk in the Old Town starting at 2:00pm and a barbecue chicken dinner at the K of C hall starting at 3:00pm.  To get all of the details of what’s going on in the Irontown this Saturday, please click “HERE” to listen to Dan’s Interview.  Get on out and help out the Negaunee Miners by walking and chompin’ on some delicious bird!

WELL, THERE YA GO!

There’s the latest for you to consider.  Quite a bit, I realize, but that’s the idea behind being Marquette County’s most connected radio station.   Fun, ain’t it?

CHEERS!

-Walt

BOTTOMS UP, EVERYBODY!!

HAVIN' A BELT IN THE MORNING!

Today on the big ol’ Mark & Walt blog, we are going to take a close look at beverages.  One that we can’t seem to live without, and one that helps us live better.  In the first instance, I’m talking about that sweet Nectar of the Gods that comes from 100-percent Columbian beans…good,  strong coffee.  In the second case, the natural, refreshing and healthful beverage known as “milk”!  Over the last 24 hours or so, both beverages have made an impact on the morning show!  So keep on reading, dear blogger, as the milk and coffee stories begin to flow.  Ya get it?

MILK MUSTACHES AND MORE!

KELLY AND MARK SHOW OFF THEIR MILK MUSTACHES!

Kelly Magnus, with the GOT MILK? Milk Mustache Mobile Tour joined us this morning to fill us up with information about the goodness of milk and how it’s good for all ages.  Kelly also got Mark to agree to put on a “milk mustache”.  Now, while it wasn’t pretty, you can see from the photo on the left that Kelly was kind enough to dress up the moment by joining Mark in his milk-driven glory!  Well done, Kelly!  To listen to Kelly’s interview from this morning’s show, please click “HERE‘.  For more about the Milk Mustache Mobile Tour, please click “HERE“.  It’s udderly enjoyable!!

AND OF COURSE, THE COFFEE!!

LOOK AT ALL OF THAT COFFEE GOODNESS!!

A major milestone happened in out offices yesterday morning.  It had been threatened, but it was never rally confirmed until it happened.  The fine folks from Cruise n’ Coffee showed up with what is known as the “Office Coffee Program” for our humble workplace.  Much to the elation of the morning show, this system will provide our office with fresh, piping hot coffee courtesy of Cruise n’ Coffee.  What a joy!  Easily measured, easily poured and most importantly, easily drank!  Or is that “drunk”?  Or is that what we will be on coffee from now on?  You’ll just have to keep listening to the show to find out!

THAT’S A WRAP!

Excellent!  Milk and coffee.  What could be better?  Perhaps beer and pizza, but that probably won’t happen anytime soon!

CHEERS!

-Walt

GETTING SET FOR A BUSY MARQUETTE COUNTY WEEKEND!

This is one of those weekends that make the mind boggle.  This weekend you can take in the Marquette County Fair, the Ore to Shore Mountain Bike Race, the 2010 International GUTS Frisbee Nationals at Hurley Field and more!  And that’s just the beginning of this weekend’s events and activities.  But like I always say, don’t take it for granted, just take it in!

THE NEGAUNEE LIONS HELP OUT.

GEORGE SEDLACEK WITH THE NEGAUNEE LIONS

George Sedlacek, with the Negaunee Lions Club,  joined us this morning to talk about a big Pasta Feed the club is putting on tonight at Lakeview Arena in Marquette to help out with the Ore to Shore Bike Race.  The feed is designed to give the racers who are registering today at Lakeview Arena the chance to “carb up” tonight before tomorrow’s big race.  The feed is also open to the public with individual tickets available as well as family tickets.  We also chatted about the Negaunee Lions and what they do as a group and who they strive to serve as a service agency.  George was gracious enough to give us some information about the group and let us know who can get involved and how.  To listen to George’s comments from this morning’s interview, please click “HERE“.

RAIN OR SHINE, GET ON OUTSIDE!

Hey blog-o-philes, I hope you’ll take the time to leave your computers for a while and head on outside this weekend.  It may be rainy for a little while, but that’ll just help to keep the dust down, y’know?  Have yourself a great weekend, and we’ll catch up soon.

CHEERS!

-Walt

MUSIC IS THE MEDICINE.

As someone who enjoys having the privilege of making and performing music, it is always a treat to have someone visit the show who is a true music maker.  And when they endeavor to use their music for helping and healing others, it is even better.  Today, we had that happen on the show and we’d like to share it with you blog-o-philes.

USING MUSIC TO HELP OTHERS.

SINGER/SONGWRITER TRET FURE

Special thanks to singer/songwriter Tret Fure for stopping in this morning to talk about a special concert she is putting on in Marquette tonight.  The show is a special fund raising event featuring an evening of music with all of the financial proceeds raised at the concert going directly to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association and its programs here in central Upper Michigan.  Ruth Almen, Regional Director of the U.P. Alzheimer’s Association was also along on the interview to fill us in on the group and it’s events and activities.  Tret also performed one of her original songs live in the studio.  To listen to the interview with Tret and Ruth and to hear the song, please click “HERE“.  To log on to the website for the Alzheimer’s Association, please click “HERE“.  To visit Tret Fure’s official website, click “HERE“.

USING OUR POWER FOR GOOD AND NOT EVIL!

So, there you have it.  Sending a strong and positive message out over the airwaves this morning.  It just goes to show you that it’s easy to hide behind more music or misguided attacks on your colleagues and call it a morning show.  That’s not our style and we like it that way.

CHEERS!

-Walt

IT’S GOING TO BE A BANG-UP WEEKEND…AND IT’LL TAKE SOME GUTS!!

GUTS FRISBEE SUPPORTER BUCK BUCHANAN

Thanks to Buck Buchanan, organizer of the 2010 U.S. GUTS Nationals frisbee tournament in Marquette, for joining us this morning to give us the lowdown on this weekend’s competition.  The tourney runs this Saturday and Sunday from 10am to dusk at Marquette’s legendary Hurley Field.  The tournament has 16 teams that are signed up now from all over the midwest, but there is still room to get your team involved.

To listen to Buck’s comments from his interview, please click “HERE“.   For more information about GUTS Frisbee, please log on to the groups website by clicking “HERE“.  And if you really want to get in the tournament with your team, please call Dan Gannon at 226-8142 or Mike Houle at 360-6510.  Take the time and get involved in one of the country’s true ORIGINAL extreme sports and celebrate it’s rich history here in Upper Michigan by taking in this great event!

A SERIOUS SESSION TONIGHT IN MARQUETTE.

THE MARQUETTE CITY COMMISSION

Marquette Mayor John Kivela called in this morning as  a reminder for our listeners about the public forum coming up tonight at Marquette City Hall in Commission Chambers.  The forum will be discussing beach front safety on the Lake Superior shorelines under the jurisdiction of the City of Marquette.  The meeting comes in the aftermath of a difficult summer season that has seen three drownings in Lake Superior along the Marquette coast so far and two other drownings in Grand Marais.  Tonight’s session is open to any and all concerned citizens and recreational users of Lake Superior.  The meeting gets underway at 6:30 pm.  To listen to the mayor’s comments about the public forum and it’s goals, please click “HERE“.  To log on to the city’ s website, please click “HERE“.