The Upper Peninsula got some national recognition this week fom the USA Today newspaper. The UP was named the publication’s “Top Readers Choice in the US” for a golf getaway. Our region was listed as the best on the Top Ten list for 2026, after being ranked fifth out of ten in the 2025 poll.

From the USA Today story:

“With rugged forests, rolling terrain, and views of both Lake Superior and Lake Michigan, the Upper Peninsula is a unique golfing location. Popular courses include Greywalls at Marquette Golf Club, renowned for its dramatic elevation changes and striking scenery, and Sweetgrass Golf Club, a course known for hosting the LPGA Epson Tour. There’s also an annual day of ice golf when golfers play with fluorescent golf balls on snow-covered lakes.”

One other Michigan area, the Petoskey region in northern lower Michigan, made the list, coming in at Number Five. The Upper Peninsula beat out places like Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head, South Carolina, to move to the top of the list.

Tony Mancilla, the general manager of Sweetgrass and Sage Run in northern Menominee County, was pleased with the news.

Mancilla told RRN News on Thursday that the whole Upper Peninsula, not just his golf courses, has a reputation now for being a great value. Prices for tee times and hotel accommodations are lower here, but the quality of the courses are just as good, if not better, than some of the flashy resorts Down South.

Incidentally, despite the recent heavy snowfall, Mancilla says that his golf courses are still on target to open on May 1^st.

Gigowski was arrested following an investigation which was initiated by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and the ICAC Task Force when it was learned that Gigowski may have accessed and shared illicit content on the internet. A search of his residence resulted in digital evidence being seized.

Gigowski was charged with two counts of child sexually abusive material – aggravated, two counts of child sexually abusive material – possession, and four counts of using a computer to commit a crime. Gigowski was arraigned in the 94th District Court of Delta County on Thursday, April 9.

The MSP Computer Crimes Unit encourages parents to speak to their children about safe use of the internet. There are many resources available to assist in keeping children safe online. The NCMEC provides a comprehensive list of resources on their website at https://www.missingkids.org. The Michigan ICAC Task Force provides resources at https://www.michigan.gov/ICAC.

If you have information regarding possible child sexual exploitation, report it to the CyberTipLine at https://www.missingkids.org/cybertipline.

Rink is running for the state house seat as a Democrat, a seat that is currently held by Republican Karl Bohnak. They discussed what’s at stake for patients in the Upper Peninsula and across Michigan, as well as how leaders can protect and strengthen rural care.

“There are actions that the Michigan Legislature could be taking right now to improve health care access and affordability in rural areas, but Republicans are using their majority in the House to block them,” said Democratic Leader Ranjeev Puri. “From creating a Prescription Drug Affordability Board to rein in drug prices, to creating more oversight for health care mergers, to defending against federal Medicaid cuts, we have solutions to this crisis. We just need more leaders in the Legislature who will put patients over politics.”

“Too many UP residents are struggling to get basic health care, and as a health care provider myself, I’ve seen what this means for them,” said Anna Aho Rink. “Our neighbors are driving multiple hours for care, waiting months for an appointment, or just forgoing the care they need altogether, allowing their health conditions to become more complex, precarious, and expensive to treat.”

“Republican health care cuts and health care system consolidation are only making it more difficult for families to access care. We need leaders in Lansing who will work to make sure Michiganders in all corners of the state can access the health care they need close to home.”

Starting next school year, students will have to put away their smart phones during class.

Republican State Rep Mark Tisdel introduced that bill banning student cell phones, and that bill passed both the House and Senate.

It was signed into law by Governor Gretchen Whitmer back in February.

Tisdel spoke with students Thursday at Negaunee High School. Tisdel, who’s from the Detroit suburb of Rochester Hills, says the state needed to take action because phones have become a distraction in many classrooms across Michigan.

“It removes that burden from the school districts, from the principals, from the teacher, being the ‘bad guy’,” Tisdel said. “Now, Representative Tisdel can be the bad guy, and they can say they’re just following the state law. If you’re going to wait for 537 local school districts to design, implement, and actively enforce a cell phone policy, you could be waiting a long time.”

State representative Karl Bohnak, also a Republican from the local 109^th house district, agrees. He helped Tisdel’s bill pass in the House, and he also talked at Negaunee High School on Thursday.

“Keep them in your lockers,” Bohnak said. “You can take them out at your lunch hour, but that’s it. The teachers think it’s great. And frankly, the kids think it’s great, too.”

Tisdel says this is just the start. He also hopes to regulate social media by requiring teenagers to have their parents sign them up for social media sites. Tisdel says that a minor should not be able to agree to the “user contracts” that are agreed to when someone signs up for a social media site.

Tisdel and Bohnak also said that they hope their colleagues in the Senate take action on energy legislation to preserve the UP’s reciprocating internal combustion (RICE) generators when lawmakers return from recess. Bohnak told students and the media Thursday that without the legislation, the UP will likely see higher energy rates, and could see a loss of jobs and industry.

CLICK BELOW to hear from REP. MARK TISDEL (R-Rochester Hills)

CLICK BELOW to hear from REP. KARL BOHNAK (R-Marquette)

Campbell was last seen leaving a bar in the 1100 block of Ludington Street in Escanaba around 3:30 that morning. His death remains an unsolved, and there is still an active investigation by Escanaba Public Safety.

Over the past 15 years, not much has been released about Campbell’s death. An autopsy did determine a cause of death, but those results were never made public. Public Safety also has not released who owned the vehicle that Campbell’s body was found in.

Former Escanaba Public Safety detective Darrin Hunter told RRN News in 2013 that “someone, somewhere, knows something” and that it may have been a case of mistaken identity. Hunter has since retired from Public Safety, but the investigation remains open.

If you have any information that you would like to share, call the Escanaba Public Safety at (906) 786-5911. You can also go to www.escanaba.org/safety.

Parrett, a male in his mid-30s, has not been heard from since 11 PM on Sunday, April 5th, when he indicated that he was walking along County Road G-12, west of Stephenson.

He was last seen wearing a Green Bay Packers jersey, Green Bay Packers knit cap, dark pants, and a gray backpack, as pictured.

If you have any relevant information or images to share, please contact Menominee County 911 at (906) 863-6614.

The Upper Peninsula Arts and Culture Alliance has been awarded two competitive grants from the National Endowment for the Arts totaling $50,000, reinforcing the growing role of arts and culture as a driver of economic prosperity across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

The first award, $30,000 in Grants for Arts Projects, will support a regional mini-grant program providing direct funding to nonprofit organizations across the Upper Peninsula. This initiative will invest in local projects that generate economic activity, support artists and creative workers, and expand access to arts experiences in communities across all 15 counties.  

The second award, $20,000 for Research Grants in the Arts, will fund a comprehensive study examining how arts and cultural activity contributes to employment, business development, and overall economic growth in the region.

This research will provide critical data to help communities, policymakers, and industry leaders better understand and leverage the creative economy as a tool for regional development.

Both grants require a 1:1 non-federal match, creating an important opportunity for local, regional, and state partners to invest alongside federal support. This matching requirement will help amplify the impact of the awards, encouraging collaboration and engagement from stakeholders across sectors while ensuring that resources remain rooted in and responsive to Upper Peninsula communities and needs.    

Together, these investments represent a strategic approach to strengthening both the immediate and long-term economic impact of arts and culture in the Upper Peninsula. By pairing direct funding with rigorous research, the Alliance is working to ensure that creative activity continues to support jobs, attract visitors, retain residents, and contribute to a vibrant and sustainable regional economy.

“These awards recognize and reinforce what communities across the Upper Peninsula already intuitively know: arts and culture are essential to economic vitality,” said Dr. Philip Rice, Executive Director of the Alliance. “This support allows us to both invest in creative work happening right now and collect the data needed to shape future growth.”

Additional details about both projects, including timelines, opportunities for participation, and funding guidelines, will be announced in the coming months. To stay informed and receive updates, visit upacalliance.com and subscribe to the Alliance newsletter.

Interested in collecting fuelwood for personal use from state forest land?

Permits now are available for use on  select state-managed land in Michigan’s Upper and northern Lower peninsulas. Permits cost $20 per household, with a limit of one per year. A permit allows you to collect five standard cords of wood, which is a stack measuring 4 feet by 4 feet by 8 feet.

In the 12 counties of the northern Lower Peninsula affected by the ice storm in March 2025, the permit allows for collection of up to 10 cords of wood.

All collected wood must be from already dead and downed trees within 200 feet of the road.

Purchase options

There are three convenient ways to get a fuelwood permit:

• Buy online at mdnr-elicense.com.
• Purchase in person at DNR customer service centers in the northern Lower Peninsula or Upper Peninsula. A few forestry field offices also will sell permits in person; call to confirm business hours and availability.
• Mail an application to the DNR office that manages the state forest land where you wish to collect fuelwood.

Permits are valid for 90 days after the date they are issued, but all expire Dec. 31 regardless of when they were purchased.

Safe, sustainable collecting

A few rules are in place to ensure wood is collected safely and sustainably:

• Do not drive vehicles off the road, though you may use a wheelbarrow or handcart to move wood to your vehicle.
• Gather wood only from already dead and downed trees; do not remove wood from trees that are dead and still standing.
• You must have your permit with you and fill out the collection log before transporting your wood. Failure to do so could result in a citation.
• You may not sell or trade firewood; it is for personal use only.

When moving firewood across distances, there’s always risk of spreading invasive pests and diseases. Collect wood near where it will be used.

For more information and answers to frequently asked questions, visit Michigan.gov/Fuelwood.

Through investigative techniques, detectives determined the suspect and other conspirators have been purchasing various components that are used to manufacture methamphetamine in a process that is commonly known by law enforcement as “one pot” or “shake and bake” meth labs.

This method of manufacturing meth consists of a chemical reaction when users mix specific household chemicals together with pseudoephedrine. This method is extremely dangerous as it can release harmful gases or cause a violent explosion if it is not handled properly.

On Monday, April 6, detectives from UPSET identified the suspect as he left a local store where he had just purchased precursor ingredients used in manufacturing meth. Officers from the Houghton County Sheriff’s Office and Houghton City Police Department arrested the suspect outside of his vehicle.

Detectives from UPSET, who are trained to dismantle clandestine labs conducted a search of the suspects’ vehicle. Detectives seized a number of components necessary to manufacture meth as well as evidence indicating the suspect has manufactured meth on multiple occasions over the previous weeks.

The suspect was lodged at the Houghton County Jail. No further information is being released at this time since the investigation is ongoing.

Detectives from UPSET were assisted by the Houghton County Prosecutor’s Office, Houghton County Sheriff’s Office, Houghton City Police Department, Hancock City Police Department, Houghton and Hancock City Fire Departments and Superior Service Towing.

Funding for this grant program is provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service in partnership with the DNR’s Urban and Community Forestry Program.

“Trees provide essential benefits, from improving air and water quality to cooling neighborhoods and enhancing quality of life,” said Kerry Gray, DNR Urban and Community Forestry grant specialist. “This grant program is an important investment in ensuring these benefits are available to all Michigan residents. By increasing tree canopy across communities, these projects will support a healthier future for our state.”

Eligible applicants include local units of government (city, village, township or county), tribal governments, state agencies, educational institutions and nonprofit organizations.

Eligible activities include tree inventories and management plans, tree planting and maintenance, engagement and outreach, training, wood utilization and more. No match is required. Projects should align with the program’s goals of expanding tree canopy, especially in low-canopy areas, strengthening urban and community forest management and encouraging community participation.

Applications are available through DNR MiGrants and must be submitted by 5 p.m. Monday, May 18.

For more information on Urban and Community Forestry grants, and access to the UCF Assistance Grant Handbook, which provides important information on how to apply, visit Michigan.gov/UCF.