GREAT LAKES RADIO NEWS UPDATE FOR 3/15/12
The Michigan Department of Transportation will be spending 49-million dollars on various projects in the Upper Peninsula this year. M-DOT says that total includes 39-million dollars to repair over 200 miles of state highways, and 4-million dollars to repair 11 bridges. Major projects in the Upper Peninsula this construction season will include a 6-point-8 million dollar project to reconstruct US-41/M-28 between Marquette and Harvey, and resurface US-41 from the Welcome Center to the M-28 intersection. That project will run from April to October. In Delta County, a 2-point-18 million dollar project to resurface US-2/US-41/M-35 from Escanaba to Gladstone will run from June to August. And in Schoolcraft County, a 1-point-31 million dollar project to reconstruct M-94 from Fifth Street to Chippewa Avenue in Manistique is planned from June to November.
The annual “Pigs-n-Heat” hockey game was held last night in Marquette. The game featured the firefighters and law enforcement officers of Marquette County and was won by the Heat by a score of 4-to-2. All proceeds raised went to the Pigs N- Heat Fire Relief Fund in Marquette County. The fund is used to help victims of fire in Marquette County to get back on their feet with a few nights lodging at area hotels plus other items such as clothing and supplies. Organizers say the attendance at the game was one of the largest in recent memory and about 15 to 20 thousand dollars was raised at the event.
A member of the Chocolay Township police department has been recognized as Marquette County’s top law enforcement officer. Sgt. Scott Jennings is Marquette County’s Police Officer of the Year for 2011. Sgt. Jennings was the first law enforcement officer to respond to last October’s robbery at the Northern Michigan Bank & Trust in Harvey. According to Chocolay Township Police Chief Greg Zyburt, who submitted the winning nomination, Jennings was instrumental in coordinating local, state and federal agencies working the investigation. Jennings has been with the department for over 25 years and is a Northern Michigan University graduate.
State Senator Tom Casperson is hosting a town hall meeting with constituents tomorrow morning in Marquette. The Delta County Republican is hosting the session to discuss the challenges facing the state’s aging roads, bridges and infrastructure. The meeting will run from 10-am to Noon in the Community Room of the Peter White Public Library and all interested parties are encouraged to attend.
