OWNING AND OPERATING a small business ain't easy. Latest evidence comes from Bella Beads, the little shop on West Washington Street. Owner Leila Martin says she's closing up shop by the end of January, after a 10 year run doing something she loves. Two problems: She's just undergone two back surgeries which makes it ... Continue Reading
Kivela’s Nightmare, Boathouse Indecision, a Stagnant Mall, Shriners’ Influx, and a Trans-gender Triathlete
A TOUGH COUPLE of weeks for State Representative John Kivela. He was arrested on November 9th while driving erratically, with an open container in his pickup, just north of Lansing. Spent a night in jail, now charged with being "super-drunk." A nightmare for anybody, but especially for a respected, elected ... Continue Reading
Medical Marijuana, Crossroads Construction, Smartzone Winners, and Star Wars
MARQUETTE HAS A new medical marijuana shop in town. Upper Peninsula Caregivers Association (UPCA) opened its doors at 414 South Front Street last Friday. Very low key, very discreet. A representative for UPCA says his shop is a "provisioning center," not a "dispensary." UPCA operates two other medical marijuana ... Continue Reading
Nordic Bay Demolition, Downtown Building Dispute, and the B&B Craze
THE OLD NORDIC Bay Inn, high on the hill overlooking US 41 and Lake Superior, is being demolished. The owner, Adventure Lodging LLC, is tearing down the structures on the property this week after the buildings had sat there, unused and unoccupied, for several years. What's next for the property? Adventure Lodging ... Continue Reading
The Intriguing…and Frightening…Tale of Gabe Caggiano
GABE CAGGIANO IS no longer delivering the news in the U.P.--he left Local 3 back in March--but he's now making news in San Antonio. WOIA radio reports that Caggiano has been charged with the federal crime of stalking, and he's scheduled to go on trial next month. If convicted, he could face up to five years in ... Continue Reading