A bizarre, sad and ugly story is unfolding at WLUC-TV.
Seems that prior to her abrupt resignation just over a week ago, news director Regena Robinson, who is African-American, received three racially charged letters signed by bogus names targeting her and other members of the news department.
Ugly, vile stuff.
Robinson turned the letters over to the State Police who have been investigating ever since.
The letters, which were written in cursive, apparently all came from the same person.
A lot of unanswered questions here. A lot of speculation as to who wrote the letters, as well.
Robinson, who’s still in town, isn’t commenting publicly. State Police visited her home a few days ago looking to get “elimination” fingerprints; in other words, Robinson’s prints would be on the letters since she handled them, but were there any other prints?
WLUC so far has made no official comment on the case.
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A sad day, as well, for downtown Marquette. Farmer Q’s, the little grocery store specializing in produce, announced that it’s closing down.
Two reasons for the shutdown. First, Tom Brian (he and his wife Susan are the owners) was offered another job in the fruit industry downstate. It’s reportedly a great opportunity.
And second, the last several months for the store have been “painful,” in the words of Ms. Brian.
Farmer Q’s, which sells produce grown downstate, has been locked in a continuing, nasty battle with the Marquette Food Co-op and local farmers who don’t want the downstate produce sold at the Marquette Farmers’ Market.
The two sides exchanged charges and counter-charges, the Downtown Development Authority tried to mediate the dispute but without much success, and everybody emerged from the unseemly mess looking bruised and beaten.
Farmer Q’s says it’s had enough. It’s shutting its doors within two weeks.
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With the impending closure of Penney’s at the Westwood Mall later this year, the inevitable questions arise: Will another store move into the Penney’s space? How will the new vacancy affect traffic at the mall? Is the overall viability of the mall threatened?
Let’s be honest. The mall first opened back in the 70s and has been expanded a couple of times since then, but it’s decidedly dated. It can’t possibly complete with the huge, modern malls in Appleton, Green Bay and Detroit…and unfortunately that’s where thousands of Yoopers end up doing their shopping.
On the other hand, even with several current vacancies, the mall is more than 90% occupied…at least it will be until Penney’s departs. That’s not bad.
And at least one more tenant is getting ready to move in.
Another point: You want to criticize the Westwood Mall? Go take a look at the malls in Houghton and Escanaba. By comparison, Westwood seems to be thriving.
A final point that could profoundly impact the future of the Westwood Mall:
The proposed mixed use development–retail, office, hotel, convention center and residential–behind Lowes is scheduled to start up within a couple of years. That will feature big, modern, upscale stores, the kind that have lured shoppers to Appleton, Green Bay and Detroit.
The kind that could eventually spell the end of the Westwood Mall.
The key words for the new development, though, are “proposed” and “scheduled.” It’s easy to draw up plans with pretty buildings while tossing around impressive dollar figures and getting everybody excited. It’s much tougher to bring those plans to reality.
Anybody remember the grandiose plans for the ore dock–the high priced condos, the retail stores, the scenic promenade? How’s that working out so far?
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Speaking of closures (seems to be a theme here), it’s now been fourteen months since the last function was held at Upfront, one of the premier properties in downtown Marquette.
The former dining, banquet and live music venue, a handsome building overlooking Lake Superior, just sits there silent and unused.
The official word from the office of owner Rhys Mussman is that the building is not for sale and that “something may be in the works” and someone may be interested in leasing the building.
A couple of words about that. Business people will tell you that virtually every business is always for sale…for the right price. And, something is always in the works.
Mussman, who has a vacation home in Big Bay and likes the U.P., won’t provide any details about his or anybody else’s plans for Upfront. He’s simply holding on to the darkened, multi-million dollar building for now. No money coming in.
Wealthy people can afford to do things like that.
You got news? email me at briancabell@gmail.com