LATEST NEWS

PETOSKEY, MI – In the years after Bay Harbor Equestrian Club shut its barn doors, people would drive by this huge piece of property overlooking Little Traverse Bay and wonder what it would become. Would its horse tradition be revived in its paddocks and fenced fields? Or would it become yet another development of high-priced homes in this vacation hotspot?

Aria Jesiek, a senior at Petoskey High School, said she was devastated when she found out just a few months ago that she wasn’t going to earn the credits needed to graduate. “It shattered me. And it’s really weighing on my heart because of how hard I have worked to get to this moment,” said Jesiek. Jesiek said she’s been doing the best she can, but with a learning disability and the COVID lockdown, it was hard to keep up. “I’ve been asking teachers for extra help, anything to get my grades up. ... I have dyslexia, but they don’t really help you when you ask for that help. They kind of just they tell you what to do and then they just they just let you off,” said Jesiek.

People will soon be able to enjoy a new mural in downtown Petoskey. The new artwork, by Michigan artist Sarah Landstrom, is being created on the side of the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council building. The mural has been in the works for the past few weeks and is expected to be completed in two more weeks, weather permitting. Calla Beers, the water resources communications specialist with The Tip Of The Mitt Watershed Council, said the goal of the new mural is to provide an educational experience to the Petoskey community and to visitors.

PETOSKEY — The Little Traverse Historical Society, Latitude 45 Bicycles & Fitness, and the Top of Michigan Trails Council are teaming up to offer all area children a fun, healthy and free event. The inaugural Lynn Duse Memorial Kids’ Bike Fest will take place from 10 a.m. to 2...

PETOSKEY — The Blissfest Music Organization, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Good Hart Artist Residency, Petoskey District Library, Waganakising Naagwagan Group, Petoskey High School Diversity Club and NCMC Gender and Sexuality Alliance are collaborating to provide an afternoon and evening of events that will include an art activity and art installation, a panel discussion and a free concert as part of the Rhythm & Roots: Celebrating LGBTQ+ and Two Spirit Voices event.

The Antrim County Sheriff’s Office says they are investigating a deadly head-on car crash that took place on US-31 north of Old Dixie Highway in Banks Township on Wednesday. The sheriff’s office says that the crash happened around 2:15 p.m. Wednesday. They say a 2020 Ford F150 was traveling north bound on US-31 where they believed it crossed the centerline, hitting a 2018 Ford F150 that was traveling south bound. The south bound ford left the roadway after the crash and caught on fire, the sheriff office says. They also say that two witnesses were able to get the driver out of the truck and a safe distance away before the fire began. The Antrim County Sheriff’s Office says that CPR and lifesaving efforts were provided on the scene, but the driver was still pronounced dead at the scene. They say the other driver was transported to the nearest hospital with serious injuries, but is in stable condition.

CHARLEVOIX, Mich. – A man from South Africa fell in love with the structure of a stone house in Northern Michigan and has since created and reimagined an inviting and nurturing home anyone can visit throughout the year. The house is known as the hobbit and/or mushroom house. Michael...

NORTHERN MICHIGAN — The Charlevoix-Emmet Intermediate School District has announced the creation of a new position ahead of the 2023-24 school year. The ISD hired Alicia Schlehuber to work as the district’s behavioral health coordinator. Starting in July, she will begin supporting the schools and students at the start of the next school year. The role will allow her to work collaboratively with school-based teams to implement behavioral health interventions and provide training, guidance and coordination to the schools within the ISD.

ALANSON — If you found yourself near the Alanson Public Library Saturday morning, you may have had to ask yourself: What's with all the flamingos?. Children and adults alike filled the blacktop, all dressed in different inflatable costumes, ranging from flamingos, to aliens, to wolves and more. Right before...

CHARLEVOIX COUNTY, Mich., (WPBN/WGTU) -- Another northern Michigan community has joined a nationwide fight to save the monarch butterfly. A field of milkweed can serve as a habitat for monarch butterflies and its fields like the one in Walloon Lake that have led the village to become Michigan's fifth Monarch City, USA.

HARBOR SPRINGS — Come Saturday, Grace Thorpe will lace up a pair of spikes representing Harbor Springs in a number of sprint events at the Division 4 track state championships. First, however, she’s got some unfinished business in a different pair of cleats. Thorpe was busy getting in...

NORTHERN MICHIGAN — Northern Michigan communities marked Memorial Day with parades, ceremonies and more on a sunny and warm Monday. In Petoskey, crowds lined up downtown to see the annual parade and remembrance ceremony in Pennsylvania Park. The parade routed up East Mitchell Street, where members of the American...

Walloon Lake residents and summer visitors to this idyllic northern Michigan community will be able to find an expanded selection of groceries, snacks, beverages and other goodies at the Walloon Village General Store, which has just opened in a temporary location at 4128 M-75 (across from Hotel Walloon and next to Sweetwater Floral) while a new store is being built a block away. This is the latest development project in the downtown area, providing even more reason for people to get off US-131 and Discover Walloon Lake.

CHEBOYGAN COUNTY — As the weather warms up and more boats take to the water, Cheboygan County Sheriff Tim Cook is reminding boaters to follow the law and be safe this summer. Cook said his Marine Division will be out on the waters this summer and advises boaters to...

PELLSTON — The University of Michigan Biological Station has selected three artists to explore their creative freedom away from home this summer and draw inspiration from the environment around Douglas Lake through its rustic artist residency program. The 2023 Artist in Residence Program features environmental painter and printmaker Leslie...

OTSEGO COUNTY, MI – Charges are pending against a 35-year-old man accused of assaulting another man, Otsego County sheriff’s deputies said. Police initially responded to a 4:40 a.m. report of an assault complaint on Saturday, May 27, at the Otsego Memorial Hospital. There, police learned a man had...

Starting next year, North Central Michigan College will offer a practical nurse certificate program. In an announcement, the community college in Petoskey said the program will help address regional and statewide shortages. The three-semester, cohort-style program is a collaborative effort with regional hospitals and nursing facilities like McLaren Northern Michigan...

GAYLORD ― After a long, grueling regular season of cancellations, less-than-perfect weather and tough overall schedules, Northern Michigan softball teams are jumping at the opportunity to play meaningful games in pristine weather. However, as the Gaylord team is well aware, the road to a state championship can only be taken one step, one game at a time.

OTSEGO COUNTY, Mich. (WPBN/WGTU) -- The Otsego County Sheriff's Office says they have arrested a 35 year-old Gaylord man for assault with intent to murder. Deputies were first alerted in the early morning hours on May 27th when they were called to Otsego Memorial Hospital for an assault complaint. There they met a man who they say had been severely beaten and sustained several injuries. The Sheriff's Office has not identified the injured man or said if he knows the suspect.