For skiers and snowboarders, Petoskey is definitely the place to be.

The area has three resorts and over 160 runs. That makes it the favorite place for beginners to experts, anywhere is the Midwest. There are some amazing cross-country trails if you love the outdoors more than the thrill of downhill, snowmobiling if you need to take a load off your feet, and ice skating and sledding for the whole family, without going out too far.

The apres ski is also excellent – and warm!

Pick up a Free Winter Guide by calling 800-845-2828, or just visit the website, www.PetoskeyArea.com

Popularity: 9% [?]

Liquor will be allowed to be sold on Sunday mornings in Michigan in some places starting December 19.

Permits will be doled out by the Michigan Liquor Control Commission on Thursday, a permit that will cost an eyebrow-raising $160. Local governments have until the 15th of December to let state officials know they wish to keep banning liquor sales on Sunday morning for no reason at all.

With this law, businesses can sell booze at 7 a.m. rather than the current law which bans the sale of the sauce from 2 a.m. to noon.

Popularity: 74% [?]

A young woman from Boyne City has turned herself into Taylor Police as the one responsible for the dead baby found in a backpack this past summer.

At around 7 pm on July 24, 22 year old Emma Clemens gave birth to a stillborn baby in Taylor. She quickly wrapped the body and put it in a backpack, and buried it in some bushes by a home on Trent Street the next day. The owner of the home found the backpack and made the gruesome discovery upon opening it and called police.

No reason has been given for her negligence with the child. She has been charged with disinterment and mutilation of a dead body – charges that could put her away for up to 10 years. Her preliminary examination is set for December 20.

Popularity: 100% [?]

A teen who graduated from Petoskey High last year was killed in Menominee County, WI Sunday.

The car he was in with three other passengers, including the driver, lost control and flipped over on the Menominee Indian Tribe Reservation. David Shawano, 19, was declared dead at the scene. The 29 year old driver and two other passengers were treated for non life threatening injuries.

Since police think alcohol was involved in the wreck, they have taken the driver into custody on pending charges of vehicular homicide. Results of a blood test for the driver should be back within the next 48 hours. In addition to local police, the U.S. Attorney General’s Office and the FBI are investigating the accident.

Popularity: 46% [?]

A Petoskey man dodged eight bullets in the form of felonies as a result of a plea deal stemming from his theft of a rifle from a man who had killed himself.

Howard Keshick, 32, took the rifle from the dead hands of Charles Steele on September 8, claiming he did it to prevent any possible harm to Petoskey citizens. Steele was being hunted by police for threatening to kill himself following a dispute with his wife and was found dead near Ingalls Avenue. Keshick was found walking with the rifle covered in a shirt by Petoskey police around 9:30 am and was detained.

Keshick was already on probation for a March 2009 conviction for felon in possession of a firearm and third-degree home invasion in Cheboygan County.

Keshick avoided the following felonies with his plea deal: one count of receiving and concealing a firearm, which is a 10-year felony; one count of larceny of a firearm, a five-year felony; one count of firearms – possession by a felon, a five-year felony; one count of tampering with evidence, a four-year felony; and four counts of weapons – felony firearm, which carries a mandatory two-year penalty to be served consecutive to, and preceding any term of imprisonment imposed.

His sentencing has not been scheduled as of yet.

Popularity: 83% [?]

It was inevitable due to the fierce winds that have been blowing in Michigan since Tuesday.

Great Lakes Energy says some 18,884 members in 26 counties have lost power over the course of 24 hours. Officials for the company say power has been restored to 16,840 customers. The remainder are scattered across four counties, with sporadic reports of power loss as far south as Kent County.

The winds on Tuesday guested anywhere from 37 to 63 mph along the shoreline of Lake Michigan, and today they keep on blowing. So far today, Petoskey has recorded a gust of 51 MPH, while Mackinaw City has experienced a 72 MPH gust – the strongest in the state as of yet. The storm, which is a result of two massive low pressure systems converging over Nebraska and Montana, came packed with rain and some severe storms Tuesday. They have since passed and left the wind as a special treat.

As with any wind storm, debris and power lines are strewn across the landscape. Take extreme caution when driving, and notify authorities of any downed power lines you see.

Popularity: 44% [?]

Northern Michigan can expect winds near hurricane force on Tuesday and Wednesday as an intense area of low pressure moves into the area.

The cold front passing through tomorrow is the expected culprit, which will sustain the strong winds into Wednesday. Residents on the Northern Michigan shoreline are expected to be the hardest hit, as well as any location open to the southwest.

Tree damage and power outages are a main concern of the impending storm. For mariners, wave heights are projected to be anywhere from 15 to 20 feet.

Before the storm hits, take measures to secure and brace any outdoor belongings. Don’t go outside during the storm for fear of flying debris and the obvious notion of being blown away. Flying power lines aren’t very kind, either.

Popularity: 53% [?]

The Bayview Yacht Club Board of Governors personally appeared before the Mackinac Island City Council today to voice opposition to plans for consolidated ferry service that could put the club’s yacht race to the island in jeopardy.

“This is an economic issue that we believe adversely impacts Bayview and tourism in Michigan,” said Bayview Commodore Bruce J. Burton. “We are really surprised that this is even under consideration and we have had no response to concerns we have voiced on the issue.”

Burton and the Bayview Board are in unanimous agreement that plans to have two ferry services – Arnold and Star Lines – merge under one company and forcing Shepler’s Ferry out of business would be bad news for Bayview and island tourism.

“Shepler’s is a long-time sponsor of the race which began in 1925,” said Burton, adding that the company places the finish line buoy, transports race equipment, volunteers and coordinates logistics as well as offers free transportation to the Coast Guard Cutter crew that monitors the race.

Burton said the move would in effect create a monopoly on the island that would subject Bayview and tourists to potential labor strife, rising prices, and reduced service schedules if there is no competition.

“It would be like Europe and the time the labor chooses to strike is during peak tourist season when they have leverage,” said Burton. “This would wreak havoc on an 87-year tradition that pumps some $25 million in the state’s economy. Are we seriously willing to risk that for a $2 reduction in ferry ticket prices that logically would spike once the monopoly has been established?”

Burton added that Shepler’s has been a good company that has provided excellent service for three generations. Some 150 people would lose their jobs if the ferry consolidation occurs.

Concerned that a letter to the City Council of Mackinac Island in September on this subject went unanswered, Burton lead the BYC Flag Officers and Board of Governors to the island to personally address the issue and voice the club’s concerns over the pending action.

“Michigan’s economy is in tough shape and forcing one of our major sponsors out of business is of great concern to Bayview,” said Burton. “Government should be about assisting the private sector in creating jobs.”

The Mackinac Island City Council scheduled a 2 p.m. meeting Wednesday for a discussion of the issue. Shepler’s has filed a federal anti-trust lawsuit against the island and the other ferry operators to block the move. Proponents of the consolidation say it will provide longer service schedules to the island, increase ridership of the boats and thereby reduce ticket prices which currently average $24 roundtrip to the island.

Popularity: 34% [?]

Johnson Controls recently recognized its top performing automotive suppliers during its 15th annual North American Supplier Performance Awards ceremony. The event was held at The Inn at St. John’s in Plymouth, Mich. A total of 43 awards were given to 37 supplier companies that demonstrated their commitment to the Johnson Controls Automotive Experience business.

“These awards give us an opportunity to thank our supply base for their commitment to excellence throughout the year,” said Jim Bos, vice president of purchasing, North America, for the Automotive Experience business of Johnson Controls. “Our suppliers’ dedication to quality and delivery is key to our success as a global automotive leader.”

Johnson Controls’ North American Supplier Performance Awards are presented for top performance in the following key business areas: quality; cost; logistics; development; technology and service. This year, outstanding performance by the company’s supply base was recognized on three levels – gold, silver and bronze.

Popularity: 36% [?]

Five months have passed since the Smoke Free Air law went into effect, and there have been only five complaints from citizens in Northwest Michigan. Some of the complaints that have come in are blamed on managers of their respective establishments not understanding the new law.

Some restaurants, to accommodate smokers, have set up outdoor areas for guests to smoke. One pub owner in Petoskey who is doing this has had no complaints, and says it works nicely for those who wouldn’t come in thanks to the new law.

According to a report from the Michigan Department of Community Health, local health departments have gotten 583 complaints about smokers in restaurants, from which 158 were given citations. The citations go to individuals in question, or bar owners and managers. Violations yield penalties of $100 for the first offense, and $500 for each repeated offense.

The response to the law has been positive overall.

Popularity: 23% [?]