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% [?]

The North Central Michigan College alternative energy club had a dream that they could install and manage their own alternative energy system. That dream became a goal and now the goal has been realised.

The installation of a 30 foot tall Windspire wind generator on the campus gave them exactly what they wanted. The club has been studying alternative energy, raising funds and planning for purchase and installation of an on site wind generator for more than a year.

With the help of Lake Effect Energy of Harbor Springs, Contractors Building Supply of Copemish, and Mazzter Electric of Petoskey, the alternative energy club oversaw the installation of the Michigan produced Mariah Power Windspire wind generator.

The club expects to use the generator as a learning tool for students and the community to show how alternative energy can be a reality.

The tower is located on the NCMC campus behind the Library Conference Center.

Popularity: 13% [?]

The United States Army Field Band performed a free, sold out concert Tuesday night, April 17 at Petoskey High School. For more than 50 years, The United States Army Field Band has been performing for audiences around the world. The band has performed in all 50 states and on four continents and is considered by music critics to be one of the most inspirational music organizations in the world. The evening featured patriotic music while also paying tribute to those currently serving in the military. Eleven band students from Petoskey High School also took part in the concert. Watch here as the students perform the song Chesapeake Bay March.

Popularity: 11% [?]

The deceitful threesome that made and passed around phony money have had their separate cases handed over to the 57th Circuit Court.

Robert Oakes and girlfriend Julie Thompson, both from Grand Rapids and her son, Matthew Corbett of Howard City, were nabbed by Michigan State Police in Petoskey recently.

The trio made counterfeit $20s and $100s and doled them out with purchases at many Bear Creek Township businesses last December, businesses such as Burger King, Family Video, Day’s Inn and Dollar General. For this, they have been charged with five felonies – one count each of conducting a criminal enterprise, racketeering proceeds, possession of counterfeit goods, uttering and publishing – possession of counterfeit bank, state or municipal bills, and uttering and publishing counterfeit bills or notes.

At their preliminary hearing on December 29, Thompson pleaded guilty to one count of possession of counterfeit bank, state or municipal bills. She had recently been paroled from jail.

The plea entitles Thompson to have her other charges dismissed, however, the other two skipped their preliminary examination and will face all of their charges. She will be sentenced on February 7, meanwhile the men will have a scheduling conference on January 18.

Popularity: 70% [?]

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% [?]