Good morning, Marquette.

Maverick LaPlaunt of Marquette dropped off toys for the 2025 Christmas Cheer Club to support young residents during the holiday season.

Lauren LaBrecque of Marquette supports the local Cheer Club & her backing showcases a growing community effort to boost local spirit.

More details of upcoming club initiatives are expected soon.

Joe Gaffery + Carol Gaffery donated to the Mining Journal Cheer club to support local youth programs.

Their gift was noted in Superiorland Yesterdays as a strong act of neighbor helping neighbor.

Local artist, athlete and author Megan Strom released her debut children’s book “Greta Scores Big”, a story of courage and teamwork about a groundhog joining a hockey team to learn perseverance + embrace unique strengths as she recovered from surgery earlier this year.

A snowy owl was captured in Marquette County recently (photo courtesy of Ron Mattson).

The Michigan Department of Transportation announced $133 million in funding for transit upgrades — $790,000 will help Marq-Tran buy new buses and all-wheel drive vans while other Upper Peninsula agencies get grants for vehicle and facility improvements.

The Michigan State Police Eighth District in Marquette honored three winners for its 2025 Employee of the Year Awards at headquarters: Trooper Ryan Rossler, MCO Bruce Brown, and Civilian Tammy Williamson.

Each recipient will now be considered for the statewide award.

Baraga County Memorial Hospital in L’ANSE is launching two new service lines at an open house on Jan.

8 from 4-6 p.m. Visitors can test the new da Vinci DV5 robotic system and hyperbaric oxygen therapy demos and submit robot name suggestions for a $500 prize (divided if multiple winners).

Until Jan. 2, AAA will offer free, confidential tows and rides for impaired drivers, transporting them and their vehicles up to 10 miles.

The service aims to reduce impaired driving and urges drivers to plan ahead.

Northern Michigan University has begun construction on a new apartment complex on Presque Isle Avenue, which will house nearly 400 residents & is scheduled to be completed before the fall semester in 2027.