The Sacred Heart girls varsity basketball team clenched the regional championship on Thursday night against Muskegon Western Michigan Christian in Big Rapids.

Congrats to the mighty Lady Irish!

Shots are also for sale...if you are so inclined to purchase.

Snow will develop overnight tonight, beginning around 4 am along the Lake Michigan shoreleline and spreading east through mid-Michigan by sunrise.
By the time the snow ends around midday Friday, 3 to 5 inches of snow is expected.
A snow advisory has been issued for all of Lower Michigan along and north of I-94 for this event. The snow advisory runs from 4 am to 4 pm.
Some blowing and drifting is also possible as winds from the south at 15 to 20 mph will pick up the fresh snow. Travel will become hazardous by the time the morning commute begins. Motorists should allow extra time to get where they are going Friday morning.

Carson City upset Fulton and Ithaca defeated Saranac in their respective basketball games on Wednesday night at Montabella High School.

Photos available for Purchase.

Cold temperatures and snow in many sections of the state has snowmobile trails in good condition to very good condition. Sledders can expect great riding for the upcoming weekend. Before attempting to cross any river or lake, be sure to check the ice depth.
LOWER PENINSULA

In the Petoskey area trails are being groomed to iron out bumps and ridges that last weekend’s heavy traffic left behind. Watch for some ice on the steeper inclines and rounding corners. Overall, trails are in very good to excellent condition.
Gaylord and Beulah trails are in good shape with regular grooming taking place. A snow storm is in the forecast for Friday and the upcoming weekend.

Photo courtesy DrummondIsland.net

Alpena trails are in good shape and grooming taking place on a daily basis. Trail 992 and the new 464 connector are very smooth, as well as trails throughout Posen.
Mancelona trails are in good shape even after some hearty riding last weekend. The groomers are doing a good job maintaining smooth trails. Trails have a good snow base with plenty of packed powder.
Grayling and Frederick trails are in excellent shape and awesome riding is taking place.

UPPER PENINSULA
Sledding in the western portion of the U.P. is rated good to very good this week. All trails are groomed throughout the six counties.


Iron trails boast up to 20 inches of cover and are in gorgeous shape. Excellent riding is taking place between Crystal Falls to Republic. Grooming is taking place on a daily basis.
Gogebic and Ontonagon groomers are doing a great job smoothing the trails for this weekend. Bruce Crossing, Watersmeet and Silver City trails have some fresh snow cover and all are in very good condition.

Photo courtesy Marquette Country CVB

In Houghton and Keweenaw counties the snow cover is still pushing upwards of 37 inches. Groomers are out daily, most trails are in good shape with a few only in fair condition around Copper Harbor. Logging is taking place on trail 133. Chassel, Sidnaw, Nestoria, Alston and Baraga trail systems are all rated in good to very good shape. Snow cover ranges from one foot to almost three feet in areas.

Snowmobilers riding around the central portion of the U.P. will find trails in very good to excellent condition. Grand Marais, Munising, Marquette, Ishpeming, Sawyer, Delta, and Harvey trails are all rated in excellent condition with snow bases ranging between 8-18 inches. Very good riding is taking place throughout Wilson creek, Menominee, Seney and Manistique areas. Snow bases on these trails ranges from 3-8 inches. All trails are groomed throughout the central region.

You won’t have to travel far in the eastern region of the U.P. because just about everywhere exceptional riding is available. Sault Ste. Marie, Brimley, Raco, Kinross, DeTour, and St. Ignace, and all trails in between are rated in excellent shape. Curtis trails are rated in the best shape in years with fabulous riding taking place. Drummond Island trails are perfectly groomed and in very good to excellent condition. A solid snow base ranges from 4-12 inches. The snow coverage throughout the eastern region ranges from 4 inches to 2 feet.

Remember: Stay on marked trails and off private property.

Report courtesy Michigan AAA. Before heading to your snowmobile destination check the latest traffic, road, and weather conditions at www.AAATraffic.com.

The Sacred Heart Academy varsity girls basketball team soundly defeated Manistee Catholic Central in the Tuesday night regional game at Big Rapids High School.

Seven shots are available for sale. Purchase Photos

Deputy Kevin F. Dush goofs with kids at Beal City Public Schools.


Deputy Dush hands out Junior Deputy stickers to kids on the playground.





Deputy Dush teaches students different safety lessons and sometimes gives them a memory quiz where they have to look at a picture and remember as many unsafe things after he hides it.

Winter weather continues to create wonderful conditions for skiers and snowboarders statewide, and the weekend will be no exception.
XC = Cross country conditions available. Snow base is listed in inches.
NORTHEAST/CENTRAL:
Snowsnake, Harrison: 10 runs (100 percent); two lifts; up to 30 inches base; machine groomed/powder
Open daily 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Treetops Resort, Gaylord: 23 runs; five lifts; up to 46 inches base;
machine groomed

(Photo: Michigan Technological University)

EAST/CENTRAL:
Apple Mountain, Freeland: 12 runs; five lifts; 16 to 36 inches base; groomed/packed powder Terrain park open
NORTHWEST:
Shanty Creek, Bellaire: 37 runs; five lifts; 20-48 inches base; packed powder
Open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
XC: 21 km tilled and track set, machine groomed
President’s week activities through Saturday
Boyne Highlands, Harbor Springs: 55 runs; seven lifts; up to 60 inches base; groomed/packed powder
XC: 35 km open, 35 km track set
Terrain and half-pipe open
Boyne Mountain, Boyne Falls: 51 runs, eight lifts; up to 55 inches base; groomed/packed powder
XC: 25 km, 20 km track set
Terrain and super pipe open


Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville: 45 runs (100 percent); seven lifts; up to 72 inches base;packed powder
Open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
XC-40km - groomed 8 inches base new snow
Half-pipe and terrain park open

Photo: Caberfae Peaks

Nub’s Nob, Harbor Springs: 53 runs; six lifts; up to 80 inches base; machine groomed
Terrain Park open-13 rails
XC: 28 km (100 percent) packed and tracked
Caberfae Peaks, Cadillac: 34 runs; five lifts; up to 76 inches base; packed powder
The Homestead, Glen Arbor: n/a n/a 12-20 inches base; groomed
Open Friday through Sunday
XC Ski Headquarters, Roscommon: Four inches of new snow overnight Wednesday; all trails have set tracks and snow combed trails. Conditions are excellent.

WEST/CENTRAL:
Cannonsburg Ski Area, Cannonsburg: 14 runs (100 percent); up to 80 inches base; groomed/hard packed
Open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
3 inches of new snow
Pando Winter Sports Park, Rockford: All runs, lifts as needed; 36 to 48 inches base

SOUTHWEST:
Bittersweet Ski Resort, Otsego: 20 runs; nine lifts; up to 40 inches base; groomed/packed powder
Open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Swiss Valley Ski Area, Jones: 11 runs; lifts as needed; up to 46 inches base
Open 4 to 10 p.m.; 2-4 inches new snow
Timber Ridge Ski Area, Gobles: 15 runs; All lifts; up to 48 inches base; groomed
Open 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tube runs and terrain park open
Three inches of new snow

SOUTHEAST:
Mt. Holly, Holly: 18 runs (100 percent);11 lfits; up to 52 inches base; groomed/packed
Open 10 a.m. -10 p.m.
Pine Knob, Clarkston: 17 runs; 11 lifts; up to 60 inches base; groomed
Open 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Mt. Brighton, Brighton: 18 runs; eight lifts; up to 36 inches base; groomed/packed powder
Open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. half-pipe and terrain park open
Alpine Valley, White Lake; 16 runs eight lifts; up to 43 inches base; groomed/hard packed
Open 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

UPPER PENINSULA:
Ski Brule, Iron River: 17 runs (100 percent); five lifts; 45-78 inches base; machine groomed
XC-100 percent open
Open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Marquette Mountain, Marquette: 25 runs; three lifts; 25-45 inches base; machine groomed Fun Park open

8 inches new snow
Open 4 to 9:30 p.m.

Indianhead Mountain, Wakefield: 29 runs (100 percent); seven lifts; up to 60 inches base; groomed/packed
Half-pipe and Terrain Park open
Big Powderhorn Mountain, Bessemer: 33 runs (100 percent) three lifts; up to 60 inches base; power tilled
Open daily 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
XC-24 km groomed (100 percent open)
Blackjack Ski Resort, Bessemer: 20 runs; four lifts; 28-60 inches base; groomed/packed
Half-pipe and terrain parks open
Open Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Mt. Bohemia, Lac La Belle: 71 runs (100 percent); two lifts; up to 30 inches base; groomed/packed
Open Monday through Friday 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Open Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday until 5 p.m.
Mont Ripley, Hancock: 24 runs (100 percent); three lifts; up to 48 inches base; groomed/packed powder
Terrain park open
Pine Mountain, Iron Mountain: 15 runs; four lifts; up to 36 inches base; groomed/packed
Terrain park 100 percent open
Open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Porcupine Mountain, Ontonagon: n/a n/a up to 22 inches base, groomed
Open Friday 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Open Saturday and Sunday 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Norway Mountain: 17 runs; three lifts; up to 50 inches base; groomed/packed
Terrain park open
ABR Trails, Ironwood: One inch of new snow overnight. Trails remain in excellent condition. Snow in the wooded area ranges from 18 to 32 inches or more, 13 to 19 inches on the trails.

Report courtesy Michigan AAA. Remember: Drink plenty of water, be careful not to dehydrate.
Before you head to your ski destination check traffic, road and weather conditions at www.AAATraffic.com

Lifestyles this week was all mine! Story, photos and layout. It was fun.

There were a few pictures that didn't make it into print, so here they are. But you really need to see the work to appreciate, so stop in and take a look.

Investigators have released these images of the second robbery in three months at the Firstbank branch in Ashley. According to Michigan State Police Lt. Doug Wright, the suspect entered the bank wearing a dark-colored ski mask and told the tellers something like "get down on the floor and no one will be hurt."

The man then jumped the counter and removed an undisclosed amount of cash from the tellers' drawers.

There was no weapon seen by the three bank employees on duty, and the man did not imply he had one, Wright said. The suspect is described as a white male about 5 feet, 10 inches tall with a thin build. He was wearing blue jeans with multiple holes in the left pant leg; red and black checkered long sleeve flannel shirt; gray tennis-style shoes with white and yellow stripes, and red winter gloves with a black stripe.



“The track led to the edge of the road where the suspect possibly had a vehicle waiting,” Wright said. However, no vehicle was seen and the direction of travel is unknown. The method used and the culprit’s physical description are almost identical to that of the first robbery that took place on Tuesday, Nov. 24.

A white Oldsmobile was struck on its passenger side after turning left from M-20 onto Chippewa Road on Monday afternoon. The accident shut down M-20 in both directions at the accident scene and a FlightCare helicopter was brought in to airlift the passenger of the Oldsmobile to St. Mary's of Saginaw.



Sun Photographs by RYAN EVON

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A garage was fully engulfed in flames on Monday morning after an attempt to thaw a frozen water pipe went awry. Mount Pleasant Fire Department responded and the fire was put out. The house, which was not attached to the garage, sustained no damage.


Sun Photographs by RYAN EVON