Three new murals that pay homage to the area’s history can now be found in Munising.

Nestled in the heart of the Hiawatha National Forest and overlooking beautiful Hovey Lake is the Buckhorn Resort, a popular year-round destination and family-owned business since 1933.

The Bear Trap, a beloved restaurant in Alger County located at the junction of H-58 and H-15 near the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, reopened on March 31 under new ownership. Frank and Lana Heyrman, who owned the business for the last 38 years, retired in January after selling it to Krey and Dawn Gordon.

Willie and Nancy Peterson, owners of The Munising News, announced earlier this month that they’re ceasing publication of the 125-year-old weekly newspaper along with the Alger County Shopper on March 31. The office supply store building at 132 E. Superior St. in downtown Munising, which the Petersons operate in conjunction with the papers, will also close.

Hoover’s Tree Service of the Marquette area and Rainbow Charters of Grand Marais are the newest members of the Alger County Chamber of Commerce.

The Alger County Chamber is proud to announce two of its newest members: Otter Lake Campground and Pictured Rocks Cabins.

The top level of the building that houses Harley-Davidson in downtown Munising is undergoing a complete restoration that will include three one-bedroom apartments, two of which will be reserved for low- to moderate-income households.

Alger County businesses are typically preparing for a busy snowmobile and ice climbing season this time of the year. However, with warmer winter conditions and the cancelation of large events like Michigan Ice Fest, the Trenary Outhouse Classic, and the Long Riders Relic Ride, our area – like many others – has seemed pretty quiet lately.

Winter enthusiasts have even more ground to explore near the Munising area as new snowshoe and fat tire biking trails have recently been developed.

The Alger County Chamber office was able to reward over 50 people this holiday season through its shop local campaign, Rekindle Grand Giveaway

The Munising Downtown Development Authority last week revealed the winners of its 2020 Downtown Business Decorating Contest.

On Nov. 2, the Munising School Public Library hosted a virtual event where Michael Stone, author of “A Far Different Path”, discussed his book which entails the fascinating and true story of his grandmother’s experience in the U.P. during World War I and the 1918 Flu Pandemic.

Rekindle the Spirit, Munising’s annual winter holiday celebration, is going virtual this year.

With many organizations relying heavily on tourism dollars in the greater Munising area, there were plenty of uncertainties earlier this year regarding the local economy as the world navigated through the COVID-19 pandemic.

I met Koda when he was 11-months-old and a resident at the Alger County Animal Shelter – his third time temporarily housed at a humane society in the Upper Peninsula. Two weeks later, and after two home visits, he moved into my house to live with me, my partner, and a cat named Goat, forever.

After months of brainstorming with local historians, a graphic designer, and staff from our office, Maritime Munising – the newest placemaking project from the Alger County Chamber of Commerce/Greater Munising Bay Partnership and Munising Downtown Development Authority was installed in September by Signs Now of Negaunee.

There’s something daunting yet romantic about lighthouses and I had never visited this one before. Surprising, as I’ve lived in the U.P. most of my life, but amazing most of all how there’s still so much to see in this peninsula.

Ever since COVID-19 swept across the globe and physical distancing regulations were put in place, organizations like our office have held meetings online instead of in person to ensure the safety of everyone. While it has certainly been a learning curve, virtual meetings have presented not only interesting opportunities but effective ones as well.

Applications regarding a second round of grant funding for small Michigan businesses negatively impacted by COVID-19 are now available with a deadline of Aug. 5.