The Munising Beacon

By Melissa Wentarmini Associate Editor Munising City Commissioner Brice Burge has resigned after roughly two years on the commission, citing changes at his employer that he said will significantly reduce his income and interfere with his ability to attend city meetings. The commission formally accepted his resignation and declared the seat vacant during its meeting Monday night.

By Melissa WentarminiAssociate Editor Erich Fix has spent a decade at the Alger Transit Authority, beginning as a bus driver before moving through dispatch and operations and eventually becoming executive director. From behind the wheel and inside the Altran office, he has watched the transit authority become part of the daily operations of Alger County, carrying residents to places they cannot get to on their own.

By Melissa Wentarmini Associate Editor Libby Lewandowski was 22 when she launched The Dream Bean out of a vintage Volkswagen bus, hauling coffee to music festivals and teaching yoga in the mornings before working the bus all day. Ten years later, she’s bringing some of that festival spirit home. Stella Fest, a free community celebration marking The Dream Bean’s 10th anniversary, takes place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 23 at E21733 Braziel Street in Grand Marais.

By Melissa Wentarmini Associate Editor A combination of curiosity, humor and academic dedication has earned Superior Central High School senior Clay Horne recognition through the regional Excellence in Education scholarship program. The program, organized by Grow & Lead Community Youth Development, recognizes students in Marquette and Alger counties who demonstrate strong academic achievement, leadership and commitment to their communities.

By Melissa Wentarmini Associate Editor Every March, when winter feels endless and the snowbanks have hardened into gray walls along driveways, the Superior Dome fills with boats. For more than three decades, the U.P. Boat, Sport & RV Show has arrived as a kind of seasonal promise in Marquette — a reminder that Lake Superior will thaw, that docks will go back in and that summer in the Upper Peninsula is never as far away as it feels.

By Melissa Wentarmini Associate Editor The Munising City Commission addressed several infrastructure and policy issues during its March 4 meeting, including potential water rate increases, financing for a large lead service line replacement project and progress on a proposed land acquisition overlooking Munising Bay.

By Melissa Wentarmini Associate Editor Small businesses and nonprofits across Michigan, including those in rural and small-town communities, may still qualify for federal clean energy tax credits that can significantly reduce the cost of building upgrades and equipment purchases. According to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, several of the most accessible incentives begin phasing out in the next two years, with deadlines arriving as early as mid-2026.

By Melissa Wentarmini Associate Editor At the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center’s Veterans Day Hall of Heroes ceremony, the spotlight shone on a veteran whose story is woven into the fabric of Alger County. Michael Dugas of Munising — awarded two Bronze Stars for valor in Vietnam and known locally for decades of service to fellow veterans — was among the four honored this year.

By Melissa Wentarmini Associate Editor When Danielle Beverly picks up the phone in New Orleans, she’s already been up for hours — her day well underway before most people have finished breakfast. The contrast between her calm tone and the pace of her life says everything: She moves quickly, but never seems rushed. That balance of grace and determination defines her.

By Melissa Wentarmini Associate Editor Ask General Manager Jon Johnson what sets Timber Products’ new Munising Components facility apart, and he doesn’t start with robotics or scanners. He talks about people. “They’ve really embraced it,” he said. “We even had employees transfer departments just so they could work with the new technology.” That enthusiasm, Johnson said, is what makes the new facility feel less like a departure from Timber Products’ legacy and more like its evolution.