January 2025

Mary Jayne Hallifax

Our dear mother, mentor and friend, Mary Jayne Hallifax, age 96, moved on to her heavenly home to join family and friends on Jan. 4, 2025. Mary Jayne was born Jan. 3, 1929, in Marquette, Michigan, to Oliver and Margaret (Gaspar) Shampine. Mary Jayne spent her entire life in her hometown of Munising, attending Sacred Heart Grade School and graduating from William G. Mather High School in 1946 as valedictorian of her class, which she frequently reminded her children. Her membership on the committee for “The Torch,” the first yearbook published at Mather since the late 1920s, helped shape her history in becoming Alger County’s pictorial historian. When the yearbook staff was looking for someone to supply the candid photos, Lucille Buckley, the school secretary and avid photographer, sought out a student to help develop film and print pictures. This opportunity introduced Mom to the world of photography. From there, her family can hardly recall a day when Mom did not have a camera anchored around her neck.
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Rhonda Lassila: Trailblazer

When Munising’s trails call, Rhonda Lassila answers — not just with her footsteps, but with a wheels-on-the-ground purpose rooted in her love for this community. As president of the Munising Bay Trail Network, Lassila has been instrumental in transforming the area into a hub for outdoor recreation, a mission that blends her personal connection to Munising with a vision for its future.
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Bringing history to life

Munising author Chloe Platias has swiftly carved a niche for herself in the world of children’s and young adult literature with her creative approach to history. At just 23 years old, Platias is the author, illustrator and self-publisher of four children’s books and one young adult book, blending her passion for history with engaging storytelling.
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