Community

Michigan wildlife regulators have set the number of black bear hunting tags for the next two years, resulting in a decrease in available licenses. The Michigan Natural Resources Commission has voted to establish the number of kill tags for hunters participating in the annual bear hunt lottery. The state will sell several hundred fewer licenses than last year. However, wildlife officials expect the number of bears killed in the seasonal hunt to increase.

Planting native has a wide variety of benefits. Whether it’s planting a white oak, grey dogwood shrub, or one of our many varieties of apple trees, native perennials provide a multitude of services. They add to wildlife habitat for birds, pollinators, and mammals as well as producing treats for us to consume (like fruits and nuts). They also have improved plant survival, increase diversity, and support our cherished pollinators. Local tree planting projects also help reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide.

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Have you heard about cover crops but not aren’t sure what that term means, what purpose they serve, or how to use them within your garden or agricultural cropping system? Cover crops are a “temporary” crop grown to improve soil health and fertility; they are not grown for consumption. Cover cropping has been a strategy used by farmers since ancient times and there are many reasons to incorporate this farming technique today. Cover crops can increase soil fertility and organic matter, improve soil structure and water infiltration, prevent soil erosion, benefit pollinator species, and limit pest and disease outbreaks.

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Spending more time with family and friends, exercising more, learning a new skill or hobby, saving money, living life to the fullest – according to GoSkills.com, these are among the top 10 most common resolutions people make as the calendar flips to a brand new year.

Dear readers, After a month of various holiday events celebrating local culture, business and religion, the holiday season is winding down with one last push to the end of the year. Groups have worked hard to make this year’s festivities mean even more, by returning to in-person events after the pandemic. Others have stood by those needing a helping hand or giving emotional support for those celebrating a holiday without a loved one for the first time.

The holidays are quickly approaching, with numerous programs, church services, end-of-semester concerts and more occurring in Alger County next week. “School concerts, breakfast with Santa, hot cocoa, sledding and snowball fights are all parts of the holiday magic that I want to make sure my children remember when they grow up.