Sheriff requests hunters’ help in search for missing Munising woman

By Jennifer Champagne Managing Editor

With firearm deer season starting this weekend, Alger County Sheriff Todd Brock is asking local hunters to stay alert for any potential clues in the ongoing search for Starla Goings, 65, who has been missing since Aug. 15. Brock said that while the investigation remains active, hunters are uniquely positioned to notice signs in remote areas that may otherwise go unseen.

“If you’re out in the woods and see anything unusual — clothing, a vehicle part, a personal item — please don’t touch it. Mark the location and call us immediately,” Brock said. “We continue to hope that someone will come across something that helps us bring answers to Starla’s family.”

Goings’ orange 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan was found Aug. 17 near the intersection of Sixteen Mile Lake Road and M-94. Despite extensive searches by deputies, state police and volunteers, she remains missing. This continues to be treated as a missing person case with suspicion of foul play, Brock said.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Alger County Sheriff’s Office at 906-387-7030.

Author

Jennifer Champagne is co-publisher and managing editor of The Munising Beacon, her hometown newspaper, which she purchased in August 2025. She leads community-focused coverage across Alger County while continuing to write in-depth features on Michigan’s people, history, businesses, culture and natural resources. In the 2025 Michigan Press Association contest, the first in which The Beacon received awards, Champagne earned first place in education and school news, second place in business news, second place in feature story writing and an honorable mention in news enterprise reporting. The newspaper received 14 awards overall, including second place for Newspaper of the Year.

Champagne is an award-winning journalist, filmmaker and visual effects professional with more than 30 years of experience. Her reporting has appeared in publications including Bridge Michigan, VFX Voice, Animation Magazine, Millimeter Magazine, UPWord Michigan and Marquette Monthly. Her film work has earned multiple honors, including an Emmy for visual effects and also a regional Emmy Award nomination for directing.