Be sure to read The Passenger Pigeon in Michigan from Michigan History Magazine.

Mini-obit of the day: Michigan J. Frog, icon of WB has apparently met a tragic end.

Nickel Mine Generating Controversy
The Great Lakes Radio Consortium has an excellent radio feature on the controversy surrounding a proposed nickel mine near the shores of Lake Superior, north of Marquette, near Big Bay. Also includes a link to The Science of Acid Mine Drainage and Passive Treatment.

Headed for the Huckleberry Woods
The Traverse City Record-Eagle has a nice feature by outdoor writer Bruce Bischoff about the pursuit of huckleberries (wild blueberries). It's an engaging read and talks about how (in days gone by) some folks depended on wild berry picking for income and gives an idea of what the experience was like.

Michigan Counties Experiment with Soybean Fuel
The Lansing State Journal reports that under grants from the Frankenmuth-based Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee, Eaton, Ionia and five other counties will experiment with use of cleaner-burning biodiesel fuel during the next year. The committee will give each road commission up to $10,000 this year to cover the cost difference between biodiesel and petroleum diesel. If successful, the program would create an additional market for Michigan-grown soybeans.
Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee web site

Republican Rep Rejects Call for Film Fest Boycott
Detroit News columnist George Weeks writes that although Michael Moore, helped raise money for his Democratic opponent, freshman Rep. Kevin Elsenheimer has rejected calls by fellow conservatives for a boycott of the Moore-organized five-day Traverse City Film Festival that starts tomorrow. Elsenheimer noted that tourism is the life blood of his area and recommended leaving politics for elections.
Also see What AFR objects to in the Traverse City Record-Eagle
Traverse City Film Festival web site

The UP's Wooden Cannon Maker
The Mining Journal has a feature on Marquette/Big Bay area cannon maker David Niven. Niven claims his Superior Cannon Company is the only one in the world making wooden cannons that are functional. The cannons cost anywhere from $300 to $20,000 and Niven estimates he can complete a cannon in about a month.

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