News and events of Michigan’s Upper Thumb that are worth knowing in the region.
Here are some of the top stories.
The Bruce Mansion near Brown City now offers scheduled daytime visits, overnight investigations and private events inside one of Michigan’s best-known reputedly haunted landmarks.
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Long before Michigan had county seats and surveyed townships, Native communities had villages, fishing stations, sugar camps, farm fields, trade routes and ceremonial places across the Great Lakes. The record is especially rich around Saginaw Bay and the Thumb.
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Michigan plug-in solar could give homeowners and renters a cheaper way to generate electricity without a costly rooftop system. HB 5764 would remove advance utility approval for qualifying systems, but lawmakers face questions about electrical safety, utility rules, consumer savings and how the technology fits Michigan homes.
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Port Hope ABC Day returns Saturday, Aug. 15, with a mix of local history and small-town tradition. This year’s celebration includes a historic duck decoy shed dedication, vintage cars, bean soup, museum tours, outdoor vendors and a vintage base ball game along Lake Huron.
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The Bay City Mural Festival returns Aug. 11-16 with six days of public art, community painting and youth activities. The festival’s featured Paint the Park celebration Aug. 13 will include live music, food, fundraising events and opportunities for residents to help create new artwork.
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Huron Community Fair 2026 returns to Bad Axe Aug. 9-15 with livestock shows, rides, live music, ATV racing, truck races
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The Barnes-Hecker Mine Disaster struck near Ishpeming on Nov. 3, 1926, when a collapse sent water, mud and rock into the underground workings. Fifty-one men died. Only Wilfred Wills escaped, climbing an 800-foot ladder as the mine filled beneath him.
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About 700 classic cars, hot rods and vintage dragsters are expected at the Tri-City Dragway Car Show on Aug. 8 at MBS International Airport in Freeland.
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Follow five towns along northern Saginaw Bay where timber, rivers, railroads, gypsum, cheese and tourism shaped local life. This Michigan history hub gathers videos, photographs, supporting articles and travel stops from Pinconning through Omer, Au Gres and Alabaster to Tawas Bay.
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A 15-year-old boy died after his e-bike struck a cable across a business driveway in Verona Township. Police said the riders had no lights and were traveling faster than 25 mph.
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