Spring in Alger County
Munising - It appears the the winter grasp has let its clutches go in Alger County, and spring is is full swing. This past week seen lots of warm weather, with a few days of chilly temperatures.

Did anyone remember seeing a ground hog shadow this year?

Boat arrives on December 25, 2004/ Photo by Jake Verbunker Moving the ice aside as it passes the Old East Channel Light House, the Coal Boat Oglebay Norton Marine heads into Munising Bay with a load of Coal for the Neenah Paper Mill, its last load of the season.

Gas Prices settle in Alger County
Alger County - Service stations across the Upper Peninsula have increased in Gasoline prices at the pump. Alger County has never been immune to price gouging, but gas prices have rose to a keen 3.03 per gallon during the first days of May. Could it be the Oil spill in the gulf ?


Munising: It was April 14, 9:30 p.m.  Tony Grahovac and his wife were driving home.  In front of them in the road stood what they thought was a deer; then their headlights hit it. 

"It walked up about ten more yards and turned completely broadside, and we could see it very clearly.  And there's no doubt in my mind that it was a cougar," said Grahovac.

He says he parked his truck and got out with a flashlight.  Twenty yards in front of him was a cougar.  Grahovac immediately called the DNRE.

"It's a wild animal, I believe, and I don't think they should be messed with because they could be potentially dangerous," Grahovac stated.

By the time the DNRE official got there, the cougar was gone.  Grahovac didn't get any photographs, but he went back the next morning, retraced his steps, and came across several paw prints--what he claims are cougar tracks.  The DNRE says they can't confirm that.

"Because we don't have that hard evidence, I won't call it a definitive.  But there's a high probability.  In addition, I know the individual that made the report.  I know him to be honest, and there's no reason to question his integrity," said Terry Minzey, DNRE Wildlife Specialist.

The DNRE has also been back to the site, but without a picture, they may never be able to say for sure if what Grahovac and his wife saw that night was indeed a cougar.

"We've done about as much as we can.  We've been out on the site.  We have no idea if this was an animal that was passing through or if this was an animal that has decided to try to set up shop here," Minzey said.

Grahovac says the cat that he saw was about knee high or a little bit taller.  It was between four and four-and-a-half feet long and had a two to two-and-a-half foot long tail. 

If you ever suspect that you've spotted a cougar, you're asked to call your local DNRE office.