Prescribed Burn NoticeFree Access
Amy Hensel | May 19, 2022
Prescribed burn scheduled for May 19 in Oscoda County A prescribed burn scheduled today in Oscoda County’s Comins Township is expected to restore native species in a pine barrens ecosystem. Start time is around 11 a.m. and the burn will cover roughly 144 acres. Prescribed...
New wave of COVID-19 transmissions prompt personal safety considerationsFree Access
Amy Hensel | May 19, 2022
With proms, band concerts, and graduations happening, District Health Department No. 2 (DHD2) asks the public to make informed decisions as they celebrate spring, youth, and achievements. The region continues to see high transmission rates with the BA.2 variant. “Although still much lower than during...
Mio AuSable Schools selects superintendentFree Access
Amy Hensel | May 18, 2022
Mio AuSable Schools Board of Education unanimously approved a resolution to begin contract negotiations with Marvin Taylor to serve as the district’s Superintendent of Schools. Taylor is currently the elementary principal and curriculum director Athens Area Schools. Taylor’s selection followed an extensive process to gather...
Jammin’ in Comins
Amy Hensel | May 11, 2022
Treat yourself to an evening of live music and help Open Mike Productions take care of the Comins schoolhouse. Come to the Jamboree Saturday, May 21, beginning at 5 p.m. Admission to the jamboree is $10; hot dogs, chips and a beverage are included. Open...

Digging into spring
Amy Hensel | May 11, 2022
FAIRVIEW — Students at Fairview Eagles Nest Preschool were busy last week making Mother’s Day gifts to take home. The children painted original designs on flowerpots one day and transplanted pansies into them the next. Oops! An active online subscription is required to access...

Seen a black bear lately?
Amy Hensel | April 27, 2022
Every spring, conversations are all a buzz about sightings of black bears as they come out of hibernation and visit the backyard bird feeders. Yes, black bear love bird food and will take down your feeders unless you have them placed out of reach. A...

Eggs-tra help for student travelers
Amy Hensel | April 13, 2022
MIO — The Easter Bunny made an early appearance at Mio AuSable Schools Saturday, Apr. 9 at a breakfast to benefit students planning an overseas trip. Pancakes and sausages were prepared and served by the students. The children attending could have their picture taken with...

Need a fishing pole? Check it out at the library.
Amy Hensel | March 29, 2022
Patrons of the Oscoda County Library are now able to borrow more than books. The library now has a Library of Things. “It is something that I have wanted to do for a long time,” director Amy Knepp said. “Before COVID, I put something on...
Eagles take second at home invitational
Amy Hensel | May 11, 2022
FAIRVIEW — Fairview’s varsity teams placed second against 16 schools at the Fairview Track & Field invitational May 3. Fairview boys took second with 104 points against Lincoln-Alcona,128. The girls’ team also placed second with 106.5 points against Alcona, 130.5. Jynessa Larsen took first in...
Eagles tee off, finally
Amy Hensel | April 27, 2022
The Fairview Area Schools golf team came in second Apr. 21 at its first meet of the season. Fairview hosted Gaylord St. Mary, Johannesburg-Lewiston and Mancelona. The meet was played at Cedar Valley in Comins, the Fairview’s home course. The young golfers play there at...
Fairview track takes off
Amy Hensel | April 27, 2022
The Fairview Area schools track team got off to a good start. The Eagles competed against Au Gres-Sims, Hale, Hillman and Posen at the North Star League Little Dipper Jamboree in Hale Apr. 12. “The girls tied with Posen,” coach Don Haskin said. “The boys...
Lady Bolts ready to play
By Kelli McDonald, Mio AuSable Schools softball coach | April 13, 2022
The Mio AuSable softball season is underway. With frigid temperatures, snowflakes, spring break and freezing rain, we have yet to be outside. The girls are itching to get out and toss a ball around. Our team is led by four seniors — Faith Schanck, Karmen...
Student athletes honored
Amy Hensel | March 23, 2022
Four Oscoda County athletes received All-Conference honors for the 2021-2022 season. Sophomore Jessie Ross of Fairview Area Schools was named to the varsity girls’ basketball second team in the Little Dipper division of the North Star League. Three juniors from the Mio...
Next steps
By Jocelyn Garza | May 18, 2022
It’s the time of year when young adults start looking forward to the next step in their life. They can see the light at the end of the tunnel while also reflecting on the hard work they put in to get themselves to that point....
Misinformation crisis
Mandi Hecht | May 11, 2022
Are cat litter boxes installed in public school bathrooms to help those who identify as cats or "furries" feel more included? This conversation occurred at a family gathering on Mother's Day last Sunday. Someone started the conversation by saying that this is happening in schools...
Spring thoughts turn to voting?
Amy Hensel | May 5, 2022
Spring is late this year. Actually, spring arrived at the usual time in March, but the weather just hasn’t caught up yet. There is a faint verdant haze on the meadow, but I’ve been waking up to diamonds of frost instead of emerald-green grass. The...
Time to plant the trees
Amy Hensel | May 11, 2022
OSCODA COUNTY — Customers gathered at the Oscoda County Fairgrounds May 7 to shop at the Grow Show and to pick up items they had pre-ordered from the Oscoda County Conservation District. Sales day-of the show were down compared to previous years but overall, results...
Bearing hard times together
It’s nice to know somebody’s thinking about youAmy Hensel | April 27, 2022
A cancer diagnosis and the ensuing treatment is very frightening. The Mio United Methodist Women are on a mission to offer tangible comfort to cancer patients. They give bears to the patients. Very special bears. “We make them with tender loving care,” Rosemary Locher said...
Make blood donation part of your schedule
Amy Hensel | March 29, 2022
Mio AuSable schools is hosting a blood drive Monday, Apr. 11, 12-5:45 p.m. “We do six of them per year,” faculty advisor Raquel Rondo said. “We do two during the summer and four during the school year.” The previous blood drive at MAS was Feb....
Building bots in Fairview
Amy Hensel | March 16, 2022
The middle school robotics class at Fairview Area Schools are assembling bots to be used in competitions with students from other schools. “I’m working on this buggy that can go through a series of trials,” Avery Conklin said. “I’m working on the three motors and...
Purple heart Auxiliary piecing a quilt in memory of veteransFree Access
Amy Hensel | March 16, 2022
A picture of your beloved veteran could be in the Memorial Day Parade in our nation’s capital. The Military Order of the Purple Heart Auxiliary is accepting photos for its first ever Memorial Quilt. MOPHA is creating a quilt using photos contributed by families and...
Death Notice – Richard Henry Vigor
Died May 18, 2022Staff | May 19, 2022
Richard Henry Vigor, age 63, of Luzerne, Michigan, passed away at his home Wednesday, May 18, 2022. Arrangements by Lashley Funeral Home, Mio.

Frank Engel
Died April 28, 2022Staff | May 17, 2022
Frank A. Engel, age 59, of Mio, Michigan, passed away at Horizon Assisted Living in St. Helen, Michigan on Thursday, April 28, 2022. He had lived there after having a bad stroke six years ago. Frank was born in Pontiac, Michigan on March 23, 1963,...
Theresa M. Hartsig
Died May 11, 2022Staff | May 13, 2022
Theresa M. Hartsig, age 71, passed away on Wednesday, May 11, 2022, at The Villa at Rose City. She was born on April 28, 1951, in Detroit, Michigan to Walter J. Sr. and Veronica F. (Manley) Salens. Theresa and her husband Michael had lived in...
Death Notice – Bruce Norman Lesko
Died May 9, 2022Staff | May 11, 2022
Bruce Norman Lesko, age 60, of Comins, Michigan, passed away on Monday, May 9, 2022, at his home. Arrangements by Lashley Funeral Home, Mio, MI.

Erin Lee Rang
Died April 24, 2022Staff | May 2, 2022
Erin Lee Rang, age 40, but also “39” forever, of Hale, Michigan, passed away unexpectedly on April 24, 2022, at her home in Hale. She was born on March 22, 1982, in Grayling, Michigan to Stanley Rang and the late Peggy Ehlers. Erin was a...