(WPBN/WGTU) — One week after a devastating ice storm thousands of residents in Montmorency County remain without power leaving nearly 6,000 homes waiting for electricity to be restored Francis of Assisi Catholic Church with his wife and so we’ve been staying here at the shelter for the past few days," Van Pelt said "I tried to take my family down to Rose City Local businesses have stepped up to assist those in need "We’ve gotten a couple pallets of water from the state five-gallon buckets with lids to transport water He noted that the governor visited two days ago and expressed optimism about receiving more resources "I’m now more confident that we’re going to get the resources we need," he said Smith does not expect power to be fully restored for another two weeks the bar and the church are crucial in supporting families like the Van Pelts you should get your baby and your wife out of here you don’t know when the power is coming back on and that’s not a place to bring your baby.’ I kind of feel like a failure Maybe the power will come back on tomorrow and I can keep my wife and son with me." ALPENA — At the Alpena Public Schools board meeting Monday night Alpena-Montmorency-Alcona Educational Service District (AMA ESD) Superintendent Justin Gluesing spoke to the board about the SOAR partnership at Ella White Elementary School SOAR is an acronym used at Ella White to enforce positive behavior The SOAR room is primarily a behavior support classroom Students who use the SOAR room have Individualized Education Programs A student’s IEP will determine whether the SOAR classroom is suitable for their particular needs When a student first starts in the SOAR room Once staff determine that a student would benefit from more time in a general education setting they will help the student make that transition This is the second full year of the program at APS only APS students are able to use the SOAR classroom but Gluesing hopes to expand that opportunity to the other districts in the AMA ESD Gluesing is seeking the approval of the boards of education at Hillman Community Schools to bring the SOAR room into AMA’s fold If all the school districts vote to approve this initiative they will all be able to utilize the SOAR room The AMA would be responsible for staffing and oversight of the program It would function similarly to the Pied Piper school “It’s a similar sort of relationship in terms of how we would transition to take over the SOAR room program at Ella White,” Gluesing said during Monday night’s board meeting Gluesing also hopes to renovate the SOAR room “We hope to evaluate and consider some options for renovating the space,” Gluesing said “Some of you I know have visited Pied Piper where we’ve gone through a renovation of that space over this past summer… we see that there is a potential opportunity for that as well for the existing classroom where the SOAR room is and the adjacent spaces nearby “I do want to extend my thanks to Dr and of course Stacy Moors for all of their work along with Ashley behind the scenes,” Gluesing said “…Provided we get all the approvals we’ve agreed really to work hand in hand as we work through this transition.” APS Superintendent Dave Rabbideau thanked Gluesing for being responsive to the needs of APS there’s always been a misalignment between AMA and APS and I just remember saying ‘I’m excited to have Justin be taking over AMA because he understands APS,'” Rabbideau said “I’ve looked forward to a new era and really thank you because you have been very responsive to the needs of not only APS but all the other districts,” Rabbideau said “And this is a huge step forward in our relationship with partnering together on a program that is desperately needed not just in APS but all across AMA and well beyond those boundaries as well Today's breaking news and more in your inbox Copyright © 2025 Alpena News Publishing Company | https://www.thealpenanews.com | 130 Park Place You will also start receiving the Star's free morning newsletter Montmorency—Charlevoix 2025 federal election live results. Browse live results for all 343 ridings 253 of 253 polls are reporting as of 4:19 p.m. Follow our full coverage of the 2025 federal election 253 of 253 polls are reporting as of 4:19 p.m. Follow our full coverage of the 2025 federal election is projected to win in Montmorency—Charlevoix is in second place with 19,697 votes (33.3%) and Alex Ouellet-Bélanger Desbiens has represented the riding since 2019 Montmorency—Charlevoix used to be named Beauport—Côte-de-Beaupré—Île d’Orléans—Charlevoix The riding’s boundaries were updated for the 2025 federal election 20,020 voters cast ballots at advance polls Looking for another riding? Here are the full results for the 2025 federal election. The Liberals have 169 races called in their favour They have 8,535,128 votes and 43.69 per cent of the popular vote The Conservatives have 144 races called in their favour They have 8,059,938 votes and 41.26 per cent of the popular vote The Bloc Québécois have 22 races called in their favour They have 1,232,095 votes and 6.31 per cent of the popular vote The New Democrats have seven races called in their favour They have 1,231,198 votes and 6.3 per cent of the popular vote The Greens have one race called in their favour They have 243,471 votes and 1.25 per cent of the popular vote There were three independents and four vacancies in the 338-seat Commons the Commons has grown by five ridings starting with this election This article was automatically generated using data provided by Canadian Press and will update as riding results become available Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account In the wake of historic ice storms that swept across northern Michigan last week, thousands of people in Montmorency County are still without power. As of Tuesday afternoon, over 6,700 households have no electricity, that's over 63% of the northeast Michigan county, according poweroutage.us. The Montmorency County Emergency Management Department have released a new update on where residents can seek warmth and shelter The post also includes info on other food distribution locations.The following locations have laundry and shower services The Atlanta Chamber of Commerce have also shared a list of emergency distribution centers that will be open over the course of the week A list of additional warming shelters, and other places to get help in the region can be found here. MI – A Michigan man accused of impersonating an emergency responder said he was “going to a call” when stopped by officers The Department of Natural Resources said that Douglas Allen Smith pleaded not guilty in the Montmorency County 88th District Court on April 11 Smith faces several charges including unlawful use of fire department/emergency medical services emblems possessing a firearm in the commission of a felony and carrying a concealed weapon The charges stem from an incident that occurred when a conservation officer was patrolling in Albert Township on Feb The officer was passed by what appeared to be a fire emergency vehicle had the words “Search and Rescue” on the side The vehicle was recklessly traveling at a high speed around cars and through intersections red and white emergency lights are used for emergency vehicles while only law enforcement vehicles display blue lights The CO confirmed with Montmorency County Dispatch that there was not an active fire or EMS call in the county Smith pulled into the parking lot of Lewiston Fun Ones a closed venue located on County Road 489 “going to a call,” but it was called off The CO verified that Smith was not affiliated with any emergency response agency in Michigan and located an uncased pistol in the vehicle A report was submitted to prosecutors and Smith was arrested on March 21 ©2025 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit mlive.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Republican Linsey Rogers ran for treasurer in Montmorency County — and won as the only listed candidate, according to information posted on the county website Rogers also ran for school board in the Montmorency community of Atlanta — and won there finishing third out of three candidates for three board seats in the community in Michigan's northern Lower Peninsula The double victories for Rogers are now the subject of litigation They also came up at Friday's meeting of the Board of State Canvassers in Lansing where Assistant Attorney General Heather Meingast said the twin victories for Rogers appeared to be in violation of Michigan law related to incompatible public offices Meingast told board members they don't have jurisdiction to get involved in such an issue She advised the board to certify the Michigan election and allow the situation to be addressed elsewhere nobody can simultaneously hold two public offices that are deemed incompatible Montmorency Clerk Cheryl Neilsen said the current treasurer sued in Montmorency County Circuit Court over Rogers' double candidacy and lost The case is now before the Michigan Court of Appeals She declined to say whether she had made a determination about whether the two offices were incompatible but she addressed her double candidacies in an Oct Rogers said she's not convinced the two offices are incompatible her name should not have appeared twice on the county ballot Rogers said if the positions are found to be incompatible she is prepared to give up her school board position to serve as county treasurer State law says public offices are incompatible if one is subordinate to the other or if performing the duties of one public office can create a breach of duty related to the other public office Running for two incompatible offices could potentially disqualify a candidate from both "The two positions of Montmorency County treasurer and the Atlanta School Board of Education have not been proven to be incompatible," Rogers said on Facebook MIGOP: After Trump taps Hoekstra for ambassadorship, state Republicans will have to find new leadership again In a statement that didn't appear consistent with the rest of her Oct Rogers said in the same Facebook message that she had abandoned her candidacy for the school board even though her name would appear on the ballot Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Advance Local Weather AlertsOn Saturday at 11:06 a.m EST an updated winter storm warning was issued by the National Weather Service in effect until Sunday at 7 a.m Additional snow accumulations between 2 and 8 inches "Plan on slippery road conditions," describes the weather service and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency." Winter weather can make driving treacherous leading to over 6,000 weather-related vehicle fatalities and over 480,000 injuries each year When traveling during snow or freezing rain it's safest to assume that icy conditions exist on roadways and adjust your driving accordingly Be cautious of ice accumulating on power lines or tree branches which can lead to snapping and falling hazards opt for routes with fewer trees and power lines and immediately dial 911 if you come across one Here are additional winter driving tips from the weather service: When traveling out of town in hazardous winter weather inform your family or friends of your destination Ensure your gas tank is full and equip your vehicle with essential winter supplies such as a windshield scraper Inform someone about your situation and location Indicate that you need assistance by attaching a cloth to your car's antenna or mirror and make your vehicle more visible by using the dome light and flashers Keep an eye out for snow plows and provide them with ample room to pass Only overtake a plow when you have a clear view of the road ahead check the latest road conditions to make informed travel decisions These winter driving tips from the weather service are your key to a safer journey on snow-covered roads you can significantly reduce the risk of accidents and ensure your well-being during challenging winter weather Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, (updated 8/1/2024) and acknowledgement of our Privacy Policy, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/1/2025) © 2025 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us) The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of Advance Local Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here Ad Choices Sign In Register The male subject is described as a white male approximately 60 years old, curly white hair, with a distinct larger size nose. The man was driving a pristine white passenger van with no markings or equipment. If anyone has any information that could help identify the suspect or vehicle, contact the MSP Alpena Post at (989) 354-4101. Downed tree branches and a power line after an ice storm, Monday, March 31, 2025, in Alpena, Mich. (Steve Schulwitz/The Alpena News via AP) LANSING — In the wake of a days-long stretch of ice storms across Michigan, Governor Gretchen Whitmer declared a State of Emergency on March 31. “Today, I declared a state of emergency in ten counties to get help out the door as fast as possible for Michiganders hit by the ice storms in northern Michigan.” Governor Whitmer wrote in a press release. These counties include Otsego, Oscoda, Montmorency, Presque Isle, Emmet, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Crawford, Mackinac, and Alpena. The declaration will allow for the activation of the State of Emergency Operations Center. This will provide more resources for those needing shelter, emergency medical care, and power restoration. The State of Michigan will work with local officials and private parties to help with emergency relief. “My heart is with everyone who has been hit hard by the recent ice storm–and with those facing ongoing severe weather across the state,” Governor Whitmer said. In a subsequent press release, Congressman Jack Bergman (R-MI) praised Governor Whitmer for her decision. Following the multiple-day storms, 90,000 businesses and homes were left without power. Trees and branches fell and blocked roads, power lines snapped in the cold, and power poles were down. The effects of the sleet and freezing rain were so bad in some areas, a shelter-in-place order was issued. In Montmorency County, local authorities declared their own state of emergency on March 30, and announced, “All individuals are requested to shelter in place due to hazardous down power lines and debris for the next 24 hours. Only travel if you have an emergency.” Despite a slight temperature increase in the Keweenaw, more snow, sleet, and freezing rain is expected before the end of the week. Copyright © 2025 Ogden News Publishing of Michigan, Inc. | https://www.mininggazette.com | P.O. Box 368, Houghton, MI 49931 | 906-482-1500 Clinical Trail Registration:https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04467372, identifier: NCT04467372. Volume 8 - 2021 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2021.733057 This article is part of the Research TopicPolyphenols and their Impact on Human Health And Performance: Plant PowerView all 3 articles Tart cherries possess properties that may reduce inflammation and improve glycemic control however human data on supplementation and the gut microbiota is equivocal frozen) may affect the properties of tart cherries and therefore alter their efficacious health benefits the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of 30 days of supplementation with Montmorency tart cherry (MTC) in concentrate or freeze-dried form on the gut microbiome and markers of inflammation and glycemic control Healthy participants with no known disease (n = 58 body mass: 72.2 ± 12.9 kg) were randomly allocated to four groups and consumed either concentrate or freeze-dried capsules or their corresponding placebos for 30 days Venous blood samples were drawn at baseline and 30 and analyzed for inflammatory markers TNF-alpha and erythrocyte sedimentation rate and glycemic control markers glycated albumin TNF-alpha was significantly lower at 30 vs however there was no other significant change in the inflammatory markers Insulin was not changed over time (p = 0.16) or between groups (p = 0.24) nor was glycated albumin different over time (p = 0.08) or between groups (p = 0.56) however glucose levels increased (p < 0.001) from baseline (4.79 ± 1.00 mmol·L−1) to 14 days (5.21 ± 1.02 mmol·L−1) and 30 days (5.61 ± 1.22 mmol·L−1) but this was no different between groups (p = 0.33) There was no significant change in composition of bacterial phyla or subfamilies for the duration of this study nor was there a change in species richness These data suggest that 30 days of MTC supplementation does not modulate the gut microbiome Clinical Trail Registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04467372 Clearly there are equivocal findings in the literature related to gut microbiome changes with MTC that need further exploration given the potential health impacts results of polyphenol supplementation studies are equivocal and assessing different formulations is warranted Given these equivocal findings on changes in inflammation and glucose regulation with MTC supplementation the purpose of this study was to examine the effects of 30 days of supplementing with MTC concentrate or freeze-dried powder on the gut microbiome We hypothesized that the polyphenols in the MTC products would influence the gut microbiome composition which would modulate changes in inflammatory markers and glucose regulation Doses were in accordance with previous literature and to ensure similar levels of polyphenols and anthocyanins between formulations Two capsules were taken at the same time of day rather than spread out for easier compliance while it was 92% for placebo capsules and 94% for MTC capsules Following the consent visit and prior to their baseline blood draw participants completed a 12 month food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) that included portion sizes (Dietary History Questionnaire (DHQ) III National Cancer Institute) to determine typical dietary patterns (i.e. and fiber based on established dietary recommendations) participants completed a 3 day food record for 2 weekdays and 1 weekend day tracking food and beverage intake along with portion sizes Participants recorded their data in Food Prodigy a companion program to the Food Processor Nutrition Analysis software (ESHA Research) Data from the 3 days was then exported from the Food Processor Nutrition Analysis program as an excel file for each participant every 7 days during the course of the study participants completed an online survey regarding their exercise and dietary habits for the previous 7 days as well as the frequency of their intake of alcohol and the top 100 polyphenol containing foods Fecal samples were collected by participants into a toilet hat (Protocult 100 MN) and aliquoted into three Polypropylene microcentrifuge tubes that were free from DNase/RNase and pyrogens (Eppendorf™ Biopur®) Samples were immediately frozen at −20°C until delivery to the laboratory where they were stored at −80°C Samples were transported to the lab on ice (Utek IL) in a thermal insulated tote (Hopkins Medical Products Caledonia Reference range for CRP was 0.00–0.744 mg·dL−1 and 3.5 and 7.2 mg·dL−1 for males and females for UA Different covariance structures were systematically fit to the data and the one that minimized the Hurvich and Tsai's criterion was chosen for the final model post-hoc comparisons with LSD-adjusted p-values were used to identify which pairs of means were significantly different Normality and homogeneity of variance of the residuals were checked using Q-Q plots Two-tailed statistical significance was accepted as p < 0.05 Observed taxonomic units (OTUs) for (A) Bacteroides and (D) Proteobacteria at baseline and after 14 and 30 days of supplementation with placebo or Montmorency tart cherry (MTC) Correlations between the gut microbiome and other variables were mostly weak BMI was positively correlated with Lactobacillus OTUs (r = 0.21 relative abundance of Actinobacteria (r = 0.23 and relative abundance of Bacteroidetes (r = −0.25 Glucose levels were correlated with relative abundances of Bacteroidetes Roseburia OTUs were correlated with CRP (r = 0.19 Inflammatory markers including erythrocyte sedimentation rate (A) C-reactive protein (C) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (D) for each group at baseline and after 14 and 30 days of supplementation with placebo or Montmorency tart cherry (MTC) concentrate or capsules Glucose regulation markers including glycated albumin (A) and insulin (C) concentrations for each group at baseline and after 14 and 30 days of supplementation with placebo or Montmorency tart cherry (MTC) concentrate or capsules Consumption of the top 100 polyphenol containing foods were tracked weekly Total polyphenol consumption was 5,024 ± 4,599 for the MTC juice group 4,744 ± 2,387 for the MTC capsule group 2,519 ± 2,471 for the juice placebo group and 3,424 ± 3,278 for the capsule placebo group and this was not significant between MTC formulations (X2 = 5.43 and nutrient intake of participants (n = 51) in the 3-day food log The current study examined the effects of 30 days of supplementing with MTC concentrate or freeze-dried powder on gut microbiome composition We hypothesized that the polyphenols in tart cherry products would influence the gut microbiome composition we found no significant alterations in the gut microbiome and no significant impact of MTC supplementation on inflammation or glucose regulation When comparing pre-to post-intervention microbiota the authors determined the need to divide participants into groups based on the baseline relative abundance of Bacteroides ingestion of tart cherry juice resulted in a sharp decline in Bacteroides and an increase in Firmicutes (such as Ruminococcus while the opposite was seen in the low Bacteroides group with an increase in Bacteroides and decreases in Firmicutes (such as Streptococcus and Lachnospiraceae) These changes may have been due to the underlying diets of the participants as those in the low Bacteroides group consumed more carbohydrates and fibers and the high polyphenol intake from the tart cherry juice resulted in increases in Bacteroides to facilitate breakdown of these polyphenols When we divided our participants into groups based on high or low baseline levels of Bacteroides we noted significantly higher Bacteroides in the high vs low group at baseline and over the 30 days and no change in Firmicute levels we did not find any significant differences or changes in the other bacteria phyla or species even if the groups were divided by their baseline Bacteroides levels suggesting the need for long term dietary intervention future research should focus on detecting the sufficient time that bring the effective change in microbial composition from the intake of tart cherry supplementation It is also interesting to note that dietary intake of our participants did not seem to be a determining factor in whether or not the MTC supplementation altered microbial diversity Nearly 25% of our sample were considered to have high fat diets While this likely determined whether a participant had high or low levels of Bacteroidetes at baseline either the supplements did not provide enough of a stimulus for change or the participant's dietary patterns were too influential to bring about change This might indicate a need for greater changes in diet to see significant alterations in gut microbiome composition When inflammation is present in the body, red blood cells stick to one another and this results in greater sedimentation rates. While this is a non-specific marker of inflammation, it has been measured in two previous studies using tart cherry juice consumption (23, 36). While a 4 week intervention found a modest decline in ESR of 5% (23), another 4 week intervention actually found a 17% increase in ESR (36) as interestingly we found an average 11% increase in ESR over the course of the study and we did not find a significant difference in ESR between groups The average values for ESR were well within the normal ranges for the test indicating there was no measurable inflammation in our participants which differs from the two previous studies causing larger intra-individual variability (average CoV: 27%) potentially due to exercise and acute inflammation and suggest this might not be a marker to measure changes in inflammation with tart cherry supplementation in the future in healthy populations In the current study we also found a modest 2% decline in UA from baseline to 30 days however there was no significant difference in UA between groups the majority of the values for our participants were within the normal range however there was large intra-individual variability (average CoV: 30%) which likely played a role in the lack of significant findings however because we did not measure melatonin content we cannot be sure what caused TNF-α to increase in our study the results of this study indicate MTC supplementation in either concentrate or freeze-dried powder has little impact on inflammation in apparently healthy participants which may in part be due to a lack of sufficient inflammation in participants to observe any effect of the supplements supplementation may improve insulin sensitivity but this does not appear to translate to long-term benefits Our findings show an elevation in glucose without a rise in insulin which might indicate presence or development of insulin insensitivity indeed 16 individuals (28%) had a fasting glucose >100 mg·dL−1 (but <126 mg·dL−1) at baseline and an additional 5 participants had elevated glucose levels from 7 days onward the difference in sugar composition between the juice and capsule groups were significantly different (17.7 vs however there was no significant difference between groups in blood glucose regulation it appears unlikely the results are due to greater sugar intake from the supplements and further human intervention work with MTC supplements and blood glucose regulation are needed The current study hypothesized that the polyphenols in MTC products would influence the gut microbiome composition These results may partially be due to the use of a healthy population who did not have inflammatory conditions and thus future work may need to focus on clinical populations time point measurements for the gut microbiome may have missed changes in bacterial composition therefore additional time course analysis with more frequent measurements may be necessary to see if MTC has any impact on gut microbial composition The datasets presented in this study can be found in online repositories. The names of the repository/repositories and accession number(s) can be found below: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bioproject/PRJNA742936 The studies involving human participants were reviewed and approved by Ohio University Institutional Review Board at Ohio University (IRB protocol# 18-F-13) The patients/participants provided their written informed consent to participate in this study AH organized the database and wrote the first draft of the manuscript All authors contributed to manuscript revision This study was funded by a grant from The Cherry Marketing Institute The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher Olivia Trickett for their time and effort as research assistants for this project William Broach of the Ohio University Genomics Facility for the processing of the fecal samples The Supplementary Material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2021.733057/full#supplementary-material Diabetes atlas: global estimates of diabetes prevalence for 2017 and projections for 2045 Dietary polyphenols and type 2 diabetes: current insights and future perspectives Role of gut microbiota in type 2 diabetes pathophysiology Benefits of polyphenols on gut microbiota and implications in human health PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Diet rapidly and reproducibly alters the human gut microbiome Prebiotic evaluation of cocoa-derived flavanols in healthy humans by using a randomized Influence of red wine polyphenols and ethanol on the gut microbiota ecology and biochemical biomarkers Effect of proanthocyanidin-rich extract from grape seeds on human fecal flora and fecal odor Six-week consumption of a wild blueberry powder drink increases bifidobacteria in the human gut Impact of tart cherries polyphenols on the human gut microbiota and phenolic metabolites in vitro and in vivo The gut microbiota and host health: a new clinical frontier Processed tart cherry products-comparative phytochemical content in vitro antioxidant capacity and in vitro anti-inflammatory activity Low to moderate sugar-sweetened beverage consumption impairs glucose and lipid metabolism and promotes inflammation in healthy young men: a randomized controlled trial Consumption of sucrose-sweetened soft drinks increases plasma levels of uric acid in overweight and obese subjects: a 6-month randomised controlled trial Importance of glycans to the host-bacteroides mutualism in the mammalian intestine PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Montmorency tart cherry (Prunus cerasus L) concentrate lowers uric acid independent of plasma cyanidin-3-O-glucosiderutinoside Influence of tart cherry juice on indices of recovery following marathon running Effect of tart cherry juice on recovery and next day performance in well-trained Water Polo players Randomized double-blind crossover study of the efficacy of a tart cherry juice blend in treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee Acute ingestion of montmorency tart cherry reduces serum uric acid but has no impact on high sensitivity C-reactive protein or oxidative capacity Consumption of 100% tart cherry juice reduces serum urate in overweight and obese adults Acute reduction in blood pressure following consumption of anthocyanin-rich cherry juice may be dose-interval dependant: a pilot cross-over study Tart cherry concentrate does not alter the gut microbiome glycaemic control or systemic inflammation in a middle-aged population The inhibitory potential of Montmorency tart cherry on key enzymes relevant to type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease The effects of montmorency tart cherry juice supplementation and FATMAX exercise on fat oxidation rates and cardio-metabolic markers in healthy humans Impact of tart cherry juice on systolic blood pressure and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in older adults: a randomized controlled trial Review of analytical methods and reporting of the polyphenol content of tart cherry supplements in human supplementation studies investigating health and exercise performance effects: recommendations for good practice (2021) 8:652094: doi: 10.3389/fnut.2021.652094 Homeostasis model assessment: insulin resistance and beta-cell function from fasting plasma glucose and insulin concentrations in man Host: microbiome co-metabolic processing of dietary polyphenols - An acute cross-over study with different doses of apple polyphenols in healthy subjects The intestinal microbiome: a separate organ inside the body with the metabolic potential to influence the bioactivity of botanicals 16S rRNA gene sequencing and healthy reference ranges for 28 clinically relevant microbial taxa from the human gut microbiome Linking long-term dietary patterns with gut microbial enterotypes Effect of diet on the gut microbiota: rethinking intervention duration Authentic tart cherry juice reduces markers of inflammation in overweight and obese subjects: a randomized Pilot studies of cherry juice concentrate for gout flare prophylaxis CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar inflammatory conditions and cardiovascular disease risk Effect of a tart cherry juice supplement on arterial stiffness and inflammation in healthy adults: a randomised controlled trial Montmorency tart cherry juice decreases bone resorption in women aged 65-80 years Consumption of cherries lowers plasma urate in healthy women Sweet bing cherries lower circulating concentrations of markers for chronic inflammatory diseases in healthy humans Anthocyanin and polyphenolic composition of fresh and processed cherries CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar Reproducibility of measurement techniques used for creatine kinase interleukin-6 and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein determination over a 48 h period in males and females Mechanisms by which the gut microbiota influences cytokine production and modulates host inflammatory responses Effects of powdered Montmorency tart cherry supplementation on an acute bout of intense lower body strength exercise in resistance trained males Effects of powdered Montmorency tart cherry supplementation on acute endurance exercise performance in aerobically trained individuals Tart cherry juice induces differential dose-dependent effects on apoptosis Regular tart cherry intake alters abdominal adiposity and inflammation in obesity-prone rats fed a high fat diet Jerte valley cherry product provides beneficial effects on sleep quality Metrics beyond hemoglobin A1C in diabetes management: time in range The influence of tart cherry (Prunus cerasus cv montmorency) concentrate supplementation for 3 months on cardiometabolic risk factors in middle-aged adults: a randomised Effects of short-term continuous Montmorency tart cherry juice supplementation in participants with metabolic syndrome Citation: Hillman AR and Chrismas BCR (2021) Thirty Days of Montmorency Tart Cherry Supplementation Has No Effect on Gut Microbiome Composition Received: 29 June 2021; Accepted: 19 August 2021; Published: 16 September 2021 Copyright © 2021 Hillman and Chrismas. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited in accordance with accepted academic practice distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms *Correspondence: Angela R. Hillman, aGlsbG1hbkBvaGlvLmVkdQ== Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher 94% of researchers rate our articles as excellent or goodLearn more about the work of our research integrity team to safeguard the quality of each article we publish (WPBN/WGTU) - - Montmorency County Emergency Management is urging residents to shelter in place The US National Weather Service Gaylord Michigan shared a message on Facebook from the county at 8:30pm Saturday night ALPENA — More than 50 members of the Association of Lifelong Learners enjoyed a scenic bus tour of Montmorency County on Oct Bus tour organizing committee members included Lisa Blumenthal known for its rustic charm and unique claim as the only county in Michigan without traffic lights provided the perfect backdrop for the Association of Lifelong Learners’ latest adventure took participants through the heart of Northeast Michigan showcasing the county’s rich heritage and natural beauty The tour’s first stop was Thunder Bay Resort Home to a scenic subdivision located behind the golf course houses overlook both the greens and the Thunder Bay River it’s the elk viewing wagon rides that truly capture the spirit of the resort Courtesy Photo The Association of Learners gather for a group photo at Canada Creek Ranch on Oct 10 during their tour of Montmorency County Brush Creek Mill: Hillman’s Historic Heart This small but historically significant community is the only incorporated area in Montmorency County Andy Blinder hopped on the bus and shared how the county seat was eventually moved to Atlanta Hillman continues to hold an important place in the county’s identity and offers a glimpse into its pioneering past proved to be one of the most intriguing stops on the tour More than half of the township is occupied by the exclusive Turtle Lake Club but it was the history of an 1889 murder and a bank robbery in Hillman that captured everyone’s imagination The robbers were said to have hidden out in Rust Township The group also enjoyed breathtaking views from Farrier Road which overlooks the serene Fletcher Floodwaters Township Supervisor Jon Schulze provided an overview of Rust Township Courtesy Photo An antique car is seen at the Lewiston Area Historical Museum on Oct As the largest township in Montmorency County Montmorency Township offered an expansive glimpse of the area’s natural beauty The township is home to Canada Creek Ranch a community similar to Lost Lake Woods in neighboring Alcona County The discovery of oil and gas on the property has contributed to its prosperity but it’s the abundant elk population and proximity to the Pigeon River that make it truly special A delicious lunch at Canada Creek added a delightful touch to the day Atlanta: The County Seat with a Fiery Past No visit to Montmorency County would be complete without a stop in Atlanta the county seat and “Elk Capital of Michigan.” Despite its small size with courthouse records lost twice to fires birth records survived because they were stored in a separate building Montmorency County Probate Judge Lora Greene joined the tour to discuss the court system in Montmorency County The town is also a gateway to exploring Montmorency’s outdoor offerings The tour continued with a visit to Lewiston a resort community known for its twin lakes Lewiston’s history includes a lighter story of a bank robber who had to stop for gas after committing the crime The group also visited the Lewiston Area Historical Museum where they learned about the area’s lumbering heritage curator of the Lewiston Area Historical Museum provided a short tour on the bus of the downtown area sharing local history before directing the group to coffee at the church and a visit to the museum She graciously opened the museum for ALL since it had closed for the season the first part of October and arranged for docents to be on hand to provide information This proved to be one of the unexpected but delightful highlights of the tour The warm hospitality of the Congregational Church members Courtesy Photo ALL members enjoy a scenic view at Canada Creek Ranch in Atlanta Learning About Sustainability at the Alpena They received an insightful overview from Rob Stewert of how waste is managed and the steps taken to ensure that future generations will continue to benefit from safe A Successful Day Thanks to Generous Sponsors The Association of Lifelong Learners’ bus tour would not have been possible without the support of numerous sponsors Courtesy Photo A closeup of Brush Creek Mill in Hillman is seen on Oct participants reflected on the beauty and history of Montmorency County Plans are already underway for another bus tour in the fall of 2025 and experiencing the best of Michigan’s small towns and natural wonders the Association of Lifelong Learners’ tours continue to provide unforgettable adventures Visit their website at associationoflifelonglearners.org to learn more LANSING — A candidate elected to two offices in the Nov. 5 election should now be disqualified from both positions, a lawyer told the Michigan Court of Appeals in a new filing. In northern Michigan, Linsey Rogers was elected both Montmorency County treasurer and a member of the school board in Atlanta, which is the county seat. A lawyer for the current treasurer, Cheri Eggett, says in court filings the two offices are incompatible because the treasurer collects tax revenues that are managed by the school board, creating a conflict of interest under state law. Rogers, who is not a party to the lawsuit, beat Eggett in the Republican primary in August. Eggett then ran as a write-in candidate in the general election and lost to Rogers again. Eggett sued County Clerk Cheryl Neilsen before the election, saying Rogers should never have been allowed to run for both offices. A Montmorency circuit judge ruled against Eggett on Oct. 29, noting ballots were already printed and voting was underway and saying Eggett waited too long to bring her lawsuit. In Wednesday court filings, Eggett attorney David Delaney, of Gaylord, asked the Michigan Court of Appeals to rule that Rogers should be disqualified from both offices. Delaney asked for "immediate consideration" and a ruling before Jan 1, when Rogers is scheduled to assume her new positions. Neilsen took the position that it's not up to the county clerk to decide whether the two offices were incompatible and advised Rogers to seek her own legal advice, court filings show. "The clerk may not sit on the sidelines and then claim it's 'too late' before and after the election," Delaney told the Court of Appeals. "The clerk is the chief election officer. She must take a position." An attorney for Neilsen had not filed a response in the Court of Appeals as of Friday morning. But in an earlier filing in Montmorency County Circuit Court, Neilsen attorney Timothy Perrone, of Lansing, said it's not clear the two offices are incompatible and Neilsen "did not have a clear legal duty to disqualify" Rogers from running for the two positions. Delaney points to two Michigan attorney general positions, which are not binding on state courts but are considered persuasive. In 1990, then-Attorney General Frank Kelley issued an opinion that it was legally incompatible for someone to serve as both city treasurer and city school board trustee. "The nature of the duty owed to a school board by a city treasurer in the collection of school taxes has been likened to that of a fiduciary," Kelley wrote. In 2002, then-Attorney General Jennifer Granholm issued an opinion that it was incompatible to serve as both township treasurer and school board member where the township is located within the school district. Rogers said in an Oct. 3 posting on her Facebook page that if it is determined the two offices are incompatible, she will serve as treasurer and forego the position on the Atlanta school board. But Delaney argues that since Rogers should not have been able to run for both positions, all votes she received for either job should be considered null and void. Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com. MONTEMORENCY COUNTY, Mich,. (WPBN/WGTU) - - Possible healthcare cuts were a big topic at the Montmorency County commissioners’ meeting Thursday morning. The room was packed with county employees and residents. Commissioners proposed making cuts in its county health insurance plan for 11 employees that started working for the county in 2011 or before. They say it was an attempt to help bring down costs in the county budget. If enacted, the new policy would remove benefits for spouses and go into effect March 1. Sheriff Chad Brown said even though his wife health benefits would be cut, he’d still be paying the same rate of coverage. “Let’s do the right thing and look at all the options not make a decision now in a rush, for no reason. For absolutely no reason. That’s the right thing to do give it further consideration. I’m asking by you the board to make that happen. Push pause. Do the right thing for everybody and then let’s come back and make a decision that we all understand and prepare for next year,” said Sheriff Chad Brown Montmorency County. “If this is about money and saving money we should know what that savings is. I believe that is what one of our fellow commissioners had moved for. Let’s table it again until we really know what your savings are. To say you’re doing it to save money but not even knowing what you’re saving it just doesn’t sound right,” said Laura Greene Montmorency County Resident. The board of commissioners voted to pause the implementation of the health plan until March of 2026. ATLANTA — Michelle Haren — hair tied back in a kerchief, apron on — stood behind the counter at the Willows Cafe in downtown Atlanta on Wednesday and welcomed a small but steady flow of lunchtime regulars. She answered quick when asked to name the best part of doing business in Atlanta, a community of 576 people along M-32 in the heart of Montmorency County. “Our locals,” she said. “Our out-of-towners are great, too.” Servers cracked jokes with diners, who ribbed the servers right back. It was after noon. The place was about half full. “It’s a slow go,” Haren said. “But we’re making it.” And that might just sum up the state of Montmorency County’s economy, chugging along with high unemployment and growing poverty, a declining and aging population, low housing stock, and a bevy of leaders working to recruit new investment. “I think there’s a lot going on,” said Brian Bartosh, president of the Hillman Area Chamber of Commerce. “It’s been going on for a couple years. It doesn’t happen overnight.” While Presque Isle and Alcona counties occasionally dip among the worst counties in the state for unemployment, Montmorency County consistently ranks in the bottom 10 (Alpena County usually has a middling rate). Last month, Montmorency County’s unemployment rate sat at 8%, compared to 7% across all of Northeast Michigan and 6% statewide. The latest Kids Count Data Book showed that, while childhood poverty ticked up only slightly in Alpena County between 2017 and 2022 and declined in Presque Isle and Alcona counties in that time, it hiked 6.5 percentage points in Montmorency County. “I think that what happened is that we kind of got caught in a rut, I guess,” said Clinton Kennedy, president of the Atlanta Area Chamber of Commerce and secretary of the Briley Township Planning Commission. “We’re just a forgotten, drive-through town right now.” A number of trends are working against the county. While Census Data shows Northeast Michigan’s population declined about 5% between 2010 and 2022 and grew about 1% statewide in that time, Montmorency County’s population shrank nearly 7% in those years. Census Data also shows that, while about 26% of all Michiganders and 39% of Northeast Michiganders are 60 or older, 43% of Montmorency County residents are 60 or older. Dave Post, village manager in Hillman, Montmorency County’s most populous community, noted no interstates connect Montmorency County to downstate population centers. M-33 and M-32 cut through the county, but that’s it. “If you notice, right now, communities on the I-75 corridor are doing very well,” Post said. “They’re going gangbusters. It’s all two-lane roads to even get here. I imagine that probably hinders some of it.” Federal data shows Montmorency County’s biggest industry is real estate, accounting for a third of the county’s economic output as low housing supply drives up the cost of homes. People selling their homes and the agents who help them are making money, but that’s not a job-heavy industry. “Real estate’s not gonna cure us, that’s for sure,” Kennedy said. ‘JOBS AND HOUSING ARE HAND-IN-HAND’ Despite its setbacks, Montmorency County has a lot going for it that makes it ripe for development, officials said. Hillman, for example, offers fiber optic internet connectivity, modern sewer and water infrastructure that can hook up just about any business, “plus a lot of land that’s inexpensive,” said Bartosh, of the Hillman chamber. As well, while state data shows all of Northeast Michigan’s labor force — a measure of people either working or looking for work — grew by 9% between July 2020 and last month, Montmorency County’s labor force grew 16% in that time, adding 460 people able to work. And officials across the county have done many things to try to make sure those people have jobs to fill. The primary focus across the county has been housing, because “we don’t have nowhere near enough of it,” said Kennedy, of the Atlanta chamber. “If we’re gonna create these jobs, we have to have a place to put these people,” Kennedy said. “Jobs and housing are hand-in-hand right now.” So officials everywhere are rezoning areas for housing and working to entice developers to build it, with some success. For example, Habitat for Humanity Northeast Michigan has partnered with Hillman on a five-year plan to build as many as 50 homes on nearly 20 acres in the village. The first one just went up, just days from completion. Hillman, which has a committee of schools, businesses, and government officials working on economic development, also partners with schools to offer scholarships for trades training and partners with Michigan Works! to offer training, as well. Post, the Hillman village manager, said his village offers a revolving loan fund for startups. In Atlanta, officials created an industrial area readymade for business investment and are working to recruit even small operations. “Twenty to 40 jobs in a small town is a lot,” Kennedy said. It wasn’t immediately clear Wednesday what the county government does for economic development. The phone number listed on the county’s website for the Montmorency County Economic Development Corp. is no longer a valid extension. A message sent to the email address for that outfit bounced back as invalid. Don Edwards, chairman of the Montmorency County Board of Commissioners, did not respond to a message seeking comment. Multiple officials said Montmorency County residents need to step up, as well. Many businesses throughout the county need help but struggle to get anyone to apply. Officials said the county will continue to build a business-friendly environment and work to market itself to investors and potential future residents. “We don’t wanna become a city,” Atlanta’s Kennedy said. “We like being a small town. But, at the same time, in order to succeed, we have to have people and jobs.” Justin A. Hinkley can be reached at 989-354-3112 or jhinkley@thealpenanews.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinHinkley. The next District Health Department No. 4 (DHD4) meeting will be held on May 20 at 10 a.m. The meeting will take ... Copyright © 2025 Alpena News Publishing Company | https://www.thealpenanews.com | 130 Park Place, Alpena, MI 49707 | 989-354-3111 MONTMORENCY COUNTY, Mich., (WPBN/WGTU) -- Michigan State Police are asking for help identifying a driver who troopers said assaulted a woman during a road rage incident Thursday in Montmorency County. It happened on County Road 612 near Meridian Line Road. Troopers described the suspect as a white male approximately 60 years old, has curly white hair, “with a distinct larger size nose.” MSP did not provide a picture of the suspect or the van. If anyone has any information that could help identify the suspect or vehicle, you’re asked to call MSP Alpena Post at (989) 354-4101. MONTMORENCY COUNTY, Mich,. (WPBN/WGTU) - - A Montmorency County man is in jail after the sheriff's office says he was driving a side-by-side that crashed leaving the passenger dead. The sheriff's office says the arrest comes after an incident that happened in January where 27-year-old Derek Arthur Shumaker was driving a side-by-side that crashed on Riverside Drive in Hillman, leading to the death of 53-year-old Timothy Hunt also of Hillman. Last week, deputies served Shumaker with a felony warrant for operating while intoxicated causing death. This is a felony punishable up to 15 years in prison. HomeDestinationsInterestsTop Places to Travel by MonthSearchMenuBest time to visit Quebec it can offer some activities for any adrenaline seekers making it possible for the bravest visitors to climb the falls and enjoy the view from the peak If temperatures drop below zero for a prolonged period of time giving expert ice climbers a chance to experience a climb of a lifetime with climbers being able to climb along the frozen wall on the west side of this natural wonder Enough ice is usually formed in January and February but ice climbing experience is offered by local companies through mid-March local adventure tourism operator Aventurex offers ice climbing sessions at the falls every Friday and Sunday from January 4th until March 17th The entire experience lasts around 5 hours and is only available to individuals over 14 years old it's important to layer up and bring sunglasses or ski goggles which covers the cost of guide and instructor supervision If you're already familiar with ice climbing and would like to conquer the Montmorency Falls on your own beware that the falls are an important landmark in the region and attract numerous tourists and climbers This means that you might have to wait a while for your turn You need to fill the registration form before climbing the falls Early morning is the best time to avoid the crowds you need to drive along Highway 440 East from Quebec City and then continue to Parc de la Chute-Montmorency but some facilities are closed during the wintertime Admission costs are slightly lower from early November through late March Regular tickets to the park cost $8.78 for adults and $7.90 for seniors 65 years and older Special pricing applies to residents of the province of Quebec with tickets costing $4.39 for adults and $3.95 for seniors Children under 17 years old can enter for free and a little bit of courage not to look down before you get to the top where using one's fingers has an important role ice climbing is all about placing the axe in the right spot and relying on the icy surface That is what makes this activity so incomparable and memorable This not-for-everyone outdoor adventure rewards with its view from above—tiny people and frozen waves of the majestic waterfall Quebec offers a winter wonderland of activities for visitors to enjoy, starting with the lively Quebec Winter Carnival. Adventure seekers can dive into thrilling experiences like dog sledding, snowmobiling, skiing, and snowshoeing or marvel at the breathtaking Northern Lights cozy up in one of Quebec’s many charming restaurants and soak in the ambiance of live music performances As night falls, head for Mont-Louis in Montmorency to visit the Maison de Jean-Jacques Rousseau during Nuit des Musées 2025 the 21st edition of which takes place on Saturday Although the philosopher lived in Montmorency for just five years - between 1757 and 1762 - he wrote his greatest works here: Julie ou la Nouvelle Héloïse Rousseau's controversial Émile ou de l'Éducation has made the town of Montmorency a place of pilgrimage for lovers of literature Although the philosopher's house is still in use after his departure the town of Montmorency has made every effort to recover it and turn it into a museum dedicated to Jean-Jacques Rousseau we discover furniture and objects in the style of the Rousseau period the table on which he wrote his Nouvelle Héloïse his barometer and 2 crystal jars from which Rousseau sheltered his light original documents take us back to Rousseau's Montmorency period for a biographical presentation of the philosopher of the Enlightenment A great idea for all readers of the philosopher.. or high school students studying him for the French bac Clothing and accessories of the 18th century" exhibitionSaturday 2025 - 18:00 ⤏ 23:30Discover the temporary exhibition on fashion at the time of Jean-Jacques Rousseau: L'étoffe des Lumières Clothing and accessories in the 18th century Discover the philosopher's home on a guided tour Flute (Anne CARTEL) and harp (Marie-Laure CASIER) concerts every hour from 7:30 p.m - in partnership with the Conservatoire A.E.M Refer your establishment, click herePromote your event, click here .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Advance Local Weather AlertsAn updated winter storm warning was issued by the National Weather Service on Thursday at 11:10 a.m "Additional snow accumulations between 1 and 3 inches." The hazardous conditions could impact commutes from this evening through Thursday evening," says the weather service When venturing out of town in hazardous winter weather be sure to inform family or friends of your destination Ensure your gas tank is full and equip your vehicle with essential winter supplies verify the current road conditions to make informed travel decisions Stay safe on wintry roads with these valuable winter driving tips from the weather service and reduce the risk of accidents during challenging weather conditions Pickerington police have identified a Columbus man who was fatally shot Friday morning and plan to file charges soon against the accused shooter was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds at a home on Montmorency Drive in the Cherry Hill subdivision who lives in the 600 block of Montmorency Drive is in custody and is expected to be charged with murder and several other charges Friday reporting a shooting at the house on Montmorency Drive off of Norton Road Officers found the vehicle on Hill Road just north of the Diley Road intersection and initiated a traffic stop Officers found two firearms in the vehicle and Stallworth was taken into custody without incident Pickerington police said that Walters and Stallworth were in the home with two females when a dispute broke out and Stallworth shot Walters multiple times The two females were not injured in the shooting Dispatch reporter Shahid Meighan contributed to this report Editor's Note: This story has been updated with additional information bagallion@dispatch.com smeighan@dispatch.com hunters in Northeast Michigan harvested 27% more deer last year than the year before according to data from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Alcona counties harvested 15,171 deer across all hunting seasons last year The number of harvested antlerless deer went up by 45% while antlered deer went up by 12% in Northeast Michigan from 2023 to 2024 “There are a couple of days left to report deer harvests,” Samantha Courtney Factors that led to an increased deer harvest included a mild 2023-24 winter “We had such a mild winter last year so the deer came out in pretty good condition,” she said the deer can’t hide and feed in the cornfields as easily as they can if the corn is harvested later in the year so deer aren’t as likely to come out of it in as good of condition as they did last year “We’ll just have to wait and see what the weather does,” she said Another contributing factor was a 203% increase in the deer harvest during muzzleloader season which was open to all firearms last year to help control the deer population The DNR would like to keep the 2025 harvest similar to 2024 The deer population is in a pretty stable position wildlife officials desire a greater harvest of antlerless deer in Northeast Michigan The number of deer harvested in Alpena County increased by 920 in 2024 compared to 2023 totaling 4,294 deer taken last year — 2,292 antlered Presque Isle County’s deer harvest increased by 669 with 3,825 deer harvested last year — 2,220 antlered Montmorency County saw an increase of 814 deer harvested with 2,800 deer taken last year — 1,401 antlered And Alcona County saw 619 more deer harvested with 4,252 deer killed — 2,309 antlered Maxwell Olmstead can be reached at 989-358-5687 or molmstead@TheAlpenaNews.com was arraigned Friday by a judge in Montmorency County 88th District Court following an animal cruelty investigation conducted by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Thompson pleaded not guilty to four charges ”This is a rare situation for the DNR to get involved in as domestic animal complaints and investigations are not our primary responsibility or focus there were no other resources available,” said Chief Jason Haines “This is a very large-scale animal abuse case RELATED: Puppies found in trash in Traverse City, not all survived DNR conservation officers initially responded to the more than 50-acre Thompson family property with a search warrant regarding a dead horse They located a total of 10 deceased animals The owners were ordered to properly bury the horse The other nine animals were sent to the Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in East Lansing where lab personal determined starvation and dehydration were the causes of death conservation officers returned to the property with a second search warrant Officers seized 75 animals and were able to relocate them to adequate facilities for proper care two goats and cats and one turkey and rabbit Thompson was arrested July 18 and remains free on bond pending future court appearances The DNR is seeking a second suspect in this case ALPENA — Michigan’s primary elections were held on Tuesday and voters in Montmorency County may have noticed there were no democrats or republicans running for prosecuting attorney only one person is currently filed to run as an independent for the position in November Kundinger has been a prosecuting attorney for 25 years She had a break in her political career from 1999 to 2014 Kundinger has continued to fill the position The 2020 election was the first election where she ran as an independent candidate Kundinger was unable to be reached for comment on her current campaign the public affairs director for the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan said the prosecuting attorney serves a vital role in the county “The prosecutor works as something like a gatekeeper,” he said “Making sure that there are sufficient pieces of evidence in place to bring charges against someone who has been accused of a crime The prosecutor also does a lot of work in the county in terms of education helping victims … It’s a pretty encompassing job.” In an instance where no one runs for prosecuting attorney and the position is vacant at the start of 2025 Perry said they are appointed by the local circuit court judge “Whether or not that’s the appointment for the full four years or if it would be something settled by a special election in 2026 that’s a little vague,” he said While Montmorency County avoids this problem with an independent candidate running he said Lake County is currently dealing with that issue With no Democratic or Republican opponents appearing on the August primary ballot Kundinger will likely win reelection in November she will serve another four years in office This story was produced by the Michigan News Group Internship Program a collaboration between WCMU Public Media and local newspapers in central and northern Michigan The program’s mission is to train the next generation of journalists and combat the rise of rural news deserts This work of exceptional historical value is the first by the artist to enter the MMFA’s collection It illustrates the ties the artist had with the prosperous timber merchant Gilmour commissioned Todd to paint his trotting horse Corbeau (the French word for crow) who got his name from his shiny black coat in which we see Corbeau charging ahead in a race he is about to win the artist was no doubt instructed to choose the most powerful background possible The Montmorency Falls in winter – considered a hallmark of the Quebec landscape – augments the nobility of the composition Corbeau and his driver are placed in the centre of the composition They are framed on the left by a man holding a red flag at the finish line and by spectators who appear to be cheering their clear victory Few works are attributed to Robert Clow Todd and the most important among them are held in major Quebec and Canadian museums The MMFA is therefore very proud to announce its recent acquisition of one of his iconic works You seem to have already subscribed to our newsletter using this email address Please try again using another email address and Ethan Thatcher look forward to deer season every year The family trio wouldn’t miss it for the world Their family has hunted for many generations and hopes to continue the tradition and sportsmanship in all who choose to hunt teaching him all the ins and outs of hunting All three enjoy the solitude of the woods and the exhilaration of shooting the biggest buck they have fun playing cards and goofing off and eating well As hunters prepare to head to their blinds for opening day of firearm deer season today state data shows fewer Northeast Michigan families share the Thatchers’ enthusiasm the number of residents with a deer hunting license declined by 2% between 2019 and 2023 That’s a loss of nearly 300 Northeast Michigan hunters in five years the number of residents with a hunting license actually climbed slightly between 2019 and 2023 though the 2023 count remained lower than in 2020 found the number of hunters declined more than 18% statewide between 2013 and 2018 chief executive officer at Michigan United Conservation Clubs said a number of factors keep people out of the woods and she said “access has been a challenge,” with fewer high-quality deer habitats open to the public and some of them physically can’t access hunting grounds She also said younger people haven’t picked up hunting in part because their parents and grandparents are less likely to hunt if you don’t know anybody else that hunts you’re not as a kid probably going to seek that out or find somebody that’s going to take you,” she said “It does take a good mentorship.” Hunting contributes millions of dollars to Northeast Michigan’s economy according to a 2019 study commissioned by Michigan United Conservation Clubs and DNR officials say hunting plays an important role in managing wildlife populations and habitat “It is something that’s very concerning about the decline in hunting numbers,” Trotter said “We don’t necessarily have a silver bullet that’s going to stem that tide or reverse that trend.” deer hunting remains particularly important to Northeast Michigan with more than 2,000 out of every 10,000 residents here with a hunting license according to a News analysis of the DNR data and Alcona counties rank in the top five among Michigan’s 83 counties for revenue from hunting licenses according to the United Conservation Clubs study and DNR data Alpena County falls within the top 25 on those metrics hunters killed 475 deer per 10,000 residents in Northeast Michigan compared to 271 per 10,000 residents statewide Hunting-related economic activity equaled $2,297 per person across Alpena according to a News analysis of data from the United Conservation Clubs study John Zampich has worked at Adrian’s Sport Shop in Rogers City for many years and has seen different hunting trends over that time He said local anglers create a steady stream of revenue during the spring and summer and again when ice fishing begins hunters utilize the store most often and generate a large portion of the store’s annual revenue “We begin to see a jump in business about Oct “Then it is crazy busy on opening day until about Thanksgiving when it begins to taper off.” But he and other sporting goods store workers said they’re seeing fewer hunters than in years past Check out the interactive graphic below showing the number of residents in ZIP codes in Alpena and Alcona counties with at least one hunting license each year Turn your device horizontally for the best viewing experience Check out the interactive graphic below showing the number of residents in across Michigan with at least one hunting license each year The 2019 United Conservation Clubs study found hunting license sales and spending on things like hunting and camping gear and lodging contributed some $6.6 billion to Michigan’s economy including $139.5 million in Northeast Michigan United Conservation Clubs hasn’t replicated its study in more recent years to track whether a decline in hunters had lessened the sport’s economic impact but anecdotal evidence points to some trouble economic development director at the Alpena Area Chamber of Commerce said the Chamber doesn’t specifically track the economic impact of hunting in Northeast Michigan when he moved to Northeast Michigan more than a quarter-century ago he went to the store in the fall and saw nothing but hunter-orange caps and heard nothing but talk of heading out to camp as his neighbors loaded up on supplies “Hunting up here is almost a religion We actually close the schools for that.” “You don’t see that level of excitement at least according to my windshield assessment.” Mahler said any economic losses in Northeast Michigan might be lessened compared to elsewhere in Michigan because many downstate hunters travel here for their hunting camps employees and owners at several firearms and outdoors gear stores told The News they’ve seen a slowdown in activity around hunting season and other hunting gear has probably kept the economic impact high “The business side of hunting and fishing is not dwindling they’re spending more money,” she said ‘INVASIVE SPECIES … CAN TAKE OVER’ DNR data shows hunters killed 12,294 deer in Northeast Michigan last year That worries wildlife management specialists Michigan’s natural resources already see the damaging effects of an increase in the deer population decreasing the amount of food and cover they and other wildlife can get from the area Those areas may see more rapid growth of invasive species that deer and other animals won’t consume those invasive species have a greater opportunity to outcompete native plants reducing biodiversity and degrading the overall quality of the habitat they tend to reduce the biodiversity of a plant community in a given area,” DNR Deer and Moose Management Specialist Chad Fedewa said the stuff they don’t like to consume — like invasive species or even native plants that tend to be less beneficial than other plants — can take over.” Overpopulated deer also feed more on crops and disrupt cattle operations through a quicker spread of bovine tuberculosis Fedewa said regulated deer hunting is the DNR’s management tool of choice and increasing deer harvest is a good first step to help reduce the number of deer and allow vegetation to regenerate to hopefully see less impact on natural resources in the area reporters at The News have studied data and talked to hunters and outdoors supplies stores to understand the impact a decline in the number of hunters has had on Northeast Michigan * TODAY: Hunting declines in Northeast Michigan * SATURDAY: The economic impact of a decline in hunting * MONDAY: The impact of a decline in hunting on the environment * TUESDAY: Meet a family of multi-generational hunters Check out the document below detailing the results of a Michigan United Conservation Clubs-commissioned study on the economic impacts of hunting and fishing in Michigan Study on Economic Impact of Hunting and Fishing by JustinHinkley on Scribd Chaos reigns in The Serpent Queen‘s Season 2 finale episode “All Saints Day,” and we have an exclusive first look at the drama unfolding ahead of the episode’s arrival on Friday The episode will follow how Catherine’s (Samantha Morton) actions lead to chaos and bloodshed The finale explores whether or not she can prevent a total war from being unleashed or if it is out of her control In the sneak peek clip, above, Catherine and Montmorency (Alexandre Willaume) have a candid conversation by the fire “Once Edith ascends to the power I have granted her As viewers will recall, Catherine granted Edith (Isobel Jesper Jones) a certain level of power in the previous installment Montmorency confirms that “perhaps” Edith will burn the country to the ground “but I cannot sanction her death.” Catherine understands this though seems like the younger generation is determined to f**k things up in their own way.” “So what happens now?” Catherine wonders aloud I would preserve what I know to be good in you and I would take you the f**k away from here,” Montmorency says “Retire from court together,” Catherine remarks will you consider it?” Thinking over his words and don’t miss the finale episode when it arrives on Starz Sign Up Play Duration: 9 minutes 41 seconds9m Brought to you by Sammy J has pledged to have a statue of the Eltham Copper Butterfly returned to its promised location in Montmorency, after locals revealed it had instead been installed in neighbouring Eltham. He has written a song to the Level Crossing Removal Project encouraging them to reverse their decision. Artist of the sculpture Robert Bridgewater says he designed the sculpture specifically for the Montmorency location. “I made it clear to the commissioners that it was a disappointing outcome and I wasn't overly happy with it.” The statue of the Eltham Copper Butterfly by artist Robert Bridgewater.(Supplied: Andrew Tupper) Download the ABC listen app to text and call your favourite live radio —story by Matt Milkovich—photo by TJ Mullinax Michigan State University researchers recently created an annotated genome for Montmorency The breakthrough will help researchers and breeders find genes and markers associated with different traits much faster than in the past said MSU assistant professor Courtney Hollender whose lab spearheaded the generation of the annotated genome This genetic map will help breeders chart a path toward a better tart cherry but there are more hurdles remaining on that quest When Hollender’s team announced the Montmorency genome in 2023 it was the result of about four years of work Scientists had already cracked the sweet cherry genome and Hollender’s team — which specializes in fruit tree genetics development and physiology — wanted to map the Montmorency genome to speed up some of their research projects It wasn’t as easy as they first thought it would be one of Hollender’s graduate students at the time has twice as many chromosomes as sweet cherry so mapping its genes was a more complex task with this particular breeding obstacle overcome it’s on to the next one: hiring a tart cherry breeder.  MSU horticulture professor Amy Iezzoni served for decades as the nation’s lone tart cherry breeder The industry has awaited a successor ever since but MSU budget constraints have delayed action.  MSU’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources will advertise for a new breeder position in the near future The exact job description has not yet been solidified It might also include peach breeding.  MSU staff is still maintaining a subset of the germplasm collection Iezzoni built up Extension specialist Nikki Rothwell said there were plans to plant elite tart cherry selections at MSU’s Northwest Michigan Horticulture Research Center this spring.  Iezzoni is still patiently managing advanced cherry selections She always meant to bridge the gap between herself and her successor but the process is taking longer than she initially thought it would “I’m trying to make sure the selections with commercial potential are looked after,” Iezzoni said “The good news is that things are happening.” the next step will be zeroing in on traits that improve upon Montmorency’s weaknesses Michigan grower Dave Smeltzer listed the “big four” desired characteristics: later blooming more uniform color and resistance to cherry leaf spot.  Montmorency has proven vulnerable to spring freezes which have grown more frequent in Michigan in recent decades and have led to a few massive crop losses That’s why the industry needs a later-blooming variety Smeltzer said even one or two days “can make a world of difference.”  Montmorency also tends to turn soft and bruise easily Montmorency also is susceptible to cherry leaf spot the Michigan industry’s biggest disease problem Iezzoni said two of her advanced selections appear to be tolerant to the disease Even if a breeder comes up with a new and improved variety that can solve all of these problems Smeltzer called it the million-dollar question: Can the industry afford to replace Montmorency Tart cherry growers have been so reliant on Montmorency for so long that replacing it won’t be easy It’s not just the expense of new plantings for an industry that’s been struggling to make a profit The industry has spent a lot of time and money marketing the health benefits of Montmorency and virtually all of its growing and handling processes revolve around the variety Any new variety would have to promise a big bump in yield and quality for growers to seriously consider replacing it “Even if we find hardier or later-blooming varieties it’s not going to be an easy fix,” said Michigan grower Juliette King McAvoy “They still would have to fit into a specific production and processing niche.” tart cherry industry needs a better piece of fruit and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" 2025-05-01T16:48:37-07:00May 1st, 2025|0 Comments 2025-05-01T10:34:58-07:00April 28th, 2025|0 Comments Use the search box to find a topic of interest, explore articles by topic or category in the main navigation links on every page, or view articles by issue on our Archives page. Play Duration: 3 minutes 51 seconds3m 51sBrought to you by A copper butterfly statue was announced for Montmorency station as part of the Level Crossing Removal Project in 2022. But residents in the area are upset that the statue has instead been installed at Eltham train station. Local Andrew Tupper joined Sammy J on ABC Radio Melbourne to describe a cardboard sculpture that has be put up in Montmorency in the interim. A plint and lighting had been installed at Montmorency for the statue so an unnamed resident decided to put a cardboard artwork of a butterly at the location in the interim. November 21, 2024.(Supplied: Andrew Tupper) Jesse Tardio provided the fuel and Zane Souleiman provided the fireworks as North Heidelberg cemented itself as one of the NFNL Division 1’s top teams Please call us on 1800 070 535 and we’ll help resolve the issue or try again later The second stage of the Hurstbridge Line Duplication delivered further improvements for Melbourne’s north east less crowding on peak trains and better connections to public transport We duplicated 2km of rail track between Greensborough and Montmorency stations and 1.5km of track between Diamond Creek and Wattle Glen stations to allow more trains to run more often New modern stations at Greensborough and Montmorency were also built Site investigations and community consultation began in 2019 Trains began running along the new duplicated track and stopped at the new stations at the end of April 2023 Project finishing works continue in 2024 as we complete stage one of the new shared walking and cycling path between Greensborough and Montmorency Big Build Roads are carrying out works on the Hurstbridge Line as part of the M80 Ring Road Completion The completed M80 Ring Road will be built over the Hurstbridge Line between Grimshaw Street and Elder Street in Watsonia To keep up to date with disruptions happening due to M80 Ring Road Completion works please visit Big Build's disruptions page Receive updates and disruption notifications from the Hurstbridge Line Duplication The Serpent Queen’s second episode of Season 2 sees Francois Guise completely destroy the Protestant church run by the secular preacher a powerful demonstration of Catholic might Both Ruggieri and Montmorency visit the smoldering ruins Montmorency reports to Catherine that there are no survivors (there are also no remains which seems odd) and that the fire was no accident hatred has been the easiest story to tell." that the Guises Bros are responsible for the fire whose bright idea it was to take Charles to the church as a gesture of goodwill Montmorency threatens to kill Francois Guise if he’s found guilty Catherine tells him in private that he has her permission to cut Francois’s throat But Catherine is frustrated: “I had been played by all of them.” Brace yourselves; we’ll spend some time in the Royal Kids’ playroom not too interested in how their big brother and King escaped a fiery death They are fully aware that the Guises are behind the church attack but are more interested in trivialities Princess Elisabeth (Laura Marcus) is fitted with a new dress which is naturally more important than an impending civil war enters the room with her son Henri to admire this charming family cross-dressing scene and is shocked at their behavior (When is Catherine going to do something about her horrible children She adores her heir because he always does what he’s told but she needs to get the rest of them married off or sent elsewhere to become adults.) the last thing she needs is to be accused of dabbling in the dark arts and he understood that now it was time for different tactics Catherine insists that the people need unity even if they don’t know what she’s trying to do but neither he nor his brother Louis understand what their next step should be Should they pretend to convert to Catholicism as a bluff and he’s bulked up since he last wore it and looks like an egg.  but Catherine visits them with a proposition Everyone knows Francois Guise is to blame for the fire She gives the Bourbons permission to begin negotiations with England although she will have the ultimate word on any decisions Antoine tells her he’s already arranged for his wife to use her contacts at the English court Antoine and Jeanne are not getting along well – she’s much more intelligent than he is – and he’s delighted to get rid of her Their son Henri will stay in France with his father Catherine visits the Guises Bros and their mother Catherine knows Francois is guilty; she’s angry that the peace she has worked hard to establish has been almost destroyed She tells them that the Bourbons’ trade deal with England is underway the Guises and other Catholic nobles will finance the stupendous costly new palace Catherine plans to build in Paris The Guises complain that Montmorency is a loose cannon and he’ll do what he wants Although we all know Montmorency is seeking revenge and grieving for Edith Catherine dismisses their fears but can’t escape the ruined church Catherine’s alliance building continues with a visit to Diane de Poitiers (Ludivine Sagnier) her cousin/former rival for the late King’s love with Catherine’s former maid Angelica (Ruby Bentall) as lover/servant who learns Angelica is dissatisfied with her position since Diane’s banishment from the court Diane plays the victim: “Everything I do is to ensure my children do not have to endure what I went through.” She also assures Catherine that she loves the royal children (and in fact she spent a lot of time with them when they were younger.) Despite her banishment from court and Catherine pitches her to fund the new palace.  Diane considers the offer but can only contribute if her daughter inherits her estate It’s a deal; Catherine promises to change the law (which mandates sons inherit) and then mentions her upcoming fundraising trip to Italy Since Diane is so fond of Catherine’s children Diane responds by whining about how they could never be friends and how deeply hurt she is Catherine visits Charles and finds the guard reluctant to admit her She finds Charles and his sister Elisabeth in the middle of some weird incestuous game and threatens to kill the guard’s children if he ever tells anyone what he knows “Heavy is the crown,” she comments as she strides away Thomas asks Francois to meet in the forest claiming he wants to explain why he betrayed him by selling his letters to his mother But his real mission is to tell Francois there are survivors from the fire with Edith leading her congregation through the flames and smoke to safety Francois only now realizes he’s been played and betrayed as Thomas explains he needed money for his sick father we see Francois cradling Thomas’s body and stroking his hair it’s time for Catherine to bid the Privy Council and her children farewell She encourages Charles to act like a king and his brothers and sisters to respect him with minimal name-calling between the Guise and Bourbon Bros he’s a soldier; he doesn’t kill women and children Rahima tells her there are rumors that survivors from the fire have been seen Catherine hopes it is only a rumor since her plans are centered on maintaining her interpretation of events.  Edith proposes that corrupt kings or queens cannot remain in power and that the people must rise up and he turns and disappears into the forest The Serpent Queen Season 2 will release a new episode weekly on Fridays through August 30 Writer Janet Mullany is from England, drinks a lot of tea, and likes Jane Austen, reading, and gasping in shock at costumes in historical TV dramas. Her household near Washington DC includes two badly-behaved cats about whom she frequently boasts on Facebook The Serpent Queen returns for Season 2 and Catherine de Medici's son Charles now rules France She works to transform France into a secular state but the Guise family incites violence to thwart her plans The first season of The Serpent Queen on Starz proved that Catherine De Medici (Samantha Morton) is not to be messed with but what happens when the "Italian witch" goes toe-to-toe with someone on her level?  Season 2 of Starz's The Serpent Queen premieres in July 2024 with Samantha Morton reprising her role as the reviled and dangerous Catherine of Medici Here's everything to remember ahead of its debut Stream tens of thousands of hours of your PBS and local favorites with WETA Passport whenever and wherever you want 703-998-2600 tellyvisions@weta.org The New York Cider Harvest Series is Nine Pin’s way to honor agriculture and local businesses Nine Pin’s mission is simple: to support New York agriculture by producing quality craft ciders using 100 percent local New York apples and fruit Nine Pin designs its Harvest Series to directly highlight the mission by showcasing some of the most unique and delicious ingredients grown in New York State The second cider in the series is Montmorency Cherry; Montmorency cherries are tart and tangy perfectly complementing the natural sweetness of apples in a co-fermented hard cider The cherries used in this cider are from Bittner-Singer Farms in Appleton just south of Lake Ontario in Niagara County Montmorency Cherry will be available in 12 oz The Harvest Series will be for sale exclusively at independent retailers throughout New York State to help support local small businesses and it will also be available at Nine Pin’s tasting room in Albany “Supporting New York agriculture is the core tenet of Nine Pin,” said Alejandro del Peral “The Harvest Series allows us to celebrate New York’s agricultural treasures while also supporting independent retailers who have helped Nine Pin grow throughout the years.” Nine Pin Ciderworks (“Nine Pin”) is New York’s first farm cidery Founded in 2013 and based in New York’s capital city Nine Pin cider products can be found in hundreds of bars restaurants and retailers throughout New York Nine Pin produces all ciders from New York apples primarily sourced from the Capital Region and Hudson Valley cidery facility and tasting room in Albany’s Warehouse District For More Information:https://www.ninepincider.com/ Early Registration Open You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience Michigan Department of Natural Resources firefighters and local partners are working to contain a wildfire in Montmorency and Cheboygan counties estimated at 2,000 acres as of 9 p.m The Blue Lakes Fire has so far caused the evacuation of 13 people from the Black River Ranch with no other evacuations and no structures lost as of Friday night according to DNR spokesperson Kerry Heckman “The fire is fueled by a mix of jack pine with a very large smoke plume visible from miles away,” she said Numerous roads are closed in the area to accommodate firefighting efforts and protect public safety The Black River between Blue Lakes Road and Clark Bridge Road also is closed The DNR has 40 firefighters on the ground and a 12-member incident management team members of the following local fire departments are assisting in fire suppression efforts: Tri-Township a Type 3 helicopter and a DNR spotter plane Additional support is being provided by Onaway EMS Montmorency County Sheriff and DNR Law Enforcement Division The fire was discovered at about 12:40 p.m Fire danger in the area is extreme due to windy Fire danger for much of the state is expected to be high throughout the weekend The DNR reminds people to check Michigan.gov/BurnPermit before planning to burn yard debris or start a campfire and always to have an accessible water source nearby (WPBN/WGTU) -- We are digging deeper into the history of an Atlanta-area farm visited this week by sheriff's deputies and the state agricultural department This comes in the wake of accusations of animal abuse and neglect UpNorthLive News is looking into previous cases and where the current investigation stands sheriff's deputies and a veterinarian from the Michigan Department of Agriculture were checking the animals at the farm on Thorton Road most of the animals were gone from the property Montmorency County Sheriff Chad Brown said this is not the first time they've been called there we did complete a report that got forwarded to the prosecutor for review there was no prosecution on that," Sheriff Brown said We did find a 2018 case linked to the property Thompson pleaded guilty to one count of animals running at large The remaining 10 charges were dismissed by Montmorency County Prosecutor Vicki Kundinger "There was another report completed by our office in "That too was forward to the prosecutor for review there was not prosecution on that one." on charges including cruelty to two or three animals The cruelty charge was upgraded to a felony based on it being an alleged second offense since a 2013 conviction in circuit court UpNorthLive News reported that a Christine Thompson was arrested and charged with animal abuse and neglect Thompson pleaded guilty to four of nine counts of animals running at large Court documents show that Prosecutor Kundinger dismissed the rest of the charges including the felony charge of animal cruelty UpNorthLive News has reached out to Prosecutor Kundinger multiple times to ask about these cases and has not yet heard back Sheriff Brown said they are waiting for a report from the Department of Agriculture before taking the next step Episode 4 of The Serpent Queen begins with a sad homecoming for Catherine expecting to hear the worst about her injured son Hercule After an affectionate but restrained welcome from her other children who informs her that Hercule’s wound has become infected and his life is in danger Hercule is still conscious and tells his mother he’s okay and doesn’t know what all the fuss is about Catherine experiences the vision of the mirror turning into a nest and revealing a hatching snake and another terrible sorrow she must bear alone We have been underestimated for generations the chance to rip into her Privy Council is a welcome release Francois de Guise has been imprisoned; Cardinal Charles de Guise is furious about it and wants him released to fight the Protestants as Louis de Bourbon is busy being eaten alive by Elizabeth I of England argues that the prophetess Edith is a terrorist despite Montmorency’s claims she is open to reason Edith is taking a more militant stance with her followers advising them that violence must be met with violence but when Catherine suggests they seek his counsel King Charles snaps that his advice is unnecessary Montmorency admits that he advised the King to take that stance in Catherine’s absence so she believes he is still in her corner and lets his trespass slide Montmorency agrees that their schism is regrettable sulking and drinking in his room with his besties Anjou has followed the example of the Catholic League deranged zealots connected to the Vatican (Charles’s definition) referring to it as a “second baptism.” Why is everyone blaming him Drowning an innocent man may have something to do with it so Charles suggests a PR campaign to restore his reputation The Holy Roman Emperor (Rupert Everett) arrives to mourn Hercule’s death accompanied by his son Philip (Paulo Dos Santos) You may remember the Emperor propositioned Catherine at her husband’s funeral in Season 1 becoming aroused at death rites is evidently a hereditary condition as Philip (who is obviously mentally unstable) opens a conversation with Princess Elisabeth by asking her if she’s ever had sex at a funeral the Emperor tells Catherine he believes Philip is God’s punishment one of many psychotic heirs standing in the wings before casually suggesting an unfortunate accident for Edith He warns Catherine that unless something is done and Ruggieri interprets it to represent the presence of one bad apple in the lot: aka Anjou Louis de Bourbon’s big adventures in England saying he may be second in birth but first in other respects She is very keen that Louis should befriend Edith on his return home she is only a girl from humble circumstances who needs guidance He can tell Edith Protestants will have the full support of the English So great that when Elizabeth visits his room that night bearing both a contract for the trade deal and the offer of sexual favors (*Elizabeth’s extraordinary outfit suggests a Tudor version of lace pajamas for dancing Catherine is cheered by the arrival of her brother the palace she snatched from Diane de Poitiers Alessandro is ready to get working on the new palace which he claims will be even more beautiful Rahima knows a fellow con artist when she sees one doubtful of his promises or that the pendant has any family connection when Alessandro tells Rahima that Catherine gave him permission to ask her for rooms Game recognizes game as Alessandro takes a step back Aabis has been spending time with her apprentice/lover Matisse who was severely injured in the fire at Edith’s church She drops in at the palace and approaches Dr Fernel (Steve Furst) for medical help in exchange for sex but he mutters they’re both too old for that and to return in a couple of days officially a perfumer but with a poison side hustle Angelica goes to Catherine to suggest that Aabis could be helpful since Matisse follows Edith believing this information will earn her job back After a small spot of arson and servant torture Emperor Charles nervously tells Philip he must behave himself while Catherine is visiting (It sounds as though this is a frequent and ineffective request) Philip instead makes a beeline for Elisabeth on the way to the chapel excusing his earlier weird behavior as a side effect of grief for his late wife she runs into Henri de Navarre (Angus Imrie) saying she’s the cleverest of the bunch and they will be friends The delicate princess tells him to tell it to the sheep out back but she gives her version of motherly advice to manipulate the situation so they will both gain Margot should ask the King to free Francois and put Anjou under house arrest that he’s wise and gentle and should show the people these qualities by releasing Francois (only a friend!) and not worrying about their mother He gives the orders for Francois’s release and Montmorency to lock up Anjou in his rooms the Holy Roman Emperor and Catherine discuss tactics for establishing peace in France saving her congregation from the burning church was not enough to prevent war; it was just enough to slow down hostilities The Cardinal and Anjou are planning to invade the camp the next morning Montmorency informs him he is not to leave until the King says so adding Catherine doesn’t know of his imprisonment gushing about Elizabeth and their shopping trip She shows her purchases to her husband and son Jeanne leaves as Aabis arrives with a proposition for Antoine and his son Henri: What Edith needs is another miracle Aabis finds Edith’s tent unoccupied and empties the poison into her wine and Aabis says she was right; Matisse has recovered Edith suggests they celebrate with the wine forcing Aabis to drink most of it before she polishes off the leftovers.  Edith announces she and Aabis have drunk poison and will be together for eternity now she then orders her followers to take Aabis to the lake for baptism prowling around a very nervous horse that senses he’s up to no good and he flies across the floor and lays there unmoving If only life were so simple for Catherine de Medici and her court.  While Catherine raises money for her palace in Italy, her children and council members ignore her instructions, bringing France closer to war in this week's The Serpent Queen Catherine creates a checkmate between the Guises and Bourbon families By 2024-11-22T07:00:00+00:00 AUSTRALIA: Metro Trains Melbourne is investing A$1m in toilets showers and changing rooms to accommodate the increasing number of women in its workforce Minister for Public & Active Transport Gabrielle Williams said this ‘demonstrates a commitment to recruiting more women into the railways Last year MTM opened new driver facilities at Flinders Street station which include gender-neutral locker rooms with private change rooms a maternity room with modern facilities and private meeting rooms and spaces The operator said it has more than 2 200 female staff The number of women signallers has grown from 16% in 2009 to around 40% today ‘As one of the largest public transport operators in Australia we are committed to achieving a 40% female workplace by 2027’ said CEO Raymond O’Flaherty on November 13 Source: ARTC AUSTRALASIA: The Australasian Railway Association has published a report designed to help the rail industry better understand what hinders the entry The Progressing gender equality in the Australasian rail sector: barriers and supportive practices report .. AUSTRALIA: A ‘state-of-the-art’ Metro Academy has been opened in Melbourne to train rail staff ready for the opening of the cross-city suburban rail Metro Tunnel at the end of 2025 AUSTRALIA: Enhancements to provide more inclusive facilities for train drivers at Melbourne’s Flinders Street station have been completed This includes the creation of all-gender locker rooms with private changing rooms and a maternity room with private areas for expressing and spaces to rest Site powered by Webvision Cloud New walking and cycling path under the Sherbourne Road bridge The second stage of the Hurstbridge Line Duplication delivers further improvements for Melbourne’s north east we've built 2 new stations at Greensborough and Montmorency and upgraded Diamond Creek Station Works also included duplicating 2km of rail track between Greensborough and Montmorency stations and 1.5km between Diamond Creek and Wattle Glen to allow more trains to run more often We are also building a new walking and cycling path between Greensborough and Montmorency stations The 2km path will provide better community connections as well as safe and easy access between Greensborough and Montmorency stations linking with the Plenty River Trail and station forecourts Two sections of the path were completed in late 2023 with works on the remaining middle section of path to begin in mid-2024 and completed by early 2025 the Department of Transport and Planning has started planning for stage 2 of the shared use path between Montmorency and Eltham Railway Road between Gladstone Road and Para Road will become a south-bound one-way street allowing drivers to turn both right and left into Para Road This will make the intersection at Para Road and Railway Road safer for pedestrians Motorists will have the time and space to give way to people walking and cycling on the new path We’ll also build a new footpath connecting Railway Road to the new walking and cycling path providing safe access from Briar Hill to Greensborough Station While entry from Para Road into Railway Road will not be possible vehicles may enter Railway Road via Sherbourne and Williams roads Once the walking and cycling path is complete we’ll finish landscaping and planting along the path Landscaping will include a combination of native trees shrubs and grasses to complement the character of the local area We’ll use a highly diverse mix of species including plants typical of local eucalypt woodlands This will create a bush landscape character as well as a native plant corridor for local birds and wildlife Stage 1 of the shared walking and cycling path between Greensborough and Montmorency Scientists have constructed and annotated the first reference genome for the sour cherry cultivar Montmorency a 400-year-old French amarelle selection of unknown origin but the most widely-grown cultivar in the United States Sour cherry (Prunus cerasus) is an important temperate tree crop whose fruit is valued for its uniquely sweet and acidic flavor and superior processing characteristics for products such as jam The species is a member of the economically important Rosaceae family, which includes other cultivated species in the genus Prunus such as peach The evolutionary history of Prunus has been historically difficult to resolve as hybridization and incomplete lineage sorting is rampant throughout the genus “I naively thought that this would be an easy endeavor; we would simply sequence a few early and late-blooming cherry trees and align the sequences to the peach genome and get an answer in just a few weeks I couldn’t have been more wrong,” said senior author Dr Genomes contain all the genes and genetic instructions for an organism’s development Sequencing it provides a map for researchers when they are trying to grow a cherry tree that will bloom later in the season “I was trying to align the sour cherry DNA sequences with the peach genome and they just weren’t aligning very well,” said first author Charity Goeckeritz “I was complaining about it to everyone and one of my friends suggested we just sequence the sour cherry genome.” The authors found that the Montmorency sour cherry genome was more intricate than they originally thought The complexities come from the sour cherry’s parental plant chromosomes Sour cherries are allotetraploids meaning instead of having two sets of chromosomes like humans they have four sets from at least two different species Having the Montmorency sour cherry genome sequence opens the possibilities for a tremendous amount of future research that will ultimately benefit the industry and the consumer by growing more trees that can withstand varying spring weather and produce more cherries there were some sequences for sour cherries but it wasn’t a complete picture and I just wanted to have the genome for research and breeding purposes,” Dr and this research will have a major impact on all future sour cherry research and breeding efforts worldwide.” The findings were published in the journal Horticulture Research Genome of tetraploid sour cherry (Prunus cerasus L.) ‘Montmorency’ identifies three distinct ancestral Prunus genomes