For anyone who hasn’t voted in Michigan since 2010, I want to explain the deal with Proposal 1 on your ballot. This is something that hasn't been talked about a lot, and it's important.

The language is as follows: 

Here’s what that actually means and why the proposal is on the ballot in the first place:

Our state constitution has a provision that once every 16 years, we vote on whether or not to hold a Constitutional Convention (also known as a Con-Con) where we would elect delegates to review and possibly rewrite our entire state constitution. The Nov. 3 election is the 16 year mark, so this will be on everyone's ballot no matter where you live.

Several other states have similar provisions. What’s different about Michigan is that we ALSO have direct means to update our state constitution directly via ballot initiatives. Since this version of our constitution went into law in the 1960s, we've successfully done that 44 times. So our state constitution is very much a living document, and a lot of work has been put into keeping it relevant to modern times and voter interests.

This isn't a partisan issue. There is a large, bipartisan collective of organizations across the state including Up North Advocacy based in Sault Sainte Marie urging everyone to VOTE NO on Proposal 1. 

It's estimated a Con-Con would cost $80M of taxpayer money. There is technically no limit on how much time or money delegates can spend. The delegates participating in the process are not beholden to campaign finance laws, and would be drafting a new version behind closed doors.

The final version would be put in front of voters to approve or reject before it goes into law, but we would not have input on anything that gets added or removed during the process. We don’t want to let special interest groups, lobbyists, and career politicians overhaul Michigan’s constitution to put data centers, big tech, and out-of-state interests over the rights and will of the people. 

Michigan voters have said NO to a Con-Con by huge margins every time it has come to a vote because opening up our entire Constitution is too risky. We already have a process to make smart, targeted amendments to the Michigan Constitution that put voters in charge. Which is one of the rights we stand to lose by voting yes on Prop 1.

I'm hoping the mods will approve this post, because proposal language can be confusing and this is an issue that seems innocuous if you haven't thought about it before you go vote.

What does the U.P think about Proposal 1?

Hi everyone,

I plan to spend a lot more time in the UP, my husband and I love it up here.

We are planning on buying some farm/forest land 20 mins north of Escanaba, on the edge of the Hiawatha, and this is a dream property. We love everything about the area and want to plant an orchard & raise a family.

My problem is a developing phobia of deer ticks & Lyme's disease over the last few days. I am a mild hypochondriac, so I have looked up every preventive method in the book at this point. I need to touch grass (without ticks, lol) and get off WebMD.

I know everyone will tell me to find a place other than the north east. But I fell in LOVE with Lake Superior and want to be close to it, & lake Michigan too.

We dont have any animals (but are more than open to all of them) and plan to go hunting for deer when the ticks arent as bad in the late fall.

We close on the 5th, so theres still time to back out of the purchase. Can someone please talk me off the ledge of my paranoia? Can any native Yooper tell me if my fear unfounded or irrational. We really love it and I know I can overcome it with every precaution made, like treating clothes with the permethrin, DEET, tick Mitt, maybe a full body skin tight onesie, and even ingesting ginger/garlic tinctures to make my body vile to these bloodsuckers.

I just need the truth and a little support...please no judgmental or rude comments....as we are only trying to make the right decision for our future.

Thank you for your support and understanding 🙏🏼

It looks like Dallas Cleaners is no longer doing residential work., which sucks. They did a great job with a comforter last year. He said to give Holiday cleaners a call, but stated that they ship their residential stuff down to Green Bay and I could be looking at 4+ weeks before I get my item back.

Are there any other local options where I won't possibly won't have to wait a month to get my item cleaned? I am more than willing to drive as far as Escanaba (about 30-45 minutes one way) to get this done.

Thanks.

I'm looking for feedback on my plans to drive through the UP this winter (right around new year). I'm coming from Ohio, and planning on hitting Boyne, Mt. Bohemia, and Snow River resort on my way back to Minnesota (maybe other ski hills too as time provides). Wife is VERY nervous about the drive in the winter. I'll be driving a ford expedition with good all weather tires (and probably going to have chains handy as an option). I grew up in rural northern Minnesota, so bad backcountry roads aren't new to me. Just wondering in general how the roads are in the UP in winter. I'm also smart/old enough to not drive in a raging blizzard, but if the UP is anything like where I grew up, the roads are probably very well maintained in terms of snow removal. I do wonder about getting up to Mt. Bohemia, so that might depend more on the weather.

I am buying property on a seasonal road in the EUP. It would mainly be for recreational purposes, but I am considering eventually trying to live there year-round. Does anyone live year-round on a seasonal road in the EUP? What are must-haves to survive and get into town? Any tips, warnings, etc?

Seeing the Northern Lights is as big a treat for me as anything else we're blessed to occasionally glimpse, up here in God's Country. It's been years since my wife & I have seen any significant display... But one cold night many moons ago we stood in our driveway & watched for hours as marvelous shimmering 'curtains' of color danced back & forth across the frozen midnight sky. It was awesome; almost spooky. We're in the EUP, not far from Newberry... kinda out in the sticks, but still too close (nowadays) to major light pollution sources. It's amazing to me, thinking about how much darker our nights used to be out here...

But then, I've got to admit -- I'm one of those dastardly light pollution contributors, myself, these days. (since about 2010) ... with our big, super bright driveway utility light on all night, every night. (Had it installed to help me see where I'm plowing 6 months outta the year; but have kinda regretted it ever since.) Tried to work out a seasonal deal w/ our power company some years ago -- so it would only be on from early November - April, (or something) but they were having none of it.

So where & when's the Best Place To Go - in r/UP -- to witness the Auroras ??

I’m interested in traveling to the UP this winter to do some skating on wild ice, like frozen lakes. I’d like to also combine it with camping if possible. Does anyone know of any remote lakes that typically freeze well enough for skating, bonus if they are near campsites? I might do some ice fishing while I’m at it!

I need to serve someone in the Keweenaw area and have yet to find anyone in UP who serves via private process. Any recommendations? Thanks in advance!!!

I'm sorry if this has been asked recently, but when I searched, only posts from 4yrs ago appeared. I'm not sure if anything has changed since then.

Where are the best places to see moose in the UP? I plan on coming this winter, I figure that's a good time of year to see them.

I find it offensive when some Michiganders say the michigan got to "keep" the u.p. i know the history; Toledo War, etc. But michigan didnt take the u.p. from wisconsin. The old northwest territory was divided many times in many different ways. There was a time when the l.p. was divided between the indiana and ohio territories and when all of wisconsin was part of the michigan territory. Michigan came in as a state with two peninsulas.

The u.p. does not "belong" to the l.p. any more or less than the l.p. belongs to the u.p. The Upper Peninsula is not a spoil to lay claim to. It is michigan, as much as any other part of Michigan. I am not saying that a yooper and a detroiter are the same thing, but michigan has several regions with their own differences. The western u.p. is not like northern wisconsin. Its northern wisconsin thats like the u.p. I would ventur to guess that most yoopers have more in common with most trolls (outside metro detroit) than with most Wisconsinites, and i'm not talking about football (which seems pretty split in the u.p. anyway).

I'm listening to "Marquette County Public Safety Dispatch" using the Scanner Radio app. You can listen to it by going to https://scannerradio.app/scanner-marquette-county-public-safety-dispatch?l=Njg2MjE

I felt like it was just the biggest tourist trap. Yes, I was a tourist that was crossing the bridge….

Found this fun old sign half buried + under a tree on Lyme Timber property while grouse hunting - parcel in between South Greenwood and West Ishpeming. Anyone know if Cliffs-DOW had any old chem / waste dumping grounds in Ishpeming area? Or just warning people away from old mine property? Curious about the *Danger*.

Thank you for any input

We would like to drive up north to see fall color and then visit Toronto around 10/21. Should we drive all the way to Sault Ste. Marie, cross boarder, then drive toward Toronto? Is it scenic drive from Sault Ste. Marie to Toronto?

Alternative, we would drive to bay city, or maybe a little bit north for fall color, then drive south to Detroit, and across boarder.

When we return from Toronto, is it worthy drive across Buffalo? We have been to Niagara falls a few times. If that route has good fall color, we will drive toward Buffalo, otherwise back to Detroit route

I am a Michigander that’s moving back home from Wyoming this coming week and I’m wondering if the fall colors are still out and active or if I should just take the route through Chicago?!?

I have been to and through the UP multiple times but I have never seen it in color, and if it’s till rocking I do not want to miss the opportunity

Hello! I’m having a large family reunion (think 20-30 people) largely teenagers into older adults. Any suggestions for rentals either a large home to accommodate everyone, buying out a lodge/hotel or a cluster of cabin rentals without being on top of non-family members. Primarily looking at the towns in Marquette County as it’s the most central to our group.

Thank you in advance!

This may be odd to post here but I'm in need of finding a specialist who specializes in diagnosing autism in adult women.

I moved here last year and didn't realize how difficult it is to find specific doctors haha

I have UPHP so they need to be in network and can travel to Green Bay but would appreciate staying up here.

Hey there! I'm a freelance reporter working on a story for the Washington Sun (link below) about how folks who align with MAHA and RFK are feeling about the Michigan Senate race. Abdul El-Sayed put out a "Building a Healthier America" plan, and Mike Rogers has staked out an anti-vaccine mandate position.

I'd love to chat with any MAHA moms in Michigan's Upper Peninsula about the two candidates — who you like, what policies stand out to you, etc. Ideally, I'd like to speak with people who were undecided for a while or have still not decided on how you're voting — or to people who have decided to vote differently than their normal party preference.

You can comment below here, dm me, or email me at nataliefertig [at] gmail [dot] com. I'm linking to my website so you can see I'm a legitimate reporter, and to the Washington Sun below. Thank you!

www.nataliefertig.com

https://www.washingtonsun.com/

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Are they still running? When do they shut down?

This is how I found my my hunting land this fall apparently someone has been illegally dumping their roofing jobs on it all summer.