Izzo Fans Crowd Superior Dome, Election Day Approaches, UP State House Races, and An Interesting Tattoo Statistic

– INFORMED BREVITY –

Around the Upper Peninsula

Izzo Fans Crowd Superior Dome

Over 11,000 fans bought tickets to see Iron Mountain’s favorite son Tom Izzo coach his MSU basketball team in a game against the NMU men’s basketball team. NMU played a great game against the Division 1 MSU team. They lost but we saw outstanding coaching and basketball skills from both teams. Of course, as most folks know Tom Izzo once played for the NMU men’s basketball team while a student at NMU in the 70’s.

The 11,000 fans that crowded into the Superior Dome will go down as the largest crowd ever in the Dome. That record was previously held by the political rally held by George W. Bush when he was running for reelection.

It was a good day for hotels, restaurants and other venues in Marquette as the 11,000 fans flooded downtown for the game. There were lots of fans that came up from downstate and from all over the Upper Peninsula and the region. Lots of happy fans spending lots of money in town.

Kudos to the NMU athletic staff, the NMU Police Department and lots of other folks at NMU who put together a very successful event. Great job everyone. A special salute to Mike Bath, NMU’s Police Chief, for getting all those fans in and out of the dome, not to mention moving all those cars efficiently in and out of the Dome parking lots.

Sixteen Days Until Election Day

November 5th is the day we all get to carry out one of our most important duties as citizens of this great democracy. We vote. However, lots of Michiganders are taking advantage of early voting opportunities, including absentee ballot voting. State election officials tell us that record number of Michganders are taking advantage of early voting this election season. A quick survey we took around the UP shows that is certainly the case around the Upper Peninsula. Turnout is usually higher during election years that we chose a President of the United States. State election observers in Michigan are saying that we might be experiencing high voter turnout numbers than normal during Presidential elections. We shall see.

Just a quick reminder–don’t forget all those other elections on your ballot. Especially remember to vote for your local government positions at the city, county, township and school levels. Most of how the government impacts individual citizens happens at the local and state level. Give them your attention and pick your favorite candidate for each local office.

State House Races in the Upper Peninsula

Political observers in the Upper Peninsula, from both sides, tell us they don’t expect much change to happen in the region. Don’t ever say never in politics but they expect most incumbents to be victorious.

However there is a “hot” race going on in the 109th House District in the central UP. That district is currently held by Democrat Jen Hill. She is opposed by Republican Karl Bonack. This district has been held by a Democrat since 1954 when Dominic Jacobetti won the district. It still looks like a “blue” district when you look at voting patterns over past years since 1954. The district is 74% Marquette County, and according to a local blog in Marquette you see more Bonack yard signs out in the “country” versus “city” locations than Hill yard signs.

Yard signs are not a very good predictor of election voting or even turnout. Get out the vote efforts by candidates are what elect people, not yard signs. Contrary to what this blog said, I live in what it calls “the country” and not in the city. I see lots and lots of Hill signs. I see many Bonack signs. Yard signs make candidate supporters happy. The best get out the vote efforts are what elects a candidate. Those grassroot efforts where volunteers go door to door asking voters to support their candidate and then calling them on election day to make sure they voted is what brings victory.

All this really comes down to this–VOTE. Vote early or on election day, BUT VOTE.

From the World Around Us

With so much political news flooding our airwaves and our internet streams I thought this statistic might bring some relief to our ears, eyes and brains. It comes from the Pew Research Center and the Washington Post. “Tattooing was once a male dominated practice. Today, 38% of U.S. women have at least one tattoo, compared with 27% of men.”

Quotes That Make Us Go Hmmm

“I tell ya, I don’t get no respect from anyone. I bought a cemetery plot. The guy said, ‘There goes the neighborhood’.” Rodney Dangerfield.

“The Truth must dazzle gradually, or every man will be blind.” Emily Dickinson.

Books Recommended By Our Readers

“War.” Bob Woodward. 2024.

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