Bohnak’s Reaction and Plans, Hospital Resignations?, a Surging Pandemic, plus Catrina Cocina and The Courtyards

The Latest from Marquette, MI by Brian Cabell

TOUGH TIMES FOR the UP’s media powerhouse, TV-6. As expected, their longtime meteorologist, Karl Bohnak—arguably the most popular person in the UP—resigned this week, rejecting the mandate of the station’s parent company to get vaccinated against Covid.

Bohnak’s resignation (or firing) announcement on Facebook carried more than a hint of politics: “The abrogation of our liberty and freedom is very disturbing to me….It’s time to wake up to what is occurring here in America and across the world. We are being bludgeoned with fear, I believe, in an effort to control us…”

Friends of Bohnak—a smart, thoughtful, and otherwise easy-going man—were aware of his conservative political views. He also doesn’t buy climate-change and global warming…But this was the most outspoken publicly he’s ever been. Understandable, given the circumstances.

His future? “I don’t know,” he says. “I’ve had a lot of calls the last couple of days. I’ve got to let things settle down. There are a lot of options out there. But I don’t think I just want to sit on my porch swatting flies for the rest of my life…”…..So options like….uhh, you know…politics??? “Would I want to jump into the fire in this political climate?” he asks. “No, that doesn’t sound very appealing to me at this point.”

At this point.

SO THAT’S IT for TV-6? One weatherman gone, so carry on. Likely not. Word is, others may soon follow Bohnak out the door. Jobs will likely be available.

The irony here? The parent company issuing the vaccine mandate, Gray Television, is known for its ardently conservative political views.

AND THEN THERE’S the hospital situation which, no doubt, is more important than TV personalities….UPHS-Bell nurse anesthetist Mike Worden—45 years old, married, a father of two—says he’ll likely quit his job if the vaccine mandate for hospitals serving Medicare and Medicaid patients is carried out….”I’m healthy,” he says. “My wife and kids are healthy. We don’t need it. I don’t trust the science.”

Worden, who’s been at Bell for the last 10 years, estimates 10-30% of his fellow health care workers will also walk out the door. A crisis, to say the least, if that came to pass.

AND YES, THE Covid numbers are again climbing in Marquette County. Scarily so….From Dr. Bob Lorinser, the medical director of the county’s health department: “The virus controls when and where it strikes, and no one really knows why.” Yikes. His strong, enduring belief (shared by more than 90% of the nation’s doctors, and supported by numerous studies) is that vaccinations substantially prevent Covid hospitalizations and deaths.

We have two clear and admirable principles in conflict here: The right to personal liberty versus the right of a community to protect its safety and health….Two thousand Americans are dying daily of COVID now, and the number is climbing. 670,000 have already lost their lives to COVID….At some point, it seems, personal liberty has to take a back seat to the nation’s health.

FOUR THOUSAND HAPPY, well-lubricated folks at BeerFest. One hotelier says, “NMU’s graduation used to be the biggest weekend for hotels in Marquette. No longer. It’s BeerFest.”

AND THE THING is, the official hotel occupancy numbers don’t tell the whole story. Marquette now has 250 Airbnb units which aren’t even counted by Travel Marquette…That’s likely another 500 visitors, or more.

THIS DISMAYING NEWS from City Commissioner Fred Stonehouse—the state is getting ready to take control of all short-term rentals in the state. That is, the state will determine the total numbers of rental units allowed, their locations, and the revenue generated by them…Alarmist? Maybe. But Stonehouse concludes, “The state doesn’t give a rat’s ass about the cities.”

THIS AIN’T RIGHT. Marquette Senior High School’s boys’ varsity soccer team dominates the UP every year, but because of a complicated and seemingly irrational federal court ruling back in 2004, no UP soccer teams can play in the state playoffs—even though the football, basketball, hockey, and various other varsity teams can…

Nonsensical. “It’s a shame because this year’s boys’ team is really good,” says MSHS athletic director Alex Tiseo. “They’d probably do really well in the playoffs”…Their record as of Friday was 12-0, with victories over several downstate teams. They’ve outscored their opponents 66-7.

Any hope for a change? Maybe, but almost certainly not for this season….“The case is not before a judge at this point,” says Geoff Kimmerly, the communications director for the Michigan High School Athletic Association, “but there are conversations taking place outside the courtroom.” He adds that the MHSAA philosophically agrees that the rule should be changed.

HARD TO GO wrong with anything on the menu at La Catrina Cocina, the relatively new Mexican restaurant just off the highway in the Township….They have the usual fare, but also some less conventional offerings, most of them exquisitely prepared…One major disappointment, though: the margaritas (and we had four of them at our table) were tasty but seemed very light on the tequila…Maybe it was an off day for the bartender but we’ve heard that from other folks, as well. Oh well, we’ll order beer and wine the next time.

DRINKS, YOU SAY? Yeah, that’s what you get at the Courtyards in South Marquette. Owner Don Durley (also owner of Lagniappe) says he wanted a cocktail bar in his neighborhood. That’s exactly what he’s created…A classic cocktail bar with plenty of beers and wine, as well….And friendly, knowledgeable bartenders…And delicious tapas, Po’Boys and other Louisiana-themed specialties in the adjoining restaurant….For a tiny community on the southern edges of the Arctic Circle, we do pretty well when it comes to eating and drinking.

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