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The North Wind

The North Wind

The North Wind

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Hannah Jenkins
Hannah Jenkins
Copy Editor

Hi! My name is Hannah Jenkins, and I am one of the copy editors here at the North Wind. I am a sophomore at NMU, and I love all things writing and editing-related. I am proud to be a part of this great...

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The North Wind is an independent student publication serving the Northern Michigan University community. It is partially funded by the Student Activity Fee. The North Wind digital paper is published daily during the fall and winter semesters except on university holidays and during exam weeks. The North Wind Board of Directors is composed of representatives of the student body, faculty, administration and area media.

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Outdoor magazine recognizes Marquette

In its April 2008 issue, “Outdoor Life” magazine recognized what many Marquette residents have long believed and ranked Marquette as one of the best hunting and fishing areas in America.

Out of 200 towns that were acknowledged in the article “Paradise Found,” Marquette ranked seventh. The editors of the magazine said the purpose of evaluating the towns was to locate places that offer world-class hunting and fishing, affordable and hospitable economies and easy access to public land and water.

Marquette City Commissioner Joe Lavey said although he’s unaware of prior rankings,
Marquette has become known for the rugged attraction of a travel destination.

“The beauty of the area is second to none and many people who visit would like nothing better than to live here,” said Lavey. “The relative isolation of the
Upper Peninsula and the presence of Lake Superior create a hunting and fishing experience well above what one could find in many areas.”

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Harvey Wallace, professor and department head of health, physical education and recreation, said he believes Marquette should have been ranked first.

“An old friend and former NMU basketball coach, Glenn Brown, used to greet everyone by saying, ‘It’s just another day in paradise.’ I’ve been repeating that greeting for several years now because it’s true,” Wallace said. “Marquette County is a wonderful place to live, not only for those
who love to hunt and fish, but for anyone who loves experiencing the four seasons.”

The article recognized several of Marquette’s best assets, saying the bottom line was that trout share space with smallmouth in the U.P.’s pristine streams, and more than 100 lakes are accessible
within a half-hour of downtown Marquette. It also noted “the deer opener is like a national holiday here.”

Brian Wildey, a sophomore environmental policy major, said he enjoys hunting and fishing in Marquette because of the close
proximity of the woods and waters.

“You can hunt and fish in the same day, possibly at the same time, and never have to drive far to be in excellent woods or on
excellent waters. Other places have fish and game, but not nearly the diversity that Marquette and the surrounding area has to offer,” he said.

Robert Watson, a sophomore environmental conservation major, agreed that the large diversity of species in the area so close
to town is what makes Marquette a good place for hunters and fisherman.

“With all the local restaurants, bars, and downtown stores throughout Marquette, a visiting outdoor enthusiast has endless
opportunities at their fingertips waiting for them at the end of a long day in the northern woods,” Watson said.

While the magazine certainly brings publicity to Marquette, some people don’t view it as necessarily a good thing. Lindsay Henderson, an NMU hiking instructor, said that a dramatic increase in population could threaten the woods and waters; in addition to the habitat of the fish and game people seek. Henderson said she appreciates the amount of public land that has little to no development, making the area accommodating to outdoor activities in general.

“Marquette needs to grow carefully,” Henderson said. “[It] offers lots of woods, water, remoteness and solitude. We’ll lose that as the population increases.”

Overall, many people are happy with the publicity.

“Our local economy depends on year-round tourism. Any time this area receives positive mention in a national publication is great.”

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