Lives forever linked

Niece saves uncles life with live liver donation

By Kirk Rogers

Three days before Thanksgiving in 2020, Mark Constance arrived at the Saginaw VA for his annual checkup. The appointment had been scheduled in advance and was routine. His blood pressure was checked, his temperature taken, his weight measured, and his blood drawn. He left the VA happy to have the appointment behind him.

signs. He tired easily and sat for too long. Each morning there were swollen ankles, but they would soon disappear, and he paid them little attention. Then came the black Friday phone call. Blood tests indicated his liver was not functioning properly.

Within a few short days Mark had gone from feeling like a relatively lowly tonsil, gallbladder, or spleen. When any of those organs are removed, in large part it is the heroic liver that saves the day. However, when the liver fails no other organ

IN THIS ISSUE:

Out and About 2A

St. Patrick's Month 8A

Winter Fun Recap 11A

Tony Mayball Cornhole Pro 1B

Holistic Health 4B

Mio vs. Fairview b-ball 10B

Roscommon often and they made it a

Out & About - March 2023

CRAWFORD COUNTY:

Grayling, Frederic, Lovells

3- Cooking for One- 6-week course, 2-hour classes, Fridays

Feb 17- Mar. 24 Crawford County

Commission on Aging

4- Guided Snowshoe HikeHartwick Pines- 10 a.m.- 12 p.m.- must preregister so please call the Visitor Center with questions

989-348-2537

4- Meat Bingo- Grayling Eagles

#3465- Doors open at 2 p.m. 602 Huron Street, Grayling

4-5- 6th Annual Fred Bear DayKirtland Community College 4 Mile Campus- Grayling. For more info email wejie1940@yahoo.com

10- Cooking for One- 6-week course, 2-hour classes, Fridays

Feb 17- Mar. 24 Crawford County

Commission on Aging

16- Blackthorn Concert- 7 p.m., Tickets $30 in advance, AuSable

Artisian Village Community Theater

17- Cooking for One- 6-week course, 2-hour classes, Fridays

Feb 17- Mar. 24 Crawford County

Commission on Aging

18- Lantern Lit Snowshoe Hike5:30- 8:30 p.m.- Hartwick Pines- Call the Visitor Center with questions.

989-348-2537

24- Cooking for One- 6-week course, 2-hour classes, Fridays

Feb 17- Mar. 24 Crawford County

Commission on Aging

Crawford County Extras

Tues- Bible Study – 10 a.m.

Crawford County Commission on Aging & Senior Center

Tues- Euchre – 1-4 p.m. Crawford County Commission on Aging & Senior Center

Tues- Diamond Dancers – 6 p.m.

Crawford County Commission on Aging & Senior Center

Wed- Mahjong – 1-3 p.m. Crawford County Commission on Aging & Senior Center

Wed - Bike Night, at 7 p.m., Gallagher's Sports Bar & Grill, 3997

E. M-72

Thurs- Craft & Chat – 10 a.m.

Crawford County Commission on Aging & Senior Center

Thurs- Penny Bingo – 1-3 p.m.

Crawford County Commission on Aging & Senior Center

Fri- Pantry Bingo – 1-3 p.m.

Crawford County Commission on Aging & Senior Center

Fri. - Trivia, at 7:30 p.m. MI

Brew

Tues- Diamond Dancers – 6 p.m.

Crawford County Commission on Aging & Senior Center

Mon & Wed- Pickleball 9-11 a.m.

Crawford County Commission on Aging & Senior Center

Mon & Wed- SilverSneakers

– 10-11 a.m. Crawford County Commission on Aging & Senior Center

Tues & Thurs – Pickleball, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Crawford County Commission on Aging & Senior Center

Tues & Thurs- Zumba Gold

– 10-11 a.m., Crawford County Commission on Aging & Senior Center

Tues & Thurs- Walk off the Winter Blues- Crawford County Commission on Aging & Senior Center

Fri. - Trivia, at 7:30 p.m. MI Brew

1st Sun. - American Legion Breakfast Buffet, at 9 a.m., American Legion Post 106

1st Tue.- Friends of a Feather- 9 a.m. Crawford County Commission on Aging

2nd Mon. - Post meeting, 7 p.m., American Legion Post 106

2nd Tues - Grayling American Legion Aux Post meeting, at 5:30 p.m., Grayling

2nd Thurs- Veterans Coffee hour, 10 a.m., Grayling American Legion

2nd Thurs - Families against Narcotics, 6:30 p.m., St. Francis Episcopal Church

2nd Sat. - Euchre Tournament, 6 p.m., American Legion

ROSCOMMON COUNTY: Roscommon, Higgins Lake, Prudenville, Houghton Lake, St. Helen

11- Horizon Bank “Bowl For Kids” Benefitting Big Brothers and Big Sisters- 11 a. m. - 5 p.m.- Fred's of Roscommon

17-19- 2nd Annual “UpNorth Madness”- 3 on 3 Tournament, $150 per team- Register before March 13

– The Northern Center - Houghton Lake

24- Trivia Night Benefitting Richfield Township Helping Hands- Doors open at 6 p.m.- $40 per team, max 4 players. For an extra $10 you can BYOB. - Must be over 18 to play. -VFW #5680, 1914 Lake Street, Saint Helen. For more info call Roberta Kary 989-632-3300

Roscommon County Extras

Mon - Reserve tech HelpHoughton Lake Public Library

Mon- Zumba Class- 4:45- 5:45 p.m.

Tues – Ski Club 4H, Starting Jan 7, 3:30-5:30 p.m. Cross Country Ski Headquarters, 9435 N. Cut Rd, Roscommon. 5-19 30 student limit, must be registered, more info 989275-5043 $15

Weds- Make Shop at Made Up North- Craft workshops during the day- call for more information 989281-1250

Thurs - Sit & Get Fit, 2:30 p.m.,

Up North Voice

A Division of AuSable Media, LLC

A veteran-owned business located at 709 Lake Street, PO Box 113, Roscommon MI 48653

“Friend, guide and companion of all good people”

Up North Voice is published monthly and distributed in Roscommon, St. Helen, Houghton Lake, Higgins Lake, Grayling, Lovells, Waters, Gaylord, Johannesburg, Lewiston, Comins, Atlanta, Mio, Fairview, McKinley, Rose City, Luzerne, Lupton, West Branch, Skidway Lake, Hale, Glennie, Curran, Tawas City, East Tawas, National City, Whittemore, Prescott, AuSable and Oscoda. It is available at newsstands or annually for $40.

Stories, advertisements and photos are copyrighted and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the publisher. UpNorthVoice.com is updated daily with breaking news and photos.

989-275-1170

Out & About

Continued from page 2

Roscommon Area District Library

Fri - Story-time Fridays, 10:30 a.m., Houghton Lake Public Library

Sat- Zumba Class- 10-11 a.m.

CRAF Center $20

1st Thurs- Veteran's Coffee

Hour- 9 a.m., Blogett Airport Houghton Lake

2nd Sun. – VFW Country

Breakfast, 8 a.m., VFW Post 4159

2nd Thurs. – B2B Breakfast, 8 a.m., Village of Roscommon

3rd Wed. – Michigan Fireman’s Memorial Festival Meeting 6:30 p.m.

Check the MSU Extension Webpage for their list of upcoming classes at http://bit.ly/MSUEevents or call 989-275-5043

IOSCO COUNTY: Hale, Whittemore, Tawas

25- Breakfast with the Easter Bunny- Tawas United Methodist Church- 9-11 a.m.

Iosco County Extras:

Mon - BINGO, 6:30 p.m., Whittemore Chamber of Commerce

3rd Tues. - Whittemore Chamber Meeting, 7 p.m., 405 E. Sherman Street

3rd Thurs- Veteran's Coffee

Hour- 9 a.m. American Legion Post 211 900 E. Lincoln, East Tawas

2nd Sat. - Vintage Market, from 9 a.m.-2pm, Brugger Plaza, 324 W. Lake Street, Tawas City

OGEMAW COUNTY: West Branch, Rose City, Lupton

Ogemaw County Extras

Tues. – Kiwanis Club of West Branch, at Noon, Buccilli’s of West Branch

Weds. – BINGO, Early Birds at 6:30 p.m., Regular 7:45 p.m., Knights of Columbus off M-30

Weds. – AL-ANON meeting, 8 p.m., 12 Step-Up Club, 236 First Street

Weds. – Culvers Cruise In, 6 – 8 p.m., Culvers West Branch

Thurs. – Optimist Club, 7 a.m., Loggers Depot, 314 Houghton Avenue

1st Sun. – Adult Children of Alcoholics, 6 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 2490 State Road

1st & 2nd Mon. – City Council meeting, 6 p.m., West Branch City Hall, 121 N. Fourth Street

1st & 3rd Tues. – Rose City

Council meeting, 6 p.m., Council Chambers, 310 N. Williams Street

1st Tues. – West Branch Retail Merchants meeting, 6 p.m., City Police Station, 130 Page Street

1st Wed.- Ogemaw County

Veterans Coffee Hour- 9-10 a.m.,

1st Wed.– Let’s Discuss Juniors Book Club, 4 p.m., West Branch District Library, 119 N. Fourth Street

1st & 3rd Thurs. - Newborn

Parent Support Group, 6 p.m., MyMichigan Health West Branch in the Executive Dining Room

1st Thurs. – Ogemaw County Fair Board meeting, 7 p.m., meets in main building

2nd Mon. - Kiwanis Young

Professional Club, 6 p.m., Highway

Brewing Company

2nd Tues – Parkinson's Disease

Support Group, 3:30 p.m., MyMichigan Medical Center West

Branch Executive Dining Room

2nd Wed. – Aktion Club, 9:30 a.m., United Methodist Church

2nd Wed. - Business Professional

Women’s group, 5 p.m.

2nd Wed. - Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementia Support Group, 2- 3:30 p.m. MyMichigan Medical Center West Branch

Executive Dining Room

2nd & 4th Thurs. - Healing

Together – Compassus Hospice, 10 a.m., Ogemaw Commission on Aging, 1508 M-33

3rd Mon. - Disabled American

Veterans & Auxiliary meeting, 5 p.m., VFW Post 3775

3rd Tues.- OCGHS General

Membership Board meeting, 2:30 p.m., Trinity Episcopal Church, 100

E. Houghton Avenue

3rd Thurs. – Vet2Vet Peer

Support Group 6 p.m., First United Methodist Church corner of Fairview and State Road, For more info call 989-873-6088

3rd Thurs. - Ogemaw Area Swim

Boosters 6 p.m., Ogemaw Heights

High School Room 210

2nd Sat. - Ogemaw Hills

Snowmobile club meeting, 9 a.m., Club House

▪ See OUT & ABOUT on page 5

989-275-1170

Issues with Fentanyl

Last month I watched a local news station, and read articles, that reported on fentanyl and the southern border; how republicans have made this issue and immigration a top priority. However, what I didn't hear is that most of the fentanyl is smuggled in by U.S. citizens, not immigrants seeking asylum.

When journalists leave pertinent information out of their reports, they are purposely creating disinformation. Combining these two issues and not explaining how they

Letter to the Editor

are separate could cause confusion for many, who might automatically tie them together, as some journalists did.

I investigated the fentanyl and southern border issue after recalling that I had read about this recently. I found many valid sources that tell the facts. The U.S. citizens are killing their own country's people with fentanyl and using minors to traffic a lot of the drug in, then sell it to minors in schools and neighborhoods. Instead of pointing fingers at others, we need to look in the mirror if we are to get a grasp on this terrible drug.

Fentanyl is also coming in from across the sea, from the east: China and India, according to the DEA. Blaming others for drug trafficking will never solve the problem because drugs have been used by humans for thousands of years. We need to work on this issue with people within our communities, state, and nation.

A few good sources for information are the CATO institute (libertarian-right leaning), NPR (moderate-left leaning), and the DEA.

Donna Russell Roscommon

If you have thoughts and opinions you would like to express in a letter to the editor, please email alicia@upnorthvoice.com

Ribbons and rabbits

Iosco youth attends State Show

IOSCO COUNTY- 4-H representatives Matthew Bennett and Ellie Slobodian traveled to Lansing for the State 4-H Rabbit and Cavy Show held on Jan. 28. 2022. Slobodian placed best opposite of variety with her Mini Lop named

Sherbert. She took best of breed with Mr. Pippins, a French Lop. Bennett received first place for senior buck and doe with his white New Zealand rabbits and third place for his black junior doe.

Letter to the editor policy:

AuSable Media encourages all readers with a connection to the community to submit letters to the editor for possible publication.

Please limit letters to 300 words.

Author must include a daytime contact number.

Letters are the individual opinion of the author and do not reflect the opinions of the staff, advertisers or contributors to the Voice.

The Voice reserves the right to accept or reject any letter.

To submit a letter email it to: info@UpNorthVoice.com, mail to P.O. Box 113, Roscommon, MI 48653, or stop by the office at 709 Lake Street in Roscommon.