A Cub, A Dream, A Legacy: The Story of Dean Oswald’s Bear Ranch
By Allie Brawley | Photos by Abby MoranThis article was originally published in Cloverland Connections, September/October 2025.
When Dean Oswald was 6 years old, he and his...
Celebrating the Magical Northern Michigan Morel Season
Every spring, a charming lakeside Michigan town gathers to celebrate the marvelous morel mushrooms. For more than 60 years, those merry for morels have...
Vande Bunte Eggs: It’s For The Birds
In the rural heart of west Michigan, an impressive hen house serves as the main nest for a third-generation family farm. For the Vande...
Building Beyond Bricks
Strong houses are made of concrete, lumber, and shingles, but a strong home is much more—it’s a place for family, for coming together, and...
Old Friends
By J. Joseph Mapes, a Midwest Energy & Communications member
It has been said that “old friends are the bestfriends.” I surely agree. Growing up...
Coon Hunt
My dad had 17 coon hounds and a war surplus Willys Jeep (circa 1940s). It had a canvas top, a windshield, and no doors....
Grandparents at the Doorstep
By Alexandra Braddock, a Great Lakes Energy Cooperative member
Building Stronger Families and Happier Childhoods
When can I have a sleepover at Grammy and (Grand)Dude’s?” my...
The Orchard
By Rebecca Carlson, Cherryland Electric Cooperative memberRebecca is a college English professor. She enjoys traveling, writing, and paddle boarding on West Bay.
The best angle from...
The Call of the Wild
When you are exploring the Upper Peninsula, whether in vacation mode or simply tooling around your hometown, there is a sense that the “wild”...
Road Trippin’ With Christal Frost: Sault Ste. Maire & Soo Locks
Traveling to Sault Ste. Marie is almost like traveling back in time. Sault Ste. Marie, or as the locals say, The Soo, is the...
















