Atlanta News

The top 10 finalists for the "American Idol"-style show on Atlanta-based Gospel Music Channel's "Gospel Dream" includes three Georgia finalists: Ashli Marie Pritchett Hometown: Thomaston, GA Audition city: Atlanta Sixteen-year-old Ashli Marie counts Natalie Grant, Martina McBride, Rascal Flatts, and Carrie Underwood as her musical influences.

ATLANTA, Mich. -- Sometime around 1970, a geography club marked a route across Michigan called the Polar-Equator Trail.' The Michigan Legislature declared it a major tourist attraction.

There is no simple route on Michigan's 45th Parallel -- unless you don't mind bypassing some of it.

45th Parallel acknowledgement: Michigan Dept. of Transportation sign on M-23 just south of town at Squaw Bay. The town's Latitudes Bar is a reference to the 45th degree latitude of the city. Attraction: The National Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center is a splendid museum containing artifacts of sunken ships and a history of Great Lakes shipping. More than 200 sunken ships are in or near Thunder Bay near Alpena. (Free, 500 W. Fletcher, www.thunderbay.noaa.gov, 989-356-8805) Dining: John A. Lau Saloon, circa 1893. Steaks, fish, good deep-fried green beans, Michigan beer. Reputed to be haunted by a ghost, but I didn't see her. (414 N. Second, 989-354-6898) Lodging: Many small mom-and-pop spots like the 40 Winks Motel (1021 State, 989-354-5622), plus chains like Holiday Inn (1000 Hwy 23 N, www.holiday-inn.com, 989-358-6732). Tourist information: www.alpenacvb.com, 989-354-4181 45th Parallel acknowledgement: The only Michigan town whose downtown intersection, State Street (M-32), is virtually on the 45th Parallel. A few of the Polar-Equator Trail signs still stand on country roads nearby. Attraction: Known as the elk capital of Michigan, the town holds an Elk Festival every year, this year Sept. 25-27. Dining: Betty and Bucky's Family Dining (12545 State, 989-785-2695). Lodging: The Atlanta Motel is just down the street from the fishing pier (12520 State, www.theatlantamotel.com, 989-785-4509) Tourist information: www.atlantamichigan.com, 989-785-3400 45th Parallel acknowledgement: The south part of town near McCoy Road is on the 45th Parallel. Plus, everyone going Up North on I-75 passes the parallel sign just before the Gaylord exit. Also, there's a 45th Parallel wooden sign on Hayes-Tower Road west of town. Attraction: The city has its own elk herd in Elk Park, less than a mile from the 45th Parallel. You can best see it from the DPW lot or the Elks Club. (Seriously. It's true.) Dining: The Sugar Bowl, celebrating 90 years, is a town institution. Good whitefish and a cozy Up North ambiance (216 W. Main, 989-732-5524) Lodging: Many chain hotels near freeway, or the Royal Crest Motel (803 S. Otsego, www.royalcrestgaylord.com, 888-854-9252). Tourist information: www.gaylordmichigan.net, 800-345-8621 45th Parallel acknowledgement: The parallel marker is about half a mile north of the city limits. Attraction: Just northwest of town is the Forty-Five North Vineyard and Winery, which sits exactly on the parallel: 'Experience the Latitude,' its ads proclaim, 'Located distinctly on the 45th Parallel' (8580 East Horn Road, www.fortyfivenorth.com, 231-271-1188). Dining: The 45th Parallel Cafe for breakfast or lunch (104 W. Broadway, www.45thfudge.com, 231-271-2233). Lodging: The Vineyard Inn that faces West Bay is just a few yards north of the parallel sign (1338 N. Pebble Beach, www.vininn.com, 231-941-7060). Tourist information: www.suttonsbayarea.com, 231-271-5077

GRAND LEDGE - The Eaton County Chapter of Michigan Association of Retired School Personnel will hold the first meeting of the Spring on April 14 at the Congregational Church in Grand Ledge.

CHARLOTTE - The Charlotte Jaycees, in conjunction with John Forte from What's Your Forte?, are hosting Hair Raiser Week March 23 to 28 for Locks of Love.

LANSING Dr. Stacia Pierce returns with the internationally acclaimed Women's Success Conference, May 21-23 at the Lansing Center.

Monday, March 02, 2009 at 8:59 a.m. SCHOOLCRAFT COUNTY -- A downstate man was seriously injured in a snowmobile head-on crash this weekend in Schoolcraft County.

Beef Farmer Jim Baker says around 40 elk have been getting into his barn yard all winter and eating his hay.

Thousands of people are expected to come to Montmorency County for the two-day Sno*Drift Rally.

Hank Bailey wanted to become the first member of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians to kill a bull elk with a muzzle loader.

Hide Video The former District Court Magistrate for Montmorency County could spend 20 years in prison if convicted of stealing thousands of dollars from the community.

A former Montmorency County District Court magistrate has been charged with embezzling more than $100,000. Kimberly Dobbyn, of Atlanta, Mich., was arraigned Wednesday on eight counts, including embezzlement by ...

Hide Video A fight involving a chainsaw and a hammer in Montmorency County landed 2 men in jail.

Audrey Chen, age 4, carefully used the mortar and pestle in her Montessori Radmoor classroom to grind spices into powder.

One person died and another was hospitalized after an early morning fire destroyed a Montmorency County home.

The Michigan State Fire Marshal was on scene all day to determine the cause of an Atlanta house fire that left one person dead and another injured.

Hide Video We are following breaking news. A house has been destroyed in a fire in Montmorency County.