Holy Wah! Da Yoopers Tourist Trap was robbed!

If you have ever heard "Rusty Chevrolet" or "The Second Week of Deer Camp" then you are familiar with Michigan's Upper Peninsula's own - Da Yoopers music and comedy group. Well, Da Yoopers also have a store in Ishpeming called "Da Yooper's Tourist Trap & Museum" which was burglarized over the weekend. Someone drove their vehicle through a back wall. It is unclear at this time what was taken from the store. I've been by their store on U.S. 41 before and that is why this article caught my attention.

I don't know, if you have seen the eclectic inventory at the store you might be like me and shake your head at what the robber(s) thought they could get. If you have ever stopped at any of the tourist destinations in northern lower Michigan and the U.P. you will know what I mean. Strange stuff.

Via The Mining Journal.

More stupid Michigan crooks

I can say with some certainty that this was probably the last thing that Mark Hunter expected when he sat down to watch some television. While sitting in his living room watching television, two thieves entered Hunter's home through a sliding glass door and stole his flat-screen television. Hunter watched, dumbfounded at the thieves boldness, helplessly as he was outnumbered by the brazen duo. The theft was later reported by Hunter when he recognized one of the alleged crooks, Shawn Robert Kimbrough, on the news (presumably on another television he owns).

Don't you love that you must still refer to thieves as "alleged" even though you have eyewitnesses catching them in the act of the theft and matching serial numbers on the "allegedly" stolen television found at the "alleged" thieves' apartment that tie it to the "alleged" crime?

From the Traverse City Record Eagle -

Kimbrough was out on bond for home invasion, felonious assault and possession of a Taser when the second home invasion charge was filed. Kimbrough was charged with the first three felonies when he allegedly broke into his neighbor's apartment on Oct. 12.

Kimbrough is only 19 and did not appear to have a very good October. Hope November turns out better for him.

Mysterious Paulding Light - haunt or hoax?

Some folks say that the mystery light near Paulding, MI is merely headlights and taillights from U.S. 45. Others believe that it is not so easily explained. On almost any given night you can head out this spot near Watersmeet and see a mysterious light floating above the ground between the rows of trees that border the old road bed. Ripley's Believe it or Not supposedly offered $100,000 to anyone who could solve the mystery of the light.. One of myths that seems to have the greatest hold among believers of the "mystery light" is that it is the ghost of a railroad brakeman.

Directions: Take U.S. 45 north out of Watersmeet Michigan. About 5 miles out of Watersmeet, the road will begin a slow bend to the right. Watch for a road on the left side of 45 named "Robbins Pond Road" (old state hwy 45), there is usually a brown park sign right before, turn left on Robbins Pond Road. Follow the gravel road down about 3/8 mile until you see the dead end.

This video is just under 2 minutes long. To me, it sure did look like headlights from passing cars. Locals will tell you that this light people are currently seeing is NOT the true Paulding Light. That mysterious light has not been see in years. Heh, heh, sounds like the locals will do anything to keep the curiousity seekers coming.

If the video player does not appear you can view this over at YouTube right here.

P.S. I should have posted this last Friday (Friday the 13th) ;)

P.P.S. There is a 70 minute long movie along the lines of The Blair Witch Project that was made concerning The Paulding Light. You can watch, The Paulding Light, in its entirety at PauldingLight.com. You will need a broadband connection to view this movie as it is a rather large file size.

Bear roast starts fire that destroys garage

A bear roast cooking in an oven in a garage in Hamlin Twp. is believed to be the cause of a fire that destroyed the garage. Area firefighters believe this is the first time they have ever heard of a bear roast causing a fire. Thankfully no one was injured during the blaze. The only losses were lawn equipment, tools, and some mounted animals that were stored in the garage.

I guess the bear got the last laugh on this one.

Read the full story in the Ludington Daily News.

Teen builds ballpark in his Grosse Point Woods backyard

Rob Hathaway has a passion for ballfields that goes back to his first view of the beloved ballpark at "The Corner," Tiger Stadium. Inspired by the lush field, Rob asked and received permission from his mom to build a pitcher's mound in the backyard. As Rob heads off to college this fall he leaves his father in charge of groundskeeping for the little ballpark that includes a mini Green Monster (from fabled Fenway Park in Boston) and two scoreboards. He put a lot of his own time and money into the project over the years to the tune of about $7,000.

You HAVE to check out the pictures over at the Detroit Free Press. Man, it makes me wish I had done something like that as a kid.

I had my own little ballfield in our yard when I was growing up. Home plate was a rough creosote soaked electric pole and my "Green Monster" was in centerfield - an outbuilding where you received credit for a home run if the ball landed on the rooftop. The bases were miniature orange traffic cones and the sandbox in right field was in play.

If you didn't have enough players to field a full team (living in the country we never had a full team) you could leave a "ghostie" on base and go back to hit again. Once and awhile I tried to have my "ghostie" steal a base, but I was always overruled. With the outdoor light on the barn you could even play night games if you wanted.

You know, come to think of it I did have a pretty cool field growing up. Sure there weren't any scoreboards or realistic looking outfield fences and a warning track. But I have such fond memories of playing a simple game of baseball with my dad, sisters, or cousins at my own "field of dreams" that I think it more than makes up for not having a more realistic looking field.

I only hope that I can create such fun memories for my son in our backyard.

Yooper shows how to cook on your car's engine

I am not sure whether to put this in the Recipes, Travel, or Michigan Oddities category. This is a video from an Upper Peninsula television show featuring a local man and his love of cooking meals on his manifold. It's a bit campy, corny and unintentionally funny. I loved it!

If the video player does not show up you can view the video directly here. All Things Michigan and Gift Baskets From Michigan LLC are not responsible for content at YouTube beyond the video this link is directed to.