More and more pet owners have been faced with a heartbreaking dilemma during difficult economic times -- confronting the reality that losing a home or job may also mean having to give up a beloved cat or dog.

Extraordinary. One word of five syllables strains to describe the life, talent, commitment and opportunities of Sarah West, a 16-year-old Traverse City dancer studying this year at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City.

Low-key but high energy, the Twin Bays Skating Club's Holiday Exhibition featured everything from kisses to presents, Santa hats to synchronized spectacles.

The Traverse City Senior Center will offer beginner and intermediate bridge classes for adults age 50 and older.

William Wolfington V, of Elk Rapids, received the Boy Scouts of America Eagle Scout Award on Dec. 14.

Christmas memories are akin to Aunt Gertrude's bourbon-soaked fruitcake -- both are highly preserved. However, one is chock-full of cherished moments instead of green citron. To this day, I remember leaping out of bed at 4 a.m. and tiptoeing down the hallway to see what Santa had left under the tree. The fact that it was December 23 did little to quell my enthusiasm.

Rural America is witnessing a trend in our work with rural communities a growing number of high school and college students who would like to return to their rural hometowns if good career opportunities were available.

Can any readers identify the couple in this photograph of a Park Place Hotel Christmas party? Provide a link to the past!

Fire started in a doctor's office at Alanson, wiped out six buildings and for a time it appeared the whole town would go up in smoke. (Plus more news from 1908.)

Two teams from Twin Bays Skating Club participated in the 13th Annual Dr. Richard Porter Synchronized Classic on December 6 in Ann Arbor. The competition hosted 165 teams from around the country.

Grand Traverse Hockey Association Bantam House November Players of the Month

Traverse City West Middle School's eighth-grade boys basketball team took a close win over Petoskey.

City of Traverse City volleyball league results

Coast Guard Seaman Valerie Van Tine recently graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Recruit Training Center.

Building permits issued in Grand Traverse County.

Assumed names filed in Grand Traverse County.

UpNorth2 television schedule for Dec 23 - Dec 28.