New Haven, Mo. – ALPS Mountaineering, manufacturer of performance-driven technical support gear for wilderness exploration, trekking, and family camping, has just introduced a one-and-done sleeping bag system that meets the needs of multi-climate campers. The new Aura System is an ingeniously designed sleeping bag that offers three different configurations to keep campers comfortable in everything from cold to warm-weather climates.

The Aura System is based on a 30°F mummy bag featuring two-layer offset construction to eliminate cold spots. Quilted between the polyester liner and nylon ripstop outer layer is TechLoft Micro insulation, which delivers the base 30°F rating. Insulated chest and zipper baffling further eliminates cold air intrusion for a comfortable night’s sleep.

When temperatures take a dive, the Aura System can be converted to a 15°F mummy bag by installing the quilt top with enclosed foot box. This adds an additional layer of heat-trapping insulation to the bag and foot box. Simply slip the quilt’s foot box over the base bag and secure the quilt to the bag via dual #8 zippers and hook-and-loop patches along the chest baffle.

An incidental feature of this system is the space created between the bag and quilt. If even more warmth is desired, the camper can insert clothing between the layers. It’s also the perfect solution for dressing on cold mornings because clothing stays warm while layered in the bag. Read more

RICE LAKE, WI – Henry Repeating Arms, the country’s leading lever action firearm manufacturer, is pleased to announce that its donation of 55 custom rifles raised a total of $40,660 for 4-year-old Milah Schevenius of Decatur, Indiana. The funds will provide financial assistance for the medical expenses incurred throughout Milah’s kidney cancer treatments, including several surgeries and 42 weeks of chemo and radiation. Milah was diagnosed with bilateral Wilms’ Tumor, a rare occurrence affecting only 6% of Wilms’ tumor patients.

The “Miss Milah’s Miracle” campaign is the latest fundraising effort of Henry’s Guns For Great Causes program, a charitable branch of the company that focuses on providing support for sick children, children’s hospitals, military veterans organizations, and other non-profit groups. Each rifle in the limited-edition series features a colorful, childlike design unique to Milah’s personality engraved and hand-painted on the walnut buttstocks. All of the rifles sold out within 3 hours of the initial release announcement. In addition, the online auctions for the first and last serial numbers in the limited series ended at $5,850 and $4,600, respectively. Read more

An Escanaba man successfully ditched his plane Thursday afternoon, after engine failure forced an emergency landing on the frozen surface of Indian Lake.

Mark Meyer, 62, had flown his single-engine plane from the Manistique Airport, and had logged about two hours of airtime when he lost power while practicing air maneuvers over the lake, which is located west of Manistique.

At 3:24 p.m., local dispatchers notified emergency responders that a plane circling Indian Lake was reportedly having engine troubles.

Meyer was unable to restart the engine and made his emergency landing on Indian Lake at 3:32 p.m. He was about eight miles from the airport. Read more

NEW HAVEN, Mo. – ALPS OutdoorZ, premiere manufacturer of extreme-duty hunting packs and outdoor gear, continues its mission of developing innovative products to help hunters achieve success in the field with the introduction of the all-new Ambush Sling Pack.

Run-and-gun turkey hunting demands a pack system that is light, adaptable to changing conditions, and delivers on the key features needed for a successful hunt. The new Ambush Sling Pack hits all these benchmarks. Read more

An award-winning broadcaster, who was the distinctive voice of Michigan Wolverines football for decades and also called games for top professional teams including the Detroit Lions has died at the age of 72.  Recently, he had retired from broadcasting.

WJR-AM, the Detroit-based “Voice of the Great Lakes”, where Beckmann spent most of his career, reported Sunday that he suffered from vascular dementia, a rare brain disease, and had also suffered strokes. It reported that he died Saturday at a hospice center in Clarkston, Michigan.

Beckmann started at WJR in the early 1970s and was, at the time, the newsroom’s youngest-ever reporter. Within several years, he became WJR’s sports director. At various times, Beckmann served as announcer for both for Detroit Tigers and Detroit Lions games. He also called Pistons and Red Wings games.

“I recall when he began as a talk-show host and wondered if he would succeed coming from a sports-centered background.  But, he sure surprised me!  He was always prepared when he went on air and never held back.  I’ve already missed him,” said Glen Wunderlich.

Frank is survived by his wife, Karen, two children and three grandchildren.

Michigan Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer Holly Pennoni was honored Thursday with a Lifesaving Award at the Michigan Natural Resources Commission meeting in Lansing.

Pennoni is credited with delivering rescue breaths to an unconscious man, Ross Gillespie of Cadillac, who – as the result of an unexpected medical condition which caused his blood pressure to plummet – crashed his vehicle on the side of the road while driving southwest of Cadillac on May 18.

Pennoni, driving behind the vehicle, witnessed the incident, called 911 and assisted Gillespie until an ambulance arrived and transported him to the hospital.

“Detective Holly Pennoni was in the right place at the right time,” said Chief Gary Hagler, DNR Law Enforcement Division. “Mr. Gillespie, EMS personnel and the survivor’s attending physician all believe that Pennoni’s quick actions contributed to saving this man’s life. Any delay in response would have resulted in a fatality.”

A conservation officer since 2000, Pennoni was promoted to detective in 2015. Her position is funded through the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy to investigate environmental crimes that threaten Michigan’s natural resources. Read more

Evansville, IN (February 10, 2022) — Trophy Ridge is proud to unveil the 2022 Total Archery Challenge “Shoot to Win” Chevrolet Silverado. One lucky participant will have the opportunity to drive away in the fully capable off road 4X4 valued at more than $50,000 at the end of this year’s tour.

This year marks the Total Archery Challenge’s tenth national tour. The non-competitive event will have ten stops at state parks and ski mountains across the United States in 2022. The golf-like event features several 3D-archery courses that vary in levels of difficulty and shot distances. Archers register for a “Nock-time” on one of the available courses, like a tee time in golf. The event is designed to push the boundaries and test archers in a fun and social environment. Each location also features a practice range with more than 100 3D targets at distances from 5 yards to 100+ that is open to anyone. Participants can utilize the range at any point over the course of the event.

For 2022, Trophy Ridge is the premiere sponsor of the famous “Shoot to Win” truck giveaway. The base truck being given away is a new Chevrolet Silverado 4X4 crew cab Trail Boss. Trophy Ridge, along with several other Total Archery Challenge partners like Firestone tires, Anthem Off Road Wheels, Leitner Designs bed racks, Free Spirit Recreation truck tents, Retrax Bed Covers, Mountain Hatch truck accessories, and Light Force lighting have outfitted the giveaway truck to make it the most capable and well equipped 4X4 possible. Trophy Ridge will be on site at each of the tour locations and will have archery accessories for shooters to test and purchase.

“Trophy Ridge joined the Total Archery Challenge in 2021. After an incredible experience last year, we wanted to go bigger and bolder for 2022.” Said Alec Wyman, Marketing Manager for Trophy Ridge. “This year’s truck features all the bells and whistles from sporting good titans across the industry along with a one-of-a-kind Trophy Ridge vinyl wrap. This truck is guaranteed to create a buzz wherever the future owner ventures.”

The Trophy Ridge “Shoot to Win” truck will be on site at each of the ten locations this year. Archers will have the opportunity to make a 111-yard shot at a 3D caribou target for $15 a shot. Every arrow that lands inside the smallest ring on the target, the 12-ring, earns that individual an entry into the truck drawing. One winner will be drawn at the end of the tour in August 2022.

The Total Archery Challenge will kick-off in Broken Bow, Oklahoma the last weekend of March then will head to Texas, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Michigan, South Dakota, Colorado, Utah, and end in Montana the last week of July. Nock times at each event are limited and early registration is strongly encouraged.

For additional information on the 2022 Total Archery Challenge and “Shoot to Win” giveaway, please visit www.TotalArcheryChallenge.com. To explore the full lineup of Trophy Ridge bowhunting sights, rests, stabilizers, quivers, and releases visit www.TrophyRidge.com. Read more