Every year, reporters from the Northern Express - sister publication of The Ticker - fan out across the region to find 20 average folks dedicating themselves to a not-so-average existence. From four-year-old Maya Tisdale (pictured) - who has made headlines for her bravery in battling cerebral palsy and undergoing major surgery to be able to walk - to retired U.S. State Department senior diplot Stan Otto, who chose Elberta over Tokyo and Paris for his retirement destination, this year's annual Fascinating People issue is filled with the surprising and inspiring stories of northern Michigan's colorful residents.

The people on this year's list covers a fascinating and diverse range of backgrounds, including photographer-turned-brewer Brian Confer, who converted a home-brewing hobby into the highly successful Stormcloud Brewing Company. Petoskey native Jerome Rand sailed solo around the world in his 32-foot boat Mighty Sparrow, while Mackinaw City-based attorney Anabel Dwyer was part of the team that won the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize for anti-nuclear activism. Karl Crawford, who has worked for 58 years at Greenwood Cemetery in Petoskey, has helped the property become the holder of local history for the Little Traverse region, with staff scanning and preserving the archives of all of Emmet County’s newspapers dating back to 1875 and taking over photo and clip files from the Petoskey News-Review. And while Kim Diment loves being at home in rural Crawford County, the energetic artist - who lives and works on a scenic 40-acre tract along the Au Sable River near Grayling - has been all over the world taking photos and doing paintings of animals, capturing their essence in acrylics and oils.

See the complete list in this week's Northern Express cover story, "20 Fascinating People." The Northern Express is available to read online, or pick up a free copy at one of nearly 700 spots in 14 counties across northern Michigan.