Baraga Village approved a fiscal year 2010-2011 annual budget of just under $5 million at its Feb. 9 regular meeting.
   According to Village Manager Roy Kemppainen, this year’s general fund is down by almost $1 million at $937,000, compared with $1,020,000 last fiscal year.
   The manager said the biggest reduction comes from having one less police officer on staff, an agreed-to wage freeze by village employees and a fire department grant that was in last year’s budget but not in the new document.

   L’Anse Area Schools Board of Education tackled a very light agenda in a half-hour regular meeting on Feb. 16, 2010.
   There were no old business items and just a handful of new items. Trustees gave new special education teacher Anna Bradfish a one-year probationary contract. The contract started the second semester of the current school year.

   Meadowbrook Arena was packed Sunday afternoon, Feb. 21, to watch the   Keweenaw Bay Cougar Hockey Pee Wees win the UP Finals. They’ll be playing in the 2010 Pee Wee B state championship tournament in Escanaba on March 12-14.
   The unlikely champs of the UP lost to Calumet in their opening game at Meadowbrook last Friday afternoon.
   The Selkey Mfg.-sponsored Pee Wees came fighting back, defeating bigger teams with a combination of determination and what coach Lyndon Ekdahl called “unconventional hockey” that got the job done with a 4-2 victory over Iron Mountain in the championship game.

   Baraga County Memorial Hospital and Baraga County Home Care and Hospice have earned the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval. The Joint Commission sets national health care standards.
   The Joint Commission’s on-site survey of Baraga County Memorial Hospital occurred in November of 2009. Baraga County Home Care and Hospice’s survey was held in October, 2009.

   Karli Mukka’s lifelong struggle with Juvenile Huntington’s Disease (JHD) ended Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2010, when she died at her home in L’Anse.
   Karli, 13, was the daughter of Jane and Karl Mervar of L’Anse. Karl has Huntington’s Disease, and the couple’s other two daughters, Erica and Jacey, have been diagnosed with JHD as well. Jane’s oldest daughter, Karisa Mukka, did not inherit the genetic disorder.

   Air Force Airman Gary Gagnier graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX. He is the son of Matt Gagnier of L’Anse.
   The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.
   Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.
   Gagnier earned distinction as an honor graduate. The airman is a 2009 graduate of L’Anse High School.

   With less than a week to go the Copper Country United Way is still some $12,000 short of its $150,000 goal. CCUW President Karin Van Dyke reports contributions of $137,311 or 91% of goal.
   “The campaign concludes Feb. 28 and many additional gifts will be needed to reach goal. Area agencies serving local people are the direct beneficiaries of your gifts and we need your support now,” Van Dyke said.
   Individuals wishing to contribute can send their gifts to the Copper Country United Way, P.O Box 104, Houghton, 49931.

   Shanel LeRue of L’Anse has opened Intention Yoga at 4 N. Main Street in L’Anse.
   Two yoga classes are in session weekly on Tuesday evenings at the recently remodeled yellow building next to Baragaland Senior Citizens.
   LeRue started with a beginning yoga class each Tuesday at 5:30, and follows that one-hour session with an intermediate class at 7 p.m.

   This week marks the half way point for the BCMH Rehab & Fitness Center Weight Loss Challenge. To date, the 62 teams have lost a total of 1228.25 pounds or 4.82 percent of their starting body weight.
   Teams are given a sneak peek at their percentage of body weight lost thus far. This number is important as prizes will be awarded based on percentage of body weight lost. A total of 23 teams have lost greater than 5 percent of their combined baseline weights. The most exciting thing is that no team is out of the running. Although some teams have pulled in big numbers throughout the first six weeks, it is not uncommon for this fast rate of weight loss to slow down. Therefore, teams who have been consistently losing at a slower pace definitely have the opportunity to pull ahead.

   In recognition of Heart Awareness Month, a number of Lifesaving Awards were presented to local emergency responders and citizens on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2010. The presentations were made at a meeting of the Medical Control Board at Baraga County Memorial Hospital.
   The Medical Control Board is a group that oversees emergency runs provided by Bay Ambulance, Pelkie 1st Responders, Covington Ambulance and Michigamme 1st Responders. Gary Wadaga of Bay Ambulance explained the group’s role.
   “The board oversees the medical part of emergency care provided by emergency services in Baraga County. It’s for quality control, and protocols and procedures.”

   A Baraga County Sheriff deputy arrested a 47 year-old Champion man after a traffic stop at Big Erick’s Bridge, Skanee, at 3:10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010.
   The man was cited for possession of a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle. He has not yet been arraigned because he was turned over to Copper Country Mental Health, and is currently in the psychiatric ward at Marquette General Hospital. The man’s name will not be released until he is arraigned.

   Baraga County Courthouse traffic might be a little slower this spring thanks to new software in the Register of Deeds office.
   The Baraga County Board of Commissioners authorized the purchase at its regular monthly meeting held Monday, Feb. 8, 2010. Once installed, the software will allow both title companies and the general public to access records online, instead of coming in to the office.
   “In 2002 or ’03, the state implemented an automation fund for Registers of Deeds,” explained County Clerk Wendy Goodreau. “We used the money to improve how we kept records, and our automation. The next stop is to put our records on the internet for searches.

   The Baraga school board approved a “crosswalk” linking its building trades curriculum to fulfill a fourth year math requirement for students. The three-period building trades curriculum includes many of the Michigan Merit Curriculum math benchmarks, and those have been identified in a year-long effort by teacher John Filpus and Baraga High School Principal Dennis Ruuspakka.
   “They’ve identified all the math benchmarks within the building trades curriculum,” Superintendent Norm McKindles explained. “You have to show where you are teaching the math benchmarks.”

   Birthday bells will ring at the Arvon Township School in Skanee when it celebrates 100 years of history this summer.
   The school doors will swing wide for an open house July 11, 2010. The event will feature a display of historic photos and memorabilia, refreshments, and the opportunity to rub elbows (or pass notes) with classmates from yesteryear.

   12th Circuit Judge Charles Goodman sentenced four people on various charges in court on Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010.
   Patrick Walwin Collins, 52, of L’Anse, was sentenced to 60 days in Baraga County Jail because he sold half of a narcotic pill in an UPSET case in L’Anse Township on April 19, 2007. Collins has credit for 22 days served. The sentence guidelines recommended jail time of 0-3 months.

   L’Anse Middle School students spent part of the school day on Feb. 11, 2010, learning about gravity, but in a special way.
   Science teacher Curt Anderson had his students construct containers to protect an egg from breaking when dropped.
   The “Egg Drop” experiment was conducted in two phases. Round one involved dropping the containers from the second level bleachers in the old high school gym to the gym floor.

   The L’Anse Village Council tackled an agenda just two issues long last Monday, starting with snowmobiling in the village.
   Council member Chris Miller and other trustees had expressed concerns about snowmobile traffic on Third and Fourth streets in L’Anse. Drivers have reportedly not been riding within the limits of the village ordinance.

   A Baraga house sustained major damage following a Feb. 9, 2010, fire.
   According to Baraga Fire Department (BFD) Assistant Fire Chief Tom Chosa, his department received a call around 9:15 p.m. and responded to 110 Oak Street. Chosa said the house belongs to Ann Stenvig and was in the process of being rented but no one was in the dwelling when it caught fire.

   The Department of Natural Resources and Environment has issued environmental permits for the Kennecott Eagle Minerals Company’s proposed use of the Humboldt Mill facility near Marquette. Kennecott plans to reopen the mill and use it to treat ore from its nearby Eagle Project Mine.
   The permits issued today include an Air Use Permit for new sources of air emissions, a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit for the discharge of treated process water to surface waters, a Nonferrous Metallic Mineral Mining Permit for operation and reclamation of the facility, and an Inland Lakes and Streams Permit for placement of tailings into the Humboldt pit.

   State Police continue investigating the shooting attack of an occupied Skanee home at 4:10 in the morning on Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2010. The home of Bill and Sandy Menge was shot numerous times by shotgun blasts. The house is located on a dead-end road along Huron Bay.
   The Menges were jolted out of bed by the noise, but did not immediately realize what was happening.
   “I thought the wood stove was backfiring or something. I never heard anything so loud in my life,” Bill Menge said. “Sandy said, ‘Oh my god, my dishes are falling. She didn’t know why.’”

   A number of cases came before 12th Circuit Judge Charles Goodman in Baraga County Circuit Court last Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb. 2-3, 2010.
   James Thomas Cribbs, II, 26, of Baraga, pleaded not guilty to one count of Child Abuse, First Degree, a 15-year felony. The case stems from an incident last September in which a then-17 month old girl received near-fatal injuries. The girl was admitted to Baraga County Memorial Hospital on Sept. 27, 2009, then transferred to Marquette General Hospital, and later to St. Vincent’s Hospital in Green Bay. She was later transferred to Mary Free Bed Hospital in Grand Rapids, MI, for long-term recovery and rehabilitation.

   Ralph Sayatovich’s home is just one month older than he is. At age 93, both are aging gracefully.
   The neat little farmhouse down Golf Course Rd. in L’Anse is a log home at heart. The siding, roof and windows are much newer, but inside, plastered walls, homemade cabinets and a timeworn hardwood floor both embrace and reflect the history of the home.
   The sunroom at the front of the house was working its magic on Ralph last week. He was catching a few winks on the settee, daughter Pam Brogan at a writing desk near his side, when a knock at the door popped him up like a sprung jack-in-the-box.

   A fish virus that was detected in the lower Great Lakes several years ago has been found at four locations in Lake Superior. A “preliminary positive” result for Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) was found in Huron Bay by researchers testing fish last June.
   A confirmed case was turned up by the Cornell University researchers at Paradise and Whitefish Point in a perch. The team tested four sites–Huron Bay, and two sites near Duluth, St. Louis Bay and Superior Bay. Preliminary positive results were found in all of the sites.

   Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) Tribal Head Start Program students now have a state of the art learning system at their disposal with the Jan. 15 installation of two Teach Smart Learning Systems.
   The units are comprised of a PC hooked into a very large, interactive and nearly indestructible screen which hangs on a wall.
   According to Head Start Director Terri Denomie, the “Smart” system engages children either individually or in groups with different styles of learning whether visual, auditory or kinesthetic (movement).

   Flowers, candles, families and choirs from all three parishes were evident at a Pro-Life Holy Hour and Mass at St. Ann Church in Baraga Jan. 21, 2010.
   The Holy Hour began with a procession into the church, including an Honor Guard provided by the Knights of Columbus, then Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.
   Readings, congregational prayer, the Rosary for Life and silent reflections followed.

   Students from L’Anse and Baraga schools faced off for the UP Community School   District Level Spelling Bee on Monday, Feb. 1, 2010. The bee was hosted by Baraga.
   Baraga will also host the regional competition on Monday, Feb. 22, 2010.
   For the district spell-off each school sent two contestants from grades five through eight. All students received medals for advancing and participating at the district level.

   The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) Tribal Council has changed its plans of opening a gas station south of L’Anse to opening a station on it’s property in Marquette County’s Chocolay Township.
   At the regular Feb. 6, 2010, council meeting, council secretary Susan LaFernier noted that the decision to move locations came at a special Jan. 14 council meeting. LaFernier noted that the tribe has secured a $600,000 Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) to develop plans for locating a facility on US-41 south of L’Anse.

   On the request of the USDA Rural Development the L’Anse Village Council voted unanimously to raise the village water rate two to three percent. Rural Development is the bond holder for the village water system.
   Village Manager Bob LaFave said the average residential customer will see an increase in the water bill of about $2 per month. Water, sewer, electric and garbage services are billed by the village together, but customers can see the water rate itemized. The two to three percent increase will apply to residential and commercial rates.

   The unemployment rate in the Upper Peninsula increased during the month of December to 14.5 percent, a gain of 1.6 percentage points over November’s 12.9 percent. Once again Baraga County had the highest unemployment rate in the UP, and State of Michigan, at 27.6 percent.
   All 15 Upper Peninsula counties posted jobless rate increases during December, with monthly rate gains ranging from 0.4 to 6.7 percentage points. Mackinac County recorded the largest increase, as the jobless rate jumped by 6.7 percentage points, due to seasonal job losses.

   At its regular meeting of Jan. 18, 2010, the Baraga County Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees moved forward with the scheduled closure of the hospital’s Skilled Nursing Unit (SNU).
   The board discontinued future admissions to SNU with the intent to close the long term care unit by Sept. 30, 2010.

   Tony Selkey’s untimely death at age 52 leaves a large hole in the community. The owner and president of Selkey Manufacturing, Inc. was as busy helping people in need as he was leading his metal fabricating business and crew. Selkey died at Marquette General Hospital on Jan. 27, 2010, where he was a patient for two days.
   “Ski” as he was affectionately called by just about everyone, was always willing to help someone in need. That spirit he carried from his parents, the late Robert and Gladys Selkey, founders of the Baraga fabricating shop. They made it a point to give to the community, and Tony made sure that never stopped after he took over at the shop in 1992.

   Each day in L’Anse and Baraga, approximately 35 children are kept after school.
   Disturbing trend in education-slash-society? Nah. It’s time for Great Explorations!
   The after-school program is a boon to parents who work and children who play--after their homework is done of course. Great Explorations, or GE, provides a snack and recess, then tutoring and homework help, rounding out the day with educational clubs that focus on fun.

   On Friday, Jan. 22, 2010, Baraga County Memorial Hospital successfully issued bonds to finance the new hospital project.
   A total of $28.7 million was issued in two taxable bond series. The two bond series consisted of $25.1 million of Build America Bonds and a $3.7 million issue covering refinancing of the current debt and other costs not eligible for Build America Bond financing.
   Build America Bonds were created under the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for public entities to complete new construction, acquisition or rehabilitation. Borrowers receive a subsidy of 35 percent of their interest coupon cost for the life of the loans.

   Finlandia University’s Elementary Education program has completed the second of three steps leading to full program accreditation by receiving probationary approval from the Michigan State Board of Education.
   “This is a major step forward for the program and, most importantly, for our students,” said Judith Budd, dean of Finlandia’s Suomi College of Arts & Sciences. “For the last six years, Finlandia faculty members have worked tirelessly to move this program forward toward accreditation.”

   A waiver of arraignment has been entered in Baraga County Circuit Court on behalf of James Scott Bergerson, 27, of L’Anse. A not guilty plea has been recorded in the case charging Bergerson with Child Abuse, Third Degree. The case involves facial injuries to an 18 month old boy having taken place in December, 2009.
   Bergerson had been scheduled to appear in court for arraignment on Jan. 27, with his attorney, James Nancarrow of Marquette. Arraignment was waived and the documents sent by mail. A pre-trial hearing before Circuit Judge Charles Goodman is set for Friday, Feb. 12, 2010. Bergerson is free on bond, having posted 10 percent of his $50,000 bond.

   Two separate child abuse cases have recently been bound over to Baraga County Circuit Court. Cases involving defendants James Thomas Cribbs II, 26, of Baraga, and James Scott Bergerson, 27, of L’Anse, have been moved from 97th District  Court to circuit court to be handled as felony cases.
   Cribbs is represented by Public Defender David Gemignani. Bergerson is represented by Marquette attorney James Nancarrow.

   L’Anse Michigan State Police (MSP) Trooper Robert Carter and Baraga Village police officer Matt Gagnier were recently cited for their actions saving the life of a Chassell man.
   Carter received the MSP Lifesaving Award and Gagnier the Officer’s Excellence Award, also issued by the MSP. Because Gagnier is not a state trooper, he was not eligible for the MSP Lifesaving Award.

   The L’Anse office of the Western UP Health Department has both H1N1 and regular seasonal flu vaccine available weekdays by appointment. H1N1 vaccine is free and now available to anyone over six months of age. Seasonal flu shots are $25 or can be billed to current Medicare or Medicaid cards. Call the health department at 524-6142 to schedule an appointment.

   Area schools are doing their homework by formulating a plan in case of crisis.
   Labeled the “County Wide School Safety and Crisis Response Plan,” the 10-plus page guide provides vital information in times of trouble: contacts, floor plans, safe places, etc. On Feb. 1, 2010, the finished product will be presented to local school districts and emergency responders.
   “We’re all just trying to be on the same page,” said Baraga Area Schools Superintendent Norm McKindles, coordinator for the project. “We wanted one plan for all the school districts in the county, so help can flow smoother if there is a crisis.”

   L’Anse Superintendent Ray Pasquali received passing marks in his annual evaluation held at the Jan. 18, 2010, regular school board meeting.
   The evaluation was one of a handful of agenda items in the short meeting.
As is his prerogative, Pasquali asked for closed session to conduct the evaluation.   School board President Jason Ayres said it is the concensus of the board that Pasquali was meeting its expectations in all but one area. Ayres said the superintendent is excelling at business and finances.

   We’ve all heard about the rising epidemic of adult and childhood overweight and obesity. Facts are facts–more children and adults are overweight than ever before. What’s at stake, and what can or should be done about it?
   First, let’s look at the data. Recent national studies find that about one-third of adults are obese (extremely overweight) and another third are in the overweight but not obese category. An estimated 300,000 deaths annually are attributable to obesity, making it roughly even with smoking as the leading underlying causes of death among Americans.

   The Copper Country Intermediate School District Board of Education held its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010.
   In observance of the annual School Board Recognition Month, the board members were presented with certificates and thanked for their untiring dedication to school governance and the children of the Copper Country.

   The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality reported on Jan. 14, 2010, that a final order has been signed to approve permits for the Kennecott Mine project on the Yellow Dog Plains.
   The decision was issued following a contested case hearing that challenged the DEQ’s original decision to issue permits for the proposed mining project.

   Baraga firefighters tested new techniques and equipment for ice rescues last Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010. The lesson came at an opportune time as unseasonably warm temperatures over the weekend threatened the little ice yet formed on Keweenaw Bay, and the ice fishermen gingerly leaving shore. Saturday’s temperature reached 47 degrees.
   The in-water portion of the training took place in the Baraga Marina.

   Baraga Village and its Employees of Teamsters Local 214 have agreed on a one-year contract.
   At the Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2010, regular council meeting, Village Manager Roy Kemppainen noted that the union ratified a one-year extension of the current contract which expires Feb. 28, 2010. The manager said in effect, it represents a wage freeze as well as a freeze on all other aspects of the contract which will now expire Feb. 28, 2011.

   It’s not easy to find a job these days. Baraga County’s most recent 25.6 percent unemployment figure (from November, 2009) once again gives the county the highest jobless rate in Michigan. It’s a distinction the county has carried month after month during the present recession. Baraga County is also near the top of the national county-by-county unemployment list.
   Adding pressure to the search for work for some people is the need to pay court-ordered child support.

   Winter Melt-Down 2010 is now under weigh!
   Sponsored by the BCMH Rehab & Fitness Center in L’Anse, the Melt-Down is a 12-week team weight loss challenge. It promotes a healthier lifestyle, illness prevention and chronic disease management, with a focus on weight control and camaraderie.

   At its regular monthly meeting on Jan. 11, 2010, the Baraga school board paved the path for a change in leadership. Superintendent Norm McKindles is resigning on July 31, the board hired retired Manistique superintendent Ken Groh on a one-year interim basis, and Elementary Principal Jennifer Lynn will mentor in preparation for a shot at the job. (See Jan. 13 L’Anse Sentinel.)
   At the Jan. 11 meeting the board was honored as January is set aside to recognize the contributions of school board members. Superintendent’s Secretary Michele Velmer cooked a meal for the board, which was enjoyed before the meeting began.

   Michigan State Police have released reports of calls and activities at posts across the UP for 2009. The following is information from the L’Anse Post.
   Troopers from the L’Anse Post responded to 934 calls for service in 2009. Two separate calls for medical emergencies resulted in two L’Anse Troopers being awarded the Departmental Lifesaving Citation for administering an AED and performing CPR which saved the life of two Baraga County residents.

   There’s nothing even close to being official yet, but Baraga County’s 911 committee is in the beginning process of looking beyond Michigan State Police Regional Dispatch for services, according to 911 coordinator Donald Takala.
   Takala said nothing more than talk between 911 committee members about seeking additional sources to conduct enhanced-911 (E-911) services for the county has taken place to date. Michigan State Police (MSP) Regional Dispatch out of Negaunee has handled the task for a number of years.

   Baraga Superintendent Norm McKindles announced his retirement at a regular school board meeting on Monday, Jan. 11, 2010.
   The board hired Ken Groh, former Manistique superintendent to a one-year interim position. Groh has done interim superintendencies in Gladstone and North Central since his retirement from Manistique.
   McKindles said state school administrators’ and school board associations have been recommending “growing your own” superintendents from within the district.

   U.S. Congressman Bart Stupak spent last week listening to constituents, business people, and local officials from Ironwood to Houghton to L’Anse. He held “town hall” style meetings in Ironwood, Ontonagon and Houghton last Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
   The 1st District Congressman visited L’Anse Village Hall on Friday morning, Jan. 8, 2010, for a meeting centering on local business. The session was arranged through Kim Stoker of the Western UP Planning and Development Region. Also helping with efforts to promote local business and attending were Phil Musser of Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance, and Carlton Crothers, CEO of the Houghton-based business incubator, SmartZone.

   Persons utilizing some Baraga County public access sites may have noticed that getting into those areas is a lot more difficult this year as they are not being cleared of snow as in past years.
   Baraga County Road Commission (BCRC) Engineer Doug Mills said BCRC members have been advised by the State of Michigan that they are not to use State Act 51 funds for anything else other than snow removal on county roads.

   The unemployment rate in the Upper Peninsula rose seasonally during the month of November, 2009, to 12.9 percent, an increase of 1.4 percentage points over October’s 11.5 percent. Once again Baraga County’s unemployment rate of 25.6 percent was highest in the UP, and the state of Michigan.
   All but one of the 15 Upper Peninsula counties reported higher jobless rates during November, with monthly rate gains ranging from 0.1 to 12.9 percentage points. Mackinac County posted the largest increase, as the jobless rate soared by nearly 13 percentage points, due to the typical drop in seasonal tourism-related jobs.

   A group of approximately 20 people was on hand for 110th District Representative Mike Lahti’s Friday, Jan. 8, 2010, visit to the L’Anse Village office complex.
Lahti made a swing through the district last week. At L’Anse he addressed a number of concerns and also received accolades from many in the audience.
   Lahti began by noting that mid-year budget changes for 2010 aren’t expected to be as severe as they were in 2009.

   A L’Anse man was treated and released from Baraga County Memorial Hospital (BCMH) following a Monday, Jan. 11, 2010, house fire on Spruce Street in L’Anse.
   L’Anse Fire Chief Mike Bianco said about a dozen firefighters and two trucks were called to the Joe Bianco, Sr. residence around 3 p.m. Bianco said when he arrived, Bay Ambulance and L’Anse State Police personnel were already on the scene.

   Traxys is a global raw material marketing and sourcing firm specializing in base metals and concentrates, minor and alloying metals, industrial minerals and chemicals, materials for steel mills and foundries, and carbon products.
   Traxys holds investments in various mining operations around the world and operates both coal handling facilities and power generation assets in the U.S. The company has 21 offices worldwide and in 2008 posted revenue of $4.5 billion.

   The U.S. Census Bureau is counting on filling jobs in Baraga County.
   Two representatives from the U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census stated their case for workers before the Baraga County Board of Commissioners at its regular monthly meeting Monday, Jan. 11, 2010. Jobs being offered pay $11.50 per hour, plus 50 cents per mile.
   “The census is important for representation, and federal dollars,” said Field Operation Supervisor Jonathan Midkiff. “One person missed costs thousands of dollars over a 10-year period. The census brings temporary but decent paying jobs, and we need a lot of people.”

   L’Anse Village is stirring the ashes of last summer’s Pinery Fire, seeking reimbursement for damages done.
   The Village Council approved a draft of a letter on Monday, Jan. 11, 2010, calling for payment due. Village Manager Bob LaFave said the letter will be forwarded to individuals responsible for the blaze, as well as insurance companies.
   The fire swept over an estimated 685 acres, also consuming a mobile home and skidder. The village will seek restitution for damaged trees that had to be cut, plus costs incurred by departments that fought the wildfire.

   The L’Anse Village Council continued to handle business related to the ongoing sewer system project and future village projects at its regular meeting on Monday, Dec. 28, 2009.
   A request from Jim Koskineimi of UP Engineers and Architects for payment of $12,800 for sewer system engineering was approved. The engineering work was involved with Phase 1 of the project, which was largely completed in the past summer.

   Warren “Chris” Swartz will continue as president of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community’s (KBIC) tribal council for another year.
   At the council’s Jan. 2, 2010, reorganization meeting, Swartz was approved to remain at the post on a 9-3 vote. Both he and councilman Fred Dakota were nominated for the position. All voting was done on secret ballots.

   Dan Larson is a very avid outdoorsman, and he’s got the proof. His digital nature photography portrays the rich and rugged landscapes of Baraga County and surrounding region in all seasons and weather. Larson has captured thousands of very high quality images of the backwoods.
   Not many people visit many of the places Larson frequents, and fewer still see the uniqueness of many of those settings. Larson’s photos are often surprisingly mundane, rather than dramatic. They may be rushes piercing calm water reflecting autumn leaves, or a shaft of soothing yellow light reaching the forest floor between large trees.

   The Western Upper Peninsula Citizen Advisory Council (CAC) for the Department of Natural Resources will meet Monday, Jan. 11, 2010, at the Ford Center, located at 21030 US Hwy. 41 in Alberta.
   DNR staff will present division reports and answer questions from council members and the public beginning at 6 p.m., followed immediately by the council meeting from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

   Thursday, Jan. 14, 2010, a multi-group sponsored event on new ideas in food preparation is planned in the L’Anse Sacred Heart Catholic Church basement.
   The class teaches new ways to put meals and snacks together. Marie Harju is host. The class is free and open to the public. The event is scheduled to run 10 a.m. to noon.

   The L’Anse Sentinel annually wraps the year with a recap of local news and sports highlights. This week on our front and sports pages we present the first six months of news makers for 2009, to be continued in next year’s first issue, Jan. 6, 2010.
January
   L’Anse Village started the year with the acquisition of a new grass fire truck. Approved by the L’Anse Village Council, the truck would increase the department’s fire-fighting capability in town and afield with greater versatility and more water capacity. Both the truck’s and department’s mettle would be tested in the Pinery Fire to come . . .

   Two separate felony child abuse cases are in Baraga County District Court awaiting preliminary examinations on Jan. 12, 2010. Two Baraga County men remain in jail on large cash bonds following arraignment before 97th District Judge Mark Wisti on Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2009.
   Following a lengthy investigation James Thomas Cribbs II, 26, of Baraga, was arraigned last week on a count of Child Abuse-First Degree, a 15-year felony. The incident allegedly took place on Sept. 27, 2009, in Baraga and involved the then-17 month old daughter of Cribbs’ girlfriend. Baraga Police Chief Harry Miron led the investigation. Cribbs remains in Baraga County Jail on a $500,000 cash bond.

   The Copper Country Intermediate School District Board of Education held its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2009.
   The board appointed members to two local school boards which were unable to find replacement board members within the 30 days of a vacancy, as required by law. Both appointments were due to member resignations.
   The appointees will serve until successors are elected and qualified. Bradley Pennala was appointed to the Stanton Township Public Schools Board of Education, replacing Dennis Hext; and Annette Butina was appointed to the Adams Township School District Board of Education, replacing Scott Manninen.

   L’Anse Area School Board of Education is developing a strategy to help the district contain costs.
   At the board’s Dec. 21, 2009, meeting Superintendent Ray Pasquali explained three committees will be formed to help review costs and possibly suggest ways to slow use of the district’s ever-shrinking fund balance.
   He noted that the state forces districts to balance their budgets prior to the start of a school year. This year however, Michigan legislators informed districts they would receive one figure for per pupil funding and then after the school year began, reduced the amount.

   Baraga County will foot a medical bill of nearly $50,000 incurred by two county jail inmates.
   Prosecuting Attorney Joseph O’Leary said the county had successfully fought the charges in 12th Circuit Court.
   Marquette General Hospital (MGH) appealed the decision handed down by former Judge Garfield Hood, and the Michigan Court of Appeals has named Baraga County accountable.
   The charges relate to injuries one prisoner received while an inmate, and treatment a second inmate received at MGH while housed in the Baraga County Jail. O’Leary said historically the county would have been liable, but a bill passed by the legislature changed the rules.

   12th Circuit Court in Baraga County was busy last week with cases coming before Judge Charles Goodman on Tuesday, Dec. 15, and Thursday, Dec. 17, 2009.
   Tyler James Tapani, 19, of L’Anse, was sentenced on Thursday for his role in a break-in and larceny at Larry’s Market in Baraga last June 12. Represented by Marquette attorney James Nancarrow, Tapani was ordered to pay his half of restitution, which totaled $2,169. That was half the amount to cover a stolen DVD recorder, and an assortment of stolen liquor and other items.

   Baraga’s school board handled a wide range of business at its regular monthly meeting on Monday, Dec. 14, 2009.
   The board amended its budget to reflect Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s recent announcement that a proposed additional cut of $165 per student in state aid will not take place–at least not immediately.
   The governor has already chopped $127 in funding per student and the additional $165 was coming next, but some additional money in state education funds was found. However, Granholm has indicated a “proration” or cut could come in January.

   Business was brief at the L’Anse Village Council’s Monday, Dec. 14, 2009, meeting where the focus centered on insurance.
   Jennifer Michelin, representative for the Mazzali Agency, informed the council the price for its village employees’ health insurance package will rise about 14 percent this year. The increase would cost the village approximately $30,000 more for health care coverage.

   The ground may be white, but there’s plenty of green coming from the Christmas trees scattered around town. As the annual tree-decorating contest enters its final week, it appears something of a horse race is shaping up.
   Shortly after last week’s totals were reported, contest organizers were thrilled to learn about a new contribution. Last week they reported to the Sentinel that the Yooper Girls Red Hats’ tree hosted by Oralie’s received a check from three Yooper Girl Snowbirds overwintering in Florida. After the paper came out, they learned that yet another check, also from Florida, was received by St.Vincent de Paul’s. This check from someone who wished to remain anonymous cast a whopping 2000 votes for the Red Hat tree in the form of a $500 donation.

   A significant portion of the estimated $935,000 for the L’Anse Sports Complex was awarded to L’Anse Area Schools through a $440,000 Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Trust Fund grant.
   L’Anse Superintendent Ray Pasquali saidf the grant, when put together with the $495,000 of in-kind services and local matching funds already donated, will cover a large majority of phase one. A large number of volunteers including local contractors, construction firms and haulers have already put countless hours into the project over the past couple of years.

   Dec. 10, 2009, marked the last day of production at the Terex plant in Baraga.
   Thirty-three members of the Terex family said final good-byes and walked out of the facility for the last time signaling the end of over two decades of assembly at the Baraga plant.
   The company was started in 1984 (Baraga Products Inc.) rolling the first telehandler off the assembly line in 1987 with a total of 13,795 units produced. At its peak the Baraga facility pumped out a unit every 39 minutes totaling 14 units per day and at that time the plant employed a total of 254 team members.

   Four out of five incumbents were reelected to their positions in the Dec. 12    Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) annual elections.
   Unofficial results show that incumbent Jennifer Misegan was defeated for another council term in the L'Anse district while fellow incumbent Susan LaFernier was returned to office. In Baraga, both incumbents, Chris "Warren" Swartz and Jerry Lee Curtis were given another three years on the council. Incumbent Chief Judge Bradley Dakota was also returned to office for three more years beating out challenger Paul Smith.

    12th Circuit Judge Charles Goodman has seen a long line of criminal and civil cases in just over a year on the bench in Baraga, Houghton and Keweenaw counties. The former probate judge stepped in to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of 18-year circuit judge Garfield Hood.
    Goodman was the only candidate who filed for election to the judicial post for the August primary and November general election in 2008. Although his elected term didn’t begin until Jan. 1, 2009, he assumed his new job in September, 2008, when Hood left.

   Baraga Homestead Graphics has approached Baraga Village’s Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) program seeking a $35,000 loan from the village’s RLF program to help create two more jobs at the facility, according to Village Manager Roy Kemppainen.
   At the Dec. 8 regular village council meeting, Kemppainen told the group that the firm plans to combine the loan amount with $150,000 of its own match to add two new sales staff to the company. Kemppainen said Homestead’s plans include one in-house salesperson and another “on-the-road”.

   Art students from L’Anse and Baraga schools painted the town red last Tuesday–and green, blue, yellow, etc. They teamed up paint holiday scenes on downtown L’Anse storefront windows.
   The crew of 13 artists was led by L’Anse High School art teacher Linnea Olson and Bob Foster, art teacher for Baraga High. Students volunteered, then plotted their artistic concepts beforehand.

   Despite the news about Baraga County’s unemployment rate being the highest in the state of Michigan and one of the highest in the country, Keweenaw Bay Indian Community CEO Larry Denomie shared statistics with the tribal council at it’s Dec. 5, 2009. The tribe has actually added jobs to the community.
   Under his report to the council, Denomie said over the past three years the KBIC, through its enterprises, governmental operations and chartered entities, has created more than 100 new jobs. He said that total didn’t include “the many jobs created or sustained through many projects funded by the tribe through tribal and grant funds awarded to local businesses.”

   L’Anse Village Police are investigating a night of break-ins and attempted B & E’s to downtown businesses.
   A L’Anse man has been arraigned in district court in connection with at least one of them.
   L’Anse Police Chief Mike LaBerge reported seven establishments were broken into either late Dec. 3 or early Dec. 4. Attempts were made to enter three more L’Anse businesses that night.

   Eight individuals are vying for a total of four council seats and two more are seeking the Chief Judge position in the Dec. 12, 2009, annual KBIC tribal elections.
   Four candidates in each of two districts–L’Anse and Baraga–are after two, three-year tribal council positions. The Chief Judge post is also a three-year stint.
   Incumbent Chief Judge Bradley Dakota is being challenged by Paul Smith.
For the Baraga council positions, incumbents Warren “Chris” Swartz and Jerry Lee Curtis are facing challengers Debbie Parrish and Donny Shalifoe Jr.
   L’Anse district incumbents Susan LaFernier and Jennifer Misegan are challenged by Eddy Edwards and JoAnne Racette.

   The unemployment rate in the Upper Peninsula remained unchanged during the month of October, 2009, holding steady at 11.5 percent.
   Baraga County continues to lead the UP and the state in unemployment. The October rate for Baraga County was 24 percent, barely lower than September’s 24.3 percent. A year ago the county’s unemployment stood at 13.9 percent.

   State Representative Mike Lahti (D-Hancock) praised several Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) projects that will promote recreational development and help to preserve the natural beauty of the state.
   Two of these projects are in Baraga County. The L’Anse community complex (new sports field and nature trail, etc) and the Baraga Marina received funding from the state trust fund.

   Warren Christian Swartz, 47, of Baraga, pleaded guilty to a count of reckless driving in 97th District Court in Houghton on Dec. 2, 2009. He also pleaded “no contest” to a marijuana possession count under terms of state law MCL 333.7411, which can be applied to first-time marijuana offenses. If Swartz successfully completes probation the marijuana offense will be removed from his record.
   Swartz is the chairman of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Tribal Council and a former tribal police officer. He is running for re-election in the annual tribal election on Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009.

   A 57-year old L’Anse man and his 29-year old son are both back home after a cold night in remote woods with two rescuers.
   Bela and Lucas Lanczy were airlifted via U.S. Coast Guard helicopter out of a swampy area northeast of Herman around 5 a.m. Friday, Nov. 27, 2009.
   Rescuers Tim Bennett and Jeff Hubbard reached the Lanczys during the night, built a fire and stayed with them. They were airlifted out later in the morning on Friday, Nov. 27.

   The multi-year sewer system improvement project continues to demand the attention of the L’Anse Village Council even though “Phase 1” construction has wrapped up for the season.
   The council approved a payment of about $298,000 for construction work done this summer and fall by contractor Eric Danielson. Phase 1 involved a total of about $1,160,000 in a summer-long project. It including re-designing and re-building several sewage lift stations, replacing and re-lining sewer mains, and various road repairs.

   Needs may be high in this difficult economic time, but the larger community responded in a big way on Thanksgiving. Two free, traditional turkey dinners attracted hundreds of people to L’Anse and Baraga on Thursday, Nov. 26, 2009.
   Fourteen years ago the small congregation of Bethel United Pentecostal Church began a Thanksgiving custom: offering a free dinner to anyone who was in need. The concept grew and so did the workload. The community has since stepped in to make the Bethel dinner a huge success at the Knights of Columbus Hall each year.

   Mark Wisti has served as the judge of 97th District Court for Baraga, Houghton and Keweenaw counties for nearly a year. With the retirement of 19-year district court judge Phil Kukkonen last year, Wisti was elected in November, and sworn to office on Jan. 1, 2009.
   Wisti has handled 296 cases in Baraga County District Court in his first 11 months in office. That’s just about the same case load that Kukkonen faced in his final year. He saw 320 cases in a full calendar year.

   Now that some 115 members of Michigan National Guard’s 1431st Sapper Unit have returned from a year’s rotation in Afghanistan, they are in for some much-deserved “R&R”.
   According to Staff Sgt. Tim Houle of the Baraga National Guard Armory, the Guardsmen, including himself, will enjoy a few months off of any Guard-related activities.
   “Our next weekend drill isn’t scheduled until February,” Houle said.
   Regular National Guard routine calls for one weekend per month on-call duty along with one two-week annual detail during the summer. Houle said recent returnees will enjoy some weekend time off, and they will not have the two-week call for 2010.

   A packed-to-the-rafters gymnasium of family members and friends welcomed home the 1431st Sapper Unit of Michigan’s National Guard.
   Troops and the crowd filled the Calumet High School gymnasium on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009. One hundred and fifteen Guard members returned after a one-year deployment in Afghanistan.
   According to Staff Sgt. Henry Schwanke, about half of that number were from Baraga County.
   Prior to the scheduled ceremony at Calumet High, a DC-9 touched down at Houghton County Airport at approximately 10 a.m. The soldiers deplaned and then loaded several chartered busses for the short trip north to Calumet.

   Baraga County Circuit Court was busy last Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 17-18, 2009, despite a jury trial that was canceled due to a defendant accepting a plea agreement.
   Judge Charles Goodman heard a number of cases that were scheduled at noon both days to coincide with breaks in the previously scheduled jury trial.

   What do you do when your CFL (compact fluorescent lamp) burns out?
   The question burns brighter than Edison’s original invention as CFL’s gain a grip in the lighting industry. They last up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs. They’re significantly more energy efficient. They’re becoming progressively cheaper.
   They also contain small amounts of mercury–about 1/100th the amount found in a mercury fever thermometer–that could collectively be released into the environment and potentially contaminate the food chain.

   The Sentinel will raise its newsstand price to $1.25 starting next Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2009.
   Subscription prices will remain the same for the time being, L’Anse Sentinel Publisher Ed Danner noted.
   “We have been trying to keep the one-dollar price,” Danner said. “It has, however, become increasingly evident over the past year that we have to raise the price to remain viable. The recession has hit us much as it has everyone else.
   “Our subscribers can expect to see a similar price increase in the next few to several months,” Danner added. “We will honor all subscriptions paid at the current price when this happens.”

   The Pamida store in L’Anse held its grand opening on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 30-31, 2009. The store brought new shopping opportunities and additional jobs to the community. It also brought the Pamida Foundation, a charitable organization that helps communities where Pamida stores are located.
   “In addition to their commitment to provide value, Pamida dedicates itself to community betterment,” said Laurie Wharton, senior vice president of marketing and president of Pamida Foundation.

   The Marine Corps League’s annual Toys For Tots drive received its annual boost of support from Keweenaw Bay Indian Community last Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009. KBIC donated $5,000 to support the increasingly popular program which enables qualifying children to receive toys for Christmas.
   In a very tough local economy the need is anticipated to be large this year. People sign up through various social services agencies including tribal and state DHS.

   The Baraga school board reviewed its annual audit at a regular board meeting on Monday, Nov. 9, 2009. Anderson Tackman of Marquette conducted the audit in August and recently presented its findings.
   The good news is that the Baraga Area Schools general fund ended the past fiscal year “in the black”.
   “We ended up with more money (revenue) than we spent, because we got some delinquent taxes in after the final budget was set in June, but before June 30,” Superintendent Norm McKindles said. “We were able to put $110,000 into the general fund.”

   Electrical infrastructure improvements were among the main items on the Baraga Village Council’s regular Nov. 10, 2009, meeting.
   Village Manager Roy Kemppainen updated the council on several major projects ongoing throughout the village. Included were material bids for a major infrastructure improvement program and electrical improvements along Osterman Road.

   Construction continues at the 35-acre site of the new Baraga County Memorial Hospital on U.S. 41 and Maki Road, south of L’Anse.
   Poured concrete footings and piers are under construction at the site, which was cleared during the summer. Skanska, a Southfield, MI, company, is overseeing the entire hospital project. A number of local companies are or will be involved in various phases of construction.
   When the department of Housing and Urban Development evaluated the project for feasibility it estimated construction will support 103 full-time jobs in the community, and will create an economic stimulus of $70.5 million.

   L’Anse Area Schools’ Board of Education tackled a very light agenda at its Nov. 16 regular meeting.
   There were only three items listed under old and new business and the meeting concluded in less than 45 minutes.
   Under new business, the board learned of the retirement of head cook Kathleen Gabe. Superintendent Ray Pasquali said the position has been posted internally and will probably be filled in-house through the “bumping” system.

   Moyle Construction has volunteered to invest up to $10,000 to study the feasibility of moving courthouse offices to the Baraga County Memorial Hospital building. The idea was discussed at the Baraga County Board of Commissioners meeting on Nov. 9, 2009.
   The hospital building, with original portions dating to 1952, will be vacant when the new BCMH is completed on U.S. 41 south of L’Anse in the summer of 2011. The building received significant expansion and renovation in 1990.

   Catherine Been Hansen, former L’Anse school teacher and granddaughter of Captain Walfred Been (founder of Skanee), celebrated her 99th birthday this past week with family and friends.
   The most amazing thing about the celebration is that she still lives independently in her parent’s family home in Skanee where she has resided nearly all of her life.

   Approximately 12.5 acres of brush and swamp land burned in a Friday evening, Nov. 13, 2009, wildfire in Herman.
   DNR forester Jason Mittlestat said his department was called out around 3:30 p.m. The fire was located in Section 36 of Township 50N-Range 33W. The fire crossed several property boundaries but did not threaten any structures.

   Airman Jeffrey Michael Collins graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX, on Nov. 6, 2009.
   Collins is the son of Jeffrey and Bridget Collins of Baraga and a 2009 graduate of Baraga High School. He is the grandson of Dale and Marcy Collins of Watton and James and Suzanne Tollefson of L’Anse.

   Several pre-trial hearings took place in Baraga County Circuit Court on Friday, Nov. 13, 2009. Judge Charles Goodman also had three days reserved for a jury trial and numerous other cases scheduled for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.
   The jury trial was canceled when Todd James Barnett accepted a plea agreement for aggravated assault. Prosecuting Attorney Joseph O’Leary and Public Defender David Gemignani agreed to request that Goodman remand the matter back down to 97th District Court because the new count is a misdemeanor.

    An early morning fire on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009, totally destroyed the Trails End Bar in Sidnaw.
    According to Duncan Township Fire Chief Barton Kennedy, his department received a call at 12:15 a.m. He said the bar was closed at the time the fire broke out. The chief said six firefighters from his department along with seven from Covington Township Fire Department and four more from Interior Township (Ewen-Trout Creek), responded to the call.

   Millage approval and hospital bonds topped the agenda at the Baraga County Board of Commissioners Nov. 9, 2009, meeting.
   Millage rates were set by the board for the upcoming year. The board also passed a resolution last Monday authorizing Baraga County Memorial Hospital to issue bonds for the project. Construction is underway for the new hospital US-41 in L’Anse (see related story).

   The boarded-up Ruona building on Front Street, L’Anse, will be torn down. The deteriorated building has been considered an eyesore on the L’Anse waterfront for years.
   At a public hearing before the Nov. 9, 2009, village council meeting “Brownfield” status was approved for the building by the Brownfield Commission consisting of members of the Downtown Development Authority and council. That will allow owner Brian Hiltunen of Wisconsin to be eligible for reimbursement of some clean-up costs such as lead paint or asbestos removal.

   Baraga County schools tentatively re-opened on Monday, Nov. 9, 2009, after a wave of flu-like illness forced school closures last week. Although tests to determine the exact nature of the sickness have not been widely conducted, health officials suspect much of it is H1N1 flu.
L’Anse schools
   On Monday, Nov. 9, L’Anse Superintendent Ray Pasquali reported absentee rates of 11 percent in the elementary school, 12 percent in the middle school and five percent at the high school. That breaks down to 32 of 302 elementary students absent, 22 of 179 middle school students, and 16 of 302 high school students.
Baraga schools
   Baraga Area Schools were also closed all of last week, and the Pelkie K-2 building had been closed two and a half days prior to that. Absence rates in Pelkie surpassed 25 percent. Both buildings welcomed students back to school Monday, Nov. 9.

   If things go as planned, members of the 1431st Engineer Company will be home by the end of this month and possibly by Thanksgiving.
   According to Staff Sergeant Henry Schwanke of the Baraga Armory, approximately 100 members of the 1431st are finishing a one-year rotation in Afghanistan. They are expected home by the end of November.
   “There aren’t any guarantees, but that’s what we’re working on,” said Schwanke.

   Wildlife Biologist Bill Scullon is now on board at the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) office in Baraga.
   Scullon takes the place of wildlife habitat biologist Rob Aho, who retired from the department this past spring. Scullon’s new role entails wildlife management over a five-county spread including Baraga, Gogebic, Houghton, Keweenaw and Ontonagon.

   The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community’s (KBIC) Ojibwa Housing Authority (OHA) has entered talks with Baraga County to take over the former Winkler’s Nursing Home.
   At the tribe’s Nov. 7, 2009, regular monthly meeting, tribal CEO Larry Denomie stated that he and other KBIC and OHA staff attended an Oct. 12 meeting planned by OHA Director Eddy Edwards about the facility after he was contacted by the Baraga County Board of Commissioners.

   Dan Grandy of L’Anse is passionate about his honey bees. With 70 hives spread all over the county he has to be. A good hive can house 30,000 to 50,000 bees. Grandy works his hives every day, sometimes spending 12 to 14 hours tending them.
   Grandy and his wife Lee sell their “Grand-Bees” honey at Pat’s Foods in L’Anse and Ontonagon, Larry’s Market in Baraga and Karvakko’s Market in Tapiola. Increasingly, people seek them out to buy honey and honey comb directly. Like maple syrup, it’s a local treat with a distinct quality.

   Now that the battle of the state fiscal year 2010 budget is over in Lansing, the news is good for one county program and not so good for another.
   Governor Jennifer Granholm did not line item veto funding for the Michigan State University Extension (MSUE) but did decrease state funding levels by 44 percent. The Baraga County Conservation District, and others across the state weren’t as lucky as the budget process zeroed out state conservation district funding.

   The United States Marine Corps was born on Nov. 10, 1775, at Tuns Tavern in Philadelphia, PA. It was, in effect, the first Marine Recruiting Station. The Continental Army had commissioned Samuel Nicholas to raise two Battalions of Marines who in turn appointed the proprietor of the tavern, Robert Mullan, as the chief Marine Recruiter.
   Marine Veterans of MCL Keweenaw Detachment #1016 celebrated the 234th birthday of the United States Marine Corps at Lakeside Inn in Baraga on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009. Marines representing every war and conflict since World War II attended the celebration. The highlight of the evening was the cutting of the cake. The cake was escorted into the dining room by Marines Floyd Crawford and James Gonzales and followed by the oldest and youngest Marines.

   The Department of Natural Resources verified two sets of cougar tracks and confirmed the location of a cougar photo in the eastern Upper Peninsula. The tracks were discovered in the DeTour and Gulliver areas, while the photo was taken near Bruce Township.
   On Oct. 26, 2009, DNR Wildlife Biologist Dave Jentoft received a call late in the day at the Shingleton Field Office reporting tracks that looked like cougar prints near DeTour. The caller was instructed to cover the tracks to protect them from the elements, and Jentoft was able to respond the next day to take photographs, measure the tracks and conduct a field investigation. The information Jentoft collected was shared with the DNR’s trained cougar team, and the consensus was reached that the tracks appear to have been made by a cougar.

   Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) voters have narrowed the field of 18 candidates seeking four tribal council seats in next month’s annual election. Eight candidates will appear on the Dec. 12 ballot after the tribe conducted its 2009 primary election on Saturday, Oct. 31.
   On the Baraga side where eight candidates were on the primary ballot, incumbents Warren “Chris” Swartz and Jerry Lee Curtis won, along with Debbie Parrish and Donny Shalifoe Sr.
   In the L’Anse district 10 candidates were in contention. Incumbents Susan LaFernier and Jennifer Misegan will be joined by Eddy Edwards and JoAnne Racette on the ballot.

   Baraga County schools have joined many other districts across the Western Upper Peninsula in shutting their doors to help prevent the spread of the flu virus.
L’Anse Area Schools pulled the plug Monday and shut down for this entire week.
   The decision to close the Pelkie K-2 school for Monday had already been made last Friday. But by Monday a parent phone survey showed even more Pelkie students were ill with flu-like symptons. The decision was made to close the entire Baraga district for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.

   Wind generators typically conjure images of towers hundreds of feet high with whirling blades that span meters in diameter. They’re often considered unsightly, noisy, deadly to birds and a nuisance to neighbors, despite potential for generating “green” electricity.
   Scott Schmutzer of Synsor Energy in California made a long trek to Baraga County to show off something new: a highly researched, very compact wind turbine that he promises is as efficient as a typical towering three-bladed generator. In fact, Schmutzer’s 14-foot tall model with a 66-inch spinning aluminum “ring” is trailer-mounted so he can tow it across the country and demonstrate it’s effectiveness.

   Michigan’s highest jobless rate in September was posted by Baraga County at 24.3 percent, following a monthly increase of 0.5 percentage points.
   The lowest unemployment rate in Michigan in September was recorded by Mackinac County at 6.1 percent. Marquette and Houghton counties also beat the UP average with jobless rates of 10.1 and 10.2 percent, respectively. As expected, seasonal tourism and recreation-related activities tapered off in the Upper Peninsula during September, causing labor force, employment and unemployment totals to contract in many regional counties.

   The KBIC Diabetes Program has teamed up with the Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community Library in November for diabetes awareness month.
Their awareness promotion is “Knowledge + Fitness = a Healthier You”.
   Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community Library will be holding a drawing to give away a pair of snowshoes for the months of November, December and January.

   L’Anse Village Police (LVP) personnel investigated a slew of breaking and enterings of local establishments last week.
   According to LVP Chief Mike LaBerge, the first complaint was filed Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009, around 11 a.m. at Headlines Hair Salon on West Broad Street. Culprits gained entry to the establishment by forcing a rear door. Once inside a small amount of cash was taken.

   If you think this past summer was a little off kilter, you’re right. According to statistics from the National Weather Service (NWS) office in Marquette County, the three month period of July, August and September revealed that the quarter was the fourth coolest summer on record at the Negaunee location.
   The Negaunee Township location had an average high of 59.8 degrees which is 2.9 degrees below normal. Rainfall at the NWS office was 1.25 inches below the normal of 9.79 inches. The coolest summer on record was in 1992 when the same three-month period registered a mean temperature of 57.9 degrees. 2004 saw the same mean temperature as the summer of 2009.

   Diana Pirkola closed a 28-year career with the U.S. Postal Service on Friday, Oct. 30, 2009. Through her years at the L’Anse Post Office, Pirkola has done every job.   She has recently been serving as the Officer In Charge (OIC) for the fifth time!
   Pirkola has mixed feelings about leaving the career she has enjoyed so much.
“I’ve been very lucky,” she said amidst the balloons, cards, cake and flower arrangements co-workers and friends had filled the post office with last Friday. “I’ve had a job for almost 30 years where I’ve enjoyed getting up in the morning and going to work. I’ve enjoyed my career. It went by way too fast.”

   Major L’Anse projects continue to move forward following a season of construction, and planning for next season at the regular council meeting on Oct. 26, 2009.
   This summer Phase I of the wastewater treatment plant and system was completed at a cost of just over $1 million. The L’Anse council authorized applying for funding from Rural Development for about $4 million to $4.5 million in funding for Phase II, which will be constructed next summer.
   “The total project cost is about $7.5 million. $4.5 million of that is bonded and the rest, grant,” said Village Manager Bob LaFave. “Phase II should be going out for bids this spring.”

    Following the advice of the national Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), L’Anse Area Schools has canceled several events scheduled for this week.
   According to middle school principal Rob Willman, two events scheduled for today, Wednesday, Oct. 28 have been postponed and Friday’s Oct. 30 high school Halloween dance has been canceled permanently.

   Baraga school officials closed the Pelkie School last Wednesday, Oct. 21, at noon due to excessive student illness. The kindergarten-second grade school remained closed through Friday, Oct. 23. Staff was sent home, too. The school reopened on Monday, Oct. 26, 2009.
   “We don’t know that it was H1N1, but it was flu-like symptoms,” Baraga Superintendent Norm McKindles said. “We made the call (to close Pelkie) after being in close contact with Dr. Terry Frankovich and Ray Sharp of the health department.

   Circuit Court judge Charles Goodman sentenced two L’Anse people to prison terms in Baraga County Circuit Court on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009. Michael John Uren, 27, and Bobbie Sue Roth, 27, earlier pleaded guilty to involvement with the Pamida pharmacy robbery last Dec. 16.
   Uren broke into the Pamida pharmacy (when it was located on Broad Street in the former Village Drugs building) and stole many pill bottles containing hydrocodone and acetemetophen in various strengths. He took them to the nearby apartment of Bobbie Sue Roth.

   Fall colorless season got you down? Head to A-1 Farms in Nisula for a pumpkin, gourds, squash and a smile.
   Ed Hulkonen’s farm stand on M-38 in Nisula fairly glows this time of year with its bumper crop of pumpkins. A pile neatly stacked alongside the road points up the drive to a wood pavilion brimming with the squash, decorative corn stalks and other fall treats to the eye.
   Hulkonen enjoys particularly close ties to the earth as head of A-1 Farms in Nisula. Raised on the family farm just a short walk from home, he now raises and sells first bedding plants, then strawberries, fall pumpkins and finally, Christmas trees. He’s truly a farmer for all seasons.

   Army Sgt. Matt Turunen has carried an American flag from the Village of L’Anse a long way. While stationed at Forward Operating Base Orgun E in Afghanistan Turunen and local soldiers hoisted the colors on a very special day–Sept. 11, 2009, the anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the U.S.
   The flag was donated to the troops by the village as they deployed last winter. Turunen is one of 10 soldiers of the 535 in his battalion that has been back in the States training the troops that will replace them at Ft. McCoy in Wisconsin. He had a few days to come home to L’Anse before returning to Afghanistan to join his troops and finish their tour. Last Thursday, Oct. 22, Turunen had a chance to return the special flag to the village and Village Manager Bob LaFave.

   The L’Anse Area Schools’ Board of Education addressed a very light agenda at its Oct. 19, 2009, meeting held at the Alston Township Hall.
   The session lasted just over a half-hour with only four new business items on the agenda. The first concerned the district’s 2008-2009 annual audit. Superintendent Ray Pasquali said Bruce Rukkila, CPA retained by the district, informed board members that there was nothing to bring up and that everything looked good for the previous school year.
   Pasquali said the district had a “. . .good year last year. . .” but is expecting significant challenges over the next few years mainly because of the state’s failing economy. In fact, the superintendent said bad news from Lansing continues to affect districts state-wide.

   Cody Lee Ireland Bratt, 19, of Pelkie, was sentenced to serve six months in Baraga County Jail for breaking into Larry’s Market and larceny. In Baraga County Circuit Court on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009, Judge Charles Goodman also ordered Ireland Bratt to pay restitution of $4,338 to Peter Magaraggia, the owner of the Baraga grocery store and victim of the crime.
   In Baraga County Circuit Court on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009, Paul Jordan Aubin, 38, of Watton, was sentenced for his role in a breaking and entering and robbery of the Watton IGA.

   Some things run strong in a family. Take pharmacy and the Mattson/Brown/Hendricks family, for instance.
   Since pharmacist Werner Mattson opened his Main Street drug store in L’Anse in 1929, successive generations have operated stores and pharmacies continuously for 80 years. Mattson came from Kenton and married his wife Margaret shortly before opening the L’Anse store.
   Mattson became quite a marketer in downtown L’Anse over his career, expanding his original store and its offerings. He first opened where St. Vincent de Paul is now, in what would be the right half of the store. Mattson’s daughter, Susie (Mattson) Brown, cherishes youthful memories of days spent in her dad’s store. She recalled those days for a Sentinel article when the L’Anse Pharmacy became a Snyder franchise in 1981.

   Baraga Area Schools is anticipating a loss of nearly $90,000 in state aid funding, due to a cutback in the state per-pupil foundation. The school board and Superintendent Norm McKindles discussed the still-uncertain funding situation at a regular meeting on Monday, Oct. 12, 2009.
   Baraga’s recent student count shows 528 K-12 students, down about two from last year. For state aid purposes a “blended” count is used. Seventy-five percent of a district’s enrollment is from the fall count, and 25 percent comes from the previous February count.

   The Baraga County Board of Commissioners elected last week to contribute up to $2,000 to the Superior Suppliers Network (SSN).
   The network is a group of subcontracting shops in Baraga that has banded together to ride out a rough economy. SSN and the Western Upper Peninsula Planning & Development Region (WUPPDR) together requested the contribution to help develop, then market a business strategy for the group.

   Imagine couriers hired to drive patient’s x-rays and electronic test images to Marquette radiologists daily from hospitals around the UP. In this day of high-speed, nearly instant communications, it sounds a little archaic, doesn’t it?
   “Every day at 5 p.m. a courier would come and get five or six bags of film and take them to the radiologist,” BCMH Images Services Radiology Manager Dean Jackson said. “We had films get lost. . .I can’t even believe we did that.”
   After seven years of UP-wide planning and implementation a system is finally in place. It electronically sends x-ray, CT scans, MRI and ultrasound images from Baraga County Memorial Hospital to Marquette Radiology Associates, or various doctors’ offices, emergency rooms, etc.

   The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has committed to insure a $28,310,000 loan for a new Baraga County Memorial Hospital.
   The loan is provided through the Federal Housing Administration’s Section 242 Hospital Mortgage Insurance Program.
   The proposed replacement hospital is a one-story, 71,158 square-foot facility housing 15 acute beds with a retail pharmacy and an attached out-patient center. BCMH will also contain areas for imaging, laboratory, dietary, pharmacy, physical therapy, respiratory therapy and support departments.

   Range Auto on Fourth Street and Broad in L’Anse has a facelift, thanks to some help from the L’Anse Downtown Development Authority’s facade grant program. The block building has a fresh new coat of paint, very light green trimmed with darker green. The signage has been updated.
   The Range building is the last to be profiled in the Sentinel this summer with an improved appearance spurred on by a $2,500 facade grant. Other businesses receiving grants and sprucing up this year are L’Anse Furniture Mart, Oralie’s, Gambles, Espresso on Main and Lutes’ Store.

   L’Anse Middle School is requesting all parents and community members to attend an organizational meeting to address middle school education.
   The group will serve as an advisory committee to improve communication, volunteerism, participation in school events, and community collaboration. The committee will develop goals to assist in improving the culture of the middle school.
The meeting will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 28 at 5 p.m. in the cafeteria.

   Effective immediately, dwelling owners tapping into Baraga Village’s water and sewer mains will cover actual costs involved in making connections.
   At the council’s regular Oct. 13, 2009, meeting, trustees agreed to adopt ordinances as to how customers will be billed for the services. Village Manager Roy Kemppainen said prior to making the ordinance changes, the village charged a flat fee for both water and sewer connections.

   Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) Director Don Koivisto today announced that insects collected this summer on traps in Chippewa and Alger counties have been confirmed as emerald ash borer (EAB).
   The insects were found as part of a National EAB Survey program in the Upper Peninsula. One adult was confirmed on a trap in Munising in Alger County; and 11 adults were confirmed on a trap near Brimley in Chippewa County.

   For military service members stationed around the globe, holiday gifts are a big morale boost. To help the families and friends of U.S. military personnel, the Postal Service offers a discount on its largest Priority Mail Flat Rate box.
   The recommended mailing date for the most economical postage to overseas military installations, including Iraq and Afghanistan, is Nov. 13, 2009.

   Former U.S. Congressman Bob Davis, who represented the UP and Northern Michigan in Congress from 1979 - 1993, died Friday, Oct. 16., 2009. He was 77.
   Church bells throughout the UP village of Calumet rang in honor of Davis’ passing. They were the same church bells that rang almost exactly 17 years ago when Davis, in his last act in Congress, steered through passage of legislation to create the Keweenaw National Historical Park, a part of the National Park Service.

   Preliminary construction work on the new Baraga County Memorial Hospital is underway at the site on U.S. 41 and Maki Road, south of L’Anse.
   MD Contracting of Baraga is blasting and removing rock from the site. Grand Traverse Construction of Traverse City, MI, has been contracted to build concrete footings for the perimeter of the new hospital. Then full-scale construction can begin early next spring.

   “This has got to stop.”
   The message against domestic violence came across loud and clear on Friday, Oct. 9, 2009, when a tide of humanity streamed through Baraga on the first Chelsey LaFernier Memorial Walk. Nearly 400 people came out to honor the victim by condemning the crime.
   LaFernier, age 23, of Baraga, was stabbed to death last January by Raymond Silas. Silas fled the scene and died later that night from gunshot wounds received while resisting arrest and attempting to attack Michigan State Police.

   The long-awaited opening of the L’Anse Pamida store became a reality on Monday, Oct. 12, 2009.
   Pamida Store Manager Ryan Fluit and District Team Leader Dave Naughton were on hand as the doors opened at 8 a.m., an hour earlier than normal. Local government officials were invited to the first-day opening an hour before it officially opened as Fluit and Naughton offered tours of the new facility.
   The approximate 25,000 square foot facility brings 25 full and part time much-welcomed employment opportunities to Baraga County. The county has had the highest unemployment in the state for some time and the third-highest county unemployment rate in the continental U.S., according to latest available federal statistics.

   Fred Dakota didn’t think he was doing anything wrong when he and former wife Sybil opened the first Native gambling casino on New Years Eve, 1983, in a Zeba garage. After all, he was just making use of a gaming license legally granted by the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community’s Tribal Council.
   The Secretary of the Interior had approved the council’s right to issue gaming licenses on Oct. 17, 1974. That approval came by default because the department didn’t act upon KBIC’s gaming code within two weeks of receiving it (see part one of this series in the Sept. 16, 2009, L’Anse Sentinel).

   There’s nothing like good neighbors. Irene Honkala, 83, of Shore Drive in Aura, has some of the best–her dear friends, Bob and Rosie Coen.
   You can add the Coen’s little white dog, “Shoo”, to the list.
Shoo is a frisky year and a half-old poodle/Maltese mix. The Coens live about 400 feet from Honkala, and Shoo is a frequent visitor. The fact that Irene is quick to hand out treats may be a factor! That friendship proved crucial on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009.

   The Department of Environmental Quality announced a public hearing today to accept comments on the department’s proposed decision to approve a series of permits to the Kennecott Eagle Minerals Company (KEMC) to reopen and conduct milling operations at the Humboldt Mill. The proposed decision follows a period of extensive review by the DEQ of Kennecott’s application, supporting information, and public comment.
   The public hearing will be held on Dec. 1, 2009, in Ishpeming, MI, at the Westwood High School Auditorium, 300 Westwood Drive, from 4 to 10 p.m. The DEQ will continue to accept written comments for 28 days after the hearing. Final permit decisions are expected to be issued in early 2010.

   In an emergency situation everyone knows instantly to dial 9-1-1 for fire, police or medical assistance. In an increasingly complex world of health and human service agencies, programs and services, it’s often difficult to know who or where to call.
   When faced with a sudden need–perhaps a family member searching for long term care, or in need of disability services or employment assistance–where do you turn?
   Enter a phone number that should become as familiar as 9-1-1. “2-1-1 Call Centers” now cover about 75 percent of Michigan, including the UP.

   On Oct. 5, 2009, OCC President Debbie Parrish received official notification from North Central Accreditation-Higher Learning Commission for the granting of initial candidacy status for accreditation.
   In April, a four member review team visited Ojibwa Community College to conduct an on-site accreditation review for initial candidacy. The team met with students, faculty, staff, Tribal Council, Board of Regents, and community members.

   Several cases are progressing through Baraga County Circuit Court. Circuit Judge Charles Goodman also had six criminal cases on the docket in L’Anse as this issue of the Sentinel was going to press on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009.
   One case with major implications across the area involves the vacating of guilty pleas on drug and/or larceny charges against Michael John Uren and Bobbie Sue Roth, both of L’Anse. Both face charges stemming from the break-in and robbery of the Pamida pharmacy in L’Anse on Dec. 16, 2008. More than 3,000 pills containing the controlled substance hydrocodone were stolen from the pharmacy.

   Eighteen candidates were approved by the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community’s (KBIC) to run in the Oct. 31, 2009, tribal council primary election.
   Tribal constituents will narrow that field to four from each of two districts–L’Anse and Baraga–who will then face off for two council seats in each district in the annual December elections.

   Friday, Oct. 2, L’Anse Middle School seventh graders weathered cold and blustery conditions to clean up First and Second Sand beaches near Pequaming as well as the L’Anse Waterfront Park.
   The event was part of L’Anse Middle School’s ongoing Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative (LSSI) project that began last spring with a clean-up of the Falls River and Linden Creek.

   A small crowd put its best feet forward last Thursday night in the annual Candlelight Vigil and Walk against Domestic Violence starting at 6 p.m. in L’Anse.
   Led by a police escort, the group marched from the Baraga County Shelter Home to the waterfront where ribbons were tied to a tree to honor victims of domestic violence. Participants then continued on to the courthouse for a short program and refreshments.
   The march has become a tradition for the Shelter Home; its way of bringing domestic violence to light. Participants include Shelter Home staff and board members plus men, women and children who come out to support the cause.

   Five Baraga County residents were among seven arrested Sept. 29 by the Upper Peninsula Substance Enforcement Team (UPSET). Included in the arrests were two Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) members and two non-native individuals.   According to UPSET personnel another Baraga County warrant has yet to be served.
   Twenty-one year old Troy Roberts of Baraga and 24-year old John Wayne DeCota of L’Anse were both charged with four counts in KBIC Tribal Court. The charges included two counts each of controlled substance-sale and two counts of disobedience of a lawful court order.

   Baraga County’s budget for 2009-2010 has been set at $3,288,850.
   The final figure, down $66,552 from last year’s budget, was unanimously approved by the Baraga County Board of Commissioners at a special meeting held Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009, at the courthouse in L’Anse. The meeting was preceded by a public hearing to air the new budget.

   Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC), Department of Health and Human Services was selected by the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) to participate in a test of the new national voluntary public health accreditation program.
   As one of 30 public health agencies selected from more than 145 applicants, KBIC DHHS will work through the accreditation process and will provide feedback that will inform the voluntary accreditation program’s national launch in 2011.

   As our regular annual flu season is again upon us as well as the currently circulating H1N1 flu virus, it is to be expected that the public is concerned about contracting this virus.
   There has been so much media attention regarding the H1N1 flu virus because it is a new virus that has reached a pandemic alert level meaning that there is ongoing community level outbreaks in multiple parts of the world. This doesn’t mean that the severity of this virus is worse than the regular seasonal flu virus, it just means that it is circulating world wide.

   The Mackinac Bridge Authority (MBA) and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) announced that the Fall Colors Bridge Race will happen on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009, at 7 a.m. Former contestants from the television show “The   Biggest Loser” will participate in the five-mile race that also is open to the public.
   “For the safety of everyone, we will have runners begin the race in groups,” said MBA Executive Secretary Bob Sweeney. “In order to keep traffic flowing smoothly and the racers safe, small groups will be released at different times until everyone leaves the starting line.”

   The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) received a $142,000 federal continuation grant for year three of its Weed & Seed Initiative, according to its director Chris Gerard. The program started its third year Oct. 1, 2009, and the continuation monies will allow it to run until Sept. 30, 2010.
   “The scheduled amount of funding for year three was originally set at $275,000 for each Weed & Seed site,” Gerard said. “However, due to significant budget cuts over the past two years, that number has dropped to $142,000. Each of the nearly 350 Weed & Seed sites receive the same amount of funding and we are one of the smallest sites, if not the smallest site in the country so, we are able to function without too many drastic changes.”

  Longtime bank teller at Commercial National Bank, and now Superior National Bank, Mary Spradlin was honored upon her retirement by a steady stream of friends, bank customers and fellow employees. An open house was held on Spradlin’s honor on Friday, Oct. 2.
   “I’ve been here longer than anyone else. I was the last one standing!” Spradlin joked.
   “I was a teller for 32 years and that was my choice because I loved the customers. That made my job and it always has,” Spradlin said.

   L’Anse Village Police Department personnel continue their investigation into a Sept. 13, 2009, break-in to the L’Anse American Legion building.
   According to Police Chief Mike LaBerge, American Legion manager Jim Dougovito called police around 4:50 a.m. Dougovito had arrived at the Legion bringing in supplies for the organization’s pancake breakfast scheduled later that morning.
   LaBerge said entry was gained by pushing an air conditioner through the window of the Office of Veteran’s Affairs. Once inside, LaBerge said culprit(s) were able to move throughout the building by dropping through ceiling tiles into various offices located in the building’s basement.

   The Finlandia University Finnish American Heritage Center begins its 2009-10 Nordic Film Series Thursday, Oct. 8, 2009, at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., with the Finnish film, “The New Mankind.”
   “Uusi Ihminen” is set in Sweden in 1951 as a new society develops where there is no room for the socially and mentally weak.

   The Plum Creek Foundation recently awarded a $1,000 grant to the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve to help address the erosion and degradation of Pinnacle Falls Trail.
   “Soil erosion plagues ecosystems around the world, affecting watersheds on a global, regional and local level,” said Emily Whittaker, executive director of the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve.

   Baraga County, with the highest unemployment in Michigan, and one of the highest jobless rates in the country, was jolted with news of closure of Terex Handlers.
   The Baraga Industrial Park plant manufactures rugged terrain extended forklift trucks for lifting and handling construction materials.
   Approximately 90 people learned last Wednesday they would be out of work. The announcement was made to workers at the plant shortly after 9 a.m. Plant Manager Sander Ansingh would not comment to the L’Anse Sentinel.

   With announcement of Terex Handlers’ closure reaction spread quickly among the industrial community.
   Various subcontracting shops are impacted in different ways. For some the closure is mitigated because Terex took much of its fabricating in-house, pulling business from local sub shops months ago.
   Peninsula Powder Coating
   Brain Baccus of Peninsula Powder Coating adjacent to Terex in the Baraga Industrial Park will lose 30 percent of his business with the closing of Terex.

   In August the unemployment rate in the Upper Peninsula fell seasonally to 11.7 percent, a monthly drop of six-tenths of a percentage point below July’s 12.3 percent.
   The highest Michigan jobless rate in August was recorded by Baraga County at 23.8 percent, although the rate edged down by 0.7 percentage points over the month.

   In early fall, when many blooms are past their prime and the vegetable patch is ready for retirement, most serious gardeners wouldn’t let a reporter past the gate.
   Not so for Sentinel gardening columnist Kathy Hill, a gardener for all seasons who revels in every step of the growing process–even the one where the garden is trying to take the reins and bolt for its borders.

   Lutes’ Store has a new colorful look—and a long colorful history. Owner Mike Lytikainen received one of the L’Anse Downtown Development Authority $2,500 facade grants and he’s spruced up the convenience store’s exterior. At the corner of North Main and Eastern Avenue, the store is a fixture in the L’Anse neighborhood.
   And Lytikainen has the whole north end of town talking with his bold Green Bay Packer-like green and yellow color scheme. Just in time for the start of the pro football season Lutes’ true colors began to take shape. You can bet the Detroit Lions fans have taken notice and bantered back and forth over the counter with Lytikainen.

   Formal approval of a number of new teachers and coaches for the 2009-2010 school year was the most prominent issue tackled by the Sept. 21 L’Anse Area Schools’ Board of Education meeting.
   One teacher was granted tenure at the session and four more were offered first-year probationary contracts. C.J. Sullivan kindergarten teacher Ariane Yoder was granted tenure. Second grade teacher Alissa DuPuis, Title I teacher Elizabeth Lloyd, middle school science teacher Kurt Anderson and industrial education instructor Robert Bohlsen were all granted first year contracts.

   The L’Anse Sports Complex took a huge step forward last Tuesday, Sept. 22 with the blacktopping of a new track oval.
   The approximate $53,000 project is being covered through a number of sources. At the L’Anse Area Schools’ Sept. 21 meeting, board members approved funds from three sources. It was noted that Bacco Construction, the company which paved the track, had quoted a $59,000 price tag.

   The new sports complex has seen many changes--a new football field, practice field and track. Future plans include a basketball court, baseball field, archery range, tennis court and hiking trail (which will be handicapped accessible).
   “Here’s a great opportunity for our kids in the community to finally have somewhere to go and have fun, said Harry Miron, one of the leaders in the effort to create the facility.
   The volunteers who have made the complex a reality have donated over two million dollars in equipment, time and labor. Funds have been depleted for future work and the fuel costs for the volunteers’ heavy equipment.
   To raise additional funds a Croation chicken dinner fundraiser (cooked by Steve Martinac) is being held on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the L’Anse School Cafetorium. Take-out dinners will also be available.

   Villages of Baraga and L’Anse, MI, Sept. 22, 2009, Baraga Electric Utility and L’Anse Electric Utility are inviting community members to participate in a variety of events and contests to help them celebrate October as public power month.
   Each will sell discount LED Christmas lights and sponsor compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) exchanges. Customers may visit their respective village office during the month of October to participate (while supplies last).

   Help is available for Michigan families adversely impacted by the state’s troubled economy. That’s the message Michigan Department of Human Services (DHS) Director Ismael Ahmed delivered when he visited Marquette County on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009.
   He spoke at the Preserve at Orianna Ridge, a low-income housing complex owned and operated by the Alger-Marquette Community Action Board. He was joined at the event by Marquette County DHS Director Rich Miketinac and Dickinson-Iron Community Services Agency Executive Director Jeffrey Heino.

   The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation Sept. 22, 2009, to provide up to 13 additional weeks of unemployment insurance benefits to workers in high unemployment states who are about to run out of benefits. U.S. Congressman Bart Stupak voted in favor of H.R. 3548, the Unemployment Compensation Extension Act, which passed the House 331 to 83.
    “With 4,602 people in the First District scheduled to run out of unemployment insurance benefits by the end of the year, this bill is critical to providing much-needed relief to those who are out of work as they continue to try and find jobs,” Stupak said. “This extension will help ensure Michigan workers can provide for their families until the economic stimulus fully takes effect.”

   A Sunday afternoon, Sept. 27, 2009, kitchen grease fire at the Mike and Karen Dault home on the corner of Skanee and Townline Roads caused minor damage.
   According to L’Anse Fire Department Chief Mike Bianco, his department received a call around 2 p.m. By the time firefighters arrived, Mike Dault and a nearby neighbor had knocked the fire down, Bianco said.

   Housekeeping topped the agenda at the Sept. 8 meeting of the Baraga County Board of Commissioners. When the dust had settled, not a lot had changed.
   Attorney David Gemignani returns as public defender after submitting the sole bid for the job. Gemignani informed the council his volume of cases in Baraga County has increased over 30 percent this past year. His fee of $26,400, was $1,200 higher than last year’s wage, and was accepted by the board.

   The L’Anse Warden Electric Company received a boost last week as it became the first biomass plant in Michigan eligible to offer wood suppliers a USDA subsidy.
   The “green energy” Warden plant burns biomass such as wood chips as part of its fuel mix. The USDA Farm Service Agency can now offer wood suppliers to the plant a subsidy to make it more profitable to sell chips and biomass to the plant.

   After five years of legal wrangling the Baraga Area Schools will receive $10,500 from Halonen Lawn and Landscaping of Atlantic Mine.
   The company had installed the underground irrigation system for the new Baraga football field when the Osterman Athletic Complex was built. Shortly afterward the sprinkler system developed numerous underground leaks, resulting in constant puddles on the field and along the sidelines. The field developed low spots which created dangerous situations for football players. In addition to the inconvenience the leaks were costing the district money on its water bill.

   You couldn’t blame Sandy and Tom Almli if they don’t want to leave their place on Ford Farm Road very often. The three ponds, the remodeled and renovated home, the quaint guest house, the “enchanted forest” walk through the woods, the lush, colorful gardens. . .
   The entire place is perfectly maintained and inviting and relaxing. The ponds were constructed on three levels with water quietly flowing from the upper to the middle to the lower pond. The smaller, shaded lower pond features a floating island of lily pads with beautiful purple flowers. The moss-covered concrete spillway between the upper ponds says 1931 on it.

   At approximately 10:36 a.m. CST on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009, troopers from the Michigan State Police Wakefield and Iron River Posts were dispatched to a two-vehicle personal injury crash.
   A L’Anse couple riding a motorcycle was injured. The crash occurred on US 45 and Crystal Lake Road south of Watersmeet near the Wisconsin state line.
Mark Spurgeon, an 18 year-old Phelps, WI, driver of a mini-van, was stopped on Crystal Lake Road and attempting to cross US-45 to the BP Station.
   Spurgeon pulled out in front of the motorcycle traveling southbound on US-45. The motorcycle operator, Dennis Lundy, 56, applied the brakes but could not stop before he collided into the side of the mini-van. Cynthia Lundy, 52, was a passenger on the motorcycle.

   As a result of the Clean, Renewable and Efficient Energy Act, state legislation (Public Act 295) requires Michigan electric utilities to develop energy optimization plans to help customers save energy.
   Under the legislation the Villages of Baraga and L’Anse’s electric utilities (and all other electric and natural gas utilities in Michigan) are required to implement energy efficiency programs. “Energy Optimization” will create energy saving goals now and in the future.

   BHK Child Development is implementing a tuition-based preschool option for higher-income families in preparation for potential cuts to or elimination of the Great Start Readiness Program.
   GSRP is a state-funded program that provides free half-day preschool to four-year-old children. BHK currently receives almost $900,000 in GSRP funding to provide preschool services to more than 250 four-year-old children and their families.

   Throughout the month of September, the Copper Country Coalition for a Drug-Free Community has been implementing Communities Mobilizing for Change on Alcohol (CMCA), an evidence-based prevention program. Funding has been made available through the Western Upper Peninsula Substance Abuse Services Coordinating Agency. The focus of the program has been a regional social marketing campaign aimed at reducing underage drinking.
   CMCA is a community organizing effort designed to change institutional policies and practices in ways that reduce youth access to alcohol. The program was developed by the Alcohol Epidemiology Program at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. “By effectively limiting the accessibility of alcohol to teens, communities directly reduce teen drinking while communicating a clear social norm that underage drinking is inappropriate and unacceptable,” said Regan Antila, Training /Prevention Specialist.

   Baraga’s village council put the finishing touches on a $500,000, 10-year, interest-free loan to help improve its electrical distribution system at it’s Sept. 8 , 2009, regular meeting.
   According to Village Manager Roy Kemppainen, the loan is coming from Wisconsin Public Power Incorporated (WPPI). He said the village is in the process of finalizing all necessary documents and preparing bids for the project. Kemppainen said its overall goal is to cut losses on the village’s distribution grid. He said it’s estimated that the loan will pay for itself in savings in about 6.5 years.

   New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, 1983: Frederick Dakota and his former wife, Sybil, opened the first Native gaming casino in the United States. It was a bold move, and one that changed history with its social, financial and legal implications.
   Twenty-five years later tribal gaming is firmly established around the nation and generates billions of dollars in revenue for tribes and communities, and employment for Native and non-native workers.

   Construction and other economic projects topped the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community’s (KBIC) Sept. 12, 2009, regular council meeting convened at Big Bucks Bingo Hall.
   In his report, KBIC CEO Larry Denomie informed the council that a major waterline project is underway along Mission Road (Old US-41).
   Denomie told the group that the tribe continues work on construction of a new gas station, similar to its Pine Convenience Center north of Baraga. The tribe is exploring the possibility of locating a similar station south of L’Anse on the US-41 corridor near the site of the planned new Baraga County Memorial Hospital.

   Students from more than 70 countries attend Michigan Tech and will provide the backdrop for the 20th annual Parade of Nations--a festival of music, food and ethnic pride.
   “Dancing with Diversity” is the theme of this year’s event, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009. The parade will start at 11 a.m. at Hancock Middle School and end in Houghton, where it will be followed by the Multicultural Food and Music Festival at Dee Stadium, which will end at 4 p.m.

   The Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (The CDFI Fund) at the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced that Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Housing & Community Development Corporation (KBOHCDC) has been certified as a native CDFI.
   Certification as a CDFI means that an organization meets the CDFI eligibility requirements that relate to an organization having a primary mission of promoting community development, predominately serving and maintaining accountability to eligible target markets, being a financing entity, and providing development services.

   Two dozen small aircraft flew the friendly skies of Sidnaw this past Saturday during the fourth annual Labor Day Fly-In at the Prickett-Grooms Airport.
   The event proved bigger than ever this year with a record field of participants overhead, and plenty of support on the ground. The community comes out for the Fly-In, with guests pouring in from outlying areas and beyond to check out the action overhead.
   “People started arriving on Thursday and Friday,” said Ed Frederick of Grand Rapids. “We had aircraft from Colorado, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa. We haven’t had anyone from Indiana yet . . .”

   While many parts of the Upper Peninsula continue suffering through long-term drought conditions, there is at least one local location experiencing a fairly wet summer.
   Herman, the highest-altitude village in Michigan, is experiencing its wettest summer in at least five years. Herman is in the central Baraga County highlands, southeast of L’Anse.
   National Weather Service (NWS) Herman cooperative observer Chris Ford takes daily precipitation and temperature measurements. For the four- month summer period, May-August, Ford measured 17.45 inches of precipitation at his home on Lystila Road.

   Bill Fredendall of Eden Prairie, MN, and Second Sand Beach, has a long, satisfying life to reflect upon. At 81 he’s enjoyed a wonderful 58-year marriage to wife Dorothy, 79. The couple has raised three very successful children. Phyllis, 57, is a professor in Finlandia’s art department; Laura, 53, is a psychologist in Terre Haute, IN; and Nancy, 47, is a family counselor from Minnetonka, MN.
   Bill enjoyed a self-made career as a problem-solving consultant to organizations and corporations. Dorothy’s retirement in January after 28 years working in a bank has allowed the Fredendalls to spend several weeks this summer at the family cabin near Second Sand Beach on Keweenaw Bay. It’s the perfect place to enjoy summer days and think back through the years.

   Adopt-A-Highway volunteers are preparing for a clean sweep of state highways-their third and final one in 2009-from Saturday, Sept. 12, through Sunday, Sept. 20.
   Approximately 2,700 groups will be out during the nine-day pick-up period, said the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), and they will clean more than 5,700 miles of highways.

   The law firm of Kendricks, Bordeau, Adamini, Chilman & Greenlee, P.C., in Marquette announces that Attorney Mark R. Pasquali has become associated with the firm. Pasquali is a L’Anse native who has returned to the area after practicing law in Lansing. He earned his undergraduate degree from Michigan State University, and his law degree, cum laude, from the Michigan State University College of Law. Pasquali has a general practice with an emphasis on estate planning and probate law.

   It’s been a long time coming, and eagerly anticipated among L’Anse coffee drinkers. Last Friday, Sept. 4, 2009, “Espresso On Main” opened for business. The shop features an inviting atmosphere and fills a niche L’Anse was missing.
   Ron and Debbie Kissel own the building on Main Street, and another two doors down. The coffee shop was formerly a hair salon, and once upon a time, the legendary Swede’s Bar. The Kissels and their four children have made many trips between their home in the Twin Cities area (Minneapolis-Saint Paul) and L’Anse over the past couple years to work on renovation of their buildings.

   The fourth annual Photography Exhibit sponsored by the Trout Creek Library will be held on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Trout Creek. The exhibit is open to the public free of charge from 11a.m. to 3 p.m. EST.
   This year’s event will feature J.P. Suchoski, a Hancock area photographer. His presentation at 11:30 a.m. will be on photo composition, and what makes a good photograph a great photograph. Later in the day the photographers will give a walk-about, explaining their photographs.

   Lindberg and Sons Inc. of Ishpeming has been awarded the contract to construct a temporary bridge over the Falls River in L’Anse.
   The bid was awarded by the L’Anse Village Council at its Monday, Aug. 24, 2009, meeting. Lindberg submitted the lowest bid, $118,000, and anticipates having the job completed within the next few weeks.

   It’s a good thing Mother Nature lightened up a bit this week–because the Yoopers were ready to revolt!
   Last week a cold summer was topped off with a two-day cold, windy and rainy blast on Friday, Aug. 28 and Saturday, Aug. 29. A counter-rotating low pressure just wouldn’t budge as it swirled wave after wave of cold rain across the western and central UP.
   The rain in August was actually welcome after the seventh driest June 1-July 31 period on record at the National Weather Service in Negaunee Township. In June and July Negaunee officially recorded 3.72 inches of rain. The August, 2009, figure of 4.82 inches proved to be the sixth wettest August since records were started in 1961.

   A preliminary hearing on seven individuals facing felony charges in an ongoing cigarette tax fraud case is set for Thursday, Sept. 3, 2009, in Marquette’s Federal District Court.
   According to Assistant U.S. District Attorney Susan Gillooly of Detroit, charges on all suspects will be dismissed without prejudice at the hearing allowing federal officials to continue investigating the case.
   Baraga residents John Varline and Garrick Lamb, Joseph Romano of Toivola, Jay Lewis of Atlantic Mine and Kirk Burton of Las Vegas, NV, are charged with general conspiracy and violation of 18 US Code 2342–which alleges the five shipped, transported, received, possessed, sold, distributed and/or purchased contraband cigarettes.

   Among the attractive storefront improvements seen this summer in downtown L’Anse is the new look to the Gambles Do It Best store at 15 S. Main Street. A complete new facade for the lower level of the long building updates the appearance, and will provide significant savings in heating costs.
   The hardware store is an institution in L’Anse, with a long history. Local residents and visitors remember longtime owners Cy and Amelia Huot. And just like Gambles is an institution in L’Anse, manager Dorothy Niemela is an institution at the store.
   “I’ve been here since June, 1966,” Niemela said. “I was a kid then! I was a store clerk back then.”

   The Pelkie Fire Department is riding high these days behind the wheel of a brand new and sorely needed pumper/tanker. The vehicle rolled into town Aug. 13, 2009, and is fast becoming a valued member of the force.
   “We got a grant from the USDA, and we’re financing the rest,” said Pelkie Fire Chief Dick Haagsma. “It cost $205,000. It would have been very easy to spend a lot more, but I tried to keep it as cost-effective as possible.”
   The pumper/tanker was manufactured by Pierce with an International chassis, and will replace the department’s 30-year-old pumper/tanker.

   Right now, parents everywhere are preparing for a new school year, finding out who their children’s teachers will be, buying school supplies, and seeing the doctor to make sure their kids are healthy and ready to learn.
   But if you’re a parent, you need to add one more item to that back-to-school checklist: preparation for flu. This year we have two kinds of flu to think about, regular seasonal flu and the new 2009 H1N1 flu. Parents need to makes plans right now on how to keep their family healthy and what to do if someone does become ill with the flu.

   The Copper Country Intermediate School District Board of Education held its regular monthly meeting, on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2009. Board President Albert Koskela made the following committee appointments for the 2009-10 school year:
   REMC Policy Board: Gale Eilola, Karen Johnson and Lisa Tarvainen, with Robert Tuomi as alternate.
   Negotiations/Personnel Committee: Nels Christopherson, Karen Johnson and Lisa Tarvainen, with Robert Roy as alternate.
   Building/Grounds Committee: Gale Eilola, Albert Koskela, and Robert Tuomi, with Nels Christopherson as Alternate.

   L’Anse Fire Department and MSU Extension are hosting the Zoll CPR Challenge to encourage rescuers to perform high quality CPR to improve outcomes from sudden cardiac arrest.
   The CPR Challenge helps rescuers know their rate and depth of compressions.

   The L’Anse School Board spent most of its Aug. 17, 2009, regular meeting prepping for the start of the school year. Included on the agenda were two teacher resignations, two retirements and approval of a contract for one newly-hired teacher.
   The board learned of the resignations of middle school science teacher Matt Dennis and kindergarten teacher Nicolette Lishinski. They were also told of the retirements of general shop and computer aided drafting (CAD) instructor Jim Bertagnoli, and teacher aide Gayle Voskuhl.

   Several L’Anse storefronts are receiving facelifts this summer with new facades, windows, doors, etc. The projects have been sparked by $2,500 grants offered through the L’Anse Downtown Development Authority. In its third year, the program provided six business owners grants to help with new facades.
   Among recipients were Gambles Do It Best Hardware, Furniture Mart, Oralie’s, Lute’s Corner Store, Range Auto and the new coffee shop that is being opened on Main Street by Ron and Debbie Kissel. More than a dozen businesses in the DDA district have received the grants in the program’s existence.

   One of the longest contested case hearings in state history concluded on Aug. 18, 2009. An Administrative Law Judge upheld the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality’s granting of a water discharge permit and mine permit to Kennecott Eagle Minerals for a proposed sulfide nickel and copper mine on the Yellow Dog Plains.
   However, the recommendation would spare the Native spiritual site, Eagle Rock.

   The L’Anse Fire Department was dispatched to a rescue at Canyon Falls on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2009. A male visitor jumped into the river a half-mile from the trail head. He dislocated his shoulder and could not climb out of the water. Two active military members were on scene and assisted the victim and the rescue crew. They safely removed the victim from the river canyon. Bay Ambulance was also on the scene.
   The fire department used equipment for Remote Rescue, including tough terrain climbing gear, specialized patient packaging equipment, and the eight-wheel drive Argo.

   A two-day jury trial has been set for a case involving alleged illegal cutting of timber in Arvon Township. Thomas Walter Larson, 52, of L’Anse Township, is charged with a count of Trespass by Cutting Timber and a count of Larceny More Than $1,000 and Less Than $20,000.
   The trial was set for January, 2010, in a pre-trial hearing in Baraga County Circuit Court on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2009. Larson, represented by attorney George Hyde, earlier waived arraignment and a not guilty plea was entered on his behalf. The case stems from an incident in August of 2008. The alleged victim is Charles Miller who owns a 40-acre parcel on Huron Road.

   In remembrance of the events of Sept. 11, 2001, the lives lost and the bravery of first responders, Michigan State University Extension and the L’Anse Fire Department invite residents to a Remembrance Ceremony on Friday, Sept. 11, 2009.
   The ceremony is at the L’Anse Waterfront Park at 7 p.m. It celebrates those who work as police, firefighters, EMS, in health careers, veterans and active duty military.
   Fire equipment and other displays will be available in the park prior to the ceremony. Musical entertainment will also be provided.

   The L’Anse Area Schools is preparing for the opening day of school for the 2009-2010 school year, which will begin on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009, for teachers, and Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009, for students.

   The Baraga Area School District welcomes new and returning students to the start of the 2009-2010 school year.
   The Baraga Area Schools will open for the 2009-2010 school year on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009. Classes begin at 8:25 a.m. and end at 3:11 p.m. (same as last year). Junior/Senior High school students (grade 7-12) will begin the fall semester with an assembly in the high school gym. PLES and Pelkie students will report to their classrooms. Class lists will be posted next to the classroom doors. Pelkie students will load the designated Pelkie buses at the front of the school and leave for Pelkie at 8:10 a.m.

   Baraga County Chamber of Commerce will host “Business After Hours” on Friday, Aug. 28, 2009, from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Best Western Lakeside Inn in Baraga. Speaker will be Mike Lahti, Michigan State Representative, 110th House District. The meeting is open to the public. The chamber invites for appetizers and an opportunity to ask questions, network and visit. Call Karen at 524-2323 for more information.

   Baraga seventh-12th grade students will go from a six class period school day to seven periods when school begins on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009. At its regular meeting on Monday, Aug. 10, the school board approved an expanded list of credits graduates will need in the future.
   Graduates will still need 22 credits in 2010, but the number will go to 23 for the Class of 2011, 24 for the Class of 2012 and 25 for the Class of 2013. With no study halls, students could earn as many has 28 credits in their high school careers.

   Work on refurbishing the Pinery Cemetery will move into high gear starting the week of Sept. 21, 2009.
   At the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) tribal council’s rescheduled Aug. 15 meeting, council vice-president Susan LaFernier said remapping of the cemetery following a May wildfire was delayed as it was originally scheduled for July.
   LaFernier said the tribe is asking community members to provide her or Summer Cohen information on forgotten graves or grave sites so that they may be identified. Cohen is the director of the tribe’s historic preservation office and can be reached at 353-6272.

   Staff Sgt. Derek VanBuren enjoyed a visit from his mother, Pam Anderson, and brother, Drew VanBuren, at Walter Reed Army Medical Center earlier this month. VanBuren was among three National Guard members of the 1431st Engineers wounded during an attack in Afghanistan on Saturday, July 18, 2009.
   During a firefight that VanBuren remembered lasting about 60 minutes, VanBuren, 29, David Smith, 19, of L’Anse, and Jon French, 35, of Chassell Township, were seriously injured. Smith was driving the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle when a rocket propelled grenade exploded with a shower of deadly shrapnel.

   A working smoke alarm limited damage and prevented injuries in a house fire in Zeba on Sunday morning, Aug. 16, 2009. L’Anse Fire Department was called to the Albright residence at 16399 Dakota Road at 7:05 a.m.
   “They said they were awakened by the smoke detector,” L’Anse Fire Chief Mike Bianco said. “They called 911 immediately and said they were impressed in how quickly the fire department arrived and put out the fire.”
   The fire was contained to a corner of the basement.

   Two sentences were handed down in Baraga County Circuit Court on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2009.
   Jessica Rae Foy, 26, of L’Anse, was sentenced for Forgery Attempt following a guilty plea in court earlier to a plea bargain. Judge Charles Goodman sentenced Foy to serve 180 days in Baraga County Jail with credit for 66 already served. She was assessed fines and costs of $128. Foy was represented by Public Defender David Gemignani.
   Dawn Elizabeth Hueckstaedt, 24, of L’Anse, was sentenced to 37 days in jail with 37 days credit for time served.

   Following two-and-a-half years of undercover work by federal and state law enforcement officials, five Copper County individuals and a Nevada resident have been charged with defrauding the state of Michigan out of millions of dollars in unpaid cigarette taxes.
   Arrested were John Varline, 42, Garrick Lamb, 30, Joseph Fish, 42, all of Baraga; Joseph Romano, 48, of Toivola, Jay Lewis, 50, of Atlantic Mine, and Kirk Alan Burton, (age not listed) of Las Vegas, NV. They were arraigned in United States District Court Western District of Michigan in Marquette on Aug. 4, 2009.
   They face felony conspiracy counts involving the alleged purchase of more than 460,000 cartons of cigarettes not bearing the $2 per pack Michigan state tax stamp.

   The Baraga County Fair was a success both in entertainment for fair-goers and with the bottom line. The three-day fair brought lots of people to the Pelkie fairgrounds, and proved the fair could go on despite losing its state funding earlier this spring.
   Proceeds at the gate totaled just over $9,000, which should leave the 2009 event in the black.
   “We are up about $2,000 over last year which is good news,” fair board member Gale Eilola said.

   A wide-ranging effort to spread the word about Baraga County’s manufacturing and fabricating talents will be heard as far away as the oil sands of Edmonton, Canada, next month.
   Local manufacturers and subcontracting shops are working with WUPPDR’s Kim Stoker to develop a comprehensive web site, marketing brochures and materials to tell Baraga County’s story to potential industrial customers.
   “It’s something to help a county that has 26 percent unemployment. There’s a lot of people who are encouraged by this,” Stoker said.

   Several defendants appeared in Baraga County Circuit Court before Judge Charles Goodman on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2009.
   Jordan Paul Aubin, 19, of Calumet, was sentenced for his role in the break-in and larceny of the Watton IGA last Oct. 26. Aubin earlier pleaded guilty to three counts relating to breaking and entering, larceny and malicious destruction.
   Michigan’s sentencing guidelines recommended an incarceration of 0-17 months. Aubin was sentenced to 44 days in Baraga County Jail, with credit for 44 days already served. Goodman sentenced him to two years probation and given HYTA (Holmes Youthful Trainee Act) status. Prosecuting Attorney Joseph O’Leary and Aubin’s attorney, Public Defender David Gemignani agreed with offering Aubin HYTA status. That means if he successfully completes probation the felony convictions will be removed from his permanent record.

   Police are closer to solving a series of vehicle break-ins and thefts that took place in the Village of L’Anse last spring. Many of them were discovered in downtown areas during daylight hours.
   Harley Joseph Finnerty, 18, of Pequaming Road, L’Anse, pleaded guilty to one count of Larceny-From A Motor Vehicle in Baraga County Circuit Court on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2009. Three additional larceny counts were dismissed in the plea arrangement in exchange for the guilty plea.

   Baraga Area School District’s Philip LaTendresse Elementary School Junior/Senior high school has earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) ENERGY STAR® Certification for superior energy efficiency and environmental protection.
   In May of 2009 the EPA recognized the district for protecting the environment through superior energy performance. Baraga Area Schools has been awarded a 10 pound bronze plaque that recognizes its efforts in meeting and exceeding energy standards for ENERGY STAR Certification from the EPA.

   Are you unemployed and unsure how to file a claim for unemployment benefits? Or, are you an employer and wondering how your unemployment tax rate is determined?
   These and other common questions about Michigan’s unemployment insurance (UI) program are answered through a series of informational webcasts that the state’s Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) has recently added to its website.
   “We call these webcasts ‘UI Tube’ and have over three dozen of them on our website,” said UIA Director Stephen Geskey. “The webcasts are intended to further the UIA’s strategy of increasing usage of online applications and of helping unemployed workers, employers and others to understand the UI process and the unemployment tax and benefit programs,” UIA Director Stephen Geskey said. “In some cases, the webcasts serve as guides or tutorials to help viewers who would like to use our various online services.”

   Baraga County bid goodbye to a true public servant Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2009, when funeral services were held for former County Commissioner Larry Menard.
   Menard, age 74, owned and managed the L’Anse Ace Hardware store on Main Street with his wife, Virginia, the past 30 years. His interest in local politics stretched back even farther, to his days as a member of the Western Upper Peninsula Planning & Development (WUPPDR) board and the Substance Abuse board.
   He served off and on as a Baraga County commissioner for about 25 years. When Menard finally hung up his hat this past January, he happily reflected on a hectic but rewarding career as the District 5 Commissioner.

   A nine year-old L’Anse boy is recovering after being bitten in the face by a dog. Tanner VanStraten was bitten seriously on his face while playing in the neighborhood on Main Street across from the hospital on Tuesday evening, July 28, 2009.
   VanStraten’s mother, Jenna, and her fiancé Mark Sanregret accompanied Tanner to   Baraga County Memorial Hospital. He was then taken to Houghton County Memorial Airport and flown on a private plane to Children’s Hospital in Milwaukee. The youth received stitches for his wounds. He returned to Children’s Hospital on Monday, Aug. 3, to have the stitches removed.

   Newly hired L’Anse High School Principal Carrie Nyman is settling into her office and is excited about getting the 2009-10 school year off and running.
   Nyman, a 1991 graduate of Westwood High School, was hired by the school board at the end of the 2008-09 school year. She replaces interim principal Cathy Shamion who filled in for H. Pete Moore after his retirement at the beginning of the second semester of the 2008-09 school year.

   Historic United Methodist Church, L’Anse, is poised to enter a new chapter with the completion of a 2,200 square foot addition. The large structure is under construction to the rear of the church, and will feature handicapped-accessible fellowship hall, kitchen and bathrooms.
   “We’ve looked at this for at least 10 years,” Pastor John Henry said.
“The main concern is that we didn’t have handicapped accessible bathrooms upstairs,” Building Committee member Byron Sailor said. “We had none upstairs.”

   Baraga County Federal Credit Union members are enjoying the results of years of planning–a spacious new, 4,000 square-foot building. The credit union staff and board of directors are celebrating the attractive facility with a grand opening beginning today (Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2009) and running through Friday, Aug. 7.
   The new credit union building occupies the same space as the original building on Broad and South Third Street in downtown L’Anse. In 2007 the credit union purchased the former Greenhouse building, removed it, and made plans to use the entire area for an expanded facility that includes 15 parking spaces and a rear drive-through.
   “We’ve been in L’Anse since 1952,” said Manager Marilyn Harden. “In the old building we were cramped for space. We didn’t even have an office to close on loans.”
   “There wasn’t enough lobby space, either,” added Assistant Manager Debbie Lindgren. “On a busy day we had people lined up out to the vestibule.”

   L’Anse Village will ease some of CertainTeed’s growth pains thanks to a real and personal property tax abatement.
   The company is planning an $800,000 addition of real property, and spending $7.7 million in new personal property. After a public hearing held Monday, July 27, 2009, the L’Anse Village Council voted to allow a 50 percent abatement on real and a 100 percent on new personal property taxes for a 12-year period.
   “It won’t affect current taxes,” said L’Anse Village Manager Bob LaFave. “It will help secure 33 new jobs and 109 existing jobs. It’s part of the package we put together while competing against Meridian, MI, to retain the CertainTeed plant in L’Anse.”

   Anyone looking for a fun-filled family weekend should plan to attend this year’s Baraga County Fair on August 7-9. A long line-up of events and entertainment will keep fairgoers of all ages busy for all three days. Registration of exhibits will begin on Wednesday and Thursday, Aug. 5-6, 2009.
   The new fair book lists an array of items that can be entered by youth and adults alike. Judging of these exhibits will be on Thursday night and the exhibit buildings will be open for viewing beginning on Friday morning when the fair kicks off.
   Young children will be entertained for hours throughout fair weekend on the Bouncin’ Fun inflatables with the purchase of an $8 wristband. Saturday will also feature free children’s games from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. with prizes for all who participate, and a visit from Daisy The Clown.

   Champion is one of the small, quiet towns that people pass through when driving along US 41. Most people familiar with Champion think of it as the Horse Pulling Capital of the UP, which it is, and rightly so. During the past several years, local residents have organized and taken on several major projects to entice visitors to the area for seasonal, recreational activities.
   The Champion Beach Trail and the Historic Sites Trail provide many opportunities for visitors to walk, bike or hike while learning about the local history. For those who enjoy the sights and sounds of a biologically diverse ecosystem, the Champion Wetlands is a nature lover’s dream come true.

   The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has allocated a total of $7,526,274 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds to Michigan as part of the Native American Housing Block Grant (NAHBG) and Indian Community Development Block Grant (ICDBG) programs. The programs are designed to help Native American communities improve housing quality, promote community development and energy efficiency, and create jobs.

   Portage Health is the only Upper Peninsula hospital that has been selected to participate in a three-state project that will seek to reduce the number of people who must be readmitted to the hospital for clinical reasons related to the initial hospitalization.
   The project targets unplanned, related “rehospitalizations,” which are readmissions that are not expected/scheduled, but whose reason is clinically related to the initial admission.

   Voters in Baraga County Commission District 5, and Arvon and Spurr townships will cast ballots in a special election on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2009.
   Appointed Commissioner Bill Rolof, Jr., is on the ballot as an Independent candidate. He faces a challenge from Republican Keith Almli. District 5 covers the Village of L’Anse. Rolof was appointed to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of longtime commissioner Larry Menard.
   Arvon voters have two road millage proposals to consider. They are both 1 mill renewals for five years, 2009 through 2013.

   Baraga County retains the unwelcome distinction of the highest unemployment rate in Michigan, according to figures for June from the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth.
   Baraga County’s 26.4 percent unemployment for June, 2009, was significantly higher than the next closest county, Oscoda in the Northern Lower Peninsula with 20.2 percent. Baraga County’s June unemployment was far greater than jobless rates in neighboring Upper Peninsula counties.

   Approximately 3,500 people attended and participated in the 31st annual Maawanji’iding at the Ojibwa Pow Wow Campgrounds in Baraga.
   The annual event is sponsored by the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC). This year’s theme was “We are all related, it’s time to come together” and the three-day event was held July 24-26.
   According to the KBIC Pow Wow Committee member Lauri Denomie, 443 registered dancers and 14 registered drums were among those attending. Three Grand Entries were held over the weekend. KBIC tribal council president Warren “Chris” Swartz welcomed everyone following the first Grand Entry Friday evening.

   Dave Smith of L’Anse, one of three area 1431st Engineering Company members recently injured in Afghanistan, arrived home Sunday evening, July 26, 2009. He will continue to recover here in the Copper Country.
   Smith, along with Derek Van Buren, formerly of L’Anse, and Chassell Township resident Jon French, were in a Mine Resistant Ambush Vehicle (MRAP) on July 18 near Orgun-E Afghanistan. Their vehicle was struck by a rocket propelled grenade (RPG).
   Smith, who suffered shrapnel injury to his knee, was one of six men in the MRAP when it was struck in the early hours of July 19 (Afghanistan time). Smith said he and his colleagues were on clearance detail on a “hot route” when the incident occurred.

   Col. Phil Meteer, U.S. Air Force Reserve (retired), spent 30 years in the Air Force, and 18 years in the cockpits of fighter attack jets and trainers. His most recent ride in the Air Force was an F-16.
   The 1971 L’Anse High School graduate has returned to his roots, piloting light aircraft. He learned to fly in high school at Baraga’s Carlson Airport under the eye of Butch Leemon. His early days in Leemon’s Cessna are serving him well now.
   In his latest career Meteer has spent a year and a half working with a team of “MIT aero engineer PhD-types” who have designed what’s been dubbed by the media “the car plane”. Test pilot Meteer has been the only one to fly the first experimental “Terrafugia Transition”. The team has made 28 carefully monitored flights over a long runway in Plattsburg, NY.

   A program for all emergency service providers from area communities will take place on Wednesday-Saturday, Aug. 5-8, 2009, at Michigan Technological University.
   Four days of informational programs start on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 6 to 9 p.m. with a session on liquid propane fires. It will take place in the parking lot behind the Forestry Building.
   On Thursday, Aug. 6, 6 to 10 p.m. a lecture will be presented by Dan Madrzykowski with the Fire Research Division, Building and Fire Research Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology.

   The L’Anse Area Schools’ Board of Education tackled a very light agenda at its regular July 20, 2009, meeting with just a handful of action items.
   There were only two new business items. Part of one and a second was tabled. Board members awarded several bids for back-to-school items. Jilbert Dairy was chosen to supply milk for the 2009- 2010 school year while Sara Lee Bakery was chosen for the district’s bread needs.
   Trustees tabled action on awarding a fuel bid. Krist Oil was the sole bid submitted with a price of two cents per gallon below pump price. Superintendent Ray Pasquali said board members wanted to review the bid further before taking action.

   The Copper Country Intermediate School District Board of Education held its organizational meeting, followed by the regular monthly meeting, on Tuesday, July 21, 2009.
   The Board elected the following officers for the 2009-2010 school year: Albert Koskela of Calumet, was elected as President; Robert Tuomi of Chassell, Vice-President; Robert Roy of Hancock, Treasurer; Nels Christopherson of Houghton, Secretary. Also serving on the Board as Trustees are Gale Eilola of Pelkie, Karen Johnson of Calumet and Lisa Tarvainen of Watton.

   Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land reminds customers that all branch offices and the Office of the Great Seal will be closed on Friday, Aug. 7 and SUPER! Centers will close on Saturday, Aug. 8 due to a mandatory state employee furlough day.
   The Department of State made notice to motorists 45 days before their driver’s license or license plates expire to give them ample time to renew. Licenses and plates that expire on a day when state offices are closed, such as a holiday weekend, can be renewed the following day without penalty. To expedite their visit, customers are encouraged to renew in advance as the branches will be busier before and after the scheduled closing.

   Three soldiers with the National Guard 1431st Engineering Co. have been wounded in Afghanistan. Derek Van Buren, originally from Skanee and L’Anse, David Smith of L’Anse, and Jon French of Chassell Township, were in a Humvee when a rocket propelled grenade hit it on Saturday, July 18, 2009.
   Family members of all three soldiers provided details to the Sentinel on Monday, July 20. They had initially been notified by Major Scott Etelamaki of the Ishpeming Armory about the incident over the weekend.

   Traditional music fans flocked to the grounds of the Aura Community Hall last Friday and Saturday, July 17-18, 2009. The fiddler’s festival proved at least as popular as the biggest events in the past, drawing an estimated 1,800 people over the two days.
   The 33rd Aura Jamboree marks the ninth year of the two-day format. Until the 25th anniversary Jamboree in 2001, it was a one-day festival held on the third Saturday of July. Since then Friday evening stage performances, outdoor jamming and the Old-time dance have become just as well-attended as Saturday performances.

   Area ash trees are dressed for business this summer, sporting purple boxes to test for emerald ash borer infestation.
   The bright-colored beetles are on the wing in Upper Michigan, where infestations have been found in Moran, Garden Corners and recently, Laurium. The USDA and Michigan Department of Agriculture is trying to stem the spread of the tree-killing pests by locating, isolating and destroying larvae.
   David White works for the Pesticide & Plants Pest Management Division of the Michigan Department of Agriculture. Based in Marquette with co-worker John Diddams, their beat covers the entire UP. Late last week White described the USDA’s case vs. the emerald ash borer.

   Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Housing and Community Development Corporation (KBOHCDC), a tribal non-profit corporation established in 2008 by the Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Housing Authority, has been awarded two federal grants to enhance its community development activities.
   A U.S. Department of Health and Human Services grant in the amount of $64,702 will be used to further fund an existing Individual Development Account (IDA) program which encourages saving and financial goal setting by providing a four-to-one match on the savings of community members making monthly savings deposits for home purchase, business startup/expansion, or educational advancement.

   When the federal minimum wage climbs to $7.25 an hour on July 24, 2009, it will also boost Michigan’s sub-minimum wage, which is currently $6.55 an hour.
   “When the higher federal minimum wage goes into effect, it will automatically cover workers who currently receive the sub-minimum wage in Michigan,” Jack Finn, administrator of the state’s Wage & Hour Division, said. “Thus, their sub-minimum wage will also increase to $7.25 an hour.”

   To encourage alcohol-free graduation parties the Baraga Area Schools has issued a “Alcohol-Free Graduation Party Challenge” in recent years. Seniors and their families who agree to avoid alcohol at their parties can participate in a drawing for many prizes.  Parents and graduates must sign a pledge agreeing to hold an alcohol-free party.  

   Among the businesses and organizations who donated prizes, cash, gift cards and other items were: K & D Fabricating, Massie Manufacturing, Terex, KBIC Council, Superior National Bank, The Pines, Keweenaw Bay Outfitters, Wilkinson’s Store, Subway-L’Anse, Superior Video, Bay Auto, Morin Fireworks, Da Shack, Countryside Farm and Garden and Burger King.

    Baraga’s school board conducted its annual reorganization prior to its monthly meeting on Monday, July 13, 2009–but there were no major changes.
    The board voted unanimously to keep the following board officers in their current positions: Byron Sailor, president; Gale Eilola, vice president; Brennan Bedner, treasurer; and Anni Gregor, secretary. Board meetings will continue to take place each month on the second Monday at 7 p.m. Board members will receive the same compensation–$30 per meeting ($32.50 for the secretary and treasurer).

   An 18-year old Escanaba man was arrested on operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs and marijuana possession charges following a July 13, 2009, accident near the head of Keweenaw Bay on US-41.
   According to L’Anse State Police troopers, James Paul LaLonde was arrested after driving his vehicle into the ditch in front of Baraga State Park just north of Meyers (formerly the Plains Cut-Off) Road around 9:20 a.m.

   The Villages of L’Anse and Baraga are offering cash incentives to encourage the purchase of new ENERGY STAR qualified appliances residential and business customers of their respective electric utilities.
   Homeowners or business owners purchasing new appliances are eligible for these incentives through the WPPI Energy’s Energy Star Appliance Incentive Program. If eligible, a rebate application will be issued and customers may request up to $500 of rebate vouchers per program year. The following incentive amounts will be awarded for each appliance:
• Clothes washer, $100
• Refrigerator/freezer, $100
• Dish washer, $50
• Window air conditioners, $50
• Dehumidifiers, $50

   As part of a community-wide fire prevention effort, the Baraga Fire Department will be working with the Baraga County Department of Human Services and the KBIC Tribal Social Services to get life-saving smoke detectors in the homes of elderly and low income families.
   The Baraga campaign is part of an effort to reach out to local residents, including seniors, young people and residents who are vulnerable to fire deaths. Installing smoke alarms in the homes of Baraga residents who don’t have them will increase their odds of surviving a home fire.

   Baraga County Circuit Court hosted a long docket of cases on Tuesday afternoon, July 7, 2009.
   Three defendants alleged to have created a riot-like disturbance in Baraga County Jail appeared in court but their cases were continued. Thomas Lee Denomie, 23, of L’Anse, Tyler James Tolonen, 19, of L’Anse, and Alan Michael Hollon, 19, of L’Anse, had brief proceedings before Circuit Judge Charles Goodman. All three were incarcerated in Baraga County Jail and are alleged to have assaulted guards and conspiring to escape in a disturbance on May 31, 2009. Each faces numerous charges.

   Keweenaw Bay Indian Community member Robert Genschow was sentenced to 10 months in the U.S. Bureau of Prisons in federal court on July 6, 2009. U.S. District Judge Robert Holmes Bell also ordered Genschow to pay $47,200 restitution to KBIC.
   Genschow was found guilty on felony charges of cutting or injuring trees and theft of tribal property. The verdict came after a two-day bench trial in U.S. District Court, Marquette, in late March, 2009. Genschow was found guilty of having approximately 80 acres of KBIC-owned Ontonagon property clear-cut from August to October, 2007.

   L’Anse School Board has new officers following a July 6, 2009, reorganization meeting.
   Trustee Jason Ayres received the nod for president and takes over for Joan Bugni. René Lehto will fill the vice-president position formerly held by Ayres.
   Trustee Suzette Reilley replaces Patty Loosemore as secretary and Anne Koski remains as treasurer. All votes were 6-0-1 with the person seeking their respective position abstaining.

   The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) pumped approximately $75 million into the state and local economy over the past year, according to KBIC treasurer Jennifer Misegan.
   Misegan made the statement at the tribe's regular monthly meeting July 11. During her report to the council, Misegan also gave a breakdown on two percent payments as stipulated by the 1993 gaming compact and eight-percent payments from the 2000 consent judgement/stipulation with the State of Michigan to keep its Marquette Casino open.
   Misegan said the eight-percent monies totaled $631,501.24 from its Marquette Casino and $531,822.42 from its Baraga operations.

   The Baraga County Board of Commissioners gave its seal of approval Monday, July 13, 2009, to a financing plan for the new hospital.
   Action was taken at the board’s regular monthly meeting held in the county courthouse starting at 5 p.m. Baraga County Memorial Hospital (BCMH) Administrator John Tembreull and a small contingent of key figures in the project addressed the board before the vote.

   The local chapter of the North Country Trail Association, the Peter Wolfe Chapter, has several important projects underway this summer.
   One is the construction of a lengthy bridge over Plumbago Creek, allowing the completion of a new segment of trail connecting the eastern edge of Baraga Plains to the MDOT rest area at Canyon Falls on US 41.

   L’Anse High School students Nic Hendrickson and Jordan Dix spent one week in early June participating in the annual Boys State.
   The event, held at Michigan State University in Lansing is geared toward allowing high school students to experience first-hand how a government operates.
   Hendrickson was successful at securing a seat on the Michigan Board of Trustees while Dix ran for and was elected a Circuit Court Judge.

   Due to grants totaling $54,000, the Baraga Fire Department (BFD) will soon update gear and equipment.
   BFD Chief Tom Chosa said the department received $30,000 from a federal USDA Rural Development Community Facilities program, an additional $20,000 from the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) and a $4,000 matching grant from Baraga Village.

    Concerned Citizens of Big Bay (CCBB) has invited mining industry consultant and rock mechanics expert Jack Parker to speak on Kennecott-Rio Tinto’s Eagle Project mine plan on Wednesday, July 22, 2009. The presentation begins at 7 p.m. at the Powell Township School gymnasium in Big Bay. The event is free and open to the public. A question and answer forum will follow Parker’s presentation.
   CCBB is a citizens group that came together, in June 2004, out of a common concern for the effects that the mining of nonferrous metallic minerals (sulfide mining) may have on the Yellow Dog Plains. Contact Gene Champagne for more information at 906-345-9217, or by e-mail at cjcgmc9@aol.com.

   Michigan Senate Democratic Leader Mike Prusi (D-Ishpeming) today announced that Governor Jennifer Granholm has signed Senate Bill 596 into law as Public Act 72 of 2009. Prusi’s legislation will authorize the State Administrative Board to convey the UP State Fairgrounds property to Delta County for $1 provided the property is utilized for public use. The bill allows the UP State Fair to continue with local management. State funding for both the UP State Fair and the Michigan State Fair will not continue beyond the current state Fiscal Year ending Sept. 30, 2009.

   In its 2009 Mid-Year Conference, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) passed an official resolution endorsing the Diabetes Education in Tribal Schools “Health Is Life in Balance” curriculum. The curriculum was created by a coalition of eight tribal colleges, including Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College. Teachers in Baraga, L’Anse, Chassell, and Hancock schools contributed to curriculum development and testing.

   The public health agency serving Baraga, Gogebic, Houghton, Keweenaw and Ontonagon counties now has a shorter name for simplicity’s sake. The former Western Upper Peninsula District Health Department has dropped the word “district” from its official name, a change approved by the Board of Health at its June 29 meeting.
   Western Upper Peninsula Health Department’s Health Officer-Administrator Guy St. Germain explains: “Technically, this agency is a district health department because it is a multi-county governmental unit, but we believe Western U.P. Health Department best describes our function and service area, and will be easier to use and remember.”

   Conservation Districts could become a casualty in Michigan’s battle of the budget.
   The state’s 79 Conservation Districts were hoping to receive state grant funding for fiscal year 2010. Baraga County Conservation District Administrator Cathy Newland said the Senate recently removed that line item from the proposed budget.
   “The House came back and put the line in the budget at $300,000,” Newland said. “Now they’re at odds, and they have to settle it.”

   Western Upper Peninsula District Health Department reports the first confirmed case of H1N1 (Swine) flu in Houghton County. The other four counties in the district (Baraga, Keweenaw, Ontonagon and Gogebic) have no confirmed cases.
   “The person affected is an adolescent who is doing well and recovering at home,” said Dr. Terry Frankovich, the health department’s medical director.

   Scott and Jean Artley enjoy plants so much that they each have their own meticulous gardens in the yard of their home on M-38, three miles west of U.S. 41, Baraga. It’s also home to Artley’s Greenhouse and Nursery, a business that’s grown as much as the plants have since Scott started it as a sideline in 2001.
   Both Artleys have jobs at the Baraga Area Schools that keep them plenty busy. But come April each year the workload increases exponentially. Scott begins his annual quest to grow and sell the best annuals, perennials, vegetables and more recently, trees and shrubs, that he possibly can. Customers have come to expect his plants to be of high quality.

   The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) will be hosting open house events to request input from the public in developing a Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) for islands in the Great Lakes that are managed as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Three island refuges in Lakes Superior, Huron, and Michigan are managed by the staff at Seney National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). The island refuges are Huron NWR (Lake Superior), Harbor Island NWR (Lake Huron), and portions of Michigan Islands NWR (Hat, Shoe, Pismire, Gull Islands in Lake Michigan).
   The CCP is a 15 year plan that identifies issues, goals, objectives, and a strategy for refuge management. Ultimately, CCP planning charts a course that best addresses the issues, fulfills the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System, and fulfills the mission and purpose of each refuge.

   The Michigan Iron Industry Museum, in Negaunee Township, has received a $10,000 boost from the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC). The funding will help interpret Native American life in the region on the eve of changes wrought by Michigan’s iron mining industry in the mid-1800s.
   A commemorative check presentation to the Michigan Iron Industry Museum Advisory Board by KBIC Tribal Council President Warren Swartz is scheduled at 10 a.m. Friday, July 10, at the Museum.

   HM3 E-4 Sonny J. Lemerande, son of Jon and Michelle Lemerande of Baraga, was presented with a Purple Heart for injuries sustained on May 22, 2009, in Spin Boldat, Afghanistan.
   Lemerande serves as a Navy Hospital Corpsman attached to the 33rd Brigade Combat Team. The team was stationed with an Army Police Mentor Team in the Southern part of Afghanistan near the border of Pakistan.
   Lemerande was driving the lead vehicle on a mounted combat patrol with four Humvees and 10 police trucks when his vehicle ran over a pressure plate IED roadside bomb.
   “I rolled over a pressure plate IED--an anti-tank mine,” Lemerande said. “My intrepreter passed from his injuries. My captain and my gunner were injured.
“I’d been over there for nine months and only had a month and a half to go,” the Corpsman added.
   Lemerande was air-lifted to Kandahar, Afghanistan, and treated for his injuries in Ladstuhl, Germany; Walter Reed Hospital, Washington D.C.; Bethesda Naval Hospital, MD. He was then transferred to the Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth, VA, where he underwent surgery for his injuries.

   Local residents seeking an environmentally friendly solution to disposing of non-working and obsolete electronic devices will have an opportunity to do so, Saturday, July 11 from 9 to 11 a.m. at Meadowbrook Arena in L’Anse.
   The Western UP Electronics Recycling Program, one of the programs offered by the Retired & Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), accepts computers and computer components, TVs, VCR & DVD Players, printers/scanners/copy and fax machines, stereo equipment, microwave ovens, cellular and cordless phones, fluorescent bulbs, and a variety of batteries. One hundred percent of the electronics collected are recycled.

   David W. Abba, Lieutenant Colonel, United States Air Force, was promoted to his current rank by Air Force Chief of Staff General Norton Schwartz at a Pentagon ceremony on March 2, 2009.
   Abba served for nine months as General Schwartz’s Assistant Executive Officer. Following his Pentagon assignment, Abba returned to flying, converting to the F-22A Raptor at Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, FL.
   After completing training in June, 2009, Abba reported to Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, VA, where he serves as the Operations Officer of the 27th Fighter Squadron.

   Zion Lutheran Church in Skanee and the adjacent muesum will be busy on Sunday, July 12, 2009.
   Arvon Township Historical Society’s Quilt Show and Raffle take place from noon to 4 p.m. On the same day is Zion’s popular annual Pie Social from 1 to 4 p.m.
   At the Quilt Show 60-80 quilts are expected to be displayed, and some for sale. The historical society is conducting a fundraiser to help with various projects, such as the historic parsonage-museum across the street from Zion.
   A special attraction at the Quilt Show will be the diplay of Grace Turpeinen’s impressive 11by 10-foot quilt of Jesus. The quilt contains 11,000 one-inch squares and took her two and a half years to complete.

   In an effort to combat elder abuse in Michigan, State Representatives from the Upper Peninsula today unveiled legislation that would strengthen consumer protections for seniors and increase penalties for those who financially exploit them.
   “No one should be able to get away with abusing or exploiting our older residents,” said State Representative Steven Lindberg (D-Marquette). “Too often, the people victimizing our seniors are the ones they trust to take care of them. This plan will increase penalties for these predators and increase protections for our loved ones.”

   The CertainTeed bridge in L’Anse is closed to traffic, but its future is bright.
   “We made the state aware there are safety concerns,” said Village Manager Bob LaFave. “We were asked if there was something they could do. The state came back and said it would pay for a new bridge, turning lanes off US-41 and a new road from the bridge.”
   With the consent of the L’Anse Village Council at its Monday, June 22 meeting, UP Engineering was hired to conduct a safety inspection, then work on the bridge project. Two days later L’Anse took its first step toward progress: shutting the bridge down after a failed inspection.

   Into each life a little rain must fall–but did it have to pour on Saturday?
   Organizers for Tin Lizzie Day in Alberta and the Finnish Music Festival in Covington report the events were a success in spite of heavy rain. Both drew gates of about 350 each, and the shows went on to appreciative, if slightly damp, audiences.

   A rare 19th century “tall ship” appeared in Huron Bay and Keweenaw Bays Monday afternoon with a widely varied environmental mission at hand.
   The recreated and volunteer-built “S/V Denis Sullivan” is a 137-foot long, three-masted Great Lakes schooner. It is operated by Pier Wisconsin as an educational and scientific research vessel.
   The schooner arrived in Houghton and then made a two-day voyage into Keweenaw and Huron bays on Monday and Tuesday, June 29-30. The ship was built in Milwaukee, starting in 1991, and launched in 2000. Since then it has served as a freshwater research vessel, and for nautical training. “Denis Sullivan” and crew travel the Lakes, the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea.

   Creating Confident Care givers is an exciting new program in select regions of Michigan, for family caregivers of persons with dementia and/or memory loss. Highlighting the Savvy Caregiver training program, Creating Confident Caregivers is a six-session program led by trained dementia care specialists.
   This university tested program provides participants with information, skills and attitudes to manage stress and increase their effectiveness as a Caregiver.

    Baraga County recorded the highest May jobless rate in the Upper Peninsula at 26.2 percent. Ontonagon and Keweenaw Counties were next highest with rates of 17.9 and 15.4 percent, respectively.
   Overall the unemployment rate in the Upper Peninsula declined in May to 12.6 percent, a monthly drop of three-tenths of a percentage point below April’s 12.9 percent.

   When Grace Turpeinen most needed it, she turned to an incredibly complex project to focus her mind and help her heal. She lost her son, Billy, in August, 2003, in a four-wheeler accident. She found herself at odds with how to keep going in life.
   “It was like a rug was pulled out from underneath me and I lost my footing,” Turpeinen explained.
   Turpeinen, an accomplished quilter with 50 projects behind her, had been exploring the idea of a “Jesus” quilt since January, 2003. She had a cross stitch pattern, but wanted a much more impressive project. She drew sketches and collected pieces of material. When her son passed away she knew it was time to immerse herself in something else.

   Baraga’s school budget for 2008-09 wound up with a surplus of $30,514. In an “extremely conservative” initial budget for this past year, the school board and administrators were bracing for a deficit as high as $555,000.
   “We budget extremely conservatively to start with,” Superintendent Norm McKindles said. “You never know what is going to happen. But we trimmed as much as we could, and we received additional Impact Aid.”
   For the fiscal year just ended on June 30, Baraga Area Schools had revenue of $5,567,000 and expenditures of $5,536,000 (rounded figures), leaving the small surplus.

    The Baraga Fire Department received a $1,150 fire prevention grant recently from FM Global, a leading property insurer of the world’s largest businesses based in Johnston, RI.
    FM Global representatives presented the award to 1st Lieutenant Jim Rasanen of the Baraga Fire Department at the Baraga Fire Hall.
    The award will be used to assist with fire prevention activities in the community.

   The Michigan House of Representatives on June 25, 2009, passed a plan proposed by a group of Upper Peninsula lawmakers that would sell the state fairgrounds in Escanaba to Delta County for $1. The move ensures that residents have ownership of the land as they come together to keep the UP State Fair running for years to come.
   “The UP State Fair has been a staple in our region for years,” said State Representative Judy Nerat (D-Wallace). “Our fair provides much-needed jobs for our residents and pumps valuable dollars into our community. Having local ownership of the fairgrounds is essential to making sure this family-friendly event keeps attracting folks from all over to experience our great way of life for many years to come.”

   A $3.1 million Michigan state tax credit is helping CertainTeed Ceilings expand and add jobs to its L’Anse acoustical ceiling tile plant. Long known as “Celotex”, the CertainTeed plant in L’Anse will see additional investment in the plant, and additional employment, particularly after the economy rebounds.
   L’Anse benefits at the cost of a plant closure in Meridian, MS. The company has been operating both the L’Anse and Mississippi plants at well below capacity for some time. Officials had decided to consolidate the plants and looked at their options. Michigan’s state tax credit was one of the factors in the decision to remain in L’Anse.

   The L’Anse Area School district ended the 2008-2009 school year on a much-welcomed positive note, financially speaking. At the board’s June 15 meeting trustees adopted a finalized 2008-09 budget with a surplus of almost $300,000.
   But the news was short-lived because the board also finalized a preliminary 2009-2010 budget which shows an anticipated deficit of more than $400,000 as of June 30, 2010.

   Skanee Road travelers enjoy the elaborate gardens at three homes just out of L’Anse. They also love the incredible holiday yard decorating that goes on at two of those places.
   Mary Fran Menge and her husband Tom and, across the street, Cecelia and Dale Tembreull, create complex holiday yard displays that are enjoyed by just about everyone. And their summertime gardens are equally impressive.
   Next door to the Tembreulls, Kathy Kissel is also an avid and accomplished gardener. She jokes that she stays out of the holiday decorating “competition” but her perennial gardens are as beautiful as any. The three master gardeners met last week and displayed the fruits of years of labor.

   Baraga Police Department (BPD) personnel continue their investigation into a break-in at Larry’s Market in Baraga.
   According to BPD Chief Harry Miron, the incident occurred sometime after closing on Thursday, June 18, 2009, and when the store opened the following morning. Miron said an undetermined amount of cash along with several hundred dollars worth of alcohol and cigarettes were taken.

   A bull moose was killed and two men treated at Baraga County Memorial Hospital (BCMH) following a Sunday, June 21, 2009, accident on US 41 south of Alberta in L’Anse Township.
   According to Michigan State Police (MSP) reports, 31-year old Jason Kutchie was driving a 1996 Oldsmobile northbound when it struck an immature bull moose around 10:30 p.m.
   Wayne Oien, 52, was a passenger in the front seat.

   It can be a terrifying thing to see a dog streaking toward you across a field, fast and low to the ground, lips peeled back from a mouth filled with huge white teeth. But for the son of a L’Anse couple, all he can think about, as the 80-pound animal leaps toward his arm, is making sure the dog gets a good bite.
   Army Sgt. Justin Koivu, son of Robert and Phyllis Koivu of L’Anse, is a military working dog trainer with the 341st Training Squadron, the largest canine training center of its kind in the world.

   Three cases were heard in Baraga County Circuit Court by Judge Charles Goodman on Wednesday, June 17, 2009.
   Paul Raymond Getzen, 66, of Livonia, MI, received a suspended jail sentence for an assault/disorderly case that took place last November in Baraga. Getzen was represented by attorney George Hyde.
   Getzen earlier pleaded guilty to Police Officer Assaulting, Restricting and Obstructing, a two-year felony. He also pleaded guilty to Operating While Impaired, a misdemeanor. In the plea agreement Prosecuting Attorney Joseph O’Leary dismissed a count of Police Officer Fleeing, 3rd Degree. The original Operating While Intoxicated count was amended to Operating While Impaired.

   The L’Anse Village Council Monday adopted a three-year charge plan for fueling an Energy Optimization (EO) program.
   The program is mandated by the State of Michigan. It’s part of the state’s “green energy” focus.
   Village Manager Bob LaFave explained that municipalities are required to have Energy Optimization funding that will eventually be used for programs to entice people to conserve energy. The idea is to eliminate the need for another coal-fired power plant to be built in Michigan.

   Anyone in or around Baraga County Memorial Hospital (BCMH) the evening of Wednesday, June 17, 2009, may have thought the hospital was under siege. Actually, the hospital was undergoing one of several disaster drills conducted annually.
   According to BCMH Safety Officer Bonnie Cotter, this drill focused on gunmen entering the hospital, taking hostages and holding them until a “deal” could be made for their release. Two gunmen were bartering for drugs while representatives from all of Baraga County law enforcement departments took part in searching, finding, negotiating and finally capturing the gunmen with a main objective of safe release of all hostages.
   Cotter said this drill was just one of at least two conducted annually.

   The Baraga County Lumberjack Days will be celebrated Friday and Saturday, July 3-4, 2009. This year’s celebration marks the 40th anniversary of Baraga’s Fourth of July celebration. Lumberjack Days committee members and volunteers have been working hard on making this a memorable year.
   This year’s celebration is to be dedicated to the original members of the Baraga County Lumberjack Days committee that organized the first celebration under the name of Lumberjack Days for the 1969 holiday. They incorporated in 1972 giving this event its official name.

   Three defendants allegedly involved in a breaking and entering and theft from the Watton IGA last October appeared in Baraga County Circuit Court on Monday, June 22, 2009.
   Circuit Judge Charles Goodman sentenced Jessica LaHaie, 18, of Lake Linden for her role in the break-in with boyfriend Jordan Paul Aubin, 19, of Calumet. LaHaie earlier pled guilty to Larceny In A Building. She is represented by attorney Nick Daavettila.

   The fourth annual Baraga County Lake Trout Festival proved a big success on a perfect Saturday last weekend, June 13. After a few Friday evening warm-up events such as a fish fry, fishermen’s meeting and music at the waterfront park, the show began in earnest just about 5 a.m. Saturday morning.
   That’s when a flotilla of 99 boats–ten more than last year–hit the waters of Keweenaw and Huron bays for the lake trout and salmon contest. (See Outdoors for fish story and results.) After some rough-weather outings in recent years the anglers enjoyed calm fishing seas and a mostly sunny, warm day.

   Three Baraga County Jail inmates face numerous additional charges following what has been called “riotous behavior” taking place in the jail late on the night of May 31, 2009.
   Thomas Lee Denomie, Jr., Alan Michael Hollon and Tyler James Tolonen were charged with numerous counts in Baraga County District Court on Tuesday, June 9. The three remain incarcerated in lock-down cells at Baraga County Jail.

   Federal officials continue to investigate the Pinery Fire that burned nearly 700 acres of forest land near L’Anse on May 20, 2009. The fire took place on Keweenaw Bay Indian Community tribal land.
   The fire erupted on a “Red Flag” warning day when no burn permits were being issued, according to Will Wiggins, Fire Management Officer for the Michigan Agency of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Wiggins is headquartered in the Baraga Village Office building.
   “It was unintentional, burning of debris–a slash pile,” Wiggins said. “I called a fire investigator from Minneapolis on the night of the fire. He got here on that Thursday. He spent four days here.”

   Lee Haynes (Jr.) has always been a self-described “war buff”. The son of Lee and Kathy Haynes of Baraga, Lee spent many hours with his father as a youngster watching movies about World War II and Vietnam. The elder Haynes was the commander of the Ontonagon VFW back then.
   “I would sit down there for hours while the guys played cards and told stories about the South Pacific, Bastogne, Okinawa, Vietnam and the like,” the younger Haynes recalled.
   The HBO mini-series “Band of Brothers” was right up Haynes’ alley. It premiered in September, 2001, and in ten episodes portrayed a generally historically accurate tale of a WW II American infantry division that parachuted into France on D-Day. It’s the story of Easy Company 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. The HBO series was built largely around three guys, “Wild Bill” Guarnere, Babe Hefron and Don Malarky.

   The same 8.3527 mills will generate about $63,800 more in revenues this year for Baraga County.
   The Baraga County Board of Commissioners approved the millage at its regular monthly meeting held Monday, June 8, 2009. Prior to the vote, Equalization Director Lora Osterman explained increased returns are due to the increase in taxable values throughout the county.
   The board also learned that a change in its Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance policy is saving the county considerable cash. County Clerk Wendy Goodreau presented a cost-comparison sheet showing a savings of $23,000 in just three months.

   Richard Welbon Stark, 22, pleaded guilty to a drug charge in Baraga County Circuit Court on June 8, 2009. Stark appeared before Judge Charles Goodman. The incident took place on March 10, 2009.
   Represented by Houghton attorney Mary Waddell, Stark accepted a plea arrangement offered by Prosecuting Attorney Joseph O’Leary. Stark pleaded guilty to a count of Controlled Substance Possession Of Narcotic/Cocaine Less Than 25 Grams. In exchange for the guilty plea a count of Controlled Substance Possession Of Marijuana was dismissed.

   Site clearing for the new Baraga County Memorial Hospital is not expected to begin until July, 2009.
   MD Contracting of Baraga had planned to start clearing the site in June. However, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will be conducting an environmental assessment before work begins on the property at U.S. 41 and Maki Road.

   Michigan State Police (MSP) troopers and officers from the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) Tribal Police Department continue a malicious destruction of property investigation at the former Marquette County Airport Terminal in Negaunee Township. Damages totaled about $4,000.
   According to MSP Regional Dispatch officials in Negaunee the incident happened between June 1-9, 2009.

   Three individuals were treated at Baraga County Memorial Hospital (BCMH) and later transferred to other facilities following a June 12, 2009, accident in L’Anse.
   L’Anse Police Department officer David Seavoy said Michelle Bier of Aura was northbound on Main Street near BCMH around 5 p.m. when she apparently suffered a seizure.
   Seavoy said Bier’s vehicle veered to the left, increased in speed, crossed a nearby yard and struck the former Fireside Market building across from Lute’s Corner Store. The building is unoccupied.

   The Farmer’s Market will begin its season this Saturday, June 20, in the pavilion at the L’Anse Waterfront Park. As in previous years, the market will run from 9 a.m to noon every Saturday thereafter through the end of September.
   The market will feature fresh produce as it becomes available, flowers, plants, eggs from free-range chickens, baked goods, handcrafted work, flea market, and even visits from chickens, lambs, miniature horses and kid goats for children to pet.

   The third annual “Art at the Market” show will be held on Saturday, June 27, 2009, at the UP Made Artist Market on School Road in Covington. The juried show will feature artists and fine crafters set up outside on the shaded grounds of the Historic Covington School /turned market. The market and art show are sponsored by the non-profit Community Women’s Group.
   The art show hours are 10 a.m. -5 p.m. The grounds have plenty of parking and RV turn-around. There will be a food concession booth, bake sale and picnic tables. The market will be open and has a wheelchair access ramp and inside chair lift. A playground is also in use for the kids.

   Baraga Village residents’ tax rate will remain unchanged for the upcoming fiscal year. At the June 9, 2009, regular council session, trustees agreed to leave last year’s millage rate of 10.156 unchanged.
   Village Manager Roy Kemppainen said of that total, the general fund millage will remain at 8.6357 with the remaining 1.5203 earmarked for major and minor street funding. Prior to adoption, the council held a required truth in taxation public hearing and later approved the millage rate during a light regular meeting.

   The Upper Peninsula was hit hard by recommended prison facility closures as the Michigan Department of Corrections battles to reduce its budget. Governor Jennifer Granholm’s administration has ordered Corrections to cut $120 million in costs by this fall.
   The list of proposed closures of prison camps and prisons was made public late last week. Included in the eight recommended closures statewide are four in the UP. Slated for closure in the UP are: Camp Kitwen in Painesdale, Camp Ottawa in Iron River, Hiawatha Correctional Facility in Kincheloe, and Camp Cusino in Shingleton.

   A small contingent of Sacred Heart School representatives attended the June 6 monthly Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC)tribal council meeting seeking financial assistance to help run the Catholic elementary institution.
   Father Augustin George, Paul Stark, Sacred Heart Principal Anne Schumer and Polly Schaefer approached the council explaining the benefits of having children attend the school as compared to a regular state-funded institution.
   During the presentation, Schumer noted that over the past three years, total school enrollment has averaged 31 percent tribal or descendant.

   More than a million dollars will be needed to replace the aging bridge over the Falls River leading to the CertainTeed plant in L’Anse.
   The L’Anse Village Council voted at its Monday, June 8, 2009, meeting to apply to the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) for funding. Baraga County Road Commission Engineer Doug Mills presented the resolution, noting the time–and bridge–are ripe.
   “It’s favorable we’ll get funding,” Mills said. “There is no plan yet regarding demolition or reconfiguration. This is to move ahead with a big funding package, our first step to get a foot in the door.”

   Site clearing for the new Baraga County Memorial Hospital on U.S. 41 and Maki Road just south of L’Anse is expected to begin on Wednesday, June 10, 2009. This site work involves the clearing of trees and the initial preparation for footings and foundation for the new building.
   M.D. Contracting, Inc. of Baraga was awarded the contract for site preparation. This portion of the project will take approximately six weeks and is being started in anticipation of financing approval from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) which is expected to be received in July 2009.

   Thirty-five LaTendresse Elementary School sixth graders just returned from a trip they have been dreaming of for years. The annual trek to Camp Nesbit near Sidnaw for four days of outdoor activities and challenges took place from Tuesday, May 26, to Friday, May 29, 2009.
   An area sixth grade tradition that is eagerly anticipated by students, the Camp Nesbit experience includes sleeping in cabins, paddling on Lake Nesbit, target practice and finding one’s way through the forest with a compass. A lot of energy is packed into four days. L’Anse’s group from L’Anse Middle School went to Nesbit earlier in May. Many groups of youth and adults use the rustic camp in the Ottawa National Forest during the warmer months. It dates back to the Civilian Conservation Corps days.

   She’s back at it again.
   Last week Annette Schaefer and her volunteers were working the soil, hoping for frost-free nights and wishing for a soaking rain. All the things UP gardeners everywhere were doing.
   Schaefer and a tiny crew have planted a “community garden” for the seventh year on county property adjacent to the Baraga County Road Commission facility on U.S. 41 just south of L’Anse. The large crops of vegetables are distributed mainly to the senior citizens at Green Hill Manor, and L’Anse St. Vincent de Paul.

   A Skanee brush-burning fire that got out of control burned two dilapidated mobile homes and an outbuilding on Thursday, June 4, 2009.
   Quick response by Arvon Township Volunteer Fire Department prevented the blaze from turning into a forest fire on a dry, windy day.
   The fire was started by new owners of the old Harsvick property on Skanee Road, east of Nelson Road.
   Arvon FD had a large turn-out and much of its equipment on the scene for several hours last Thursday evening, June 4, to bring the blaze under control.

   L’Anse Village Police personnel have arrested an 18-year old L’Anse Township man on a number of charges related to a series of vehicle break-ins in downtown L’Anse.
   L’Anse Police Chief Mike LaBerge said Harley Finnerty was arrested May 20, 2009, on two felony counts of larceny from a motor vehicle and a misdemeanor larceny charge. He was arraigned on the charges and posted bail.

   Longtime Baraga County car dealership, Thomas Ford Motors, is closing. General Manager Kent Thomas formally announced the closure of the business last week.
   The business was operated by Kent’s father, the late Larry Thomas, and his wife, Carrie Lou Thomas, until Larry’s sudden death on March 19, 2008. Kent had served then as General Manager and remained in that position,
   Larry and Carrie Lou Thomas moved to the area from Illinois in 1975 and Larry purchased what was then called Baraga County Motors from its longtime owner, Walfred Haanpaa.

   The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will be resurfacing 2.2 miles of US-41 from the Portage Lake Golf Course to south of Cliff Drive, and resurfacing 2.3 miles of US-41 from the Houghton/Baraga county line to Old Timers Road.
   The project is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

   CCMH Institute announces that Shelly Weaverdyck, PhD, will again be visiting the Copper Country to provide dementia education on June 30 – July 2, 2009.
   Weaverdyck is the director of the Alzheimer’s Education and Research Program at Eastern Michigan University and a consultant for the Michigan Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at U of M. She is recognized as an expert in the field of dementia.

   Upper Peninsula Power Company (UPPCO) has reached a settlement with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) regarding Dead River Recovery activities caused by dam failure at Silver Lake in 2003.
   UPPCO and MDEQ worked together over a long period to determine the best course of action on the Dead River.

   The state’s dire economic condition has resulted in eliminating funding assistance to county fairs, Baraga County Fair included.
   Early each August the fairgrounds in Pelkie come alive with three days of activities. Many volunteers work for weeks to help organize the fair, but this summer it’s going to take an extra effort.
   Already running on an extremely tight budget, elimination of state funding places this year’s event in a tough position.
   According to fair board member Heather Grentz, plans for 2009 are in full swing, despite what she called the unsettling news from Lansing. This year’s fair is set for Aug. 7-9.

   “Always remember that there are many of us alumnus out there that will be watching, waiting and cheering you on as you strive towards your future achievements in life.”
   Those were the parting words to the L’Anse High School Class of 2009 graduates from the evening’s Distinguished Alumni Award recipient Donald Poupore.
   Fifty-four graduates walked across the stage at the Friday, May 29, 2009, commencement exercises held in the high school gymnasium. Melissa Velmer was class valedictorian. This year’s class was unique in the fact that it had co-salutatorians Scott Kemppainen and Sascha Hirzel.

   Former L’Anse Village Council member and community leader Pat Tembreull was honored in a resolution by the council at its regular May 26, 2009, meeting.
   Tembreull was recognized for his dedication to the village council, the L’Anse Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and the L’Anse Fire Department. He was also cited as a community-oriented businessman.

   On Friday, May 15, 2009, the C.J. Sullivan Elementary second graders explored forestry on Prison Camp Road near Alberta. Students learned about the hardwood forest and select cutting. A team of resource specialists from Plum Creek and Dillon Logging assisted students with their learning.
   “Students counted tree rings from tree cookies and saw the logging process in action from start to finish; from forest to processed log. A highlight of the trip occurred when students climbed up into the tree processor to get a first-hand look at logging equipment,” said Bonnie Caroen, second grade teacher.

   Copper Country Intermediate School District’s Biennial Election was held on Monday, June 1, 2009, at the CCISD Service Center, Hancock.
   Three incumbents were reelected for six-year terms: Karen Johnson of Calumet, Albert Koskela of Calumet and Lisa Tarvainen of Watton. Their terms begin on July 1, 2009. No other applicants filed for election.

   Again this summer the Western UP District Health Department is monitoring water quality at local beaches. L’Anse Waterfront Park will be a monitoring site.
   “For many people Memorial Day weekend is the beginning of the summer season and it brings to mind fun visits to our local public swimming beaches. The Western   Upper Peninsula has beaches of exceptional beauty and generally excellent water quality. To be sure our beaches are safe for swimming the Western Upper Peninsula   District Health Department has begun its annual bathing beach inspection program,” said Lynne Madison, Director, Environmental Health Division.

   At its regular board meeting on Monday evening, May 18, 2009, the Baraga County Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees elected to delay the Bayside Village Nursing Home project of a 12 bed addition.
   Due to the dramatic decline in the number of nursing home beds needed in recent months, and given the announced cuts in state reimbursement rates for long term care, the board felt that additional time was needed to evaluate the project.

   Baraga High School’s Class of 2009 left high school behind with graduation last Friday, May 22, 2009. Valedictorian Gabriella Jukkala questioned the conventional wisdom that it was a time for “moving on to bigger and better things”.
   Jukkala told classmates she finds it hard to believe that there are bigger and better things than all the friendships that were made, the meaningful people that were met, lessons learned, and the memories that are savored after 13 years of schooling.

   A fast-moving, wind-driven wildfire erupted in the Pinery Lakes area on Wednesday afternoon, May 20. A coordinated response from numerous agencies allowed it to be 100 percent contained by 4 p.m. Friday, May 22. The wildfire swept through the traditional Indian Cemetery, burned one mobile home and burned a log skidder. It burned the entire loop of the cross country ski trail. The fire had a perimeter of five miles.
   It could have been a lot worse. Almost 100 fire fighters worked through the night Wednesday to save structures and limit damage. The fire was first estimated at about 480 acres but after walking the fire line and marking it with GPS that figure was pushed to 685 acres. It burned to the shorelines of the Pinery Lakes and part of Third Lake. The forest is a mix of softwood, jackpine and hardwoods. In most places the fire burned along the ground, although it got into the tree crowns in some areas. Much of the land is in tribal ownership.

   In addition to this year’s valedictorian–Melissa Velmer, the L’Anse Class of 2009 will celebrate with co-salutatorians Scott Andrew Kemppainen and Sascha Marie Hirzel. LHS Class of 1972’s Donald V. Poupore was chosen as this year’s Distinguished Alumnus-graduation guest speaker.
   For the first time in decades, commencement exercises will take place on a Friday evening, May 29 at 7 p.m. in the high school gymnasium, instead of the traditional Sunday afternoon ceremonies.

   On Saturday, May 2, 2009, Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College held its commencement and honors ceremony at the Niiwin Akeaa Center in Baraga.
   The following students earned their degrees: The Associate of Applied Science degree was awarded to Amy Jo Manning (Early Childhood Education). An Associate of Science degree was awarded to Charlotte Loonsfoot (Environmental Science). The Associate of Applied Science degree will be awarded to Brook Hiller (Early Childhood Education) upon completion of the 2009 summer semester.

   Judge Charles Goodman presided over several cases in Baraga County Circuit Court on Tuesday, May 19, 2009.
   Paul Getzen, 66, of Livonia, MI, accepted a plea agreement following an incident in Baraga last November. Getzen had previously set for a jury trial. He pleaded guilty to Police Officer Assaulting, Resisting Obstructing, and guilty to Operating While Impaired.
   In exchange for the guilty pleas Prosecuting Attorney Joseph O’Leary agreed to drop three other charges, Fleeing 3rd Degree, Operating While Intoxicated, and Disorderly Person Drunk. Getzen will be sentenced on June 17. Getzen is represented by attorney George Hyde.

   Elementary students have been absorbed in a series of books recently, and last week they got to meet the woman who has drawn and painted their beautiful illustrations. Cyd Moore spent Thursday morning at the Pelkie School for it’s annual Young Authors Day. Students create their own books and were inspired by Moore.
   Moore then took her high-energy multi-media program to the older elementary students at LaTendresse in Baraga on Thursday afternoon. Moore completed her visit of the area with three programs at C.J. Sullivan in L’Anse on Friday, May 22. Arvon Township School students joined L’Anse for one of her presentations Friday afternoon.

   The L’Anse Area Schools’ Board of Education tackled a light agenda at it’s May 18 regular meeting. There were just a handful of action items but one did include a closed session for expulsion of a student.
   The 12-minute closed session concerned a fifth grade male student who made a verbal threat against a staff member. The student has a past history of trouble in school. After reconvening in open session, the board approved a 90-day expulsion, However, the parents may request the board reinstate him after 60 school days.

   Effective July 1, 2009, L’Anse High School will have a new principal. At Monday evening's regular school board meeting, trustees gave a seal of approval to Carrie A. Nyman for the position.
   The selection committee consisted of district Superintendent Ray Pasquali, board members Joan Bugni and René Lehto, L'Anse Education Association members Brenda Ballor and Chris Collins, and AFSCME rep Ken Whisler. The committee narrowed the selection down to two candidates.

   Upper Peninsula Association of County Commissioners (UPAAC) met in Baraga May 15-16, 2009. Commissioners heard a less than rosy description of economic conditions across the state as it battles with the current economic downturn.
   Representatives of Michigan’s federal and state legislators and Governor Granholm’s Northern Michigan Aide also attended the two-day session at Baraga’s Best Western Lakeside Inn. Items discussed included planning for future 911 emergency services, green opportunities and an update on the UP State Fair.
   Those attending also were given time to discuss pertinent issues with UP legislators or their legislative staff.

   In a continuing attempt to reduce employee costs, Baraga Area Schools is offering a one-time $4,000 pay-out to veteran support staff who will resign or retire before June 30.
   Support staff includes Teamsters and non-union employees. To qualify they must have 10 years’ service to the district under the Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System.
   Baraga recently offered teachers a buy-out on a one-time basis if any of them were interested in retiring. In both cases the retirement or resignation of a senior staff member and the subsequent hiring of a newcomer saves the district money.

   Two historic buildings have been given a new lease on life as new businesses in Baraga County.
   Reservations are now being taken at the Ivory Mansion Bed and Breakfast in L’Anse, and Little Bear Cabin in Baraga. Their opening marks the end of a long road in planning, renovation and new construction by Lynn and Steve Ketola, and the beginning of a new business venture.

   The community of Aura sponsored a Student Art Show on Sunday, May 17, 2009, exhibiting 200 works of art from grades 1-12.
   L’Anse and Baraga art teachers, Linnea Olson and Bob Foster coordinated the event at the Aura Community Hall. L’Anse schools and Baraga schools and Sacred Heart School participated.
   Art judging was done by Bonnie Loukus, an undergraduate in the ACE Art program at Finlandia University, and assistant director of the Community Art Center in Hancock. Loukus was very impressed with the wide variety of artwork and impressive quality of the art.

   Baraga’s Class of 2009 will step into the future at commencement on Friday, May 22, 2009. Thirty-nine graduates are set to receive high school diplomas.
   The class is led by valedictorian Gabriella “Gabby” Jukkala and salutatorian Ashley Poehls. Graduation speaker will be 1989 Baraga graduate Dr. Keith Beck, podiatrist and foot and ankle surgeon. Beck started Midwest Foot and Ankle in Waukesha, WI, where he remains president and physician.

   On Wednesday, May 27, 2009, from 4 to 6 p.m. a public open house will be held at the Baraga County Courthouse Circuit Court Room to gather input for the Western UP Non-Motorized Transportation Plan and Investment Strategy.
   Bike lanes, paved shoulders, widened curb lanes or separate pathways are a few methods to provide improved connections within your community. All Baraga County residents with an interest in improving non-motorized facilities in the area are invited to identify local needs and share their thoughts and ideas. The open house is a follow-up to community surveys and a Non-Motorized Summit held last fall.

   Mark Usitalo, a senior at L’Anse High School, and Elisa Reynolds, a senior at Baraga High School have won $1,000 “Public Power” scholarships.
   The annual high school scholarship is sponsored by WPPI Energy for their member communities. L’Anse and Baraga Villages each had a scholarship to award on behalf of WPPI.
   Usitalo plans to attend Gogebic Community College in the fall. Reynolds will attend Lake Superior State University in the fall to study a medical-related field.

   A controlled burn by the Ottawa National Forest last week will breathe new life into the Baraga Plains.
   The burn was scheduled the week of Monday, May 11, with active, controlled burning that day followed by several days of mop-up work and monitoring until the fire was completely extinguished. The burn site was north of the intersection of Forest Roads 2240 and 2245.

   Baraga’s village council tackled a light agenda at its regular May 12, 2009, meeting.
   The meeting included a public hearing on a federal Rural Development grant for the Baraga Fire Department.
   The village and the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) have agreed to contribute funding to help purchase equipment needed by the Baraga Fire Department. The $54,000 breaks down to $30,000 from the federal level, $20,000 from the KBIC and $4,000 from the village.

   Baraga County Sheriff Department is investigating a camp break-in that was reported on May 7, 2009.
   Al Boda reported that his brother Gabe Boda’s camp off the Summit Road in Herman, was broken into. The Bodas reported two guns, a Honda generator and three 100-pound propane cylinders were among stolen items. They have offered a total of $1,200 in reward money for a conviction.

   Baraga County has hopped on board a statewide initiative by passing PA 240 regarding local Off Road Vehicle (ORV) use.
   The bill prompting the act was signed into law last summer. It fosters a united front in regulating use of ORV’s. Of even greater interest to ORV riders, PA 240 opens new avenues of discussion and cooperation toward connecting existing ORV trails throughout the UP.
   The vote was taken following a public hearing held at 4:45 p.m. Monday, May 11, 2009, at the Baraga County Courthouse. A handful of citizens and agency representatives attended to speak out in favor of the ordinance and an uninterrupted local trail system.

   Danielson Contracting, Inc. of Baraga is L’Anse Village’s pick as contractor for the first phase of its sewer project.
   The vote was taken at the May 11, 2009, council meeting following a report by Jim Koskiniemi of UP Engineers and Architects. Koskiniemi said a company out of Marquette had appeared to be the lowest bidder on the project, but a math check swung the bid in Danielson’s favor.
   “There were some big errors, over $100,000 in errors,” Koskiniemi said. “Eric Danielson was contacted, and he’s good to go.”

   Leon Brunk, 29, of L’Anse, was sent to prison on a drug charge in Baraga County Circuit Court. He appeared with his attorney, James Nancarrow, before Circuit Judge Charles Goodman last Tuesday, May 5, 2009. The case stems from an incident on Aug. 24, 2008.
   Brunk earlier pleaded guilty to a count of Controlled Substance Delivery or Manufacture of Narcotic Or Cocaine Less Than 50 Grams. The case involved methadone. In exchange for the guilty plea Prosecuting Attorney Joseph O’Leary agreed to dismiss a count of Habitual Offender, 2nd Notice, which could have enhanced Brunk’s sentence.

   April was the “Month of the Military Child”. A memorandum was sent to all senior military commanders across the Army in April, 2009. Lt. Col. Rex A. Berggren asked each of his children to write about how their life had been influenced by the military lifestyle.
   Lt. Col. Rex Berggren is the second son of Bonnie and the late Grant Berggren, of Herman. Grant Berggren, Rex and Grant’s father, was counselor and high school principal in Baraga from 1961-66. He was on the village council and was village president of L’Anse for one year before going on for his PhD from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He became a college professor and superintendent of schools, but was never in the military.

   The Keweenaw National Historical Park Advisory Commission is conducting a survey of historic properties in Ontonagon and northwestern Baraga counties. Jane Busch, a historic preservation specialist from Cleveland, OH, has been contracted to conduct the fieldwork.
   Busch and Ryan Holt, her field assistant, will be inventorying historic properties in order to identify the most significant–and threatened–sites and structures in the area. These may include farms and homesteads, former mine sites, and commercial structures.

   A low turn-out of registered voters approved all millage renewals and incumbent trustees to school board seats.
   L’Anse schools
   L’Anse Area Schools’ board president Joan Bugni fended off competition from Scott Swanson and Kristy McCarthy for another four-year board seat. The race in L’Anse was the only one contested throughout the county.
Bugni collected 196 or 47 percent of the 419 total votes cast. Swanson came in second with 39.09 percent of the ballots with 163 votes. McCarthy received 57 votes or 13.67 percent of the total.

   Two summers of construction are in store for the Village of L’Anse. Major renovation and replacement of many portions of the village’s aging sewer system are in store. The project has been in the engineering phase for several years. It was originally predicted to cost $8.5 million by designers, UP Engineers and Architects.
   The village last week got word that the USDA Rural Development has included $7,499,000 for L’Anse’s project among almost $616 million in federal funds through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The stimulus funds are being used for water and environmental projects around the country.

   A 29-year old L’Anse man was found dead Monday morning, May 4, 2009.
   L’Anse Police Chief Mike LaBerge said a co-worker stopped at the Baraga Avenue home of Jesse Collins around 11 a.m. after he failed to show up at his place of employment. The colleague found Collins unconscious.
   Collins was employed at Baraga Telephone’s L’Anse office. The co-worker notified L’Anse Village Police and Bay Ambulance personnel.

   Two sentences were handed down by Judge Charles Goodman in a long afternoon of cases in Baraga County Circuit Court on Tuesday, April 28, 2009.
   An emotional Dawn Elizabeth Gauthier, 44, of L’Anse, was sentenced to serve 90 days in a drunk driving case. Gauthier was giving her friend, Cindy Lou Knapp, a ride home on Jan. 16, 2009, when her vehicle slid out of control while going uphill at 25 miles per hour on North Main Street, L’Anse.

   Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) Weed and Seed Coordinator Chris  Gerard has introduced a planned Gang Resistance Education and Training (GREAT) program into Baraga Area Schools’ fourth and fifth grade students at LaTendresse Elementary School.
   And, according to Gerard, the program is proving popular with the students.
Gerard said the GREAT program is a school-based, law enforcement officer-instructed classroom curriculum. With prevention as its primary objective, the program is intended as an immunization against delinquency, youth violence, and gang membership.

   The Ottawa National Forest is planning to prescribe burn between 45 and 95 acres in the Baraga Plains area. If the right weather and ground moisture conditions develop, the prescribed burn will take place sometime prior to mid-May, said Lisa Klaus of the Forest Service.
   The Forest Service has prepared a burn-plan to re-establish open areas and improve wildlife habitat for sand plains species. The area to be burned is mainly grasses and anticipated local impacts from smoke are expected to last one or two days.

   The nation’s largest food drive to combat hunger will be conducted this year on Saturday, May 9. On that day, letter carriers will collect donations of non-perishable food placed near mail boxes along their delivery routes.
   The National Association of Letter Carriers National Food Drive to “Stamp Out Hunger” is the largest one-day food drive in the nation. Carriers collected a record 73.1 million pounds of food in last year’s drive. The drive is held annually on the second Saturday in May in more than 10,000 cities and towns in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin islands.

   The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) is hosting a parental awareness seminar and dinner designed to promote awareness and provide education to tribal parents about issues negatively affecting tribal children and teens.
   The event is scheduled for Tuesday, May 12, 2009, from 6-9 p.m. at the Ojibwa Motel conference rooms and will feature a number of speakers discussing topics including “Drug Awareness and Warning Signs for Parents”, “Teen Dating Violence” and “Internet Safety”.

   Forty L’Anse High School advanced art, advanced ceramic design and ceramics and design students had a busy day April 29, 2009, participating in a multi-stop field trip in the Marquette area.
   According to L’Anse art teacher Linnea Olson, the students’ first stop was at Karen R. Larson Interior Design Inc. (KRL) where Olson was previously employed.

   Bob Koskinen of Baraga was seriously injured in a tractor accident on Sunday afternoon, April 26, 2009. He was pinned under his farm tractor after it flipped. A number of factors worked out, allowing Koskinen to summons medical help and be rescued.
   Koskinen was working in a field behind his house on Third Street in Baraga Sunday afternoon. His Bobcat became stuck in the mud and Koskinen was attempting to pull it with his Massey Ferguson 35 farm tractor. With the Bobcat chained to the back of the tractor, the front end of the tractor came up and flipped the machine backwards.
   Koskinen was pinned under the machine and knew he was seriously injured. He was later treated for seven cracked ribs, a dislocated elbow and a bad cut on his leg.

   At its regular meeting on Monday, April 20, the Baraga County Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees approved a reduction of 14 of the 28 beds in the hospital’s attached Skilled Nursing Unit (SNU).
   The reduction will also involve layoff of 16 employees, effective May 9, 2009.
The decision to make the reduction came after months of declining census in both SNU and at Bayside Village Nursing Home. Application to the Michigan Department of Public Health for the bed reduction is expected to take place in May with an effective date of June 1.

   Four candidates are vying for two open L’Anse school board seats in the upcoming May 5 elections.
   Kristy McCarthy and Scott Swanson have joined incumbent Joan Bugni in seeking a four-year term expiring June 30, 2013.
   Suzette Reilley, is the unopposed candidate who filed to fill a one-year term expiring June 30, 2010. That seat had been held by Carrie Lou Thomas until her resignation in October, 2008.
   The board appointed Reilley following Thomas’ resignation. However, Michigan law stipulates that the appointment runs until the next regular election at which time the spot is open to anyone elected to complete the term.

   Rueben Peterson’s house is the oldest one in Pelkie.
   Historically speaking, them are fightin’ words. If you disagree you can take it up with Peterson. He can usually be found scouting area shorelines for fishing information as a creel clerk for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
   When he isn’t busy working on the oldest house in Pelkie.
   The subject is ever open to discussion, but this much is known: First came the railroad. Then came the section house. Then came Jacob Peterson, great-grandfather to Rueben, who bought the section house. And now Rueben calls it home.

   L’Anse Village Police officers have investigated a large number of vehicle break-ins in the past two weeks and are seeking the public’s help in trying to curtail and/or solve the crimes.
   L’Anse Police Department (LPD) Chief Mike LaBerge said officers investigated 11 cases in the downtown area. He said the vehicles were not locked and that culprits stole items in daylight.

   Bringing home a new baby is a rewarding but challenging experience for any first-time parent. But Dan and Diona Dowdy’s challenges went far beyond most. Seven years ago their first child, Emily, was born at Portage View Hospital in Hancock. She had a unilateral cleft lip and palate.
   “It was a complete surprise. They didn’t see it on ultrasound,” Diona said. “Feeding was an issue. Our biggest thing was we didn’t know what to do.”
   “The difficulty was that in this area nobody really had any answers for us,” Dan added. “One in 700 children are born with a cleft lip and palate so it’s not that uncommon. But we couldn’t find much help. Thank god for the internet.”

   Baraga’s school board revised its budget and approved a teacher retirement buy-out plan as a cost-saving measure at its April meeting last Tuesday night, April 21, 2009.
   The board offered a $14,000 pay-out to teachers who meet the eligibility requirements for retirement and step down. The money will be paid in two $7,000 installments–one in 2009-10 and the other in 2010-11. So far fifth grade teacher Jim Randall elected to retire and take advantage of the buy-out. He has 34 years in the district.
   “This is a one-year offer,” Superintendent Norm McKindles said. “We offered a buy-out because it is a definite cost-savings to the district due to the cost of hiring a new teacher compared to the cost of a veteran teacher.”

   Last November when the 1431st National Guard Engineer Company left for Mississippi Fred Roberts of Aura came up with the idea of a yellow ribbon campaign. He wanted to honor the 1431st and all soldiers who are deployed overseas or are away from home, and to welcome them when they arrive back home.
   Roberts’ son, Mike, also of Aura, is stationed in Afghanistan. “Also, I want to thank them and to remind us of what they are doing for all of us,” Roberts explained.
   American Legion Post #144 of L’Anse and the Family Readiness Group funded the yellow ribbon project. A small group gathered at the American Legion in L’Anse on March 19, 2009, to make bows.

   A three-year contract agreement has been reached between the Copper Country Intermediate School District board and 42 teachers and professional staff. CCISD represents 13 regional school districts, including L’Anse, Baraga and Arvon. A variety of special services are offered to students throughout the Copper Country through the intermediate district.
   CCISD Superintendent Dennis Harbour said the contract is valid for this school year, and 2009-10 and 2010-11. The previous contract expired last summer. CCISD teachers and staff have been working under an extension of the old agreement. Teachers and professional staff such as psychologist, hearing consultant, etc. ratified the agreement earlier and the CCISD board approved the contract at a regular meeting on Wednesday, April 22.

   The national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) have been keeping local health departments and other medical care facilities and providers up-to-date on newly diagnosed cases of Swine Flu in Mexico and the United States.
   As of April 27, there had been 20 confirmed cases of this new flu virus in the United States. While the majority of cases have been in the Southwest, new cases have now been identified in Ohio, Kansas and New York. There is one probable case in Michigan to date.

   Baraga election
   Baraga school district voters will find two matters on their ballot. There is one school board term up for vote. Incumbent Gale Eilola is the only person who has filed and will appear unopposed on the ballot for the four-year position. Eilola has served on the Baraga school board for 10 years.
   Baraga voters will also be asked to approve a “Headlee override” that would allow the district to levy the full 18 mills on non-homestead property. As property values rise over time Headlee rollbacks are put in place slightly lowering the millage rate to keep the income generated by the millage the same.

   The unemployment rate in the Upper Peninsula moved up in March to 13.6 percent, a monthly increase of eight-tenths of a percentage point above February’s 12.8 percent.
   Mackinac County (28.0 percent) and Baraga County (25.3 percent) recorded the highest March jobless rates in Michigan.
   During March, all 15 Upper Peninsula counties reported higher jobless rates, with monthly advances ranging from 0.1 (Mackinac County) to 3.7 percentage points (Alger County).

   L’Anse Village will seek federal funding and Congressman Bart Stupak’s support for major repairs on Main and Broad streets.
   The vote was passed following a report by County Road Commission Engineer Doug Mills at the council meeting Monday, April 27, 2009. Mills encouraged the village to take action now on funds that will soon be earmarked for municipal projects.
   “This opportunity only comes along once every five years,” Mills noted in a memo to the council. During the meeting, he expounded on the theme.

   Larry Menard got his just desserts last Tuesday, April 14, 2009, when the former Baraga County Commissioner was lauded for about a quarter-century of service.
   Menard received a proclamation from the board and a commemorative plaque from the Western Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Region (WUPPDR). William Rolof was appointed commissioner following Menard’s recent retirement. For more on Menard, see feature story and photo on Lifestyle, page 7.
   Baraga County Equalization Director Lora Osterman presented the board with new equalization figures for this year. The county’s assessed value rose about one percent, Osterman reported, while its taxable value, which increases by the rate of inflation, rose about four percent.

   On a 4-3 vote the L’Anse Area Schools Board of Education extended Middle School Principal Rob Willman’s contract for the 2009-2010 school year. The vote came at a regular meeting Monday night, April 20.
   Willman’s contract was set to expire on June 30, 2009. At the board’s March meeting trustees agreed to defer action on Willman’s contract one month in order to review the district’s financial status. Board members stressed at that time they were not unhappy with Willman’s job performance, but the district’s financial condition led them to consider options.

   A case of poisoned wildlife discovered recently in Baraga County is being investigated. A Keweenaw Bay Indian Community conservation officer located a deer carcass and a dead bald eagle within close proximity to each other.
   The deer carcass had been laced with a substance containing blue crystals.
   Investigating are the Department of Natural Resources, with assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Michigan Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

   Organizer Sonny Thoren said he was pleased with the turnout during the Keweenaw Tea Party held last Wednesday, April 15, at the L’Anse Waterfront Park.
   “It was more than I expected,” Thoren said. “I want to thank everyone for coming.”
   Approximately 175 Baraga County residents attended the two sessions of the Tea Party. The featured speaker at both sessions was Jordan Hoover, a retired Marine who recently returned from serving in Afghanistan.

   The “Copper Country Great Start Collaborative” needs public input. The collaborative will hold three community conversations to discuss ways to ensure that every child in this area arrives at kindergarten healthy, safe, and ready to learn.
   The organization includes parents, community leaders, business owners, charitable and faith-based organizations, health and human service agencies, and educators.
   The collaborative will hold community conversations at the C. J. Sullivan School cafeteria in L’Anse on Wednesday, April 29; and at the Houghton Elementary library on April 30.

   This year’s Baraga Village spring clean-up will run May 27-30, 2009.
   Baraga village council trustees set the date at its regular monthly meeting on April 14. Village Manager Roy Kemppainen said collection will once again take place behind the village complex. Kemppainen said collection hours will run 8 a.m.- 8 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday–May 27-29 and 8 a.m.-4 p.m. on the final day, Sunday. The manager said complete details on the annual event will be forthcoming.

   The ongoing effort to create five community gardens this spring needs a little boost: help finding various types of fencing to keep deer and critters out.
   Spearheaded by the Knights of Columbus and local Catholic parishes, the community garden project is designed to include everyone who wants to do some gardening and do something good for the community at the same time.
   High unemployment across the county and region and a tough economy has made things difficult for some local families. The evidence is in the higher than usual demand on the food pantry at St. Vincent de Paul.

   The Wannabee Gardeners are bringing back Master Gardener Dave Gafner for a seminar on Saturday, May 2 from 1-3 p.m. at the L’Anse Township Hall. The Garden Conference is open to the public.
   Gafner will discuss roses, shrubs, perennials and pruning, but he’s known for taking any gardening questions audience members have. He appeared last spring in conjunction with the Wannabee’s plant sale and proved very popular with amateur and experienced gardeners alike.

   A 47-year old Michigan Technological University professor drowned in the Silver River Friday, April 17, 2009, as a result of a kayaking accident.
   Baraga County Sheriff Bob Teddy reported deputies received a call around 8:20 p.m. to assist kayaker Richard Honrath Jr. He was reported to be pinned against a tree in the river. Deputies stated they arrived to find Honrath pinned under a tree.

   About 35 acres of Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC)-owned property was the scene of a prescribed burn on Friday, April 17, 2009.
   Bear Town Firefighters, L’Anse Fire Department, Ottawa National Forest and Michigan Department of Natural Resource (DNR) personnel arrived at the scene just to the north and west of the Zeba housing complex around noon and set the blaze going.

   The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will begin reconstructing US-41 (Shelden Avenue) in downtown Houghton on Thursday, April 23, 2009. This project includes replacement of subsurface utilities, construction of brick street and sidewalk, and installation of historical replica lighting, and will be completed by mid-November.
   MDOT also will be extending the US-41 boulevard section through the Michigan Technological University campus. This work is targeted for the summer break, and is scheduled to begin Monday, May 4, and be completed by Aug. 21.

   The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is reconstructing and realigning approximately three miles of US-41/M-28 in the area locally known as the “Michigamme Curves”. The project includes drainage improvements, guardrail upgrades and pavement marking, between Brown Road and the Marquette and Baraga county line.
   This project will require traffic shifts, lane closures with flag control, and a temporary traffic signal.
   When completed, this project will improve ride quality, promote safety, and extend the service life of the highway.

   The L’Anse Village Council and Village Police Chief Mike LaBerge defended the new “harassing ordinance” at the council’s Monday, April 13 meeting.
   The ordinance essentially forbids the use of threatening and/or indecent language and behavior. Violators may be fined up to $500 or face up to 90 days in jail.
   Zoli Lanczy of Herman questioned both the need and application of the ordinance, nearly testing the limits of the new law as his commentary gained steam.

   One of Henry Ford’s most enduring--and endearing--local legacies is ‘the Bungalow’ in Pequaming.
   The two-story, 5,000 square foot Bungalow boasts nine bedrooms, six baths and a dining room table that 16 guests can sit down to. Its lineage is even greater, tracking back to the very start of the town of Pequaming in the late 1870’s.
   That’s when the town was established by an Englishman named Charles Hebard, who also built a lumbermill with H.C. Thurber. In time the town grew to reflect Hebard’s homeland with its boarded walks, shingled houses and tree-shaded streets.

   Omar “Mike” Ishmael, a 22-year old Iraqi native, has assisted United States Armed Services since Operation Freedom in 2003. Now, after serving as an interpreter for American troops, America is helping Ishmael.
   “Mike” as he has been called from day one by American soldiers, has been granted residency in a country he has come to love. But the story doesn’t stop there, Mike wants to repay America by becoming a permanent resident and joining the Army.

   Two defendants waived arraignment and pleaded to a variety of counts in Baraga County Circuit Court cases last week. Because Jennifer Lynn Egan and Marcos Mercado entered pleas by mail the court appearances were not conducted.
   Mercado, 29, of L’Anse entered a plea agreement and pleaded guilty to Larceny   From A Motor Vehicle. In exchange several additional counts were dismissed. Egan, 22, of L’Anse pleaded not guilty to three vehicle theft counts, and not guilty to two drug counts in a separate case.

   Teams in Baraga County Memorial Hospital’s weight loss challenge shed more than 800 pounds in a winter-long fitness program. The Rehab and Fitness Center’s “Melt-Down” weight loss program involved 43 two–person teams who competed to work out, eat healthier food and ultimately, drop unwanted pounds. Results were calculated in the percentage of body weight that was dropped to keep the contest fair, according to Fitness Center director Pam Dove.
   This is the third winter melt-down sponsored by the fitness center, and the second that pitted our local competitors against those in a similar weight loss challenge conducted through Aspirus Ontonagon Hospital.
   Baraga County’s group had a starting weight of 17,403 pounds. They lost 814 total pounds for a loss of 4.68 percent. Ontonagon’s group lost 706 pounds, or 2.88 percent.

   “Firefighters rely on foam to increase the effectiveness the water they use to control fire and contain hazardous materials. Although many fire department have used foam for many years, there is always more that can be learned about its formulations, and use,” according to Baraga County Extension Director and L’Anse firefighter Mike Jensen.
   Michigan State University Extension along with L’Anse Fire and Rescue is hosting a “Firefighter’s Foam School”, on Saturday, May 2, 2009, from 9:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. The location is in L’Anse. The training session will include both classroom and practical hands-on training. Featured speaker will be Chris Efta from CET Fire Pumps. Efta is a nationally sought-after presenter on compressed air foam systems and foam delivery systems.

   The unemployment rate in the Upper Peninsula continues to rise, increasing by 0.6 percentage points in February to 12.8 percent.
   Mackinac County (28.0 percent) and Baraga County (24.1 percent) recorded the highest U.P. jobless rates for the month.
   In the month of February, 10 of the 15 Upper Peninsula counties reported higher unemployment rates, with monthly increases ranging from 0.1 to 3.2 percentage points.

   An ordinance on “Harassing And Alarming Conduct’ is drawing reaction in L’Anse. The ordinance is designed to give police another tool in dealing with potentially violent situations.
   The ordinance was passed unanimously at the L’Anse Village Council’s March 23, 2009, meeting. Village Manager Bob LaFave said the police had asked for the ordinance, and the village Police Committee reviewed it and approved it prior to the full council vote.
   Some incidents took place downtown at the L’Anse Waterfront Park last summer that may have prompted the ordinance.

   The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community’s (KBIC) Ojibwa Housing Authority (OHA) agreement to purchase Bayshore BP, Car Wash and Laundromat brought forth heated discussion at the KBIC tribal council’s April 4 regular monthly meeting.
   Although the OHA has already entered into a purchase agreement with Larry Denomie , owner of the three Baraga businesses, Councilwoman Elizabeth “Popcorn” Mayo asked to be placed on the agenda to express her concerns on the planned purchase.

   William Ruona, Sr. would be happy with the hands his home is in.
   The handome blue house just east of the Pelkie Post Office was built by Ruona in 1939. A logger for Henry Ford from the early 1930’s to 1950’s, Ruona had a deep and abiding respect for sound forestry practices. That’s why he liked Tom Kelley.
   Kelley is a forester and former instructor at Michigan Tech University. He used to bring his class out to Bill Ruona’s place, where the old man would share stories of logging in its heyday. Whenever Kelley came, he thought of how he’d love to live in that house someday.

   Several major cases came before 12th Circuit Judge Charles Goodman in Baraga County Circuit Court on Thursday, April 2, 2009. All of them involved alcohol or drug abuse, either directly or indirectly.
   A jury trial will be scheduled in June for Bobbie Sue Roth, currently incarcerated in Baraga County Jail with a $1,000,000 bond. Roth was allegedly involved after the fact in the robbery of the Pamida Pharmacy on Dec. 16, 2008. She is charged with Controlled Substance, Possession, 1,000 Grams Or More of hydrocodone. Roth is also charged with Accessory After The Fact Of A Felony.

   Tony Bianco (left) enlisted in the US Navy in 2006. Following completion of basic training, he attended Naval Combat Builder School in Gulfport, MS, where he graduated with honors. His current permanent duty station is Port Hueneme, CA.
   He is a member of Seabee Battalion 40, which spends 10 months at homeport followed by 7-month deployments around the globe, often in hostile areas, performing humanitarian operations.
   Bianco’s first deployment was to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. While in Ethiopia Bianco earned Seabee Combat Warfare (SCW) designation.
   He is currently on a 7-month deployment in the South Pacific, where his first stop was in the jungles of Thailand; Tony Bianco is currently in Okinawa, Japan. During the remainder of his deployment he will also be traveling to Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. Bianco was recently promoted to Petty Officer Third Class.
    Justin Bianco (right) enlisted in the US Army in 2007 and was accepted into the Military Police Program, where he and 17 others were selected out of a group of 200, for the Army’s Accelerated Military Police (AMPS)/Warrior Police Program. Candidates chosen for this program had to display exemplary physical ability and military excellence.
   Justin Bianco is stationed at Fort Carson (“The Mountain Post”) in Colorado Springs, CO. He is a member of the 110th MP Company/ 759th Battalion. He is currently deployed to Iraq on a 15-month tour of duty. During this deployment he spent the first nine months in Baghdad, where his duties included Personal Security Detached Escorts for many high ranking Iraqi officials, including the President of Iraq.
   He is currently stationed at Camp Echo in Diwaniyah, Iraq, working side by side with the Iraqi police force, conducting Police Tactical Training and security operations. This January Bianco was meritoriously promoted to Specialist.
   Tony and Justin Bianco are the sons of John and Amy Bianco of L’Anse, and are two out of six grandchildren of Joseph and Rose Bianco of L’Anse, currently serving in the United States Armed Forces.

   At least five “community gardens” are in the planning stages for this summer as people reach out to those in need of fresh food. The idea was sparked through the Knights of Columbus and local Catholic churches, but the garden opportunity will be available to all on a non-denominational basis.
   KC Financial Secretary John Smith said members of Sacred Heart, St. Ann’s and Most Holy Name of Jesus parishes were initially interested in trying to organize some community gardens this summer.
   “Fr. Augustin was very interested in it, and people think it’s a good idea,” Smith said. “We thought we’d try it. Anyone interested can come and help. It’s open to everybody.”

   Leon Brunk was arraigned in Baraga County Circuit Court on Monday, March 30, 2009, on a drug charge. Before 12th Circuit Judge Charles Goodman, Brunk pleaded guilty to Controlled Substance Delivery/Manufacture of Narcotic, Less Than 50 Grams. The case involved methadone.
   Three days this week had been reserved for a jury trial for Brunk. Through attorney James Nancarrow, Brunk accepted the plea arrangement offered by Prosecuting Attorney Joseph O’Leary. In exchange for the guilty plea O’Leary agreed to drop the habitual offender enhancer.

   A director’s nightmare played out like a dream when L’Anse High School staged “Just Another High School Play” this past weekend.
   Denise Laakko directed the comedy starring a cast of 22, herself included. Her troupe of thespians representing grades eight to 12 put on their show in the L’Anse School Cafetorium March 27, 28 and 29 at 7 p.m. each night.
   ‘Just Another High School Play’ is about a group of high school kids whose director bails the night of the performance, and for good reason: nobody came to rehearsals, and nobody knows their lines. That leaves it up to the kids to entertain the house that’s gathered for a night of live theater.

   Having a husband serving in a dangerous place like Afghanistan for a year or more is difficult. And being a youngster with your dad (or mom) overseas is even tougher.    When the 1431st Sapper Co. left for training and deployment late last fall, more than 100 Western UP families were separated.
   That’s when the Family Readiness Group fills an important role. The group includes family, friends, wives and children of those serving overseas. They get together about once a month to share stories, offer fun activities for their kids and just talk to others who understand. The FRG held a meeting and the kids sledded on the Covington Ski Hill in late February. They’ve bowled at the Whirl-i-Gig.

   Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) member Robert Genschow has been found guilty on a two-count federal indictment following a two-day trial in United States District Court Western District of Michigan (Northern Division).
   Genschow was charged with unlawful cutting of trees and theft from a tribal organization (KBIC) in April 2008. The alleged incidents took place on KBIC-owned lands in Ontonagon County.

   The L’Anse Village Council honored community spirit at its March 23, 2009, meeting when it recognized the Warden Plant in L’Anse for a job well done.
   The power plant and employees donated upwards of $25,000 in labor and funds to hook up compressors at the Meadowbrook ice arena. Village Manager Bob LaFave said the compressors purchased two years ago to create ice had laid idle because no money was left for installation.
   “The L’Anse Warden Plant volunteered time, talent, and actually some cash to get them up and running,” LaFave said. “We also wanted to thank them for other work done in the community.”

   As part of the national Week of the Young Child celebrated across the country April 19-25, 2009, KBIC Even Start is spotlighting the people who make a positive difference in the lives of young children. This program acknowledges individuals who locally serve children in the areas of early childhood education, social services, parenting and mentoring.
   The Week of the Young Child is an annual celebration sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). This year’s national theme is: “Bring Communities Together for Children – Children Bring Communities Together.”

   The Upper Peninsula Association of American Legion Posts will be hosting its 30th annual Legislative Dinner at American Legion Post 349, Little Lake, on Saturday, April 18, 2009. Social hour is at 5 p.m., dinner at 6:30 p.m. and the program at 7:30 p.m.
   Rich Brown, past 110th District representative and now clerk of the House of Representative’s in Lansing, will be emceeing the event. All UP representatives and senators are expected to be present along with representatives from the governor’s office and Washington senators and congressman.

   The Copper Country Intermediate School District Board of Education held its regular monthly meeting, on Wednesday, March 18, 2009. The board took the following actions:
   Approved a revised budget for 2008-09. And approved the district goals for 2009. Approved nominations for the annual Copper Country Association of School Boards awards to be presented on April 22 at Michigan Tech. Kathy Warner and Libby Petaja were appointed to the CCISD Parent Advisory Committee for Special Education representing the L’Anse Area Schools and the Public Schools of Calumet, Laurium and Keweenaw respectively.

   Parents brought home some pretty heavy homework assignments after attending a program on prescription drug abuse last Wednesday:
   –Don’t abuse alcohol or drugs in front of your children
   –Spy on them relentlessly
   –Search their rooms, too
   –You can be friends again when they’re all grown up.
   –Because your job is making sure they grow up.
Detective Lt. Jeff Racine came to the BHK Head Start on Baraga Avenue last Wednesday night at the behest of the Baraga County Parents Group. Formed last summer, the gathering of concerned parents meets monthly to educate and support one another on tough issues facing kids.

   The unemployment rate in the Upper Peninsula moved up seasonally in January, 2009, to 12.4 percent, one full percentage point above December’s 11.4 percent.
   Menominee County (9.0 percent) registered the lowest jobless rate in the UP during January, while Mackinac County (27.6 percent) and Baraga County (23.4 percent) recorded the highest jobless rates in Michigan during the month.
   Baraga County’s unemployment rate has pushed steadily upward in recent months. The county’s manufacturing sector has suffered declining orders for products as the national and global economies have faltered.

   Baraga’s board of education unanimously extended Superintendent Norm McKindles’ contract following the annual evaluation and review process. The board voted 5-0 at its regular meeting on Monday, March 17, 2009, to extend McKindles’ contract through 2012.
   The board and superintendent conduct a multi-step review process each year. Between the February and March meetings board members fill out an evaluation of the superintendent and then turn those in to board President Byron Sailor and Secretary Anni Gregor. Sailor and Gregor compiled the results and then they met with McKindles before the March meeting. McKindles also provides a self-evaluation to them.

   You might say Anne Schutte’s house, a sturdy white frame with blue highlights on M-38 in Baraga, has led a double life.
   A photo from the late 1880’s tags it as “Lutheran Parsonage,” home to the minister of the Lutheran church located right across the street. In its other life as home to Jim and Anne Schutte and their merry band of three, well, it’s been making up for lost time.
   “We might want to find a warm place to talk,” Anne said in her kitchen as she maneuvered around dog Wishbone and his toys to pull up a chair. “Jim used to say, ‘We’ll never die from radon.’

   Michigan continues its economic struggle, including having the largest unemployment rate in the country.
   Governor Jennifer Granholm has proposed slashing the Michigan State University (MSU) Extension Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station (MEAS) programs by half, or $32 million. Baraga County Extension Director Mike Jensen has undertaken a campaign to try and convince Granholm and state legislators to reconsider the large cut.

   Members of the Aura Volunteer Fire Department were pleased to receive the department’s first grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).   The grant comes from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.
   Aura received $33,848 which will be used to purchase a variety of new equipment.
   “This grant will be critical to upgrading some fire department equipment to meet current NFPA and OSHA standards,” Aura Fire Chief Mike Mayo said.
   Among equipment on the list to be purchased will be an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED), new turn-out and safety gear for department firefighters, and a thermal imaging camera unit.

   About 70 figure skaters entertained two large crowds at Meadowbrook Arena last Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon. The 2009 L’Anse-Baraga Figure Skating Club ice show was titled “Dancing With Our Stars”, based around the popular dancing show on television.
   “We heard a lot of positive things from people,” ice show director and skating mom Sandy Rice said. “People liked the dance music and the costumes.”
   The show ran about an hour and a half each day and Meadowbrook Arena was surprisingly warm for the large audiences. As skaters ranging from the beginning “Snow Plow Sams” to the advanced soloists streamed onto the ice, an army of parents, coaches and volunteers kept everything flowing smoothly.

   About 50 people filled the L’Anse Schools cafetorium Monday evening. They were concerned about rumors that the L’Anse school board was going to dissolve the middle school and not renew the contract of L’Anse Middle School Principal Rob Willman.
   By law, the district has to act on administrative contracts within a certain time-line. L’Anse has typically acted on contracts in the early spring, extending them one to three years. Also by law, an administrator must be given 30 days notice that his or her contract will not be renewed.
   Monday evening, elementary school principal Tom Sprague’s contract was renewed through June 30, 2012. However, Willman’s contract was first on the agenda. Before the motion was considered approximately a half-dozen individuals, including parents, teachers and county probation officer John Block, addressed the board.

   The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community’s (KBIC) tribal council held the first reading of a proposed ethics in government code for public officials at it’s March 7, 2009, regular monthly meeting.
   The 23-page document, if adopted, will set standards for government officials including tribal members. The code covers a wide array of topics including ethical standards, standards of conduct, conflicts of interest, anti-nepotism, and drug testing.
   There is also a guidance for filing ethics complaints, an appeals process, penalties and guidelines for removal of a public official for misdemeanor and/or felony convictions.

   Something kind of vital was missing from last week’s story on Big Erick’s historic home.
   It was Big Erick.
   The day before the paper went to press, a granddaughter of Skanee’s most famous Swede offered insider views into the house, the family and himself. Though the trail was fresh–two of Erick Erickson’s daughters were ready to contribute–the hunt for the truth had to wait a week.
   For this issue’s historic house feature, Helen Erickson Klenner of Minnesota and Mildred Erickson Fiedorek of Texas welcome us in to Big Erick’s home at the corner of Sicotte and Sawmill roads in Skanee, back in the 1930’s to early ‘40’s.

   People weren’t quite sure what to expect from this year’s Baraga Drama Club production which featured only two actors. But those who saw “Jerry Finnegan’s Sister” last Friday and Saturday night at BHS went home with a big smile.
   The romantic comedy featured Baraga seniors Ashley Poehls and Tyler LaTendresse. It was directed by first-time director Emily Marie, an AmeriCorps employee at the Pelkie School.
   “We didn’t have a lot of kids who were willing to put the time and commitment into a play,” Marie explained. “Based on the two I had, I picked the play. It was great! The kids did great. They had a lot of lines to remember.

   The L’Anse High School Drama Club will present “Just Another High School Play” at the L’Anse cafetorium on March 27-29, 2009.
   Director Denise Laakko said she cannot give out any details about the play without spoiling the plot. The play has a cast of 21 students and a crew of five. Included are many seasoned performers and some new faces as well.

   Baraga County is playing its Wildland Fire card in a bid for a $17,000 grant.
   Mike Jensen, MSU Extension Director for Baraga County, addressed the subject before Baraga County Board of Commissioners at its March 8, 2009, meeting. Jensen said the county is considered at high risk for wildland fires, and is a good candidate for grant assistance.
   Jensen told the board he is working on a request for up to $17,000 in available funding. It would cover costs of planning and mapping, and would also establish a foundation for future related grant funding.

   A number of cases have been heard in Baraga County Circuit Court before Circuit Judge Charles Goodman recently.
   On Wednesday, March 4, 2009, a jury trial was set for Paul Raymond Getzen, 65, of Livonia, MI. Getzen faces three counts stemming from an incident on Nov. 5, 2008. He earlier pleaded not guilty to Police Officer Assaulting, Resisting And Obstructing; Police Officer Fleeing 3rd Degree; and Operating While Intoxicated.

   Michigan Army National Guard Sergeant Jessica Kannianinen, of Covington has transferred from the Forward Support Company 107th Engineer Battalion in Ishpeming, to the Augusta, MI, based 177th Regional Training Institute. With this transfer she will serve as an assistant personnel services sergeant. Kannianinen has been a member of the military for five years.
   Kannianinen attended Basic Combat Training at Fort Leonardwood, MO, in 2004. During her military career, she has received numerous awards including the “Global War” on Terrorism and the “Army Achievement” medals.
   Kannianinen is a 2002 graduate of L’Anse High School. She has one daughter, Lexi, and is the daughter of Mark and Candy Kannianinen of Covington. She also has two brothers, Hunter and Trevor, who also reside in Covington.
   With the promotion to sergeant, Kannianinen joins the ranks of the non-commissioned officer. NCOs’ have long been considered the backbone of the Army. Their focus is mission accomplishment and the welfare of their soldiers. The United States Army has designated 2009 as the “Year of the Non-Commissioned Officer.”

   The Baraga Lumberjack Days Committee has been meeting and plans are moving along.
   “This year, the committee will be faced with venturing out in a hardened economy to try to fulfill the expectations of our community and provide a quality weekend of fun and excitement over the third and fourth of July. We want to keep the community apprised of the new ideas coming forward from new committee members and of events coming your way this year,” said Gayle Isaacson, one of the organizers.
   The committee is creating a special section in the Lumberjack Days booklet to honor those who serve and have served the country.

   L’Anse Village will soon be on the orthographic map.
   Orthographic maps provide details both above and below ground that can aid a municipality in planning, development and maintenance. At its Monday, March 8, 2009, meeting the L’Anse Village Council approved its $2,000 contribution to the mapping project.
   Ken Marshall of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Planning Department spoke to the board about the project being coordinated by the KBIC. He described the process and noted the tribe will cover the lion’s share of the cost.

   Michael Makinen, Attorney at Law, has been appointed Houghton County Prosecuting Attorney with a term commencing on March 19, 2009. Makinen, who resides in Hubbell, is a graduate of Lake Linden Hubbell Public School, Michigan State University and Wayne State Law School. Makinen has been practicing law since 1976. Makinen ran unsuccessfully for the 97th District judgeship last year.

   The hospital organization is nearing completion of the design process for two planned projects. The projects are for a replacement hospital and a 12 bed addition to the Dr. Louis and Anne Guy Bayside Village Nursing Home. The current construction budgets are $22.2 million for a 69,000 square-foot hospital, and $2.8 million for a 7,000 square-foot addition to Bayside Village.
   The addition at Bayside Village consists of 12 private rooms designed around a central dining and living area. The design is intended to provide a homelike environment for the residents. The addition will be constructed as a wing on the north side of the existing building and the rooms will be on the same level. Space is provided on the lower level for storage and mechanical support.

   The Medical Staff of Baraga County Memorial Hospital announces the addition of Dr. Shine Shong Lin, General Surgeon.
   “Lin brings vast experience, expertise, and a passion for his patients to L’Anse. Dr. Lin is capable of performing a wide range of surgical procedures,” said John Tembruell, BCMH Administrator.
   Lin is skilled in laparoscopic (less invasive) surgical procedures, which includes gall bladder and hernia surgery. In addition, he provides endoscopic procedures such as colonoscopies, esophagus/stomach procedures, and flexible sigmoidoscopies.

   There’s a new principal at L’Anse High School.
   Cathy Shamion was hired March 4 to replace H. Pete Moore who tendered his retirement letter to the district Feb. 28.
   The board met in special session Tuesday, March 3 to address the letter and begin the process of filling the vacancy for the remainder of the 2008-2009 school year. There were also two other items on the special meeting agenda.

   Ray and Marilyn Prill put a new spin on an historic home when they renovated Big Erick’s house in Skanee.
   Erickson was the Paul Bunyan of Baraga County, a larger-than-life character who immigrated here from Sweden in 1902. He hired on as a farm worker at first, then hauled mail and freight between L’Anse and Skanee. By 1915 he was a logging contractor whose hard work and quick wit helped seal his status as a legend.

   With many homeowners seeing an increase in their property taxes as home values fall, State Representative Mike Lahti (D-Hancock) is informing residents they can contact either their local township office or Michigan Department of Treasury on any property tax questions they have.
   “Residents need to know they can contact their local assessors on property tax issues or questions they may have,” Lahti said. Property owners recently received letters from their local government authorities detailing the assessed and taxable values of their property, along with information about the appeals process.

   Education on prescription drug abuse will be presented at the next Baraga County Parents Group meeting on Tuesday, March 17, 2009. Parents and members of the community are encouraged to attend. The Parents Group formed and began monthly meetings late last summer.
   The group supports each others and is involved in education and awareness of drugs and alcohol abuse in the community, is involved in developing youth activities and alcohol and drug-free activities for teens.
   At the Tuesday night meeting Jeff Racine of the Michigan State Police UPSET team will speak on prescription drug abuse. The problem appears in this community commonly and Baraga County Circuit Court has seen a dramatic rise in cases involving or relating to prescription drug abuse in recent years.

   The Pamida department store under construction just south of L’Anse should open its doors the first part of October, according its vice-president Mike Murley.
   Murley said he planned on arriving in L’Anse today (Wednesday, March 4) to meet with Moyle Contracting representatives to check on construction progress. Murley said like other Pamida stores in the Western Upper Peninsula, Moyle owns the building and Pamida leases it.
   “We’re getting pretty close on actual construction,” Murley said. “We plan right now to start (installing fixtures) in August and expect to be open by late fall. . .It takes about eight weeks to set everything up”

   Mary Fran and Tom Menge’s lives changed in a split second on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2009. They were on U.S. 41 at the south end of Champion when a northbound vehicle lost control. The vehicle hit the guard rail and spun hard directly into the Menges’ 2005 Buick Rendezvous.
    I saw it and it was on us. There was nothing I could do,” Tom Menge said. “The police figured the combined speed was 110 miles per hour. I was doing 45 and they said he was doing 65 in that skid. Air bags go off pretty hard.”
   Mary Fran had serious spinal surgery about eight years ago. Pressure was relieved on her spine with plates and screws. Unfortunately, that’s right where she was hurt in the accident. The crash led her to Marquette General Hospital where she spent days in critical condition, and eventually to Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital in Grand Rapids.

   Before the railroad came to Covington, there was the Old Homestead.
   It wasn’t the Old Homestead back then, of course. It was Bostwick & Noble’s new place, a couple of 40’s deeded Oct. 10, 1883. There have been a half dozen owners of the homestead since, but from 1901 on, their last names have all been Leinonen.
   Denver and Patti Leinonen now hold the deed to the property on the Murphy Road off US-141. Denver inherited it in 1964, and the couple has kept busy restoring, re-roofing and preserving the eight remaining buildings on their Old Homestead ever since.

   Thanks to the children’s book, “Flat Stanley”, students from Paul J. Olson Elementary School in Verona, WI, will soon learn a lot about Baraga County--and Scotland.
   Norma Allen, a registered nurse at Baraga County Memorial Hospital’s Skilled Nursing Unit (SNU), received a letter from “Flat Madelin” –Madelin Reynolds, a third grader at the elementary school near Madison, WI. Allen shared the letter with SNU residents and they, along with Allen, are collecting information to send back to the students.
   In her letter, Madelin said the story is about Stanley, a boy who, although he was flattened like a pancake, was uninjured. His parents sent him on vacation to California via the U.S. Postal Service.

   Navy Reserve Seaman Recruit Terrance Cranford, son of Tracy Kahkonen of L’Anse, and John Cranford of Hancock, recently completed US Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, IL.
   During the eight-week program, Cranford completed a variety of training which included classroom study and practical instruction on naval customs, first aid, firefighting, water safety and survival, and shipboard and aircraft safety. An emphasis was also placed on physical fitness.
   The capstone event of boot camp is “Battle Stations”. This exercise gives recruits the skills and confidence they need to succeed in the fleet. “Battle Stations” is designed to galvanize the basic warrior attributes of sacrifice, dedication, teamwork and endurance in each recruit through the practical application of basic Navy skills and the core values of honor, courage and commitment.
   Cranford is a 2006 graduate of L’Anse High School.

   The battle against domestic violence is waged fresh every day from a little blue house on South 4th St. in L’Anse.
   The Baraga County Shelter Home has been protecting and empowering victims of domestic violence for over 25 years. Executive Director Char Kangas, on board almost from the start, tracks both the roots and branches of its vital service.
   Case history
   In October of 1983, Kangas said, a series of devastating incidences of domestic violence sparked a local movement. Concerned citizens and professionals joined forces and began to meet on a regular basis, with as many as 70 attending at a time, to find solutions to the growing problem of domestic violence.

   Bobbie Sue Roth, 26, of L’Anse, remains in Baraga County Jail on a $1 million cash bond, following her not guilty pleas to charges arising from a drug offense.
   Roth pleaded not guilty to two counts in Baraga County Circuit Court before Circuit Judge Charles Goodman on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2009. She is represented by Public Defender David Gemignani.
   Roth is charged with two counts. The first carries a potential life prison sentence. She pleaded not guilty to controlled substance charge for possessing 1,000 grams or more of Hydrocodone, stemming from an incident on Dec. 16, 2008.

   L’Anse Area Schools’ Board of Education included renewing Superintendent Ray Pasquali’s contract, reviewing preliminary February, 2009, student counts and receiving an update on the ongoing L’Anse Sports Complex project at its Feb. 19 meeting.
   The meeting was changed from the usual third Monday of the month due to winter recess. Pasquali’s contract was one of four new business items on the short agenda. On a 6-1 vote, the contract was extended through the 2010-2011 school year. Trustee Jason Ayres opposed the motion.

   Planning continues for a new $22.2 million hospital with developments on several fronts. The Baraga County Board of Commissioners approved a $2 million line of credit to help pay for pre-construction and engineering costs.
   On Feb. 19, 2009, the hospital board closed on the purchase of 36 acres of land for the new hospital. The $150,000 parcel is located on U.S. 41, just south of L’Anse.
   “The architects from URS in Grand Rapids will be here Wednesday. They are doing the final design and layout of the hospital,” BCMH Administrator John Tembreull said. “We are close to seeing what the outside might look like, and the layout of the inside.”

   Judges Charles Goodman and Tim Brennan waded through a long list of cases in Baraga County Circuit Court sessions conducted last week at the courthouse and Baraga Maximum Correctional Facility.
   At the prison inmate Robert Lee Brooks pleaded guilty to Attempted Prisoner Possession Of A Weapon. Brooks was represented by attorney Karl Numinen. The agreement worked out between Prosecuting Attorney Joseph O’Leary and Brooks stipulated that Brooks will serve an additional one year in prison. State law mandates that the sentence run consecutive (following) an inmate’s original sentence.
   Brennan set sentencing for approximately 30 days.

   William C. Rolof has been appointed the new District 5 Commissioner.
   The action was taken at a special meeting of the Baraga County Board of Commissioners held last Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009.
   The board also approved Baraga County Memorial Hospital’s request for a $2 million line of credit from Superior National Bank (see related story.

   Barb and Lowell Hanshaw were living in the past.
   Granted, it was 1965. Technically, it was the past. But the Hanshaws were splitting their time between their home at 717 Broad Street, an old mill house built in Keweenaw Bay in 1905 and relocated to L’Anse, and their Huron Bay camp, ordered out of a Sears Catalog in the 1920’s.
   Back in the 1920’s and ‘30’s Barb’s grandfather, Gust Lundberg, had played a part in getting both those buildings settled. He delivered the camp to Huron Bay by horse and wagon, and later hauled the mill house from Grand Street to Broad--laying foundations for a granddaughter to come.

   To make information about the state’s unemployment insurance program available to as many people as possible, the Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) has created a video about Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance program for use at Michigan Works! Agencies (MWA) and public libraries across the state.
   “Over the past several weeks, Michigan Works! Agencies have been flooded with questions about unemployment insurance from jobless workers who haven’t been able to reach UIA staff because the heavy call volumes we’ve been experiencing,” UIA  Director Stephen Geskey said. “To help answer many of the general questions that people have about Michigan’s UI program, we developed, in cooperation with the MWAs, a video for use in their offices.”

   Adam Rulison graduated from the United States Coast Guard Boot Camp on Dec. 19, 2008, at the Cape May, NJ, training center. Seaman Apprentice Rulison is currently attending “A” School at the USCG Training Center in Yorktown, VA, and will graduate on Apr. 10, 2009.
   Upon graduating, Rulison will be stationed at Saginaw River, Essexville, MI, as a machinery technician.
   Adam is the son of Linda and Dave Rulison of Tapiola.

   This week marks the half way point for the BCMH Rehab & Fitness Center Weight Loss Challenge. To date, the 43 teams have lost a total of 487 pounds or 2.79 percent of their starting body weight. This week, teams are given a sneak peek at their percentage of body weight lost thus far. This number is important as prizes will be awarded based on percentage of body weight lost.
   Almost half the teams have lost greater than three percent of their combined baseline weights. The most exciting thing is that no team is out of the running. Although some teams have pulled in big numbers throughout the first six weeks, it is not uncommon for this fast rate of weight loss to slow down. Therefore, teams who have been consistently losing at a slower pace definitely have the opportunity to pull ahead.

   Kennecott Eagle Minerals’ parent company, Rio Tinto, announced in its year-end earnings report that the Kennecott nickel/copper sulfide mining project on the Yellow Dog Plains would be “deferred” due to the poor economy.
   Kennecott officials say 25 employees will continue with business as usual on Eagle permitting and various legal issues, as well the re-development of the Humboldt Mill, which could be used to process ore.
   Mine opponent groups call the deferment announcement a chance to regroup, continue the legal fight against permitting the mine, and look to long-term sustainable economic growth.

   The L’Anse United Methodist Church was allowed room to grow last Monday, Feb. 9, 2009, when the L’Anse Village Council approved a zoning variance for expansion.
   The church requested the variance in order to build a new fellowship hall which will extend off the side of the building on Main Street in L’Anse. The variance was required because the new construction will end within nine feet of the adjoining property.
   A public hearing was held beginning at 5:45 p.m. The motion to approve the variance passed by a vote of 4-2 at the regular meeting.

   Baraga’s village council approved a fiscal year 2009-2010 budget totaling more than $5.5 million at its Feb. 10, 2009, meeting.
   Prior to the start of the group’s regular monthly meeting, the council conducted two public hearings. One was for the budget and the second for a trust fund grant for marina improvements. Both were approved later in the regular meeting.
   Although the total budget was set at $5.6 million, the village’s actual general fund balance is anticipated at $1.15 million.

   It’s been an incredibly long year for the Mike Froberg family of Keweenaw Bay. Their world seemed to cave in on them with Mike’s sudden diagnosis of Myelodysplastic Syndrome last April. The form of leukemia has led to unimagined challenges for Mike, his wife LeAnn, and children Bryant, 16, and Bailey, 9.
   Mike has endured a stem cell transplant, and then a series of life-and-death complications since last summer. He’s still battling Graft vs. Host Disease, although he appears to be gaining some strength and fending it off.

   Mike Froberg has waited a long time for his chance to watch his son and fellow Midget AAA hockey players on the rink again.
   There was to have been an opportunity earlier this winter when Mike and LeAnn were still down in Minnesota for Mike’s ongoing treatment at Mayo Clinic. The Ojibwa Eagles were scheduled to play at Fairbault, MN, on Dec. 12 and 13, 2008. The rink is about an hour’s drive from Rochester. Mike was all geared up for the chance to see his son and team in action.

   A project that could have implications for energy production worldwide is moving closer to reality for inventor Richard Rogala of Pt. Abbaye. The unique electrical generator has been in Rogala’s mind and in the prototype development stages for nearly 30 years. On Feb. 5, 2008, Rogala’s generator received a U.S. patent. (See April 9, 2008, L’Anse Sentinel.)
   A phase Rogala envisions as a $6.7 million, two-year development project is nearing. Rogala had his prototype tested under lab conditions at Lake Superior State University last September and the results were positive. The generator’s unique lay-out of non-rotating magnets creates two conditions not found in traditional generators, whether they be for backyard use during power outages, or powered by nuclear plants.

   The Village of Baraga, WPPI Energy, and the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) have collaborated to promote energy efficiency by recently completing an energy efficient lighting project at the Baraga Maximum Correctional Facility to reduce energy costs.
   According to Baraga Village Manager Roy Kemppainen, the prison upgraded or replaced over 1,100 outdated T-12 fluorescent lights with high performance T-8 lights. The new T-8 models require less energy to run which in turn will reduce the energy needed to operate the facility. During the lighting upgrade, the number of actual lamps per fixture was reduced by over 600 lamps by de-lamping in areas where the available full light level is not needed in a room.

   The Baraga school board handled a long list of business at a regular meeting on Monday, Feb. 9. The board met in closed session for 24 minutes to discuss a couple of personnel matters. One was a minor matter; the other resulted in a rejected grievance.
   Following closed session the board returned to open session and voted 6-0 to reject a grievance filed by Teamsters Union member Cathy Maki, a classroom aide. Some cleaning and minor maintenance was done by a non-union temporary employee over Christmas break and Maki claimed she should be paid for those hours. The board rejected her claim.

   The Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance (KEDA) and Finlandia University invite area entrepreneurs to take advantage of free one-on-one business counseling sessions at the university’s Jutila Center on Friday, Feb. 27, 2009.
   Business consultant Roger Woods of Homer Productivity, LLC, can advise on all aspects of small business development from the initial idea through growth and expansion strategies.

   Two sentences were handed down in Baraga County Circuit Court by Probate Judge Tim Brennan on Friday, Feb. 13, 2009.
   Christopher Lamson, 26, of Baraga, was sentenced to two to 15 years in prison on a Breaking And Entering With Intent count. The prison term stems from an incident last April 27, in which Lamson burned the trailer home of Stevie Meador on Trailer Court Road, L’Anse Township.

   U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) was appointed as chair of the Energy Subcommittee on Water and Power under the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. This subcommittee will oversee irrigation, land reclamation, and flood control issues along with energy development and its impact on water resources. As chair, Stabenow will play a role in shaping national energy policy in the 111th Congress.
   “My new responsibilities as Chair of the Energy Subcommittee on Water and Power will allow me to strengthen the role our state has in crafting national energy policy and its effects on our rivers and waterways,” Stabenow said.

   Marquette General Health System has signed a three-year affiliation agreement with Baraga County Memorial Hospital and Portage Health. The “Partners in Achievement” agreement is designed to enable all three healthcare systems to work together and formally share their expertise in clinical and administrative areas of healthcare delivery, while maximizing opportunities for patients to choose care in the Upper Peninsula.
   “The agreement exemplifies the way hospitals across the country are pooling knowledge and resources to continue providing high quality services to their patients in a fiscally responsible, cost-effective manner,” said BCMH Administrator John Tembruell. “The new affiliation agreement will enhance the abilities of all three hospitals to meet objectives in the delivery of healthcare services to their respective communities.

   Northern Options Energy Center is conducting a series of commercial energy efficiency seminars offered throughout the UP.
   The educational seminars are designed to provide information to building owners, managers, commercial developers, contractors and equipment suppliers on state-of-the-art energy efficiency design, techniques, and equipment for new and existing buildings.
   The commercial energy seminars also designed to help building owners identify financial resources for implementing energy efficiency projects.

   Some unemployed workers in Michigan may be eligible for up to 13 additional weeks of unemployment benefits after they have exhausted their state unemployment insurance benefits and their two existing federal extensions.
   “Michigan is now eligible to pay extended benefits through the federal-state Extended Benefits program,” said Stephen Geskey, director of Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA).
   “Citizens who established a claim for state unemployment benefits on or after Feb. 3, 2008, may qualify for the new Extended Benefits program once they exhaust their federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC).”

   The police shooting of murderer Raymond Silas after a vehicle crash and confrontation on the night of Jan. 22, 2009, has been deemed justified.
   Michigan State Police compiled an investigation with numerous witnesses and interviews. Baraga County Prosecuting Attorney Joseph O’Leary concluded on Feb. 4 that deadly force used against the confessed murderer after he confronted a trooper was legally justified.
   Michigan law requires that following a fatality from use of deadly force the local prosecuting attorney must determine whether deadly force was lawfully utilized.

   L’Anse and Baraga area schools will be represented by eight students at the Feb. 19 Copper Country Regional Spelling Bee.
   Baraga hosted the local bee on Jan. 27 with a winner and runner up from grades 5-8 earning the right to advance to the next level.
   Winning the fifth grade title was Annaleese Rasanen with Samantha Jahfetson coming in runner-up.
   At the sixth grade level, Alexus Rule of L’Anse was the winner with Jackie Wadaga of Baraga placing runner-up.
   Shawnia Taisto of L’Anse won the seventh grade competition with Baraga’s Kelly Bedner coming in runner-up.
   L’Anse’s Logan Roe won the eighth grade title with Joann LaBeau placed runner-up.
   Grades 5-6 will start competition at 9 a.m. with grades 7-8 starting their bee at 1 p.m.
   Winners from the regional bee advance to UP finals in Iron Mountain on March 18.

   The county board is accepting letters of interest for the District 5 commissioner’s seat.
   The position opened last Monday, Feb. 2, 2009 when Commissioner Larry Menard tendered his resignation. Persons interested in representing the district must submit a letter of interest to the county clerks’ office by 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 13, 2009.
   The county board will hold a special meeting Tuesday, Feb. 17 to review applications received. The appointed commissioner will serve until a new commissioner is chosen in the May 5 election. Nominating petitions for being on the ballot were due at the courthouse Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009.

   A 23-year old Baraga man was sentenced to two years in prison Feb. 3, 2009, following his conviction on a criminal sexual conduct (CSC) complaint involving a female Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) between the ages of 12-16.
   According to federal district court documents, James Joseph Cuer was indicted on a felony charge of sexual abuse of a minor following a November 2007, incident on the KBIC reservation. A Grand Jury alleged Cuer engaged in sexually touching the female, not through the clothing.

   Years ago, the ice that capped Lake Superior each winter was a road to opportunity. It offered smooth passage by foot or vehicle, and occasionally, transport of some mighty big things.
   Like Leann Davis’ house at 139 Grand in L’Anse.
   Davis’ house was built in Keweenaw Bay around 1905, one of 10 homes erected by the Mohawk Mining Company for employees of its Michigan Mill Mine. Crumbling remains of the mine that never opened can still be seen from US-41, across the highway from the four houses that still stand.

   If things go as scheduled, the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community’s (KBIC) Donald A. LaPointe Health and Education Center will be approximately 50 percent larger and have a completely new exterior.
   At the KBIC’s Feb. 7, 2009, tribal council meeting, CEO Larry Denomie reported the renovation project is moving forward and brought along an architectural drawing of the updated facility. Denomie said the entire project is expected to cost approximately $850,000.

   Last June 6, six local rescuers endured gale force winds, six foot seas and frigid water temperatures to rescue two capsized kayakers off Sand Point, Baraga.
   David Kauppila, 43, and his 10 year-old niece, Lila Morningstar, were in a two-person kayak that capsized in the rough seas. They ended up in the water for 90 minutes but thanks to a successful resuce, the story had a happy ending. (See June 18, 2008, L’Anse Sentinel for story and photos.)
   On Monday, Feb. 9, 2009, Coast Guard Commander Joe Paitl, Deputy Commander, Sector Sault Sainte Marie, presented the Coast Guard Meritorious Public Service Award to the rescuers.
   Honored were Justin Miller, John Darcy, Garry Tollefson, Eric Beck, Thomas LaPlante and Dean Osterman, for their extraordinary heroism while rescuing two capsized kayakers. The presentation was held at the Baraga County Courthouse at 1 pm.

   The biomass-burning electric power plant in L’Anse has been nominated for a Small Business Innovation Award in Michigan. The L’Anse Warden Electric Company plant, a recent start-up company, was converted from a coal-burning plan to a biomass plant, said Natural Resources Commissioner J.R. Richardson, who is the Technical and Safety Manager at the plant.
   “This is an exciting venture that is bringing clean, ‘green’ energy to Michigan,” said Mike Reid COO the plant. “Not only is the plant greatly reducing emissions, but it is also reducing landfill space by burning paper mill residue, sawmill and wood processing waste, tire chips and old railroad ties.”

   State Representative Mike Lahti (D-Hancock) announced his committee assignments for the 95th legislative session of the Michigan House of Representatives.
   Lahti has been selected to serve as a member of the Appropriations Committee where he will serve on the following Subcommittees: Capital Outlay (Chairman), Natural Resources (Chairman) and General Government (Vice Chairman), as well as a member of the Corrections Subcommittee.

   The Department of Environmental Quality has scheduled a public meeting to share information and hear public comments on an application for a mining permit from Kennecott Eagle Minerals Company for the proposed Humboldt Mill. '
   The meeting will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009, at the Humboldt Township Hall, 244 County Road FAF in Champion. An afternoon meeting will be held from 1 to 4:45 p.m. and an evening meeting from 6 to 9:30 p.m.

   The Western Upper Peninsula Citizen Advisory Council (CAC) for the Department of Natural Resources will meet on Monday, Feb. 23, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Central   Time at the Crystal Falls Township Hall, located at 1384 West US-2 in Crystal Falls.
   Topics for discussion include: Non-industrial Landowner Resources; Cross-country Ski Pass; Inland lake stocking of walleyes; Quiet period for bear hunting over bait; and ORV trail identification and signage.

   L’Anse residents will soon be pumping a little more cash into the village sewer system.
   An increase of $1 per month will be seen under flat rates, and the cost per 1,000 gallon use will rise from $5.25 to $6.07 monthly. The L’Anse Village Council approved the sewer rate increase for desperately needed sewer repairs at its Monday, Jan. 26, 2009, meeting.
   “Unfortunately, we didn’t have a choice if we wanted to go forward with projects we need to do,” said L’Anse Village Manager Bob LaFave. “Increases were needed to pay for Phase I of the sewer project. We hope to receive some grant money for Phase II.”

   The unemployment rate in the Upper Peninsula rose sharply in December to 11.4 percent, a full 2.0 percentage points above November’s 9.4 percent.
   Mackinac County recorded the highest UP unemployment at 24.2 percent. Baraga County reflected manufacturing layoffs with the second highest unemployment rate in the UP,--20.6 percent. Those are also the highest unemployment rates in Michigan.

   Dave and Diana Stimac’s home might not have passed the century mark--it’s only 70 years old--but the tidy green frame house in Alberta is long on history.
   Back in the 1930’s, automotive magnate Henry Ford had a better idea: create a self-sufficient community whose residents could earn a living and put food on their tables without leaving home.
   In 1935 Ford’s vision began to take form with the construction of a sawmill that would provide both a living and source of energy for the community that would be Alberta.

   Two judges addressed numerous cases on Baraga County Circuit Court last week. Several sentences were delivered by Probate Judge Tim Brennan acting as Circuit Judge on Friday, Jan. 30, 2009. Circuit Judge Charles Goodman presided over arraignments on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009.
   Friday, Beverly Cardinal, 30, was sentenced to prison on a count of Stolen Property, Receiving And Concealing. The case stems from an incident in which a car belonging to Stu and Mary Lahti, U.S. 41, was stolen by Cardinal and another person whose case is pending.

   About two dozen people gathered in the basement of L’Anse’s Sacred Heart Catholic Church Jan. 26 with a goal of sharing information on various resources available to those in need.
   Organized by L’Anse St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) volunteer Ethel Vizina, representatives from Baraga County Shelter Home, UPPCO, Salvation Army, Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC), area churches, Baragaland Senior Citizens Center, L’Anse and Baraga villages, SEMCO and Michigan State Housing and Development Authority (MSHDA) were among those in attendance.
   “It was a good way to see what services are available for those in need and to see who qualifies for what programs,” said Vizina. “It gives everyone more insight as to what is out there.”

   A 58-year old L’Anse woman remains in critical condition at Marquette General Hospital (MGH) after a Feb. 1, 2009, two- vehicle accident on U.S. 41 near Champion.
   Michigan State Police troopers responded to the accident on US-41 near County Road AF. A 1999 Ford Taurus, driven by 18-year old Cody Smoker of Houghton, hit a 2005 Buick Rendezvous driven by 67-year old Thomas Menge of L’Anse.
   Reports stated Smoker was westbound when he lost control of his vehicle on a left-hand curve. The vehicle slid into the face of a guard rail on the north side of the highway, spun back onto the roadway crossing the centerline and colliding head-on with Menge’s vehicle.

    Joe Esbrook, Director of Community and Public Relations, Michigan Works! The Job Force Board offers four helpful hints from Michigan Works! when filing an unemployment claim:
   1. Prior to making your first call to “Marvin”, you must register for work if you do not expect to be back to work with-in 120 days. To register for work, you must post your resume onto the Michigan Talent Bank and have this verified in person at a Michigan Works! Service Center at least two business days prior to making your first Marvin call.
   2. Information that you should have on hand when filing for unemployment benefits: Social Security number, your personal identification number, drivers license or state ID number, the names, addresses, dates of employment, and wages paid by your employer for the past 18 months.
   If you wish to have UIA deposit your unemployment benefit directly into your bank account, you will need your financial institution’s nine digit routing number and your account number. (Routing number located in the bottom left corner of your check or deposit slip).
   3. In some cases, you may automatically be sent a debit card. You can always change the payment method later by going to www.michigan.gov/uia  and selecting UIA Online Services for Unemployed Workers, where you will be asked to set up a user account.
   Your debit card will come in an envelope without a state agency listing, so be mindful of your mail. If you lose your debit card or need a new one, you can call JPMorgan Chase at 1-866-523-2122.
   4. You can file an unemployment claim either by telephone or over the internet. If you choose to file a claim over the telephone, the time to call is based on the last two digits of your social security number. Below is the schedule from the UIA website.

   On Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2009, Michigan Department of Corrections Camp Ottawa employee Dennis Salbashian, of Alston, was presented the Michigan Department of Corrections Lifesaving Award by Jay Ketcik, Michigan State Industries Operations Manager.
   In late August of 2008, Salbashian was fishing with friends in a fishing derby near the Big Traverse River. He and his partners heard a distress call that a boat with three people in it was in trouble and sinking. His crew responded to the area and retrieved two people from the water. One was conscious and the other was unresponsive. The crew called 911 and began CPR while enroute to shore. Another boat in the area picked up the third person.

   Last week Chelsey LaFernier was glowing with enthusiasm. On Monday she was hired back at KBIC’s Donald LaPointe Medical Center. She had worked there in temporary placement last May to November, until the grant-funded position expired.
   “We didn’t want to lose her,” said Health Administrator Carole LaPointe. “We were happy to have her back.”
   Chelsey was hired for a full-time, long-term job as the Public Health Nurse Secretary.
   “She just got hired last Monday and we had welcomed her to the department on Thursday. She was so happy all week,” LaPointe said.
   Chelsey’s dreams for her and her children’s future were shattered by a violent attack that same night, on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2009.

   Like other small businesses across the area, local welding shops are feeling the economic downturn. In fact, according to DesRochers Brothers co-owner Jim DesRochers, business hasn’t been this bad since he purchased the shop back in the early 1980’s.
   Tony Selkey of Selkey Manufacturing said his shop hasn’t seen such a downturn in more than 20 years.
   With the exception of Mackinac County on the eastern end, Baraga County’s unemployment numbers are the worst in the state. According to numbers from the Michigan Department of Labor, the county’s unemployment rate as of November, 2008–the latest data available-- came in at 16.2 percent. That number is up two percent from the previous month.

   Brian Baccus, President and owner of Peninsula Powder Coating has been forced to trim his industrial coating operation from three shifts and 45 employees last summer to one shift and 15 people.
   The baked-on finishes Peninsula Powder Coating applies are better than traditional paint, and are used on a wide variety of equipment, including the shiny blue Terex fork lifts that have been so commonly seen in the area. Peninsula also does some work for Pettibone, but it’s Baccus’ Wisconsin industrial manufacturers who are helping keep the operation going right now.

   When Tom and Faith Stenson bought the Sidnaw IGA store in 1969, they also acquired a treasured piece of the community's past: Walter S. Prickett’s “house by the side of the road.”
   “I don't really know much about it,” said Faith, sorting through old newspapers and photos spread out on her dining room table. “It had to be built in the late 1800’s. As you can see from some of these papers, he was already here as recording secretary for the Sidnaw Journal.”
   Prickett was an investor, a lumberman, a farmer and a visionary. He’s both a source and namesake for Prickett Dam and the Prickett-Grooms Airport. He owned the former Roycroft Farms in Sidnaw that produced world-famous livestock, and shipped its eggs by rail to Chicago.

   Investigation continues into the brutal stabbing murder of a Keweenaw Bay Indian Community woman last Thursday, and the subsequent Michigan State Police shooting of the suspect after a vehicle chase.
   On Thursday night, Jan. 22, 2009, Chelsey Lynn LaFernier, 23, of Baraga, was stabbed to death. Raymond Daniel-Kejuan Silas, also 23, was suspected of the crime by police. Two Michigan State Police news releases detail efforts to apprehend Silas shortly after the stabbing. One was issued on Friday, Jan. 23, and the other, on Monday, Jan. 26.

   Michelle Ann Grondin, 36, of L’Anse, was sentenced to eight to 30 years in the state prison system for a home invasion and robbery last May. Grondin earlier pleaded to Home Invasion, 1st Degree, and Entering a Building With Intent To Commit Larceny for separate crimes on the same night.
   Grondin admitted she was a drug addict and that led her to enter the mobile home of her neighbor, elderly Zan VanAbel, at L’Anse Mobile Home Court last May 16. She was dressed in black, broke a window, reached in and unlocked the door and confronted the 80-plus year-old VanAbel in a dark hallway in the middle of the night, armed with a tire iron.

   L’Anse Area Schools’ Board of education addressed two issues in closed session at its regular Jan. 19, 2009, monthly meeting. One concerned the evaluation of Superintendent Ray Pasquali and the other, reinstatement of an expelled elementary school student.
   The parents of the fifth grade student requested the approximate 15-minute closed session which is permissible under Michigan’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The student was expelled following a Sept. 19, 2008, incident at C.J. Sullivan Elementary involving a pocket knife.

   On Sunday, Jan. 18, 2009, Kinsey LaFernier, a second grade Brownie in Troop #5400 of L’Anse, was “working her marketing plan” for the Girl Scout Cookie Sale Program.
   She and her mother, Missy LaFernier, discovered their neighbor unconscious in his garage. Kinsey stayed by her neighbor’s side while Missy called 911 and another neighbor for help. Mom and daughter then stayed with their neighbor until paramedics arrived.
   “I was so proud of Kinsey for her level-headedness and calm demeanor,” stated Melissa. “She stayed alone with him for several minutes while I made the phone calls. Kinsey was brave and followed directions perfectly. It felt good to know I did not have to worry about Kinsey while I handled the emergency.”

   L’Anse Fire Department members join other fire departments around the country to ask residents to install, maintain, and test their smoke alarms.
   This national effort is a result of one of the deadliest holiday seasons in recent memory and several significant fires in the first days of 2009. Since Thanksgiving 2008, there have been more than 158 fatal fires in the United States resulting in over 200 fire fatalities.
   “The 2008 holiday season and the start of 2009 may be recorded as one of the deadliest for residential fires in recent memory of the fire service,” said L’Anse Fire Chief Mike Bianco.

   Income eligible Michigan homeowners may now borrow up to $50,000 from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) to make alternative energy efficiency improvements to their homes.
   The program adds alternative energy improvements to a long list of traditional improvements including insulation, upgraded windows and energy-efficient appliances. The loans are available through MSHDA’s Property Improvement Program (PIP).

   L’Anse Village is testing the wind for economic development.
   At its Monday, Jan. 12, 2009, meeting the council reviewed an application received from Alltel regarding use of its new cell phone tower. The village is interested in placing a weather data device on the tower to gauge wind power over a one-year period.
   "There's been some interest by many groups and individuals in wind power generation," explained L'Anse Village Manager Bob LaFave. "To determine the feasibility of a project, and for financing, you have to place a device on a tower over 200 feet in the air for about one year."

   Diane Mayo was sworn in as Baraga village’s new clerk at the council’s regular Jan. 13, 2009, meeting settling in for her first village council meeting. The agenda for her inaugural meeting was short with just a few action items.
   Included in the mix was setting a public hearing for the village’s fiscal year 2009-2010 annual budget, updating some previous grant applications, renewing a marina operations agreement and investing approximately $5,800 with the American Transmission Company (ATC).

   The VanStraten Brothers fabricating shop in Keweenaw Bay is hanging on during a tough economy by beating the bushes and looking for customers needing metal work.
   George and Peter VanStraten are fortunate the company was in a good position going into the sudden downturn, having had a record year for the first three quarters of 2008. Then the bottom fell out in December.
   VanStraten Brothers once had 55 employees between its Keweenaw Bay shop and another across from Pettibone in Baraga. There were 23 working under Chris VanStraten in Baraga, and 32 in Keweenaw Bay. Now the Baraga shop is closed and a skeleton crew of 10 or 11–including two office staff–is keeping the doors open in Keweenaw Bay.

   Jim Saari has been working with state job programs for 37 years. He’s seen some tough times with high unemployment, but rarely as bad as this. He’s the Michigan Works! director for the Western UP.
   “I started this job in 1972. There was a period in the late 1970’s that was pretty bad. But since then this is the worst I’ve seen it with the lay-offs and people looking for work, and businesses closing.
   “And there’s an uncertainty with the companies that do exist. They’re wondering if they can remain open with a reduced work force. There’s a fear I haven’t seen before. In the future, will things get worse or will they get better?” Saari said.

   L’Anse village police personnel are continuing their investigation into a breaking and entering incident at L’Anse High School reported Jan. 12, 2009.
   According to L’Anse Chief Mike LaBerge, he was called to the high school office around 7:30 a.m. that morning. The chief said entry was gained by breaking a first-floor classroom window. Once inside, LaBerge said culprits broke into the high school principal’s office.

   Baraga County Memorial Hospital’s weekend walk-in clinic has proven popular with people needing medical care when doctors offices are closed. The 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.   Saturday and Sunday clinics have been appreciated by people who might have otherwise ended up with an expensive and unnecessary trip to the Emergency Room.
   BCMH has expanded the walk-in clinic concept to week nights. Beginning on Jan. 5, 2009, clinics have been open in the hospital Monday-Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. The clinics require no appointment and are staffed by a physician and nursing staff.

   A Jan. 16, 2009, fire near Elo destroyed a mobile home belonging to John and Gael Filpus.
   According to Otter Lake Fire Chief David Harris, his department received the call at 11:46 a.m. Pelkie Fire Department personnel responded under the Mutual Aid agreement with area departments. Harris said firefighters remained on the scene for approximately five hours before the blaze was brought under control.
   However, Harris said the structure was a total loss. The chief said no one was at home at the time of the blaze. There were no human injuries although the couple lost their family pet in the blaze.

   "This house is a barn!"
   We've all used the phrase, particularly when viewing teenagers' bedrooms. But for Bruce and Marie Harju and family of L'Anse, the term is all too true–past tense preferred.
   The Harju home at 510 ½ N. Third Street has occupied that space for about 100 years or better, when it began its life as a barn. Along with an accompanying farmhouse, the two buildings were the only interruptions on a sweep of open field and woods that would someday grow into the Village of L'Anse.
   Baraga County Probate Judge Tim Brennan's dad, Pat, was born in that farmhouse in 1917. When Tim was campaigning the summer before last, he visited the county fair and brought along a story board so voters could view his background. Marie Harju, also at the fair, got a real eyeful.

   Baraga’s school board approved revisions to its 2008-09 budget at its regular meeting on Monday, Jan. 12, 2009. The budget shows a deficit of $461,200 with revenues of $4,967,100 and expenditures of $5,428,306. The first budget last summer showed a deficit of $550,000.
   Superintendent Norm McKindles said, “The district budgets very conservatively, in part because there are federal monies coming in that we’re never sure of.”
   McKindles expects the deficit to be considerably lower when the fiscal year concludes. Last year a large deficit was budgeted but the district ended up in the black.

   After a short debate following the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community’s (KBIC) tribal council reappointed Larry Denomie as its CEO for the next year. Two new council t