Homeland Security Funds Aid County
Ontonagon - January 21, 2009

Ontonagon County's Emergency Services Coordinator, William Johnson,   reported on equipment received by the county through the Homeland Security Grant Program.

Johnson advised the County Board of Commissioners that Ontonagon county has directly received

twenty Midland Model WR-100B weather radios capable of SAME broadcasts for use as an alerting device for special populations throughout the county. They have been distributed to fire departments, township offices, special facilities, and responding agencies throughout the county.

The county has two Garmin GPSmap 76Cx GPS receivers to be used for geo location of facilities and in the damage assessment annex of the Emergency Action Guidelines.

In addition, Ontonagon county has received the following:
2 Motorola XTS 1500 800 MHz radios, to be used by support agencies,

Trailer mounted 15K w emergency power generator with hookups

Personal Protective Equipment for all law enforcement personnel

Video conferencing equipment for Emergency Management and 911
 
Training for county personnel as required by National Incident Management System

Region wide listing of resources available during mutual aid responses,

NOAA coverage county wide due to new transmitters in region,

A regional Tactical Interoperable Communication plan.

Johnson advised the board that the receipt of these vital tools was totally because of the efforts in planning and acquisition by the Region8 (upper peninsula) Homeland Security Planning Board.

In addition to the items previously described Johnson sent a letter to all Township Supervisors and Fire Chiefs reporting on the acquisition of a new mobile 15K generator.

Johnson advised:
With funds made available through Homeland Security, this county has received a 15 KW generator on a trailer. The purpose is to make emergency power available to facilities that are necessary during an emergency.

The generator is gasoline powered and has hookups for 11 Ov or 220 v and mounted on a trailer with a 2 inch ball hitch. This should provide enough power to provide lighting for most facilities or as an emergency backup for critical equipment.
This equipment is available to all facilities within the county and as backup for our mutual aid partners. Requests for usage should go through this office or the Ontonagon County Sheriffs Department.

 

Finlandia Updates
Date: January 22, 2009

Justin Nantelle is New Cross Country Coach

HANCOCK, MI - Justin Nantelle has been named the Finlandia University men's and women's cross country coach for the 2009-10 season, Athletic Director Chris Salani announced today.

Nantelle replaces Jane Martini, who was the Finlandia head cross country coach for the 2008-09 season.

Nantelle is currently a security officer Finlandia. A position he will continue in addition to his new coaching duties. Last fall, he was the head assistant coach for the Finlandia men's and women's soccer teams.

Nantelle has completed two degrees at Finlandia: an associate degree in criminal justice in 2006, and a bachelor of arts in human services in 2008. While a student at Finlandia, he ran for the cross country team, was a member of the Nordic skiing team, and played Lions soccer.

As head cross country coach Nantelle says he plans to build a solid team around current runners and incoming recruits to make Finlandia a team that will stand out.

"My ultimate goal is to start turning some heads," he adds.

When the head cross country coaching position became available recently, Nantelle says he jumped at the chance to help Finlandia build another solid and competitive team.

"It was a great opportunity that came up at the end of the soccer season. I have always liked using my knowledge and experience to help others become the best they can be," Nantelle notes.

Nantelle says he has learned a lot about leading and coaching from Finlandia's athletics staff.

"I feel honored to be able to coach next to the leaders I had while I played sports at Finlandia," he says. "Especially Curtis Wittenberg, who was the cross country coach my first two years, and Matt Griffith, who was my soccer coach for four years."

Nantelle says he has always been an enthusiastic athlete. While in high school he played football and basketball, and ran track and cross country. He started to play soccer and Nordic skiing at Finlandia and reports that he fell in love with both sports instantly.

Nantelle is from Crystal Falls, Mich., where he graduated from Forest Park High School.

For additional information about men's and women's cross country at Finlandia, please contact Justin Nantelle at justin.nantelle@finlandia.edu.
 

Date: January 21, 2009

Finlandia Homecoming January 25-30

HANCOCK, MI - The Finlandia University Student Senate will host a Homecoming celebration the week of January 25-30, 2009.

Activities will include an opening and closing night bonfire, the building of snow sculptures, outdoor broomball and volleyball, the election of a Homecoming King and Queen, a Homecoming dance.

Several other Homecoming events are centered around Lions men's and women's home hockey and basketball games.

All Finlandia/Suomi College alumni, as well as the public, are welcome to participate in any of the Homecoming events.

For more information, please contact Kirsti Arko, acting dean of student affairs, at 906-487-7276 or kirsti.arko@finlandia.edu.
 

Date: January 22, 2009

Finlandia's Ally Tincknell is DIII Independents Player of the Week

HANCOCK, MI - Finlandia University junior forward Ally Tincknell (Negaunee, Mich.) has been named the Association of Division III Independents women's basketball Player of the Week for the week of January 19.

In an overtime loss on the road, Tincknell paced her team with a solid double-double performance, scoring 21 points and grabbing 16 rebounds. She shot 63.6% from the floor (7-of-11) and added a two steals and a pair of blocks.

For additional information about the women's basketball program at Finlandia, please contact Head Coach Curtis Wittenberg at 906-487-7214 or curtis.wittenberg@finlandia.edu.
 
 

Credit Card Hackers Find New Targets
Posted: Friday, January 23 at 05:00 am CT by Bob Sullivan

Few noticed on Christmas Eve when the news broke that electronic payment services firm RBS WorldPay had been hit by hackers who stole personal data on 1.5 million consumers. After all, that's small potatoes these days. But when Heartland Payment Systems announced on Inauguration Day that it had suffered a serious security breach, some experts noticed a pattern -- and not just the companies' standard penchant for releasing bad news on days while the public is distracted.

READ MORE
 

OCBC Elects Pelkola Chairman

pictured above Dale Parent (l) and John Pelkola (r)
Ontonagon - January 21, 2009

The Ontonagon County Board of Commissioners met in regular session last night and addressed a very full and ambitious agenda.

The board meeting was called to order by Judith Roehm, Ontonagon County Clerk. The first order of business was to elect a Chairman and a Vice Chairman. The board went on to elect John Pelkola  as Chairman and Dale Parent as Vice Chairman. The board then proceeded to make a myriad of committee appointments. For the most part the only changes from 2008 reflected upon the departure of former commissioners Schulz and Holtz, being replaced by new board members Nykanen and O'Brien.

pictured above new board members Carl Nykanen (l) and Dennis O'Brien (r)
Citizen Pat Kitzman was to address the board regarding court ordered attorney fees. Pat was unable to make it to the meeting and communicated his apologies for the inconvenience it may have caused.

The Board followed up on the Service and Inspection Maintenance contract for the courthouse boilers. The existing service agreement is with Johnson's Controls. The repairman for Johnson's Controls was to have worked on the boiler controls last November and has yet to show up. Consequently, the board felt obligated to terminate any agreements with Johnson's and request a refund of unearned fees.

Board member Dale Parent told the board he had sought bids and specs from all local area heating contractors. He received just one bid and that was from ACC Planned Service, Inc. ACC is located in Appleton WI, however they have a local representative, Ernest Salonen, who resides in Bergland.
On hand last evening was Lori Hausworth (pictured above) from the Western U.P Planning and Development Region. Lori addressed the board for approval to amend the terms of the MSHDA housing rehabilitation grant #MSC-2007-0748-HOA. The amendment deals only with the new term of the grant, an extension of six months.

The WUPP&DR plans to spend $125,000 in home renovations in Ontonagon County. The funds will cover the costs of approximately 4 home projects. Lori told the board that there are 10 applications still pending from last year. Those applicants are to receive new apps to update.

Ms. Hausworth told the board that in the last ten years the Development Region has expended more than $1,575,000 for rehabilitation projects and has received $425,000 in loan repayments. This year's project will receive a 15 year payback. If a home is sold or rented out during the first five years the loan it must be repaid in full. For each year thereafter, the original amount owed is reduced 10%. After 15 years of occupancy by the original owner the loan is totally forgiven.
 
“View from the Wolf’s Eye” Book Signing
Hancock - January 21, 2009

Author of “View from the Wolf’s Eye” to Sign Books at North Wind Books January 24

HANCOCK – Finlandia University’s North Wind Books, Hancock, will host a book signing for local author Carolyn Peterson Saturday, January 24, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m., in conjunction with the City of Hancock’s Heikinpäivä mid-winter celebration.

Peterson will sign copies of her new book, “View from the Wolf's Eye,” a memoir of the 37 summers she spent on Isle Royale, a National Park wilderness in Lake Superior, as wife and assistant to wolf and moose researcher Rolf Peterson.

The book reveals Carolyn Peterson’s deep relationship with Isle Royale based on her keen observations of the natural world, her efforts in raising a family in the wilderness, and her intense involvement in the on-going research.

“From a rustic cabin, over 37 summers, Carolyn Peterson emerges as a woman equally competent to skin a dead moose and bake a rhubarb pie, to carry a heavy pack behind her researcher husband and to wash diapers in a metal tub over an open fire. Her memoir is instructive, uplifting and inspiring...” writes Detroit Free Press columnist Susan Ager.

For additional information about the book signing, please contact North Wind Books at 906-487-7217.
 

Cold Month Puts Chill Into W/M Budget

 
Wakefield - January 20, 2009

Another month of extreme temperatures are playing havoc with school budgets. Such is the case at the Wakefield Marenisco School District. Last month's frigid weather has created a heating bill never before seen at the school district. W/M received an Excel Energy bill which topped $21,000 for a thirtyfive day  billing cycle. Enough to send a chill down anyone's back.  It looks as though one more outrageous bill could be coming the districts mailbox.

To make things worse Jennifer Granholm is proposing an energy savings fund which will add a surcharge to Michigan's heating bills, including U.P. Schools.

The district has almost reached  an agreement with Bessemer School District for a Football Co-op program. The last hurdle will be a vote approval by the Bessemer Board. This could be a biggie for both districts. Think about it!

The school district has been studying the implementation of the Power Book program or one similar to it.  The school district is using an in house program SES used for other programming chores. As luck would have it SES has a module available that will when added to the existing accomplish the needs of the district. One drawback was that the additional module will require new computers.

The staff was instructed to push, shove, poke and otherwise checkout the SES module to ascertain if it will work and will it be used.  The program addition has now been approved by the Curriculum Committee and the Technology Committee. The purchase of the program and hardware will cost the district approximately $18,000. a very significant savings over the Power Book alternative. Another push, shove and poke session is scheduled for Thursday.

The district's athletic director advised the board of the apparent success of the Elementary School Basket Ball Program. Kids and parents alike are having a great time.

The school board considered a request

A former school board member has requested that she be permitted to present a diploma to her daughter who will be graduating at the end of the second semester. The board after much deliberation and consideration decided that it would not be a good idea to approve the request. Most members felt that it approval could lead to many  many similar requests. It was also felt that the presentation of diplomas by the school board president was of special significance. Allowing many diploma presenters might dilute the significance of the presentation. The board voted to turn down the request.

The school board announced the following revised dates to remember:
January 26 Report Card Distribution
February 2 All-Sports Jamboree 7:00 P.M..
February 13 No School - Area Wide In Service
February 16 No School - Presidents Day
February 17 Regular School Board of Ed. Meeting 5:00 P.M.
February 19 Band Pre  Festival 7:00 P.M.
 

IASD Teachers Get Raise

Huge Deficit Expected
Ironwood - January 20, 2009

Last evening the union members on the Ironwood School Board threw caution to the wind voting to give a pay raise to their fellow union members. School Board member Joanne Mattson made a motion to approve the latest pay raise for the Ironwood School District Teachers. The union membership has been without a contract since the beginning of the school year accepted a deal that would not be retro active. None the less, the 2% pay hike will undoubtedly create a substantial if not gargantuan surplus deficit in the very near future. Superintendent James Rayner predicts a deficit of 300,000 to 400,000 deficit in just a few years.

The nonunion board members Dr. Edwards, Linda Dean and Ed Rickard all voted against the pay increase which also included an additional $70 a month for their "Health Insurance Program" The health plan is underwritten by the union's self insurance mechanism.

Teacher Cuts, Less Busing and  More Taxes
on the Planning Board

Board member and union member Steve Thomas stated that he disagrees with Rayner's numbers. However, It was as you know, Jim Rayner's management that eliminated the nearly half-million dollar deficit he inherited as the incoming superintendent. A deficit created by a partisan management.

However, Thomas has already begun a "Study" to eliminate one more bus route. It should be noted that there only four full time bus drivers remaining from the nine that were employed just a few years ago. Thomas pointed out that when he was a student in the township he rode the bus to school but Ironwood students had to walk to school. Kolesar described today's students as fat and soft and might benefit from walking to school.

 
In addition to cutting bus service the board is planning to cut 5 more teacher positions, one at each elementary school and three at the high school.

Editors Notes: 1) The union contract in place with school district not only provides for a 2% raise but also includes a built in pay increase of about 2 % to 2.5% called step teachers receive this increase based on their time with the district. So, in effect the teachers will be receiving a 4% to 4.5% pay hike.
2) The board also approved a resolution to go forward with the multi-million dollar renovation (addition) at Luther L. Wright. The board will thus be transferring the costs of operating the Norrie School unto the shoulders of the taxpayer's who will be paying for the cost the new school addition.
 

Township: "A Polite No"
Ironwood Township - January 20, 2009

Yesterday afternoon the Ironwood Township met in special session to consider a letter from the Ironwood City Manager on behalf of the City Council requesting that half of the unpaid water bill of the Pat O'Donnell Civic Center be forgiven.

The Township has already waived the overhead portion of the billing $12,637. All that remains is the actual cost of the water $7,495. That is the amount billed by the city and paid for by the Township.

You may recall a similar situation arose just last year when a water line broke at Lake Street Mobile Home Park. The Township asked Erickson for a credit on that occurrence only to be rebuked by the City Manager. Erickson and his Mayoral task manager went on to once again raise the Townships bulk water rates. The city again tried to pick the pockets of the Township Taxpayers during the Library debacle.
 
Civic Center Board member Dan Collins
At yesterday's meeting there Dan Collins civic center board member was on hand to make a case for the city.  Township trustee Steve Boyd asked Collins two questions:
1. How many civic center bills has the city forgiven?
2. What is the city's markup on the water it sells to  the township?

No answers  were presented.  Consequently, the Township board voted unanimously to turn down the Erickson-Noren request

A copy of the polite but deliberate reply
 
 
 

 

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