U.P. Ag
Connections 725 Greenland Road, Ontonagon,
MI 49953
Vol. 16 Issue 8 MSU Extension
August 2011
Published Irregularly
NEWS & VIEWS
By Frank Wardynski, MSU
Extension Educator
We had a great time at the field
day last week. The weather was
probably too good. Attendance
was ade-quate but I was hoping
for a huge crowd. Unfortunately,
it seems like one of those years
that we have to make hay when
the sun shines with a lot of
crops and harvests far behind
normal for this time of year.
The sky was clear and the breeze
was refreshingly cool after the
scorching humidity we saw just
days before. I think Research
Center manager Paul Naasz and
the rest of the farm crew did a
super job planning the event and
as usual having the facilities
looking top notch. Hiawathaland
Farm Bureau sponsored an
excellent lunch and a big thank
you goes out to them.
You should have received a
postcard a week or so ago giving
you the heads up that you would
be receiving this survey. Thank
you in advance for participating
in this worthwhile project.
As interest in local food
increases so does the pressure
on our local farmers to keep
pace with this demand. As a
significant purchaser of local
food, the Marquette Food Co-op
has an active interest in
assessing the needs of local
farmers in order to ensure a
steady supply of high quality
food for our owners and
customers. Beyond that, we
strongly believe that a vibrant
local food economy is integral
to the health of our small rural
communities, and we are entirely
invested in helping develop food
security here in the U.P. Our
Co-op cur¬rently assists local
farmers in a variety of ways
from marketing to purchasing.
We, as well as other
organiza¬tions and groups in the
U.P. want to do more, but we
need to hear from the farmers
themselves as to what their
needs are. This is where you
come in.
Board of
Control Chair Pledges Bequest to
Michigan Tech
by Jennifer Donovan, director
of public relations
Marty Richardson, chair of
the Board of Control, and her
husband, Jerry Richardson, have
made a planned gift of $1
million to Michigan Tech's Board
of Control Endowment Fund. The
endowment produces income to
fund special projects as
recommended by the president to
the Board of Control.
by Wes Frahm, director of athletic
communications and marketing
Tickets for
Michigan Tech football's popular VIP 4 Packs are
on sale at the central ticket office (487-2073)
and online at
Huskies.
Each VIP 4 Pack comes
with four tickets to every Huskies' home game
and access to the VIP tailgate party prior to
each game with, free food and beverage provided
by the Library Restaurant and Brew Pub. Free
preferred parking in Lot 24, free game program
(first 300) and game program recognition are
also included.
In addition, each VIP 4
Pack comes with two tickets to every home
women's soccer match in 2011.
VIP 4 Packs
cost $349 each, and up to $150 may be tax
deductible.
The VIP ticket program is in its
eighth year, and a record number of packs were
sold a year ago, resulting in more than 700
tickets sold per game.
The football
team will open its season on the road Sept. 3 at
Winona State before playing its home opener vs.
Lake Erie on Saturday, Sept. 10.
For
questions, contact Steve Nordstrom, director of
athletic development, at 487-3071.
Rozsa
Center,
VPA Announce 2011-12 Season
The Rozsa and the visual and
performing arts department announce
their 2011-12 season. Subscription
sales begin today; single ticket
sales begin Sept. 1.
"The 2011-12 season will combine
both the traditional and
contemporary," according to Bethany
Jones, marketing manager at the
Rozsa.
The entertainment includes
emerging local and student artists,
and bright stars on the
international stage.
Some of the best of world-class
performances are being hosted:
musicals, symphony orchestras, jazz
musicians, and comedians; the
spectacles of dance that are MOMIX
and Savion Glover; the
internationally acclaimed composer
and conductor Eric Whitacre;
everyone's favorite storyteller
Garrison Keillor; the comedian Maria
Bamford; and the hilarious "Deer
Camp the Musical."
"Come celebrate the growth and
success of the emerging artists that
are the wellspring of the arts at
Tech," Jones says. They include the
Jazz Lab Band; the award-winning
Superior Wind Symphony; and the Tech
Theatre Company presenting "Fuddy
Meers," "Almost Maine," and "Twelfth
Night."
"Audiences will be surprised by
the breadth, excitement, and
originality that come from these
fresh perspectives and new voices,"
Jones says.
For more information and to
purchase tickets, contact the
Central Ticket Office (SDC), at
487-2073, or go online at Tickets.
________________________________________
Garden Tour Raises Food For St Vinnies
The recent Secret Garden Tour organized by the 46th Parallel
Planters Garden Club produced 211 pounds of non-perishable foods
that were donated to St. Vincent DePaul Food Pantry in Ironwood.
Tour attendees were each asked to donate 2 cans of food when
participating in the tour.
To Enforce or Not To Enforce That is the
Rhetorical Question!
IRONWOOD – July 28, 2011
Normally Steve Frank a member
of the Parks and Wrecks Committee complains that the city is not
doing enough to enforce the blight law or littering law. That
was not to be the case Monday night at the City Commission
meeting. It all began when Bob Burchell asked if anyone
wanted to address the commission on items not on the agenda.
Steve Frank rose from his seat approached the commissioners
and handed out more paper to the members of the paperless
commission, who now receive their work electronically. He did
not use yellow paper.
Avoiding the cameras Frank stood
away from the speaker podium, in the middle of the arena and
spoke at the commission about a Blight Notice his landlord
received that described blight issues at his residence.
He began by saying he didn't want to talk about this and he
didn’t want to talk about that and described a number of issues
irrelevant to his blight notice. After the long introduction,
Frank began to focus on the Blight Ordinance itself. Frank
quoted the notice methodology within the ordinance. According to
Frank that section of the ordinance authorizes the city to
notify the owner or the agent of the property either by letter
or public notice in the paper.
Frank told the
commissioners that “we” never use a public notice and that the
city uses the public notice at the beginning of the season to
notify the residents of the ordinance. Frank stated “this is not
what the ordinance says.”
He described the city procedure
of cutting the lawns that were in violated the rules, “as
trespassing.“ "My point is that the city does not follow its own
ordinance" said Frank. He then stood silent as to await an
answer to a question that had never been asked, not even a
rhetorical one.
His buddy Mayor Bob Burchell then asked
the city manager if the city was following procedures.
Scott Erickson then explained the city's position.
Frank
then shouted to Burchell that this is the same city manager and
the City Attorney that we had in 2007 when this was passed. “Is
this what the ordinance says? What would stand up in court?” He
said.
City Attorney Dennis Cossi advised Mr. Frank that
he could bring an action in court and let the Judge make a
decision. Frank then went on to complain that there were no
remedies for challenging the notice.
In an attempt to
placate Frank, Burchell then said "Thanks Steve" and then
referred the matter of clarity to Erickson.
Once again
Burchell allowed Frank to speak beyond the time limit for public
comment. view
video
Graham: Selected
As Dean of
Student Services
IRONWOOD
TOWNSHIP - July
27, 2011
Last night the
nine month
search for
Gogebic
Community
College’s next
Dean of Student
Services
concluded when
President James
Lawrence
announced that
he had chosen
Jeanne Graham
for the
position.
Graham is the
current
admissions and
information
director, and
has been acting
in the capacity
of Interim Dean
for the past
nine months.
The nationwide selection process is long and intense. The applicants for
the position are
scrutinized by a
six member
committee that
included Erik
Guenard, Ken
Trzaska, Sue
Forbes, Mark
Wendt, Brian
Anderson, and Dayle
Jackson.
Early on, viable candidates were interviewed via telephone, and then
personal
interviews
occurred when
the field
narrowed.
At the June
Board meeting
there were two
candidates
remaining,
Jeanne Graham
and Shad E.
Sorenson, from
Utah Valley
University. On
Wednesday June
29th,
Graham was
interviewed once
again, this time
by GCC
employees. That
interview went
well, very well.
Graham was very
familiar with
the topical
questions of her
fellow staff
members and had
solutions or
suggestions for
their concerns.
Sorenson was on
campus the
following day
and also had a
good interview.
Two weeks ago the committee would recommend two candidates to President
Lorenson.
President
Lorenson
recommended
Graham to the
board,
recognizing her
capabilities,
job performance
and loyalty to
the institution.
The Board of
Trustees agreed,
and voted
unanimously to
support
Lorenson’s
choice.
Jeanne Graham
was a Bessemer
Speedgirl,
however, she did
not go to GCC.
She originally
wanted to, and
did pursue Music
as her major.
She was
considering a
career teaching
music. That of
course excluded
GCC from
eligible
choices.
GRCB Performs at
Massie
BESSEMER – July 28, 2011
The Gogebic Range Concert Band performed at Massie Field Tuesday
night. A large audience gathered before the band shell to hear
the musicians play their wonderful songs.
Guisfredi Recipient of GLIAC
Scholarship Women's Basketball Player
Angela Guisfredi (Hubbell/Lake Linden), was recently awarded
the 2011 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC)
Postgraduate Scholarship. The honor, which awards the recipient
$5,000 in aid to the graduate school of their choice, was voted
on by the faculty athletic representatives of the schools in the
conference.
"On behalf of GLIAC, I am proud to have a student-athlete of the
caliber of Angela Guisfredi as our 2011 scholarship winner,"
stated Commissioner Dell Robinson. "She will continue to excel
in the classroom and serve as a leader in her industry as well
as her community."
more....
Recall Efforts Joining Forces with
Michigan Forward and Stand for Democracy
DETROIT – Michigan Forward and the Committee to Recall
Rick Snyder are pleased to announce the formation of a new
partnership. CRRS and Michigan Forward will join together in
fielding thousands of volunteers to Recall the elected
proponents, and repeal from the lawbooks, the “Local
Government and School District Fiscal Accountability Act
(PA4).” CRRS has over 5,000 volunteers, many of whom have
already carried petitions for both recall and repeal, and
who will join the thousands of volunteers who have signed up
to help circulate petitions to place repeal of Public Act 4
on the November 2012 ballot.
More...
Postal
Service
mulls
closing
3,700
post
offices
Postmaster
releases
list,
proposes
shifting
some
functions
to
local
stores
By
Jessica
Mintz
msnbc.com contributor
updated
7/26/2011
4:14:08
PM
ET
The U.S. Postal Service is about to shrink, and your local office may be one that's on its hit list.
The Postal Service, which has been losing billions of dollars as more people communicate online, said Tuesday that it is considering closing 12 percent of its post office locations and working with local businesses to fill the void.
The 3,653 post offices under review for closure include urban centers such as New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, as well as small towns from Plymouth, Mass., to Wallula, Wash. The Postal Service is calling them “low activity,” defined by low foot traffic, average sales of less than $50 per day and less than two hours of work per day. Most are located within five miles of another post office location. About 3,000 of them bring in less than $27,500 in annual revenue.
In place of a dedicated post office, the Postal Service is proposing that pharmacies and other retailers sell stamps, flat-rate packaging and other products, a concept it’s calling the “Village Post Office.”
“Today, more than 35 percent of the Postal Service’s retail revenue comes from expanded access locations such as grocery stores, drug stores, office supply stores, retail chains, self-service kiosks, ATMs and usps.com, open 24/7,” Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe said in a statement. “Our customer’s habits have made it clear that they no longer require a physical post office to conduct most of their postal business.”
Postal Service spokeswoman Sue Brennan would not say whether the goal is to close all 3,700 locations, or whether there is a smaller target number of closures.
Click here to see a complete state-by-state list of the post offices around the country that the Postal Service is studying for closure or conversion to what it's calling a retail-replacement option.
July 2011
Gogebic
Community
College
Board of
Trustees
IRONWOOD
TOWNSHIP -
July 27,
2011
A program
review of
the Ski Area
Management
Program
(SAM) was
given by
Director Jim
Vander Spoel.
Since its
inception in
1970, the
SAM program
has
attracted
students
from all
over the
country to
GCC. It has
also been
charged with
the
operation of
the Mt. Zion
Recreational
Complex,
which is
first and
foremost,
the
program’s
working
laboratory.
Over the
past five
years, the
program has
averaged 41
in
enrollment,
with an
average
completion
rate of 81
percent.
Job
placement
for SAM
graduates
remains
excellent
and these
GCC students
are in high
demand
throughout
the country.
GCC also
maintains an
excellent
transfer
program to
Northern
Michigan
University
which is
becoming
increasingly
popular.
In reporting
on Mt. Zion,
Vander Spoel
noted that
the
“Learn-to-Ski”
program with
the area
schools has
been in
existence
for 38 years
and has a
high
participation
rate.
A new
activity
introduced
this year
was the
Friday Night
Fights
snowboard
series in
the terrain
park. It was
very
successful
and plans
for program
growth are
being
developed
with
sponsorship
for the
upcoming
season.
At July’s
regular
meeting of
the Gogebic
Community
College
Board of
Trustees,
personnel
issues
topped of
the agenda.
• Jeanne
Graham, was
appointed as
the Dean of
Student
Services
following a
nation-wide
search. For
the past 20
years,
Graham has
been GCC’s
Director of
Admissions
and Public
Information.
She has
served as
the Interim
Dean of
Students for
the last
nine months.
Graham also
has over 10
years of
experience
at Northern
Michigan
University,
where she
served as
the
Assistant
Administrator
at the
United
States
Olympic
Education
Center,
working with
the
residential
athlete
program and
a variety of
other
programs.
• Steven
Lombardo,
Holmen, WI,
was
appointed to
the full
time
position of
TRiO Student
Support
Services
Coordinator.
The Hurley
native holds
a Master’s
degree from
Viterbo
University
and a
bachelor’s
degree from
UW-Superior.
He has
taught since
1992 and
also has
experience
as an
administrator.
He replaces
John Sokol,
who will be
a math
instructor
this fall.
• Lisa
Spence, of
Laurium, was
appointed to
a full time
Allied
Health
faculty
position in
GCC’s Copper
Country
location.
Spence has
been a nurse
since 1989
and has
various
experiences
from an Army
nurse
through a
Pediatric
Nurse
Practitioner.
She also has
adjunct
teaching
experience.
She replaces
Bonnie
Woodruff,
who retired.
• Stacy
Crouch, of
Dollar Bay,
was
appointed as
the Director
of Off
Campus
Operations,
in a
position
that has
been
expanded to
full time.
Crouch has
been the
Director of
the
Baraga-Houghton-Keweenaw
Child
Development/Superior
AmeriCorps
since 2007
and also has
other
administrative
work
experience
in the
Copper
Country.
In other
action, the
Board
approved:
• The
request from
the Pat
O’Donnell
Civic Center
to install a
well on
premises for
the sole
purpose of
water for
ice making
and
maintenance.
• The
adjunct
faculty list
for the Fall
semester.
• The low
bid for
laptop
computers
from Safari
Micro, for
desktop
computers
from
GovConnection,
and a server
from Dell.
These
purchases
are for
instructional
computers
for this
Fall.
• The low
bid for
window
tinting in
the
Lindquist
Student
Center from
Sun Shade of
Petoskey,
MI. The
shading is
necessary
because of
the glare on
the gym
floor, which
affects the
field of
vision for
players.
• The low
bid for
self-storing
handrails on
the
Lindquist
Center
bleacher
system from
H & H
Enterprises
of Grand
Haven, MI
• The
purchase of
an LCD
external
sign from
SunTronics
of Freemont,
CA for the
campus
buildings
entrance.
• The low
bid for a
one-year
state
anticipation
note from
River Valley
Bank.
In Da Woods
by Melanie B.
Fullman, US Forest
Service
Dragons
When Black River
Village historian
and author Nelda
Ikenberry recently
commented on the
great variety and
beauty of local
dragonflies, I was
intrigued. When she
sent me her own
photographs, I was
hooked!
Dragons or Fair
Damsels?
What most of us
clump into one
category,
dragonflies, are
actually two
suborders of
insects: dragonflies
and damselflies.
Dragonflies are
stout-bodied with
their wings held
flat when resting.
It is usually easy
to see that their
pair of rear wings
are different and
larger than their
pair of front wings.
In flight,
dragonflies have a
strong, sustained
wing beat.
The Bessemer School Board
held its July meeting last evening. At that meeting
the board approved a huge list of personnel appointments
for Extra and Co-Curricular activities. There were
several vacancies yet to be filled.
The Ironwood Township Board of Trustees received a
clean audit yesterday when Auditor Tony Pollack
presented the results of the latest fiscal audit.
According to Pollack the Township added slightly more
than $2,000 to the General Fund. This is the third year
in a row that the charter Township has received an
excellent audit.
The Milltown Heritage
Days celebration kicked off Friday evening with a street
dance that was center for teens and adults alike.
Saturday was to the main focus of the Heritage Days
events. Several events were cancelled due to the heavy
rains that moved into the area mid-day. The Strongest man
contest was cancelled as was the lumberjack competition.
The 19th Annual
Festival Ironwood Walk, Run & Roll
was held on July 16 at the Old Depot
Park.
Pictured above is Jackie Powers who
finished
second woman in the 40-49 age group
and third woman overall.
John Houle, Green Bay, WI, was the
top male finisher in the 2-mile
event in a time of 13:05. Emily
Gheller, Bessemer, won the women’s
2-mile title in a time of 14:17.
Alan Peterson, Ironwood, repeated as
the 5-mile champion posting a time
of 27:18. Emmy Tuzee, Ironwood, won
the female 5-mile event in a time of
36:11.
High school
teachers from across Michigan
are doing a little summer school
themselves, attending the
Research Experience for
Teachers, a program funded by
the National Science Foundation
(NSF) in which participants do
multi-disciplinary research in
Michigan Tech’s
Wood-to-Wheels forest-based
biofuels program.
The teachers will use the
experience to help them develop
rich, classroom-relevant
teaching units. They had a
choice of three topics for the
seven-week sessions: plant
genomics, biofuels conversion
and biofuels combustion.
Participants include Karl Balke,
who teaches physics and robotics
at Cass Technical High School in
Detroit; Mandy Frantti, a
physics teacher at Munising High
School, and Todd Waurio, a math
teacher from Calumet High
School.
EAST LANSING, Mich. —
Pretreating non-edible
biomass – corn leaves,
stalks or switch grass –
holds the keys for unlocking
its energy potential and
making it economically
viable, according to a team
of researchers led by
Michigan State University.
USDA Seeks Applications
for Grants to Improve
the Quality of Rural
Housing
Funding Available to
weatherize and repair
existing structures,
install or improve
plumbing or provide
access to people with
disabilities
WASHINGTON, DC – July
22, 2011 - Agriculture
Secretary Tom Vilsack
announced today that
applications are being
accepted for grants to
eligible applicants to
help low- and
very-low-income rural
residents repair their
homes.
ACLU Sues For
Records About FBI Collection
Of Racial And Ethnic Data In
Michigan
FBI's Claimed Authority To
Track And Map Racial And
Ethnic "Behaviors" And
"Lifestyle Characteristics"
Of American Communities
Invites Racial Profiling
DETROIT – The American Civil
Liberties Union and the ACLU
of Michigan today sued the
FBI and Department of
Justice for records related
to the FBI's use of race and
ethnicity in conducting
assessments and
investigations of local
communities in Michigan.
According to an FBI
operations guide, FBI agents
have the authority to
collect information about,
and create maps of,
so-called racial and ethnic
behaviors, lifestyle
characteristics and cultural
traditions and
"ethnic-oriented" businesses
in communities with
concentrated ethnic
populations.
Historian Discusses Life
of Pioneer Resident
Lucena Brockway
submitted by
Shannon Brodeur, Library
The life and experiences
of Lucena Brockway will
be the topic of a public
presentation at 6:30
p.m., Thursday, July 28,
in the East Reading Room
of the J.R. Van Pelt
Library and John and
Ruanne Opie Library. The
presentation is part of
the "Archival Speakers
Series" and is free and
open to the public.
Thursday the Ironwood City
Commission held a special meeting to
finalize plans for two downtown
parking lots. One is located on Ayer
street, the other on Suffolk.
The City Manager, Scott Erickson had
withdrawn from prior proposals that
were significantly above the City’s
budget. Erickson told the
commissioners that there were three
plans for each lot.
An extravagant plan, the original, a
bare bones plan and one somewhere in
between. Judging by the extent of
frivolity from one plan to the
other, one might better describe the
plans as a Rolls Royce, A Mercedes
Benz of a Chevrolet.
Recognizing that it could not or
should not buy the Rolls, the
commission actually bought the
Mercedes Benz instead. The basic
plan would have cost thirty Thousand
dollars less, but that did not seem
to matter to Councilman Richard Semo,
who cast the deciding vote. It
should be noted that Councilman
Burchell and Councilwoman Lamb voted
against the extravagance.
The parking lots will have elaborate
signs, extravagant planters, yada
yada yada. O.K, so who will see
these planters and signs the six
months that they will be covered in
snow?
Who will be plowing around all the
obstruction during snow season? Who
will be using the bike racks during
the winter, actually during any time
of the year?
One of the parking lots in question
is on the corner of Suffolk and
McLeod. On Suffolk, just east of the
parking lot there is a section of
road that is sinking, just one block
removed from the pocket park which
is also sinking. The parking lot is
in need of repair. So why not just
fix it. Why not use the savings to
fix the street, or any street for
that matter? Have you driven down
East Florence lately?
Why are we spending nearly $2
million dollars for things that the
city can’t afford to maintain? It
would obviously be better to have
fewer things that you can afford to
properly maintain.
WUPPDR
Plans to Bypass Gogebic Water Source
ONTONAGON - July 22, 2011
At this week’s Ontonagon County
Commission Meeting, it was learned
that WUPPDR is planning to build a
24 mile long water transmission line
from the Village of Ontonagon to the
proposed Copperwood mine in Ironwood
Township.
The plan is to replace the Smurfit
Stone account with another large
commercial account. Orvana was just
looking at all its options however;
WUPPDER has grabbed the ball and is
running full speed ahead to bypass
Gogebic County in the water deal.
WUPPDR has a financial stake as well
as a posture situation in Ontonagon.
Perhaps that is why the organization
is ready to trample all over the
Franchise rights of the Gogebic
Range Water Authority. Ontonagon is
losing population and is looking for
new water sales to keep the rates
low for the remainder of its
customers. That would also be true
for Gogebic residents.
Let’s not forget that just two years
ago, WUPPDER and the Lansing
Banditos were looking to steal
Gogebic’s Revolving Loan Funds. An
act found to be illegal and
subsequently dropped.
The GRWA is poised to support the
success of the mining venture,
however, Jean Verbos stated that she
will protect the membership of the
GRWA.
WUPPDR was looking to finance the
transmission line with the USDA.
Rural Development loans are for
forty years, and the life expectancy
of the mine is 10 – 15 years. Orvana
is a foreign company and currently
has few if any assets in the U.S. In
order to protect the local water
utilities, counties and
municipalities Orvana would need to
provide a Letter of Credit from an
acceptable U.S. Bank.
So far the Gogebic County members of
WUPPDR have not publicly discussed
the water transmission line.
Finlandia
University names Pete Rouleau
Head Men’s Golf Coach
Hancock,MI. (July 21, 2011) –
Finlandia University recently
announced a new but familiar
name to lead the Men’s Golf
program. Pete Rouleau, currently
the head women’s golf coach and
assistant women’s hockey coach
at Finlandia, was named to take
over for Athletic Director Chris
Salani, who coached the men’s
team for the past 3 seasons. In
addition, Rouleau will be
transitioning from a part-time
employee to full-time status
within the Finlandia University
Athletic Department.
Rouleau played four years of
golf at Hancock Central High
School under the tutelage of the
late Rick Miller. As a Junior
and Senior he was a vital member
of the Bulldogs team that won
consecutive Upper Peninsula High
School Golf Championships in
2000-2001 and 2001-2002. He was
also the runner-up in the 2009
Portage Lake Club Championship.
Rouleau currently resides in
Hancock with his wife Maren and
2 year old daughter Kaelyn.
The men’s and women’s golf teams
will begin competition for the
2011-2012 school year in
September. For more information
on the men’s and women’s golf
programs at Finlandia please
contact coach Rouleau at
pete.rouleau@finlandia.edu.
Tech
Hockey Adds Davis to 2011-12
Roster
by Wes Frahm, director of
athletic communications and
marketing
Hockey coach Mel Pearson
announced the signing of
Jimmy Davis (Caledonia/East
Kentwood) to a National
Letter of Intent to attend
and play hockey at Tech in
2011-12.
"Jimmy will add toughness
and skill to our blue line,"
said Pearson. "He's a great
skater who defends well. He
also has a good upside on
offense. We really liked
Jimmy's competitive nature
and the fact that he's a
good student. We're excited
to have him
Davis was an all-state
first team pick each of his
final two seasons at East
Kentwood High School. As a
senior last winter, he led
the Falcons to a 19-8-1
record and regional
championship. East Kentwood
fell to Orchard Lake St.
Mary's in the 2011 state
tournament semifinals.
Davis, who garnered
all-state honorable mention
as a sophomore, served as a
team captain as both a
junior and senior.
Davis and three others
who have signed NLIs--Blake
Pietila (Brighton/USNTDP),
David Johnstone (Grand
Ledge/Indiana(USHL)) and
Tanner Kero (Hancock/Fargo (USHL))--will
join the team this fall.
2011 Ontonagon
County Senior Festival
EWEN – July 21, 2011
The Ontonagon Senior Expo took
place at the Ewen Trout Creek School
Wednesday. The Thirty Sixth Annual
Ontonagon County Senior Festival was
organized and produced by Joan
Harris, Director of the Ontonagon
Commission on Aging. There were some
concerns that the weather would
curtail attendance at this unique
event. That was not to be the case.
Nearly 170 seniors were served lunch
at the event, indicating that the
attendance was nearing the 200 mark.
The
Klassic Kruisers Car Club continued
their twentieth anniversary
celebration last night, with a car
show at Angelo’s Pizza.
There were several vehicles
competing for the two People’s
Choice Trophies that were awarded to
the two most popular cars in the
show.
Last night Gene and Gail Clemens
won both trophies. They won first
place for their great looking 1931
Ford Model A and their 1965 Chevelle
SS won the second place trophy.
The Gogebic Ontonagon Intermediate School District held
its 2011/2012 organizational meeting in Bergland
yesterday.
Russ Bailey and Ann Wuorinen were reelected to the board
and were sworn in at the beginning of yesterday’s
meeting. The two no sooner finished saying I do
that they were elected to be office;
As you know, I spend a lot
of time in the woods.
Occasionally, when it is
storming. So, like most
folks, I’ve taken shelter
under trees and rocks, and
have always kept a wary eye
on possible lightning. I
thought I was suitably safe.
Flags lowered Today
for Staff Sgt. Joshua Throckmorton
by Tonya Durlach
July 18, 2011 | WMU News
LANSING, Mich.--By order of Gov. Rick Snyder,
U.S. flags on all campuses of Western Michigan
University and throughout Michigan will be lowered
Wednesday, July 20, in honor of
Army Staff Sgt. Joshua A. Throckmorton,
of Battle Creek, Mich., who died July 5 in
Afghanistan's Paktia province.
Throckmorton, age 28, died of wounds suffered
from an improvised explosive device. He was assigned
to the 709th Military Police Battalion, 18th
Military Police Brigade, 21st Theater Sustainment
Command in Hohenfels, Germany. He served 15 months
in Iraq, and was three months into a one-year
deployment in Afghanistan. He was posthumously
awarded a Bronze Star and Purple Heart.
Former Michigan Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm issued
a proclamation in December 2003, requiring
U.S. flags to be lowered to half-staff throughout
the state of Michigan and on Michigan waters to
honor Michigan servicemen and servicewomen killed in
the line of duty.
Michigan was the first states to honor its fallen
sons and daughters by lowering flags.
Commission Accepts Wardynski
Resignation
ONTONAGON – July 20, 2011
The Ontonagon County Commission held its July meeting
last night. As usual there were a great many items on
the agenda. The Ontonagon Commissioners meet but once
month as a means of reducing costs to the county
taxpayers.
During the public comments portion of the meeting
Mr. William Johnson appeared to both criticize the
Sheriff’s Department and to ask why he had to pay twice
for police coverage. He was referring to the fact that
he pays taxes to both the Village and the County of
Ontonagon. Johnson was told that his comments would be
referred to the Sheriff for a response.
more...
IASD Begins
New School Year
IRONWOOD – July 20, 2011
Monday evening the Ironwood Area School Board held its
annual reorganization meeting. At the meeting the board
of trustees selected officers for the new school year.
There were no changes with respect to the board officers
nor were there any changes in the items voted upon.
Steve Thomas will remain as President of the Board of
Trustees for the 2011/2012 school year.
Superintendent Tim Kolesar told the board that bids
would be opened for the demolition of the Norrie School
Building.
In a bit of irony, Leroy Johnson was sworn in as a new
trustee on the school board. Johnson is a member of the
City of Ironwood Planning and Zoning Commission. It is
that group that has been accused of killing the Norrie
School Apartment Project. The loss of that project will
cost the children of Ironwood an estimated $200,000.
Although the exact amount of the damage will not be
known until the bids are opened.
The loss of the project was equally devastating to
Ironwood taxpayers. The project was estimated to bring
$70,000 in new taxes to the city. The loss of the
project will also mean a loss of $30,000 per year in
water revenues.
2011 Old Depot Car Show
IRONWOOD - July 20, 2011
Saturday the 23rd
Old Depot Car Show attracted a large crowd of
spectator’s eager to view the sixty-three great
vehicles that made up the annual event.
This year Rick Tippett and his
staff organized and produced Saturday’s great event.
Rick and his many helpers did a really good job
producing their first show ever. Rick found out how
much work goes occurs on the other side of the
event. This year instead of collecting more trophies
for his own custom cars he was handing them out. In
fact Rick and his wife, Sue donated a new first time
ever trophy “Kid’s Choice” The winner is chosen by
the kids casting their ballots for their favorite
vehicle.
by Ian
Marks, assistant director of
athletic communications
The women's basketball
team picked up plenty of
awards on the court during
the 2011 campaign, and now
they are being recognized
for their success in the
classroom. The team ranked
20th, with a cumulative
grade point average of
3.459, on the Women's
Basketball Coaches
Association Academic Top 25
Team Honor Roll Award.
"I'm so proud of this
team for all of their
accomplishments this year,"
said head coach Kim Cameron.
"They had a long, brilliant
season on the floor, and
continued to stay focused in
the classroom. Their ability
to create balance in such a
demanding life says a lot
about their character."
Michigan Tech finished as
the national runner-up in
Div. II in 2010-11 and
claimed the GLIAC regular
season and tournament
titles.
A team's GPA is
calculated by dividing the
total number of quality
points earned by the total
number of hours attempted by
all team members in the
academic terms (semesters or
quarters) that the season
spans.
Tech was one of five
GLIAC schools, and the only
NCAA Elite Eight team, on
the Academic Top 25 Honor
Roll.
ACLU Sues
Genesee County Parks Over
Petitioning Restrictions
DETROIT – In a free speech case
with statewide implications, the
American Civil Liberties Union
of Michigan sued the Genesee
County Parks today after it told
a petitioner with the Committee
to Recall Governor Snyder that
the only place she could
petition in a 135-acre park was
an isolated 3 x 3 foot area. The
ACLU is also challenging the
constitutionality of Genesee
County Parks’ new policy barring
petitioning in the public parks
without a permit.
Federal Court
Rules Juvenile Life Without
Parole Lawsuit May Proceed
July 15, 2011
DETROIT – In a decision
issued today, a federal judge
has allowed a lawsuit
challenging Michigan’s juvenile
life without parole sentences to
proceed. Today’s ruling allows
the American Civil Liberties
Union and ACLU of Michigan to
prove that Michigan’s sentencing
scheme that denies children a
meaningful opportunity for
parole constitutes cruel and
unusual punishment and violates
their constitutional rights.