by Melissa Newland You’re never too young to learn about fire safety and staff and students at Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College’s (KBOCC) Little Eagles (Migiziinsag) Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) were excited to welcome the L’Anse Fire Department (LFD) crew members and their equipment when they stopped in for an educational visit in October. “The L’Anse Fire Department brought along their fire truck and a variety of equipment to teach students about fire safety and the important work firefighters do in our community,” said KBOCC Little Eagles GSRP Director/Teacher Kim Swanson. Swanson noted the day started with an engaging presentation where firefighters discussed the essential principles of fire safety and emphasized the importance of having a fire escape plan at home. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.

by John Raffel Shanelle Saunders, Acting Public Affairs Officer for the U.S. Forest Service, provided Summit Lake fire update on Friday. “A mapping flight over the fire yesterday afternoon enabled a more accurate size assessment which is estimated to encompass 304 acres within the McCormick Wilderness,” the update stated. “Fire growth occurred days before the rains that were received on October 23. A flight to estimate the area had not been available until the afternoon of October 24. Even with yesterday’s dry weather there was no indication of additional fire growth. Rain was received overnight. At this time, there are no threatened structures.” To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.

by Melissa Newland To help study and characterize the atmospheric structure of the Keweenaw, scientists and students from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Michigan Technological University (MTU) teamed up to bring specialized equipment in the form of a SPARC trailer to the Meadowbrook Arena in L’Anse and held an open house. The open house was held Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. and community members attended to see what it was all about. The SPARC trailer coincides with a four-year EPA research project which began July 2023. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.

by John Raffel He was a local legend as a L’Anse High School coach. Administrators, former coaches and former players fondly recall Jerry Bugni who passed away on Oct. 7. Bugni coached sports for 55 years including football, basketball and track and was a former Athletic Director. He was a member of the U.P. Sports Hall of Fame and Michigan High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.

by Tammy Gadbury Saturday was a beautiful day for the 15th annual Domestic Violence Walk honoring the memory of Chelsey LaFernier. LaFernier, a 23-year-old KBIC Tribal member and mother of two, lost her life to domestic violence in Jan 2009. Eighty participants were greeted with a welcome from Tribal President Doreen Blaker and a number by the Summer Cloud Singers. A large banner that read October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month carried by two young women led the walkers down the road. Walkers traveled down Lyons Street in Baraga and through the neighborhood ending up at the Niiwin Akeaa Center Gymnasium where participants were greeted with more drumming, a feast, and raffles. Volunteers spent hours collecting donations for a raffle, including artwork, gift cards, small kitchen appliances, and tools. There was also a 50/50 raffle to raise money for Domestic Violence victims. Speakers this year included Vicki Dowd and Rhea Joseph who bravely shared their experiences with the crowd. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.