by Melissa Newland Mental health issues and suicide too often go hand in hand and one L’Anse mother is taking action to bring the issue to the forefront after the loss of her daughter. Shelley and Lyndon Ekdahl along with their family felt the devastating effects of this problem when their eldest daughter Shantell recently “saved herself by suicide” March 23, 2024, after battling mental health issues for many years. “Committed suicide—that is a phrase that should never be used. There are other ways to say it,” commented Shelley. “This is the beginning of how we should speak of suicide and what she was going through. Shantell made several attempts to save herself by admitting herself into a psychiatric ward in Green Bay twice, seeing a therapist and doctor for her mental health and being prescribed medications for treatment, eating healthy and exercising to maintain a healthy baseline; all of which were not effective and ultimately led her to make this decision.” To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.

by Melissa Newland Beautifully worked regalia full of color, beadwork, and bells could be seen at L’Anse Area School (LAS) last week as students learned about Native American culture. Thanks to the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) and its KBIC Promise Neighborhoods Program, LAS students were able to participate in a powwow and learn about Indigenous ways. The event took place at LAS’s gymnasium Thursday, March 28, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. where all students were invited to wear regalia. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.

by Melissa Newland After serving the L’Anse Area School (LAS) for the past 30 years, Superintendent Susan Tollefson has decided it is time to turn over the reigns to someone new and enjoy retirement. At the last LAS board meeting held Monday, March 18, 2024, Tollefson submitted her official notification that she will be retiring effective Oct. 1, 2024. Tollefson’s career at LAS includes 21 years of teaching and 9 years as superintendent and she noted she enjoyed them all. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.

by Melissa Newland The small amount of snowfall/precipitation so far this winter has made for dry conditions here in the UP and local fire departments along with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) urges all to adhere to the burn permit restrictions that are in effect in the area. Last week, the L’Anse Fire Department (LFD) noted it was called to a small brush fire alongside US-41. The crew headed out the morning of March 15, 2024, to assess the situation. “It took us a bit to find it as it had gone out before we got there. But it was 10:30 on a somewhat frosty morning,” stated the LFD Facebook page noting, “The fire looked to be automotive related (possibly a bearing failure) that ignited several ‘spot’ fires over a distance of 100 feet or more. We counted ten-plus small fires that ignited. We were very fortunate that it was a cold morning, or this had the potential to be disastrous. Please, please, please be fire smart out there this weekend”. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.

by Melissa Newland New playground equipment will soon be installed at the Baraga State Park through a community playground build program. The Baraga State Park announced at the end of February that the project was able to be accomplished through a partnership with the Michigan Army National Guard for the community playground  build program and will take place June 2nd through the 7th at Baraga State Park. Baraga State Park authorities noted that the National Guard will lend their expertise to construct and install the brand-new playground system in the campground. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.

by Melissa Newland The L’Anse Junior High band recently participated for their first time at Band and Orchestra Festival which was held at Houghton High School last week. According to the Michigan Schools Band & Orchestra Association’s (MSBOA) website, www.msboa.org, “At Band and Orchestra Festival, students have the opportunity for ensembles from member schools to perform a program of three pieces for adjudication, one of which must be from MSBOA’s required list. District-level festivals are held at the end of February through the beginning of March, with this one being held Feb. 29, 2024. Each group is evaluated by three performance judges and one sight-reading judge. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.

by John Raffel It’s an election year and Baraga County clerk Wendy Goodreau reminds individuals of various deadlines for filing for various offices. Filing deadline for partisan county and  township candidates is April 23 at 4 p.m. for the August ballot. Filing deadline for precinct delegates is May 7, at 4 p.m. for the August ballot. Filing deadline for candidates without political party affiliation seeking partisan office is July 18, at 4 p.m. for the November ballot. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.

by Porter Davis As most Yoopers could tell you, winter is never consistent in northern Michigan, but rarely is it so tame as it has been this year. Most people would consider a mild winter to be a blessing, and perhaps in most places that is true, but here where we’re so accustomed to cold winters, most businesses plan their best times around the darker months. When faced with a winter that hardly leaves snow on the ground, decades old establishments are  struggling to find ways to operate. Beyond ice fishing, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing,  there exists the restaurants that feed us, the hotels that provide a warm bed, and the shops with fishing supplies. The bay is devoid of the dozens of ice shacks that typically dot it in the heart of February. Snowmobile trails are practically nonexistent and thus tourism is taking a huge hit. With March right around the corner, we may yet get a big storm or two, but the likelihood that our winter is already over is all too apparent. Beyond commercial industries that everyone is familiar with, the warm weather brings an even greater threat to the state economy. Logging has been a part of life in the UP since the land was first  settled. Logging with modern machinery and vehicles typically requires the logging  companies to adhere to strict rules and regulations to preserve the land for further use and relogging over time. When the ground freezes, heavy equipment doesn’t damage the  ground and loggers are able to do some of their most profitable work in the winter. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.  

by Christy Miron  Sacred Heart School Principal National Catholic Schools Week was celebrated by staff and students at Sacred Heart School (SHS) in L’Anse who participated as part of the nationwide celebration of Catholic education. The event took place Jan. 28 through Feb. 3, with fun activities for students and faculty alike, including a school-wide service project and giving appreciation for the work teachers do every day. “Catholic Schools Week is a favorite for all each year,” said SHS  Principal Christy Miron. “Students had the opportunity to put aside their uniforms for the week and dress according to each day’s theme.” To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.