THEY’RE ESSENTIAL–Erickson True Value & Lumber crew is assisting customers with home repairs, projects and tools and parts. L-r, Riley Koski, Kristy LaFernier, owner Tina Heikkinen, Garrett Hansen and Jack Fish. The newer employees are learning the business. Koski has been there 10 months, Hansen, eight months and Fish, five weeks.
by Barry Drue
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Executive Order 2020-21 went into effect on March 24, 2020 at 12:01 a.m. That put the brakes on non-essential businesses in an attempt to slow the spread of Coronavirus. The Sentinel staff checked in on several area businesses last week. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.
JOINING THE FIGHT—L’Anse Manufacturing, Inc. is working to help save lives in the Coronavirus pandemic by machining two components for ventilators. Master Machinist Brian Rantanen is machining a part on a Haas 5 Axis CNC Milling Center. LMI is running the ventilator parts around the clock. They come in as rough castings from a foundry in Dayton, OH.
by Barry Drue
Machining precision parts for medical equipment is nothing new to L’Anse Manufacturing, Inc. (LMI). The company machines precise parts from castings for a wide variety of applications from medical to automotive to aviation. These days the mission is more important than ever. L’Anse Manufacturing had been machining about 250 parts for medical ventilators a year for a new customer who has worked with LMI for about a year and a half. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.
MOBILE CLINIC—A bus with a one-bed mobile clinic is set up in back of Baraga County Memorial Hospital. It will be used for “well” patients requiring routine services such as medical checks for CDL licenses, childhood wellness and vaccinations, etc. The mobile clinic will help keep well patients out of the hospital, should the Coronavirus pandemic arise here. L-r are Tom Van Ess, Director of Provider Services, Clinic Nursing Supervisor and Case Manager Sue Ingram, and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Todd Ingram.
by Barry Drue
Baraga County Memorial Hospital staff is equipping a mobile clinic for use during the Coronavirus threat. The one-bed clinic will be used to see healthy patients who need routine services. Hospital staff borrowed the clinic vehicle from Michigan Works in Delta County. It is set up behind the hospital in the parking lot. Physicians Clinic Nursing Supervisor and Case Manager Sue Ingram said, “We will utilize it for healthy people, for well child exams, vaccinations. People will call the clinic (524-6118) and will be screened for COVID over the phone.” To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.
Deep cleaning–As soon as the emergency statewide school closure to help prevent spread of Coronavirus took effect last Monday, March 16, 2020, there was a huge task awaiting custodial staff in every building. By last Thursday the crew at L’Anse Area Schools was working its way through the elementary and high school facilities, wiping everything down with disinfectant. At work in CJ Sullivan Elementary were, l-r, Patrick McLaren, Jody Davis and Mike Roth.
In light of the growing public health crisis regarding the Coronavirus disease , the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community is temporarily closing non-essential tribal governmental offices and both of the Ojibwa Casinos in Marquette and Baraga. Closures began on March 21, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. and run through April 12, 2020. The Tribal Council will continue to assess the situation as the crisis unfolds. Casino and government employees will be compensated during this temporary closure to help ensure their financial security. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.
COMFORTING THE KIDS–Before students let out last Friday, administrators and school board members from Baraga Area Schools and Chris Swartz, President of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, held an assembly in the library to address their questions and concerns about the coronavirus.
Baraga, L’Anse, Sacred Heart and Arvon schools are out but not down as adminstration and teachers keep lines of communication open for learning. L’Anse Sentinel staff checked in with all four schools both immediately before and then soon after closure about their plans for the future, Baraga Area Schools “Truly, there are more questions than answers right now.” Baraga Area Schools (BAS) Superintendent Rich Sarau summed it up shortly after returning from a special meeting for Intermediate School District (ISD) superintendents Monday, March 16, 2020. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.
CITY LIGHTS–Sparkle on the Basic 2 Group’s performance of “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” this past weekend.
by Nancy Besonen
Members of the L’Anse-Baraga Figure Skating Club shone in this past weekend’s performances of “City Lights.” The annual late-winter show is the icing on the cake for the club that begins skating instruction the first week in November. Four short months later, skaters ranging in age from toddlers to teens dazzle the crowds at their program with numbers choreographed by volunteers and professional staff. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.
YIG EARLY CONFERENCE–Senior Alana Jorgenson above was one of four students who traveled to Lansing Feb. 20-23 to attend the Early YIG Conference. Jorgenson participated in the leadership program this year, offering guidance to those who needed it. Other members who participated and traveled to Lansing were Makenna Crawford, Karissa Krajnak and Isabel Ostermeyer.
L’Anse Area School (LAS) Youth In Government (YIG) students traveled to Lansing to attend the Early Lansing YIG conference. The conference was held Thursday, Feb. 20 through Sunday, Feb. 23 in Lansing with four L’Anse YIG students attending, including Alana Jorgenson, Makenna Crawford, Karissa Krajnak, and Isabel Ostermeyer. Some YIG students chose not to attend this year due to the recent loss of the two L’Anse students and hospitalization of a third just previous to the scheduled trip. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.
IN MEMORY, HOPE–Homestead Graphics of Baraga created and donated banners displayed at last Tuesday night’s basketball game in L’Anse. Posted at the back of the gym, they served as a focal point for students and community members who came together in support of the youths’ families, and for one another. A boys’ game slated for Calumet that night was postponed so students could be together.
by Nancy Besonen
The L’Anse High School (LHS) gym was packed to its rafters last Tuesday following a tragedy that shook the community to its core. Two LHS seniors, 17-year-olds Dylan Roberts of Aura and Christopher Turpeinen of Pelkie, had died the day before and 17-year-old LHS junior Hunter Pelon of Baraga was still fighting for her life after the three were found in a vehicle that was still running. Asphyxiation was suspected. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.
BLESS THIS HOUSE–Volunteer Robbie Schultz, center, greets the crowd that filled the Ripple Recovery Residence for its open house, which included blessings and thanks last Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020. L-r are Rev. Nathan Reed, Pastor John Henry, Schultz, Arlene Ripple and Denise Cadeau.
by Nancy Besonen
The Ripple Recovery Residence received a warm welcome from the community at its open house Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020. Clergy, municipal leaders, Great Lakes Recovery Centers (GLRC) administrators and the public packed the building which will serve as home to women with substance abuse issues re-entering mainstream life. Tours were taken, blessings bestowed and snacks enjoyed by future friends and neighbors. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.
GOOD BEHAVIOR–CJ Sullivan students Zander Tammelin, Bentley VanHaecke, Dusk Bolo and Skylar Walitalo in snow fort. ‘What’s the Buzz’ program celebrates respectful bahavior, safe choices.
The L’Anse Area School (LAS) CJ Sullivan Elementary K-2 grades have been working on “What’s the Buzz,” a program which celebrates respectful, responsible and safe choices. Kindergarten through second grade students making the right choices were rewarded with three 30-minute rotation stations where they were able to participate in different activities. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.