Warden permit would OK pellets; DEQ public hearing at LAS Jan. 23

Tammy
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A session of Baraga County Circuit Court on Friday , Jan. 11, 2019, was packed with pleas, arraignments and motions. Above, Genevieve Lynn Meyers of L’Anse, right, pleads guilty to a methamphetamine possession count. She also faces a preliminary exam in 97th District Court on Feb. 12 on a 1st Degree Felony Murder count arising from the death of two year-old Walker Meyers in December, 2017. L-r, Probation Agent Scott Dewar, Prosecutor Joseph O’Leary, Public Defender David Gemignani and Meyers. She is in Baraga County Jail on a $1 million bond for the murder case.

by Barry Drue
A public comment period and public hearing are set by the Department of Environmental Quality’s Air Quality Division (AQD) in regard to the L’Anse Warden Electric Co. Convergen, owner of the L’Anse biomass electric generator, wants to add its engineered fuel pellets into the fuel stream at Warden. The plant is permitted to burn natural gas, wood chips, wood fines and bark, chipped tires and creosote-treated railroad ties. Convergen makes its pellets from 60-70 percent fiber/paper material, and 30-40 percent plastic material. Convergen has been permitted to test use of its pellets at Warden, and is now applying for a Permit To Install (PTI) to burn them on a permanent basis. Convergen is seeking to burn up to 50,000 tons of pellets per year. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.

Rep. Markkanen bids goodbye

Tammy
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STANDING OVATION–was given to Greg Markkanen after he said a few words of parting to Baraga Area School students and staff on Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019. Markkanen recently won the seat of State House of Representatives, 110th District, and has retired officially as a teacher at BAS.

 

by Melissa Newland
Congratulations were given and a few tears were shed at the Baraga Area School (BAS) as staff, students, and community members gathered to witness the swearing-in ceremony of BAS teacher Greg Markkanen, recently  elected State Representative of Michigan’s 110th State House District. Markkanen’s last official day of teaching at BAS took place Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019, with the ceremony being held at the end of the school day. “It brings it all home to have this at BAS and gives some closure and a step towards the future,” said Markkanen. Markkanen has been a teacher at BAS for the past four and a half years and even on the last day used the event as part of a Civics lesson for students.  To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.

Murder charged in child’s death

Tammy
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L’Anse students show off the new Haas Mini Mill computer numerical control machine that is installed in the L’Anse IE building. Purchase was possible through the ISD’s CTE millage. Students are, l-r, Jaiden Kaurala, Austin Sikkila, Tommy Rasanen and Tony Owens. Teacher Tony Arens is at right.

 

by Barry Drue
Genevieve Lynn Meyers, 37, of L’Anse , was arraigned in 97th District Court Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018, by acting district judge Timothy Brennan on a count of 1st Degree Felony Murder. Brennan was at the courthouse in L’Anse and Meyers was on Polycam from Baraga County Jail where she is held on $1 million bond. Meyers is charged with causing the death of two-year old Walker Meyers a year ago. Meyers had earlier applied for guardianship of the child, who is her brother’s son, and had been awarded guardianship in Baraga County Probate Court. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.

2018 newsmakers take a final bow

Tammy
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SPECIAL DELIVERY–The 440-foot heavy-lift cargo ship, “Palabora” sailed from Italy to L’Anse to deliver 10 generating engines for Upper Michigan Energy Resources Corp. (UMERC) power plants in Negaunee and Pelkie. Many tracked the ship’s progress over its nearly one-month cruise.

by Nancy Besonen
Happy New Year! Before we go there the Sentinel would like to lead its readers back to a time—Jan. 1, 2018 to be exact—when we’d all just received our annual budget of 365 days. The world was our oyster! For some, it was your common clam. This yearly recap features top stories from the first half of 2018, with the balance playing out next week. From good to bad to in between, we are all of us newsmakers. Here’s to the ones who made it into print. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.

Special election in future? Next regular election would be two years away

Tammy
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MICHIGAMME VISIT–Two sisters sat on Santa’s lap during his visit to Michigamme. Gloria Manier, age four, left, and Verna, age three pose with Santa on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018.

by Melissa Newland
With the next regular election still two years away, L’Anse Township and its voters may not want to wait that long to decide on the fate of a possible wind farm in the Huron Mountains. Confirmation came from Township Clerk Brian Jentoft at the Dec. 12, 2018 meeting that he verified 410 petition signatures. The petition concerns a referendum on zoning ordinance amendments for wind turbines. The township board discussed when an election could take place at its meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018. “I don’t think we want to wait two years to have this election,” said Supervisor Pete Magaraggia. Planning Commission Chairman Roy Kemppainen, who was also at the meeting, agreed with Magaraggia stating, “It’s going to  muddy the waters for two years and let’s get it over with one way or the other. That is my personal opinion.” To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.

Reid gifts bring music, movement to Bayside

Tammy
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SPREADING CHEER–Left to right, Dawn Supanich, Deb Merrill, Betty Reid and Dick Utnehmer display gifts of MP3 players, headsets and exercise tapes Reid Funeral Service & Chapel is giving to Bayside Village at Christmas.

by Nancy Besonen
Reid Funeral Service and Chapel is bringing tidings of comfort and joy to Bayside Village this Christmas season. On Friday, Dec. 7, 2018 Reid gifted Bayside with two MP3 players and headsets and exercise videos for its residents. The MP3’s store up to 1,000 songs and are especially soothing to dementia patients. The DVD’s help patients get their move on. “We’ve always given to local organizations,” said Dawn Supanich at Reid. “At Bayside we gave gifts for residents at Christmas, and just dropped them off. We thought it would be a good idea to go to Bayside and ask what they’d like. Organizations always have some need.” Activities Director Deb Merrill said Bayside Village already has some MP3 players and DVD’s, but more of both would help spread the joy this holiday season, and beyond. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.

LHS Robotics works toward competition

Tammy
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FIRST TEAM–LHS FIRST robotics team members, l-r, include Noah Aleo, Coach Cara Wightman, Ethan Hansen, Alexis Aleo, Darien Francois, Tristyn Aleo, Sienna Stein, Seth Perry, Donnie Paquette and Shelby Harrison. The team will be at work this Sunday at a fund raising breakfast at Skipper’s.

 

by Nancy Besonen
The L’Anse High School Robotics Team is working its way up to competition. Teammates, family members and Coach Cara Wightman will be serving guests at a benefit breakfast this Sunday, Dec. 9 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Skipper’s Bar & Grill on Front Street in L’Anse. Proceeds will help pay the way for students to compete in upcoming FIRST Robotics  Competitions. The acronym stands “For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology,” and the program is flourishing world-wide. At the high school level it challenges  Students to build and program/operate robots to perform specified tasks, working in alliances of three school teams vs. three others. You can pick your battles, but you can’t choose your
allies. Consequently, six robots share the ring at the same time, all trying to perform the same tasks in a matter of minutes, precisely two and-a-half in 2018. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.

More questions than comments

Tammy
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Community tradition–Bethel United Pentecostal Church’s Thanksgiving dinner returned this year after a two-year absence. The community really comes together in donating toward the free turkey dinner, preparing it, serving in and delivering meals. United Lutheran Church provided its basement kitchen facilities. Part of the crew volunteering on Thanksgiving is pictured. The meal has become a huge success. By 10 a.m. Thursday morning there were 400 to-go orders being packed up and delivered. Meals are delivered to the hospital, Bayside Village and businesses that are open on Thanksgiving. “We served over 700 dinners–our most successful ever. I can not express how thankful we are,” said Bethel Paster Terry Langston.

by Melissa Newland

Public comment was first on the agenda at the last L’Anse Township Planning Commission (LTPC) meeting with more questions asked than comments given, along with some public interruption sending some board members out for a recess. Fran Whitman started off the comment section, noting that LTPC meeting minutes have not been published publically and questioned the committee about the process and timeline of publishing meeting  minutes. Kemppainen noted at the Nov. 21, 2018, meeting that Secretary Dan Robillard will be posting all approved meeting minutes on the bulletin board at the L’Anse Township Hall in the future. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.

L’Anse Township amends wind turbine setbacks; Board discusses ambulance costs, EMT’s, legal marijuana

Tammy
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Canvassers review election–The Baraga County Board of County Canvassers convened Monday, Nov. 19, 2018, at the administration Building to review the Nov. 6 General Election. L-r, Lillian Perrow, County Clerk Wendy Goodreau explaining the process to new canvasser Joan Bugni, Harold Ripple and John Drennan. Goodreau noted after the canvass was complete, “The Baraga County Board of County Canvassers met today and certified the General Election. There are no changes to the results sent in a previous report.”

 

by Melissa Newland
The L’Anse Township Board approved the L’Anse Township Planning Commission’s (LTPC) recommendation to amend the setback distance from participating properties for Large Wind Energy Conversion Systems (LWECS) in its zoning ordinance. The change was approved by a 4-1 vote at a meeting held by the board Nov. 12, 2018 at the L’Anse Township Hall after a debate as to whether a public hearing was held previously on the matter. Township Supervisor Pete Magaraggia opposed. Trustee and LTPC Liaison Brian Kissel noted that the committee voted for the recommendation with a 6-1 vote to accept the setbacks at its last meeting in October. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.

Wind referendum moving forward

Tammy
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PETITION SUBMITTED–A petition with 410 names of L’Anse Township registered voters was submitted to L’Anse Township Clerk Brian Jentoft, left, on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018. Friends of the Huron Mountains is seeking a public vote on the zoning Amendments that would allow an industrial wind farm on Weyerhaueser land. Friends and volunteers collecting signatures are, l-r, Burt Mason, Robert Kissel, Catherine Andrews, Jim Haun, Pat Stein, Linda Kinnunen, Ron Stiebe, Chris Kokko, Peg Ekdahl, Joe Bollech and Jeff Loman. Picture submitted by Burt Mason.

 

The Friends of the Huron Mountains’ petition seeking a public vote on the zoning amendments for L’Anse Township is moving forward. “Friends” is a group formed to oppose the proposed Summit Lake Wind Farm project on Weyerhaueser forest land in L’Anse Township. Members turned in a petition seeking a referendum to L’Anse Township Clerk Brian Jentoft on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018. He approved the names of registered voters. “The petitions were presented to me on  Friday,” Jentoft said. “There were 410 names. I took the August primary voter list and looked it up there.” “The next step will be to call the Michigan Township Association and the Bureau of Elections and ask them what should be done next,” Jentoft said. “In my years in office we’ve never done this. I imagine there will be an election in the Spring of 2019.” To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.

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