‘First step to adulthood’; Baraga graduated 35 Friday

Tammy
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LAST LOOK–Baraga Principal Tim Marczak climbed on a table in the small gym where the Class of 2018 was preparing for graduation. He got a selfie of himself and the senior class. Baraga graduated 35 at its 127th commencement on Friday evening, May 25, 2018. 1998 Baraga grad John Koskinen delivered the commencement address.

by Barry Drue
Thirty-five seniors received their diplomas at Baraga High School’s 127th commencement on Friday, May 25, 2018. The class was led by Valedictorian Zachary Welch and Salutatorian JeriAnn Lanala-Tervo. Welch characterized the moment as “the first step to adulthood”, and the time when graduates “get to make our own responsibilities”. He noted, “No class complains as much as we do!” but that “each can fend for ourselves”. The valedictorian reminded his classmates how close they are to the people who taught them what they know, their teachers. Welch said students are friends with teachers and thanked the staff for that. Lanala-Tervo said school days have “been a crazy trip, but I’m glad I had you guys with me”. She looked back to events past that seem so important at the time—such as the drama of a couple break-up in sixth grade at Camp Nesbit. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.

L’Anse students earn honors

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DOUBLE HONORS–Sarah Dix, left, and Erika Tollefson, right, were both honored with the William Jarvey Memorial award at LAS Honors Convocation.

 

by Melissa Newland
L’Anse Area School (LAS) students were recognized at Honors Convocation on Wednesday, May 16, 2017 at a ceremony in the gymnasium at 7 p.m. The seventh through twelfth grade band  directed by Aaron Poniatowski started off the award ceremony with a number by Bob Cotter called “Celebration March.” The student processional was led by the senior class valedictorian Sarah Dix and salutatorian Caleb Hiltunen. LAS Superintendent Susan Tollefson welcomed family, friends, and students to the ceremony, and the LAS band again performed, this time a selection by Michael Sweeney called “Aladdin.” LAS Student Service Director Darrin Voskuhl introduced this year’s speaker at the event. Michael Perrault, a 2000 L’Anse High School (LHS) graduate, was the  honored speaker at the ceremony. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.

From Trieste, Italy to L’Anse: Power plant generating engines on the way

Tammy
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HEADING TO L’ANSE–The 440-foot heavy-lift cargo ship “Palabora” left Italy May 1 for its ultimate destination, L’Anse. It is expected at the CertainTeed dock by the end of May. Palabora is bringing 10 generating engines for UMERC power plants in Pelkie and Negaunee. A major operation to truck three engines to Pelkie and seven to Negaunee will take place from L’Anse in July.

by Barry Drue
An international effort is underway to transport 10 huge natural gas electrical generating engines to L’Anse. The 440-foot international heavy lift cargo ship Palabora left Italy May 1, 2018, with the engines and is expected to land at the dredged CertainTeed dock by the end of May. The site marine.traffic. com showed the vessel’s most recent stop was Puerto de Vigo, Spain, last Friday, May 11, 2018. The Wartsila Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines (RICE) are destined for two power plants under construction by Upper Michigan Energy Resources Corp (UMERC). Three of the 325-ton engines will be delivered to the A.J. Mihn Generating Station on Sarya Road in Pelkie. The other seven will be trucked from L’Anse to a new UMERC power plant in Negaunee. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.

Ten new members join L’Anse NHS chapter

Tammy
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LAS INDUCTEES–New National Honor Society members for the 2017-2018 school year are, back l-r, Payton Hulkkonen, Abby LaForest, Samantha Peltola, Anna Menge, Kyle Usimaki, Sarah Mills, Mandy Gransell, Star Edwards, Camryn Hahn and Peyton Holma. The 2017-18 members are, front l-r, Jessica Wickstrom, Vice-President Erika Tollefson, Secretary Kelsey Lindstrom, President Sarah Dix and Public Relations Representative Megan Hendrickson. New members were inducted May, 2, 2018 at LAS.

by Melissa Newland
The L’Anse Excelsior Chapter of the National Honor Society (NHS) held its annual induction of new members, recognizing students for their scholarship, leadership, character and service with induction into the Society. The event was held at the L’Anse Area School (LAS) cafetorium May 2, 2018 at 7 p.m., with ten new members being inducted this year. The students who earned the honor this spring were Star Edwards, Mandy Gransell, Camryn Hahn, Peyton Holma, Payton Hulkkonen, Abby LaForest, Anna Menge, Sarah Mills, Samantha Peltola, and Kyle Usimaki. NHS is the nation’s premier organization established to recognize outstanding high school students. The LAS chapter of NHS was chartered in 1975. They began partnering in the Michigan Department of Transportation’s Adopt-A-Highway program during the 1991-1992 school year. In 2001, NHS began coordinating the blood drive with the Marquette Regional Blood Center at LAS. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.

County supports RES wind farm

Tammy
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COMMENTS, QUESTIONS–The Baraga County Board allowed comments and took questions on the RES Summit wind proposal at a special meeting on Friday, April 27, 2018. The board then voted unanimously in support of the project through a two-page resolution. L’Anse Township has the authority to determine the fate of the project.

by Barry Drue
In a full court room Friday, April 27, 2018, the Baraga County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a two-page resolution supporting the proposed RES Summit Lake Wind Project. To date the county board and L’Anse Area Schools Board of Education have voted to support the wind farm. The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Tribal Council has voted to oppose it. Ultimately L’Anse Township’s board will determine the fate of the project. L’Anse Township’s Planning and Zoning Commission has voted to remove the possibility of a special use permit for wind turbines in Forestry-zoned areas, which is where they are planned on Weyerhaeuser land. A public hearing on the recommendation to remove the special use permit option will be held before the township board votes, both of which are expected in May. (The scheduled special meeting and public hearing for May 2 has been postponed. It will be rescheduled later in May. See legal advertisement on page 3.) At Friday’s special meeting of the commissioners Chairman Mike Koskinen set the ground rules for discussion of the wind issue prior to the county board’s vote.  He maintained control over the meeting and did not let the discussion devolve into back-and-forth claims between those in the audience. The discussion lasted about 40 minutes. Some mentioned a feeling of “betrayal” on the part of the board, and lack of transparency. When the board was asked if it had data regarding the feasibility of the RES proposal, Koskinen said, “I’m
sure it’s out there or they wouldn’t be pursuing it”. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.

‘Annie’ rocks the house!

Tammy
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CURTAIN CALL–The cast and director of “Annie Play Will Do” included front row, l-r, Alexis Aleo, Noah Aleo, Drew Dorsky, Mara Grentz, Callie Frisk, Jayce Forcia, Camryn Hahn and Abbey Nankervis. Middle row, l-r are Darien Francois, Kayla Hoffman, Kyle Usimaki, Chloe LaForest and Rachael Velmer. Top, l-r are Director Denise Laakko, Ethan Hansen and Breanna Hoffman.

by Nancy Besonen
The L’Anse High School Drama club delivered this past weekend with its production of “Annie Play Will Do.” The comedy rocked the house at its Friday, April 20, 2018 opening followed by performances Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. Following the Friday night opening, Director Denise Laakko was pleased with a fuller house than usual and its appreciation for the production. “What a great audience!” Laakko said after final bows. “Usually Friday night (attendance) is a little lower. This was a really nice crowd!” Her performers earned high praise as well for hitting their comedic marks. The talented and versatile cast cut loose as players in two separate productions, “Annie Get Your Gun” and “Little Orphan Annie,” accidentally combined into one rollicking comedy that all worked out in the end. Ethan Hansen and Breanna Hoffman played the leads as Paul and Laura, high school sweethearts who open the play by breaking up. Due to a  miscommunication, their flustered drama teacher learns she has just one day to cast, practice and stage the high school play. Of course, she turns to the kids. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.

KBOCC Career Fair packed

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Bus loads of H.S. juniors, seniors met with employers at job fair last Friday.

by Barry Drue
The first Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College Career Fair was a huge success on Friday, April 6, 2018. The event packed the OCC Wabanung Campus. KBOCC Business Department Chair Megan Haataja and staff organized the career fair. “We had 50 businesses (and organizations) here and over 150 participants came. It was definitely a success,” Haataja said. “We went from a few businesses in a classroom to the whole place. L’Anse High School sent students, Baraga brought two buses of juniors and seniors, Chassell school and Ontonagon also sent students to the career fair. “The majority of the businesses that are here are offering jobs and hiring. Others are more promotional,” Haataja said. Among those looking for employees was Baraga-Houghton-Keweenaw Child Development. Gwen Elmblad and Caroline Penny represented the organization at the Career Fair.  To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.

Eliason grateful member of the ‘Survivor’s Club’

Tammy
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BOB & DEBBIE–are in the war together against his esophageal cancer, with an amazing amount of community support for which the couple is deeply grateful. Bob was declared cancer-free following surgery to remove his esophagus in December.

by Nancy Besonen
Bob “Eel” Eliason is back to work. It doesn’t seem that big a deal. People do it every Monday morning. But the head of the L’Anse Village Department of Public Works has fought the battle of his life these past seven months with an outpouring of community support, and folks are heartened to see “Eel” back behind the wheel. Eliason was diagnosed Aug. 21, 2017, with T3 locally advanced esophageal cancer. He and his wife, Debbie, traveled to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN in early September for further testing and to chart the course for his treatment: Chemotherapy and radiation, followed by surgery to remove his esophagus. The Eliasons returned to Mayo shortly after to begin Bob’s course of radiation five days a week and chemotherapy one day a week. Treatment was delayed due to a lost battle with insurer, Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS), over the type of radiation recommended by Eliason’s oncologist.  To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.

Small schools have increased security

Tammy
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KEEPING AN EYE —Baraga school building has 48 security cameras in strategic locations. Principal Tim Marczak can monitor 32 of them with 16 images on each of two screens. The elementary school office has a screen that monitors 16 more views. The operator can zoom in on any image for a closer look.

by Nancy Besonen
Sacred Heart School (SHS) in L’Anse and Arvon Township School in Skanee work hard at keeping their students both safe and secure. Recent upgrades, training, drills and diligence are helping to arm both schools against the unthinkable. Principals Christy Miron from SHS and Lori Johnson from Arvon Township School spoke of the often intersecting paths their schools have taken toward greater security. Arvon Township School “Our entry doors are locked, and we have video cameras on the property,” said Johnson, who also teaches grades 3-6 at Arvon Township School. “We have a motion sensor so we know when someone has entered the driveway, and an audible alarm when someone is on the stairway.” Video cameras were installed by the front and back doors this past summer, Johnson said. The new technology features audible alarms that sound in the classrooms, similar to a doorbell, where a quick look at an i-pad or laptop by school staff provides a visual. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.

Baraga VBots compete in Esky

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PIT CREW–Members of the Baraga High School VBots team work between matches during FIRST Robotics Competition in Escanaba this past weekend. Pictured from l-r are Jeremy Brown, Alexis Hebert, Roger Hebert behind Alexis), Zach Welch on the floor, Kara Laramore, Ryan DesRochers, Katie Parker and Opal Ellsworth. Photos courtesy of Baraga lead mentor John Westman.

 

by Nancy Besonen
The Baraga High School (BHS) VBots wound up in the middle at FIRST Robotics Competition this past weekend in Escanaba. The acronym stands “For Inspiration of Science and Technology,” and Baraga placed a respectable 20th among 39 teams throughout upper and lower Michigan in Baraga’s second year at bats in robotics. FIRST is a world-wide organization promoting skills that will serve students into in the future, whatever their futures may hold. Working together to design and build a robot and compete with others teaches a wide range of lessons, from tool use to social skills to coding and more. John Westman and Eric Lauritsen serve as lead mentors or co-coaches for the team, with mentors Roger Herbert and Jeremy Brown. Team members who traveled to Escanaba included Katie Parker, Zach Welch, Opal Ellsworth, Alexis Hebert, Kara Laramore and Ryan DesRochers. The FIRST season got off to a rousing start with a launch at Houghton High School in January, including the reveal of an 80’s Arcade Games theme for 2018. Baraga’s VBots team began meeting soon after to create a robot that could hold its own, and  sometimes soar, in competition. The FIRST organization covers most of the cost of the first two years of competition. Team sponsors lend support after. Westman donated his coaching stipend back to the school this year to help cover travel costs so the young team could focus entirely on its robot. He traveled with the team to Escanaba. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.

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