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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
High interest–Voters across the nation and certainly, across Baraga County had lots of interest in casting ballots in the General Election on Nov. 6, 2018. Early in the day the polling was not crowded but steady at the L’Anse Township Hall, above. Key races have shaped up there for supervisor and trustee seats. L’Anse and Baraga school districts also had important millage proposals. Results were not in by press deadline.
by Melissa Newland
Unofficial results of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) primary election are in. Registered voters now have a choice between 10 candidates from the Baraga District and 8 from the L’Anse District for tribal council and three candidates for the position of chief judge. Votes were cast on Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018, with 60 percent of registered voters participating in this election. Candidates for Baraga District tribal council seats were Warren “Chris” Swartz, Jr. (incumbent), Elizabeth “Beth” Connor, Marty Curtis, Jr., James “JD” Denomie, Sue Ellen “Suzie” Elmblad, Gerald H. Friisvall, Kim Klopstein, Michael P. Lahti and Jerry Magnant “Mayo.” Candidates for L’Anse District tribal council seats were Susan J. LaFernier (incumbent), Jennifer Misegan (incumbent), Lyndon Ekdahl, Floyd J. Forcia, Jr., Dale F. Goodreau, David Haataja, Jean (Halverson) Jokinen and Chris C. Voakes. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.
Ghastly graveyard–Thrill seekers of all ages enjoyed the annual Howl-O-Scream haunted house held at Meadowbrook Arena in L’Anse the past three weekends every Friday and Saturday. Approximately 900 people attended the three-weekend event, coming from as far as Marquette.
by Nancy Besonen
Electors in the Nov. 6, 2018, election will cast votes for school board of education members for L’Anse Area Schools, Baraga Area Schools, and Arvon Township Schools. The L’Anse Sentinel contacted two new candidates in L’Anse, and three in a contested race in Arvon to request background information, and to allow them to weigh in on issues affecting schools. Their replies follow: L’Anse Area Schools Two candidates are seeking two open seats for the L’Anse Area Schools Board of Education. Katie Waara and Brooke Osterman, both newcomers, are on the ballot. Stepping down after their six-year terms are Anne Koski and Jason Ayres. The L’Anse candidates were provided the following questionnaire: 1. What is your background? (education, work experience, family) 2. Why are you seeking a seat on the school board? 3. What do you feel are some of the issues currently impacting the schools? 4. Decreasing enrollment is a factor across the UP. How would you deal with the financial impact? To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.
INTENT TO PETITION–Bob Kissel, right, a member of the Friends of the Huron Mountains, submits an intent to file petitions to Township Clerk Brian Jentoft. The petition is to seek a referendum regarding amendments to the L’Anse Township Zoning Ordinance. Photo submitted by Burt Mason.
by Melissa Newland
A notice of intent to file a petition seeking a referendum regarding amendments to the L’Anse Township zoning ordinance was given to Township Clerk Brian Jentoft by Friends of the Huron Mountains (FHM) member, and township resident, Robert Kissel. FMH has publically voiced its opinion at many meetings regarding the changes to the ordinance and previously stated it would file a petition to block the change if needed. The notice of intent was accomplished by Kissel on Oct. 19, 2018, at the L’Anse Township Hall. The intent to file petition is in regards to the zoning amendments on wind energy made by the L’Anse Township Board on Oct. 11, 2018. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.
