by Porter Davis
Baraga County’s annual Lumberjack Days has been a central part of Independence Day for the area since the early 1970’s, though the tradition began in 1969. The original Lumberjack Days centered around the Lumberjack Dance in which a local queen was crowned and reigned in the festivities. These days, a new queen is crowned and opens the ceremony with a street dance where all are welcome. The 2023 Lumberjack Days began on Monday, July 3, at 6:30 p.m. and the new queen, Kianna Schroeder of Baraga, was crowned shortly. Following the ceremony, the street dance began and lasted until midnight.
The following day, the Fourth of July, was kicked off with a pancake breakfast by Baraga  Lions Club at Baraga Area Schools as well as a 5k run that had great turnout. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.

by John Raffel
Baraga County sheriff Joseph Brogan has announced two new deputy additions to the staff over the past several months. Brogan said Jamas Gustafson was hired by the Sheriff’s Office in September of 2022. Gustafson, according to the release, is a 2016 graduate of LaSalle High School, a 2018 Northern Michigan University graduate with an associates degree in Criminal Justice. It was added that Gustafson was an assistant football coach last fall with the L’Anse Junior High Football team. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.

by Porter Davis

No one wants to think about school shootings, let alone imagine one could happen in a small town like L’Anse, but that is a potential reality we all face. As firearms become the leading cause of death among children in the United States, with gun violence a significant factor, local emergency services must be prepared for the worst. On Wednesday, June 21, 2023, the full Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and law enforcement of Baraga County were drilled on their reactions and proficiencies in dealing with a potential active shooting situation at L’Anse Area Schools (LAS). LAS partially hosted the drill after nonparticipants had left for the day. Several students and staff volunteered to be faux victims of an armed assailant, fit with makeup and prosthetics to make the drill as real as possible. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.

by Melissa Newland
Fifth and sixth grade students from area schools were able to experience Camp 911 again this year during Bay Ambulance’s 23rd annual event. The program is a free two-day camp which Director Gary Wadaga noted has three goals, to teach injury prevention, CPR and bleeding control techniques, and to try to capture interest at an early age in the emergency services field to potentially use as a career field or be a volunteer. “We receive donations from local organizations and agencies to help underwrite the costs,” said Bay Ambulance Director Gary Wadaga. “We had a lot of great donations from local businesses and  community members.” To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.

by Melissa Newland
Overcast skies and rain along with slightly rough water didn’t dissuade those
who signed up to try to catch a big haul of fish and win big bucks and a chance
at $100,000 during the Keweenaw Bay Classic Fishing Tournament or the Baraga County Lake Trout Festival festivities 2023. The tournament coincided with free fishing weekend and was cohosted by the Baraga County Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Baraga County Next Gen Team. Events kicked off Friday, June 9, 2023, with a pre-tournament fishing tourney along with the last entrants registering for the Keweenaw Bay Classic
Fishing Tournament that evening. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.

by Melissa Newland
Joy and congratulations were in the air last week as the L’Anse High School class of 2023 wove their way through the streets of downtown L’Anse to the cheers of family, friends, and community members who lined the sidewalks during the Senior Parade. The graduating class of 56 students then gathered in the L’Anse Area School (LAS) gymnasium to receive their diplomas before a packed audience. The evening was warm and beautiful on  Thursday, June 1 as the LAS gym bleachers filled up with guests and the class of 2023 lined up by the gym doors waiting for the ceremony to begin at 7 p.m. LHS band members and
Director Aaron Poniatowski started the program with James D. Ployhar’s “Fanfare &
Processional,” announcing the senior’s entrance. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.

by Porter Davis
Walking into the gymnasium and seeing so many happy and excited families and teachers truly made the day of Baraga Area Schools (BAS) graduation feel special. Not just in that way that watching someone accomplish something makes you happy for them, but in a way that makes you realize they’re embarking on lifelong journeys that will be different and unique to every one of the graduates. The ceremony was held the evening of Friday, May 27, 2023. The atmosphere couldn’t have been more hopeful and excitedly anxious inside the hallway just before the graduates entered the gymnasium, each of them realizing this would be their last time lining up as a class. As the class entered through a purple and gold balloon archway, Edward Elgar’s Processional, “Pomp and Circumstance”, was played over the speakers. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.

by John Raffel
Ottawa Sportsman Club president Matt Waters is expecting sportsmen’s activities to be picking up in full force. “Trap and skeet shooting has started and pistol shooting has started too,” Waters said. “It’s more of a for-fun thing. We have skeet on Tuesday, trap on Wednesdays and pistol on Thursday. Anybody can come, members and nonmembers. Our turnouts have been good.” Waters has not had a chance to go fishing but recently went out turkey hunting and had success. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.

by Porter Davis
Walking along the shore and looking out over the bay, the weather was pleasant, and the lake was calm. The clouds were gray, but no rain would fall all day during the Wiikwedong
Collaborative Second Annual Children’s Water Walk which took place starting along the beach trail behind the Baraga Tribal Police Offices. Fisherman and ducks could be seen across the water enjoying the morning Wednesday, May 10, 2023, trying to catch their
lunch. Children laughed and played along the trail while guides and parents chatted about the beautiful scenery. In all, it was estimated that close to 100 people showed up to walk
for the water. The Tribal Council came out to walk with the children and families to teach them the importance of the natural waters. From drinking, fishing, washing, or just  swimming, the children were taught how the water needs to be kept clean and cared for,
for future generations. Terri Swartz, member of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC), director at the Head Start and organizer of the Childrens Water Walk, has been walking for the water for 13 years, and has walked in the Tribe’s Summer Water Walk every year since 2014. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.