Winter weather didn’t effect Little Brothers-Friends of the Elderly’s annual Thanskgiving Dinner at Baraga’s St. Ann’s Catholic Church. Little Brothers Executive Director Kathy Aten said 36 guests attended the sit-down dinner. Another 44 meals were delivered to seniors not able to make the trek into town. Aten said 38 people gave up part of their holiday to assist with the Baraga event. Overall, Little Brothers served diners at 10 sites from Ontonagon to Copper City to Marquette. Additionally, two hot meal delivery sites were part of the mix. Aten said a total of 420 guests were served along with 395 home deliveries. Volunteers tallied 430 to make the event a success.  To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.

by Nancy Besonen
Area residents who formerly contracted with Baraga County Road Commission for driveway snow plowing services are gearing up for a season of change. And most are finding the field of local contractors is mighty thin. Back in 1965 the Baraga County Road Commission (BCRC) adopted Act 387, allowing counties without a voted millage for snow removal to contract with owners of private driveways for snow plowing. The service was well received, peaking at 426 contracts in the winter of 1996. In 2002 the Road Commission quit accepting new contracts due to financial constraints. When regular snow plowing bills arrived in the fall of 2014, Baraga County’s remaining 138 contracting customers were informed the service would be discontinued for the winter of 2015. A committee of contract customers was swiftly assembled and appealed the commission’s decision, but the vote held. Road Commission Engineer Doug Mills cited reduced staff and funding, aging equipment and the desire to not compete with private contractors as contributing factors. Mills also noted the county would compile a list of local private snow plowing contractors which would be available the following spring. Former customers having difficulty finding contractors could request a copy by mail or at the Road Commission office on US-41 in L’Anse … To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.

by Nancy Besonen

All nursing hands were on deck last week for Baraga County Memorial Hospital’s Nursing Competency Fair. The annual event serves as a review for vital skills needed to do the job. It also allows staff a golden opportunity to gather and exchange ideas for maintaining and enhancing care at the health facility. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.

by Barry Drue
The long-abandoned and vandalized Camp Baraga minimum security inmate work camp is being razed. A crew from MD Contracting of Baraga was demolishing buildings at the old camp last  week. The tall chain link fence has been taken down, the loops of razor wire carefully removed and coiled, and asbestos materials removed and sealed.  To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.