GRAND ENTRY–Veterans present colors during Friday evening’s Grand Entry at the 38th annual KBIC Pow Wow in Baraga. High temperatures and humidity didn’t put a damper on the event which drew a large crowd of both participants and the viewing public.
by Nancy Besonen
Participants and visitors felt both the beat and the heat this past weekend at the 38th annual Keweenaw Bay Indian Community’s (KBIC) Maawanji-iding Pow Wow at the Ojibwa Campground north of Baraga. Temperatures nudging 90 degrees didn’t put a damper on the popular event which draws a wide following from near and far. KBIC member Lauri Denomie said she was told that 609 dancers took to the arena Saturday. A full 24 drums registered for the weekend. “The heat was 100 percent better than rain,” Denomie observed, noting the skies opened Saturday after dancing was done, then cleared again Sunday morning. The Pow Wow begins earlier in the week with traditional teachings and activities, then opens to the public with Friday evening’s first Grand Entry at 7 p.m. Three more Grand Entries follow at 1 and 7 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.
BLUEGRASS?TO?GOSPEL–This informal group of musicians drew a large group of listeners behind the Aura Hall at this year’s annual traditional music festival. Celebrating “40”, this year’s event included a wide variety of music and musicians from throughout the Upper Midwest.
The Aura Community Hall was the place to be for traditional music lovers on Friday and Saturday, July 15-16, 2016. The 40th annual Aura Jamboree included hours of great music both on stage and on the grounds and two nights of traditional dances lasting until midnight. “It was a wonderful time for a lot of people,” said Aura Community Hall Association President Glenda Hiltunen. “We didn’t get any complaints. One of the musicians, Don Rynholm, wasn’t going to be able to come. He surprised me and showed up late Friday. Afterward he said it was the best Jamboree he’s ever been to.” This year’s event was dedicated to the memory of Carol Brinkman, Penny Emery, Don Hawkin and Warren Brule. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.
ARTISTIC?FLAIR–Those heading down Main Street to the Broad Street intersection may have noticed some added color to the Mercantile Exchange building. A freshly painted mural adorns the wall. L’Anse officials are hoping to expand this initial work with additional projects. Pictured are Aleah Maskew, left, and Brittany Brown putting detail into the picture.
by Chris Ford
Pedestrians, motorists, and others may have noticed a little more color at the intersection of Main and Broad Streets in downtown L’Anse. Several weeks ago, a large mural appeared on the rear of the Mercantile Exchange building. A joint effort between our two area high school art teachers—Viktoria Klein of Baraga and Linda Lohman of L’Anse, and a half-dozen BHS advanced art students, produced the final product. L’Anse Village Manager Bob LaFave said the village contacted Lohman about the idea last fall. Klein said Lohman asked her to assist and things took off from there. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.
REMINDER–Bruce LaPointe and Jody Pittsley prepare to install one of two radar signs that indicate vehicle speed, and can flash a “SLOW DOWN” message. Signs are installed at each end of the Baraga Village U.S. 41 corridor. KBIC and village officials have pushed for a 45 mph speed limit, although state MDOT officials insist on a 55 mph limit.
by Chris Ford
Those traversing US-41 through Baraga may have noticed a new road sign at each end of the Baraga village business corridor. The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) installed two electronic signs June 28, 2016, that show vehicle speed and ask drivers to slow down if their vehicle is exceeding 45 miles per hour.
KBIC Project Manager-Director of Public Works Bruce LaPointe said the battery-operated devices, with radar and cameras on-board, were installed on the highway’s southbound lane near The Pines Convenience Center and northbound lane just south of Baraga Lakeside Inn. LaPointe sought, and received Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) approval to place the devices within the highway right-of-way for a one-year period. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.
BUILDING INTEREST–School robotics teams through the FIRST program are intended to generate student interest in science and technology. Houghton’s team was represented at the Ojibwa Library Saturday, June 25, 2016. Catching the ball shooting from the high school team’s robot are Isaiah Mervar while sister Josephine jumps back, handling the controls. Houghton team member Chris Doig is overseeing the program Saturday.
by Barry Drue
Robots took over the Ojibwa Library in Baraga Saturday! Actually, they were invited guests. The Houghton High School “FIRST Robotics Team” 857 Superior Roboworks, visited on Saturday afternoon, June 25, 2016, to demonstrate skills and explain the concept of supporting science and technology through the non-profit FIRST organization. FIRST means “For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology”. Students of Houghton physics teacher and robotics advisor Tony Schwaller were among more than 300 Michigan school FIRST teams, and those invited to the Michigan State Championship. Houghton’s crew earned invites to the FIRST National Champion-ship in 2014 and 2015. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.
WILDCATS VS. HUSKIES–The eight participants in this year’s Ottawa Sportsmen’s Club Junior Shooting Sports Camp were divided into two teams. Each competed against the other in a number of rifle and pistol target shooting events. The camp stresses range safety and etiquette.
by Chris Ford
Although school is out for the summer, eight area youth spent a week back in school, so to speak. The group participated in the June 13-17 Junior Shooting Sports Camp offered by the Ottawa Sportsmen’s Club (OSC) near Pelkie. Youth aged 14-17 were given the chance to learn proper shooting techniques, safety and range etiquette with plenty of hands-on opportunities.
OSC member and spokesman Mark Wuori said participants spent at least eight hours each day throughout the week in lectures as well as on the range. Monday began with students learning safety basics using a .22 rim fire rifle. They also learned the four firing positions—standing, kneeling, sitting and prone. That continued on into Tuesday. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.
Fun for all at Festival–Perfect weather was the call for this year’s fest. The pageant pre-show warmed up the crowd.
by Barry Drue
The 11th annual Lake Trout Festival brought smiles to hundreds at the L’Anse Waterfront on Saturday, June 11, 2016. Just how many hundreds is up for debate, but by all accounts, it was a great crowd and a great event. The weather was perfect—sunny with a southwest breeze. “It was an awesome day,” said Tracey Barrett, director of the Baraga County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. “I’m guessing there were 500-600 people. How do you tell? We went through 500 boxes of popcorn! “Some people think we had, over the course of the day, 1,000 people at the festival,” Barrett added. The free event filled the L’Anse waterfront and a block of Broad Street with entertainment and activities lasting from the American Legion’s pancake breakfast in the morning to the fish tournament awards presentation in the evening. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.
TONS TO DO–Lake Trout Festival is Saturday, June 11, 2016, headquartered at the L’Anse Waterfront Park. Fitness Center’s runs and races open the morning and a full day of events, entertainment and activities is on tap.
by Barry Drue
L’Anse waterfront will be hopping Saturday, June 11, 2016 for the 11th Lake Trout Festival. Activities, entertainment and more than 40 food and craft vendors will fill the L’Anse Waterfront Park. The high seas will also be busy as a flotilla of fishing teams are expected to battle for honors, cash, prizes and bragging rights in the Keweenaw Bay Classic salmon and lake trout tournament. (See Outdoors, page 18 for tourney preview.) The morning begins with the BCMH Rehab and Fitness Center’s 1/2 Marathon, Pequaming Run/Walk, the Family 5K and the Tour da L’Anse bike race. Kim LaBerge at the Fitness Center encourages more people to register for all of those events. People can register through Friday, June 10 at the Fitness Center or on-line at www.active.com or www.tourdalanse.com. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.
FAIRWELL?LHS!–L’Anse High School’s Class of 2016 gathered for a class photograph just before graduation. Commencement exercises were held May 25, 2016 in the high school gymnasium. This year’s class included 42 graduates.
by Chris Ford
Quoting the world-famous golfer Jack Nicklaus, L’Anse High School Class of 2016 Valedictorian Samuel Dix said “There are always new places to go fishing. For any fisherman, there’s always a new place, always a new horizon.” “We will be moving on to new places and new horizons,” Dix told his fellow graduates at the Thursday, May 26, 2016, commencement exercises. “Some of us will enter college, some the military, and others, the workforce. I am grateful for the opportunities that lie ahead. We all have a purpose in life. I look forward to hearing about the places and new horizons that you will explore.” To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.
LAMPREY ASSESSMENT–KBNRD uses nets across key rivers to catch and assess numbers of adult lamprey heading upriver to spawn. Lamprey control efforts, largely by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, have brought lamprey numbers down to near-goal populations. Lamprey still have a large impact on the Lake Superior fishery, causing unknown numbers of fish kills.
by Barry Drue
Keweenaw Bay Natural Resources Department (KBNRD) wants people to know more about its management and support of Lake Superior and inland water fisheries. KBIC licenses between 15 and 20 commercial fishers, mostly using small boats and hand-pulling nets. The tribal Natural Resources Department’s stocking program and hatchery at First Sand Beach provides far more fish to inland and Lake Superior waters than taken by its commercial fishers. But the increased presence of large gill net tugs from other reservations has elevated concerns across the Keweenaw region for the fishery, particularly whitefish and lake trout in Lake Superior. Tension and much misinformation is circulating and will likely increase as the summer fishing season gets underway…….
Dave Caroffino works in the Michigan DNR Fisheries’ Tribal Coordination Unit, based in Charlevoix. He attended a public meeting on April 6, 2016, in Marquette and heard multiple concerns from sport anglers about increased tribal netting in Western Lake Superior. “There certainly was concern among anglers,” Caroffino said. “Two GLIFWC (Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission) officers attended and they provided valuable information about their oversight of Native American netting operations. GLIFWC can enforce tribal regulations in off-reservation waters.” Concerns over increased netting in the last couple of years have mounted. Gill net tugs from the Bad River and Red Cliff reservations near the Apostle Islands in Wisconsin are fishing off the Keweenaw and around the Keweenaw Peninsula. Keweenaw Bay Indian Community fisherman typically use small boats closer to the reservation and hand-pull their nets……. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.
