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.
A 2:30 a.m. fire burned a home on Keranen Road in Herman on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015. Marc Pirkola and his girlfriend, Terri Henderson, were living there and taking care of the home for his brother, Dave Pirkola. Pirkola was not home at the time of the blaze. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.
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An arrest was made at the Superior Relief medical marijuana dispensary on Monday afternoon, Sept. 14, 2015. Baraga County Prosecuting Attorney Joseph O’Leary confirmed that an arrest was made and that officers from the Michigan State Police Upper Peninsula Substance Enforcement Team (UPSET) participated in the arrest. O’Leary said it was an undercover situation that led to the arrest. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.
HOME SCHOOL FACILITY–Karen Dault pictured in a classroom at the L’Anse Knights of Columbus Hall. The building has been purchased by the Seventh Day Adventist Church of L’Anse and will be used for a variety of hands-on classes and activities for home school students and families.
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by Barry Drue
When the Seventh Day Adventist Church purchased the Knights of Columbus Hall in L’Anse last spring, the seeds of a long-awaited dream were planted. “The church has had a fund to start a Christian school since I was a kid,” said Karen Dault. “We decided to make this a home school.” To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.
by Chris Ford
An effort is underway to secure necessary funding to keep Meadowbrook Arena open for general use as winter draws near. The L’Anse Hockey Association (LHA) is attempting to come up with the approximate $35,000 necessary to insure operations at the ice rink continue as in past years. For approximately 40 years, the Village of L’Anse has operated and supported the arena financially. However in 2014, the village opted to cut annual funding from its budget after losing a Michigan Tax Tribunal case against the L’Anse Warden Electric plant. The result was an approximate 300,000 tax revenue shortfall. L’Anse Village Manager Bob LaFave said the village cannot continue covering rink operating costs. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.
by Barry Drue
Baraga Area Schools begins the 2015-16 school year on Sept. 8 with a change in administrative leadership that quickly fell into place in the last few weeks. A new superintendent and new principal in a new K-12 role are among the changes at Baraga this fall. However, those in both positions are familiar to Baraga staff and students. Previously the three-12th grade principal, Richard Sarau, will serve as the interim superintendent for one year. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.
by Chris Ford
The L’Anse High School cafetorium was packed Monday evening, Aug. 17, as parents, coaches, players, district athletic director and district administrators from the upcoming fall sports season
gathered for the first “Meet the Hornets”. The event was arranged by the L’Anse Athletic Booster Club and was intended not only to help build enthusiasm for the upcoming sports season, but also to update those attending on the booster club and its plans for this year as well as an update on the continuing improvements at Volunteer Field. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.
by Barry Drue
A collaborative, multiagency summer jobs program has provided valuable work experience at Baraga State Park for two Baraga High School students. And the park has greatly benefited from an
additional two paid workers and a paid supervisor. This summer the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Parks and Rec Division, Michigan Rehabilitation Services, Copper Country Intermediate School District and Baraga High School have partnered to make possible paid job training experiences for youth with disabilities. This pilot initiative includes work sites at various state parks and recreation areas across Michigan. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.
by Nancy Besonen
The Baraga County Fair played to a smaller but no less enthusiastic crowd this past weekend in Pelkie. “Attendance was down,” reported Fair Manager Melissa Treadeau, noting other area happenings may have affected attendance. “The kids just loved the two magic shows on Saturday. We also had good turnouts for the Demolition Derby and Mud Drag.” To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.
by Chris Ford
An estimated 1,000 visitors joined approximately 650 dancers for the July 24-26, 2015, 37th annual Keweenaw Bay Indian Community’s (KBIC) Maawanji’iding Pow Wow at the community’s Ojibwa Campground north of Baraga. The event actually began earlier in the week with traditional storytelling and other activities closed to the public. Things kicked off for both native and non-native peoples with the first of three Grand Entries which took place Friday evening, July 24. Two more similar celebrations were held Saturday and one final Grand Entry took place Sunday. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.
