Baraga senior Logan DesRochers and L’Anse senior Grace Usimaki.
by John Raffel
The L’Anse-Baraga Figure Skating Club will be presenting their annual show, “Music of Our
Lives” on Saturday, March 18 at 6 p.m. and on Sunday, March 19 at 2:30 p.m. at the Meadowbrook Arena in L’Anse. Sarah Solberg is president of the figure skating club. The show, in living with the theme, “is music the girls picked throughout,” Solberg said. “It will
be a different type of music which we’ve never had prior that’s about five minutes long. We are honoring our soloists Grace Usimaki and Logan DesRochers.” To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.
FATHER/SON TEAM–Travis (left) and son Kaiden Kaurala at the Vollwerths Meats-Wildlife Refuge Cabins-Pat’s Motorsports Mid America Championship Hillclimb at Whealkate Bluff in South Range. Both will be traveling to Jackson, WY, to compete in the World Championship Hillclimb in March.
by Melissa Newland
Another great weekend was enjoyed by all who were competing in and watching the Vollwerths Meats-Wildlife Refuge Cabins-Pat’s Motorsports Mid America Championship Hillclimb presented by Keweenaw Chevrolet GMC at Whealkate Bluff in South Range.
But none more so than the Kaurala family of Nisula who had father and son, Travis, a longtime Circuit top Pro Driver, and Kaiden, competing in the event with Kaiden beating
his father’s times at the Feb. 25-26 Hillclimb. “Trav and I are so unbelievably proud of him
(Kaiden),” said mom, Amber. “Trav had a good day, but the day came where Kaiden beat his times.” To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.
SCIENCE SISTERS– Baraga Area School students, Kadynce Loonsfoot (left) and Aaliyah Loonsfoot (Georgia Larson, partner for the project not pictured), show off their Science Fair projects on Thursday Feb. 16, 2023, at Baraga Area School’s (BAS) Philip LaTendresse. Elementary School (PLES)
by Melissa Newland
Baraga Area School’s (BAS) Philip LaTendresse Elementary School (PLES) students and staff were busy the first couple weeks of February getting ready to bring back the Science Fair and get projects done to display. The Science Fair was held on Thursday Feb. 16, 2023, at PLES with TK-5 participating in the event and parents were encouraged to attend to see the finished projects. BAS Fourth Grade Teacher Ashlee Adams noted TK-2 did whole class
projects while grades 3-5 did individual or partner. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.
Baraga American Legion Post #444’s Vice Commander Lance Heikkinen (left) and Legion patron/volunteer Joe Bianco (right) delivered 407 pounds of food items Monday, Feb. 13, to St. Vincent De Paul’s Food Pantry in L’Anse. The Post collected the nonperishable food items during its ‘Da Yooper SOUPer Bowl’ which ran between Jan. 8 and ended on Super Bowl Sunday.
by Melissa Newland
Serving those in need in the community is important to the members/volunteers of the Baraga American Legion Post #444 and during the Legion’s “Da Yooper SOUPer Bowl,” which took place between January and February, the group, like the Kansas City Chiefs,
kicked a winning field goal gathering donations of nonperishable items for St. Vincent De Paul’s Food Pantry in L’Anse. Food Pantry volunteers Carolyn Pasternak and Janet Hagbloom noted the Post’s Vice Commander Lance Heikkinen and Legion patron/volunteer Joe Bianco delivered 407 pounds of food items Monday, Feb. 13, to add to the shelves after final collections took place at the Legion during the Super Bowl on Sunday. “They (the Post) were very pleased with the response,” said Pasternak and Hagbloom.” The collection of food
items started Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, during the Packer vs Lions Yooper Bowl and continued through Sunday’s Super Bowl game. The drive encouraged community members to bring in a can of soup or other non-perishable item to receive a discount on the first drink at $1.75, the average price of a can of soup today. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.
LOCAL HILLCLIMBERS–Three locals who placed at the Vollwerth’s Meats-Pat’s Motorsports-Wildlife Refuge Cabins WINTERNATIONALS, presented by Keweenaw Chevrolet-GMC, at Whealkate Bluff in South Range. Left to right is Kaiden Kaurala, Jacob Ketola and Travis Kaurala.
by Melissa Newland
Snowmobile Hillclimb enthusiasts were out and about the beginning of February getting up and close to watch the Vollwerth’s Meats-Pat’s M o t o r s p o r t s -Wi l d l i f e Refuge Cabins WINTERNATIONALS, presented by Keweenaw ChevroletGMC, at Whealkate Bluff in South Range. Many local racers were among those trying to make tracks to crest the steep bluff as fast as possible and five of them made it high and fast enough to place. Local teen Kaiden Kaurala, age 16, of Nisula, was the top dog among the local riders, placing in three categories and qualifying for the World Championship Snowmobile Hill Climb that will take place in Jackson, WY, Mar. 23-26, 2023. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.
LFD’s new aerial truck, a 2005 Pierce Dash platform with a 95 foot ladder.
by Teri Rowe
The L’Anse Fire Department has signed a purchase agreement to buy Baraga County’s first aerial truck. This truck is long overdue and very much needed for the protection of our structures and the safety of our fireman. The new truck a 2005 Pierce Dash platform with
a, 95 foot ladder and a 2000 GPM pump. The truck has approximately with about 10k miles on it. Jeremy McCoy from ‘Brindlee Fire Apparatus’ assisted in the purchase. The day crew at ‘Southard Fire Department in Howell Township’, New Jersey had offered their hospitality
and their assistance to members of the L’Anse Fire Department who had gone to New Jersey to inspect the truck. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.
INSPIRING STUDENTS-at Baraga Area School, pictured, as well as L’Anse Area School was retired Globetrotter, Melvin Adams, who speaks to and influences kids and teens against drugs, violence, and other items affecting youth and lets them know it is okay to reach for the stars.
by Melissa Newland
Students in grades 6-12 at both L’Anse (LAS) and Baraga Area Schools (BAS) enjoyed an inspirational assembly with Melvin Adams, a former Harlem Globetrotter, who speaks to and influences kids and teens against drugs, violence, and other items affecting youth and
lets them know it is okay to reach for the stars. Adams has shared his passion with many, performing and telling of his experiences and giving his uplifting messages to over two million youth through his presentations. Adams spoke at both BAS and LAS, with the assembly held at BAS at 10:15 a.m. and LAS at 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27, 2023, thanks to the Baraga County Community. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.
SEEKING HELP–The very popular Lake Trout Festival is in need of help. Organizers are looking for volunteers for the June 2023 event. Without volunteer help, this year’s festival will not happen. Call the Baraga County Convention & Visitor’s Bureau at 906-524-7444 for more info.
by Melissa Newland
The Baraga County Convention & Visitors Bureau (BCCVB) is hoping to reel in more volunteers for this year’s Baraga County Lake Trout Festival which nets both local and visiting enthusiasts by correlating with free fishing weekend and the annual Keweenaw Bay
Classic Fishing Tournament. According to BCCVB Manager Barb McEwen, if volunteers are not forthcoming, the Lake Trout Festival will not be happening. Though McEwen noted
she can get the groundwork done for the family affair, which is held annually downtown L’Anse at the Waterfront Park, volunteer workers are much needed the day before, day
of, and the day after the event. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.
NEW CHAIRMAN–Gale Eilola, formerly vicechair for the County Board of Commissioners was voted in as the new Chairman last week.
by John Raffel
The Baraga County Board of Commissioners voted for a new chairman and vice chairman at its meeting last week. Gale Eilola, who had been vice-chairman, was selected for a two-year term ending Dec. 31 2024. He replaces Williams Rolof, who did not run for reelection.
Brad Dakota was elected as the Vice-Chairman of the Board of Commissioners for a one-year term ending Dec. 31. 2023. Newly elected commissioners William Menge, Chad Cichosz and Craig Kent were welcomed to the board. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.
CASTING BALLOTS–Many ballots were cast during the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community’s (KBIC) Tribal Council Reorganization meeting this past weekend, Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023, as the seat for Vice President was tied 6 to 6 the first four casts of the ballot with the fifth round going to Toni Minton over Rodney Loonsfoot in a vote of 7 to 4 with one member abstaining.
by Melissa Newland
The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community’s (KBIC) Tribal Council Reorganizational meeting was held this past weekend, with four elected members and Associate Judge from the December General Election sworn in, a new Tribal President seated, and two council seats being contested with tied votes. The Reorganizational meeting was held Saturday, Dec. 7, 2023, at the Ojibwa Casino Conference Room in Baraga starting at 9 a.m. During approval of the agenda, council member Rodney Loonsfoot asked to add an item to the agenda which included council doing a roll call vote instead of the traditional ballot vote. To read more, subscribe to the L’Anse Sentinel online, or buy a print copy at our local retailers.
