Newly renovated Morrison Building in Calumet nearly ready for apartment occupancy; visitors welcomed at Open House

By Michele Bourdieu

During the Aug. 16, 2014, Calumet Heritage celebration, an Open House at the newly renovated Morrison Building (former Morrison School) attracted potential renters for the 13 new apartments created from former classrooms -- as well as former students and teachers, who attended the event out of interest and nostalgia. Cars filled the new large parking lot (to the right of this Seventh Street entrance to the building). The new ramp at this entrance makes it handicap-accessible. (Photos by Keweenaw Now)

CALUMET -- After a year of intensive remodeling, Calumet's historic Morrison School is nearly ready for residents planning to move into new, spacious apartments.

"Nine out of the 13 rentals should be occupied within two weeks," owner Mike Lahti told Keweenaw Now today.

On Aug. 16, 2014, an Open House during the Calumet Heritage celebration offered the public an opportunity to explore the two upper floors of the building, where former classrooms have been converted to one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. Owner Mike Lahti along with his wife, Sharon, and his son Andy -- Andrew Lahti Contracting -- welcomed visitors on that day and handed out application forms to those interested in possibly renting one of the apartments.

Owner Mike Lahti, right, with his wife, Sharon Lahti, and their son Andy, the contractor for the renovation, welcomed visitors to an Aug. 16 Open House at the former Morrison School in Calumet -- which they have transformed into 13 apartments on the second and third floors. Visible here are the new kitchen cabinets with appliances and attractive, original wood floors. The first floor will soon be ready for office or studio occupancy. It will also have a community room for residents.

"We started (the renovation) about a year ago," Mike Lahti told Keweenaw Now during the Open House. "I've owned the building since 2006. When I bought it I put a new roof on it. It's been empty for 18 years altogether."

In 2013 MSHDA (Michigan State Housing Development Authority) awarded a loan of about $455,000 (forgivable after five years) for the renovation of the building.*

Mike and Sharon Lahti chat with visitors during the Aug. 16, 2014, Open House at the former Morrison School.

Seven of the 13 apartments are subsidized for residents with low-income status (an income limit of $33,000 per year for a couple or $28,900 for a single person), Mike explained. The other six are market-priced. The rent includes natural gas heat, water and hot water as well as a plowed parking lot. The building is handicap-accessible with a wheel chair ramp at the entrance and an elevator. While attractive to senior citizens, anyone can apply for an apartment. Pets are not allowed.

Mike Lahti said today that about 10 people have spoken for the seven subsidized apartments and at least two for the market ones. Applicants for the subsidized apartments are waiting approval of income requirements, through WUPPDR (Western Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Region), which could take about two weeks.

The first floor of the building will offer rental space for offices/studios and will have a community room for residents. Two public bathrooms on the first floor are now being completed, and three of the office/studio rentals should be available soon, Mike Lahti added.

Sherry Kinnunen of Atlantic Mine, who works for Mike Lahti Properties, operates the elevator during the Open House. The elevator is now completely self-operated.

Bernie and Claire Shute, longtime owners of Shute's Bar in Calumet, said they were considering renting a three-bedroom apartment in the building.

During the Aug. 16 Open House, Mike Lahti chats with longtime Calumet residents Bernie and Claire Shute, owners of Shute's Bar.

Many of the visitors at the Open House were former students who had attended elementary school in the building, former Morrison School teachers and employees.

"It's a beautiful building," said Shirley Slusarzyk of Calumet. "I worked in the office when Mr. (Robert) Hagar was the principal. It was kindergarten through fifth grade at that time."

Shirley Slusarzyk of Calumet, center, a former office employee at the school, and her friends Joanne Edwards, left, of Houghton (and formerly of Calumet) and Mary Lou Fink of Calumet admired the restored wood floors in the new apartments. Andrew Lahti Contracting did the floors and cabinets as well as the building renovation.

"I came because I wanted to see how they could transform classrooms into one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments," Slusarzyk added. "It's amazing!"

Slusarzyk, Fink and Edwards admired the special features of the building's handicap-accessible apartment.

Mary Lou Fink of Calumet notes the front-loading washer and dryer in one of the apartments, which is designed for the handicapped. All the apartments have washers and dryers, but this apartment has handicap-accessible features.

In the handicap-accessible apartment, Mary Lou points out the special features meant to accommodate a resident in a wheel chair -- such as the space under the sink and easily reachable stove controls.

Shirley Slusarzyk poses in the handicap-accessible shower. Similar walk-in shower stalls are provided in eight apartments that have two bathrooms.*

Ellen Torola and Carolyn Jurmu, both residents of Calumet, were exploring the spacious new apartments during the Open House and "considering possibilities" for the future.

Ellen Torola, left, and Carolyn Jurmu admire a large closet in one of the apartments in the former Morrison School.

Sharon Lahti noted she, Mike and Andy have tried to preserve the historic features of the building while modernizing it for comfort. One example is some original student artwork that has been framed by extra doorways along the hall.

Sharon Lahti explains to visitors Linda Porter, center, and Stina Wilbur, both of Calumet, how the doors that are not needed have been used as "frames" for student artwork such as this mosaic. According to local artist Mike Ramos, Morrison School former art teacher Nancy McCabe had her students make the mosaic. 

"We'll do that with all the doors that aren't used," Sharon said. "That's our art gallery."

Another historic feature preserved in some of the rooms are the original wooden cupboards that were used in the school classrooms.

Calumet residents Emily Newhouse and her husband, Mark Jindrich, right, and Mark's brother Ted, visiting from Chicago, admire one of the original antique classroom cupboards in one of the new apartments.

One visitor who came to see the school where she had been a student was Barb (Aho) Kinnunen, who said she attended the Morrison School from first through seventh grade.

Recalling that this apartment used to be a classroom, Barb (Aho) Kinnunen recounts some memories of her life as a student in the Morrison School. Her husband, Russell Kinnunen (not pictured), originally of Tapiola, accompanied her to the Open House.

"I was born and raised in Swedetown," Barb said. "We used to walk the railroad tracks to come here to school (except in the winter, of course). And we had to go home for lunch, too. There were no lunch programs then. We walked four times a day -- rain or shine and through the winters. Sometimes we held hands going home if it was storming."

Barb noted she raised her four children alone after being widowed at age 35.

"My four kids all went to school here, too," she said.

Calumet artist Mike Ramos, who used to teach at the Morrison School, tours the renovations with his wife, Phyllis, third from left, his grandchildren Alec Ramos, 12, and Abigail Ramos, 14, and Nicole (Gronlund) Binder of Calumet, right.

Nicole (Gronlund) Binder of Calumet was reminiscing about her days as a student from second to fifth grade in the Morrison School. She chatted with Mike and Phyllis Ramos of Calumet about being in a class with their son Charles (Chuck), whose children, Alec and Abigail, were visiting from Nanaimo, British Columbia. Chuck was about to arrive home from a 6000-mile sailboat adventure, Phyllis explained.

"When I walked up those steps, all the memories started coming back," Binder said. "This was a nice school. I lived nearby."

Another former teacher at the school, Hester Butler of Calumet, was unable to attend the Morrison Open House, but spoke to Keweenaw Now at a second Open House where she was volunteering on Aug. 16 -- at the Coppertown Mining Museum.

Hester Butler of Calumet, former Morrison School teacher, volunteers at the Coppertown Museum shop during their Open House during the Calumet Heritage celebration on Aug. 16, 2014. Trying on a bracelet is Debbie Sossi of Calumet Waterworks.

Butler said she taught at the school for 21 years -- fifth grade for three years and third grade the rest of the time. She retired in 1988.

"I think I liked it best the first year I taught there, because it was only one floor," Butler said. "When you went out for recess, you had all those different age levels (kindergarten through fifth grade) and they got along beautifully."

For information about renting an apartment or office/studio space in the Morrison Building call Mike Lahti at 370-3420.

*Editor's Updates: 

In our original posting of this article we incorrectly stated the amount of the MSHDA loan as about $500,000, which included administrative costs paid to WUPPDR. The actual amount awarded for the renovation was $455,000, Mike Lahti explained. Also, while one apartment is fully equipped for a handicapped resident, eight apartments have two bathrooms, one of which has a walk-in shower with two seats, similar to the shower stall shown in our photo above.

Two Finlandia galleries to host artist receptions Sept. 4

HANCOCK -- Two Finlandia University galleries will hold artist receptions this Thursday, Sept. 4. At 12:30 p.m. the Reflection Gallery in the Jutila Center will host "Peculiar Relations," a solo exhibition showcasing the work of artist Brian Burroughs. The Finlandia University Gallery in the Finnish American Heritage Center will hold a closing reception for "Anna Alapuro: Fragments from Mänttä" from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Artist Brian Burroughs at Reflection Gallery

Poster for "Peculiar Relations," an exhibit of art by Brian Burroughs, opening Sept. 4 at Finlandia's Reflection Gallery. (Poster courtesy Finlandia University)

Brian Burroughs is a visual artist from central Upper Michigan. Burroughs works predominately in the medium of graphite, but occasionally explores other means when creating his works. He credits Dali and the Surrealist movement as his primary influence, which can be seen in his art. Burroughs received his BFA from Northern Michigan University in 1999, majoring in illustration.

He has won multiple awards at juried shows and has had solo exhibits at Bay de Noc College and the William Bonifas Fine Arts Center. Currently, Burroughs lives in Escanaba, Mich., where he works as a Customer Service Specialist for ATand T.

The work will be on display in the Reflection Gallery Sept. 4-26. The reception on Thursday is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

The Reflection Gallery is located on the second level of Finlandia’s Jutila Center campus, 200 Michigan Street, Hancock, MI 49930.

For additional information, call Phillip Faulkner at 906-487-7375 or phillip.faulkner@finlandia.edu, or visit the Reflections Gallery blog.

Anna Alapuro at Finlandia University Gallery

The exhibit "Anna Alapuro: Fragments from Mänttä" is on display in the Finlandia University Gallery in the Finnish American Heritage Center in Hancock through Sept. 12, 2014. (Photo courtesy Finlandia University)

"Anna Alapuro: Fragments from Mänttä" has been on display at the Finlandia University Gallery since July 24 and continues through Sept. 12, 2014. Alapuro is traveling from Finland to attend a closing reception at the gallery from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. TOMORROW, Thursday, Sept. 4. An artist lecture will begin at 7:15 p.m. The reception is free and open to the public, and refreshments will be served.

Alapuro's exhibit includes a series of 35 carborundum prints representing different views and fragments from Mänttä, a small forest/ industrial town located in the Pirkanmaa region in central Finland. Seen together, these prints create a kind of memory map of Mänttä, delivering a colorful and impressionistic vision of the Finnish town.

Click here to read more about the exhibit and artist Anna Alapuro.

Sen. Levin joins supporters, visitors at Bete Grise 10-year celebration

By Michele Bourdieu

U.S. Senator Carl Levin (D-Michigan) addresses the audience at the Aug. 17, 2014, Bete Grise Preserve celebration near Point Isabelle, on Lake Superior. (Photo © and courtesy Bill Rose. Reprinted with permission.)

POINT ISABELLE, KEWEENAW COUNTY -- Cool breezes and partly cloudy weather didn't discourage 80 or more visitors -- and special guest U.S. Sen. Carl Levin (D-Michigan) -- from enjoying the Aug. 17, 2014, dedication and 10-year anniversary celebration of the Bete Grise Preserve.

A large crowd gathers at the Point Isabelle roadside park on Aug. 17, 2014, to dedicate new additions to the Bete Grise Preserve and celebrate its 10th anniversary. U.S. Senator Carl Levin is seated in the foreground, center. (Photos by Keweenaw Now unless otherwise indicated)

Hosted by Stewards of Bete Grise Preserve, the event featured several speakers representing the work of partner organizations and individuals and the funding involved in preserving a total of 4,000 acres, about 5.5 miles of sensitive Lake Superior shoreline and almost all of the sloughs of Lac La Belle in Keweenaw County -- for non-invasive public access, recreation (including berry picking) and education.

Gina Nicholas, Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District chairperson, welcomed visitors to the small roadside park near Point Isabelle, one of the most recent additions to the Preserve.

Gina Nicholas, Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District chairperson, welcomes more than 80 visitors to the Celebration and 10th Anniversary of the Bete Grise Preserve on Aug. 17, 2014, at Point Isabelle on Lake Superior. (Videos by Keweenaw Now)

"Today we are celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the formation of the Bete Grise Preserve, and we're also dedicating four new parcels of land," Nicholas said. "And those new parcels are Bete Grise wetlands, Point Isabelle, the mouth of the Little Gratiot and Oliver Bay."

Nicholas noted a major source of funding for the recent expansion of the Preserve with these new parcels was a  $1.7 million grant from the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) CELCP (Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program), funded by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI).

"We still had to match that with another $1.7 million," Nicholas said.

Providing financial and in-kind support for the match were The Nature Conservancy, attorney Jim Tersha, and the Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District, Nicholas noted.

"But the lion's share of the financial  match that we needed to complete the Bete Grise wetlands project was provided by John Woollam and the J.A. Woollam Foundation," she explained.

This sign at the Point Isabelle roadside park lists partners and funding sources that have contributed to the Bete Grise Preserve. Click on photo for larger version.
 
A highlight of the afternoon was the visit by U.S. Senator Carl Levin, who has been a supporter of the Great Lakes and of the efforts to preserve the delicate wetlands and shoreline of this special area of the Keweenaw:

After some humorous comments on Keweenaw potholes (the Gay-Lac La Belle Road), U.S. Senator Carl Levin speaks about the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and the importance of protecting and restoring lands for future generations with public funds.

Sen. Levin, who is retiring at the end of this year after serving more than 35 years in the U.S. Senate, spoke briefly with Keweenaw Now about his plans for the rest of his term, noting he has too much to do now to think about retirement plans.

"My short-term plans are to work as hard as I know how to get done what needs to be done in the next four months as a senator," Levin said. "That's my focus and I haven't looked beyond that."

Examples of his current goals include a defense authorization bill and closing loopholes that the biggest corporations in the country are using to avoid taxes they should be paying.

Asked if he would still be interested in protecting the Great Lakes after retirement, Levin said, "I'll always be interested in protecting the Great Lakes."

Pictured here with Sen. Levin at the Aug. 17 Bete Grise celebration are Jeff Knoop, director of land protection for The Nature Conservancy (TNC) Marquette office, and Gina Nicholas, Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District chairperson. "It was an honor to have the Senator come," Nicholas said. "He's done so much to help the Keweenaw."

Another long-time supporter of the efforts to protect Bete Grise, Jeff Knoop, director of land protection for The Nature Conservancy (TNC) Marquette office, gave an overview of his and TNC's involvement in protecting Bete Grise wetlands and shoreline.

During the Aug. 17, 2014, Bete Grise celebration, Jeff Knoop, director of land protection for The Nature Conservancy, Marquette office, speaks about his involvement with the Bete Grise Preserve from its beginnings in 2001.

Knoop acknowledged the work of several people who also helped with the project. The first was Steve Beyer of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), who put the proposal together for the first stage of the Bete Grise wetlands protection project.

Knoop said in his career of more than 30 years with TNC he has never been involved with another project with so many partners as those who have supported the Bete Grise Preserve.

In addition to Gina Nicholas and the Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District, the partners he mentioned as deserving credit for their participation and contributions include the MDNR, the MDEQ (Michigan Department of Environmental Quality), the Keweenaw Land Trust, National Coastal Wetland Conservation Program, the Great Lakes Fisheries Commission, and more.

Bete Grise is historically and culturally important to Native American communities as well. Representing the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) at the event was Jessica Koski, KBIC member:

During the dedication at Point Isabelle, Jessica Koski, Keweenaw Bay Indian Community member, speaking for KBIC, thanks everyone who has participated in the preservation of the Bete Grise wetlands and shoreline.

Two major sources of government grants for purchase of much of the Preserve were the DEQ Coastal Zone Management Program and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).

Laurel Hill, biological technician for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Marquette office, said it was great to be involved in the celebration ten years after USFWS helped fund the first Bete Grise acquisition in 2004.

"The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Coastal Program seeks to create partnerships to catalyze public action and conservation in the Nation’s coastal areas, and the Bete Grise Preserve is a perfect example of just that," Hill said. "The exemplary efforts of wide ranging collaborators are reflected in the beauty of this Preserve, which will continue to be invaluable for future generations."

Also addressing the visitors at the Point Isabelle event was Matt Warner of the DEQ Coastal Zone Management Program, who spoke about the involvement of the program in providing funding for the original Bete Grise Preserve and for management activities as well. He also spoke about the CELCP (Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program) funding for Michigan through NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration).

During the Aug. 17, 2014, Bete Grise Celebration, Matt Warner, Michigan Dept. of Environmental Quality Coastal Zone Management Program, speaks about grants that contributed to purchase of the Bete Grise Preserve wetlands and coastal areas in the Keweenaw Peninsula.

Warner also thanked individuals, including the previous speakers, and groups for their participation in this preservation effort.

One of those was Sue Haralson, Stewards of Bete Grise secretary, who has been involved in the project for several years. She recently retired from her position as Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District administrator.

"Great turnout!" Haralson said of the day's event. "Mother Nature gave us cool weather, but dry. A cool breeze kept the bugs away."

Haralson added she thought the music, provided by the group B3, was "outstanding."

Tom Collins, left, on saxophone, Stewards of Bete Grise president, joined the local band B3 in providing a variety of lively music for the Bete Grise celebration. Pictured with him are, to his left, B3 musicians Erika Vye, Marshall Weathersby and Steve Brimm.

Tom Collins, Stewards of Bete Grise president, who, with his saxophone, joined the B3 musicians during the event, also commented on the wonderful turnout.

"A big thank you to Gina for her laser focus in making all this happen throughout the years," Collins said.

Nicholas concluded the presentations with appreciative comments and invited everyone to enjoy the copious refreshments provided by Stewards of Bete Grise. Here she points out on a map most of the protected areas of the Preserve:

Using the map on the Point Isabelle sign, Gina Nicholas points out the different parts of the Bete Grise Preserve -- from the original Bete Grise South to the recently acquired mouth of the Little Gratiot near Lac La Belle.

Several residents of the Bete Grise area were also present at the celebration and spoke with Keweenaw Now.

One couple, Dante Iacovoni and his wife, Joyce, have been residents of Bete Grise for 11 years.

"It was just great, in spite of the weather -- more than I expected," Dante said. "It just shows the enthusiasm of the people in this community."

Describing this special place, Joyce Iacovoni added, "This is as close to paradise as we're going to see and experience."

Chuck Brumleve, Stewards of Bete Grise vice president and Bete Grise resident as well, summed up the reason for the celebration: "This has been the culmination of a lot of work by a lot of people for a lot of years."

During the Aug. 17 Bete Grise celebration, Chuck Brumleve, center, Stewards of Bete Grise vice president and Bete Grise resident, chats with TNC's Jeff Knoop, left, and Charlie Eshbach of the Michigan Nature Association, who was especially instrumental in preserving the tip of the Keweenaw (a large wilderness area north and east of Bete Grise) with the help of TNC and grants from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund.

More photos:

Keweenaw County Sheriff Ron Lahti was on hand for the celebration. Here he chats with Senator Levin.

Senator Levin and Amy Berglund, his Upper Peninsula regional representative, pause for a photo with Keweenaw Now photographer Gustavo Bourdieu.

Visitors enjoy a large selection of refreshments provided by Stewards of Bete Grise.

Jessica Koski of KBIC with one of the newest KBIC members -- her son, Skyler.

 Visitors line up to sign the Bete Grise guest book.
 

View of Lake Superior and Point Isabelle from the roadside park.

Letter from State Rep. Jeff Irwin: Legislature removes wildlife decisions from voters' hands

[Editor's Note: State Rep. Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor), of House District 53, was one of 43 state representatives who voted against the Scientific Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act on Aug. 27. He spoke eloquently on the Floor of the House preceding the vote.* (See link below to video of his speech.) He also sent the following letter to his constituents and others who asked him to vote against this Act, a petition initiative which intends to deprive Michigan voters of their right to decide the wolf hunt issue by voting on two November ballot proposals.**]

Letter from Rep. Jeff Irwin
Aug. 27, 2014
Reprinted with permission

Thank you for writing to ask me to vote against the Scientific Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, which will institute a wolf hunt and take decisions relating to game species out of the hands of voters. Today, I voted against this initiated law in the House, and I spoke passionately in opposition on the floor. Unfortunately, however, this initiated law has now passed both houses of the Legislature, and it does not require the governor’s signature.

This effort was designed to nullify a pair of citizen initiatives that would have prevented the hunting of wolves for sport. Wolf hunting was authorized last year, after the Legislature blocked a previous initiative effort to ban the hunt. Because the pro-hunting measure passed today, citizens will see ballot questions on wolf hunting in November, but their votes on the questions will have no effect. Wolf hunting will be allowed, and the law cannot be repealed by another initiative, because it contains a small appropriation of funds.

Regardless of one’s opinion of whether wolves should be hunted in Michigan, the passage of this measure raises serious concerns about the integrity of the democratic process in Michigan. It is only the most recent in a string of actions by the Legislature to thwart citizens who are exercising their rights under the Michigan Constitution to bring measures to the ballot.

I support two measures that would help bring the practices of the Michigan Legislature back in line with the spirit of our state constitution. House Joint Resolution Q would put an end to the use of token appropriations to immunize unpopular bills from citizen referendum. Senate Joint Resolution X would require a two-thirds vote of the Legislature in order to pass a bill that is the same or similar to a law rejected by referendum.

I will continue to work on behalf of my constituents’ rights to participate in the democratic process. Thank you again for your advocacy on this issue.

Sincerely,

Jeff Irwin***

Editor's Notes:

* Click here to see the video of Rep. Irwin's speech against the initiative denying citizens the wolf hunt vote.

** The Scientific Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act passed with 65 votes in favor, including YES votes by two of our local Upper Peninsula Representatives, District 110 Rep. Scott Dianda and and District 109 Rep. John Kivela -- both Democrats.

*** Rep. Irwin's official statement on why he voted Nay on this initiative, as well as statements by Representatives Lamonte, Schor, Howrylak, and Zemke -- explaining their nay votes -- appear in the official No. 62 State of Michigan Journal of the House of Representatives, 97th Legislature, Regular Session of 2014, for Aug. 27, 2014. (See pp. 1638-1640)

You can learn more about Rep. Jeff Irwin or comment on his letter or the two measures he supports for citizens' rights to participate in the democratic process by visiting his Web site.

Inset photo: Rep. Jeff Irwin. (Photo courtesy Jeff Irwin. Reprinted with permission.)

Keweenaw National Historical Park Advisory Commission acquires Quincy Smelting Works

View of the historic Quincy Smelting Works from the Portage Lift Bridge. (Keweenaw Now file photo)

CALUMET -- The Keweenaw National Historical Park Advisory Commission is pleased to announce its acquisition of the historic Quincy Smelting Works. The Advisory Commission finalized the purchase from Franklin Township TODAY, Aug. 29, 2014.

Built by the Quincy Mining Company in 1898, the Quincy Smelting Works is the most complete late-nineteenth century copper smelting facility left in the world. The remaining industrial structures and equipment provide a unique opportunity to explore an important part of the copper production story.

Although the property deteriorated in the decades after its closing, recent efforts by Franklin Township, the National Park Service, and the Environmental Protection Agency have helped make the site safer for public tours. By acquiring the property from Franklin Township, the Advisory Commission is now poised to work with the National Park Service and the Quincy Smelter Association to further the preservation and interpretation of this important piece of our national history. Ultimately, the Commission intends to transfer the property to the National Park Service to ensure its long-term protection.

The Advisory Commission would like to thank Franklin Township for its stewardship of the smelter property over the last fifteen years, and the Quincy Smelter Association for its continued efforts to share the story of the smelter with the public. The Commission would also like to thank the Americana Foundation and the many corporate and individual donors who helped make this purchase possible.

Friends of Brockway: Send HARD COPY of letter with concerns to SBA

Alert from Gina Nicholas:

HOUGHTON -- For everyone who filed a letter with the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) regarding the proposed Brockway Cell Tower on or before Aug. 20, 2014, please be sure that you sent a HARD COPY to SBA at the address below.  If you filed online but did not send a hard copy, PLEASE SEND NOW via regular mail! You may also wish to distribute your letter via email to SBA and the FCC.

Here are the addresses:

SBA Contact for Service of Pleadings: SBA Towers III LLC, Attention To: Edward G. Roach, 5900 Broken Sound Pkwy NW, Boca Raton, FL 33487.

Courtesy email copy of pleading to ERoach@sbasite.com.
Courtesy email copy of pleading to Donald Johnson at the FCC --  donald.johnson@fcc.gov.

Some people are beginning to be contacted directly by the FCC. If you are contacted, please send a message to wildlandco@gmail.com and let us know why. What you learn may help others who are concerned about the proposed Brockway Cell Tower.

Orpheum Theater to host Pfeiffer's Corner TONIGHT, Aug. 29

Pfeiffer's Corner with John Pfeiffer, left, and Steve Jones will perform TONIGHT, Friday, Aug. 29, at the Orpheum Theater in Hancock. (Photo courtesy Orpheum Theater)

HANCOCK -- TONIGHT, Friday, Aug. 29, the Orpheum Theater will host Jazz, Swing and maybe even a few show tune style compositions from Pfeiffer's Corner (and our own Steve Jones will be standing on that corner with John Pfeiffer himself!). Pfeiffer's corner is led by frequent Hot Club guest, John Pfeiffer.

"John is a Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra French Horn player who also has incredible Jazz chops and writes quite a bit of his own material as well," says Mike Shupe, Orpheum owner.

Plan on Swing and Jazz standards, plus a few more out-of-the-way tunes from the American songbook, along with John's compositions. Music begins at 8:30 p.m. Admission to the show is $10.

John Pfeiffer says, "Pfeiffer’s Corner is a creative gathering place for musicians (like Steve Jones and members of The Garden City Hot Club), the songs and arrangements I write -- and for the lovers of jazz, blues and the classics who come to listen, share a laugh, and dance.

Whether dancing polkas, playing horn with the Pine Mountain Music Festival, or joining Steve Jones and the Garden City Hot Club at the Orpheum and elsewhere, John Pfeiffer has nurtured a love affair with Michigan’s Upper Peninsula since 2001.

John says, "Something magical always happens when I play music with Steve Jones and the guys."

Though Bob Hiltunen, Dan Fuhrman and Scott McIntosh are usually "the guys" he’s referring to, others are often included as well.

"Last summer we had a memorable night at the Orpheum when -- with the addition of violinist Glen Basham of the Bergonzi String Quartet, myself on natural horn and harmonicas, and Adam Johnson on the drums -- the Garden City Hot Club became a septet that I still hear folks raving about," John adds.

Coming from the Washington, D.C. area, where he is Assistant Principal Horn of the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra, John says, "I’m always amazed at how many incredibly talented musicians and artists make their home in the U.P."

The Orpheum Theater is located across the street from Finlandia University at 426 Quincy Street in downtown Hancock.

Disco-Ball Chandelier, Backroom Boys, to entertain TONIGHT, Aug. 29, at Franklin Square Tap

HOUGHTON -- Bobby and Belinda -- Disco-Ball Chandelier -- have invited the rest of the Backroom Boys Jazz Band to sit in with them TONIGHT, Friday, Aug. 29, at the Franklin Square Tap, high on the top floor of the Magnuson Hotel in Houghton. Come on down for some tasty swing, acoustic rock, and high-jinks. Time: approximately 8:30 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.

Ronda Jones to teach indigo dyeing at Community Arts Center Sept. 13

HANCOCK -- Join fiber artist Ronda Jones and learn about the indigo dyeing process at the Copper Country Community Arts Center in Hancock.

Instruction will include a brief overview of the history and chemistry of indigo dyeing, and instruction in techniques of bound resists. Students will then dye a fall scarf (provided) and are invited to bring one other item from home to dye (no bigger than an adult t-shirt). Please bring a pair of kitchen gloves and wear play clothes. Class is open to students age 10 and up.

Class happens from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13, at the Copper Country Community Arts Center, 126 Quincy Street in Hancock. Register by Sat., Aug. 30, for a discounted rate. Deadline to register is Saturday, Sept. 6.  Call 482-2333 for more information.

Fee: $60 if registered and paid by Aug. 30; after Aug. 30, $70.  Fee includes scarf and dye.

Melissa Hronkin to speak on honeybees TONIGHT, Aug. 27, at Calumet Public Library

CALUMET -- Friends of the Calumet Library will host "Navigating a Flightpath: My Life with the Honeybees," presented by beekeeper and educator Melissa Hronkin, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. TONIGHT, Wednesday, Aug. 27, at the Calumet Public Library.

The event is free and open to the public, and refreshments will be served.

Melissa Hronkin of Algomah Acres Honey Farm will share her knowledge of beekeeping and local nectar sources that honeybees love. Melissa (which means honeybee in Greek) will also discuss how flowers offer insects nectar and pollen as a nutrition source in return for help in pollination. Since flowers are rooted and can't move about, they benefit from their mobile visitors. It is an agreeable symbiotic relationship. An extensive list of books and resources will be shared. Delight your senses with a sampling of honey and beeswax products!

Calumet Library summer hours continue through Sept. 8: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday -- 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Wednesday 2 p.m. - 8 p.m.

For more information, visit the library or call 337-0311 ext. 1107. (In case of bad weather, when school is cancelled, all library programs are cancelled.)

Michigan Democratic Party: Resolution in Support of Right to Referendum

LANSING -- At their 2014 Convention this past weekend, the Michigan Democratic Party accepted a resolution "In Support of Michigan’s Constitutional Right to Referendum."

The resolution is in response to the recent "Scientific Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act," which was approved in the Michigan Senate on Aug. 13, 2014, and may be voted on tomorrow, Wednesday, Aug. 27, in the Michigan House. This Act, which includes an appropriation of $1 million in funding for Asian carp control (and thus not subject to referendum), is intended to undermine the two November ballot proposals that would allow voters to decide whether Michigan should continue to have a wolf hunting season.

According to Nancy Warren, National Wolfwatcher Coalition Great Lakes Regional director, "The Scientific Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act is not based on science and has nothing to do with conservation. We hope lawmakers have the courage to stand up for democratic ideals by voting No on Wednesday, thus insuring voters can decide in November."

The following is the text of the Michigan Democratic Party's resolution:

In Support of Michigan’s Constitutional Right to Referendum

WHEREAS, the Michigan State Constitution gives citizens the democratic right to challenge laws with which they do not agree, by means of a referendum petition campaign, and

WHEREAS,  wolves are an invaluable part of Michigan’s ecosystem and are only now beginning to recover after being hunted to the brink of extinction, and

WHEREAS, wolves are held in public trust and should be protected from a reckless hunt which is not based on sound science but rather on misinformation, skewed statistic and fabricated stories, and

WHEREAS, farmers, ranchers and other landowners are already allowed to kill wolves to protect their livestock or dogs and there are currently effective lethal and non-lethal methods of dealing with problem wolves in the rare instances where they cause a threat to property or public safety, and

WHEREAS, the state legislature passed Public Act 21 in 2013, giving the Michigan Natural Resources Commission the right to decide which animals will be hunted in Michigan with no input from the people of Michigan, and

WHEREAS, the Scientific Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act was put in front of the Legislature in 2014 to make the basic tenet of Public Act 21 permanent and referendum-proof, despite a successful referendum that would have allowed Michiganders to vote to overturn PA 21

WHEREAS, successful initiative petition campaigns that go directly to the state legislature rob voters of their democratic right to decide

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Michigan Democratic Party endorse the efforts of the Keep Michigan Wolves Protected campaign and urge our members to vote NO on making wolves a game species and any ballot question that takes power away from the people and puts our wildlife at risk.

Editor's Note: Thanks to Nancy Warren for sending us the text of this Resolution.

Community Energy Meeting to be held TONIGHT, Aug. 26, in Houghton

HOUGHTON -- The City of Houghton will host a Community Energy Meeting TONIGHT, Tuesday, Aug. 26, at the Shelden Grill (7th Floor, Franklin Square Inn). The door opens at 5:30 p.m. A presentation will be given from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and discussion will follow from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. The meeting is open to the public.

The Houghton Energy Efficiency Team (HEET), entered in the Georgetown University Energy Prize competition, is sponsoring the meeting.

Presentation:

• How our community can re-think our energy use and implement creative strategies to save energy costs.
• Current and future U.P. energy landscape.

Community Discussion:

• Building an effective and inclusive network that strengthens our capacity to respond in ways that directly benefit our area and community.

Fourth Thursday in History: Change in Aug. 28 program

CALUMET -- Due to unforeseen circumstances, Keweenaw National Historical Park is adjusting the program for this week’s Fourth Thursday in History event.

National Park Service Ranger Lynette Webber will be presenting "The People’s Portage: Early Travel on the Keweenaw Waterway." This program replaces the scheduled talk, "Copper Country Streetcars," which the NPS (National Park Service) intends to present at a later date.

The event will take place at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 28, 2014, at the National Park Service’s Calumet Visitor Center, located at 98 Fifth Street in Calumet. It is free and open to the public.

The Fourth Thursday in History series arranges public presentations on important aspects of Copper Country and regional history, including techniques for historic preservation. Presentations are scheduled in venues throughout the Keweenaw Peninsula, particularly at historic sites associated with specific topics. They are free and open to the public.

For further information, including specific directions to this event, contact Keweenaw National Historical Park at (906) 337-3168 or check the web at www.nps.gov/kewe.

Michigan House expected to vote Aug. 27 on initiative to continue wolf hunt, undermine voters' November ballot proposals

Photo of wolf courtesy wolfwatcher.org. Reprinted with permission.

By Michele Bourdieu
With information from Keep Michigan Wolves Protected

[Editor's Note: This article has been slightly updated since the first posting earlier today.]

LANSING -- The Michigan Senate once again thumbed its nose at Michigan voters by approving the so-called Scientific Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, rather than allowing it to appear on the November statewide ballot. It’s the latest in a series of political shenanigans to undermine the right of Michigan citizens to vote on the issue of wolf hunting. The Michigan House of Representatives is expected to take up the issue this Wednesday, Aug. 27.

Keep Michigan Wolves Protected has invited citizens concerned about their right to vote on this issue to join a Rally at the Capitol at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27, at 100 N. Capitol, Lansing.*

The purpose of the Rally is to urge the House of Representatives to end this abuse of power, stand up for citizens and vote NO on this initiative so Michigan voters can decide important wildlife issues on the November ballot.

In March 2013, Keep Michigan Wolves Protected submitted more than 255,000 signatures to overturn a wolf-hunting law (Public Act 520 of 2012) that was approved during the 2012 lame duck session and was based on fabricated stories about wolf incidents in the Upper Peninsula. Public Act 520 will be on the November 2014 ballot. The Legislature, ignoring the people, then passed a second law (Public Act 21 of 2013) to give the political appointees on the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) the power to designate game species, thus allowing the wolf hunt to continue. In March 2014, Keep Michigan Wolves Protected submitted more than 225,000 signatures to place Public Act 21 on the November 2014 ballot.**

According to 110th District Scott Dianda (D-Calumet), a group of wolf hunt supporters have planned a counter Rally for Aug. 27. This weekend Dianda told Keweenaw Now the vote in the House will probably occur at noon or 1 p.m. He also said he has received many calls from Upper Peninsula voters who support the Scientific Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act and who feel they would lose on the November ballot initiatives since the majority of people opposed to a wolf hunt are from Michigan's lower peninsula and outnumber them in population.

The Scientific Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act gives the unelected, politically appointed Natural Resources Commission the power to designate game species and includes two separate issues -- an appropriation of $1 million establishing an emergency fund to fight Asian carp, which is designed to make the measure referendum-proof (since laws with appropriations are not subject to referendum), and a provision for free hunting and fishing licenses for active military members. Those licenses for members of our armed forces are currently $1.

Dianda, who voted for the present law allowing a wolf hunt, appears to favor any funding that would protect Lake Superior from invasive Asian carp. The protection is needed now, he said, since the efforts planned for stopping them in Chicago would take several years and could be too late for Lake Superior.

"Right now we could protect Lake Superior by putting electric grids in the Soo Locks," he said.

Dianda also said he spoke with Gogebic County Sheriff Pete Matonich recently about wolf sightings in his county.

Matonich replied to an email from Keweenaw Now today, saying he spoke with Dianda at a civic function in Ironwood Township.

"I advised him that a few folks have commented to me that they have been seeing wolves in Erwin Township, just south of the City of Ironwood. In response to your specific questions…….a single incident?  Just comments I have heard…….Was anyone harmed?  No………Did I have to kill any wolves? No." (Ellipses are the Sheriff's.)

Matonich added the area where people reported these sightings is "rural residential," an area where "there are homes, but spaced out with some small acreage."

Jill Fritz, Keep Michigan Wolves Protected director, is quoted in their Aug. 13, 2014,  press release with comments on reported wolf sightings in the past.

"Politicians relied on exaggerated and even fabricated stories about wolf incidents, and nearly two-thirds of all wolf incidents in the U.P. occurred on a single farm, where the farmer baited wolves with cattle and deer carcasses," Fritz said. "They can’t be trusted on this issue, but the voters can be trusted and should be allowed to hear the arguments from both sides and make an informed judgment this November. We call on House members to end this abuse of power, and restore respect for the democratic process by letting the people vote."

Earlier this year, Michigan Senator Tom Casperson (R-Escanaba), the leading champion of the wolf hunt, made false claims about incidents involving wolves, and was later forced to apologize for those false statements and misrepresentations.

On their 2013-14 Environmental Scorecard, the Michigan League of Conservation Voters (Michigan LCV) gave Casperson a score of 0 percent, noting his opposition to biodiversity in his proposed SB 78.*** Michigan LCV gave Dianda a score of 64 percent for 2013-14.

The MLive Media Group, the Battle Creek Enquirer and the Lansing State Journal have urged lawmakers to reject the Scientific Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act and allow voters to settle the debate on wolf hunting.**** According to Keep Michigan Wolves Protected, there has been no editorial support for this latest initiative, which seeks to shut the people out of the process.
 
Nancy Warren, National Wolfwatcher Coalition Great Lakes Regional director, says the people should be allowed to decide on the Scientific Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act as well as the other two ballot proposals. This third initiative could be added to the ballot if the House does not pass it. If it is passed, she adds, it is still critical that voters vote on the two ballot proposals.

"The wolf management plan says a recreational wolf hunt could be considered 'if biologically defensible, legally feasible, and supported by the public.' What better way to assess support by the public than with a vote by the people?" Warren notes.*****

Keep Michigan Wolves Protected is supported by humane organizations, more than 100 Michigan veterinarians and veterinary hospitals, Native American tribes, conservation groups, faith-based organizations, the Detroit Zoological Society, leading wolf biologists including Michigan Tech professors Rolf Peterson and John Vucetich, rank-and-file hunters and many other concerned Michiganders.******

To contact Rep. Scott Dianda with your views, call him Toll-Free at (888) 663-4031 or call (517) 373-0850 or email him at scottdianda@house.mi.gov.

Notes:
* Click here for directions to the Rally.

** Last year, the NRC ignored testimony from wildlife experts and deleted thousands of emails from the public before designating the wolf as a game species and establishing Michigan’s first wolf hunt in more than four decades. In their rationale for the wolf hunt, NRC members used wolf-cattle depredation figures to justify their decision -- even though two-thirds of the incidents occurred on one poorly managed Upper Peninsula farm. The farm owner pocketed more than $33,000 in reimbursements for livestock losses, failed to use fencing provided by the state to protect his animals, and recently pleaded no contest to animal cruelty charges for the death of two guard donkeys provided to him at taxpayers’ expense to prevent wolf predation.

*** Casperson's SB 78 would remove biological diversity from the list of state forest management goals. Click here to learn about this bill.

**** See our Aug. 12, 2014, article, "Michigan newspapers urge lawmakers to allow voters to settle debate on wolf hunt."

***** See Nancy Warren's Aug. 14, 2013, guest article, "Will voters be allowed to decide the fate of Michigan wolves?"

****** See the April 16, 2013, article, "Letter from John Vucetich, wildlife ecologist: Reasons to oppose SB288." John Vucetich is Michigan Tech associate professor of wildlife ecology and co-director of the Isle Royale Wolf-Moose Study.

Thimbleberry Trio to play ethnic music TONIGHT, Aug. 25, at Keweenaw Heritage Center at St. Anne's

CALUMET -- The Thimbleberry Trio will perform a concert of ethnic music at 7 p.m. TONIGHT, Monday, Aug. 25, at the Keweenaw Heritage Center at St Anne's in Calumet.

Anna Gawboy on concertina; Dave Bezotte on piano, accordion, and vocals; and Oren Tikkanen on guitar, mandolin and vocals will present a program of Finnish, French-Canadian, Italian, and Slovenian music -- plus local humor.

The Keweenaw Heritage Center at St Anne's is on the corner of 5th and Scott streets in Calumet.

An Open Letter to Michigan’s Representative Scott Dianda

Dear Representative Dianda,

Seven months ago, at our community’s Heikinpäivä Festival, I was one of many constituents in the crowd who had the chance to converse with you. I’m also one of the many Michigan voters who worked on two successful efforts to place referenda on Michigan’s Fall 2014 ballot. That is, I participated in the democratic process that gathered 230,000 signatures in support of allowing voters to decide, first, whether we should hunt wolves in Michigan, and second, who should make decisions about game species. You and I talked about this, and I am grateful.

During the 2013 Parade of Nations, Diane Miller, center, author of this letter, is pictured at the Keep Michigan Wolves Protected booth along with two other petition gatherers -- Jackie Winkowski, left, Wolfwatcher Great Lakes Representative, and Leah Vucetich of Hancock. (Keweenaw Now file photo)

You listened to me as I expressed disappointment over your yea vote on SB288, a bill that allowed a group of non-wildlife experts to determine game species in Michigan -- a bill obviously designed to circumvent the referendum process. This bill passed and became PA 21.

I listened to you when you explained your reasons for the vote. You cited a situation in which a pet dog had been killed by wolves, here in Houghton County.

And you listened to me when I said that I knew that dog; it lived across the road from me, and I reminded you that legislation has existed since 2009 that allowed my neighbor to shoot the offending wolf, which he did: No hunting season was needed to protect his remaining dogs.

I listened to you as you expressed your concern about the children in the Ironwood day care center where wolves were reported to have been lurking. I could tell that you truly cared, and I was impressed by that.

You listened to me as I reminded you that not only has no human ever been attacked by a healthy wolf in Michigan, but the Ironwood stories -- including the one about the day care -- have since been publicly exposed and verified as lies. I asked you: "If you had known that the stories were false, would you have voted differently?"

"Yes, I probably would," I heard you say.

We don’t usually get second chances. But here we go again. As you know, the House convenes on August 27 and you will be asked to vote yea or nay on the "Scientific Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act" -- a law that neither embodies sound science nor seems conservation-minded. In fact, it repeats the earlier bill and adds an insignificant appropriation for Asian Carp control (a trick -- laws that include appropriations can’t be challenged by voters). Clearly, this is another effort to circumvent the democratic process.

Representative Dianda, you listened to me, and I listened to you. Now I am counting on you to do the right thing: Please vote nay.

Sincerely,

Diane Miller
Houghton County resident

Editor's Note:  See also Katie Alvord's Feb. 26, 2014, article, "Interview: Diane Miller of Houghton County explains why she has collected signatures for two anti-wolf-hunt petition drives."

Guest article: Mine haul roads and their potential environmental impacts

By Esteban Chiriboga, GLIFWC (Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission) Mapping Specialist

Published in GLIFWC's Fall 2014 issue of MAZINA'IGAN. Reprinted here with permission. 

Eagle mine haul road under construction. No evidence of silt fencing or erosion control best management practices is visible. (Photo © and courtesy Esteban Chiriboga. Reprinted with permission.)

MADISON, Wis. -- Mine haul roads are integral parts of a mine operation. These roads can vary in size from single lane dirt roads located within the footprint of a mine to multi-lane paved highways used to transport materials to and from a mine site. Roads located within the mine footprint are usually included in the analysis of potential environmental impacts of a mine. However, roads that lead away from the project site to processing areas or regional shipping hubs are often overlooked, and the impacts that occur along these transportation routes may be discounted.

The Red Dog mine in Alaska is one of the more notable examples of a project that has impacted the environment along its haul road. This open pit zinc, lead and silver mine transports crushed rock from the open mine pits to a concentrating facility. From there, the concentrate is transported via a 50-mile haul road to a port facility. Sampling along the haul road conducted in the early 1990s showed elevated concentrations of metals on the road surface and on the road shoulder. This finding led to additional studies which indicated that metal deposition has occurred along the road, and concentrations decrease with distance from the road right-of-way. Elevated metal concentrations in several plant species are detectable up to 1600 meters (approximately 1 mile) from the road (ADEC, 2002).*

The source of the metals is concentrate dust that adheres to the truck tires as well as trace amounts of concentrate dust on the surface of the trucks (ADEC,2002).* It is important to note that the trucks have hydraulically sealed doors that completely enclose the concentrate inside. Even with this precaution, contamination has still occurred.

Here in the Lake Superior region, there are ongoing concerns about impacts along mine haul roads in Minnesota and Michigan ceded territories. The proposed PolyMet mine in Minnesota is very similar to Red Dog in its operations and design. Although in the case of PolyMet, the crushed ore would be transported by rail and not by truck, GLIFWC staff are concerned about the potential for environmental impacts along the rail line. PolyMet proposes to use open rail cars that have gaps along the side door hinges to transport ore from the pit to the processing facility. There is no question that ore dust will escape the cars through these openings. In response to GLIFWC comments, the lead agencies for the PolyMet Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) have required water quality monitoring along the rail corridor between the pits and the processing facility. GLIFWC staff will continue to advocate for the use of sealed rail cars to reduce the possibility of contamination along the rail line.

The construction of a mine haul road also impacts the environment. The Eagle mine in Michigan is currently rebuilding sections of a county road to accommodate large ore trucks.

The Eagle mine haul road has caused habitat fragmentation in this biologically rich area. (Photo © and courtesy Esteban Chiriboga. Reprinted with permission.)

The construction of this road through a remote area involves filling of wetlands and numerous stream crossings. This area, which is included in the Lake Superior Binational Program Important Habitat List as an area of high biodiversity, has suffered habitat fragmentation due to this construction. It is possible that the use of salt in the winter will lead to water quality impacts in the area’s small creeks, and unintended ore dust deposition along the route is likely. Additional impacts may result from pumping water out of local creeks to use in dust suppression activities during construction.

Tanker spraying water for dust control along the Eagle mine haul road construction site. (Photo © and courtesy Esteban Chiriboga. Reprinted with permission.)

To our knowledge, the effects of pumping on creek water levels and biota have not been characterized. In addition, dust suppression often involves mixing the water with chemicals, and the effects of these chemicals have not been identified.

GLIFWC staff have and will continue to advocate for inclusion of mine haul roads in the analysis of environmental impacts of proposed mine projects. In the case of the road construction at the Eagle mine, the environmental impacts of the road were not evaluated when the permits for the mine were considered. The Eagle mine’s haul road is permitted under general state permits that are issued for road construction. These general permits, while often adequate for normal roads, do not require the data and analysis needed for a road that will be used to transport mine concentrate and/or metallic ores. These materials are often reactive when exposed to air and water and, as exemplified by the Red Dog haul road, can create environmental impacts in very small quantities. The failure to evaluate infrastructure associated with mining activities appears to undermine the goal of clearly disclosing all impacts associated with mineral development projects. Mine haul roads should also be included in any analysis of the cumulative impacts of multiple mine projects on the ceded territories.

Notes:
*Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC), 2002, Fugitive Dust Background Document -- Draft Report.

GLIFWC's publication MAZINA'IGAN is available on line. Click here to read more of their recent articles on Great Lakes issues.

Portage Library to host Key Club for Storytime Aug. 23

HOUGHTON -- Kids are invited to use their imaginations and have fun on the farm at Storytime from 11 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Aug. 23, at the Portage Lake District Library.

Houghton High School Key Club members will read stories about farms and kids will make some cows, chickens and pigs to take home.

All library programs are free and everyone is welcome. For more information, please call the library at 482-4570 or visit www.pldl.org.

Houghton County Fair opens TODAY, Aug. 21, at Fairgrounds in Hancock

"Wake up! It's time for the Houghton County Fair!" says this 2013 prize-winning rooster. The fair starts TODAY, Thursday, Aug. 21 -- and the Poultry-Rabbit Show is one of the opening events. Check out the Small Animal Barn to see this year's winners. (2013 video by Keweenaw Now)

HANCOCK -- The 2014 Houghton County fair opens at 3 p.m. TODAY, Thursday, Aug. 21, and continues to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 24, at the Fairgrounds in Hancock. It will feature Spectrum Entertainment for the carnival and midway.

The Miss Houghton County Fair Queen Pageant for teens aged 16 to 18 will take place at 6:30 p.m. TONIGHT, Thursday, on the Indoor Stage.

At 8 p.m. tonight don't miss the Kivajat and Loistavat Finnish Dancers, also on the Indoor Stage.

Kids of all ages enjoy the rides at the Houghton County Fair. (2013 Keweenaw Now video. Click on x to remove ads -- beyond our control)

Entertainment this weekend will include Midwest Monster Trucks, Cirque Amongus (shows and a time for fair attendees to try their hand at circus acts), Whispering Pines Mobile Zoo with the addition of an aviary this year, Wayne the Wizard with magic shows, ballon-a-tics, and ventriloquism. Kerry Sharp, hypnotist, will return for a second year due to his popularity last year. Ward’s Local Logging Competition as well as Horseshoe Pitching and an Antique Tractor Display are also among the returning events.

Musical acts will include Mike Urbis, Yesterday’s Wine, Tom Katalin, Vince Anthony, and the Country Drifters. At 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, a youth talent show will offer nice monetary prizes.

Motorized events include Motocross Races, the Farm Tractor Pull, Off Road Derby, and both a Truck and Car Demolition Derby. A local truck Tug of War will entertain at half time of the Monster Truck Show.

This hen laid an egg to exhibit her talents to visitors in the Small Animal Barn. (2013 photo by Keweenaw Now)

Livestock shows include Open, Youth and Jump Shows, along with the "Cowboy Challenge." Kathy Caspary and Jack Kujansuu will offer an Equine Education Seminar for exhibitors. Rabbit, Poultry, Swine, Beef, Dairy, and Goat Shows are scheduled -- and new this year will be a Camelid (alpaca and llama) show.*

Horse jumping is a favorite event at the Houghton County Fair in Hancock, Michigan. This young rider puts her horse through some winning paces at the 2013 Fair. (Video by Keweenaw Now)

Exhibits, including youth projects, range from baking and preserving to arts and crafts, folk arts, needlework, photography, horticulture, floriculture, science projects, poetry, education posters and antiques. Exhibit buildings are open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

This year the fair is pleased to announce that a matching grant of more than $1000 was obtained from the Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee for printing the Fair premium book, brochures, and passes.

* Click here for the full schedule of events.

Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District: Letter to FCC on proposed Brockway cell tower location

[Editor's Note: The Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District has sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to request that FCC deny the Environmental Assessment (EA) File A0909673 -- concerning the proposed cell tower location on Brockway Mountain -- on the basis that applicant SBA and its agents failed to Consult in Good Faith. The following is an excerpt from their letter.]

From: Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District
Aug. 19, 2014
Reprinted here in part with permission

To: The Federal Communications Commission
Washington, D.C. 20554

Re: ASR Filing 40909673,
Application for Antenna Structure Registration on Brockway Mountain, Keweenaw County, MI

PETITION TO DENY A0909673

The mission of the Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District is "To advise and assist the people of Houghton and Keweenaw Counties to wisely manage and use our natural resources through education, information, technical assistance and land stewardship." Therefore, in order to serve our community,uphold our mission, and to protect Brockway Mountain, a local, state and nationally recognized resource of significant natural, historic, cultural and economic importance, the Board of Directors of the Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District requests that you reject the Environmental Assessment (EA) File
A0909673 on the basis that SBA and its agents failed to Consult in Good Faith.

The Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District discussed the EA for A0909673 at our regular monthly board meeting on July 29,2014. While our board and most constituents support providing cell service for residents, visitors and public safety, we know that this proposed cell tower will have a significant negative impact on Brockway Mountain and the Keweenaw Coastal Wildlife Corridor. We also know, as do our constituents, that the Copper Harbor area can obtain cell service without defacing Brockway Mountain. Therefore, on July 29, 2014, the Board of the Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District unanimously passed a resolution for a Petition to Deny A0909673 on the grounds that SBA Failed to Consult in Good Faith.

The Role of the FCC

The FCC should carefully consider the content and not just the packaging of the EA. While it may satisfy your required "check-list," you will note, as we have, that the hundreds of pages of detail conflict with what is summarized by SBA.

The FCC should check SBA's facts. Many so-called "facts" are false.

The FCC has done a disservice to the Keweenaw Coastal Wildlife Corridor and Brockway Mountain by defining the scope of the EA for 40909673 narrowly and ignoring the impact of running electricity up bedrock of the Brockway Mountain Drive into a pristine area.

The FCC approved the SBA towers for Delaware and Medora and these towers were constructed in 2A12-2013. These towers were also positioned as necessary for public safety. However, these towers to date have not been turned on and are doing nothing for public safety even though they have been standing for more than a year.

The FCC by now understands that our Community has been trying to both communicate the negative impact of a cell tower on Brockway Mountain and to share alternatives for over two years. Many of these people live and work locally and have better things to do with their time than research technical cell tower issues and document and explain scientific, cultural and historical information when their day jobs end. The Community has funded an engineering study to try and present factual information to SBA to work collaboratively on mutually beneficial solution. We know there are alternatives and you should too.

To date the Community's communication and ours has fallen on deaf ears, but it is not too late for the FCC to listen and reverse this ill-conceived plan to deface Brockway Mountain. ...

Note: The Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District requests that concerned citizens attend the regular Keweenaw County Board meeting at 6:30 p.m. tonight, Aug. 20, at the County Courthouse in Eagle River.

Friends of Brockway Mountain: Today is last day to submit petition on Brockway cell tower location

According to Friends of Brockway Mountain, "On a USGS topo map the red dot/cross is the proposed Brockway Tower location. This tower and its lights at night will be obvious from Copper Harbor, Keweenaw Mtn Lodge, Lake Medora, Brockway summit, US 41, and..... forever." (Image courtesy Friends of Brockway Mountain)

From Friends of Brockway Mountain
Reprinted from their Facebook Page with permission

[Editor's Note: We regret the late posting of this information. We just learned that today, Aug. 20, is the final day to submit to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) this  "Petition to Deny" the proposed Brockway Mountain cell tower application by SBA. Friends of Brockway Mountain are not opposed to a cell tower but to the proposed location for a tower on Brockway.]

COPPER HARBOR -- YOUR ACTION NEEDED NOW!!! In spite of the strong opposition, the FCC is continuing to consider Brockway Mountain for a cell tower location. We only have until AUGUST 20, 2014 to contact the FCC about Brockway Mountain, file number A0909673. Please petition the FCC to deny the the Brockway Mountain cell tower application by SBA file number A0909673 on the grounds of fraudulent inducement and misrepresentation to Keweenaw County; SHPO (State Historic Preservation Office); US Fish and Wildlife; and citizens, businesses, conservation organizations and visitors. 

SBA and its agents falsely represented that Brockway Mountain was the only location for a cell tower to ensure public safety. A grassroots-funded engineering study showed other locations provide equal or better to provide public safety. Defacing Brockway Mountain to improve SBA's profit margin is a tragedy to be avoided. Please contact the FCC by following the instructions below. Be sure to copy your message and also email it to: the FCC, SBA, Ramaker and Associates, elected officials, US Fish and Wildlife, SHPO and Keweenaw County. Please be sure to always use file number A0909673 and customize your message as you see fit and THANK YOU for DEFENDING BROCKWAY MOUNTAIN.

Here is the procedure to file a "Petition to Deny":

Compose the text of your Request for Environmental Review and save it as a document(s) on your computer. You may use Word or any of a number of other popular formats. You will also have an opportunity to attach photographs or other materials in separate documents.

1) Point browser to this link: http://www.fcc.gov/category/help/wireless-telecommunications-bureau/petitions-and-pleadings
2) Select "File Environmental Request" at top of page.
3) Read and follow instructions on the page.
4) At the bottom of the page click "Continue"
4) Go to the Pleadings Page.
5) Select the Pleading Type "ASR Environmental Request Notice" from the drop down box.
6) Enter your Filer and Contact Information and click Continue.
7) Click the File Number button.
8) Enter the ASR File Number (A0909673) associated with the application you are challenging in the box and click Submit.
9) Check the box next to each File Number and click Continue.
10) Select the Type of Pleading (Petition to Deny). Browse to the location on your computer to upload the pleading, enter a brief description of the pleading, and click Add Attachment.
(Note: Repeat Step 10 for each separate file you want to upload.)
11) Click Submit Pleading.
12) Upon successful submission you should automatically be assigned a filing number. Write it down or otherwise save the number.

If you have trouble, contact the FCC at Phone: 1-888-225-5322.

Keweenaw Heritage Center to present Baroque music concert Aug. 20

CALUMET -- The Keweenaw Heritage Center at St. Anne’s in Calumet will host a concert of Baroque music at 7 p.m. TONIGHT, Wednesday, Aug. 20.

Local musicians, Susan Byykkonen and Kathleen Alatalo-Arten will be performing Baroque pieces on the harpsichord, flute and pipe organ. Come and enjoy a beautiful evening of music, followed by a reception. Tickets will be available at the door for $5.

Marquette County Road Commission in violation of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act

From: Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve
Posted Aug. 14, 2014, on their Web site
Reprinted with permission

Spring water runs through the construction site on the new County Road AAA, a haul road for Eagle Mine. A series of springs were ruptured during construction activities and led to the pollution of a wetland. (Photo dated Aug. 6, 2014, courtesy Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve.)

MARQUETTE -- On Aug. 4, 2014, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) Water Resources Division issued a Violation Notice to the Marquette County Road Commission (MCRC) for an unlawful discharge of sediment and turbid water into a wetland ravine, tributary, and the East Branch Salmon Trout River. The unlawful discharge was created when excavation for the new County Road AAA road corridor reached groundwater level and water began to flow out of the construction site, down slope, and into nearby waterways.

The Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve (YDWP) was informed in late July by an anonymous source that a spring that feeds the East Branch of the Salmon Trout River had been damaged during road construction on County Road AAA. Site visits by our organization continued for several weeks and confirmed the damage had occurred, mitigation had begun, but that the MCRC did not have a formalized plan to control the release. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and Michigan Department of Natural Resources were notified of the situation immediately and completed several site visits in July and August.

The Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve sent in a formal complaint letter to MDEQ on Aug. 1, urging the agency to issue a citation for polluting the water. We also urged the agency to require the implementation of a mitigation plan to clean up the site. We are currently informing the EPA of the incident and speaking with tribal entities and our legal team. Sedimentation at these levels can have serious impacts on fish and other aquatic organisms.

In the Violation Notice, the MDEQ states that they observed the unlawful discharge of sediment and turbid water on July 14, 2014. Improved erosion and sediment control measures were installed at their direction. When the groundwater mixed with rain and sediment after a storm event, the flow rates increased, the water was polluted and was not properly contained -- in violation of Part 301, Part 303, Part 91, and Rule 2190 of Part 31 of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act. The MCRC is being directed to remove sediment from selected portions of the wetland and intermittent tributary as well as monitor the water color at several locations for the remainder of the 2014 construction season.*

It is unclear what ongoing hydrological impacts can be expected by this. It is also unclear what long-term solution can be adopted that would manage the continued increased flow of water. YDWP will continue monitoring the waterways and the engineering decisions of the Marquette County Road Commission. We would also like to see a complete hydrological assessment of the whole impacted area and have pushed for one since 2004.

* Editor's Note: The Marquette County Road Commission will hold its regular monthly meeting at 6 p.m. TONIGHT, Monday, Aug. 18, at the Marquette County Road Commission Office, 1610 N. Second Street, Ishpeming. According to Big Bay resident Gene Champagne, citizens concerned about the road construction violations plan to attend the meeting.

"The MCRC ignored 99 percent of public comment that the project was too ambitious and broad for its intended purpose and was on an unrealistic schedule for completion that could lead to mistakes, as happened on CR 550 last year," Champagne told Keweenaw Now. "Many also urged the MCRC to perform an EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) and a hydrology study, which they also ignored. Furthermore, some visitors to Big Bay have commented that they will never return to Big Bay again after traveling the new 510/AAA construction and witnessing the unnecessary scope of the project. This may very well have an impact on our local economy."

Click here for the agenda for tonight's MCRC Meeting.

Click here for more photos of the violations.