Enjoy warm weather, First Friday Art Walk in Calumet May 6

This Calumet Art Center poster announces a number of activities at the Center this month and on First Friday, May 6. (Poster courtesy Calumet Art Center)

CALUMET -- "It's May, it's May ..." in Camelot, aka warm and snowless Calumet, on First Friday, May 6. Don't miss the First Friday Art Walk and enjoy the balmy weather as well as new art exhibits, activities and receptions in the galleries.

Calumet Art Center

Please stop by the Calumet Art Center, 57055 Fifth Street, to mingle with friends during First Friday in Calumet, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. May 6. Become a member of the Art Center, enroll in art classes and put your name in the 50/50 raffle bowl for the drawing held at 8 p.m. the same evening. This First Friday the Center will host "Loosen up with Watercolors" demonstrations by Donna Lenard. Learn how working with watercolors is easier than you think. Donna will demonstrate her techniques in creating and bringing color to life.

During your visit be sure to see the very popular soap dishes. Each one is uniquely carved, textured or embellished with copper and driftwood and includes a bar of handmade soap by Lynn Reed. Proceeds will benefit youth classes.

Just arrived from Empire, Mich., is the long awaited Peace Pole, made by Peace Pole Makers USA. This Peace Pole is hand-crafted, hexagonal with "May Peace Prevail on Earth" on each of its six sides in Ojibway, Norwegian, Finnish, Swedish, English and Sami languages. This will serve as a constant reminder for us to visualize and pray for world peace. PEACE POLE brass donor recognition plaques are available for $125 each and will be displayed on the Peace Pole. With your help, installation and dedication of the Peace Pole is scheduled for June 2016. Contact the Center to reserve your plaque. Don’t forget to sign up for the May Clay class and check out upcoming events and classes on calumetartcenter.com.The summer youth emersion program schedule is posted. Since space is limited, parents are encouraged to pre-register.

Vertin Art Gallery and Antiques

Photographic collage by Charles Masten of Key North Productions. (Photo © Charles Masten and courtesy Vertin Art Gallery and Antiques.)

The May exhibition in The Vertin Art Gallery and Antiques, Sixth and Oak streets in Calumet, celebrates "The 100 Day Project: Across the Lake -- A Call To All." The public is invited to a reception from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on First Friday, May 6. Fine art, antiques, jewelry, and gifts from local artists and collectors will be featured including vintage, industrial chic, bohemian, mid-century modern and classic retail items available for the style-minded shopper.

Local artist Charles Masten of Key North Productions says, "I have been taking and accumulating photographs of historic buildings and architectural elements in and around the Keweenaw Peninsula for the last 15 years. When I first heard about the 2016 '100 Day Art Project,' I quickly decided this was a logical point for me to 'jump in' and create that photographic collage of some of the well-known and lesser-known places that has been developing in my mind for so many years. 'The Keweenaw. Upper Peninsula Michigan' poster is the first, I hope, of several in a series."

The Vertin, a  co-op family of artists and lovers of all things old and unique, is currently open for consignment of artwork, vintage, antiques and quality furniture. Pre-estate planning and consultation are available.

Paige Wiard Gallery
 
Artwork can be inspired by all types of environments -- real and in the mind, urban and rural, industrial and primitive, coastal and arid, and the beauty and destruction created by Mother Nature. For the month of May the Paige Wiard Gallery, 109 5th St. in Calumet, will be displaying artwork portraying artists' impressions of "Scapes."

This photo by Mark Gregg is part of the new exhibit, "Scapes," at the Paige Wiard Gallery. (Photo © Mark Gregg and courtesy Paige Wiard Gallery)

Visit the gallery between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. on First Friday, May 6, for an opening reception and explore the different worlds of "Scapes."  For more information please call 906-337-5970 or email paiewiardgallery@gmail.com.

Hahn Hammered Copper

Stop by Hahn Hammered Copper this First Friday for a glimpse of Pete’s twinkling copper stars and striking blue fish. Pete and Shelly Hahn have also added more cool stuff to their "Collections" show from last month. When visiting the galleries and art space in town, enjoy the Main Street Calumet "Windows into the Past" displays that are being set up in various windows along 5th Street to honor Calumet Township's Sesquicentennial Celebration taking place this summer.

Calumet Floral and Gift

The Calumet Floral and Gift shop, 221 Fifth Street, will be open on First Friday evening, May 6. Stop in to see their demonstration of Mother's Day arranging.

Copper Country Associated Artists

"Sketches with Pastels" is the theme for the First Friday event from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. May 6 at the Copper Country Associated Artists (CCAA) Gallery. This workshop is open to beginners who would like to explore the art of pastels and sketching.

Bob Dawson, local artist and gallery member, will guide those interested in learning to join the fun. Supplies will be provided BUT participants are asked to bring a photo or two that they will use for sketching. Space is limited to about 12 people. Unfortunately, CCAA cannot accept reservations to hold a seat. Ages 15 years and older are welcome to join the event. First come, first serve.

Cross Country Sports

For the month of May, Cross country Sports, 507 Oak St., will feature new work by Annele Sakari, of Hello Starling designs. Annele draws on her love of the outdoors, nature and the Keweenaw to create unique, original jewelry in pure silver and copper using precious metal clay, a medium which consists of very tiny particles of precious metals mixed with an organic binder. The metal clay is shaped and designs are stamped into the clay. It’s fired in a kiln, burning off the organic material and leaving the pure sintered metal. Some of Annele’s designs incorporate ferns, flowers, and scenes from the Keweenaw. Bob Dawson’s show, "Watercolors Now and Then," is also up through the end of May.

Stop in from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. on First Friday for an open house and refreshments -- and see what’s new!

Galerie Bohème

Galerie Boheme, 423 5th St., will be open from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on First Friday, May 6. Each month Galerie Bohème has a new exhibit featuring local artists in diverse media Stop by to visit with the artists and see what new works they are producing.

Café Rosetta

Café Rosetta, 104 5th St., will feature a poetry reading at 6:30 p.m., and Kombucha tasting at 4 p.m. this First Friday. The Featured Artist is Robin Rastello. Robin began her art career creating soft sculptured dolls with painted faces. After a while, she realized that she could transfer this art to canvas. She says about this transition, "Once I got started I never looked back." Using multi-media techniques, she first painted angels, but her style evolved rapidly into portraits of women and children and eventually landscapes and cityscapes. Her whimsical style both delights and intrigues, so be sure to stop in to check this out.

Hike wilderness trail with Save the Wild U.P., The Nature Conservancy May 7; EPA meeting on L'Anse Warden Plant; forums on Back 40 project

From Save the Wild U.P.

MARQUETTE -- A special collaborative event between The Nature Conservancy and Save the Wild U.P. will be held on Saturday, May 7. Enjoy a guided hike of the Elliott Donnelly Wilderness Trail, one of the wild gems of Marquette County.

The Donnelley Tract was purchased by Elliott Donnelley and gifted to the State on behalf of Trout Unlimited. The purpose of this gift was to protect the Little Garlic River and its watershed for the trout fishery it provides. The special guide for this hike is Mac Strand, Northern Michigan professor of biology, who will help participants appreciate the "river flowing under the river," groundwater interactions, and the key importance of unnamed tributaries to health of the Little Garlic River. Jeff Knoop of The Nature Conservancy will also be along to discuss TNC’s work to protect this area. Meet-up is at 12:30 p.m. at the Little Garlic Trailhead off CR-550. There is a $10 fee to participate, with all proceeds benefiting the work of Save the Wild U.P.

Thanks to those who participated in the recent Earth Day "Cleaning Up after Sulfide Mining" event -- a great success!

"We removed four bags of trash and seven bags of recyclables from the AAA road," said SWUP Executive Director Alexandra Maxwell. "Even small events like this make a big difference, and seeing individuals do their part is incredibly inspiring -- stay tuned as we plan to offer more clean-ups down the road!"

More upcoming events

What’s happening with the L'Anse Warden Plant?

As you may know, the L’Anse Warden Electric Plant has been spewing toxic chemicals into the air and water in L’Anse. Concerned citizens and grassroots efforts from the Friends of the Land of Keweenaw (FOLK) have resulted in renewed scrutiny over the plant's Clean Air Act violations.*

The USEPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) will be holding a meeting from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (EDT) on Monday, May 9, in the L’Anse Area Schools Cafetorium, 201 N. 4th St. in L'Anse.

1. USEPA will give a summary update on Warden’s violations and non-compliance points.
2. USEPA will listen to public comments and concerns. Written comments will also be accepted.

PLEASE ATTEND IF YOU CARE ABOUT THE HEALTH OF OUR CHILDREN, RESIDENTS, AND ENVIRONMENT.

Forums on Back Forty Sulfide Mining Project

Friends and collaborators from the Menominee Tribe, Front 40 and Wisconsin Resources Protection Council will be holding a series of informational forums on the Aquila Resources Back Forty Project. The Save the Menominee River speaking tour kicks off at 6:30 p.m. (Central Daylight Time) on May 9 at University of Wisconsin Marinette. The May 17 forum will be held at the Menominee VFW Hall at 6:30 p.m. CDT, and the final forum will be held at 10 a.m. on May 25 CDT at the Stephenson Annex. See more details on menomineeriver.com. **

Editor's Notes:

* Click here for the EPA Web site with recent info on the L'Anse Warden Plant. Both Save the Wild U.P. and FOLK members held a press conference on Apr. 25 concerning the L'Anse Warden Plant. Click here for the TV-6 report.

** See Save the Wild U.P.'s March 9, 2016, article, "'Red-Flag Review' Reveals Flaws in Sulfide Mine Application."

Candidate Lon Johnson to Houghton County Dems: Shut down Line 5, protect fresh water, more ...

By Michele Bourdieu

Lon Johnson, right, Democratic Candidate for Michigan's First Congressional District, speaks to Houghton County Democrats about key issues in his campaign during the April 20 Open House at the Houghton County Democratic Party's Headquarters, 323 Quincy St. in Hancock. (Photos by Keweenaw Now)

HANCOCK -- Lon Johnson, Democratic Candidate for Michigan's First Congressional District, told Houghton County Democrats his campaign is centered on three important issues for Northern Michigan and the U.P. -- passenger rail service, high-speed Internet and mobile phone access for all communities, and protection of our fresh water -- beginning with the fight to shut down the 63-year-old Line 5 pipeline under the Straits of Mackinac.

Speaking at the April 20 Open House at the Houghton County Democratic Party (HCDP) Headquarters in Hancock, Johnson reminded party supporters that "21 percent of the world's fresh water is right here." He said in 20 years nations will be going to war for fresh water since it will become more valuable than any other natural resource and we will have to fight to protect it.

"We've got to keep Northern Michigan and the U.P. both beautiful and profitable," Johnson said. "We can continue mining and our logging operation in a sustainable way, but at the same time we also have to protect our assets here so our children and grandchildren can use them. That's why I'm proud to be one of the leading drivers in trying to shut down this Line 5 oil pipeline."

During the April 20 Open House at the Houghton County Democratic Party Headquarters, Lon Johnson speaks about the importance of protecting fresh water, beginning with a shutdown of the aging Line 5 oil pipeline under the Mackinac Straits. Pictured with Johnson here is Brian Hoduski, Houghton County Democratic Party co-chair, who compared Johnson to former First District Congressman Bart Stupak, who has endorsed Johnson.

Johnson pointed out that this pipeline starts in Canada, goes through parts of Wisconsin and the U.P., and under the Straits of Mackinac -- then back to Canada with only about 10 percent of the oil remaining in Michigan.

"The same people that are telling us that this thing is safe are the same people who said that Flint water was safe to drink," Johnson noted.

The people running this pipeline are the same people (Enbridge) who ran the Kalamazoo pipeline that became, in 2010, the largest inland oil disaster in the history of the United States, he added. Johnson also made reference to proponents of the pipeline, including State Sen. Casperson, who claim that shutting down Line 5 will raise the cost of propane in the Upper Peninsula.

"That's just wrong," Johnson said. "If you shut this pipeline down in the Straits of Mackinac, you can still allow the pipeline to haul propane to the Rapid River site, just about 125 miles west of the Straits, just north of Escanaba. That's where the propane is taken out and distributed to the U.P."*

Johnson welcomes bi-partisan support on Line 5 issue

During the Open House, Johnson told Keweenaw Now he was glad to see bipartisan support of the effort to shut down Line 5, including that of Republicans like U.S. Rep. Candice Miller (MI-10).

On Wednesday, Apr. 27, Miller introduced the Great Lakes Pipeline Safety Act of 2016, which would require the Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) to terminate the operation of Enbridge’s Line 5 if, based on an 18-month comprehensive study mandated by the bill, the Administrator finds that the pipeline poses a significant risk.

Just after introducing the bill, Miller stated, "Any rupture of Enbridge’s 63-year-old Line 5, which transports 23 million gallons of contaminants a day, would have a catastrophic impact on the Great Lakes, especially if it occurred along the portion that runs beneath the Straits of Mackinac where Lake Michigan and Lake Huron converge. Just last month, the University of Michigan Water Center released a study where researchers estimated the impact of a leak in Line 5 under 840 different weather scenarios. According to the study, over 700 miles of Great Lakes shoreline could be impacted; and Mackinac Island, Bois Blanc Island, and the coastline around Mackinac City would certainly be impacted in almost every scenario. That, however, is just a snapshot of the damage a rupture would cause."**

Today, Apr. 28, Johnson reacted to Miller's introduction of this bill with this statement: "I am glad to see that our efforts on the ground across the U.P. and Northern Michigan have resulted in bipartisan action on both the state and now the federal level. I have said for months that this 63-year-old Enbridge oil pipeline should be shut down at the Straits of Mackinac so it can be independently inspected to be safe. The impact on the health of our Great Lakes and on our economy in the event of an oil spill would be devastating.

"While I’ve been calling for lawmakers to address the issue of Line 5 for months, it’s disappointing that Lansing politicians like Tom Casperson would rather defend a Canadian oil company than protect the health and jobs of the people of the U.P. and Northern Michigan. Maybe it’s the $28,000 in campaign donations Casperson has taken from oil and gas industry PACs that’s influencing his decision?"***

Addressing the issue of jobs in the U.P., Johnson said he hopes to create a Fresh Water Institute that would not only protect the water but also change the economy by creating a new industry for our children and grandchildren. It would show the world how to better use and protect the water. He cited as a model the growth of the computer industry in Silicon Valley.

Candidate Lon Johnson is pictured here, during the Open House, with three generations of the Wisti family: from left, next to Johnson, Nick Wisti, who is working for Johnson's campaign; Nick's parents, Judge Mark Wisti and Amy Wisti, former aide for Bart Stupak; and, foreground, Ruth Wisti, Mark's mother.

"We need a member of Congress who's thinking five, ten, fifteen years ahead," Johnson said.

He said he would also work for national issues such as campaign finance reform, overturning Citizens United and changing unfair tax policies benefiting wealthy corporations that move their money offshore to avoid paying their fair share.

On the issue of passenger rail service in the U.P., Johnson said it would attract tourists to the U.P. and could change the economy. Johnson told Keweenaw Now it would need a feasibility study and might happen in 10 or 15 years.

"We need to investigate how we can use existing rights of way and existing lines for passenger rail service," he said.

Spring Fling is Saturday, May 7

The Houghton County Democratic Party will host their annual Spring Fling on Saturday, May 7, 7th Floor of Magnuson Inn, 820 Shelden Ave. in Houghton. First District Congressional Candidate Lon Johnson, 110th District State Rep. Scott Dianda and local candidates will participate as well as the keynote speaker, 1st Congressional District Organizer G.T. Long.

Local candidates for Houghton County offices also spoke at the Open House about the importance of electing Democrats to the county offices. Here Commissioner Scott Ala, center, speaks about how every vote counts in these local elections. Other candidates pictured here are Houghton County Clerk Jennifer Lorenz, standing far right, and George Rajala, second from right, candidate for County Commissioner from Chassell. Not pictured here, but also present, was Rick Kasprzak, candidate for County Commissioner from Calumet.

The program for the Spring Fling is as follows:

5:30 p.m. -- Cocktail hour and Silent Auction Viewing
6:30 p.m. -- Dinner
7 p.m. -- Awards Program, Candidate Remarks, Keynote Address, Auction Winners

The Silent Auction includes many lovely creations by local artists as well as gift certificates and offers from local businesses.

Last Chance to Buy Spring Fling 2016 Tickets:

Tickets are $35 per person. Please buy tickets by April 30 so organizers can tell the venue the number of attendees for planning purposes. To purchase tickets online, click here.

Tickets may also be paid for by personal check in person at the Wednesday, May 4, 2016, HCDP monthly meeting at the Super 8 in Houghton. Cash payments are forbidden by law. If you plan to pay at the meeting please email HoughtonDems@gmail.com by April 30 to reserve your seat.

Funds raised at the Spring Fling will be used to support Democratic candidates.

Editor's Notes:

* Click here, on Lon Johnson's Facebook page, for a video of the April 16, 2016, town hall on Line 5 in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. See also Lon's new short video ad here.

** Read the rest of Rep. Miller's statement here.

*** Lon Johnson has been taking on Enbridge officials at numerous town halls in the U.P. and Northern Michigan, as well as helping local communities pass resolutions urging their elected leaders address the pipeline. More than 30 townships, local boards, and communities have passed resolutions. Lon is collecting signatures on his Web site.

Sanders: I’m In It to Win It

Bernie Sanders continues his campaign. (Photo courtesy berniesanders.com)

[Editor's Note: The following is a press release from berniesanders.com, posted April 27, 2016.]

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Declaring that he is "in this campaign to win and become the Democratic nominee," U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders today, Wednesday, told a rally at Purdue University that he is the Democrats’ best hope to defeat Donald Trump in November.

"If you want the candidate who will be the strongest nominee, you’re looking at that candidate right now," Sanders told 2,267 cheering supporters at the rally in a student center. "The reason I am the strongest candidate is that our campaign is appealing not just to Democrats but to independents all over this country and even some Republicans."

In poll after poll, Sanders fares much better than Hillary Clinton in matchups with Trump and other Republican White House hopefuls.

Sanders’ appeal to independents was evident on Tuesday when he won by 12 points in Rhode Island, a state with an open primary where independents could vote. That outcome should send a message to delegates going to the Democratic National Convention this summer, he said.

"What I hope delegates understand is that the national election is an open process. Guess what? Independents vote in that process," Sanders said. "And it turns out that we are overwhelmingly winning the independent vote."

Sanders acknowledged that Clinton currently leads in the number of delegates headed to Philadelphia, but he said sees a narrow path to victory as voters in Indiana go to the polls next Tuesday and nine more states have elections on the calendar before the primary process comes to a close in June.

"We are behind today. But you know what? Unusual things happen in politics," he said. "With your help, superdelegates may reach the conclusion that Bernie Sanders will be the strongest candidate against Donald Trump or any other candidate."*

Sanders was headed later Wednesday to another rally in Bloomington, Indiana, before flying to Oregon, another state where voters have yet to weigh in on who should be the Democratic Party nominee for president.

* See also Sanders Statement on Primary Elections.

Lake Superior Celebration to offer family activities, displays, more Apr. 26 at GLRC

Michigan Tech's Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC) will be the scene of a FREE family-friendly Lake Superior Celebration from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Apr. 26. (Keweenaw Now file photo)*

HOUGHTON -- The community is invited to the Lake Superior Celebration from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Apr. 26, at Michigan Tech's Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC). The event is FREE, family-friendly, and open to all.

The Lake Superior Celebration will include informative displays by local agencies and organizations. The event will feature hands-on activities for youth as well as displays/presentations by Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative (LSSI) school teams from Dollar Bay HS and Elementary Schools, Jeffers HS, CLK Elementary School, Baraga HS, Chassell HS, Houghton Middle School, EB Holman School, and Washington Middle School.

LSSI student showcase and presentations will be from 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in 202 GLRC. The Copper Country Recycling Initiative will provide an update on recycling in the Keweenaw at 7:15 p.m. in 202 GLRC.

Light refreshments -- including snacks, cake, lemonade and coffee -- will be served. Live music will be provided by Lena Maude.

The hands-on activities will include Ride the HEET bike and lift the bridge, Paper-Making, Garbage Pizza, No-Waste Lunch, SMOG City (designing water pumps, operate a 3-D printer) and Create Your Own North Woods Kids' Art.

More than a dozen community organizations and entities will have displays. They include World Water Day art display; Copper Country Recycling Initiative display and  presentation (7:15 p.m. - 7:45 p.m. in 202 GLRC); Invasive Plants of the Keweenaw; Houghton County Energy Efficiency Team (HEET); Keweenaw Green Burial Association; Keweenaw Land Trust; Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) native plants/ethnobotany; Isle Royale National Park; Copper Country Trout Unlimited fly-tying display; North Woods Kids' (K-12) art exhibit from the Western U.P.; Plastic Recycling Enterprise; Alternative Energy Enterprise; Engineers Without Borders; UP Food Exchange.

The event is sponsored by the Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative, Michigan STEM Partnership, Western U.P. Center for Science, Mathematics and Environmental Education, Michigan Tech Center for Science and Environmental Outreach, Michigan Tech Center for Water and Society, and the Copper Country Recycling Initiative.

For more information contact Shawn Oppliger at 482-0331 or shawn@copperisd.org at the Copper Country ISD or Joan Chadde at 906-487-3341 or jchadde@mtu.edu.

Visit the Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative on the web or on Facebook.

* Directions to GLRC: From Hancock or Houghton: as you approach Michigan Tech on US 41 from downtown Houghton, turn left onto Cliff Drive (just before the Administration Building and just after apartment building). Quickly turn left again on to Phoenix Drive to go down the hill to the water level. Drive straight ahead to the Great Lakes Research Center, last building on your left, on the water.

From Chassell: As you approach Michigan Tech on US 41, turn right onto Cliff Drive (just past the Administration Building). Take an immediate left on to Phoenix Drive to go down the hill to the water level. Drive straight ahead to the Great Lakes Research Center, last building on your left, on the water.

Michigan Tech News: Two Wolves Remain on Isle Royale

Wolf prints. (Photo © Rolf Peterson and courtesy Michigan Tech University. Reprinted with permission.)

By Allison Mills, Michigan Tech science and technology writer
Posted on Michigan Tech News Apr. 19, 2016
Reprinted here with permission

HOUGHTON -- Having survived another year, it is likely that only two wolves remain on Isle Royale. A researcher from Michigan Technological University surveyed the island this winter, part of the longest running predator-prey study in the world. The sudden population drop has led the Isle Royale National Park to look into intervention strategies for one of its most iconic species.

The study’s report marks the project’s 58th year of monitoring wolves and moose in Isle Royale. In recent years, wolves had been on the decline and moose on the rise. Those patterns persisted through this past winter’s observations. In particular, the island probably has two wolves left and the moose herd is estimated to be 1,300 and likely increasing.

With these ecosystem dynamics at play, the island's wilderness could be significantly impacted, says Rolf Peterson, a research professor at Michigan Tech and report co-author. More moose means more vegetation is eaten, as documented in population increases like those seen in the early 1990s. Predation is the natural check on moose, keeping them from damaging forest vegetation, explains John Vucetich, a professor of ecology at Michigan Tech and report co-author. But with the packs greatly diminished that balance no longer holds sway.

Wolf Genetics

The population crash on Isle Royale is the result of inbreeding. At one point, genetic rescue might have made a difference -- as it did when the wolf known as "Old Gray Guy" crossed an ice bridge to the island. That opportunity has now passed. It is a common thought that genetic rescue might not be a good idea because the wolves possess too many deleterious genes.

"But that represents a misunderstanding of the underlying genetic processes," Peterson says. "The surviving wolves may or may not have any more deleterious genes than you or I, but when combined with a family member's genes, recessive genes can be expressed."

The two remaining wolves are definitely family. They are half-siblings -- and also a father-daughter pair.

Geneticists measure the severity of incestuous relationships with inbreeding coefficients, falling on a scale between 0 and 1. Cousins mating results in offspring with a 0.125 inbreeding coefficient; mating with a parent, brother or sister results in offspring with a 0.25 figure. Any offspring produced by the last two Isle Royale wolves would have an expected inbreeding coefficient between 0.311 and 0.565.

Phil Hedrick from Arizona State University is the geneticist who calculated those figures. He says it is rare for a population to reach such high inbreeding coefficients, though high inbreeding has been measured in other groups, like cheetahs and Mexican wolves. Those populations are also widely recognized to be in dire straits.

"In those instances, inbreeding has accumulated over a longer period of time, not very quickly as in the Isle Royale wolves, just over three generations," Hedrick explains, adding that mating between close relatives accelerates the rate of inbreeding. The effects are visible with the pup observed on the island in 2015, which had an inbreeding coefficient of 0.438.

Wolves, pup and adult, 2015. (Photo © Rolf Peterson and courtesy Michigan Tech University. Reprinted with permission.)

In 2015, there were three wolves -- one of them likely died in the past year. The other two wolves are unlikely to have successfully reproduced in the past year. Moreover, Peterson observed the tracks of what appear to have been two wolves in February. It is plausible that the population is now comprised of just those two wolves who will be six and eight years old this spring. For context, the life expectancy of wolves on Isle Royale has been about four years of age.

Due to the state of the wolves on Isle Royale, the National Park Service wrote in a release in March, "At this time, natural recovery of the [wolf] population is unlikely."

More Moose

This year, Peterson was only able to count moose on three-quarters of the plots that are usually counted. The limited effort was attributable to administrative constraints. That effort also resulted in an estimated 1,300 moose, up four percent from last year, and two observations suggest that 1,300 is likely an underestimate. First, of the moose observed 22 percent were calves. That's the second highest ever recorded. Second, predation rate was extremely low. The abundance of calves and predation rate have each been useful predictors of increase in moose abundance.

"Last year, there was every reason to believe wolves were destined for extinction and moose are destined to grow rapidly in the near future, likely to the point of damaging the forest," Vucetich says. "This year, we did not observe anything to make us think that circumstance has changed."

While it is too late to genetically rescue the current wolf population, some argue that wolf reintroduction could limit possible ecological damage. But Peterson warns that waiting too long could lead to damage than cannot be undone -- a kind of Humpty-Dumpty problem. However, an alternative perspective is that it would be best to simply not intervene.

Public Comments: Sociological Data

Research by Michael Nelson of Oregon State University shows overwhelming support for having wolves on Isle Royale, even if that involves intervention.

According to Nelson’s analysis, the public comments solicited by the National Park Service reveal that 86 percent agree that wolves should be present on Isle Royale -- even if that means intervening on their behalf. Half of those commenters cited maintaining ecosystem health as a key reason.

"We were interested in what policy was preferred by the interested public, but we were even more interested in how they reasoned their way to their preferred policy," Nelson says, "We're trying to understand the moral reasoning behind those preferences."

During his Nov. 12, 2015, presentation at Michigan Tech, "Should We Save the Wolves of Isle Royale? What the interested public thinks and why they think it," Oregon State University Professor Michael Nelson speaks about ethical questions. Nelson is also resident philosopher of the Isle Royale Wolf/Moose project and spends part of each summer working with the animal ecologists on the island. He is the co-creator and co-director, with Michigan Tech Professor and Wildlife Biologist John Vucetich, of the Conservation Ethics Group, an environmental ethics and problem solving consultancy group. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)

Of the 12 percent who opposed intervention, many appealed to the ideology of wilderness. The underpinning views are that a healthy ecosystem should not need human intervention and maintaining naturalness -- with no human meddling -- means standing aside, even if that means another National Park without top carnivores.

Read more about Vucetich and Peterson's perspective on wolf reintroduction at www.mtu.edu/unscripted.

(Inset photos of Rolf Peterson and John Vucetich courtesy Michigan Tech University)

Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District to hold 64th Annual Meeting Apr. 21; HKCD Tree Sale to be May 7

The Keweenaw Fault will be the subject of the feature presentation by Bill Rose and Erika Vye at the Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District Meeting Thursday, Apr. 21, at the Ramada Inn in Hancock. In this photo, Rose presents the importance of the Keweenaw Fault during the May 26, 2015, Torchlake Watershed meeting. (Keweenaw Now file photo)

HOUGHTON -- The Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District (HKCD) will hold its 64th Annual Meeting and Election at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 21, at the Ramada Inn, First Floor Conference Room, in Hancock.

Everyone is invited to share a light buffet supper; participate in the Election of two HKCD Board Members; learn about HKCD's Year in Review and the coming May 7, 2016, Tree Sale (see below); and enjoy the featured presentation: VISITING the KEWEENAW FAULT: GeoEducation and GeoTourism, by Bill Rose and Erika Vye.

Rose, Michigan Tech emeritus professor in geology, has recently led several geotours in the Keweenaw as part of an ongoing GeoEducation project. Erika Vye, who organizes the tours, recently completed her Ph.D. in geology at Michigan Tech. Last summer, one of the tours was devoted to the Keweenaw Fault, a massive thrust fault which split the Keweenaw peninsula lengthwise and uplifted rocks, including native copper, to a place where people could find it. Rose, who is also a researcher in Geological Engineering and Sciences and a volcanologist, has set up an educational Web site about Keweenaw Geoheritage.*

In Lake Linden, Bill Rose (center) talks about Torch Lake geology during the July 30, 2015, geotour of Copper Mining Waste of Lake Superior. Seated at right is Michigan Tech Professor Carol MacLennan, who participated in the tour and offered her expertise on the mining history of the area. Not pictured is Michigan Tech Professor of Biology Charles Kerfoot, who also participated in the tour. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)

An RSVP for the HKCD meeting is appreciated, but not required. If you would like to RSVP or vote via Absentee Ballot or receive more information please call Sue at (906) 369-5023.

HKCD announces 2016 Tree Sale

The Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District (HKCD) will be holding its 2016 TREE SALE from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 7, 2016. The 2016 TREE SALE will again be at 711 W. Lakeshore Drive, Houghton, on a first come, first served basis. Advance orders will not be accepted. The doors will open at 8 a.m. sharp. Everyone is welcome!

NEW THIS YEAR:

• Wild flower plugs and more milkweed!

•  All Prices will include 6 percent Michigan Sales Tax to expedite check out.

• Plant Merchandise Catalogs full of fruit trees, berries, native trees and shrubs and more are available here.

• Printed catalogs will  be available at HKCD's 64th Annual Meeting Thursday, April 21, at the Ramada Inn in Hancock (see above).

• Printed catalogs will be mailed on a request only basis. Please call Sue at (906) 369-5023 to request a catalog.

Notes:

* Click here to visit the Keweenaw Geoheritage Web site.

** Click here to read about last year's Geotours.

Residents wishing curbside recycling asked to attend Joint Hancock-Houghton City Council Meeting Apr. 19

Poster announcing Joint Houghton-Hancock City Council Meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 19, at Lakeview Manor, Hancock. Houghton County residents who are interested in having curbside recycling are asked to attend the meeting. (Poster courtesy David Hall and Dana Van Kooy)

HANCOCK -- A Joint City Council Meeting for the cities of Hancock and Houghton will be held at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Apr. 19, in the Lakeview Manor Community Room, 1401 W. Quincy St., Hancock.

Local recycling concerns are expected to be part of the discussion under solid waste topics. While Hancock presently enjoys curbside recycling, other Houghton County residents would like to see Hancock and Houghton work together to consider curbside recycling for both cities. A five-year contract is being considered so a decision now is crucial. All interested residents are asked to attend, even those who live outside the cities. If curbside recycling becomes established, it can spread to the surrounding areas.

The following is the Agenda for the meeting as posted April 8, 2016:

A. Call to order by Lisa McKenzie and Mayor Robert Backon, Roll Call and Verification of a Quorum.
B. Hancock Council -- Mary Tuisku, Joe Bauman, Gregory Markkanen, Lisa McKenzie, Ted Belej, John Slivon and Ron Blau.
C. Houghton Council -- Robert Backon, Robert Megowen, Craig Kurtz, Mike Needham, Rachel Lankton, Dan Salo and John Sullivan.
D. Address The Flag

AGENDA AS POSTED:
1. Review Solid Waste RFP’s.
2. January 1, 2017, Gas Tax increase.
3. State Revenue Sharing trends.
4. Review MDOT Downtown Hancock Streetscape Project.
5. Update on Houghton Skate Park Project.

Motion to adjourn.

Note: Posted this 8th day of April, 2016
All Councilors were properly notified on 4-8-16 at 3:00 p.m. and by e-mail. 18 hour minimum notice.

Carnegie Museum to host reception for Science Fair winners, Natural History Seminar, new exhibit on local recycling efforts

Poster for Carnegie Museum Apr. 16 reception for Western UP Science Fair winners courtesy Carnegie Museum.

HOUGHTON -- The Carnegie Museum in Houghton has announced two coming events and a new exhibit.

Award-Winning Science Fair Projects Apr. 16

The Carnegie Museum will host a reception for student-scientists -- winners of the 2016 Western UP Science Fair -- from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Apr. 16. The reception will include refreshments and family science activities.

Natural History Seminar Apr. 19: Lake Superior's Legacy Brook Trout

Poster for Carnegie Museum Natural History Seminar on Lake Superior's Legacy Brook Trout Apr. 19 featuring Michigan Tech Professor of Biological Sciences Casey Huckins. (Poster courtesy Carnegie Museum)

At 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Apr. 19, Michigan Tech Professor of Biological Sciences Casey Huckins will present "Natural History and Conservation of Coasters -- Lake Superior's Legacy Brook Trout at the Carnegie Museum, part of the Carnegie's 2015-2016 Natural History Seminar Series. Refreshments and introductions at 6:30 p.m. will precede the talk.

Lake Superior was once known for the remarkable trout that swam the coastal waters and attracted anglers and recreationists. These trout were a migratory form of brook trout (called coasters) that depended on tributaries around the basin for spawning. By the early 1900s overharvest and the likely effects of watershed degradation and introduced species reduced these once common fish to scattered populations that now face new threats. This talk will cover the history and status of coasters and introduce the science, restoration, and management now being done to help them.

April's Natural History seminar is sponsored by Peterlin Distributing and Pisani Company, Inc.

New Exhibit Apr. 19 - May 5: Copper Country Recycling Initiative

 

Visit the Carnegie Museum's new exhibit and learn about local efforts to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.

Carnegie Museum events and exhibits are free and open to the public.

Rozsa Center to host 17th Annual Don Keranen Memorial Jazz Concert Apr. 15

Michigan Tech jazz ensembles at the Rozsa. (Photo © Defined Visuals and courtesy Michigan Tech University)

HOUGHTON -- Michigan Tech Jazz Studies Program Director Mike Irish and the Michigan Tech Jazz ensembles will present the 17th Annual Don Keranen Memorial Jazz Concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Apr. 15, at the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts. With a wide variety of jazz to suit almost every palette, the Keranen legacy is very much in evidence in both the Research and Development Big Band and in the Jazz Lab Band. Don was always at the cutting edge of incorporating new and interesting jazz arrangements in his concert programs.

The R and D Big Band will perform Little Sunflower with the addition of interesting sound effects and a woodwind quintet. The Jazz Lab Band will feature vocalists Kattie Riutta and Kevin Rocheleau singing Used To Rule The World, and Diggin’ On James Brown, respectively. 

Both tradition AND innovation were important to Don’s view of education. The Jazz Lab Band will perform a classic composition from the library of the Buddy Rich Big Band titled Groovin’ Hard, written by Don Menza. In a more contemporary style, the R and D Band will funk-out on the Tower of Power classic, Soul Vaccination.

The jazz groups have been very active this year. Besides campus concerts in the Rozsa, the R and D Big Band traveled to the Calumet Theater for a headline concert in March. The Jazz Lab Band performed a Midwest tour in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan in early January.  Both jazz combos, JazTec and Momentum have been actively gigging in the area, and along with the Jazz Lab Band will be competing in the 49th Annual Eau Claire Jazz Festival in Eau Claire, Wis., on Friday, April 22.

In 2003, Jay Keranen developed an endowed award program in his father's name. Two $500 amounts are awarded for 1) Outstanding Jazz Musician, and 2) The Most Improved Jazz Musician, respectively. This year's recipients will be announced during this Friday's concert. Michigan Tech is indebted to Don Keranen for his great contributions to music and jazz and to Jay and the Keranen family for their continuing generous support of jazz. There is something here for everyone! So, sit back and relax and enjoy the journey!

Tickets for the Don Keranen Memorial Jazz Concert are on sale now: $13 for adults, $5 for youth, and no charge for Michigan Tech students with the Experience Tech fee. Tickets are available by phone at (906) 487-2073, online at Rozsa.mtu.edu, in person at the Central Ticketing Office in the Student Development Complex, or at the Rozsa Box Office the evening of the performance. Please note the Rozsa Box Office only opens two hours prior to performances.

Free local screening of Naomi Klein film Apr. 13, Citizens' Climate Lobby workshop Apr. 16 to offer info on climate issues

This Changes Everything, a film based on climate author Naomi Klein's book of the same title, will be shown at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 13, at the Orpheum Theater in Hancock. (Poster image courtesy Anne Newcombe)

HANCOCK, HOUGHTON -- Two free community events concerning climate issues will be offered this week in Hancock and Houghton.

The Orpheum Theater in Hancock will host a free Community Screening of Naomi Klein's This Changes Everything at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 13. A brief community conversation will follow the film. This film is co-sponsored by Transition Marquette, Transition Keweenaw, and the Green Film Series.

This film, by Avi Lewis, is narrated and inspired by the book of the same title by Naomi Klein, who states the following in that book:

“Can I be honest with you? I’ve always kind of hated films about climate change.

"What is it about those vanishing glaciers and desperate polar bears that makes me want to click away? Is it really possible to be bored by the end of the world? It’s not that I don’t care what happens to polar bears. It’s just that we’re told that the cause isn’t out there, that it’s in us, it’s human nature. We’re innately greedy and short-sighted. And if that’s true, there is no hope. But when I finally stopped looking away, traveled into the heart of the crisis, met people on the front lines, I discovered so much of what I thought I knew was wrong. And I began to wonder: what if human nature isn’t the problem? What if even greenhouse gases aren’t the problem? What if the real problem is a story, one we’ve been telling ourselves for 400 years.

"I was in a stately home in the English countryside that looked an awful lot like Downton Abbey. It was an invitation-only meeting hosted by the world’s oldest scientific organization, the Royal Society. Instead of ordering around the servants, the people here were trying to order around the sun. I mean the sun, in the sky. They were discussing a plan to spray chemicals into the stratosphere to turn down the temperature for planet earth."

Shirley Galbraith of Houghton (in orange vest, to left of "No Tar Sands" sign) holds hands with Canadian journalist Naomi Klein during the Nov. 6, 2011, protest in front of the White House -- aimed at convincing President Obama to say "No" to the Keystone XL Pipeline. (Keweenaw Now file photo © Allan Baker)

Naomi Klein is an award-winning journalist, syndicated columnist and author of the international bestsellers, This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs The Climate (2014), The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism (2007) and No Logo (2000). Her books have been translated into over 30 languages. In 2004, Naomi Klein wrote The Take, a feature documentary about Argentina’s occupied factories co-produced with director Avi Lewis. Naomi Klein is a columnist for The Nation magazine and the Guardian and a contributing editor at Harper’s magazine. She is a Puffin Foundation Writing Fellow at The Nation Institute and sits on the board of directors for 350.org, the global grassroots movement to solve the climate crisis.* 

Whether or not you have read the book, come to the Orpheum Theater Wednesday evening to learn more.

The second community event will take place from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 16, at Portage Lake District Library: A Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) Houghton Chapter Launch. Please join a group of concerned citizens for this workshop to create the political will to address climate change. Become a citizen climate advocate and help create a livable world.

* Click here to read about the film and see a trailer.

Portage Library to celebrate National Library Week April 11-16

HOUGHTON -- The Portage Lake District Library (PLDL) invites everyone to visit the library and celebrate National Library Week from April 11 – April 16.

Programs that will be offered throughout the week are as follows:

Monday, April 11
Grant Seeking Resources for Non-Profits, Artists and Students, 2 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
As the only Funding Information Network for the Foundation Center in Houghton and Keweenaw counties, the Portage Lake District Library makes available the most comprehensive database of grantmakers and their grants in the United States. Library Director Dillon Geshel will present on using this resource.

Tuesday, April 12
Indieflix: Free Streaming Video from Your Library, 5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.
A premier online streaming video service that provides award-winning independent films as well as 7,000 high quality shorts, documentaries, and classic TV shows is now available for PLDL patrons. A presentation that shows how to use Indieflix will be followed by the screening of two short films. Popcorn will be served.

Wednesday, April 13
Children’s Storytime and Craft, 10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Young children are invited to a library themed Storytime. Kids will enjoy listening to stories and will create their own book afterwards.

SCOLA: Television and Radio Broadcasts from Around the World, 3:30 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.
SCOLA is a non-profit educational organization that receives and re-transmits television programming from around the world in native languages and will be added to PLDL’s resources in May. Library Director Dillon Geshel will show participants how to access SCOLA and its many features.

Thursday, April 14
Children’s Storytime and Craft, 10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Young children are invited to a library themed Storytime. Kids will enjoy listening to stories and will write their own book afterwards.

Open House for New Library Director Dillon Geshel, 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Everyone is welcome to stop by the community room to meet and chat with the library’s new director, Dillon Geshel. Refreshments will be served.

Dillon Geshel, new Library Director for the Portage Lake District Library in Houghton. The public is invited to an Open House for Dillon from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Apr. 14. (File photo courtesy Jennifer Donovan)

Local Author Visit and Book Talk with Corey LaBissoniere, 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Corey LaBissoniere is the author of two novels for young adults. His presentation will include a discussion and readings from his newest book, Return to Enchantas. There will be a book signing and selling afterwards.

Friday, April 15
Michigan eLibrary Resources for Small Businesses, 1 p.m. - 2 p.m.
The library recognizes business information resources as a necessity for new and developed businesses. Aspiring entrepreneurs need good information about their markets, customers, industry, and competitors. Library Director Dillon Geshel will show how Michigan eLibrary Business Resources can help businesses.

All Week
Fine Forgiveness
Donate nearly new books, DVDs or CDs and receive $1 in fine forgiveness per item donated during National Library Week.

Libraries Transform Communities Photo Challenge
Fill in a blank "speech bubble" sign telling why libraries matter to you or your community. Your photo will be taken with your sign, and one selected winner will receive a $50 Keweenaw Cash Certificate.

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

EPA posts Web site with information on L'Anse Warden Plant Clean Air Act investigation

By Michele Bourdieu

Railroad ties, one of the fuel sources used in the L'Anse Warden Electric Co. power plant, are stacked near the plant in L'Anse. Michigan Department of Environmental Quality dust wipes taken east of the plant have been analyzed by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and found to contain pentachlorophenol, a wood preservative used in railroad ties, as well as multiple metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs. According to the EPA's new Web site on the L'Anse Warden Plant, at this time EPA doesn’t have enough information to determine whether the levels found in the dust wipes were excessive or could cause health problems. Additional investigation is needed to determine risks to the community.* (Keweenaw Now file photo © and courtesy Horst Schmidt)

L'ANSE -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 5 recently posted a Web site with information on the L'Anse Warden Electric Company (LWEC) to provide publicly available information on EPA's Clean Air Act investigation of the LWEC.*

EPA is working closely with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) to investigate L'Anse area residents’ concerns about odors and fugitive dust coming from the LWEC plant, address potential health risks and determine compliance with environmental regulations.

In an April 1, 2016, letter to Linda Rulison, president of FOLK (Friends of the Land of Keweenaw), Molly Smith, U.S. EPA Region 5 environmental scientist (Air Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, MI/WI Section), states, "At this time we would like to draw your attention to some new information that became available this week. MDEQ, at the request of EPA, collected dust wipe samples at four locations in the L’Anse, Michigan, community. Results of that sampling have been finalized and are available to view on the web."

At present the Web site includes links to the following: EPA requests to LWEC for information related to their emissions, MDEQ violation notices to LWEC, test results and a history of L'Anse Warden permits.

* Click here for the EPA's L'Anse Warden Power Plant Web site.

Company requests MDNR metallic minerals leases in Houghton, Ontonagon, Iron counties; 30-day public comment period

By Michele Bourdieu

This Michigan Department of Natural Resources map shows the parcels (in pink, marked with an M, and one in green in Section 25) in Duncan Township, Houghton County, requested for metallic mineral leases by Trans Superior Resources, Inc., a subsidiary of Bitterroot Resources LTD. Click on map for larger version. (Map courtesy Michigan Department of Natural Resources)

[Editor's Update: Karen Maidlow, Property Specialist, DNR, Office of Minerals Management, notified Keweenaw Now on Apr. 25, 2016, that the public comment period on these lease requests has been extended to May 31, 2016.]

LANSING -- The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) reports that Trans Superior Resources, Inc., (a subsidiary of Bitterroot Resources LTD of West Vancouver, BC, Canada) has requested direct metallic minerals leases from the State of Michigan covering MDNR metallic mineral rights located within Houghton, Ontonagon and Iron counties -- totaling approximately more than 3,000 acres.

In a March 14, 2016, news release, parent company Bitterroot Resources states, "The primary exploration targets being pursued on Bitterroot's Voyageur Lands are conduit-hosted, high-grade magmatic nickel-copper-PGM deposits similar to Lundin Mining's Eagle and Eagle East deposits, which are located 65 km NE of the Voyageur Lands."*

The following requests are being announced in published Public Notices:

In Houghton County, Trans Superior has requested a total of 1,286 acres, more or less, further described as: T47N, R37W, Sections 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 33, and 35 (in Duncan Township).

In Ontonagon County, Trans Superior has requested a total of 1,605 acres, more or less, further described as: T46N, R38W, Sections 3, 15, 16, and 21; T47N, R38W, Sections 25, 27, 34, and 35 (Interior Township).

This map shows the parcels in Interior Township, Ontonagon County, marked with M, that have been requested for metallic mineral leases by Trans Superior Resources, Inc. Click on map for larger version. (Map courtesy Michigan Department of Natural Resources)

In Iron County Trans Superior's request is for a total of 160 acres, more or less, further described as: T45N, R36W, Sections 11, 12, and 13 (Iron River Township).

This map shows the parcels (marked with an M) in Sections 11, 12 and 13 of Iron River Township, Iron County, requested for metallic mineral leasing by Trans Superior Resources, Inc. Click on map for larger version. (Map courtesy Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources)

A parcel list showing the legal description of the lands and recommended parcel classifications is available at www.michigan.gov/minerals, "Metallic Minerals Lease Information"; or by contacting Karen Maidlow, Property Specialist, DNR, Office of Minerals Management, P.O. Box 30452, Lansing, MI 48909; or maidlowk@michigan.gov.

According to the Public Notices, written comments from interested parties, relative to the request to lease the specified mineral rights, may be submitted to the MDNR at the contact information listed above no later than 30 days from the actual date of the Public Notice publication.

"We have to be assured that the public has 30 days from the date of the publication to submit their comments, which is why the notice is written that way," Karen Maidlow told Keweenaw Now in an email today. "The applicant told me that the public notices were expected to be published no later than April 6th. If that is the case, the public would need to submit their comments no later than May 6, 2016."

MDNR county nomination maps are available online as follows:

Houghton County:
http://www.dnr.state.mi.us/spatialdatalibrary/pdf_maps/Mineral_Lease_Information/Houghton_nominations.pdf

Ontonagon County:
http://www.dnr.state.mi.us/spatialdatalibrary/pdf_maps/Mineral_Lease_Information/Ontonagon_nominations.pdf 

Iron County:
http://www.dnr.state.mi.us/spatialdatalibrary/pdf_maps/Mineral_Lease_Information/Iron_nominations.pdf 

According to Maidlow, "If you right click on the map and zoom in to the township, range, section, you’ll see pink blocks with a red letter M (signifying the parcel is requested for metallic minerals lease). The pink shading means that the State of Michigan only owns the minerals to that parcel. For the majority of the parcels requested to lease, the land is owned by the US Forest Service and the State of Michigan owns the minerals. There is 1 small parcel (6 acres) in Houghton County, T47N, R37W, Section 25, NWNW where the State owns both the surface and minerals. This parcel shows up as olive green on the map, also with a red letter M."

Trans Superior Resources, Inc., is located at 333 Bridge Street NW, Grand Rapids, MI.

*Learn about the Michigan mineral exploration plans of parent company Bitterroot Resources LTD on their Web site.

Guest Article: Citizens still concerned about community health hazards from L'Anse Warden Electric Company plant

The L'Anse Warden Electric Company (LWEC) "biomass" plant in L'Anse, Michigan, has been the subject of citizen complaints about pollution, especially non-compliance with air quality standards. At right is the Falls River, which flows into Lake Superior. (Photo © and courtesy Horst Schmidt)

By Catherine Andrews, L'Anse Township resident

In the March 29, Daily Mining Gazette (DMG) cover story, Steve Walsh, General Manager/Chief Operating Officer of L'Anse Warden Electric Company (LWEC) opines that Friends of the Land of Keweenaw (FOLK) and Partnership for Policy Integrity (PFPI) are 100 percent against jobs in Baraga County. How he arrives at this conclusion is puzzling in light of a recent conversation I had with him.
(Inset photo: Guest author Catherine Andrews, speaking about the L'Anse Warden Electric Company plant during a meeting of Friends of the Land of Keweenaw last October. Keweenaw Now file photo.)*

On February 24, Walsh repeatedly accused me, and others, of wanting money from him.  I explained  that we are concerned about community health, the health of L'Anse Warden Electric Company (LWEC) employees and the environment. My perception is that he fails to grasp the concept that anyone would value health over money.

A major criteria pollutant emitted from the LWEC stack is Hydrogen Chloride (HCl). The permit limit is 2.17 pounds per hour. A September 24 stack test revealed 5.19 pounds per hour. HCl forms hydrochloric acid, also known as muriatic acid, upon contact with atmospheric humidity. HCl is just one of many chemicals emitted from LWEC.

Exposure to HCl may cause eye, nose and respiratory tract irritation and inflammation and pulmonary edema. Exposure to skin may cause severe burns, ulcerations and scarring.

This photo shows the smokestack of the LWEC plant very near the BHK Child Development Center. (Photo © and courtesy Catherine Andrews) 

When I expressed concern regarding LWEC's close proximity to the BHK Child Development Center, Walsh said, "It should not have been built so close to a power plant."

This photo shows the proximity of the BHK Child Development Center to the conveyor that delivers chipped railroad ties and wood chips used for fuel in the LWEC plant. The receiving hopper (to the right of the conveyor) and the conveyor are sources of fugitive dust. The photo was taken from the river side of the plant. (Photo © and courtesy Catherine Andrews)

BHK was built in 1998, five years after the Warden Plant stopped burning coal in 1993, and 10 years before Traxys purchased the shuttered plant in order to convert it to a Biomass facility.

Even though MDEQ (Michigan Dept. of Environmental Quality) and EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) are investigating noncompliance issues within LWEC's expired permit, Walsh's statement to the L'Anse Village Council that LWEC is in no imminent danger of being shut down is probably true. As seen in Flint, extraordinary bureaucratic bungling persists until agencies are forced by public pressure to do their job.

Green Hill Manor, at left, is a senior housing facility, some of whose residents have complained about dust from the LWEC plant. (Photo © and courtesy Horst Schmidt)

Walsh's allegations that citizen activists want to shut down LWEC are completely fabricated. I specifically told him that this whole issue would be resolved if LWEC converted to natural gas, which is already utilized during shut down and start up operations. I have been very clear that using natural gas is preferable to burning chemically treated railroad ties, chipped tires and other chemically treated products. I sincerely hope that most of the 17 people (not 35 as was quoted in the DMG article) who are employed at the plant would continue to be employed if the plant converts to natural gas.

This is a recent photo of railroad ties to be used at the LWEC plant. At right, in the background, is Lake Superior's Keweenaw Bay. (Photo © and courtesy Horst Schmidt)

Traxys, owner of the LWEC plant, is a subsidiary of a private equity investment company. They purchase devalued property and acquire Federal subsidies (LWEC received over 11 million) and other incentives to start up new businesses. Once the new business becomes operational, the company is sold for a sweet profit. LWEC has been for sale for three years.

Traxys never intended to become a long term, integral player in the Baraga County economy. L'Anse is only a blip on their balance sheet and will be stuck with a toxic legacy that will remain long after Traxys has moved on.**

Editor's Notes:

* See our Dec. 4, 2015, article, "FOLK, local residents, EPA investigate L'Anse Warden biomass plant permit violations; DEQ to hold public hearings." 
 
** See also our Oct. 29, 2015, article, "Guest article: Questions on air pollution from L'Anse Warden biomass plant and postponed public hearing," by Diane Miller. Note that the public hearing on the LWEC plant, mentioned as scheduled by MDEQ, has not yet been held.