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Portage Health Donates Ski Helmets—February 7
Young skiers were treated to a free helmet yesterday at Mont Ripley in Hancock.
The helmets were provided by a grant of three thousand dollars by Portage Health and an additional two thousand by Doctor Craig Coccia from Marquette General Hospital’s Brain and Spine Center.
Community Health Coordinator Angela Luskin for Portage Health says making sure kids wear helmets for winter sports is just as important as warm weather activities.
Mont Ripley General Manager Nick Sirdenis says helmets really do make a difference. Eighteen percent of the injuries at Mont Ripley this year have involved concussions or concussion-like symptoms. Of those injured, only one person was wearing a helmet.
More than 200 helmets were donated…plenty for every student in the program to get a free ski helmet if they don’t already own one.
Woman Charged In Car Crash Death—February 7
A Marquette County woman is in jail, after a weekend drunk driving incident that killed one person.
34 year old Amy Lynn Tierrablanca was arraigned on Monday in 96th District Court in Marquette on the charge of ‘operating while intoxicated – causing death.”
Troopers from the Negaunee post of the Michigan State Police say the woman was driving north on County Road 550 in Big Bay around 3am Saturday when the accident occurred.
Tierrablanca allegedly drove off the roadway, hit a snowbank, rolled the vehicle over and hit a guy wire attached to a utility pole.
A passenger, 21 year old Michael Abbot of Big Bay died at the scene. Another passenger was also injured. She was taken to Marquette General Hospital for treatment.
Tierrablanca remains in the Marquette County Jail, on $250,000 bond.
Big Bay Man Dead After Car Crash—February 6
A man is dead following a car accident on County Road 550 in Big Bay.
State Police from the Negaunee Post say it happened shortly after 3 Saturday morning, just south of County Road KH.
A 33-year-old Big Bay woman was heading north when she drove off the roadway, hit a snowbank, rolled the vehicle over and hit a guy wire attached to a utility pole.
Emergency personnel found 21-year-old Michael Abbott of Big Bay trapped in the vehicle. He died at the scene.
Another woman in the vehicle was also injured and was taken to Marquette General for treatment.
Police arrested the driver for operating while intoxicated, causing death. She’s being held at the Marquette County Jail.
Her name is being withheld until after she can be arraigned.
Multiple Snowmobile Accidents In Iron County—February 6
The Iron County Sheriff’s Office had a busy Saturday, with several snowmobile crashes to look into.
One of them happened shortly after 1 pm Central time in Caspian during the Mid America Championship Hillclimb snowmobile race. A competitor was trying to climb the hill when his machine’s throttle stuck open. The rider fell from the sled, which veered into a group of spectators.
Two of the spectators were taken to NORTHSTAR Health System in Iron River with leg injuries. A tether device designed to shut the snowmobile off when the rider fell from the sled failed because it detached from the rider.
Then, shortly after 1:30 pm, police had to respond to a snowmobile accident on the Michigamme Reservoir. 39-year-old Chris List of Iron Mountain hit an embankment and crashed. List was taken to Dickinson County Memorial Hospital in Iron Mountain with non-life-threatening injuries.
The third accident took place on Trail 113 in Crystal Falls just after 6 pm. Police say 43-year-old Jeffery Masley of Elk River, Minnesota drove off the trail while on a curve and crashed into some trees. Masley was taken to NORTHSTAR Health System. There’s no word on how he’s doing. The Sheriff’s Department says they believe Masley was intoxicated. The incident is still being investigated.
Winter Carnival Wear Available—February 6
If you want to look cool for Winter Carnival, then you’ll need some of the hot new Winter Carnival-wear.
The 2012 edition of Winter carnival fashion have arrived at the Michigan Tech campus bookstore in Houghton just in time for the festivities.
The shirts come in navy or oxford grey and in various styles. Including hoodies sweatshirts, and t-shirts…both long and short sleeves
And what would a carnival goer be without an official pint or shot glass. Great for sipping hot chocolate!
Winter Carnival kicks in to high gear on Wednesday night.
CopperDog 150 Volunteer Drive Held—February 6
The team is really coming together for the CopperDog 150.
Organizers for the sled dog race through the Copper Country held a volunteer drive at the River Valley Bank in Calumet on Saturday to fill the important roster of workers.
Assistant Race Director Meredith Labeau says they already have about three-quarters of the help needed, but there are still plenty of spaces open.
Volunteers to help house the mushers is one of the race’s biggest needs at the moment. If you would like to be part of the CopperDog 150, simply click on the link on the Community page on our website.
Negaunee Home Explosion—February 6
A home in Negaunee is a total loss after it exploded over the weekend.
The city’s Fire Department says it happened shortly before 3 Sunday morning.
All four people inside the home got out safely, but they sought their own medical treatment as a precaution. No one else was hurt, either.
Firefighters say a possible natural gas leak in the basement was the cause of the explosion and ignition source for the fire.
The home was totally engulfed in flames when crews arrived, with fire rolling out of the bay windows at the front of the house.
The second floor was consumed by fire several minutes later.
There was no wind blowing at the time, and fire crews say that helped keep the fire contained to just that one home.
Neighboring houses suffered superficial damage.
Pilgrim River Watershed Meeting Tonight—February 6
Community input from Copper Country residents is needed to create a Pilgrim River Watershed Plan.
A meeting to encourage that input is being held today at the MTU Lakeshore Center Community Room in Houghton.
The Pilgrim River Watershed Advisory Council will use public input and collected scientific data to design a plan to manage the 15,000 acre watershed.
Evan McDonald, the Executive Director of the Keweenaw Land Trust says people in the area can help shape the plan.
The project was made possible by a $50,000 grant and includes involvement from Michigan Tech S-STEM students.
The meeting begins at 4pm and lasts until 5:30.
Winter Carnival Queen Choosen—February 6
There’s a new Winter Carnival Queen. At the Queen’s Coronation at Michigan Tech on Saturday, Melissa Hawks was selected to receive the crown.
Melissa is sponsored by Air Force ROTC and Maurices. She will be riding on the Zamboni during Friday’s Huskies Hockey Game.
The first runner up was Samantha Kerlin, sponsored by FYE McNair and Xpressions.
The second runner up was Laura Maciosek, sponsored by the Society of Women Engineers and Wells Fargo.
Warm Weather Hinder Statue Building—February 6
Winter Carnival at Michigan Tech in Houghton is right around the corner but with temperatures like these…you just might think it’s time for spring.
And that means trouble for snowmen and snow statues alike.
The statue out front of the Alpha Sigma Tau sorority house is in mid-production, but MTU Student Allison Gleiss says the warm weather has put a stop to the work.
With temperatures reaching into the mid- to upper-thirties for several days in a row, there’s reason to be concerned.
Judging of the snow statues is less than a week away. Until then, students here will be hoping their statues hold up.
Hukki Talks Mining/ATV Trails At Town Meetings – February 4
State Representative Matt Huuki touted his proposals to make it easier for mining and timber companies to bring jobs to the U-P at three town hall meetings over the weekend.
Saturday morning in L’Anse, the Atlantic Mine Republican defended the bill that exempts most mining operations from local zoning control, citing the Kennecott investment in the Eagle Mine project as an example.
Huuki’s next proposal is to change the way taxes are applied to the value of minerals in the ground as mines are being developed.
The present system taxes the perceived value of the minerals in the ground… as estimated by the state geologist.
Huuki’s proposal would apply the tax to the value of the minerals as they’re extracted.
The result would shift some of the tax burden for mining companies until later in the life of the mine… which would lift a financial burden during mine development.
Huuki admitted the proposal has drawn some criticism from local governments, especially in Marquette County, which have been counting on the higher up-front taxes provided by the current system. He says he’s continuing discussions with them about the issue.
Huuki also voiced support for more investment in A-T-V trails in the western U-P.
Huuki says he’s proposing a package of bills that would limit liability for private landowners who allow trails to cross their property, set up a licensing system that would generate revenue to support the trails, allocate additional funds from the existing recreational fuel tax collections, and allow A-T-V’s to use the shoulders of roads for limited distances to connect the trails with towns and businesses.
For the full audio of the L’Anse meeting, click here.
LBFOTE Holding Dinner & Dance—February 3
Seniors in the Copper Country will always have a family at Little Brothers Friends Of The Elderly.
For the past 30 years, Little Brothers in Hancock has been there for elderly people in our area.
To celebrate and to help raise much needed money, Little Brothers is holding a dinner and dance at the Range Lounge in South Range on Saturday.
Dave Rulison and his band, Cheap Therapy, will be there to provide the music.
Michael Aten from Little Brothers invites everyone to attend.
A chili dinner will be served at 7pm with the music and dancing starting at 8.
Little Brothers has much to celebrate…after serving the Houghton-Hancock area for three decades, they are branching out to help elderly folks in other parts of the Keweenaw.
Tickets are available for $10 at the Little Brother’s Hancock office or at the door.
No Regrets Conference In Houghton—February 3
Copper Country men will be gathering this weekend to seek spiritual transformation.
The No Regrets Men’s Conference will be presented at Grace United Methodist Church in Houghton on Saturday.
Keynote speaker Tony Evans will give two presentations at the event which begins at 9am and runs until 5pm.
No Regrets spawned from the Promise Keepers movement about 15 years ago and has become incredibly popular at Elmbrook Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where tickets for the event sell out in minutes.
The event will be webcasted which allows men to take part in the conference right here at home.
Allan Sunn and David Poplawski have been promoting the event in our area.
Tickets for the event are twenty dollars and are available at the door.
U.P. Woman Held For Ohio Bank Robbery—February 3
An Upper Peninsula woman is in police custody in Ohio, accused of two bank robberies in the Toledo area.
21 year old Ashley Dawn Elvetici, of Negaunee, was arraigned in a Toledo court Thursday morning.
According to the FBI, photos from the Key Bank show Elvetici just after nine o’clock Wednesday morning.
She reportedly passed a note demanding money from a teller and was given an undisclosed amount of money.
Police say she got away in a hunter green Ford Taurus. The vehicle was recovered and Crime Stopper tips led police to Elvetici at a nearby motel.
Elvetici was arrested Wednesday night at around 10 pm on 2 counts second degree felony robbery.
She is also charged with the robbery of another bank in Toledo on January 26.
Bank surveillance from that incident shows a woman who appears to be Elvetici.
Elvetici’s bond was set at $150,000 cash. Federal charges are likely as the investigation continues. A preliminary hearing has been set for February 9th in Toledo.
Few Shoe Repairs Shops Left In U.P.—February 2
Doug Johnson has been repairing shoes for 47 years.
Johnson’s Shoe Repair, located in downtown Houghton, originally opened in Calumet.
Nationwide, there were over 100 thousand shoe repair shops before World War II. Now there are only an estimated seven thousand left.
The way shoes are made today, repairing them is nearly impossible.
Doug has since branched out to sharpening scissors and repairing golf equipment.
Escapee Pleads Not Guilty To Escaping—February 2
A Marquette County man who escaped custody is back in jail.
27-year-old Troy Allen Luoma of Gwinn turned himself in and was arrested Tuesday evening in Marquette.
Luoma originally fled from Deputies on January 26th following a court appearance where he was remanded to jail.
He was charged with Attempted Interference with Electronic Communications, Resisting and Obstructing a Police Officer, and Escape from Lawful Custody.
Luoma pled not guilty to the charges.
A preliminary exam was set for February 13th.
Hospital Birthing Center Closed To Children—February 1
Children will not be allowed to visit the Portage Health Family Birthing Center in Hancock for the time being.
A high occurrence of a dangerous respiratory virus in children has caused the temporary closure due to the risk to infants.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a contagious viral disease that can lead to serious health problems, especially for newborns.
Portage Health’s Doctor Colleen Vallad-Hix says symptoms in children include runny nose and a croupy or wheezy cough. But with newborns, the danger is much more serious
Healthy adults are still allowed to enter the birthing center during regular visiting hours but until Portage Health officials feel the number of cases is significantly lowered, children will not be allowed to enter.
CopperDog 150 Chef Announced—February 1
Portage Health’s Director of Food Services Mark Pittillo will be the CopperDog 150’s official race chef.
Pittillo will be serving up great healthy meals during the big sled dog race in Calumet.
Organizers of the CopperDog 150 Sled Dog Race are holding a volunteer drive this Saturday at the River Valley Bank on US-41 in Calumet.
There you can meet some of the mushers and their dogs, enjoy free refreshments, and, most importantly, learn how you can help make the third annual CopperDog 150 successful.
The event begins at 10am and runs till 2.
Local Man Wins Super Bowl Tickets—February 1
It’s a good to be a friend of Houghton County resident Daniel Salo.
That’s because Dan just won a trip with a guest to next week’s Super Bowl in Indianapolis.
The prize, provided by Charter, includes air fare and hotel as well as two tickets to the big game.
As far as getting an invite to go to the game with Dan…he’s says he’ll be taking his wife.
Dan was one of over 27,000 entries eligible for the contest.
Meeting On The Houghton-Hancock Transit System—February 1
If you could improve the Houghton-Hancock transit system, what would you change?
A meeting to find out just what people in the community would do is being held tonight at the Portage Lake District Library.
On hand will be City Managers Scott MacInnis from Houghton and Glenn Anderson from Hancock.
Members from the Michigan Tech Transportation Enterprise will also be there. MTU Student Dani Revord is one of them and she encourages people to come and give their input.
Money for the project comes from a $50,000 grant from Ford to improve the transit service as a College Community Challenge.
The 2-year project is still in the research phase and Revord says they want to make sure they do this the best way possible.
Tonight’s meeting begins at 6:30pm.