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August 2002 News

Houghton/Keweenaw Conservation District seeks Administrative Coordinator

Posted 08/29/2002

HOUGHTON -- The Houghton/Keweenaw Conservation District is seeking a part-time (24 hrs/wk) administrator who will coordinate the operations of the district and report to a five-member board of directors. The application deadline is Sept. 13, 2002. Read the position requirements.

Proposed Keweenaw County Land Use Plan receives public input

Posted 08/27/2002

MOHAWK -- More than 100 citizens and governmental decision makers gathered in the Mohawk School on Aug. 7, 2002, to see and comment on a preliminary draft of a Keweenaw County Preferred Land Use Plan, titled "Blueprint for Tomorrow." On Tuesday, Aug. 27, the draft plan will be presented to the Keweenaw County Zoning/ Planning Commission for their review. more

UPEC reports citizens question plans for Hannahville coal-burning power plants

Posted 08/23/2002

HOUGHTON -- A recent newsletter of the Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition (UPEC) reports on the Hannahville Tribal Council's plan to build four coal-burning power plants near Escanaba and cites reactions by Citizens for Water and Clean Sky, a Bark River area grass-roots group formed in response to the proposed development, which is estimated to use 10.8 million gallons of water per day. Read articles by Gerry Nelson, spokesperson for the citizens' group, and Marcel Potvin, Michigan Tech graduate student, on UPEC's new Web site   

Bay College receives $2 million grant for energy efficiency

Posted 08/19/2002

ESCANABA -- Bay College, located in Escanaba, recently received a $2 million Michigan Energy Efficiency Grant from the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC). This grant will be used to establish "Northern Lights," a revolving loan fund designed to assist Upper Peninsula businesses, school districts and local government agencies in the purchase and installation of energy efficiency improvements, with the savings on their utility bills paying back the loan. Bay College President Dr. Michael Allkins expects the program to expand to other parts of the state and to generate over $10,000,000 in energy savings in 15 to 20 years. more

Local Family Writes Book on Web Programming

Posted 08/15/2002

TORCH LAKE TOWNSHIP -- Zac Torkelson's first book went on sale on July 16th, just one day before his 15th birthday. He collaborated with his father, Lynn Torkelson, and mother, Constance Petersen, to create the 936-page book, Programming the Web with Visual Basic .NET published by Apress LP of Berkeley, California. more

Legislature overrides Engler veto of funds

Posted 08/13/2002

  LANSING -- Michigan's House of Representatives and Senate both voted on Tuesday, Aug. 13, to override Governor John Engler's recent veto which would have stripped more than $840 million in revenue-sharing payments to Michigan counties, cities, townships and villages -- funds for vital local services such as police protection, fire departments and road repair. State Rep. Rich Brown (D- Bessemer), a strong opponent of the veto, says this victory is just a start in restoring Engler's cuts from the bipartisan budget passed by the Legislature. more

MTU Fraternity House Fire Claims One

Updated 08/13/2002

HOUGHTON--A fraternity brother at the Phi Kappa Theta fraternity house, located on Ruby Street near the main Michigan Tech campus, perished in an early morning fire on Tuesday, August 13. The student has been identified as Andrew Maas from Holland, Michigan. more

Women participate in Keweenaw County voting, politics

Posted 08/10/2002

  EAGLE RIVER -- Jennifer Granholm, the first woman to receive a major party nomination for Governor of Michigan, offers a role model for Michigan women of the 21st century who may want to enter the challenging "man's world" of politics. Keweenaw women serve the County on local government boards and behind the scenes. more

Why vote YES on Proposal 2

Posted 08/05/2002

  LANSING -- Michigan voters will have a chance to improve Michigan’s state and local parks and to protect the state's lakes, streams and wildlife by voting YES on Proposal 2 on the August 6, 2002, Primary Election ballot. A YES vote will strengthen the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund, which has provided more than $540 million for projects in every county of Michigan, including the recent state purchase of land for public access, recreation and protection at the Keweenaw Tip. more 

Partisan Primary could pose dilemma for Keweenaw voters

Posted 08/02/2002

  EAGLE RIVER -- Some voters in Keweenaw County may face a dilemma when they go to the polls on Tuesday, August 6, for the Michigan primary elections. Michigan's primaries are partisan elections -- which means a citizen can vote for one party only. Keweenaw County Commissioner Don Keith is concerned that voters may not realize they can't vote for a Republican for a local office and a Democrat for Governor or vice versa, since splitting a ticket in a Michigan primary is not allowed. more

More volunteers needed at Seven-Mile Point

Updated 08/01/2002

  SEVEN MILE POINT -- Seven Mile Point can be open to public access only if enough volunteers are willing to host visitors any Saturday or Sunday from either noon to 5 p.m. or 5 p.m. to sunset. The North Woods Conservancy (NWC) Newsletter on their Web site lists Seven Mile Point summer hours, visitor guidelines, directions and an update on NWC fund raising. To volunteer, contact Jane Griffith, NWC secretary/treasurer, through the NWC Web site.

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