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May 2003 News

Unemployment, tax cuts, Party support top Houghton County Democrats' concerns

By Mark Pavolich Posted 05/21/2003

HOUGHTON -- At their recent fund-raising awards dinner, Houghton County Democrats heard messages from their representatives in Lansing and Washington, D.C., on the Republican administration's $304 billion dollar deficit, combined with unemployment and costly tax cuts. Local Democratic leaders rallied the crowd of nearly 100 at the event, calling for Democratic Party support and conferring awards for leadership and service. more

Photo: Janet Metsa, right, Houghton County Democratic Party chair, presents the first Andrew Wisti Leadership Award to Ami Wisti, Party secretary, at the Democrats' fundraising and awards dinner May 16, 2003, at the Bluffs Senior Living and Banquet Facility in Houghton. (Photo by Mark Pavolich)

Hancock children remember Finnish President's visit

Posted 05/18/2003

HANCOCK -- Students in Maija Stadius's second grade class at Hancock Elementary have a special memory of this school year -- the day Finland's President Tarja Halonen visited their class and even danced with them. The students also performed songs in Finnish for the President and her husband, Dr. Pentti Arajarvi. more

Stupak to view Marquette area flood damage

Posted 05/17/2003

WASHINGTON, DC -- United States Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Menominee) will travel to Marquette and meet with local elected officials and business leaders at 5 p.m. Saturday afternoon, May 17, to view flood damage to the City of Marquette and surrounding townships from the dam breach that began on Wednesday, May 14. The extent of the damage will dictate whether the State of Michigan requests federal assistance. Stupak promised that his office remains ready to expedite any assistance in every possible way, when it is requested. more

Water Pots come to Fronterizo

Posted 05/15/2003

HANCOCK -- The people of Fronterizo 10 de Mayo, the Copper Country's sister community in Guatemala, recently celebrated the arrival of 74 large covered pots for boiling water. Guest author Sue Ellen Kingsley, who was in Guatemala for the occasion, offers a lively account of the arrival of the pots in Fronterizo and offers her photos of this community event in an article reprinted from the April 2003 CCGAP (Copper Country Guatemala Accompaniment Project) Newsletter. more

Women walkers head for Sault Ste. Marie in walk around Lake Superior

Updated 05/14/2003

THUNDER BAY, ONT. -- Andrea Metansinine writes on May 14 that the Walkers are now at Agawa Bay, and are visiting the pictographs on the shore of Lake Superior. "They are expected to arrive in Batchewana Bay by this evening," she adds. "They are getting closer and closer to Sault Ste. Marie. WOW!" The seven Native women from Thunder Bay, Ont., left the Bad River Indian Reservation in Wisconsin on April 21 on a 1,300-mile journey around Lake Superior to raise awareness of water conditions, based on an Elder’s vision that the value of water will be the same as gold for future generations. Along their way they are meeting with people to discuss pollution, water diversion and other threats to the Great Lakes. The Walkers are scheduled to return to the U.S. on May 18 via Sault Ste. Marie and plan to reach Marquette around May 26. Visit their Web site for updates, journal entries, photos and information on their Walk. more

Photo: Walkers, from left, Mario Wassegijig, Violet Caibaiosai, Thecla Neganegijig, Melvina Flamand and Linda Hardy pause for a photo at Beaver Bay, Minn. The Walkers carry a symbolic copper pail of lake water. (Photographer unidentified. Reprinted with permission.)

Women walk around Lake Superior to create awareness of threats to water 

Updated 05/08/2003

THUNDER BAY, ONT. -- Seven Native women from Thunder Bay, Ont., reached Marathon, Ont., Thursday afternoon, May 8, on their 1,300-mile journey around Lake Superior to raise awareness of water conditions, based on an Elder’s vision that the value of water will be the same as gold for future generations. They plan to meet people along their way to discuss pollution, water diversion and other threats to the Great Lakes. After starting from the Bad River Indian Reservation in Wisconsin on April 21, the women crossed the U.S. - Canada border near Grand Portage, Minn., on May 1 and left Thunder Bay on May 3. They are scheduled to return to the U.S. on May 18 via Sault Ste. Marie. The Walkers plan to reach Marquette around May 26. Visit their Web site for updates, journal entries, photos and information on their Walk. more

Photo: Walkers, from left, Mario Wassegijig, Violet Caibaiosai, Thecla Neganegijig, Melvina Flamand and Linda Hardy pause for a photo at Beaver Bay, Minn. The Walkers carry a symbolic copper pail of lake water. (Photographer unidentified. Reprinted with permission.)

Women walk around Lake Superior to create awareness of threats to water 

Posted 05/06/2003

THUNDER BAY, ONT. -- Seven Native women from Thunder Bay, Ont., have begun a 1,300-mile journey around Lake Superior to raise awareness of water conditions, based on an Elder’s vision that the value of water will be the same as gold for future generations. They plan to meet people along their way to discuss pollution, water diversion and other threats to the Great Lakes. After starting from the Bad River Indian Reservation in Wisconsin on April 21, the women crossed the U.S. - Canada border near Grand Portage, Minn., on May 1 and left Thunder Bay on May 3. Now heading for Shreiber, Ont., on the north shore of the lake, they are scheduled to return to the U.S. on May 18 via Sault Ste. Marie. The Walkers plan to reach Marquette around May 26. Visit their Web site for updates, journal entries, photos and information on their Walk. more

Photo: Walkers, from left, Mario Wassegijig, Violet Caibaiosai, Thecla Neganegijig, Melvina Flamand and Linda Hardy pause for a photo at Beaver Bay, Minn. The Walkers carry a symbolic copper pail of lake water. (Photographer unidentified. Reprinted with permission.)

North Woods Conservancy acquires property for public use

Posted 05/03/2003

ALLOUEZ TOWNSHIP -- The North Woods Conservancy (NWC) has purchased Gratiot River North, a parcel of land adjacent to Keweenaw County's Gratiot River County Park in Allouez Township, on the north shore of the Keweenaw Peninsula. The 495-acre property -- to be open to the public year round -- includes miles of hiking and biking trails and nearly a mile of Lake Superior shoreline famous for its beauty, serenity, and agate-rich cobble beach. NWC is seeking grant funds to retire the three-year, $1.7 million loan for the purchase. Public support is crucial. more

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