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October 2004 News

Bete Grise awarded $1 million for wetland, habitat protection

Posted 10/29/2004 Updated 11/04/04

WASHINGTON, D. C. -- Bete Grise South, identified by The Nature Conservancy and Michigan's Departments of Natural Resources and Environmental Quality as the single most important estuarine marsh remaining in the Upper Great Lakes, will receive a $1 million grant from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service under the National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program for fiscal year 2005. Located in Keweenaw County, Bete Grise South, an area along the eastern shore of the Keweenaw Peninsula, south of Lac La Belle and the Mendota Lighthouse, includes a stretch of both shoreline and near shoreline dune and swale wetland system. Once negotiations are complete, the grant will allow the purchase, from International Paper/Lake Superior Land Co., of 1,800 acres adjacent to the Bete Grise Bay of Lake Superior for conservation and public access. The Nature Conservancy, Keweenaw Land Trust, Houghton/Keweenaw Conservation District, the South Shore Association and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality will add a partners' share of $488,443 to the grant, for a total cost of $1,488,443. more
Photo: Oct. 2004 photo of the beach at Bete Grise South. (Photo © 2004 Michele Anderson.)

KPAC recommendations: Minimum Impact Zones

Posted 10/19/2004 

MARQUETTE -- The Keweenaw Point Advisory Committee's Recommendations on Minimum Impact Zones are now published here as approved on Aug. 17, 2004, and presented at the Oct. 5 public meeting in the Mohawk School. These recommendations -- along with those on Camping, Motorized and Non-Motorized trails and use, Maintenance and Enforcement, Public Access and Timber Resources -- will assist the Department of Natural Resources in their decisions on recreation and resource management of the state's recent Keweenaw Tip purchase of 6,275 acres. Keweenaw Now has now published all the recommendations except Timber Resources, which will be published soon. more
Photo: Recent photo of Eagle's nest on Manitou Island, which is considered a minimum impact zone. (Photo © 2004 Charles Buck. Reprinted with permission.)

A Tribute to Robert (Bob) Linn

By Dave Harmon   Posted 10/15/2004


HANCOCK -- Robert M. (Bob) Linn, former chief scientist of the National Park Service, co-founder of the George Wright Society (GWS) and long-time U.P. environmental activist, died at his home on October 10 following a long struggle with cancer. He was 78. In a tribute to Bob, guest author Dave Harmon, GWS executive director, recounts Bob Linn's long career of dedication to environmental preservation, including Bob's lifelong association with Isle Royale National Park, his botanical and ecological research on the island, his work in helping create the Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition (UPEC) in 1975 and his many years of volunteer service.  more 
Photo: Robert (Bob) Linn  holds the "Heart and Hands Award" presented to him on July 4, 2001, at Churning Rapids. The award recognizes and honors community members who have given of themselves working for peace, justice and the environment. (Photo © 2001 and courtesy Sue Ellen Kingsley and Terry Kinzel)

KPAC recommendations to DNR available for public comment at Oct. 5 meeting in Mohawk School

Posted 10/04/2004 

MARQUETTE -- The Keweenaw Point Advisory Committee (KPAC) has submitted its recommendations to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for  recreation and resource management of the state's recent Keweenaw Tip purchase of 6,275 acres. The DNR will hold a public meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 5, in the Mohawk School to receive public comments on KPAC's recommendations, which include Camping, Maintenance and Enforcement, Motorized Access, Non-Motorized Access, Public Access and Roads. In addition, the DNR will accept written comment for 30 days after the public meeting. Written comment can be submitted until Nov. 5, 2004, to Ronald Yesney, MDNR, 1990 US 41 South, Marquette, 49855 and by email to yesneyr@michigan.gov. See the five pages of recommendations and two maps: motorized and non-motorized trails.
Editor's note: The minutes of the Aug. 17 and Sept. 7 KPAC meetings will be published soon.
Photo: Hoar Lake: View from traditional campsite. (June 2004 file photo by Michele Anderson)

Last day for voter registration: Monday, Oct. 4

Posted 09/28/2004 

HOUGHTON -- Monday, Oct. 4, is the last day to register in order to vote in the coming November 2, 2004, general election for national, state and local officials. The League of Women Voters of the Copper Country provides information on voter registration on their Web site. They also list the offices and phone numbers of township, city and village clerks for Baraga, Houghton, Keweenaw and Ontonagon counties. Residents may contact these offices for additional voter information. more

Keweenaw Now's new Discussion Board welcomes comments

Posted 09/22/2004 

HANCOCK -- The Keweenaw Now Discussion Board is back on line with a new look and a user-friendly system for our readers. You can post your comments in three categories: Around the Kitchen Table (your views on current events), Article Comments (your reactions to our articles) and Keweenaw Viewpoints (your views on local news and happenings). Thanks to our Web designers, SoftMedia Artisans, Inc., for their efforts to make the Discussion Board more accessible. Check it out!

  September 2004 News