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June 2005 News

Maasto-Churning Rapids, MTU Trails welcome Chain Drive mountain bikers

Posted 06/25/2005  Updated 06/28/05

HANCOCK -- The Keweenaw Chain Drive mountain bike races attracted about 236 racers for the June 18 distance events: 16- and 32-mile races on the Maasto Hiihto-Churning Rapids trails in Hancock. On Father's Day, June 19, the Michigan Tech Trails were the scene of the challenging Technical Time Trial and the Junior Chain Drive for kids ages 13 and under. Many volunteers contributed their time for trail maintenance and preparation, monitoring and providing aid stations for the riders. Three guest photographers offer Keweenaw Now readers their great views of the two-day event, recorded in our three-page photo essay. more
Photo: Heather Wright, 22, of Houghton breezes along to a second place in her age group and second overall for the 16-mile race. Her time was 1:21:04 for the race. In the Time Trial, Heather was first in her age group with 0:11:17. (Photo © 2005 Adam Johnson. Reprinted with permission.)

Keweenaw Chain Drive bike races begin

Posted 06/18/2005  Updated 06/19/2005

HANCOCK -- Greeted by sunny skies and great weather, the Keweenaw Chain Drive races are underway!  Saturday's races began at 10 a.m. June 18 at the Best Western Franklin Square Inn in Houghton. Racers headed across the Portage Lift Bridge to the Maasto Hiihto Trails in Hancock. Sunday's Technical Time Trials begin at 10 a.m., and the Junior Chain Drive at 1:30 p.m., both at the Michigan Tech Trails. Results of the 16- and 32-mile races are now posted on Keweenaw Trails. Watch for photos by Adam Johnson, coming soon! For this weekend's Bridge Fest events see Keweenaw Info. 
Photo: Nikita Velat, 7, of Chassell, one of the youngest Chain Drive racers, followed by Randy Beach of Neenah, Wis. (bib # 353), crosses the Portage Lift Bridge from Houghton to Hancock at the start of the June 18, 2005, Keweenaw Chain Drive mountain bike races. Click here or on photo for larger version. (Photo © 2005 Michele Anderson) More photos coming soon. See photos of the 2004 Chain Drive races.

Keweenaw Mountain Lodge project awaits funding

Posted 06/14/2005 

HOUGHTON -- Keweenaw County still awaits federal grant monies for expanding and renovating the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge near Copper Harbor to include a community/conference center. If funded, the project would eventually allow the Lodge to winterize for silent sports tourism. In a presentation titled "Using Grant Programs to Foster Economic Development in Keweenaw County," Joel Tuoriniemi, Keweenaw County Road commissioner and faculty member in the Michigan Tech University School of Business and Economics, gave an overview of the proposed expansion project during the May 17 "Better Development by Design" workshop at MTU. more
Photo: If funding is awarded, the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge near Copper Harbor, owned by Keweenaw County and administered by the Keweenaw County Road Commission, may be expanded and renovated for a community/conference center and winterized for silent sports. (Photo © 2005 Michele Anderson)

Local artists, musicians, runners celebrate spring

Posted 06/09/2005 

HOUGHTON -- Visitors to Houghton's Fourth Annual Art and Music Festival enjoyed sunny spring weather on Saturday, May 28. Mattila Square and the waterfront area near the UPPCO building were again transformed into a scene of music, merriment and community celebration. Artists' booths offered a variety of creations while the Striding for Strings competitive running races for all ages -- plus a fun walk/run -- raised money for the Copper Country Suzuki Association. Local musicians and Scottish dancers entertained under and near the music tent, set up especially for the festival, with picnic tables for visitors enjoying Keweenaw Joe's smoky barbecue sandwiches, sold to benefit community arts activities. Read our three-page photo essay.
Photo: Ken Thiemann, who initiated the annual Art and Music Festival in 2002, works on sound for the band Zen Lunatic during the 2005 Festival on May 28. Tuning up at right is Mike Irish, Michigan Tech Director of Jazz Studies. (Photo © 2005 Michele Anderson)

MTU students Receive International Award for Sustainable Development Project

Posted 06/07/2005

HOUGHTON -- Michigan Tech students in the Sustainable Futures Institute have received the prestigious International Mondialogo Award, sponsored by DaimlerChrysler and the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). They were honored during the May 27-31 ceremonies in Berlin for their research supporting the use of sustainable construction materials in the developing world. The team focused on the use of natural materials, primarily volcanic ash and rice husk ash, to replace Portland cement in the making of concrete. “It was like being at the Academy Awards for engineering,” said James Mihelcic, MTU professor of civil and environmental engineering and the team's co-advisor with Tom Van Dam, MTU associate professor and technical advisor to the group. Read more on MTU's Tech Today.
Photo: Dan Nover and Helen Muga play tourist in front of Berlin's Brandenburg Gate. The two Michigan Tech graduate students received a prestigious Mondialogo Award on behalf of an MTU team working on the use of green construction materials in the developing world. With this award, the students plan to construct water storage tanks for use with rainwater harvesting systems in rural Philippine communities, where many families do not have access to safe drinking water. Nover is based at Partido State University in the Philippines as part of MTU’s Master’s International Peace Corps Program in Environmental Engineering. (Photo © 2005 and courtesy Michigan Tech University) Click on photo for larger version.

B.R.I.D.G.E. Alternative High School students build Hancock trail

Posted 06/03/2005  Updated 06/03/2005

HANCOCK -- Hancock City Council members celebrated the opening of the Terrace Park Walking Trail in east Hancock on June 1 with students and teachers from the B.R.I.D.G.E. Alternative High School -- builders of the trail. The occasion included a ribbon cutting, a walk on the trail and refreshments. About 50 Bridge students have put many volunteer hours into the project since last September. They also had help clearing the trail from AmeriCorps workers on Make a Difference Day, a Saturday in October 2004. The trail, including two bridges, extends about one quarter of a mile, entirely within the City of Hancock's Terrace Park. more
Photo: A newly decorated sign welcomes visitors to Terrace Park in east Hancock, site of the new walking trail built by B.R.I.D.G.E. Alternative High School students. (Photo © 2005 Michele Anderson)

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