EDITOR’S NOTE: Superiorland Yesterdays is prepared by the reference staff at the Peter White Public Library in Marquette.

30 years ago

MARQUETTE — America has developed a dangerous love affair with suntans. Plastic surgeon Constance Arnold, M.D., a member of the medical staff at Marquette General Hospital, hopes it is merely a phase that will soon end. “Young women who spend too much time in the sun are setting themselves up for cancer,” said Dr. Arnold. One of those young women was WLUC-TV-6 anchor Cynthia Thompson, who wants to warn other young women about the danger of sunbathing. Seven years ago, when Thompson was 21, a dermatologist discovered a cancerous mole on her chest. Thompson explained that the mole had grown so slowly that it did not concern her. “In my late teens, I was an avid sun bather,” Thompson said. Thompson is now an advocate of sunscreens, and uses every opportunity she can to promote healthy sun exposure. She feels her visibility at TV-6 is an advantage. “People can see it doesn’t happen just to the elderly or those who work outdoors,” she said. “It can happen to anyone at any age.”

60 years ago

CHOCOLAY TOWNSHIP — Gerald (Skippy) VanBuren Jr., 14, is known along Cherry Creek Road as the “pony express” because six days a week The Mining Journal paper boy saddles up one of his horses and delivers the day’s edition to 40 residents in the area. Skippy, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Gerald VanBuren, is in the eighth grade at Graveraet High School. His parents own a number of horses and operate a riding stable on Cherry Creek Road. Skippy has raised several horses himself. He also likes to fish and hunt.