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

30 years ago

MARQUETTE — It’s for certain. Cougars roam the Upper Peninsula, state biologists say. Department of Natural Resources biologist Bob Wood said Friday there’s no mistaking what made the tracks past the Marquette County Airport and onto Kathy Dompierre’s farm last week. And he says other Upper Peninsula cougar sightings – now coming in on the average of one a week – are from sources too credible not to believe. Wood said that sightings have been made in almost every county in the Upper Peninsula, but cougars have such a wide range and are so elusive that even with a file thick with reports, he won’t make a guess how many animals there are. The one thing he is convinced of: These are imported cougars, probably pets that were dumped when their owners couldn’t or wouldn’t get state ownership permits for them. “There may have been a reaction by the cat owners of, ‘I guess I’ll take it to the U.P and release it,'” Wood said.

60 years ago

MARQUETTE –While most people are just looking ahead to spring weather, health officers throughout the state are already planning for hot summer months, when polio is most apt to strike, and urging that precautionary measures be taken now. Dr. Beatrice Bolan, city health officer, said a program of immunization will begin here on Wednesday between the hours of 2 and 4 p.m. at the health office in the city hall. In 1960, Dr. Bolan pointed out, 60 per cent of all polio cases occurred in children and young adults. “To get 100 per cent cooperation is unlikely,” Dr. Bolan stated, “but we do hope to have better than 70 per cent of our city immunized.” She said any of the series of three shots will be given in the campaign, as well as booster immunization shots to persons who have had the complete series.