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

30 years ago

ISHPEMING — In an effort to protect aquatic life in the Carp River–and meet new state laws–the Ishpeming City Council voted Wednesday to explore ways to reduce the copper in the city’s water discharge. In two weeks, the amount of copper allowed to be discharged by wastewater treatments plants in Michigan will drop from 36 to 18 micrograms per liter. The city, which says it is close to meeting the new standards, hopes that the Michigan Department of Natural Resources will allow Ishpeming to delay complying with the law because the problem should be corrected by a new water system scheduled to be in operation next year. Acting City Manager John Korhonen was instructed to send a letter to the DNR asking for a delay. But in the meantime, options will be evaluated. Korhonen said the copper is coming from Lake Sally, one of Ishpeming’s water sources. Other options for compliance include using more water from Lake Angeline or using an emergency well. According to Korhonen, the only problem with the city’s main well is the high level of iron and manganese in the water. “Sometimes the water turns black,” said Korhonen. The city also looked at reducing the amount of copper sulfate that’s put into Lake Sally to control algae.

90 years ago

MARQUETTE — Telling the members of the Better Business Bureau that the Chamber of Commerce would not assume any blame for an unprofitable tourist season, if the city of Marquette adopts a Central Standard Time schedule, Frank H. Heath, secretary-manager of the Chamber, urged businessmen to see that people who favored the daylight serving plan cast their ballots in the informal vote now being taken. “So far as our office is concerned,” Mr. Heath stated, “fast time means a delay in getting at our morning mall and in general disrupts the routine of the office. But, we believe in being unselfish. If all of the other cities and tourist communities of the Upper Peninsula are on fast time and Marquette adopts central time, it is going to hurt our tourist season business, and the residents who take care of many tourists in their homes by renting rooms will find few seekers.” The bureau members gave enthusiastic approval of the suggestions.