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

30 years ago

MARQUETTE — Despite strong objections from some residents, Alger-Marquette Community Mental Health will put two group homes for the developmentally disabled in Ishpeming Township. The two sites — in the Harrison Hills subdivision and on Suncliffe Drive — received final approval by CMH Friday, said Bill Birch, executive director. Residents of Harrison Hills, where both homes were originally slated to be built, had voiced opposition to the plan at earlier public hearings. But at a CMH board meeting Friday, all was calm. “I think all the questions and concerns have been answered,” said Birch, adding that residents no longer feel threatened by the group homes. The homes will house four to five mentally handicapped people with physical disabilities. The residents will come from the Newberry Regional Mental Health Center, which is slated to close Oct.1 as part of the state’s plan to move patients from institutions to group homes.

60 years ago

K.I. SAWYER — Work on a K.I. Sawyer Air Force Base housing project resumed this morning after a dispute between Local 324. Operating Engineers’ Union and the Fisher Contracting Co. reportedly was settled at a meeting yesterday afternoon in Escanaba. The union struck the company yesterday morning and placed pickets both at the housing site and on back access roads used by company employees, halting construction on the project. William G. Marrow, Escanaba, business representative for the union, said the strike resulted because company officials refused to negotiate a new contract. Spokesmen for Fisher did not confirm or deny that claim but did say members of the operator’s union had walked off the job on several previous occasions this spring. Yesterday’s meeting in Escanaba arranged through a state mediator, brought together William Fisher of the struck company, Marrow and other union representatives.