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

30 years ago

MARQUETTE — Groundwater resources will be managed more efficiently with the help of a $12,000 grant to computerize the county’s water well records. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources grant will enable the Marquette County Health Department to automate about 3,000 water well records. The database will provide DNR staff, health department sanitarians and others with accessible groundwater information needed to manage resources locally. The database also will be compatible with the soil database being developed by the Marquette County Soil Survey Project and can be merged into a countywide geographic information system. “Access to information is very cumbersome, almost impossible for someone to do research,” said Dr. Randall Johnson, the health department’s director. “The information is present but is in hardy copy. This will give us access to information we already have.” With the database, researchers will be able to better map local wells and make informed analyses, Randall said. The database will have environmental advantages. If there’s a hazardous waste spill, for example, officials can determine which way the wastes will travel. The data will also make for more responsible well drilling. “We [currently] look at each individual well as a standalone item and we don’t know what kind of effect to expect,” said Johnson. “Now we can do much more of an analysis, like if the water is dropping in that area.”

60 years ago

MARQUETTE — Three cars were damaged last night when they hit a large black bear on U.S. 41. At 8:40 last night a car being driven east on U.S. 41, one-tenth of a mile east of County Road HIA in Marquette Township, by Paul Christian Jr., 45, of Marquette, struck a bear which was running across the highway. Christian’s automobile was damaged in the front and was driven away by the owner. State police said that a second car, driven by Glenn Perry, 33, of Ishpeming, also struck the bear. The Perry car, damaged in the right front, was driven from the scene. The bear, estimated by witnesses to weigh about 300 pounds, again attempted to cross the highway and was struck by a third automobile, driven by Wesley Carlstrom of Palmer. The bear was fatally injured and was disposed of by the Michigan Department of Conservation.