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

30 years ago

MARQUETTE — Richie Smith of Marquette appeared to be on track for an average evening of bowling Wednesday when he rolled a 182 in his first match of the Eastwood Major League. His next game was anything but average. Smith left nothing but fallen pins with his next 12 throws to achieve bowling’s perfect 300 game. “I couldn’t concentrate during my first game,” said Smith, who carries a 185 average for Dupras Plumbing and Heating. “In the second game, I had one ‘brooklyn,’ but all the rest were good, clean strikes.” The excitement began to build around the ninth frame of his perfect game when a small crowd of spectators gathered. “After my ninth strike, I heard a bunch of yelling behind me. I was kind of shocked, but I didn’t let it bother me,” Smith said. Smith, who uses a 16-pound Black Angle ball, finished out the evening with a 187 for a 669 series. The 44-year-old Smith has been perfecting his game since the age of 17. His previous high game was 279.

60 years ago

MARQUETTE — Eighteen law enforcement officers representing seven Upper Peninsula communities have completed a special training course at Northern Michigan College. The course, developed by an advisory committee of police officers and state police officials, was presented by Northern’s Public Services Division in cooperation with local law enforcement agencies, the Michigan State Police, and the Vocational Education Division of the State Department of Public Instruction, Lansing. Officers receiving certificates upon completion of the course were: Marquette – William Lasich and Eugene Bianchi, city police department; and Maurice G. Lines, Marquette State Prison. Ishpeming – Norman E. Holem and Frank C. Bonetti, city police department. Munising – Douglas L. Miron and Julius N. Belen, city police department. Ironwood – Clifford Koivisto, Louis Miklesh, Fabian Trast, Glen Jacquart, and Charles Van Lokeren, city police department. Iron Mountain – Donald Danielson and Robert LaVigne, city police department. Iron River – Edward Sandro, County Sheriff’s Department. Crystal Falls – William Jacobson, city police department. Norway – Ferdinand Girard and Edwin Meneghini, city police department.