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

30 years

SANDS — A judge has given the green flag to stock car racing in Sands Township nearly a decade after the last auto race at Thunder Valley. Stock cars will begin Sunday afternoon racing in mid-July on the quarter mile oval at the Thunder Valley Raceway off Old County Road 553, said owner and racer Walter Racine of Sands Township. Ruling on a zoning dispute between Racine and the township, Marquette County Circuit Judge Edward Quinnell said the track was never abandoned and can continue to operate under a grandfather clause. In 1973, four years after the raceway opened, the track was zoned general business. The township argued that the track was abandoned and that the zoning change applied. Quinnell still must rule on a private nuisance complaint filed by neighbors. A pre-trial hearing will take place July 5 to schedule additional testimony. Racine says smaller engines with mufflers and an 8 p.m. shutdown time should eliminate some of the noise problems. Those arguments, however, fall on deaf ears for about 10 homeowners who live within a half mile of the track. For example, retired Indiana grain farmer James Kidder said, “We wouldn’t have bought this property or built on it but we were assured by the township supervisor that due to township zoning (the raceway) would never reopen again.” Northern Michigan University sociology professor Ken Thompson says he wouldn’t have built his home in 1988 if he thought the track would reopen. Racine, who has well over $100,000 tied up in the 37.5 acre raceway, promises to do everything he can to keep down the noise.

90 years

ISHPEMING — Walter Bietila, valedictorian of the graduating class of 1934 of Ishpeming High School, today was presented with the Michigan Award, entitling him to a scholarship at the University of Michigan. The presentation was made in behalf of the U. of M. alumni association of Marquette County by John Voelker. Walter, in addition to his high scholastic ranking, has distinguished himself in athletics. He is a ski rider of note and at the Ishpeming Ski Club’s annual Washington Day Classic this year tied the hill record with a leap of 197 feet. Unassuming and studious, Walter has won the respect of his classmates and teachers. When he went to the national ski tournament at Cary, Ill., last winter he preferred to study for examinations instead of engaging in the entertainment.