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

30 years ago

REPUBLIC — Three grandmothers are being credited by police with helping to chase down a shotgun-toting bank robbery suspect. The holdup at the Republic branch of the First national Bank of Negaunee seemed destined to fail: numerous people having breakfast at a nearby restaurant witnessed the 9:30 a.m. robbery. “(Other customers) said, ‘Look, someone is going to rob the bank’ and we saw him go in,” said Erlene Mora, 62, who was having breakfast with friends Jessie Onkalo, 63, and Lucille Heliste, 66. Once the armed bandit emerged from the bank wearing a red mask, the three grannies were in hot pursuit. Asked how and why she did it, Mora said, “I don’t know. I’m 62 years old. After chasing around 6 grandkids, I was able to. If I had any brains I probably wouldn’t have.” Heliste, who had a sore hip, also chased the suspect for about a block..

90 years ago

ISHPEMING — While 32 members of the Ishpeming fire department were enroute to Wakefield today to attend the Upper Peninsula firemen’s tournament, a group of “old-timers” gathered at a street corner and reminisced about the colorful tournaments of yesteryear. “Why, shucks,” one of Ishpeming’s oldest firemen said, “the races they have now aren’t anything like they used to be. These fellows are just blocking traffic.” The veteran fireman recalled that in 1895 the first tournament held under auspices of the Upper Peninsula Firemen’s association took place at Ishpeming. The old firemen’s tournaments were primarily races, while the present ones are chiefly designed as tests in the use of practical equipment.