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

30 years ago

MARQUETTE — Striking registered nurses at Marquette General Hospital prepared well for missed paydays and the emotional upheaval that they knew would come if they walked off their jobs. “It hasn’t been easy for anyone,” said Geraldine Nault of Marquette, an out-patient surgery RN who has worked at MGH for 23 years. After getting back on her feet financially from a 1983 strike at MGH that lasted about two weeks, she said nurses started asking themselves, “What if this happens again?” At that point, many RNs pushed for the creation of a cash strike fund. About $45,000 was stockpiled, and is now being distributed weekly on an as-needed basis. When negotiations broke down recently, many nurses had already prepared by completing house and car repairs early and avoiding credit card purchases. Mike Roti of Harvey, a nine-year RN working in the intermediate care unit, built up his savings account in preparation for the strike. For Wendy Bouche and Tammy Sustarich, single mothers with children at home, the strike has been rockier, but they managed, due in large measure to the preparation and camaraderie of the union members

60 years ago

MARQUETTE — Gildo Canale, an assistant professor at Northern Michigan University, is the August winner of the Marquette Elks Lodge’s Driver of the Month award. Canale, who received the award from Joseph Fountain, past exalted ruler of the Elks, and Chief of Police George G. Johnson, is credited by city police with saving a motorist’s life. The award notes that Canale witnessed an accident on W. Washington St. in which the driver of the automobile in front of him rear-ended a truck and was badly injured. Canale stopped immediately, administered first aid and helped the victim until an ambulance arrived. In addition to teaching several classes at Northern, Canale serves as a trainer for the various Wildcat athletic teams. He also is an instructor-trainer for the American Red Cross. Canale and his wife, Joyce, reside at Northrup Street with their children, Mark, Brad, and Kristy.