30 years ago

July 16, 1995 – MARQUETTE – Two local bicycle motocross racers burned past the competition here Saturday to qualify for the American Bicycle Association (ABA) Gold Cup Finals in Kansas City, Mo. Marla Brady and Dan Dehlin made the finals off their performances in the ABA’s Central Division Gold Cup Qualifier at the North State BMX, Inc. track.Brady raced to a first place finish in 14 Girls action, while Dehlin qualified by winning the 14 Cruiser class. Heather Wilcek placed second behind Brady, while Cheryl Kobasic rounded out the competition at third. The sunless sky didn’t seem to bother Marquette’s Dehlin, who fought off runner-up Mike Brady and third place finisher Butch Hebert. Spectators got an eyeful of high jumps, fast pedaling and serious action as many professional racers were also on hand to compete. Spectators praised a training camp put on by the ABA and North State over the past week as being helpful in the improvement of some race performances. An interesting turn of events led to an “original” show as The Flat Broke Blues Band, led by local racer John Churchville, performed between races.

60 years ago

MARQUETTE – Ground was broken yesterday in Marquette for the new parish center to be built by St. John’s Church. The planning group, which removed the first spadeful of dirt from the building site, included, Leo J. Fleury, chairman of the building committee; little Raymond Dollar, who sprinkled holy water on the site; the Rev. Will Oremus, St. John’s pastor; Walter J. Myers and Howard G. McKie of W.J. Myers and Associates, Marquette, architects on the project; and Franz Menze, whose construction company is general contractor on the job. Completion of the parish center and administration building is expected by Christmas. It will be on the site of the old rectory on North Fourth Street, razed earlier this month, and will be financed by a fund drive held in the parish.