30 years ago

MUNISING – Bright sunshine and light winds provided ideal weather conditions Monday afternoon to break up about 600 gallons of diesel fuel a Canadian tugboat accidentally dumped into Munising Bay. U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Bernie Tobolski said ground and air searches had turned up no heavy pockets of fuel that could be skimmed off the water surface. The Robert B No.1, owned by McKeil Marine in Hamilton, Ont., had dropped off a load of pulp wood silos in Duluth, Minn., and was towing an empty 220-foot barge back to Hamilton when a strong gale Sunday night forced the tug to safe harbor in Munising Bay. Once docked, crewmen were transferring diesel fuel from a 100-gallon tank to a 100-gallon auxiliary tank when it overflowed to the tug’s deck into the water, shortly after midnight. The Coast Guard responded from Marquette, a state Department of Environmental Quality analyst inspected the scene around 6 a.m., and a Coast Guard pollution assessment team arrived from the Soo. By 12:30 p.m., light southerly winds and direct sunlight had broken up or evaporated about half of the diesel fuel. Coast Guard investigators will now hand the spill over to a hearing officer before issuing penalties for violation of clean water legislation.

60 years ago

NEGAUNEE – Members of the Negaunee City Council will host the annual dinner for municipal employees at 6 tonight in the Negaunee Fire Hall. The dinner will be catered by Stan Gurchinoff. City manager Rodney D. Hodge will welcome guests and Mayor Oliver Maki will serve as toastmaster. Maki is occupying the mayor’s office during the final month of the current calendar year because of the recent resignation of Clarence J. Trotochaud. The program arranged by Walter L. Daley and Miss Mary Trolla will feature Negaunee High School music students in instrumental and vocal selections. Students participating will include Linda Sue Johnson, Allan Kantola, Jim Peterson, Allan Sunne, Cheryl Maki, Chris Gleason and Eileen Turri. Deborah Hodge will serve as accompanist.