30 years ago

ISHPEMING – Bethel Lutheran Church rose from the ashes of last summer’s fire and hosted services for its members Sunday. Renovation of the 108-year-old Ishpeming church is reportedly 86 percent complete following the June 21 blaze started by a lightning strike. More than 550 people attended Christmas Eve services, which included singing “O’ Little Town of Bethlehem.” Irene Stampee, 93, and Daisy Jaaks, 91, were among those in attendance. The building renovation is expected to be complete in several weeks.

60 years ago

MARQUETTE — Supervisors, patrol members and equipment at Mt. Mesnard are ready for the season, but the municipally-operated ski area won’t open until more snow accumulates. Should eight inches or more pile up in Marquette by tomorrow night, however, Mt. Mesnard will open Sunday, James C. Engle, city parks and recreation director, announced today.Conditions permitting, the holiday schedule of skiing hours at Mt. Mesnard will be 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Even in years when snow cover is heavy, the area is not open Christmas Day or New Year’s Day. The hill’s post-holiday schedule will be: Saturday and Sunday afternoons from 1 to 5 and Monday and Thursday nights from 6:30 to 9:30. This year there will be night skiing for adults only (high school age and older) every Wednesday from 7 to 10, after the first of the year. Engle said a fulltime voluntary ski patrol will be on duty all hours the area is in operation. Althea (Scotty) Rossi of Marquette is both ski patrol leader the hill supervisor. There are two rope tows at the Mt. Mesnard ski area.