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

30 years ago

ISHPEMING — An update on the remedial action plan for mercury contamination of Deer Lake has been scheduled for Wednesday in Marquette.

The body of water was found to be contaminated by mercury from a Cleveland Cliffs Inc. lab in Ishpeming. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and CCI have been working on a cleanup plan that will continue until 1996. CCI is paying about $18,000 a year for 10 years to monitor the lake and eradicate its contaminated fish.

DNR aquatic biologist Elwin “Red” Evans said Wednesday’s meeting is to inform concerned citizens on the status of the lake and to answer their questions. The 900-acre impoundment was drained this past winter and treated with poison to kill contaminated fish. Netting by the DNR just after ice cleared this spring revealed no fish present, said Jerry Peterson, DNR fisheries biologist. The lake has been re-flooded. About 15,000 adult yellow perch were planted in the lake, as well as a million walleye.

Evans said fish and sediment in Deer Lake will be monitored regularly during the remedial action plan.

90 years ago

ISHPEMING — Dr. William Bell and Leigh Hassenger will leave Saturday for Sault Ste. Marie with their string of race horses, which have been entered in the county fair races throughout the upper peninsula during the next several weeks. Among the horses that will wear Ishpeming colors on the various fair tracks will be Ratsel, a trotter, and Saucy Susie, a pacer owned by Dr. Bell. Mr. Hassenger’s horse is Wonder, a pacer.

Other Marquette County horses to appear on the fair circuit will be Bert Agnoli’s Gala Curel, a trotter; Bessie Gano, Raoul Cheverette’s pacer; and Pageant, a pacer owned by H. E. Perkins of Big Bay. All six horses have been in training at the Legion park track since early in the spring. Harlow Redmond has been in charge of the stables at the Legion park and the horses have been well trained.