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

30 years ago

MARQUETTE — An announcement is expected within a week on whether the fish at the Marquette State Hatchery will have to be destroyed again because of a recurring deadly virus. Last May, the virus known as EED forced destruction of 232,000 lake trout at the hatchery. Department of Natural Resources officials say they plan to announce their reaction to the latest outbreak next week. The EED virus was first identified in Rhode Island in late 1987 and found to be present at a federal hatchery in Wisconsin, from where the Marquette hatchery got its lake trout. That hatchery had to destroy its entire stock of fish last year. An attempt was made at the Marquette facility to save as many fish as possible, including splake and brook trout previously found to be virus-free. That was against the recommendation of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, however, which wanted all fish at the facility killed, as was done in Wisconsin. Instead, the Marquette hatchery cleared outside raceways of fish and water and thoroughly disinfected the areas. That effort was thought to have worked until recently, when the virus again surfaced in fish at the Marquette facility.

60 years ago

ESCANABA — S. B. Miller, president of the Marquette Rod and Gun club and assistant state secretary of the National Rifle association, was a visitor in Escanaba this week, conferring with officers of the Escanaba Rifle club regarding plans for summer activities. Miller stated that the state organization is eager to promote a lively interest in rifle shooting in the Upper Peninsula. All efforts will be made to organize clubs in the various communities. Plans for staging a rifle meet at the Fort Brady range at Sault Ste. Marie are being considered. Miller was a member of the Michigan state team which competed in the national competition at Camp Perry, Ohio, last fall. Arthur F. Sundling, secretary of the Escanaba Rifle Club, also competed at Camp Perry, scoring second place in the navy match and placing high in other events.