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Local briefing

Museum to host bike tours in July

NEGAUNEE (AP) – Bike tours are planned next month along a trail network that connects Upper Peninsula historic sites across the Marquette Iron Range.

The tours hosted by the Michigan Iron Industry Museum take place July 10, 17 and 24.

The tours begin at the museum and then follow along the Iron Ore Heritage Trail, which highlights historic sites and human stories from the area.

Before setting off, participants will become acquainted with the Carp River Forge site, where iron mined on the Marquette Range was forged in the 1840s. From the museum, riders will head toward the Jackson Mine in Negaunee, which provided iron ore.

Other stops include Old Towne Negaunee and the site of the Pioneer Furnace. More details are posted on the museum’s website.

Local briefing

Museum to host bike tours in July

NEGAUNEE (AP) – Bike tours are planned next month along a trail network that connects Upper Peninsula historic sites across the Marquette Iron Range.

The tours hosted by the Michigan Iron Industry Museum take place July 10, 17 and 24.

The tours begin at the museum and then follow along the Iron Ore Heritage Trail, which highlights historic sites and human stories from the area.

Before setting off, participants will become acquainted with the Carp River Forge site, where iron mined on the Marquette Range was forged in the 1840s. From the museum, riders will head toward the Jackson Mine in Negaunee, which provided iron ore.

Other stops include Old Towne Negaunee and the site of the Pioneer Furnace. More details are posted on the museum’s website.

Local briefing

Jeep stolen, suspect later arrested

MARQUETTE – A suspect was taken into custody Friday afternoon after allegedly stealing a vehicle from a residence on M-28 in Chocolay Township, according to a press release issued by the Chocolay Police Department.

Officers from the department were dispatched to the residence Friday morning, after residents reported that their 2002 red Jeep Grand Cherokee had been taken without permission.

Chocolay police later spotted the vehicle traveling northbound on Division Street in Marquette and attempted to stop it, the release said. The suspect continued, turning on to Genesee Street and then north on to Champion Street. The suspect did not speed up but refused to pull over, the release said.

The vehicle was blocked and the occupant was ordered out of the vehicle but refused to exit, the release said.

The suspect was tased and taken into custody, the release said. The name of the suspect is being withheld pending arraignment.

Chocolay Police were assisted by Marquette City Police and Marquette County Sheriff’s Department.

Man charged for counterfeit bill

MARQUETTE – A 21-year-old Marquette man has been arrested for uttering and publishing counterfeit bills or notes.

The arrest stemmed from an incident in the city of Marquette that occurred on Jan. 12.

Willie Joshua Ray Sims, who has been arraigned in 96th District Court, was reported to have passed a counterfeit $20 as he paid for food from a local restaurant. The charge against Sims is a five-year felony or a $2,500 fine.

A preliminary hearing has been set for Sims for 3 p.m. July 7.

Local briefing

Carnegie tech program to start

ISHPEMING – Tech Help Thursdays at the Ishpeming Carnegie Public Library have been scheduled.

The times are: 5-6 p.m. Thursday; 2-3 p.m. July 9; and 5-6 p.m. July 23.

Sign up for one on one help with all questions. Sign-up is at the front desk. The length of the session will depend on how many people sign up during the hour.

This program is for adults 18 years and up.

Avengers Training Academy set

ISHPEMING – Avengers Training Academy at the Ishpeming Carnegie Public Library is set for 3 p.m. Friday.

Youngaster will be able to make a superhero mask, put superpowers to the test in the Training Academy, then save the city.

This program is for ages 10 years and up.

Open house located in Big Bay

BIG BAY – Big Bay’s local art-space, Jailhouse Gallery and Gifts and Big Bay Outfitters will host an Open House celebration from 4-9 p.m. Friday.

More than 30 artists are featured within this historic town hall building located “uptown” Big Bay. Visit the old jail and enjoy refreshments and local musical sounds beginning at 7 p.m.

For more information, call 250-3350.

Family fun to happen in city park

MARQUETTE- Child and Family Services of the Upper Peninsula will be hosting its sixth annual Family Fun Carnival from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Mattson Lower Harbor Park in Marquette.

Everyone is invited to join in the fun and laughs. There will be a bounce house, inflatable slide and obstacle course as well as many games for the children to play for chances to win prizes.

It’s a chance to meet the police and fire department as well as to enjoy concessions and a balloon toss.

There is also a pie in the face fundraiser – come see who gets pied.

Local briefing

Great Lakes Rodeo kicks off Friday

MARQUETTE – The 10th annual Great Lakes Rodeo is set from Friday through Sunday at the Marquette County Fairgrounds.

The gates open at noon Friday, with the Miss Great Lakes Rodeo Pageant planned at 5 p.m. as is the horsemanskill competition. Saturday, team roping is at 11 a.m. and rodeo performance at 7 p.m. The barn dance, with music by Trailer Hitch, starts at 9 p.m. Saturday, people are asked to wear white to show support of lung cancer survivors and fighters.

Sunday, dads accompanied by their families are admitted free. The schedule is 9 a.m. jackpot speed events; 10 a.m. Cowboy Church with the Rev. Leon Jarvis; and 3 p.m. rodeo performance. Sunday, everyone is asked to be “Tough Enough to Wear Pink” in support of breast cancer awareness. Tickets for adults (age 13 and up) are $10 in advance or $12 at the gate. For seniors, they’re $8. For children ages 6-12, they’re $6 at the gate or $5 in advance. For more information on the rodeo, visit greatlakesrodeo.com.

Food pantry available in Chatham

CHATHAM – Feeding America West Michigan Food Bank is bringing a mobile food pantry to Chatham at 10 a.m. June 25.

The pantry will be located at E3720 Munising Street in downtown Chatham. The food pantry will be available with no questions asked. Volunteers will be on hand to help distribute food. There will be 15,000 pounds of food available delivered in a refrigerated truck. The food should serve up to 300 families, and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Residents are asked to bring a box or container to carry the food, if able.

Grant funding offered for nonprofits

MARQUETTE – The Marquette County Community Foundation and United Way of Marquette County are inviting local nonprofit organizations to apply for funding available through the George W. Romney Endowment Fund at the Marquette County Community Foundation.

Only registered 501(c) 3 nonprofit organizations may apply for program funding that involves volunteer projects in Marquette County or for the purpose of increasing awareness and participation in volunteer efforts.

Grant applications are only available online at www.marquettecountycommunityfoundation.org.

The deadline for grant applications is Friday.

For more information, call Gail Anthony at the Marquette County Community Foundation (226-7666) or Barb Meyer at United Way of Marquette County (226-8171).

Local briefing

Pictured Rocks Days planned

MUNISING – Pictured Rocks Days is set for Saturday and Sunday at Bayshore Park in Munising.

Live music from a variety of musicians and bands will be played from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Also at the park will be kayak demonstrations, food, vendors, a beer tent and more.

In addition, Pictured Rocks Cruises is offering free cruises for residents of the Upper Peninsula and those from the downstate cities of Romeo and Clarkston, where Kid Rock has lived.

For more information on the Pictured Rocks Days, call the Alger County Chamber of Commerce at 387-2138 or visit algercounty.org.

Summer Concert Series to begin

MARQUETTE – The Marquette City Band’s first concert of the 2015 Summer Concert Series is set for 7:30 p.m. today at the Presque Isle Park band shell.

The program, titled “Top-Tappers,” features familiar music in a wide variety of styles. Included will be “Seventy-Six Trombones” by Willson, “Carmen Selections” by Bizet, “Clear Track Polka” by Strauss, “Belle of the Ball” by Anderson;, “Dixieland Jamboree” by Warrington, “Shoutin’ Liza Trombone” by Fillmore, “Valdrez March” by Hannsen, “Funiculi, Funicula” by Denza and “Comedians’ Gallop” by Kabalevsky.

There is no charge for concerts put on by the city band, which is directed by Stephen Grugin.

Local briefing

Center staging ‘Swan Lake’

MARQUETTE – One of the most famous and long-lasting ballets worldwide is coming to the Upper Peninsula when the Marquette Center for Dance presents its production of “Swan Lake” on Saturday.

The play will be at 7 p.m. at Northern Michigan University’s Forest Roberts Theatre. Tickets cost $15 and will be available at the door or in advance at Second Skin Shop in Marquette.

“Swan Lake” was first performed in Russia in 1877. It is a demanding ballet for all of the dancers and stretches their artistic abilities.

Charley Thomas, a junior at Marquette Senior High School, is dancing the role of Odette/Odile. The dual role of Odette/Odile is considered to be the most challenging role for a ballerina as she dances in most of the ballet. As Odette she is a princess who had been turned into a swan by the evil sorcerer VonRothbart. Odile is the sorcerer’s daughter disguised as Odette to beguile and manipulate the Prince into betraying his vow of love to Odette.

Local briefing

Music fest volunteer sign-up set

MARQUETTE – The Hiawatha Music Co-op will conduct a festival volunteer sign-up from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

The event will be held at 129 W. Baraga Ave. Those wishing to volunteer their time to work at the 37th Hiawatha Traditional Music Festival are invited to come to sign up for their shifts. Festival volunteers are able to register to work up to three 3-hour shifts and can earn a festival T-shirt and a refund of the price of their festival ticket.

Dates for the festival are July 17-19. For more information, call 226-8575 or visit the website at www.hiawathamusic.org.

Local briefing

Music fest volunteer sign-up set

MARQUETTE – The Hiawatha Music Co-op will conduct a festival volunteer sign-up from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

The event will be held at 129 W. Baraga Ave. Those wishing to volunteer their time to work at the 37th Hiawatha Traditional Music Festival are invited to come to sign up for their shifts. Festival volunteers are able to register to work up to three 3-hour shifts and can earn a festival T-shirt and a refund of the price of their festival ticket.

Dates for the festival are July 17-19. For more information, call 226-8575 or visit the website at www.hiawathamusic.org.

Local briefing

YMCA announces schedule

MARQUETTE – Step into fitness at 7 a.m. every Tuesday at the YMCA of Marquette County. The schedule is:

– Tuesday: Dr. Bill Short, Family Medicine – UP Health System Marquette Family Medicine

– June 16: Dr. Conway McLean, Podiatry – Superior Foot and Ankle

– June 23: Dr. Jim Gallagher, Podiatry – Advanced Orthopedics

– June 30: Dr. David Shahbazi, Family Medicine – UP Health System Marquette Family Medicine

It’s a chance to get health questions answered with reliable health information from the friendly doctors from the Marquette Alger County Medical Society .

A 45-minute rejuvenating walk is part of the event. Indoor space will be available during rain days. This free fitness program continues through Aug. 25.

For more information call Jenna at 227-9622.

Negaunee band to play concert

NEGAUNEE – The Negaunee City Band will play its first free concert of the summer season at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Outdoor Performing Arts Center at the east end of Iron Street.

Director Gerry Anderson has chosen to open the concert with “Hey, Look Me Over,” and continue with “The Golden West Overture.” Marches include “On the Square,” “La Donna Spanish March,” and Sousa’s “El Capitan.” There is an Al Hirt medley as well as highlights from “Annie.” Other numbers are Leroy Anderson’s “Belle of the Ball,” “Irish Salute,” and “Autumn Leaves.”

The program will conclude with the traditional “Just a Closer Walk with Thee.”

Local briefing

ABC reschedules U.P. broadcast

MUNISING – News meteorologist Ginger Zee from ABC’s “Good Morning America” is scheduled to broadcast from Miners Castle at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore on June 17.

Zee, a native of downstate Rockford, was originally set to visit the location last week, but the broadcast was delayed because of bad weather.

Online voters put Pictured Rocks on top of three locations vying for the meteorologist’s visit. The two other locations included the Lake of the Clouds lookout at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park in the western Upper Peninsula and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore downstate.

Local briefing

Alger County receives EPA grants

MUNISING – Alger County will receive nearly $200,000 in U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant funds for brownfield project assessments.

The county will receive $92,050 for hazardous substances and $104,050 for petroleum to be used to conduct four Phase I and four Phase II environmental site assessments. Grant funds also will be used to conduct clean-up planning, perform four baseline environmental assessments and support community outreach activities.

The grant awards were among 243 new EPA grant investments made totaling $54.3 million to 147 communities across the country.

EPA officials said the investment will provide communities with funding necessary to assess, clean-up and redevelop contaminated properties, boost local economies and leverage jobs while protecting public health and the environment.

Crash injures pregnant woman

MARQUETTE – A 29-year-old Gwinn woman was taken to UP Health System – Marquette Thursday, complaining of pain in the side of her stomach, after a two-vehicle traffic crash on U.S. 41 near the Red Lobster Restaurant in Marquette Township.

The Marquette County Sheriff’s Office said the crash was reported at 12:50 p.m.

Police said Wendy Collier, 38, of Chatham used an improper lane in the median and crashed into the passenger side of a vehicle driven by Scott Olsen, 49, of Gwinn.

Shasta Campbell of Gwinn, a rear seat passenger in Olsen’s vehicle, was taken to the hospital for a medical evaluation. Police said Campbell is 8-months pregnant.

No further information was available on Campbell’s condition today.

Marquette Township Fire and Rescue personnel assisted deputies at the scene.

Photographer identified

MARQUETTE – On Thursday’s front page, a picture of one of the plaintiffs in the North Wind lawsuit appeared without attribution.

The photographer was Margaret von Steinen and the photo was used with permission from Cheryl Reed.

Local briefing

Armed robbery cases progresses

MARQUETTE – The final one of three Marquette men who were arrested on armed robbery charges last month is headed to Marquette County Circuit Court.

Nasir Kaseeb Jones, 18, waived his right to a preliminary hearing Monday in Marquette County District Court, though no date has been set yet for his circuit court arraignment. Jones and two other men, Stephan Cortez Akins, 21, and Aiseah Duane Achesah, 22, face charges of armed robbery, conspiracy to commit armed robbery and weapons-felony firearm. The three men were arrested after an attempted armed robbery May 13 at a residence on West Fair Avenue in Marquette. Achesah and Akins were bound over to circuit court May 26 and are also awaiting their arraignments to be scheduled.

Road abandonment hearing set

ISHPEMING – The Marquette County Road Commission will hold a public hearing next month on abandoning a short section of a county road in Turin Township.

The hearing will be held as part of the road commission’s regular board meeting at 6:30 p.m. July 13 at the Marquette County Road Commission Administrative Office located at 1610 N. Second St., Ishpeming.

The purpose of the hearing is to discuss and hear public comment on a petition for abandonment of County Road RH in Turin Township. The petitioner has requested abandonment of County Road RH (T44N, R23W, Sections 21-22) from County Road 444 south for .2 miles.

Local briefing

Man who failed to report arrested

MARQUETTE – Police arrested a man in Marquette early today who had failed to return back to the Mangum Farm Detention Center as required Monday afternoon.

Police said Cory M. Carter, 24, was serving a one-year sentence for unlawful use of a motor vehicle. In an announcement issued Tuesday afternoon, police said Carter had been on a sheriff’s release program Monday to attend school at Northern Michigan University, but he did not report back at 4:45 p.m. as required.

Deputies said a Marquette City Police officer received a tip on Carter’s whereabouts, indicating he was at an address in the city of Marquette. At 6:30 a.m., Carter was arrested without incident at the location, taken to jail and lodged for escape from jail, which is a felony punishable by up to two years in prison.

Bridge fire testing underway

SAULT STE. MARIE – Michigan Department of Transportation officials said motorists crossing the International Bridge in Sault Ste. Marie may see fire equipment and staff on the bridge today and Thursday conducting equipment tests.

MDOT officials said fire equipment and personnel from the sister cities of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan and Ontario are tentatively scheduled to be on the bridge deck today and Thursday, working with International Bridge staff to test a water piping system designed to be used in response to a bridge fire.

“Immediately after 9/11 we partnered with both city fire departments and installed piping on two bridge piers,” International Bridge Administration General Manager Phil Becker said in a news release. “The piping is used to bring city water up to the bridge deck at strategic locations near the U.S. and Canadian arch structures.”

Becker said the tests, which are performed roughly every two years, will verify the equipment will function properly if it is called upon to respond to a vehicle fire on the bridge. The tests will also familiarize fire department personnel with the piping system and connections.

During the tests, one bridge lane will be closed to traffic for approximately two hours at each of the two pier locations. Two-way traffic will be maintained under flag control. For more information on the International Bridge, visit www.saultbridge.com.

Local briefing

New traffic light at Brickyard Road

MARQUETTE – Michigan Department of Transportation officials said a new traffic light on U.S. 41 at Brickyard Road in Marquette Township will begin operating June 17.

The signals will be operating in flashing mode beginning June 10, with flashing amber lights for U.S. 41 traffic and a flashing red light for traffic leaving either the north or south legs of Brickyard Road.

On June 17, the lights will begin full-cycle operations with green, amber and red phases for all directions.

Funds available for local nonprofits

MARQUETTE – The Marquette County Community Foundation and United Way of Marquette County are inviting local nonprofit organizations to apply for funding available through the George W. Romney Endowment Fund at the Marquette County Community Foundation.

Only registered 501(c) 3 nonprofit organizations may apply for program funding that involves volunteer projects in Marquette County or for the purpose of increasing awareness and participation in volunteer efforts.

Grant applications are only available online at www.marquettecountycommunityfoundation.org.

The deadline for grant applications is June 19.

For more information, call Gail Anthony at the Marquette County Community Foundation (226-7666) or Barb Meyer at United Way of Marquette County (226-8171).

Hike to celebrate National Trails Day

MARQUETTE – The North Country Trail Hikers Chapter of the North Country Trail Association is hosting an easy-to-moderate hike along the Little Garlic River at the Elliott Donnelley Wilderness from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, National Trails Day.

The area is about 11 miles north of Marquette on Marquette County Road 550. The trailhead is on the left side of the road just north of the bridge across the Little Garlic River. There is no charge, although donations to support the North Country Trail Association are accepted. Families are welcome.

This year, National Trails Day will include a celebration of the Iron Belle Trail that begins on Belle Isle in the Detroit River and goes to Ironwood. Boy Scout troops will hike portions of the trail as a way to dedicate it.

Local briefing

‘Good Morning’ broadcast delayed

MUNISING – Bad weather forcing flight delays canceled an ABC News meteorologist’s broadcast this morning from Miners Castle at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

Ginger Zee, a native of downstate Rockford from “Good Morning America,” was scheduled to broadcast from Pictured Rocks at 7:10, 7:40, 8:10 and 8:40 this morning.

Park staff said today the broadcast will be rescheduled, but no times and dates had been set.

Online voters put Pictured Rocks on top of three locations vying for the meteorologist’s visit. The two other locations were the Lake of the Clouds lookout at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park in the western Upper Peninsula and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore downstate.

Warden’s son to talk about prison

MARQUETTE – Robert Buchkoe will give a presentation at the Peter White Library’s community room at 2 p.m. Tuesday called “18 years of not so hard labor: Growing up at Marquette Branch Prison.”

It will be a multi-media presentation with slides, artifacts and stories about how the prison impacted the childhood and young adulthood of Buchkoe, whose father was warden.

The event is part of the Northern Center for Lifelong Learning and the fee is $8 for non-members, $3 for members. Tickets can be purchased at the door.

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