The Daily News, Iron Mountain-Kingsford, Michigan Wednesday, February 9, 2011 — 3-A
AREA NEWS News briefs
Tourism bill discussed
(Continued from page one) to meet with local business owners who have used broadband Internet to increase their business. According to the press release, Obama has called for the National Wireless Initiative to bring wireless coverage to 98 percent of Americans, bringing new innovation, jobs and growth to the economy. High speed Internet is part of building a reliable way to move goods and information around the country and around the world. Plans are also moving forward for security for the presi-
4-H chaperones needed for trip IRON MOUNTAIN — Parents, leaders, or any adult interested in chaperoning and/or helping with a pre-college 4-H Exploration Days summer trip to Michigan State University on June 20-2 needs to attend a planning meeting on Thursday at 2 p.m. at the MSUE office. The office is located upstairs of the YMCA, 800 Crystal Lake Blvd. in Iron Mountain. For more information, call 774-0363. All expenses are paid for chaperones.
Registration for workshop Friday HANCOCK — Walkable communities expert Mark Fenton will conduct a workshop on Wednesday, Feb. 16 in Hancock. The event is hosted by the Western U.P. Health Department with funding from Michigan Department of Community Health. It will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Eastern time) at the Ramada Inn, Hancock. Fenton will discuss costeffective steps to creating walking- and biking-friendly cities. The seminar is free to pre-registered representatives of public health departments, city/county boards and planning commissions, bike and pedestrian committees, planners and engineers, and others working toward policy and environmental changes to support active living. Please call Ray Sharp at (906) 482-7382, ext. 163, by Friday to reserve seats.
...Obama visits U.P. dent’s visit. “We’re coordinating with the secret service, the county, the state police,” said Detective Lt. Michael Wasie of the Marquette City Police Department. “We’ve all got separate assignments, whether it’s incoming, the motorcade, site security.” Wasie said the motorcade route has not yet been completed and added he was not sure if the route would be made public. There will also be no public events at the arrival or departure of Air Force One at Sawyer International Airport.
...Hospice returns Tourism industry officials from around the state were in Lansing to give committee testimony on House Bill 4160, which allocates $20 million from the Michigan 21st Century Jobs Fund to operate the Pure Michigan advertising campaign during 2011. Here, Rep. Frank Foster, left, R-Pellston, chair of the House Natural Resources, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation Committee, discusses the legislation with Amy Clickner, center, Lake Superior Community Partnership chief executive officer, and Rep. Matt Huuki, right, of Atlantic Mine.
VA Medical Center plans expansion of outpatient clinic
IRON MOUNTAIN — Starting in early March, the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center in Iron Mountain will be expanding its outpatient clinic. The expansion will include the addition of a 14,000 square foot second story above the existing first floor outpatient clinic. This clinic was originally designed and built to support additional floors. The construction will BT extending tax create several impacts to the facility including the tempodeadline to Feb. 28 rary relocation of the existing outpatient clinic and mobile QUINNESEC — The due MRI unit, along with changes date for the 2010 winter taxes and winter refuse bills in Bre- in parking and the flow of patients. itung Township has been Starting Feb. 21, the outpaextended until Monday, Feb. 28, without penalties. If you have any questions, you can call the treasurer’s office at 779-2065. Office MACKINAC ISLAND hours are Monday through (AP) — The Michigan Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 Public Service Commission p.m. And office hours will be has begun an investigation from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on and scheduled hearings Feb. 28. There is also a drop regarding rates, fares, box for the convenience of charges and tariffs levied by taxpayers. ferry companies serving Mackinac Island, St. Ignace and Mackinaw City. The commission said in
ExPanSIon — VAMC’s outpatient clinic. — Starting in March — Project lasting 10-12 months. tient clinic services will be temporarily relocated to the fourth and fifth floors of the main building to accommodate this construction. Patients may continue to utilize the present outpatient clinic entrance until further notice. Customers will continue to check-in on the first floor next
to the pharmacy waiting area and will be directed to the appropriate floor for their appointments. Additional signage and staff will be in place to help facilitate these changes, officials noted. The project is expected to last approximately 10-12 months. Questions or concerns may be directed to Debra Ruohomaki, nurse manager of primary care, at 774-3300, extension 32575 or Kevin Oliver, program support assistant of primary care, at 7743300, extension 32049. “Your patience is greatly appreciated during the construction of this new addition,” hospital officials said.
MPSC investigates ferry rates to Mackinac Island
Wine tasting event April 1
a release Tuesday that officials from Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry, Arnold Transit Co., Star Line and Northern Ferry are expected to attend a Feb. 22 prehearing conference in Lansing. Public hearings also will be held on Mackinac Island, and in St. Ignace and Mack-
inac City. The hearings stem from a Feb. 4 complaint filed by Shepler’s seeking emergency and interim relief. Shepler’s, Arnold Transit Co. and Star Line last November received twoyear franchises to serve the Great Lakes resort community.
(Continued from page one) -ices offered through DCHS. The Dickinson-Iron District Health Department’s hospice program ended in 2005 when its home health program was dissolved. And the closing of Marquette General Hospital’s branch program in Dickinson County more than two years ago ended the only remaining hospice option for local residents. A local program under DCHS would have needed separate licensing and certification through the Michigan Department of Community Health. Federal accreditation is also needed to qualify for Medicare and most other reimbursements. In neighboring Iron County, a hospice program is available through Northstar Health System’s Home Care and
Hospice program. The program has been in place for four years and is now licensed in both Michigan and Wisconsin and certified by the Joint Commission. The program at OSF in Escanaba includes an interdisciplinary team of physicians, hospice nurses, social workers, pastoral care, dieticians, therapists, hospice volunteers and bereavement counselors. The basic principles in the OSF program include a commitment to make patients as comfortable as possible, recognition that dying is a part of the normal process of living, and serve as an affirmation and celebration of life that neither hastens or postpones death. Linda Lobeck’s e-mail address is llobeck@ironmountaindailynews.com.
Wisconsin Senate passes car insurance bill MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The state Senate passed bills Tuesday that would lower minimum levels of car insurance and make it more difficult to approve of sales and income tax increases. Car insurance would still be required under the bill passed on a bipartisan 25-7 vote, but the levels of coverage required would drop. Democrats approved higher limits in 2009 when they controlled the Legislature. Most of the changes took effect in 2010 after more than 20 years of no changes. The higher requirements were a popular campaign target for Republicans who won control of the Legislature in the November election, and they passed the bill quickly. Republican Gov. Scott Walker has said he supports the lower minimum and will sign the bill if
it’s passed. It cleared the Assembly last week on a preliminary vote, but Democrats used a procedural move to delay a final vote until later this month.
IRON MOUNTAIN — Habitat for Humanity Menominee River is planning the seventh annual Wine & Hops “Taste of Hope” event on April 1. This event is being held at the Pine Grove Country Club and will start at 6 p.m. The evening will include tastetesting of favorite wines and beers, appetizers, live music, and silent auctions items. Tickets are available at the Habitat for Humanity office or the ReStore.
Q: What is the ideal Valentine’s Day present?
“Chocolates.” Katheryn Brown Iron Mountain
“Flowers.” Dominique Harris Iron Mountain
“A Teddy bear.” Destiny Marinich Iron Mountain
“Candy.” Hannah Braden Iron Mountain
“Jewelry.” Emily Pickett Iron Mountain