From the Reporter files
Remember when…
Ten years ago (2003): Photo: Matt Haydon, formerly of Iron River, donated 10 inches of his hair to the Locks of Love program for cancer survivors. Mari Kay McNamara of Chris’s Hair Studio of Iron River does the clipping honors. Amanda Benson and Joshua Coggins of Cheyenne, Wyo., were united in marriage Oct. 11 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church with Pastor Mark Sippola officiating. The bride is the daughter of Edward and Hydee Benson of Iron River. The groom is the son of Peter Coggins and Cathryn Hicks of Westbrook, Maine. Twenty-five years ago (1988): Congratulations to Roger and Rebecca Grandahl of Crystal Falls on the birth of twin sons, Anthony Tovo and John Arnold, born Nov. 24 at Dickinson County Memorial Hospital. Walter and Irene Nordstrom of Iron River celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary Oct. 29 at a party thrown by their 15 children at the Iron River Township Hall. Photo: Jeanette Otto, daughter of Waunetta Seymour and
Clinton Otto, receives a trophy from Don Ciochetto of The Sport Shop in recognition of her work in 4-H charity fundraisers. Larry Hill was the winner of the Black & Decker Workmate 200 in the B&D Powerhouse Sweepstakes sponsored by Pamida. Fifty years ago (1963): Rev. Fr. Conrad Dishaw, new pastor of St. Mary’s Church in Gaastra, was the special guest at a reception held in his honor Sunday evening at the Gaastra city hall. Mr. and Mrs. Alphonse Jean of Iron River were the honored guests at a 40th wedding anniversary celebration held yesterday. Mr. and Mrs. Chester Benson of Rogers Location are the parents of a daughter, Julie Ann, born Nov. 22 at the Crystal Falls Municipal Hospital. She joins siblings, Barbara, 6; Eddie, 4; and Rosemary, 2. Jim Petroff of Caspian downed a four point, 140 pound buck on opening day while hunting in the Brule River area.
From the Diamond Drill files
Out of the past... 1888: An Italian miner named Joseph Sporatablia, 40, was killed at the Dunn Mine by a fall of ore. 1913: In compliance with the state law, a bounty of 2 cents per head is paid to all sparrows killed in the state. 50 years ago: The Falls A & P Store, a member of the Superior Avenue business family for many years, will be closed permanently on Saturday at 6 p.m. Ad: Super Valu turkey 38c per pound Ad: “The Birds” opens tonight at the Aldo. The master weaves his spell on the birds. Alfred Hitchcock utilizes the rare talents of some amazingly trained birds that don’t like people. State representative Gilbert Wales is a co-signer of a resolution introduced into the House of Representatives urging congress to raise pension payments to World War I veterans. Seventy-six persons whose service to 4-H represents a combined total of 336 years were honored early this month at a 4-H leader recognition banquet held at Grace Covenant Church, Stambaugh.
25 years ago: The Deborah Circle of the Christ United Methodist Church invites all visiting hunters and the general public to an Italian supper 4:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday at the church. The Crystal Falls Kiwanis Club is now in the process of selling Benson fruit cakes. Richard H. Clark Jr. has been named 1988 Mason of the Year for the Crystal Falls Lodge 385, Free and Accepted Masons, for his outstanding service and dedication Anytime is a good time to quit smoking but November 17 will be the “right time” for millions of America’s smokers who join the Great American Smokeout. Pulling down one of the 16 rebounds for Forest Park, even though out-positioned on the play, is Trojanette Sherry Rogalski. Harbour House Museum volunteers are available to help people find information on family members or general information from articles published in The Diamond Drill (editions from the late 1800s to late 1900s). Contact the museum at info@ harbourhousemuseum.org.
IRON COUNTY REPORTER, November 20, 2013, Page 4
Readers Viewpoint... The Reporter welcomes letters on topics of local interest to our readers. All letters should include the full name of the writer, street address, city and telephone number. Letters over 300 words are subject to editing for length, accuracy and clarity, and will be published only as space allows. Anonymous letters, photocopies, letters to third parties and letters to other publications will not be considered. Letters from one individual will be limited to two per month. The use of any material is at the discretion of the Reporter, which reserves the right to edit them to avoid obscenity or libel. Letters espousing personal political or religious doctrine will not be published.
‘A dream come true’
To the editor: To the Iron County Museum and Historical Society Board and the People of Iron County: Harold and I would like to thank everyone for the recent honor--that of announcing the adding of our names to the title of the Iron County Museum Cultural Center. We would also like to apologize for not publicly thanking everyone at the musical program when the announcement of the renaming of the Iron County Museum Cultural Center in our honor was made. It was just so emotional that at the time we could not speak. The museum and its development has become a dream come true, but it also became possible because of the acceptance by the Iron County Board of the property from the Pickands-Mather Co., the work of the Chambers of Commerce at that time, and a group of about 20 historically minded people. They were followed by the many financial supporters and organizations and especially the volunteers that have contributed over the years--people who have shared the dream, its potential, its preservation, and its presentation. We thank you all for helping the dream come true. It’s been a wonderful 50 years. With humble gratitude, -s- Harold and Marcia Bernhardt
Why is no one complaining? To the editor: Michigan’s Rules for Professional Conduct as they apply to lawyers, part of rule 1.2(a) states, “A lawyer shall seek the lawful objectives of a client through reasonably available means permitted by law and these rules.” This statement qualifies the opposite to be illegal. Why is it, then, that no one has been complaining to the Attorney Disciplinary Board when a lawyer, working for and paid by his client, writes clearly illegal revisions like the two ordinance amendments published recently for the City of Gaastra? They have to do with noxious weeds and unsafe buildings. See the October 30 edition of this newspaper. State law specifically prohibits self-rule cities from creating misdemeanors, and jail time, unless the state has already permitted it. See MCL 117.3(k). Ask anyone who has lived in Iron County for a while knows, the local municipalities all copy from one another. What Gaastra has done will be coming to your city soon unless they are stopped. After WWII Pastor Neimoeller presented his famous “First they came…” statement on what happened during the war, with the essence contained in the last line that went, “Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak for me.” The law is created by us for all of us. There are no privileged few who are above the law in the
REPORTER
Phone (906) 265-9927 • Fax (906) 265-5755 The Reporter (USPS 265-920) is published by Iron River Publications, Inc., 801 W. Adams St., P.O. Box 311, Iron River, MI 49935 E-Mail: news@ironcountyreporter.com Periodical postage paid at Iron River, MI 49935. Postmaster: Margaret Christensen Publisher, Director of Sales Peter Nocerini Sports/News/Features Janet Rohde Outdoors/Comp Nikki Mitchell News Wendy Graham Sales Associate Karen Otto Typesetting Nan Borske Office Manager Mark Grindatti Distribution Vicky Vargovich Mailroom Lisa Wickstrom Mailroom *POSTMASTER--This information is provided to our mail subscribers as a convenience for reporting newspapers which are being delivered late. The Iron County Reporter published weekly by Iron River Publications, Inc., 801 W. Adams, Iron River, MI 49935. USPS 269-920 paid at Iron River, MI 49935. Subscription rates are $45 per year in Iron County; $55 per year out of Iron County. Send address changes to: Iron County Reporter, P.O. Box 311, Iron River, MI 49935.
IRON COUNTY MEDICAL CARE FACILITY Part-time RN positions
Excellent Wage and Benefit package
Chamber Connection by Bob Black
Executive Director
Do your shopping locally
I know most of us have heard of stay and shop local. We must give our neighbors, our friends and our relatives a chance! When spending money online, none of that money stays local. But when you shop locally, over 60 percent of the money will stay local, and that will trickle to other business and our economy. If we keep shopping online and in big box stores, we won’t be able to buy certain products, and our family and neighbors will be unemployed. Another problem we have is when someone purchases an item locally and then complains that it is a little higher than if you travel two hours to a box store. This behavior is not acceptable. They should be grateful that they can finish their plumbing job or their grandma’s recipe. Also, when you figure in the cost of gas to get to these big box stores, it could end up costing more to buy the things that you wanted. Be happy; be thankful that you can still get the products locally. We just need to change our attitude.Negativity breeds negativity, plain and simple. When you live off the grid you should expect to pay a little more for certain items. Yes, I like the small town living, but we need to keep what we have and not lose any more business or population. Small Business Saturday is between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It is another opportunity for shoppers to get a great deal while supporting the backbone of our economy. So this holiday season, remember, give them a chance, so shop Small Business Saturday this Nov. 30 instead of those big box stores or online.
www.IronCountyReporter.com Have you voted on our Online Poll? This past week’s poll:
In this week’s Outdoor section, there are photos of bucks from the past and articles regarding the big buck population. What do you think about the buck population in Iron County?
There are more big bucks 17.6% There are less big bucks 52.9% The population really hasn’t changed 29.4%
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Part-time LPN positions Excellent Wage and Benefit package
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Part-time Certified Nurse Assistants All Applicant(s) must possess a current license in the State of Michigan Starting Wage: $13.60 - Benefit Package
Applications: Iron County Medical Care Facility 1523 Hwy. US 2, Crystal Falls, MI. 49920 906-875-6671, Fax: 875-6573 Office Hours 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Applications also on www.ironcountymcf.com Iron County Medical Care Facility is an Equal Opportunity Employer R08 11/13, 11/20, 11/27
United States. It harms all of us whenever someone is permitted to flout the law at our expense. This can only continue so long as we the public, permit it to happen through our inaction. This problem isn’t limited to Gaastra by any means, but prevails throughout the region. -s- Bill Vajk Iron River
City manager needs support To the editor: The Nov. 5 election is over, amendment change Charter 2.05 for elected officials to serve on more than one compensated position failed. There is a problem the city of Iron River had sought for a legal opinion on March 6, 2002 regarding Soderbloom to also serve on the WICSA board when Terry Tarsi resigned from the WICSA board because he believed the mayor should serve on multiple boards. April 2002, Plunkett & Cooney legal opinions is that the mayor is prohibited to serve on various boards, when the city is in contractual relationships. The legal opinion was deemed in 2002, how is it possible that the
change to the amendment was even achieved to be brought up for a vote by voters in 2013? There are other questionable practices that have come to light. It is the statement of Arthur Sacheck stated on the council floor about the City Council taking $150,000 in 2011 to pay for other expenses. The $150,000 is the former city manager encouraged the City Council to take the money out of the water savings account. Which is in enterprise fund which are not transferable? The funds were transferred to the MERS pension fund, sometime after Sept. 15, 2011. On Nov. 14, 2011, the same city manager negotiated benefits in violation of the charter for himself. Oddly enough the current city manager is striving to do his best when he has found other problem areas in the budget, city auditor report ‘expenditures are exceeding appropriations in the 2012/13 budget.’ Reports have not been filed for years. Other monies have been transferred from the state mandated sewer fund to the general fund. The current city manager has walked into a mess, and he needs the support of the taxpayers as he strives to clean it up. -s- Paul Joseph Van Minsel Iron River
Health Department celebrates Great American Smokeout IRON RIVER—The American Cancer Society marks the Great American Smokeout on the third Thursday of November each year by encouraging smokers to use the date to make a plan to quit, or to plan in advance and quit smoking that day. By doing so, smokers will be taking an important step towards a healthier life – one that can lead to reducing cancer risk. This year’s Great American Smokeout will be held on Thursday, Nov. 21. Tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in Michigan, killing more than 14,500 residents each year, yet many Michiganders still use tobacco. Twenty-three percent of Michigan adults, and 14 percent of Michigan youth smoke cigarettes. Quitters are most successful when using a combination of therapies, including resources such as nicotine replacement and counseling. Resources available to Michigan residents include: --The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) Tobacco Quitline, 1-(800) 784-8669, continues to provide free telephone coaching for the uninsured and those with Medicaid and Medicare,
and free nicotine replacement medications for those who qualify. Information on quitting smoking and a free printable Michigan Smoker’s Quit Kit are available through MDCH by visiting: www.michigan.gov/ tobacco. --BecomeAnEX.org is a free, interactive website that shows smokers how to re-learn life without cigarettes. The site, developed by Legacy in partnership with Mayo Clinic, offers a free, personalized quit plan and an online support community to help people prepare to quit and stay quit. --Dickinson County Healthcare System offers a smoking cessation class. Need 15 participants to hold a class. Cost is $30. Call 776-5532 to learn more. --The American Cancer Society has tools available to help with quitting. For more information contact the American Cancer Society at 1-800227-2345. Information is also available on the American Cancer Society’s Web site at www.cancer.org. For more information about the Great American Smokeout or tobacco prevention activities, contact the Dickinson-Iron District Health Department at 779-7234.
UTILITY BILLING CLERK Crystal Falls Township is seeking applicants for a part-time utility billing clerk. Computer knowledge, basic accounting practices and cash handling preferred. Applications will be accepted at the Crystal Falls Township office at: 1384 West U.S. 2, P.O. Box 329, Crystal Falls, MI 49920, until 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 27, 2013. Nancy Niemi/Clerk R13 11/13, 11/20
“LEGALLY SPEAKING” by ATTORNEY HANNAH L. GOODMAN Revocation of Last Will and Testament
A person who has testamentary capacity (the capacity to understand the nature of his or her actions) may revoke his or her Last Will and Testament at any time prior to death. Once a Last Will and Testament has been validly executed, it may only be revoked by operation of the law, by subsequent instrument or by physical act. As any physical alterations and/or damage to an original Last Will and Testament may be construed as an act of revocation, it is essential that if the person wishes to revise his or her Last Will and Testament, appropriate actions such as drafting a codicil be undertaken.
Attorney Hannah L. Goodman, Law Office of Steven J. Tinti, P.O. Box 98, Crystal Falls, Michigan 49920, (906) 875-7451
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