State Formally Ends Ojibway's 47-Year History Here Today
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Call (906) 932-4449 DDAYSAYS ‘TIL CHRISTMAS Ironwood, MI The Best Gift for the Trail camera action 24 HolidaysHolidays is a Scouting pays off for hunter with Redsautosales.com Gift Certificate from: 10-pointer Ironwood,Ironw ood, MI 906-932-4400 OUTDOORS • 8 DAILY GLOBE Saturday, December 1, 2018 Chance of snow yourdailyglobe.com | High: 32 | Low: 24 | Details, page 2 State formally ends Ojibway’s 47-year history here today By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] MARENISCO – Today is the official date of closure for the Ojibway Correc- tional Facility in Marenisco. It’s a practical matter for the Michigan Department of Corrections and a personal one for local residents, who learned only last summer of the state’s decision. According to Chris Gautz, public rela- tions representative for MDOC, more than 800 prisoners from OCF already were moved to other prisons as of a few weeks ago. As for about 200 employees, he said, “The vast majority have been transferred.” Gautz told the Daily Globe Thursday about 50 OCF employees are now laid off. “The vast majority of those had the ability to continue to work with the department (in other state prisons), but chose not to,” he said, explaining they had various rea- P.J. Glisson/Daily Globe sons, including having children in local AS OF today, the Ojibway Correctional Facility in Marenisco is closed. A recent view here shows the outside of the facility’s schools, or mortgages, or no desire to leave secure gates. the area. “It’s very understandable,” said Gautz. mute here to see family and friends as Baraga prison is about 100 miles away.) needed credentials to serve prisoners with Richard Bouvette, Marenisco Township much as possible. “They’ll do that for –No large hospitals are available near- histories of mental health, substance supervisor, said he expects the region to awhile, and eventually they’ll stop,” he by to provide specialized care to prisoners abuse or sex offenses. experience a seeping impact from the said. He expects at that point many of when needed. “I don’t know if it’s because of that loca- prison closure. He estimates tens of mil- them will move elsewhere with their fami- –State statistics show that recidivism is tion or if it’s because people with those lions of dollars will be lost annually in lies, rather than return here. not as high when prisoners and parolees kinds of degrees don’t want to live here,” prison wages and in peripheral losses. Gautz said it is a public misperception have family support, and many of OCF’s he said, adding that OCF used a mental Gradually, he said, food suppliers, gas sta- that the facility closed because of its prox- prisoners were a long distance away from health specialist from Marquette for tions, grocery stores, uniform providers imity to MDOC. “It’s not that they were far their families. awhile, but added, “Then, she didn’t want and others will feel the effects of the lost from Lansing,” he said, adding the bigger –It was difficult or impossible to hire to live in Marquette, either.” business and shed employees or close. problems were: specialized staff for prisoners’ program- As a result, said Gautz, the state was not Moreover, Bouvette said, some of the –If backup support were needed from ming or medical needs. employees who chose to transfer from other state prisons, it would take too long Gautz said the prison had consistent Ojibway to other prisons will at first com- for employees to travel there (the state’s challenges in trying to hire staff with the PRISON — page 5 Area schools prepare holiday concerts Sentencing By LARRY HOLCOMBE [email protected] set in Iron One of the highlights for any school music program is the annual holiday concert. Whatever murder case the name – Christmas program, HURLEY – The sen- holiday performance or winter tencing hearing for James concert – it's a great time to make Lussier, 20, of Woodruff, music as multiple generations of on murder-related charges family members gather in audito- has been rescheduled to riums and gymnasiums across the Jan. 30 in Iron County region. Court. Area school districts have The original sentencing planned 16 holiday concerts in 16 date of Nov. 5 was post- days. poned when Lussier's Ironwood's elementary holiday attorney, Marty Lipske, concert is first on the calendar on requested the delay. Thursday, Dec. 6, at 6 p.m. in the Lussier is one of five Luther L. Wright K-12 School's men who were charged in second floor gym. Larry Holcombe/Daily Globe the beating and shooting Ironwood's show choir Accent! LUTHER L. Wright K-12 School choral director Lydia Mattson, right, rehearses with the school’s show death of Wayne M. Valliere and other choirs will perform a choir Accent! in preparation for their concert set for Saturday, Dec. 15, at 7 p.m., at the Historic Iron- Jr., 25, of Lac du Flam- concert at the Historic Ironwood wood Theatre. beau, whose body was Theatre on Saturday, Dec. 15, at 7 found near Mercer on New p.m. Ironwood Theatre. The choir's winter concert will Thursday, Dec. 20. The PreK-1 Year's day. The Ironwood middle school be the next evening, Wednesday, performance will be at 8:30 a.m., The five men took Val- concert is set for Tuesday, Dec. 18, Hurley Dec. 12, also at 7 in the auditori- followed by grades 2-4 at 9:30. liere for a drug-fueled at 6 p.m. in the LLW gym, while Hurley's winter band concert um. the Ironwood band concert is set will be Tuesday, Dec. 11, at 7 p.m. The elementary holiday con- for Friday, Dec. 21, at 7 p.m. at the in the school's auditorium. certs are set for the morning of CONCERTS — page 5 MURDER — page 5 FROST FRIDAY Watersmeet man sentenced for drugs BESSEMER – A Watersmeet Town- of meth in October. A count of delivery ship man arrested for having metham- and manufacture of meth was dismissed. phetamines delivered to him by the mail The Gogebic-Iron Area Narcotics was sentenced to probation Thursday in Team arrested Cannella, acting on a tip Gogebic County Circuit Court. that he was purchasing meth through the James Cannella, 53, was sentenced to mail. two years of probation and was credited On Sept. 5, officers found Cannella in for 85 days served in jail. possession of a meth package and he was Cannella pleaded guilty to possession arrested. Special recreation meeting called IRONWOOD – As part of the city of officials to plan for projects and improve- Ironwood updating its five-year parks ments, but it is necessary when the city and recreation plan, a special meeting seeks grants through various funding Ralph Ansami/Daily Globe has been called for Wednesday, Dec. 12, agencies. MARLA POWERS, left, and Judy Holst, right, are among a group of about 20 Christ- in the Memorail Building women's club Many of the projects in the five-year mas carolers who entertain customers Friday evening at downtown stores as part room. plan that is expiring were either funded of a Frost Friday celebration. They sing in Al's Furniture store. Friday’s downtown The public is being encouraged to or are being considered for grants. activities on a warm night were in advance of today's 6 p.m. Jack Frost Festival of attend and provide input. The session will run from 5 to 7 Lights parade downtown. The five-year plan not only allows city p.m. TODAY INDEX Chance of snow — Details, page 2 Business . .13 75 cents Classifieds . .12-14 Friday Today’s records Snowfall Comics . .11 Vol. 100, No. 10 High 33 High 55 (1962) 24 hours to 7 a.m. Community . .3 Low 26 Low -20 (1919) Friday none Snow depth 6.0 in. Obituaries . .7 Year ago today Precipitation Season total 41.0 in. Opinion . .4 High 41 24 hours to 7 a.m. Last year 27.3 in. Low 24 Friday none Sports . .9-10 l 2 SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2018 NATION / WORLD THE DAILY GLOBE • YOURDAILYGLOBE.COM FIVE-DAY FORECASTFOORECAST FOR IRONWOODIRRONWOOD TODAY SUNDAYY MONDAY TUESDAYTUESSDAY WEDNESDAY Former President George H.W. Bush dies at age 94 Scatteredd Scattered Few Snow Chance Snow Mostly Cloudy Snow Snow Showers HOUSTON (AP) – George H.W. Bush, a remain on the sidelines, except for an patrician New Englander whose presiden- occasional speech or paid appearance and 32° 24° 29° 19°199° 26° 16° 22° 15° 21° 14° cy soared with the coalition victory over visits abroad. He backed Clinton on the Winds: Winds: Winds: Winds:Winnds: Winds: Iraq in Kuwait, but then plummeted in the North American Free Trade Agreement, 6-136-13 mphmph ENEENE 1717 mmphph NNENNE 9 mmphph WWSWSW 9 mmphph WWSWSW 1010 mmphph WSWWSW throes of a weak economy that led voters which had its genesis during his own pres- to turn him out of office after a single idency. He visited the Middle East, where Ontonagon LOCALL OUTLOOK term, has died. He was 94. he was revered for his defense of Kuwait. 37/29 The World War II hero, who also And he returned to China, where he was Todayy we will see mostly cloudy presided during the collapse of the Soviet welcomed as “an old friend” from his days Bergland skies with a 40% chance of snow, 33/25 high ttemperature of 32°, humidity of Union and the final months of the Cold as the U.S. ambassador there.