The Ontonagon Herald “Serving Ontonagon County and Surrounding areas since 1881” _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Volume 128 No. 52 $1.00 Copy Wednesday, December 30, 2009 Ontonagon, Michigan______ 49953 A candid interview OASD may build new garage Lake Gogebic Chamber honors By Anne Sussex an At Risk student would be low with Representative Lahti The Ontonagon Area school MEAP scores, if a student is eligible member and citizen of the year Harold S. Riter, Reporting board met for its regular monthly for a free or reduced lunch, and fam- The Herald had a surprise visitor meeting on Monday, December 21. ily marital status. on December 21, when 110th Dis- President, Dean Juntunen called the The board then moved on to trict State Representative Mike meeting to order with all members approve a second reading of the Lahti dropped in for a brief chat. Of present. A group of high school stu- Jr/Sr High Handbook which further course, this reporter is always anx- dents were present to observe the defines the meaning of a closed ious to talk with and also to talk at proceedings. campus. The board also approved a our lawmakers, so Lahti’s dropping At the last meeting, Member first reading of a policy change for by was most welcome. He had just Bruce Johanson asked for an students who wish to graduate early. arrived home from Lansing on Sat- accounting on the music/band pro- This policy would require a student urday and was taking a quick swing gram for the school. Music teacher, to be enrolled as a senior and main- through the district to talk to various Ben Mayer sent a written memo that tain a full schedule. If a student organizations and individuals. outlined how the elementary and wants to graduate in advance of Being involved with education, junior/senior high school band and their current class, they would have this reporter decided to open up the music classes are conducted. Mayer to petition the board to be advanced chat on that subject. Currently, indi- State Representative Mike Lahti noted in his memo that the number to the level of a senior student. vidual Michigan school districts are funds are meant to shore up failing of students in band programs has They would then be a member of the being asked to sign on to a promo- schools, or to replace them, “...and almost doubled. Johanson asked if class. A student who requests early tion being pushed by the Depart- we don’t have any failing schools up the school was providing instru- graduation after the start of the ment of Education as well as by US here,” he continued, suggesting that ments for students and who was the school year would not be considered Secretary of Education, Arne Dun- jumping through a number of hoops vendor for any rentals. Johanson as a class member and would Chamber Treasurer Dick Armstrong presents Ron Searles with the can. and amending State school laws just also indicated that he was not happy receive their diploma through the 2009 Chamber “Member of the Year” Award. Certain powers that be in Lans- to get the federal money didn’t with the lack of ‘beginning” instru- mail. ing are really pushing this “Race to promise that any of it would reach ments. The board also approved a virtu- the Top’ as a way of getting ahold of the schools in this area. The board then agreed to al class access policy. This policy $400 million dollars. We asked Rep. As for the Michigan school increase the At Risk services for the outlines requirements for a student Lahti about his feelings on this mat- funding crisis, Lahti said, “We have Jr/Sr High school by one hour per to enroll in a virtual class as part of ter. to make cuts or raise taxes. Resolu- school session day through the end their curriculum. “It’s a red herring that will lead tions don’t solve problems. Talking of the current school year. Superin- Webber then introduced a to bringing in more charter about something else (such as ‘Race tendent Gray Webber indicated Retirement Incentive Plan. This schools,” replied Lahti. He to the Top’ keeps us from facing the there was enough money in the plan is a onetime deal outside of the budget and with the high percentage regular contract for teachers who explained that the “Race to the Top” Please see Page 3 of At Risk students that it would be don’t fit parameters of the contract. a good move on the part of the Webber explained that it would be Traxys considers expanding board. The cost for the extra hour less costly than a layoff. He said that would be about $3,000 for the a maximum of five people would renewable power business semester. Some criteria that define Please see Page 3 Traxys is a global raw material “green” steam to neighboring indus- marketing and sourcing firm spe- trial plant and is recognized as An afternoon at the museum cializing in base metals and concen- Michigan’s first biomass green plant trates, minor and alloying metals, since Governor Granholm passed industrial minerals and chemicals, the “Renewable Energy Portfolio materials for steel mills and and Energy Efficiency Act” in 2008. 2008 Chamber “Citizen of the Year” Tom Chase presents Melanie foundries, and carbon products. It Mike Reid, Vice President of Fullman and Bill Baer with the 2009 “Citizen of the Year” Award”. holds investments in various mining Traxys’ Power Division, indicated Submitted by Chamber Treasurer, search and rescue, the Ottawa His- operations around the world and that Traxys is interested in expand- Dick Armstrong torical Center in Bergland and operates both coal handling facili- ing its green business to 115 The Lake Gogebic Area Cham- active in the Back Country Horse- ties and power generation assets in megawatts using four different sites ber of Commerce held its’ annual man Association and more. the U.S. The company has 21 located across the Upper Peninsula. meeting at the Konteka in White Ron Searles from West Shore offices worldwide and in 2008 post- According to Reid, “It makes good Pine, December 6, with the naming Resort was honored with the Cham- ed revenue of $4.5 billion. sense to take idled existing coal of the Citizen of the Year and Cham- ber Member of the Year award for The Traxys Power Division is plants and convert them to biomass, ber Member of the Year along with his long service on the board of located in the Upper Peninsula of since wood is such an abundant the election of officers and direc- directors, 15 years of activity in Michigan. The Group operates a 40- resource in the Upper Peninsula. tors. snowmobile trail signing and brush- megawatt coal plant in White Pine Biomass power is the most reliable Melanie Fullman, Ottawa ing, building and donating snowmo- and a 20-megawatt plant in L’Anse, source of renewable energy with an National Forest Ranger and Bill bile trail map boxes and fish display MI. The L’Anse facility is a biomass 85% dispatchable rate, compared to Baer, Ottawa National Forest Recre- cases for the chamber booth at sport plant that burns over 400 tons of wind and solar power, which are 30- ation Manager were presented with shows, is chairperson of the Cham- waste wood per day, supplies 40% dispatchable”. the chamber “Citizen of the Year” ber’s Communications Committee Award for their support in the devel- and a member of the fishing com- opment of Multi-Use trails in the mittee. He has placed fish cribs for Lake Gogebic Area as well as being the Lake Improvement Association active on the National Ski Patrol, and writes articles for the Gogebic Bessemer Fire Department, local Please see Page 3 Eddie Stevens at the organ By Anne Sussex he hadn’t played it before. The first What kind of excitement could a time was a bit hesitant, but by the Stupak coming to Ontonagon person expect at the Ontonagon third time he played “Unchained By Anne Sussex omy and an opportunity for local museum on a cold wintry Saturday Melody” so well that visitor Linda Congressman Bart Stupak’s residents to let him know what is on afternoon? Plenty if you were lucky Koski sang along while he played. office has announced that he will be their minds. Stupak said in a press enough to stop by last weekend. Eddie played the pump organ, visiting the Western UP in January release that he “looks forward to Eddie Stevens, who now informs and his Christmas songs sounded to hold town hall meetings. having discussions with residents in me that he is 10, spent the afternoon, wonderful. He said it took him a few He will be in Ontonagon on Jan- Ironwood, Ontonagon and playing four different instruments minutes to figure out how fast to uary 6, at the Ontonagon Jr/Sr High Houghton. These town hall meet- and making the day merry and pump the organ so the sound just School. He is scheduled to hold a ings provide me with valuable feed- bright. Young Mr. Stevens who is a poured from the organ. Eddie meeting from 5:30 to 7:00 pm. back and help to spur dialogue on fifth grader at Land O Lakes ele- brought his cornet with him and He will also hold meetings on important issues within the First mentary school says he likes com- gave a great rendition of Silent The 40-megawatt plant in White Pine will be converted from coal to January 5, at Gogebic Community District.” ing to the museum to play the musi- Night.