Drug Court Program Shows Signs of Success
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Thunderstorms likely Don’t Miss A Number DAILY GLOBE High: 57 | Low: 46 | Details, page 2 N B I G O Subscribe Today for Only $16.50/mo.* Call 906-932-2211 *some restrictions apply DAILY GLOBE yourdailyglobe.com Wednesday, September 28, 2016 75 cents Drug court program shows signs of success By JAN TUCKER was able to show some impres- ticipants face a strenuous 15 Plutchak said each partici- September, was 60 percent in the announced last week more than [email protected] sive statistics. months before they are released. pant goes through five tough first quarter and 73 percent in $10 million has been awarded to ONTONAGON — The Region- Kelly Plutchak, of Ontonagon, The court team consists of a phases in the 15 months, which the second quarter. The number 81 courts statewide to continue al Driving Under the Influence is administrator of the program. judge, prosecutor, defense attor- includes, in addition to other reg- of re-arrests while in the pro- to fund the operations. One of the and Drug Court program in the She told the Ontonagon Rotary ney, probation officer-case man- imens, daily alcohol tests, weekly gram was just under 6 percent in grants was to the 97th District five-county Western Upper last week there were 67 partici- ager, treatment provider, mental appearances before a judge, ran- the first quarter and under 3 per- Court of Ontonagon and Gogebic Peninsula is four years old and pants this fiscal year, with 18 in health provider and law enforce- dom home visits from law cent in the second quarter. counties. has achieved some significant Gogebic and Ontonagon counties, ment. enforcement, $500 in payment to With the large amount of drug The most recent report by the success. and 49 in Houghton, Baraga and Plutchak said the key to the be eligible, curfews, attendance and alcohol testing done in the state said graduates of Michigan It covers 97th and 98th dis- Keweenaw. court is a team that can work in a 12-step program and an program, just 1.3 percent in the Drug Courts are two times less trict courts in Houghton, Baraga, Not everyone who has been together to provide the partici- established treatment plan. first quarter and 2.5 percent in likely to commit another offense Keweenaw, Ontonagon and arrested for drunk driving is eli- pant with the skills, motivation Plutchak said the successful the second quarter tested posi- Gogebic counties. At a regional gible for the court. There has to and support to overcome the sub- completion rate in the first half tive during the program. meeting two weeks ago, the court be more than one arrest and par- stance disorder. of the fiscal year, through The Michigan Supreme Court DRUG COURT — page 5 $31,000 DAP COLE’S FOUNDATION loan approved for City Centre roof repairs By RALPH ANSAMI [email protected] IRONWOOD — The Ironwood City Commission on Monday approved a $31,000 loan to the Downtown Art Place to be used for roof work on the City Centre. Howard Sandin, representing DAP, said the roof leaked the last two winters and needs to be repaired. He said the leaks could lead to damage to other areas of the city-owned building. The work will cost $53,000, but DAP had $21,000 available, Submitted photo including grant money, and Students in the Gogebic-Ontonagon Intermediate School District Certified Nursin Assistant class from Bessemer, Ironwood and Wakefield-Marenisco release gold balloons in mem- Sandin said the remaining ory of Cole Ruotsala, who died from adreno-cortical carcinoma on September 19, 2008, marking this the eighth anniversary of his death following a presentation by Aaron Ruot- $31,000 is needed by November. sala, Cole’s father. The GCC RN students are also pictured behind the CNA students. DAP will repay the loan to the city over a three-year period at the rate of $862 a month as part of its lease agreement. City Manager Scott Erickson Ruotsala speaks to GOISD, GCC students about Cole’s Foundation said the city centre brings jobs to the city and there’s already IRONWOOD —The Gogebic Commu- supporting families. students selected Cole’s Foundation, as face, the illness and death of a beloved about $150,000 invested in it. nity College Registered Nursing stu- The Certified Nursing Assistant stu- her project. Ruotsala spoke to a group child,” according to the Cole’s Foundation Commissioner Brandon Tauer dents, along with the Certified Nursing dents from Ironwood, Bessemer and that also included GCC’s RN students. website: colesfoundation.org. asked if DAP went through a Assistant students from the Gogebic- Wakefield-Marenisco high schools are “Cole’s Foundation was created as a The GCC nursing students recently bidding process for the work. Ontonagon Intermediate School District, learning basic nursing skills, along with tribute to this little boy who fought so learned about patient centered care and Erickson said that wasn’t neces- heard a presentation from Aaron Ruot- communication and service learning hard and touched so many. Recognizing therapeutic communication in their sary. sala, of Cole’s Foundation, on Monday. within the community. At the end of the the incredible needs of families strug- coursework, along with the importance of DAP member Bob Burchell Ruotsala spoke to the group about his course, they will take a test to qualify as gling through the nightmare of caring for having a caring attitude, according to said a local contractor will be son, Cole, and his journey with adreno- CNAs. a child with a terminal illness, the orga- nursing instructor Karen Balyeat. used and there will be a 20-year cortical carcinoma from diagnosis to his They are currently covering non-profit nization was created to utilize the 21st “From Aaron, nursing students warranty on the new roof. passing on Sept. 19, 2008, at age 3. He organizations. As an assignment, each century’s technology to provide support The commission also awarded also spoke about the creation of Cole’s student has to choose a non-profit organi- and assistance to families facing the most a $31,495 bid to Ross Peterson Foundation and the work that it does zation and create a brochure. One of the devastating challenge that a parent could Construction, of Hurley, for a COLES — page 5 sanitary sewer line extension on Gogebic Street and Business Route 2. A lower bid was submit- Drug defendant ted without a bond. County Board approves overtime salary resolution Erickson said the Michigan fails to show for Department of Transportation By RICHARD JENKINS employees would only receive regardless of the emergency fulfill the resolution’s require- said the entire U.S. 2 business [email protected] overtime in extreme situations, declaration. ment, even though state and route will be milled and resur- HURLEY — The Iron Coun- such as the July storm. “Therefore, be it resolved federal emergencies were hearing faced next year. ty Board of Supervisors “This would specifically be that Iron County salaried declared as a result of the July By RALPH ANSAMI The commission also agreed approved a resolution that relating to, once an emergency employees be entitled to over- 11 storm. [email protected] to advertise for bids for custodial would allow salaried employees has been declared, those people time pay if (an emergency) dec- If approved, the overtime HURLEY — A defendant in services for the Memorial Build- to receive overtime pay during who are ... in charge of salaried laration has been declared, the pay from July would primarily an Iron County felony drug case ing, Carnegie Library and public county emergencies, a key first workers would be eligible for Finance Committee must then go to the county’s Forestry, failed to show for a preliminary safety department building. City step to authorizing overtime (overtime pay),” County Board approve the request and then Highway and Emergency Man- examination on Tuesday. clerk Karen Gullan said the pre- pay accumulated in the after- Chairman Joe Pinardi said, forward on to full county board agement departments for work Tracy Gehrke, 44, of 304 sent contract is expiring and sep- math of the July 11 storm that adding not everything that gen- for their ultimate decision,” the done after the storm that Fourth Ave. S., Hurley, is arate bids can be submitted for caused widespread flooding and erates overtime hours will be resolution reads. caused numerous road charged with manufacturing or each building, if the bidder damage in the northern parts of approved for payment. According to information washouts and destroyed Saxon delivering schedule 1 or 2 nar- chooses. the county. The resolution also stipu- presented at the meeting, the cotics. Commissioners declared a According to several county lates the full county board must declaration would only have to “I do not know where my board members, salaried approve any overtime pay, be made at the county level to public safety department snow- HURLEY — page 5 client is,” said Gehrke’s defense plow surplus property and attorney, Sam Filippo. agreed to seek bids for the equip- Filippo tried to contact ment at a minimum of $1,700. Gehrke to appear for her Tues- The plow is only a year old and day morning court appearance, cost $3,800 new. The public safe- HIT Idol 6th season auditions scheduled for weekend but received a phone message ty department doesn’t need two By TOM STANKARD pants will compete in one of should audition with the song pete. that the number was disconnect- plows, director Andrew DiGior- [email protected] three categories: intended to be used during the Contestants selected to be ed.