Welcome to the Brand New Copper Beacon: What We’re Doing and Why

Today marks the relaunch of a new and improved Copper Beacon. Let me tell you about its history, mission and plans for the future. 

A teleconference between the volunteer relaunch team: Josh Vissers, Laura Smyth, Jennifer Donovan, Juxta Sprague, and Lily Venable.

Just as there is no perfect person, there is no perfect media. We all, mostly, try our best. When I taught media studies, I would start each semester with a lesson on propaganda and faulty logic, because deceit, self-interest, and manipulation are as old as humankind. But so is seeking truth, helping community, and a need to communicate with each other. So, along with propaganda, I would talk (probably a lot) about personal bias—how to recognize it and move past it. One mistake we often make, both as media “consumers” and media “producers” is believing we are without bias. That’s not humanly possible. But recognizing our own biases, our own blind spots and prejudices, is not only possible, it is essential, both in a democracy and in a news outlet.

Joshua Vissers started this online news source, now called Copper Beacon, as an exercise in delivering local news to a rural community without the undue influence that can come from relying on advertising revenue.

(Read a short history of the publication here: https://www.copperbeacon.org/about-us).

It is the ideal of every journalist I have ever met not to be thwarted in what they cover and how it can be covered by the commercial necessities of their news outlet. Investigating stories, writing stories, editing stories, getting good visuals to help bring stories to life…all of this is expensive, and the tried-and-true model in American journalism has been advertising. Subscriptions in this model help, certainly, but primarily to give advertisers a sense of the readership they can reach if they pay for an expensive advertisement. The potential conflicts of interest are ever-present and obvious.

This publication has never sought or accepted advertising. We rely on subscriptions, though we now are seeking other local and national, non-commercial sources of funding. 

Copper Beacon has  been and continues to be hyper-local. We cover four counties: Baraga, Ontonogan, Houghton and Keweenaw. With the view that journalism is a community service and not a product, we value local knowledge. 

As I was working on this article in my Hancock office in late April, I decided to get out and enjoy the sunshine and clear my head. Walking down Quincy St. I found myself in the middle of the setup process for this year’s Puppy Parade. How perfect. I leave my office to clear my thoughts and immediately am immersed in an important and lovely community project. Students from Hancock High School were creating the route all along the sidewalk with chalk, leaving inspiring messages and colorful pawprints. The coordinator for the Puppy Parade, Rachel Lamppa from Copper Shores Community Health, chatted with me about the artwork the students were making and her passion for helping survivors of sexual violence. Officer Olsen was on hand, helping with the artwork and looking after the students. I had walked out of my head and into a community event outside my door. I encouraged the students to consider writing an article for the Copper Beacon about their experience on this project. Citizen journalism recruitment on the fly.

Victim advocate Rachel Lamppa with Hancock Police Officer Olsen at the Copper Shores Puppy Parade.

Rather than attempting to cover the entire U.P., Copper Beacon chose a deeper focus on truly local issues, and our plan is to grow through the development of local journalists and citizen journalists. 

One big accomplishment that the publication has achieved so far is obtaining a 501(c)3 status. Being a non-profit will help us with our mission: Copper Beacon will deliver high-quality journalism featuring diverse voices and deep research to the residents of Houghton County and the surrounding area. With ethics, accessibility, and media education held as core values, we will lead the way for the modernization of news production in the Upper Peninsula.

Yes, that’s a big mission, but what’s the point in a small one? Together, we don’t need to do this instantly but rather can build on past achievements and develop new local talent. We have a dedicated local board to help guide the way. We are actively seeking input from residents for stories that could use greater coverage, and we will be training local writers to take a leap into this important project: local news.

We’re currently an all-volunteer staff, although freelance writers are paid contributors, but one of the goals we have as a non-profit is to develop foundational funding sources from both inside and outside the region that will allow us to develop more opportunities for paid writers and also to engage and educate local communities on the importance of local news coverage. Money coming into our non-profit organization brings funds into the local economy rather than sending money out of the area through advertising revenue to a national or international corporate parent company. As Joshua said to me in a recent phone conversation, corporate news ownership is “a straw for sucking money out of the community.” And that straw seems to get bigger with each passing day. 

So, moving forward, we will keep the community events calendar going on a weekly basis along with smaller news items as they arise. The primary change will be to take a monthly deep dive into one specific topic of importance in the community and cover it in-depth. Look for story topics to be announced in the next few weeks and contact the editor if you would like more information about writing for (or learning to write for) the Copper Beacon. We’re excited about the future of this news outlet. Taking my cue from the students who were enthusiastically chalking up Quincy St. before the parade, I can tell you that we do this work with a deep commitment to the well-being of the whole community, and also an appreciation of good chalk. 

Edit: This article was corrected for typos after posting. “Office” was changed to Officer and “conversion” changed to “conversation”.

More News

Young grad fulfills dream of owning own bakery, gets brick thrown through window

Erin Turner stands in front of her new signage for her store on Hecla Street.

Meet Erin Turner, the 23-year-old baker behind Copper Country Sweets. From humble beginnings vending at From the Ground Farmer’s Markets to the procurement of her own Laurium bakery, Erin's success is a testament to the rewards of hard work and determination. Copper Country Sweets is more than just a bakery—it's a dream come true.

ERIN’S STORY

Turner has always had a passion for baking and service. She graduated with her Bachelors in Hospitality Management from Northern Michigan University, a well-rounded course that covered not only cooking, but business management, HR, and leadership. She spent summers baking for Skinny Pete’s.

After graduation, Turner signed up for all three From the Ground Farmer’s Markets (Houghton, Hancock, and Calumet) with one goal in mind: save up enough funds to buy equipment and open her very own Laurium bakery. Turner reliably vended three times a week from June to October, setting up her table and tent by herself, offering seasonal flavors that shifted each week, as well as her signature $5 jumbo cupcakes and 3 for $5 sea-salted chocolate chip cookies.

Erin Turner at the Calumet Farmer’s Market.

“I love when people buy something at the market, bring back the empty bag with a smile on their face telling me how good it was. I get to be creative and make people happy,” said Turner.

This year, it’s finally happening! Turner secured a brick-and-mortar bakery in Laurium and was able to acquire the equipment she needed with the earnings from the Market. Skinny Pete’s also gifted her with much of the equipment she needed, leftover from their own bakery after Skinny Pete’s closure in late 2022.

Turner said that her positive relationship with the former bread company’s owners Tim and Arthur Lyons was essential in laying the groundwork for her business. Another key to Turner’s success was assistance from local small business consultant Daniel Yoder.

“I worked with him most of the summer during the season. We met and developed a business plan. [Michigan SBDC] is a small business development center, and they’re a nonprofit so they just help businesses. They also worked with Living Proof Brewery, who is just down the block.”

It’s a big summer for Laurium as community connections continue to bloom. Copper Country Sweets maintains a partnership with Vertin Gallery, who is also reopening this summer, along with a new bike shop in the same building.

A BUSINESS WITH SISU

But, Erin’s dream was thwarted when vandalism struck a small UP business once again. This past Tuesday, Turner entered the bakery to find a brick that had been thrown through the front-facing glass window, shattering it. Turner said that while nothing was stolen, she is taking the incident as a sign to purchase security equipment.

“I’m stressed and upset, but I’m just thankful nothing inside was damaged,” she said.

The shattered store window. Photo courtesy Erin Turner.

Mike LaMotte, owner of the Fitzgerald Restaurant, has started a donation drive for Copper Country Sweets through their website. The business is covering the taxes and kickstarted the donation pool with their own donation of $500.

“Starting a new business is hard. Starting a business that’s a creative expression of yourself, as a young woman in the Keweenaw, is that much harder,” reads a statement from the Fitz on Facebook. “Erin Turner had more guts than 99 percent of people when she decided to learn a craft and make something for people, something that she believes in and that she thinks that the world will enjoy.”

You can help Copper Country Sweets recoup their losses by donating here: https://www.exploretock.com/fitzgeraldsrestaurant/event/482784/support-for-copper-country-sweets

GRAND OPENING PENDING

The grand opening has been postponed because of the window damage. Turner comments that waiting on the business inspector is also taking longer than she had originally anticipated. But she looks forward to the grand opening, where the community can come in to sample some of her tastiest treats by donation.

She will have her signature chocolate chip cookies and vanilla cupcakes, as well as a range of other baked goods of seasonal flavors, with something new each week. 

Turner says she also loves to make custom cakes and desserts.

“I’ll do custom anything! If someone wants something I don’t make, I’ll make it if they give me enough time,” she said.

Copper Country Sweets is located on 323 Hecla Street in Laurium. Follow Copper Country Sweets on Facebook and Instagram for updates! You can contact baker Erin via her email, coppercountrysweets@gmail.com.

You can catch also Copper Country Sweets at Calumet Market every Saturday from 10 am - 2 pm. Turner plans to attend the Saturday market for exposure, so the bakery will be closed on that day.

Turner is currently fulfilling orders. Find the order form on her website.

More News

Community rallies behind robbed local businesses, perpetrators come clean

The two perpetrators, entering Hirvonen Hall.

Around 3:30 AM on Friday, two men entered the Hirvonen building in Hancock on the Quincy Green through a door left unsecured. The pair stole “a felonious amount” of items from businesses on the 4th floor, according to Hancock police.

The building’s security cameras caught clear footage of the two men. When the businesses involved acquired permission from the Hancock Police to release the images on social media later that afternoon, the pictures spread online like wildfire through platforms like Instagram and Facebook, notably garnering over 300 shares on Facebook in just a few hours.

The perpetrators turned themselves in, returned the stolen goods, and fully reimbursed the business owners for expenses lost later that day. The men were identified as a graduating Tech student and his friend from out-of-state.

Keweenaw Jiu Jitsu reported that a fridge, a cash register containing cash, and a desk chair were stolen. They also reported that the robbers busted their glass jars of Living Proof Kombucha.

One of the perpetrators taking Keweenaw Jiu Jitsu’s cash register.

Studio Alchemy reported that over $1,800 worth of products: handmade herbal products, tinctures, bombs, and facial serums, were stolen.

Superior School of Dance reported a stolen microphone.

“It's just such an insane feeling,” said Natasha Kentala, owner of Studio Alchemy. “We've worked so hard for something, and then having somebody come and violate that so nonchalantly, so easily. It’s really painful.”

The incident comes as a shock to the Keweenaw community, where community members report “leaving the door unlocked or the car running to get groceries”. According to bestplaces.net, the property crime rate in Hancock is 19.3, which is significantly lower than the national average of 35.4.

Keweenaw Jiu Jitsu owner and head instructor Stan Myaskovsky said the incident will make them come back stronger. Keweenaw Jiu Jitsu is offering one month of free training for new members as a thank-you to the community that rallied behind them.

Superior School of Dance will debut its upcoming recital “Video Games” on Saturday, May 18. Buy tickets.

Studio Alchemy resumes classes and has many events in store for May.

More News

Houghton County has two new assistant prosecuting attorneys

Houghton County’s new prosecuting attorney made a promise when he started work in December. He said that hiring assistant prosecutors to help handle the workload would be his first priority. And he’s done it, in record time. 

Berger

Dan Helmer announced on Friday that he has hired two assistant prosecuting attorneys. Hilary Baker will be the chief assistant prosecuting attorney, and Alex Berger will be an assistant prosecuting attorney. 

Both positions will start on February 5, 2024. 

“I am excited to have Hilary and Alex join the team here to better serve the citizens of Houghton County,” said Helmer. “As I stated when I was sworn in, my top priority was filling these vacancies and ensuring that our community has the dedicated public servants that it deserves.”

Helmer

Before Helmer took the lead in the county prosecutor’s office, assistant prosecuting attorney positions had remained vacant, despite efforts to fill them. The level of pay and remoteness of Houghton County was blamed for the difficulty finding qualified assistant prosecuting attorneys who were willing to come and wanted to stay.

Baker is a graduate of Calvin University and Thomas M. Cooley Law School.  She is a career prosecutor with 10 years of experience fighting for the most vulnerable victims. She specializes in cases involving juveniles, including abuse, neglect, and delinquency, as well as child abuse, crimes against children, and cases involving sexual assault. She has worked as an assistant prosecuting attorney in Kent and Muskegon counties downstate. 

Berger currently manages his own criminal defense firm, Berger Law, out of Marquette. Following his graduation from Indiana University, Berger was a public defender in Wyoming before being elected Weston County Prosecutor there in 2018. Berger has extensive criminal law experience, protecting both the rights of the accused and victims of crime. 

He will be the lead prosecutor for all matters before the 97th District Court and will assist with other criminal cases.

“Both appointees are extremely well qualified and respected in the legal community,” says Helmer. “They will bring years of experience that only complement the assets we already have. I look forward to working with them both and continuing to rebuild this office and make it the best in the state.”

More News

Houghton County’s high prosecutor turnover, explained

Helmer

Lately, the Houghton County prosecutor’s office has looked like a revolving door. Prosecutors come; prosecutors go. What is going on? Is there internal political turmoil? Some kind of shenanigans? Foul play?

Apparently, none of the above. The Copper Beacon looked into the situation, and it seems to be caused by two problems all too familiar in the UP: It’s hard to lure professionals from urban centers to a small, rural area, and the pay can’t compete. So the county finds it hard to hire assistant prosecutors who will stay to help carry the workload. That puts the entire burden on the prosecutor. It causes prosecutor burnout, and they leave. 

“The county can’t find assistant prosecutors,” says Jennifer Kelly, Houghton County Clerk. “Younger attorneys take the position, and then they leave because they found a better job downstate with higher pay.”

Back in the day, it was hard for a young prosecutor to get a job, Kelly points out. Now there are a lot of unfilled jobs, and people are going to the bigger cities because they pay more.

Kelly hopes the County Commission will raise the assistant prosecutors’ pay.

“That’s the only way we’re going to float,” she says. “The County Commission says it has budget issues, but they also say we’re doing so well financially.”

History of Turnover

When Michael Makinen left the Houghton County prosecutor’s job in 2019, 12th Circuit Court Judge Charles R. Goodman appointed Makinen’s assistant prosecutor, Brittany Bulleit, to handle the rest of the prosecutor’s term. Then, in 2020, she was elected to her own four-year term as prosecutor. Bulleit was in her third year of that term when Judge Goodman retired, and Governor Gretchen Whitmer appointed her last May to fill the vacancy on the bench.  

That left the prosecutor’s position empty again. 

In July 2023, Paul LaBine was appointed Houghton County prosecutor. A local attorney who was also serving as mayor of Hancock, LaBine said at the time,

“I’m excited to start. My primary task right now is to aggressively recruit some attorneys for the office. There should be three attorneys in this office, and I am the only attorney, so that will be my primary task.” 

But he couldn’t do it. He couldn’t fill the assistant prosecutor positions. LaBine lasted less than two months before he resigned as prosecutor, citing issues with understaffing in the department and noncompetitive salaries being offered to assistant prosecutor candidates. 

A New Prosecutor

Dan Helmer, an assistant prosecutor in Kent County downstate, was hired last October. He will be the third prosecutor in Houghton County this year. 

Kelly swore Helmer in on Dec. 4, a day after a brutal murder involving another attorney at Houghton’s Douglass House Saloon. That was Helmer’s welcome to Houghton County. He will have to handle that case. 

“But I think he knows what he’s getting into,” Kelly says. 

Helmer is also facing an election in 2024, which could be a challenge since he’s new to the community, Kelly points out. 

Although he was working downstate when he applied for the Houghton County prosecutor’s job, Helmer has roots in the UP. His family has lived in Marquette for 33 years. 

He says he’s quite excited about being back in the UP. But he’s aware of the challenges he faces here.

“This is stressful work,” he says. “Prosecutors everywhere get burned out.”

Staffing is the biggest problem—not being able to attract talented staff and not being able to pay them a good wage, Helmer says. 

“We’ve had two openings for assistant prosecutors here for over a year. We need to find talented attorneys, pay them a good wage and make them want to stay,” he goes on to say. “The state is paying so much for court-appointed attorneys that we can’t compete.”

The prosecutor’s caseload in Houghton County is enormous since his office must handle adult criminal cases, juvenile delinquency, family issues, custody disputes, and more.

“I can do it myself, but in the long run, that’s not sustainable,” Helmer says. “It’s enough to keep three attorneys busy. It is definitely a three-person job.”

The County Commission has approved slots for two assistant prosecutors. Helmer’s first challenge will be filling those positions. The new prosecutor says he has some people interested in the jobs. He is trying to be creative, he adds, considering options such as part-time or contract attorneys.

If Helmer succeeds in turning the prosecutor’s office around, maybe its door will stop revolving. 

More News

Michigan Tech receives ultimatum from free speech watchdog after removing professor

Disclosure: This reporter is a full-time student at Michigan Technological University.

Courtesy photo.

An event to celebrate the fall of the Berlin Wall on Michigan Tech’s campus last month devolved into a billboard for hate which was defended as constitutionally protected free speech.

An uproar of frustrations, anger, fear, and dismay from faculty, students, and staff only intensified after the Provost removed a professor from his teaching duties for speaking critically of the event and its student organizers. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expressions (FIRE), an organization with deep financial ties to conservative dark money groups, has sent the University an ultimatum to “promptly recommit to honoring faculty’s academic freedom and expressive rights” with a deadline set to expire early next week on Tuesday.

YAF ‘Berlin Wall’ Event

On Nov. 10, the Michigan Tech chapter of Young Americans for Freedom (MTU YAF) hosted an event on campus to celebrate the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. The event, which invited people to spray paint a message on a large canvas, prominently featured hate speech primarily targeting LGBTQ+ groups.

Numerous student organizations and groups expressed their concern about the event. One student submitted an opinion piece to Copper Beacon last week, “Addressing the Culture of Hate at MTU” expressing frustration with the recurring systemic issues that plague minority groups on campus.

Lexi Tater, a student at the University who protested the Nov. 10, event, co-wrote an open letter to Governor Gretchen Whitmer, detailing the incident and requesting assistance to “encourage change that will protect all minorities.”

Tater offered the following comment for this story.

“Speaking out about something that threatens my identity places me in an extremely vulnerable position. [...] It is important for the rest of campus and the community to understand how these events affect the livelihood of LGBTQIA2S+ identifying people, and that it is comforting for other queer people to know that someone is standing up for what is right.”

YAF student chapters have a mixed history of advocacy with the Michigan State University chapter being listed as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) in 2006. The designation came as a direct result of MSU YAF’s activities and messaging on campus.

As reported by PrideSource, “The group had issued an agenda that included the elimination of minority student organizations, the creation of a white council, the creation of a men's council, and hunting down and deporting illegal immigrants in the Lansing area.”

The national organization that MTU YAF is organized under, the Young America’s Foundation (YAF), is notorious for bankrolling provocative speakers on college campuses. A 2017 New York Times article (paywalled) noted that “The speakers have gotten edgier, more-in-your face and sometime [sic] even meanspirited... The resulting clashes on university campuses, including protests and efforts to block speeches, have raised free speech questions."

YAF is also an associate member of the State Policy Network which SourceWatch describes as “a web of right-wing ‘think tanks’ and tax-exempt organizations in 50 states, Washington, D.C., Canada, and the United Kingdom.”

Professor Removed for Criticizing YAF

Students weren’t the only ones to raise their voices in response to the Nov. 10 event.

On Nov. 13, Carl Blair, a professor of Social Sciences, spoke critically of the MTU YAF event and the students who had organized it during his class. A student discretely recorded Blair. The next day, Blair’s comments were shared in a video on YAF’s Twitter and published in an article on YAF’s website.

On the morning of Nov. 16, FOX News published an article titled “Michigan Tech professor attacks conservative student group as 'homophobic, dumb, racist twits'” which featured the video from YAF’s Twitter account.

Later that day, a little after 3 p.m., an email was sent to Blair’s class from the University Provost Andrew Storer. The email informed students that their Friday class was canceled and that another instructor would be taking over for the remainder of the course. This reporter has confirmed the authenticity of this email from multiple sources.

• Email to Blair's Students

  Editor’s Note: Email addresses have been partially redacted.

  Dear Global Issues UN1025 students,

  As an institution with a strong research focus, Michigan Tech vigorously supports freedom of speech and academic freedom. We follow the Chicago Principles in this manner. With this, we expect an environment of respect and acceptance of diverse perspectives, perhaps most importantly within our classrooms. We regret this has not been your experience in this class this week.

  Tomorrow’s class (Friday, Nov. 17) has been canceled, and upon return after the Thanksgiving break we have arranged for a different instructor for the remainder of the semester. You will receive information from your new instructor prior to the first day of class after break.

  If you have any questions regarding your class or assignments please contact Dr. Don Lafreniere, chair of the Department of Social Sciences, by email (***@mtu.edu).

  If you need support outside of this particular class, I would encourage you to contact the Dean of Students Office at ***@mtu.edu.

  I hope you have a happy and restful Thanksgiving week, and we’ll see you a week from Monday.

  Sincerely,

  Andrew Storer

  Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

Carl Blair did not respond to a request for comment before the time of publication.

University Leadership Defends Decision

Nancy Langston, a tenured faculty member in the Social Sciences department, in response to the news of Blair’s removal, said, "I was surprised and dismayed that he was removed from teaching his class for the rest of the semester."

When asked about the response of University Leadership to faculty questions and concerns, Langston shared a document called ‘Provost Talking Points’ which was distributed to department chairs and others at the University on Nov. 20. Langston expressed concerns about the Provost’s interpretation of constitutionally protected free speech of faculty.

“The provost’s talking points [...] appeared to me to be clear limits on my academic freedom and rights in the classroom and campus.”

The ‘Provost Talking Points’ can be read in their entirety below.

• Provost Talking Points

  Editor’s Note: Email addresses and phone numbers have been partially redacted.

  For Situational Awareness

  -The Dean of Students office and the Center for Diversity and Inclusion has been actively supporting students who expressed concerns about the Berlin Wall event

  -External communications regarding media articles may be forwarded to Heather Herman, Executive Director of Presidential Operations, at 906-***-**** or email ***@mtu.edu

  -The Dean of Students office has also been working with a wide-variety of students to elevate the conversations on campus, moving beyond the boundaries of free speech to more elevated conversations

  -All inquiries from the media should be directed to Ian Repp in UMC

  Talking Points from the University

  Background on Free Speech

  -Michigan Tech has a high tolerance for/highly values freedom of speech. This creates space for deep exploration and learning. It also creates space where individuals can feel hurt, attacked, or disrespected.

  -There are a few limits to free speech (e.g. fighting words, true threats, incitement), but most speech is protected under the First Amendment, including what is commonly referred to as “hate speech.”

  -Michigan Tech adheres to the Chicago Principles, which states, “Although the University greatly values civility, and although all members of the University community share in the responsibility for maintaining a climate of mutual respect, concerns about civility and mutual respect can never be used as a justification for closing off discussion of ideas, however offensive or disagreeable those ideas may be to some members of our community.”

  -That said, we encourage students and other members of the university community to be leaders in addressing these complex topics. Not only content thought leaders, but leaders in respectful discourse.

  -It is also important to note that the university intentionally does not take positions or make statements on issues of social or political debate. As articulated in the Kalven Report (a precursor to the Chicago Principles), “The neutrality of the university as an institution arises then not from a lack of courage nor out of indifference and insensitivity. It arises out of respect for free inquiry and the obligation to cherish a diversity of viewpoints.”

  Classroom Settings

  -Michigan Tech strongly values academic freedom, allowing faculty to freely express ideas within the scope of their course content and to teach those concepts in their classrooms.

  -That instruction must also be respectful.

  -There is not unlimited free speech in the classroom either for faculty or students.

  -Faculty are speaking as representatives of the university in their classrooms - not in their individual capacity.

  -Instances where an instructor makes derogatory statements in such a manner as may cause reasonable students to not feel comfortable sharing or discussing their diverse perspectives, which includes political and social viewpoints, or may cause students to reasonably question if they will be graded fairly or impartially compel the institution to take necessary action to address the situation and uphold its responsibilities in ensuring all students are able to access their educational opportunities.

  Thank you for your patience as these talking points were prepared, and for sharing communications about these important topics.

  With best wishes for the weekend

  Andrew

  *********************************

  Andrew J. Storer

  Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

  Michigan Technological University

  1400 Townsend Drive

  Houghton, MI 49931-1295

  Pronouns: he/him/his

Langston reached out to the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expressions (FIRE) and shared the ‘Provost Talking Points’.

“I selected FIRE because they are non-partisan and well-recognized for their defense of free speech on campus, and they have a public university faculty rights hotline for cases such as this,” she said.

FIRE Demands Action from the University

On Dec. 5, FIRE sent a six-page letter to University President Richard J. Koubek. FIRE’s letter expressed deep concerns that the removal of Carl Blair from his course and the subsequent talking points circulated by the provost could constitute violations of court precedent which upholds faculty's right to free expression in classroom settings.

“We appreciate that Storer’s message notes Michigan Tech’s awareness of its special obligations as a public university under the First Amendment to uphold faculty’s rights to free expression and academic freedom. However, the university betrays those obligations by warning all faculty against expressing protected personal opinions in class and punishing faculty who do.”

FIRE concluded its letter by presenting an ultimatum to the University.

“Given [the] urgency of this matter, we request a substantive response no later than close of business on December 12, 2023, confirming Michigan Tech will promptly recommit to honoring faculty’s academic freedom and expressive rights.”

It is unclear what repercussions the University may face for failing to comply with FIRE’s request.

The University did not respond to multiple requests for comment on internal University documents obtained for this story, the removal of Carl Blair from his teaching duties, or FIRE’s letter.

This is far from the first time that FIRE has engaged with Michigan Tech.

At the start of the 2023-24 school year FIRE ranked Michigan Technological University number one in upholding student free speech in the country out of roughly 250 academic institutions surveyed. Michigan Tech’s ranking can be viewed on FIRE’s website.

Early in 2023, FIRE published a press release commending University Leadership for overruling the student government to provide funding for a conservative speaker.

“FIRE commends Michigan Tech for taking this crucial action. Public universities are obligated to consider funding decisions in a viewpoint-neutral manner so as to not violate the First Amendment. Of course, shared governance is important and should typically be respected, but student governments are also bound by the First Amendment to protect students’ expressive rights.”

Copper Beacon covered this story extensively.

In 2011, FIRE published another press release commending the University for rewriting sexual harassment policies to uphold constitutionally protected free speech.

“Michigan Technological University, home to two "red light" sexual harassment policies [...] to its credit, was quick to respond to our mass mailing, replying on January 11 with a request for policy review and analysis. [...] Happily, Michigan Tech's response to our policy review, dated July 22, is an encouraging and promising one. In its response, the university states that the two policies in question ‘were in the process of being reviewed and changed’ and that ‘the items which you address will be removed from all University related publications.’”

FIRE is not without controversy itself, according to reporting from SourceWatch, “FIRE is a major proponent of the intellectual diversity movement which aims to dismantle the so-called liberal bias in higher academia.” SourceWatch additionally reports ties to conservative dark money groups including the Koch Brothers and the Bradley Foundation and lists FIRE as a “[Former] member of the State Policy Network”, the same network that YAF is an associate member of.

With FIRE’s deadline for the University to provide a “substantive response” set to expire early next week, coverage of this story is ongoing.

More News

Lake Effect farmstand fills food access gap in Copper Harbor

Lake Effect Farm co-owner Adam Millsap with the Lake Effect farmstand in Copper Harbor. Photo courtesy of Lake Effect Farm.

Correction: In an earlier version of this story, Melissa Young-Millsap’s name was misspelled.

This past July, Lake Effect Farm opened its non-conventional outdoor farmstand at the Gas Lite General Store in Copper Harbor (AKA ‘the Genny’). The stand is essentially a large refrigerator within a weather-proof shed, built by the crew at Lake Effect Farm. Farm-fresh produce is available for purchase by the honor system, where customers leave funds in the cash box or use the touchscreen to make a debit/credit card purchase and then help themselves to the fresh veg.

The partnership formed between Lake Effect Farm and the Gas Lite General Store ensures access to nutritious, fresh food for the residents of Copper Harbor and the surrounding area, reducing the region’s reliance on imported goods, a major asset in the geographically isolated peninsula. It also often fosters community engagement, wherein residents know where their food comes from and the people behind its production.

Melissa Young-Millsap checks crops growing at Lake Effect Farm. Photo by Lily Venable.

“The Genny does an incredible job with all kinds of dry goods and more,” said Adam Millsap, co-owner of Lake Effect Farm. “But produce, it’s really hard for grocery stores because you have to have a high volume of customership to make those numbers work. But we can harvest daily and hold things in the field for as long we need, so we’re able to cover the gap.”

The farmstand has gained positive reception and feedback from the community that, according to Millsap, has been reflected in sales, too.

“One of the benefits of being in a close-knit community like Copper Harbor is that word travels fast,” says Millsap. “If you’ve got something good going, they show up right away.”

Lake Effect Farm is located in Trail’s End Campground, featuring acres of property, its own pond, and several greenhouses, complete with an efficient automated watering system built by Millsap.

Their website proudly boasts their namesake, a tribute to the agricultural conditions caused by Lake Superior: “The Lake Effect, a thermodynamic heat bubble caused by Lake Superior, makes it possible for us to be here, farming the North Coast in a zone 5b.”

The farmstand will continue to be open for as long as the farm is producing crops and looks forward to next year’s season of bounty.

From left to right, Lake Effect Farm owners Melissa Young-Millsap and Adam Millsap and farmhands Nick Niffin and Kathryn Little. Photo by Lily Venable.

More News

Unsold and Neglected: Six major Finlandia properties face abandonment

Quincy Green is often the site of public events, like the Canal Run. Photo courtesy of Brockit Photography.

Finlandia University is in receivership, a judicially supervised dissolution process. Almost everyone in the Keweenaw knows that. But what is receivership anyway? What does it mean and how does it work?

Receivership is a powerful legal and financial mechanism designed to protect the interests of creditors when a company or property is in default or facing severe financial distress.

In this process, a court-appointed receiver takes control of the assets and operations of the entity in distress. The receiver's primary responsibility is to maximize the value of the entity's assets to repay its creditors. This often involves selling assets, restructuring operations, or even running the business for a period of time.

While receivership can be a challenging process for the entity involved, it's often a better alternative than bankruptcy.

Per the Michigan Receivership Act of 2018, a court appoints an independent receiver, or trustee, to take possession of commercial property that is in default on its debts and receive, collect, care for and dispose of the property or proceeds from the sale of the property.

Finlandia’s board voted in March to seek state court receivership. They had three choices: state receivership, federal receivership or bankruptcy.

Receivership put all the university’s real estate and personal property up for sale.

The university’s receiver is O’Keefe and Associates Consulting LLC, appointed by the Ingham County Circuit Court on recommendation from the Finlandia University board. Ingham County is the headquarters of the Michigan Attorney General, and the Attorney General is the one who files for receivership with the court.

Patrick O’Keefe

The university’s board recommended O’Keefe and Associates because of their experience in higher education and their respect for the community and stakeholders, said CEO Patrick O’Keefe.

“We understand the impact of the loss of Finlandia on the community,” he explained. “There’s a right way and a wrong way to bury things. We hope we are doing it the right way.”

What Happens During Receivership

During receivership, the receiver steps in to manage the university’s assets, making all financial and operating decisions. According to the Receivership in Real Estate Transactions on the website of LexisNexis—a firm that provides verified legal information to lawyers, corporations and academics worldwide—receivership allows courts to preserve and/or maintain the value of assets.

If it can be avoided, lenders usually do not want to foreclose, taking title to assets or real property collateral, the Practical Guidance Journal says. They want to avoid the expense and effort of foreclosure and having to assume the responsibilities and liabilities of ownership.

In Finlandia’s case, some of the lienholders are resisting the purchase offers the receiver has brought them. O’Keefe declined to name any of the property’s lienholders.

“The secured lenders were unwilling to work with a national real estate marketing firm for the auction, or fund ongoing expenses,” O’Keefe said. “They wouldn’t cooperate with us. These properties are generating almost no interest above the mortgages.”

There are 27 properties in Finlandia’s receivership, two were sold pre-receivership, O’Keefe said. His firm has sold three others. Eleven are under sales contracts and three are going to auction. Two are being purchased by the City of Hancock, and the city is negotiating for three other Finlandia properties.

At this week’s Hancock Public Schools board meeting, they closed on the purchase of McAfee Field for $400,000.

City of Hancock’s Involvement

Hancock is purchasing Quincy Green and the Ryan Street Community Garden, said Mary Babcock, Hancock city manager. The city is paying $140,000 for Quincy Green and $27,000 for the community garden. Hancock is looking at purchasing three properties on Franklin Street that the receiver has filed a motion to abandon; Mannerheim, Nikander, and Wargelin Halls. The city council approved a purchase agreement for the properties on Oct. 17 for a total of $30,000. Babcock said they have no specific plans for the properties yet, but the council vote was unanimously in favor of making the purchase.

If they are abandoned, there would be no current owner and it would take a minimum of four years to have a tax foreclosure, Babcock said. The city is putting Finlandia properties on the tax rolls next January, and if there is no owner, no taxes will be generated. The city is also concerned about the security of buildings left empty for such a long time.

The Ryan Street Community Garden. Photo via Patronicity.

“It’s a tough situation,” Babcock said.

It’s important if residents have an opinion about the purchases, that they contact the city at 906-482-2720 or email manager@hancock.net, she added.

Properties already approved for sale in Ingham County Circuit Court include three parcels on Navy Street and a building at 417 Mine St., according to online court records. O’Keefe has filed motions to sell McAfee Field and four lots on Franklin Street.

Abandoning Properties

O’Keefe has also filed a motion in Ingham County Circuit Court to abandon some of the largest properties on campus. He told the court they could not find buyers willing to pay enough for the buildings.

The six properties O’Keefe has filed to abandon are the Jutila Center, Mannerheim Hall, Nikander Hall, Wargelin Hall, the Paavo Nurmi Center and Old Main, though the city of Hancock has since agreed to purchase the three residence halls.

“These big ones, they have been neglected for a very long time, and no one wants to pay for them,” he said.

“There was some initial interest in the Jutila Center at amounts that wouldn’t cover the lien,” O’Keefe said. “That’s true with Old Main, too. Paavo Nurmi doesn’t have any parking, and the lender didn’t want to put it into an auction.

If the properties are abandoned, Finlandia will still own them, but will not be responsible for the upkeep, O’Keefe said. He hopes that putting the buildings in limbo will accelerate discussions with lenders.

“Right now, we’re not even getting responses,” he said. ‘It’s crazy. Nobody has a sense of urgency, but we do because we don’t have the money.”

A hearing on the motion to abandon was delayed until Oct. 18, while O’Keefe tries to work things out with the lenders.

“They wouldn’t let us sell them, and they didn’t want to foreclose on them,” the receiver said. “Some have been more cooperative than others. We think the motion for abandonment was a wake-up call, a little sobering.”

The receiver explained that he needs to generate revenue to pay teachers who deferred salaries, as well as local creditors. Also, with little or no equity, the firm cannot fund the costs of maintaining and heating the largest properties over the winter, he said.

“Our singular focus is to get enough money to pay the teachers who delayed pay through the summer, as well as local creditors,” said O’Keefe.

O’Keefe’s firm had initially planned to auction off Finlandia properties in October. However, the secured lenders were unwilling to work with a national real estate marketing firm for the auction or fund ongoing expenses, O’Keefe said.

The commercial real estate market is relatively soft in our area, O’Keefe said. Only 38 commercial properties have been sold here in the past two years, “and the Finlandia receivership dumped 27 on the market at once,” he said. Still, he adds, “I am cautiously optimistic.”

Photo by Paul R. Burley, via Wikimedia Commons.

More News

Metaphysical healers, musicians and artisans gathered in Lake Linden

Jackie Froiland offered magickal treatments to visitors at the People’s Celebration Fall Healing Fair in Lake Linden Saturday. Photo by Paula McCambridge.

Fall Colors Healing Fair will be an annual event

LAKE LINDEN — With Friday’s full moon and resounding thunder, it was as if nature itself couldn’t wait for the People’s Celebration Fall Colors Healing Fair in Lake Linden Saturday.

By Saturday morning, the storm had subsided and, instead, the sun emerged and shone its light on more than 20 metaphysical healers and artists from across the Midwest. The healers basked in the summery weather, starting their day in a meditation and prayer circle outside the site’s cream-colored yurt, a large, round tent.

They prayed, they held hands, they hugged — hugs were plentiful to both friends and strangers throughout the day.

And when the healers dispersed from prayer, they sold their services - readings of tarot, chakra, akashic records. Tarot consists of a deck of special cards used by readers to gain insight on past, present, and future. The chakra refers to energy points throughout the body, and akashic records are records of a soul’s life from creation, including past lives.

“This gathering is a safe place for healers, metaphysicians and artists,” said Kent Richards who organized the event with Jen Nilsen. They plan to make it an annual event during the last weekend in September, so consider this your save-the-date.

Aware that the healing arts sometimes create discomfort among those unfamiliar with it, Richards and Nilsen hope those who are curious will come to find out what it’s all about.

“You’re forced to grow when you go into the unknown,” Nilsen said.

Kent Richards creates a sound bath for those visiting the Fall Colors Healing Fair in Lake Linden Saturday. The fair was organized by Jen Nilsen and Richards at his Wild Blue Wander UP, 20 acres available for camping on Rice Lake Road. Photo by Paula McCambridge.

The fairground filled a section of Richards’ Wild Blue Wander UP, which he describes as a sacred 20 acres between Lake Superior and Rice Lake where people can camp and hike for solitude. There are suggested prices and what Richards calls a love donation. Visitors are welcome here regardless of their finances - if you have more, share more; if you have less, they still want to share their fire pit with you. The fair charged no admittance.

Nilsen describes the land as magical like the people who are drawn there, people like intuitive guide Jackie Froiland who set up her table of spell jars and inspirational cards.

“I’ve always been into this,” said Froiland, a Copper Country local, formerly an obstetrics technician. “I took three months off to become a better tarot reader, and that three months became a year.”

Why the life change? Froiland said she’s called to help empower women, especially those who have found themselves in relationships with narcissists.

“My big thing is to show women their worth,” she said. “It’s been too long that we’ve been told we come last.”

That thread of empowerment connected the work of one healer — fostering strength, courage and confidence in those who visited them.

Len Novak displayed his hand-made percussions, including one hollowed out tree limb filled with Lake Superior stones. It slowly rattled as it was tipped from end to end. He called it a lake essence percussion creation meant to sound like the shores of Lake Superior.

Visitors regularly spent a half hour or more with the empathic Novak whose eyes filled with tears whenever his musical work mesmerized a listener.

Len Novak presents the sounds of the Lake Superior Shoreline in his lake essence percussion creation. He sold handmade percussion creations at the healing fair Saturday. Video by Paula McCambridge.

Hiking trails through the property brought surprises, like an outhouse that appeared to be a door standing in the middle of nowhere. Tiny gnomes and fairies dotted the paths resting on tree stumps and reclining in mossy ground. The delighted squeals of children could be heard as they discovered each one.

And then, there were group experiences in the yurt. Richards himself led a sound bath with the cost simply a donation. Sound emitted from crystal and brass singing bowls, steel drums and flutes. The crowd came in chattering in introductions and soon fell into a shared state of calm as Richards drew them together in soothing sound.

For healers, the fair isn’t all there is. Anyone looking for community with fellow healers can join the group at Wild Blue Wander UP every two weeks through November and again in the spring.

“It’s a time for us to do healings on each other,” Nilsen said.

Weekends are open to all - just contact Richards through his website at WildBlueWanderUP.com. He said he also responds to the good, old-fashioned phone call. He can be reached at 906-369-1819.

More News

Meet Up and Eat Up program breaks record by serving 118,426 meals in 10 weeks

Shelby Turnquist(center) with volunteers Jonah(left) and Oliver(right). Photo credit to Boersma Family Roots.

Meet Up and Eat Up, officially known as the Summer Food Service Program, is a free school food program that piloted this summer. The program was open to all residents with children, and distributed meals for free in Houghton and Hancock during the summer season to families with children that would normally receive meals provided by the school.

Such initiatives play a crucial role in addressing food insecurity, especially among families with children. By providing nutritious meals to those who might be struggling to afford them, these programs contribute to the overall well-being and development of children.

MICHIGAN FOOD SECURITY COUNCIL FINAL REPORT, 2022

The program is through the Michigan Department of Education and is partially funded by the federal government based on the percentage of applications received for free or reduced school lunch applications at the school. 

The meals come with milk, juice, snacks, and entrees for the week, as well as fresh fruit and produce acquired from local participating farmers: Mother Farmer, Ghost House Farm, Boersma Family Roots, North Harvest Farm, and Eden Greens.

Shelby Turnquist: Food Access Champion

In the midst of food insecurity, it’s great to have individuals like Shelby Turnquist in your corner, who are championing food access and supporting families in need by applying for and coordinating meal distribution programs.

“The program came in at the very last minute from the federal government,” said Turnquist. “I went after it. A rural feeding program gave us the opportunity to do curbside pick-up, but who knows what’s going to happen next year? The last four years, it’s been a last-minute, switch-up-the-program type of deal.”

Turnquist says she spent weeks on the phone trying to secure the program for both Hancock and Houghton schools. The program requires many types of coordination: not only jumping through hoops to qualify, but also advertising, customer correspondence, meal packing, meeting food safety requirements, acquiring volunteers, processing leftover food, and coordinating between farmers, to name a few.

“All I know is, I’m here to feed the kids,” said Turnquist.

Local farmer Nichole Boersma says the tenacity with which Turnquist approached the program is infectious.

“She is an inspiration and someone that I admire beyond words. She handles the program like the incredible boss of a woman that she is,” said Boersma. “So many families depend on her over the summer, and she is insanely humble about it.”

According to Turnquist, programs like this one executed downstate require farmers to bring in specific vegetables, while Turnquist opts to let the farmers bring in what is freshest off their fields.

“She told us to bring what we could and if something didn't move well, she would let us know. The relationship was super fluid and she definitely helped stimulate the local food economy,” said Boersma.

Turnquist and her crew distributed 600-700 meals a day this summer. The only qualification that had to be met was having a child under the age of 18. Children with special needs were also accepted up to the age of 26, provided that they were enrolled in a school. Turnquist noted that this type of qualification meets the needs of families that aren’t “well off” but don’t qualify for other types of assistance. 

The most difficult part of the program, according to Turnquist, was the time spent processing food to be frozen, leftover from people who signed up for meals but didn’t pick them up. Some weeks up to 100 people were a no-show. However, Turnquist comments that if they reached just one child who didn’t go hungry that day because of the meals, then their efforts are well worth it.

“Growing up my parents always taught us to treat all children like they're your own,” explained Turnquist. “I’ve taken that to heart. And people that worked on the program have that same heart and soul for the kids.”

Emelia Johnson, a teacher in the school district who helps pack and distribute the boxes, commented that it’s also a great way to expose local families to the flavorful bounty of fresh vegetables that our local farms have to offer.

Food insecurity is a significant issue in many communities, and efforts like Shelby Turnquist and the Meet Up and Eat Up program can make a positive impact by ensuring that children have access to essential nutrition. This, in turn, can improve their health, cognitive development, and educational outcomes.

This article is a part of a larger series on food access in the Keweenaw. If you are a food insecure Keweenaw resident in need of community resources, call 211.

More News