Parade of Nations, Houghton County updates, search and rescue open house, more

Front page, week of Sept. 18, 2021

Sep 18, 2021

County administrator resigns, mine cave-in on KRC test course, board protests PLLB work pace

Houghton County Board, Sept. 14, 2021

County Administrator Ben Larson at the Sept. 14 board meeting, shortly after his letter of resignation was read aloud by Commissioner Glenn Anderson.

The Houghton County Board of Commissioners meeting this month was full of surprises. County Administrator Ben Larson has resigned to take a position with REL, Inc in Calumet. A mine was discovered on the Keweenaw Research Center test course (leased to them by the county). New jail construction was hampered by Portage Township declining to allow annexation of part of the land. It was a long, but interesting meeting.

Parade of Nations 2021 photo gallery

I went down to the Parade of Nations today to get some photos. This is probably my favorite parade of the year simply because of the variety and liveliness of the event. Glad that it’s back, even if it is still in a diminished capacity.

Not all of the photos would fit into an email, so here are a couple of my favorites with a link to the rest.

Searching for support

Superior Search and Rescue shows off new tech, appeals for new members

National journalism legislation, return of Parler

The Inside Scoop

This is the op-ed and paid-subscriber-only portion of Late Edition. I give the majority of my work away for free, but this part is a thank you to the people who support me and allow me to continue doing this work.

This week, there are a couple of photos of my cat, an editorial about the Local Journalism Sustainability Act, and another about Parler returning to the internet.

If you want to see Late Edition (or its non-profit successor) continue to grow and expand coverage, we’d love to have you join in reading ‘The Inside Scoop’.

Written by Bruce Johanson

I learned about the Ontonagon Copper Boulder for the first time reading this part of Bruce’s series.

The Ontonagon Copper Boulder, inside the Smithsonian Institute. Photo by Ian Shackleford.

We’ll be wrapping it up next week with Part Four.

UPSET presentation and donation, Finlandia's president makes an appearance, fire chief stipend boosted

Hancock City Council, Sept. 15, 2021

Chief John Donnelly from the Houghton Police Department made a presentation to Hancock’s city council about UPSET West that included quite a bit of information. Anyone interested in UPSET should find it fascinating.

Ontonagon Updates, Written by Bruce Johanson

Interim Manager William DuPont is now the regular Ontonagon Village Manager, as of the Sept. 13 Ontonagon Village Council meeting.

//Click on the headlines to read the full story.

Long-time TV6 weatherman quits (or is fired?)

By Doug Garrison, Word on the Street

Sounds like Karl Bohnak and TV6 ownership Gray Television couldn’t come to an agreement over COVID-19 vaccines. Bohnak didn’t want one.

FBI seeking info on Northern Michigan terrorists

FBI press release

The FBI didn’t word it quite like I did in my headline, but let’s call it what it is. The “Coalition for Moral Telecommunications” is issuing threats and leaving dangerous packages outside of cellphone stores. That’s domestic terrorism.

New Sheriff appointed for Houghton County

By Jesse Wiederhold, Upper Michigan Source

I didn’t get the story on this one because I was in the Hancock City Council meeting, but there isn’t much to tell other than the result, really. Joshua Saaranen, former Houghton County Detective Lieutenant, will be stepping into the role of sheriff.

I did get this pretty neat picture of Sheriff Joshua Saaranen during the Parade of Nations on Saturday. It has a real “Fast and Furious” vibe, I think.

Fred Dakota, a longtime KBIC tribal president, dies at 84

Upper Michigan Source

“The Grandfather of Indian Gaming” died on Monday, funeral arrangements are being handled by Reid Funeral Service and Chapel in L’Anse.