The Munising Beacon continues the tradition of recapping the major stories of the year for public review. Since this is our first year of operation, the stories only go back til May, but still provides a public with a selection of stories impacting the area. Look for the conclusion of the 2022 Year in Review in the next two editions of the The Munising Beacon.
May 13
Mather time capsule missing
In 1922, a time capsule was placed in the Mather School Building, celebrating the history of Munising and public education at the time. A century later, that capsule cannot be found.
“We drilled in multiple places and there was no cavity,” Mather Elementary Principal and Mather Centennial Committee Member Nicole Lasak said. “It’s going to be there for the duration of the building for someone else to find.”
Munising-based Hall Construction was tasked at removing the 16”x17”x32” cornerstone on the northwest corner of the building. However, the stone itself was deemed too crucial to the uilding integrity to be able to remove it. Construction workers drilled holes into the wall and were able to view into the preschool classroom at one point, but still could not locate any cavity that held the capsule.
Livermores keep Au Train Grocery thriving
Fred and Felicia Livermore have taken over the Au Train Grocery store, making sure that the local shop will remain available to the community.
“This store is a staple for the locals and we want to make sure that it continues,” Felicia said.
The Livermores are a happy couple celebrating their tenth anniversary this summer. Living in Wisconsin, they had family connections in the Au Train area and wanted to return to the Upper Peninsula.
Celebrating 100 years at Mather
It was an event 100 years in the making as generations of students, teachers and administrators celebrated the Mather School Building on May 4,2022.
“The turnout was wonderful. We knew they would come out,” Mather Centennial Committee Member Lisa Cromell said. “This building has housed schooling for generations for our community. It’s important to know what this building means to so many people.”
The keynote address came from William W. Bowerman IV, a highly-decorated professor of environmental sciences and department chair at the University of Maryland. The crowd gave him a standing ovation for his speech about the lessons learned at the school and community level leading to success in life.
The Munising Beacon heads to PDF format
Downloadable files of a document that looks like a newspaper are available for the first time. The paper was assembled by the staff at The Newberry News after written by Munising Beacon staff.
May 20
Munising Memorial named 2021 Business of the Year
Members of Munising Memorial Hospital/Baycare Medical Center and the Alger County Chamber of Commerce were honored with the 2021 Business of the Year award, sponsored by Michigan Works.
Trader named Superior Central football coach; Mid Pen starts own program
The Superior Central School Board officially hired Josh Trader as the next head coach of the Superior Central football program at the SC Board of Education meeting on Monday, May 16.
“It means the world to me. I’m excited for the opportunity,” he said. “I’ve grown close to this group of young men — some I got to coach at the middle school level. Definitely looking forward to having success at the varsity level.”
A unanimous decision by the Mid Peninsula Schools Board of Education on Monday, May 16, 2022, reinstated the varsity football program after being dormant since 2012.
For the last eight years, Mid Pen students joined with Superior Central as part of a cooperative team that will no longer exist. Mid Pen will still combine with the Cougars for softball, and remain in a three-team cooperative with Superior Central and Munising for baseball.
Former SC Head Coach Sam Eggleston took over the new Mid Pen program.
Posio, Sipila resign from Chatham Council
The Village of Chatham Council is short two members after Clerk Karrie Posio and Councilwoman Marnie Sipila resigned.
Posio had served since 2018, when she was elected for the first time. She resigned because she is moving out of the area due to new employment opportunities. Sipila resigned in April, but was only added to the agenda in May and was counted as unexcused absent for one meeting. Chatham has had difficulty retaining council members since a controversial election in 2018.
May 27
Veteran Mihalic awarded Mather diploma
The late George M. Mihalic is the most recent graduate from William G. Mather High School, class of 1944. Mihalic, who survived World War II and served in Korea, passed away peacefully in 1992.
The Munising Public Schools Board of Education awarded Mihalic a posthumous diploma at their regular monthly meeting on May 17, 2022. School boards can award diplomas to students who enlisted or were drafted into the military during World War II, Korea, or Vietnam and thus did not graduate from high school. An honorable service record is also required, according to Michigan Public Act 181 of 2001.
A whiz in math and a varsity track runner, Mihalic was set to graduate with the rest of his class in 1944.
Farmers, Artists return to market
The Munising Farmers and Artisans Market kicked off the 2022 season with multiple vendors.
This is the second year that the market has operated on Mondays instead of Tuesdays. Last year’s market saw artisans outnumber farmers as many larger farms took the time off to replenish supplies after busy weekend markets in Marquette and Escanaba.
Veterans Memorial updated in Chatham
Additions and upgrades at the All-Veterans Memorial at Pine Grove Cemetery in Chatham are finished, meaning the monuments will be on full display for Memorial Day ceremonies.
“It was a lot of work and it looks good,” Ikkala Brothers VFW Post #9714 Quartermaster Tom Erickson said. “It gets the memorial set and finalizes it. Just a matter of maintaining it in the future.”
Over the last five years, work on the memorial was pushed through public donations. New flag poles were added to include the different branches of the military, the state flag, and POW-MIA flag. A silhouette of a kneeling soldier and crosses were cleaned and placed in the area. Most recent work was done to install a Walk of Honor, an opportunity to recognize those who served or supported those who served through personalized bricks.\
Mustangs win SCC track championship
The Munising Mustangs boys track and field team won the Skyline Central Conference title on Tuesday, May 24 at North Dickinson High School. The Mustangs scored 137 points on the night, gaining a 39-point advantage over runners up Stephenson.
June 3
Munising wins U.P. golf title
The Munising Mustangs girls golf team won the MHSAA Upper Peninsula State Championship at George Young Golf Course in Iron River on Wednesday, June 1.
“It feels amazing,” said Munising Head Coach Bette Immel. “We finished as runners up last year, so the girls had a mission to win it all this year and they fulfilled that mission.”
Senior Logyn Peters led the way with a 108, which was enough for seventh overall.
Local artists shine on new banners
The Munising downtown district has new banners highlighting some of the area’s most artistic residents after a recent contest from the Munising DDA. Artists were tasked with creating a design describing what makes Munising unique.
Taking first prize was graduating senior Madeline Cole. Her submission can be found outside the Fuzzy Boyak Welcome Center at the intersection of Maple Street and Superior Avenue.
“It’s important to include local artists because it allows our town and tourists that talent can come from even small places like Munising,” Cole said.
Divorce: World’s oldest loons split up
Longtime couple ABJ and Fe, the world’s oldest known loons, returned to the Seney National Wildlife Refuge this spring to find that love was not in the air.
The pair have split for the first time in 25 years, said Damon McCormick, co-director of Common Coast Research and Conservation.
June 10
Local author shines in debut
Amanda Chaperon was presenting her newly-published novel “For the Boys” on Thursday, June 2 to school teachers, bibliophiles and the local book club. But for the Munising High graduate who wrote the second half of her novel in the area, the crowd was full of familiar faces who supported her literary pursuits.
“It’s nice to see the support I’ve received from people in the area,” Chaperon said. “It’s not just from friends and family, but from people walking down the street who stop and support me. The outpouring of support has been amazing.”
The event was part of a number of author talks coming to the library this summer in what’s being informally called the “summer of local authors” at the Munising School Public Library.
Shiloh Fitzgibbon named Outstanding Graduate for Business Division at Bay
Munising resident Shiloh Fitzgibbon was selected as the 2022 Outstanding Graduate for the Business Division. Fitzgibbon began her studies at Northern Michigan University in 1997/1998 in the Medical Office Program. Taking advantage of the Futures for Frontliners Program established by the State of Michigan in 2021, Fitzgibbon enrolled at Bay College as a nontraditional student.
Mustang tennis U.P. runners-up
After two years without being able to field a squad, the Munising Mustangs boys tennis team finished second in the MHSAA UP Division 2 state championships on June 2, 2022.
The No.1 and No. 2 doubles teams from Munising were named UP champs for their success on the clay. The Mustangs top team of Alex VanZandt and Lucas Westcomb won in straight sets 6-2, 6-3 over Westwood. After dropping a set in the semifinals to the duo from West Iron County, the championship was cleaner for the Mustangs after shifting Westcomb to guard the back line and VanZandt to attack the net. Jesse Duran and Carson Kienitz also won in straight sets to take the No. 2 doubles title, though the match was much closer. Munising won 6-4, 7-5 over Westwood for the title.
June 17
Businesses saved from fire in record time
A record-setting response from the Munising Volunteer Fire Department with mutual aid from Munising Township saved a building and multiple businesses in downtown Munising from destruction on Saturday, June 11.
“This was one of the most impressive displays of response and mutual aid I’ve ever seen,” Alger County Sheriff Todd Brock said. “I believe this family might have lost their business without this response.”
The fire department was to the building at 209 Maple Street in just four minutes.
Pictured Rocks Days returns to Munising
After a two-year hiatus, one of the busiest local events returned to Munising for Pictured Rocks Days on June 11-12.
“It was great to see people out and having fun at the festival after having to cancel for the last two years. Attendees and vendors alike were very happy to be back,” said Alger County Chamber of Commerce and Greater Munising Bay Partnership Director Kathy Reynolds. “In fact, it didn’t even seem like we had been away for those two years.”
Like many other events in recent memory, Pictured Rocks Days was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event is hosted by the Chamber/Partnership and hosted an estimated 4,500-5,000 attendees. It was the eighth annual event.
200-millionth car travels Mackinac Bridge
After driving the 200 millionth vehicle across the Mackinac Bridge at 6:18 p.m. Wednesday, June 15, the Dalman family of Tawas City now has the bragging rights and the sole claim to this milestone. Kurt Dalman was driving, accompanied by his wife, Anna Dalman, and their children, Seth and Teresa.
“We’re headed to Pictured Rocks. This will be the kids’ first big hike,” Anna Dalman said. “We were very surprised. We had no idea (this milestone was coming up).”
June 24
McBroom declines to speak with Jan. 6 committee
Local State Senator Ed McBroom (R-Vulcan) said he will not be testifying in front of the congressional January 6 committee.
“Saying that I was surprised was an understatement,” McBroom said on the Michigan Senate floor on June 19. “My unwillingness to appear before the congressional committee was not due to any partisan or personal interest, but to strengthen the resolve of any future legislator.”
McBroom admitted to answering preliminary questions from the committee, but he said that he did not have any relevant information to the events during the deadly occupancy
of the Capitol Building.
Reorganizing the Fourth
The Munising Fourth of July Committee had a lot of changes in 2022, but the committee is trying to stay ahead of any issues close to the holiday.
“The people have changed, but the duties haven’t,” Fourth of July Committee Chair Sean Hayes said. “We’re just trying to work smarter and not harder.”
Major changes including a change in leadership, business organization, and technology integration are all impacting how the committee not only functions, but exists.
The Fourth of July Committee is an autonomous group, allowing it to work with the city or other organizations, but still making decisions itself. It filed as a 501(c)3 nonprofit and voted in April to write into the bylaws that all positions for the Fourth of July committee are volunteer based. They have started to use shared electronic documents to add consistency to their e rts.
Trio wins Father’s Day weekend tournament
The trio of Terry Steinho Ben Specker, and Nash Soli were able to avoid the thunder and head back to the course to win the Father’s Day Weekend three-man scramble.
The champions started o 2the tournament with a firstday score of 61, which was tied for first with Bowerman, Fairbanks and Riordan. Day two saw the two teams pair o in the same group, but Steinho Specker, and Soli improved on their total.
“When your hometown is Munising, it’s always worth coming back,” Steinho 3said. “People are having fun and there’s friends and family support. There’s lots of that here.”
Air National Guard completes Northern Agility
Air National Guard A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft, Air Force Special Operations Command MC-12W, C- 145A and U-28A aircraft, and a C-146A aircraft from the Air Force Reserves landed, took o and performed integrated combat turns (ICTs) on a closed 9,000-foot section of Michigan highway M-28. It was the first time ICTs, which enable the quick rearming and refueling of a running jet, have been conducted on a public highway in the United States.
“Northern Agility 22-1 is an historic exercise that supports the Air Force’s directive to ‘accelerate change or lose,’ as well as the ability of our Airmen to generate combat power anytime, anywhere,” said Brig. Gen. Bryan Te of the Michigan Air National Guard.
Pro-abortion rallies held in Munising
Dozens of citizens rallied in downtown Munising on Saturday, June 25 after the Supreme Court determined abortion is not a constitutional right.
“I couldn’t remain quiet and make it seem like the residents of Munising don’t care about this, because we care a great deal,” rally organizer Vicki Ballas said.
The roughly 90-minute event was the largest political rally in Alger County since two Black Lives Matter events took place in Munising in June 2020. Locals primarily attended the event, but included residents from Traunik, Trenary, and Curtis because it was the closest rally to their location. Tourists and seasonal residents also showed support for those protesting.
Duran, Frusti play in UP All Star Football game
Munising’s Jesse Duran and Superior Central’s Zach Frusti got the chance to take the field as part of the 15th Annual UP All Star Football Game inside the Superior Dome in Marquette. Duran played a pivotal role in Team BLACK’s 54-28 victory over Frusti and Team RED.
Duran made a reputation for himself as a wide receiver for the Mustangs during his high school career, using his incredible size and speed to create nightmare matchups for opposing defenses. However, the All Star experience gave him a chance to show o 2other skills that allowed him to play a big role in the BLACK team win. Duran was the team’s primary kicker, and hit on 6 of his 8 extra point attempts in the victory.
July 8
Fire call delays parade
The Munising Fire Department got a chance to break in their new dress uniforms—albeit in a much more dramatic fashion.
“We were the best dressed fire department at the call,” Chief Dan Malone said.
Sirens rang out just moments before the start of the Munising Fourth of July parade after a fire was reported at the Jericho House on the 400 block of Elm Avenue. The department was already in position for the parade before leaving to attend to the call.
No injuries were reported. It was later revealed that a resident fell asleep while cooking, starting the fire.
Knaus’s, community celebrate 102 years of Traunik
Polka, Pac-Man and potica were all around Traunik this Independence Day weekend, as the small unincorporated part of Limestone Township celebrated its 102nd anniversary. Events included participation in the Trenary Fourth of July parade and a polka dance at the Traunik Slovenian Hall.
Traunik was founded by the Knaus family in 1920 after emigrating from the former country of Yugoslavia. They named the town after Travnik, which still exists in what’s now Bosnia and Herzegovina about 55 miles west of Sarajevo. Five generations of the Knaus family later and the family is spread across the United States.
Attendees ranged from 17-month-old Jude to 91-yearold Lorraine Pokela.
DayKamp keeps summer fun at Alger Parks and Rec
Dozens of kids are finding fun activities through Daykamp at Alger Parks and Recreation. The “camp” gives local kids a safe place to have meaningful fun during the summer days.
“We are not necessarily an educational program, but we still want them to experience things they couldn’t do without that structure,” DayKamp Director Kimi Schierschmidt said.
DayKamp runs throughout the week and continues opportunities at the beach, playgrounds and Alger Parks and Recreation facilities. There are no attendance mandates for the kids, who are signed in and out by guardians and parents.
July 15
Doyle wins Ben Lauren Livestock show
Some of the finest animals in Alger County were on display at the third annual Ben Lauren Memorial Livestock Show Friday and Saturday, July 8-9 at the Alger County Fairgrounds. The top showmen in the nonbreeding classes competed for the top prize and Adrienne Doyle of downstate St. Johns took the title of Grand Champion Showman.
“It’s cool (to win),” Doyle said. “I’m surprised.I thought Kassey (Labadie) should have won it.”
Doyle was the winner of the goat division while Labadie was showman grand champion in the hog division. Steer champ Emma Verbeek and lamb showman Elizabeth VanLuven also advanced to the four-person final.
Lume closes Christmas location
The first of the local marijuana retailers has shuttered its doors in Alger County. Lume Cannabis Company closed the Christmas location on Monday, July 11 after opening last September.
Lume cited the closing as part of an alignment for future growth.
The Christmas location was the only closure in the U.P.. Stores in Bay City, Cheboygan, and Southfield were also closed by the chain.
Nine employees lost their jobs in the closure.
July 22
City expands animal ordinance
More citizens in Munising will have the chance to raise chickens on their property after a 4-1 vote on Monday, July 18. Commissioner Christine Berry cast the sole vote in opposition and voiced her concerns as the vote was finalized by Mayor Mike Nettleton.
The modified animal ordinance allows three hens on lots 5,000-6,999 square feet and up to six hens on lots 7,0009,999 square feet. Previously, only lots larger than an acre could host chickens, but the 18-maximum chicken limit was not impacted by the change.
Roosters remain prohibited on these sites. Originally limited to egg-laying hens, the ordinance allows for meat chickens as well.
TCFD auction fundraiser roars back
The Tri County Fire Department annual auction returned Saturday, July 16, with a large turnout and a successful fundraiser.
“After COVID and having to cut some stu we weren’t sure who was going to be coming this year,” said TCFD Chief George Whitehead said. “I am absolutely impressed by the community coming out. I didn’t think we would have this many people.”
Due to the pandemic, the last auction was in 2019. TCFD held some ra_es and other donation drives to keep the department running, raising about 60- 70 percent of the annual auction, according to Whitehead’s estimates.
However, the department stayed diligent on finding new equipment through the pandemic. The department bought its first truck ever from Munising Township and upgraded safety equipment.
Stop invasive flowering rush
Local wildlife enthusiasts are asked to keep an eye out for flowering rush, an invasive species impacting the Au Train River area.
Flowering rush is the common name for Butomus unbellatus, but is also known as grassy rush and water gladiolus. Originally native to Asia, Africa, and Europe, flowering rush has invaded waterways in most of Wisconsin, New York and downstate. In the U.P., it is limited from Au Train River through the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore to Whitefish Point.
The invasive species is a perennial plant with prominent pink flowers made of three petals and nine stamens. Flowering rush flowers in July and August amongst bulrush and cattails.
July 29
U of M football in Munising
About 150 members of the University of Michigan football team and sta 2are expected to visit Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore late this afternoon. The team is finishing a week-long tour of Michigan by visiting some of the U.P.’s most iconic locations: Tahquamenon Falls, Oswald’s Bear Ranch, and Pictured Rocks.
Cambensy questions NMU Foundation actions
Local representative Sara Cambensy sent a letter to Attorney General Dana Nessel Thursday, requesting an opinion on whether the NMU Foundation is considered a public body, therefore subjecting the charitable arm of Northern Michigan University to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Open Meetings Act (OMA).
Her questions surround the gift of the old hospital site by Lifepoint and the sale to Veridea. Cambensy also asked if the information regarding the appraisals and taxable evaluations of the property could be made public to assure the taxpayers that the private real estate sale that fell through between Lifepoint and Veridea in 2019 did not seek to devalue the property in any way by now involving the NMU Foundation, and selling the property first to the non-profit for $1.
