Hit and Run

Stories don't come any sadder than this one. A toddler was struck and killed in an apparent hit-and-run accident in Chassell Sunday evening at about 8:30.

The 2 year old toddler wandered away from his fenced-in yard onto U.S. 41 near Massie Road where he was struck and killed. The driver of the vehicle did not stop after hitting the child. The police said the driver of a southbound vehicle told police she saw two vehicles that may have hit the boy. Both vehicles put the brake lights on, the first vehicle swerved, the second one did not.

Many people wonder how something like this could happen but those people haven't been around a two year old lately. We have twin grandsons and we understand. They open and get into anything, turn around and they are gone. Let them see you open a gate and they remember how to do it.

As for the hit and run driver? We may never know if they knew they hit a child. Who would ever imagine a child would be near a highway at night. At 8:30 in the evening it is black outside. This was not a well lighted area. There were probably no street lights.

Our thoughts and prayers are with all involved. I can't imagine the pain they must feel. If only we could turn back time. There are so many, "if only."

Don't fence me out.

The case has been going on for years. Landowners along the old railroad tracks between Chassell and Houghton don't want a snow machine trail near their homes so they put up barriers.

They are now in contempt of an order to remove the barriers. Judge Garfield Hood ordered them to remove the barriers. Judge Hood gave the landowners 14 days to remove the barriers. The state has now filed a request to issue a warrant to remove the barriers, while the defendants' attorney has filed a request to stop enforcement of an order pending an appeal. Acting Houghton County Circuit Court Judge Charles Goodman denied both requests. There could be a daily fine until the barriers are removed or jail time for those involved.

I don't know what side of the fence I'm on on this debate. I wouldn't want a recreational trail that close to my house but then I wouldn't have bought a home that is close to a trail or a railroad track. The trail is a main trail in to the Copper Country and it is needed to draw the snowmobile enthusiasts to the area.

Driving across the UP

Road construction, you'd think it would be finished for the year. It's not. US2 has a detour around the Cut River bridge and there is also work being done on M28 across the upper part of the Upper Peninsula. There is just no avoiding road work.

Don't let a little construction stop you from visiting or traveling, it's not that bad. Give yourself a few minutes extra. It's not like the city were a lane closure backs up traffic for miles, we only talking minutes.

September Nights

September has been the nicest month for sitting outside at night. We sat outside and until nine in the evening and enjoyed the evening. All that is not to say the days haven't been beautiful too. Our daytime temperatures have been in the 70's.

We have color.

Some color at least. On a drive to Houghton I'd estimate there is about 25 percent color. The drive to Copper Harbor would have about 50 percent color but less along the lake shore.

It's coming.. the first week in October should be perfect. Plan your trip.

The End of Summer

It was a beautiful day with the temperature reaching 81 degrees and a glorious evening as we sat on our friends deck on the shore of Lake Superior. What a perfect evening to watch the moon rise over the Lake. The moon wasn't full but it still cast a golden glow across the water. It was a deep orange when it first appeared and gradually lightened to a golden yellow.

We sat out until 10 PM with the temperature at 70 and not a but buzzing anywhere near. The waves were gently lapping on the shore with a very gentle breeze. The stars were out with only scattered clouds drifting through. This is truly, "God's Country."

We'll have a few more nice days and nights but not many. If only we could capture some of this beautiful weather and take it out in January or February.

Shooting in Calumet

Deputy Mark Butkovich responded to a call of a neighborhood disturbance on Sixth Street in Calumet. When he arrived at the scene, Butkovich was unexpectedly attacked by Dan Bailey who was allegedly wielding a golf club. Butkovich attempted to return to his patrol car but Bailey chased him and struck him repeatedly with the golf club.

The deputy was knocked to the ground, where he drew his service weapon and shot Bailey several times killing him. A bullet also struck Butkovich in the right ankle. The entire incident was recorded by the patrol vehicle in-car video camera.

It is reported that Bailey had medical difficulties and going through a tough time. He was seen walking in the middle of the road without his shirt and shoes. Bailey is remembered as a nice quiet man who was always willing to help others.

Even in the UP things can go terribly wrong. Let's hope Deputy Butkovich is cleared when the investigation is complete.

Stranger in the Woods

"Stranger in the Woods," is a childrens book written by Carl Sams and Jean Stoick. Carl and Jean spend much of their time at their home near Big Bay. The book made the New York Times Bestseller List. "Stranger in the Woods," knocked Harry Potter off of the Northwest Michigan book bestseller list but then we Yoopers love stories by or about Yoopers.

The picture book tells the story of animals in the woods who find a snowman after a winter storm. Other books for the authors, such as "First Snow in the Woods" and "Lost in the Woods."

I think I'll order the book for my granddaughters and maybe "Winter Friends," for the youngest grandkids.



Their web site, check out all their stuff. and I'm not getting paid for advertising. I just thought you'd like it.

Moose Collision

Keep your eyes on the road in the Crystal Falls area! A semi truck driver escaped injury when his Sysco Foods truck collided with a moose on U.S. 2.

The driver was northbound on U.S. 2 near Paint Pond Road at one in the morning when he came upon a young bull moose standing in the roadway. The driver was unable to avoid the young bull moose causing significant damage to the truck.

I assume the moose was killed in the collision but all my research failed to confirm that fact. In the process of my research I found an interest story on snoops.com involving a moose. I'm glad the moose collided with a semi near Crystal rather than a car.



Check out the article on snoops!

Color Update

The color is going to be late this year. We saw a few trees with color on the way to Marquette but not a lot. There isn't a good way to tell when we'll have color, the middle of September is early, the middle of October is often too late with all the trees bare. My best guess for this year is the first week in October for full color.

Exploring the North has some interesting information on places to visit when you are doing a color tour.


The days are getting shorter for us with the sun rise after 7:30 AM and sunset before 8 PM. I'm already missing summer with 15 to 17 hours of day light.

Antique Tractor and the Mackinaw Bridge

I heard about these antique tractor crossing the Mackinaw Bridge and had to track down a story with pictures. It looks like fun. Wish I had been there! This video is from TV 9 and 10. Click on the link above to visit their site.

White Pine Mine

12 years ago the White Pine Mine closed ending copper mining in the Upper Peninsula. Now there is a possibility of a return of the industry.

A deal between the Keweenaw Land Association and Orvana Minerals Corp., give them a 20 year lease for mineral rights on 771 acres about 19 miles southwest of the Old White Pine Mine.

The permitting process is expected to take one to two years. They plan to invest $50 million. The mine area is being referred to by Orvana as the Copperwood Project.

The former White Pine Mine produced over 1.7 million tons of copper between 1952 and 1996, when it was closed.

I wonder if there will be as much opposition to this mine as there has been to the Nickle mine in the Yellow Dog Plains.

Police log

I just love the police logs. It give you an idea of what life is like in the UP. This looks like a boring day but I'll bet the officers love it but the poor rabbit didn't think it was a boring day.

7:40 a.m., stalled vehicle blocking traffic

9:59 a.m., destruction of property, damage to truck

10:03 a.m., bicycle found

10:36 a.m., identity fraud, reported at police station.

10:57 a.m., personal injury accident, bicycle and pedestrian

11:14 a.m., drunkenness, person stumbling down road

11:26 a.m., traffic property damage accident, U.S. 41 South.

11:29 a.m., landlord-tenant dispute

11:34 a.m., parking complaint

1:11 p.m., parking complaint

2:18 p.m., larceny of a bicycle

2:36 p.m., dead rabbit in roadway

2:40 p.m., traffic accident, car lost tire

2:46 p.m., vehicle rolling down the street, stopped and secured

2:52 p.m., traffic property damage accident

3:26 p.m., breaking and entering of a garage

3:59 p.m., assistance to confused elderly person,

5:09 p.m., larceny of a bicycle

5:30 p.m., skateboarders in roadway

6:00 p.m., man urinating on building

6:41 p.m., larceny of a wallet reported, later found

7:12 p.m., parking complaint

8:05 p.m., loud moped in area

8:45 p.m., traffic property damage accident

Fall Color

Are you checking on Fall color in the UP? I'll try and keep you updated. Today's update.. not much color. A tree here or there. If your planning on visiting in the next week, plan on enjoying pleasant weather but the only color you will see is the beautiful green of the trees, blue of Lake Superior and brown lawns.

Turkey Shoot

We do have wild turkeys in the area but that's not what a turkey shoot is about. The Ottawa Sportsmen's Club is hosting their 47Th annual Turkey Shoot.

The event scheduled for Sept. 28Th is a fun time for everyone. Shooters can compete in events to test their marksmanship. You can win a turkey, a frozen turkey that is. Kids can shoot a .22 at a moving target, with supervision of course. There will also be free games for the kids, raffles, and food.

The Ottawa Sportsmen's Club is located on M38 near the Pelkie road. The day starts at 11 AM and continues until 5 PM, rain or shine.

Progress on a new hospital.

Baraga County Memorial Hospital is close to a deal for the site of the new Hospital. They plan to locate the new facility south of L'Anse on US 41. The hospital is now located in L'Anse on the north side making it necessary to go through the downtown area to reach the hospital.

The new hospital is expected to cost 21 million dollars. The board has hired URC, an architectural firm from Grand Rapids, and Skansak, a Southfield Michigan firm for construction management.

The current hospital is 60,000 sq feet. The new hospital won't be much larger at 68,000 sq feet, however, a 17,000 sq foot expansion at Bayside Village is also being proposed.

Credit Union expansion

The Baraga County Federal Credit Union in L'Anse is expanding. The addition will more than double the building size. Ground breaking was on September 4Th with lots of activity on site by the next day. Moyle construction won the bid but many local contractors will also be used. The project should be completed in the spring. It will be a nice update for downtown L'Anse. The Credit Union also has a branch office in Baraga located inside Larry's market.

Not quilty plea

Scott Johnson was charged with three first-degree intentional homicides in a July 31 shooting rampage that killed three teenage swimmers at the East Kingsford train bridge at the Menominee River. Johnson has also been charged with six counts of attempted first-degree intentional homicide by use of a dangerous weapon and one count of second degree sexual assault. The charges were filed in Marinette WI County Circuit Court.

Scott Johnson, 38, entered a not guilty plea by reason of mental disease or defect to the 10 felony charges. Judge Tim Duket set a hearing for Wednesday, Sept. 10, at 2 p.m. The hearing is for defense attorneys to submit a list of mental health doctors to examine Johnson.

With a insanity pleas it is necessary to prove to a jury through medical experts that the defendent didn't know right from wrong and, therefore, cannot be held responsible for his behavior.


A motion hearing was scheduled for early December with a final pre-trial conference set for March 2009. The jury trial itself will take approximately three-week and will begin on March 16, 2009.

If Johnson is found mentally inadequate, he would be sent to a mental hospital until doctors determined he was safe to be released into society. If he is found sane and guilty of the charges, he would be sent to prison for life.


This information is from the Iron Mountain Daily News. Their article is much more detailed and very interesting. Check it out.

America United

A Escanaba Iraq war veteran will be one of the people featured on a ABC prime time special program on Sunday. The feature "America United: In Support of Our Troops," will begin at 9 PM. The show is meant to bring more awareness to the Rebuilder's organization that helps injured veterans.

Bobby Lamarche of Wells Township was injured in Iraq when his patrol unit was ambushed on June 15, 2007, south of Baghdad. Bobby was hit on the left side of his neck and was paralyzed from the chest down.

Highway Construction

The trip to Marquette normally takes an hour and fifteen minutes. Not a bad trip, many people travel to work in, or from, Marquette. Winter time they allow and additional 15 minutes for road conditions. Those who travel this route daily deserve a metal for patience.

The drive is now taking an hour and a half to over two hours due to four different stops for construction. Along with the delays, the road is very narrow, semis can barely squeeze through.

I've been told it's getting better now that some of the way is repaved. I'd say they'd better hurry, there isn't a lot of time left before we start thinking of snow. Sorry, I shouldn't have said that nasty four letter word. It is NOT time to think of winter.

Fire in Ontonagon

Six building with several businesses were destroyed in Downtown Ontonagon early Sunday morning. The fire was first reported at 5:00 AM. There were no lives lost and only a few injuries. Several men who were staying in the apartments above one of the building went apartment to apartment making sure everyone got out of the buildings.

The business that were lost are Bottom Line Bookkeeping, Connies Place and Northwoods Video. Camp One across the street sustained major damage but the structure is still standing. The cause of the fire has not been determined.

This could have been much worse were it not for the efforts of the volunteer firefighters and all those who helped! Thirteen fire departments were called to the scene.