Vacuum - Edward Vielmetti in Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104

Joy Yuill (1932-2008)

as printed in the Marquette Mining Journal, April 22 2008. Joy and Baldy were neighbors of ours in Marquette.

REPUBLIC — Joy Elizabeth Yuill, 75, of 11676 River Road, Republic, and former Marquette resident, entered eternal life Tuesday afternoon, April 15, 2008, at her home in the loving care of her family and the caregivers of Upper Peninsula Home Health & Hospice.

Born September 11, 1932, in Gaylord, the daughter of Stanley and Dorothy (Siegel) Yuill, Joy was raised in Vanderbilt and graduated from the Gaylord High School in 1949. She attended Hillsdale College for a year before transferring to Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa, where she received a bachelor of science degree in education in 1953. Joy taught in Detroit, while also taking classes at Wayne State University, which led to her receiving her master’s degree in special education in 1956, with special emphasis on blind and partially sighted clients. In 1957, Joy moved to Marquette, traveling extensively throughout the Upper Peninsula to serve sight-impaired students. In 1971, Joy received a nursing degree from Northern Michigan University, working at Marquette General Hospital mostly on weekends. She retired from her nursing career in 2000. For over 17 years, Joy worked summers at Bay Cliff Health Camp in Big Bay as a special education teacher and swimming instructor. She retired from this position in 2005 and then assisted with adult campers for one week each year. 1972 was to produce yet another degree for Joy, this time a master’s degree in music from Wayne State. Joy continued teaching full time until 2002 and thereafter taught on a part-time basis for the next two years. When not in the classroom, Joy was the piano accompanist for the Marquette Male Chorus for many years. She also assisted many students with their solo and ensemble pieces at the Negaunee and Westwood high schools for over 20 years. Known locally for her beautiful renditions on the harp, Joy was a participant in many concerts and musical programs over the years. She was a member of the United Presbyterian Church in Ishpeming. In June 1963, Joy married Vincent “Baldy” Bur, and he preceded her in death in 1999. Joy and Baldy were great animal lovers and took in all sorts of stray and unwanted animals over the years. In her leisure, she enjoyed baking bread, knitting, sewing, gardening, and being involved in anything musical.

Joy is survived by her brother, Robert “Beezle” Yuill of Harvey; a brother-in-law, Leonard Bur of Marquette; sister-in-law, Amelia Kent of North Little Rock, Ark.; her niece, Martha Yuill of St. Paul, Minn.; and a nephew, Stephen Yuill of Ishpeming. In addition to her parents and husband, Joy was preceded in death by sisters-in-law, Christine Yuill and Verna Bur; and a nephew, Michael Bur.

The family will receive relatives and friends at the United Presbyterian Church in Ishpeming on Saturday, May 10, beginning at 1 p.m. A memorial service will follow at 2 p.m. Saturday with the Rev. James Robb officiating. Memorials may be directed to the Marquette County Humane Society, 84 Snowfield Road, Negaunee, MI 49866; or to the United Presbyterian Church, 112 E. Euclid St., Ishpeming, MI 49849.

The Fassbender Funeral Home is serving the family, where condolences may be expressed online at www.fassbenderfuneralhome.com.

Marquette Mining Journal removes reader comments from newspaper web site

The Marquette Mining Journal recently ran this editorial regarding taking interactive comments off of the internet version of their newspaper, reading in part:

The comments were posted, without prior screening, in order to make it as easy as possible for Journal readers to submit their input directly. Unfortunately, a handful of participants abused the system. While most comments were astute and relevant, some relentless individuals decided to turn the comments section into a chat room that ventured, frankly, into the realm of inappropriate, sophomoric idiocy.

The roots of The Mining Journal’s editorial ethical standards go back some 163 years. In order for a letter to the editor to be considered for publication in our print edition, a name and other verifiable information must be included. Not so, however, with the Internet comments. Subsequently, on our Web site a small but persistent group of people threatened to tarnish The Mining Journal’s reputation for responsible journalism. A few Web comment submissions even consisted of cowardly anonymous personal attacks on local citizens. That could not be allowed to continue.

The New Orleans online newspaper, nola.com, also has unmoderated comments. Alan Gutierrez notes what this does to the discussion, quoting Mayor Ray Nagin:

Your news cast and the local newspapers are feeding these awful, ugly talk shows, that are feeding these blogs. You go look at these some of these blogs out there and some of the stories that come from the paper and you read the comments, it’s the most vile angry people that I’ve ever seen in this community.

Alan notes:

This is a common misconception in New Orleans, that the bloggers are the rabble. The city newspaper’s website, NOLA.com, is entirely unmoderated. NOLA.com calls these free-for-alls blogs.

Newspapers always run letters to the editor after verifying the identity of the writer. Should online newspapers be any different?

St Urho's Day in Detroit - Conga se Menne - Cranbrook - March 15, 2008

For more St Urho's Day information see
St Urho - Legendary Patron Saint of Finland

Happy St Urho's Day 2007 (last year's links)
delicious tag urho

St Urho, of course, drove the grasshoppers out of Finland, saving the grape crop; his day is March 16, one day before St Patrick's, and two days after Pi Day (3.14).

15 (Sat) Conga Se Menne in concert, 8 p.m., Cranbrook Performing Arts Center, Bloomfield Hills, Mich. For information, call (248) 645-3000. (via the Finnish American Reporter)

From the Observer and Eccentric:

You've heard of singing in the shower? Get ready for songs about saunas...and hunting, fishing, forests and cold winters in the U.P. from the Marquette band, Conga Se Menne.

The group that combines traditional Finnish schottisches and polkas with blues, funk, Latin, reggae, rock, and Caribbean beats, will perform a concert called "Finnish Reggae and Other Sauna Beats," from 8-10 p.m., Saturday, March 15 at Cranbrook's Art Museum, in Bloomfield Hills. The concert, co-sponsored by The Finlandia Foundation National and The Finnish Club of Detroit, will include a cash bar and traditional Finnish refreshments. Doors will open at 7 p.m., allowing time to check out the museum's current exhibit, "Eero Saarinen: Shaping the Future," a look at the life and work of one of America's most innovative architects. Admission to the concert, which includes entrance to the exhibit, is $15 per person for the general public and $10 per person for members of the Finlandia Foundation National, Finnish Cultural Center and the Finnish American Club of Detroit. The event is free for ArtMembers@Cranbrook. To reserve tickets, call (248) 645-3314.

"Living Inna Northern Paradise" (Conga Se Menne)

Trenary Outhouse Classic - 15th Annual - Feb 23 2008 - Trenary, MI

For the past 15 years, intrepid outdoorspeople in Trenary, MI have been pushing outhouses down a racetrack in February. Here's some details and coverage of this year's event, and reports from previous years. Phone for more detail (906) 228-7749 or the Marquette County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Autoweek Magazine on the 2007 Trenary Outhouse Classic:

From the towering dunes of Dakar to the thrill rides beside Suzuka to most of the highlights in between, we have witnessed no racing sillier than the Trenary Outhouse Classic. We’ve seen none where the participants and fans have more fun, either, and no one is getting his bell rung racing these crapwagons. For most, including Dover, the annual Outhouse Classic is about potty talk, beer and grins. For some of the competitors, though, it’s racin’, man. Serious sh*t.

“It’s a fierce competition, is what it is,” says longtime Trenary resident John Timmonen, whose son John finished second in the 12-and-under class.

Outhouses of America Tour

The Outhouses of America Tour is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Outhouses, backhouses and loos. What began as a joke in 1996 has grown into a "World-Famous" web site about Outhouses. We hope you enjoy your stay with us. We are always looking for pictures of your favorite Outhouse. Preferably, you either built it yourself or you restored an old Outhouse back to life.

Official State of Michigan Economic Development and Travel Site

The race is held the last weekend in February along Trenary's main street. The object of the competition is to be the fastest two-person team to push an outhouse on skis 500 feet down the street. There are four races. Special prizes are awarded. In addition to the races, there are games, food and vendors. Phone for more detail (906) 228-7749.

Johnnys on the Move / USA Today on the 13th Outhouse Classic, 2006

So what do you do when you have too much time on your hands, plenty of snow available and porta-potties prepped for pushing? You organize an outhouse race of course.

Technorati Tags: 2004, outhouse, trenary, yooper, michigan

Drought maps from the U Nebraska Lincoln's National Drought Mitigation Center

It's been a dry summer in Michigan, enough so to spur on forest fires in the UP, impact agriculture across the state (check your farm share), and cause Governor Granholm to implement widespread bans on burning.

Thanks to Julie from MyMidwestWeb who is tracking the Sleeper Lake Fire near Newberry, I found the National Drought Mitigation Center at the U of Nebraska Lincoln and its drought monitoring tools and maps. Here's a sample showing the current late August dry spots; you'll want to look there for current and up to date information.

Technorati Tags: drought, fire, maps, mymidwestweb, sleeper-lake-fire, newberry, michigan, weather, rain, agriculture, farming, for:cjuon

Michigan wildfire prevention: Granholm bans outdoor burning in 75 counties in Michigan

With the Sleeper Lake Fire (DNR site) still burning (67% containment, 18020 acres burned) and more small fires popping up in the UP including one near Hulbert on Monday, the danger of forest fire state-wide is high. On Friday Aug 16 2007, Gov. Granholm issued a ban on outdoor burning in 75 Michigan counties affected by the drought.

From the press release:

"We believe this ban is necessary to protect Michigan's natural resources and our citizens from the very serious threat of wildfire conditions in the state currently," said Department of Natural Resources Director Rebecca Humphries. "We urge all citizens to be partners with us in this effort to prevent any new wildfires from occurring in the state. Our resources are stretched thin due to the amount of wildfire activity we are seeing in the state this summer."

The National Weather Service has a series of fire weather products; this fire weather page for Marquette, MI covers the Upper Peninsula with satellite and computer weather model predictions for fire conditions.

Technorati Tags: a2b3, fire, weather, maps, michigan

Fire maps for the Sleeper Lake Fire and other wildfires

Some maps to help track the Sleeper Lake Fire, from a variety of sources. As of this writing Gov. Granholm has declared a state of emergency for Luce County . Details are at 877-261-3473

"This emergency declaration will strengthen our ability to mobilize much-needed resources for the men and women who are continuing to fight this fire, and protect the lives and property of residents in Luce County," Granholm said. "The state of Michigan stands ready to help in any way possible."

Michigan on Fire 2 is a book on the history of wildfires in Michigan.

The Remote Sensing Applications Center of the USDA Forest Service has a series of maps, including this Northern Midwest fire map (Northern Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin). Excerpt from the 8/7/07 map:

For a more detailed map you turn to the Michigan DNR, which is preparing maps for active fire fighting. This sample shows the extent of the fire now.

For a big picture with smoke plumes, the NOAA NESDIS "Fire Detect" viewer is a useful one. At the moment it's not detecting the Sleeper Lake fire, but pan to the west a bit and you can clearly see a big cluster of Idaho and Montana fires and the smoke associated with them.

Technorati Tags: 49868, fire, michigan, newberry, sleeper-lake, wildfire

Sleeper Lake Fire, Newberry MI - Luce County forest fire

At this writing there's a wildfire burning north of Newberry, MI called the Sleeper Lake Fire. More than 15,000 acres of forest have burned, and part of M-123 between Newberry and Tahquamenon Falls was closed.

There's no way I can keep up with minute by minute conditions here, and I won't even try; however, some search traffic hit this site because of the bookmarks I've made to various news and information sources, and I thought I'd surface those. The weblog that's doing the best minute by minute coverage of the fire is Yooper Yarns, run by Cathy Clementz from Clementz's Northcountry Campground and Cabins just north of Newberry.

Michigan on Fire 2 is a book on the history of wildfires in Michigan.

Official sources:

• Michigan DNR - daily reports, fire maps. Public phone number for updates: 877-261-3473.

Newspapers, radio stations, and television:

• Marquette Mining Journal
• Newberry radio WMJT "Eagle 96.7" news
• Soo Evening News
• WLUC-TV (Marquette)
• WLNS (Lansing)
• Oldies 93 FM - photos from the air of the fire

Satellite imagery, maps:

• NOAA Fire satellite, includes hot spots and smoke plumes
• USDA Forest Service active fire maps
• Google maps for the area

Photos:

• Superior Sights Newberry

Weblogs and forums:

• Yooper Yarns - updates every few hours
• Newberry, MI on topix.net Topic Luce County Forest Fires has 350+ comments.
• outside.in/49868 has links to one blog
• ATV Offroad Club of Michigan - UP Forest Fire - 4 comments
• Sleeper Lake Fire in the Upper Peninsula on Absolute Michigan

Bookmarks:

• del.icio.us/tag/newberry

We were in this area at the end of July, and drove through the stretch of M-123 that closed that's the southeastern edge of the fire line.

To donate to firefighting efforts, the fastest most direct way is to call Rahilly's IGA in Newberry, that's where people are buying sandwiches and snacks to feed the firefighters and offer to pay for something for them with a credit card. (906) 293-5141

Technorati Tags: 49868, fire, forest, michigan, newberry, sleeperlake, wildfire

Where to pick blueberries in Marquette, Michigan

Now that I've had my berry-picking for the year, keeping the patch hidden is less important.

This year the intelligence directed us to a spot on M-553 south of County Road 480, past the Blueberry Ridge pathway and not as far as the fairgrounds. We pulled off on the west side of the road at a stop sign, drove in 20 feet, and there were more berries on the ground than a team of five enthusiastic pickers could exhaust. From the looks of it, the whole area south towards the airport would be likely. Here's an approximate map of blueberries near Marquette, MI that would get you nearby.

The berries were small, perhaps smaller than normal, but not by much. Last Friday they were almost all ripe, so if you haven't gone out go out now.

Local berry-picking spots change from year to year, and there are places that are unmarked private property that still may be open for berry picking. Use caution, and check for ticks when you're done picking.

Technorati Tags: marquette, michigan, blueberries, july, berrypicking

Michigan DEQ review of Kennecott Eagle (Yellow Dog Plains sulfide mine) proposal

News from the UP on the Kennecott Eagle mine application review snafu, via the Marquette Mining Journal

MARQUETTE — Reactions are divided along political battle lines after a report issued Tuesday found no wrongdoing by Michigan Department of Environmental Quality employees when documents critical of the Kennecott Eagle mining project were not made part of the public record.

Donald Inman of EcoLogic Ltd. wrote the seven-page independent audit report. Inman headed a three-member review panel that also included Jean Stacey, of the Michigan Department of Human Services’ Office of Labor Relations and Jennie Daniel from the DEQ’s Office of Human Resources.

“After conducting extensive interviews and reviewing countless documents, Dr. Inman concluded that exclusion of the documents from the record was not done to mislead the public or with any malicious intent,” DEQ Director Steve Chester stated Tuesday in a press release. “Importantly, all of the substantive issues raised in the missing documents were included in a June 21, 2006, letter to Kennecott identifying 91 deficiencies in the company’s permit application. This letter is part of the public record and very much open to public scrutiny.”

more at the paper (the Mining Journal has been doing a very thorough job of covering the story).

still more:
Michigan DEQ: Kennecott Eagle Project w/official reports

Investigation into processing of Eagle Project Mine Application appears a "whitewash" - Save the Wild UP
Mine not worth risk to Lakes - op ed from ex Gov William Milliken in Detroit Free Press
Report Released on Kennecott Mine - AP via Houston Chronicle

Technorati Tags: deq, jstor, kennecott, marquette, michigan, mine, sulfide, yellowdog