MSHS Nickname Fever, Gaines Rock Progress!, Courthouse Security Tightened, Hospital Resignation, Peterson Series Explodes Online, and Negaunee Shines on the Today Show.

The Latest from Marquette, MI by Brian Cabell

BIG INTEREST IN finding a new nickname for Marquette Senior High School. As of Wednesday, more than 1000 suggestions had been submitted online to the MAPS School Board, and dozens more had arrived by phone and email. Many duplicates, needless to say…The MAPS online voting ends November 17th. The Board then meets on November 27th, but don’t expect a decision at that meeting.

“We (the Board) will try to whittle it down and then we may send out a poll to the community, and have them vote again on the possible nicknames,” says Board Chairperson Kristen Cambensy. “But ultimately it will be the Board that makes the decision. We want to be totally transparent.”…The process has not been fully determined, Cambensy emphasizes. She hopes the Board will decide on a new nickname by January 1st. No guarantees, though.

YOU MAY HAVE noticed that new landscaping is finally going in at Gaines Rock, the beleaguered and not-yet-completed townhouse complex on on Lakeshore Drive. As it turns out, it’s not HRS (the developer) or the city of Marquette that is putting it in…It’s an investors’ group that is partnering in the project and has temporarily taken charge of the development. “When they get their money back from selling the last four units, then HRS will step back in,” explains Bernie Glieberman, an HRS executive.

It’s been a trying time for HRS which, seven years ago, successfully converted the old Orphanage into the Grandview Marquette apartments…But the Gaines Rock project has been different—battered by complaints from tenants, contractors, and the city because of delays and uncompleted work. “It just took so much more time to get the work done because of the pandemic,” says Glieberman, “and we burned up much more money than we expected.”…He’s hoping the arrangement with the investors’ group can be resolved in the next few months.

NEW, STRINGENT SECURITY is now in place at the Marquette County Courthouse. Seven of the nine previous entrances to the courthouse have been locked and alarmed…Visitors may enter only through the south and west entrances where they’ll be checked by armed deputies, metal detectors, and if needed, body checks with “wands.” Kinda like TSA agents at the airports…Why the need? “Every day, judges are making decisions that affect people’s lives,” says Sheriff Greg Zyburt. “That can sometimes be dangerous for judges, juries, and the public at large.” He adds the County Board has allowed him to hire additional deputies for road patrols since his deputies will now be required to man the courthouse.

A BIG, UNEXPECTED change at UP Health Systems-Marquette. Gar Atchison, the CEO since 2019, is stepping down at the end of November to take another job in his hometown of Petoskey where he’ll be closer to his family…He’s led the hospital through some tumultuous times (eg the pandemic) and has encountered both effusive praise and intense criticism.

From the hospital administration: “Our team, in partnership with the UPHS Board of Trustees…is working diligently on naming a permanent leader for UPHS-Marquette.”Meantime, the interim CEO is Tonya Darner, who’s been serving as the hospital’s Chief Operating Officer. She has an extensive background in the medical field and served 20 years in the Air Force.

A WORK IN progress…The YMCA in Marquette is currently involved in what CEO Jenna Zdunek terms “the silent phase of its capital campaign for a sports complex/field house.” Donations, grants, etc. More money still to be raised…“We will not put a shovel in the ground until 100% has been raised,” Zdunek emphasizes.”…The field house, its size still to be determined, would be open year-round for several sports, but would be especially appreciated in winter when the cold and snow essentially shut down most sports…It puts Marquette teams at a distinct disadvantage with their downstate and big city rivals.

CHANGING VALUES, CHANGING traditions…In 1960, only 4% of Americans chose cremation over burial; now, 59% choose cremation…The change has been even more stark in Marquette County. “Back in the the 1980s, we had maybe two or three cremations a year,” says Mark Canale, the owner of Canale Tonella Funeral Home and Cremation Services. “Now, 82% use cremation.”

Interestingly, Marquette doesn’t have a crematorium. Funeral homes (which aren’t allowed to operate crematoriums) have to utilize services in Escanaba, Lake Linden or Houghton for cremations. Northland Chapel Gardens did operate a crematorium, according to Canale, but closed it down about a year ago.

GOOD NEWS FOR gun owners…A new, DNR-operated shooting range has been opened up to the public in Richmond Township, west of Marquette. Twenty-five acres, in a gravel pit that was previously illegally used as a shooting range. It’s been cleaned up…Gun-owners in private clubs have had their own shooting ranges for years, but this is the first one in the UP open to the public…“It gives the public the opportunity to sight in their scopes and become more accurate,” says Sheriff Greg Zyburt. “If you want to carry a gun, you’d better practice.”

ELIZABETH PETERSON’S RECENT series on TV6 documenting life aboard an ore boat on Lake Superior has drawn a lot of interest. And that’s a gross understatement…As of Friday, she reports that nearly 280,000 people had clicked onto her Facebook page to view at least part of her series…People from all over the US and Canada, and even the United Kingdom…Her most memorable image during her 37 hour stay aboard the Lee A Tregurtha? “It was those quiet times watching the sunrise and sunset, and even getting up in the middle of the night and seeing and feeling the vastness of the Lake,” she says…She’s now putting together a 30-minute special on the Tregurtha to air later this year.

Another feather in Peterson’s cap came on Friday morning—she anchored a segment on the Negaunee Miners football team and their fans on the Today show. Skillfully and enthusiastically done. Negaunee looked great. The Today show crew back in New York loved it.

WHAT A SHAME…The unbeaten University of Michigan football has, perhaps, its best team in decades, and seems likely to contend for the national championship…but it’s now under investigation for illegal scouting of its opponents…No telling what its possible punishment may be. Forfeiting games? Locked out of the playoffs? These investigations usually take months, or longer, to complete…Based on evidence we’ve seen so far, it doesn’t look good for head coach Jim Harbaugh, his coaching staff, and the university…Meantime, the players, who should be celebrating their triumphs, are playing under a dark and deepening cloud.

IT’S FREQUENTLY BEEN said that Marquette is a city that lives on fundraisers. Case in point: The Marquette Senior High School boys soccer team recently qualified for the state playoffs. Their first game? Downstate in Gaylord. But soccer teams at MSHS, unlike other sports teams, don’t enjoy the privilege of school-sponsored buses. Families and friends are obligated to drive the athletes to their games in individual vehicles. Doesn’t make much sense, but that’s another story…In any case, a couple of days before the playoff game, parents started a gofundme page, asking for $2500 so they could rent a bus for the boys who certainly deserved a reward for their hard work…Within two days, they raised the $2500 and more from generous donors…Alas, the boys played well in the playoff game, but fell short, 2-0, to Fruitport High School to end their season…Next year!!!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment."

—RALPH WALDO EMERSON

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