UPbeat News

12/2 - The Stephenson City Council voted tonight to approve the hiring of Wayne Coleman as the new law enforcement officer, replacing Harlan Anderson who is retiring December 31st. Coleman is well known in the area having served as a DNR Conservation Officer before being promoted to a position downstate. He is returning as a retiree and will began his work with the city in January.

Councilmen Lowell Bengry, Bill Rasner and Dale Parrett volunteered to serve on a newly formed Industrial Park Committee. They will be looking into the availability of land and working with organizations and groups on related projects.

A report on the city water project noted most of the work has been completed and the project is "in good shape financially." There was considerable discussion on the Menominee County Solid Waste Plan, dealing with use of garbage disposal sites, before it was accepted. Bill Rasner was assigned to get more information before any decision is made on a letter requesting the city to take financial responsibility for the upkeep of railroad crossing signals in the city.

The council approved a motion to set the salary for city census takers at $6.50 an hour, plus a $50 allowance for vehicle use. The city takes a census every 10 years to compare it with the national census to insure accuracy. The work has been done but the total figures were not yet available.

And....a reminder. Although we are considered to be in the 'banana belt' of the U.P. council members are quite certain snow will eventually come. The ban on street parking is in effect and residents should act accordingly...just in case.

11/30 - Frank and Hazel Bayee donated the tree. Jean Getzen and her Thanksgiving Day guests made decorations. A group from the Assembly of God church, accompanied by Norman Tuinstra, provided appropriate music. Shirley Leaveck and her daughter-in-law Pauline arrived early to add holiday lights to greenery filled planter barrels on either side of a giant snowman made by Rich Leaveck. Kids were turning cartwheels on the grass while admiring a Christmas greeting card sign made by the Daggett Elementary School kindergarten class and displayed between two reindeer. Pauline's son is a member of that class. A giant snowflake received from grandson Todd Macco gave Shirley the idea and pattern for recycling plastic tops that hold six-packs of soda together to make enough snowflakes to decorate a whole tree. Judy St. Juliana, Jessica White, Barb Parrett, Sharon Etelamaki and Jean Getzen each made about four dozen cookies that were served, with hot chocolate, by the high school Honor Society in the North Country Bank basement.

Thanks to all of these people, and probably quite a few others not mentioned, the Christmas holiday season officially began in Stephenson at 6:30 tonight with the annual Community ChristmasTree Lighting Ceremony at Veterans' Park.

11/27 - Edmer Lacasse, a well-known long-time resident of Stephenson died today just 7 days before his 82nd birthday. Lacasse served the community as a teacher, principal, and superintendent at Stephenson High School from 1946 until his retirement in 1977. Visitation will be at the Anderson-Diehm funeral home after 4 p.m. on Monday. The funeral will be at l0 a.m. on Tuesday at Precious Blood Chruch in Stephenson.