6/29/01 - The Fourth of July celebration in Stephenson will start with a roar at 9 a.m. on Wed. morning. That's when the first of two USAF "fly-bys" will take place. The first group of planes will be coming from Selfridge Air Field. A second group, from the 410 Fighter Squadron at Battle Creek, will be over our area at about l p.m.

On the ground the parade participants will be lining up on Railroad Street at 9:30, with the parade beginning at 10:30. The Methodist Church and American Legion will be serving food, there will be a free movie (Shrek) at the Tivoli Theater at 3 p.m., baseball games at l and 3 p.m., games for kids at Erickson Park in the afternoon and music in the park from noon to 4 p.m. and again from 3 to 7 p.m., and of course there will be fireworks at Sawbridge Field at dark. The rain date is set for Saturday, the 7th, but it looks like you may need to bring an umbrella to protect from the sun rather than rain if the roll we're on continues.

Actually, it's becoming a tradition to start the Fourth of July celebration a few days early in our town. Teenagers always enjoy the street dance at the Tivoli Theater. It will take place from 7 p.m. to midnight on July 2nd. On July 3rd there is a Family Fun Night (talent show) at the Tivoli starting at 6. There are usually quite a few local performers and the theater fills up early. If that is not your thing, you can join (or just root for) the oldtimers who will be playing ball at the Jacob Parrett Memorial Field at Erickson Park. They will practice there at 7:30 and start their game at 8 p.m....if they have enough energy left after practice!

6/27/01 - Small communities are about good memories of good people. "We have the names of these brave men on road signs in the township...but, let's face it, an 18-inch piece of tin is not forever." Members of the Holmes Township Board agreed with that comment from Jack White at their May meeting when they decided to establish a granite memorial near the flagpole at the Township Hall in memor of residents who died in battle. Supervisor White was the winner of a $1,000 award from Wal-Mart last October. The money was to be used in Holmes Township . The memorial should be in place in a few weeks. It will contain the names of Cpl. Rudolph Krueger, PFC Clemence Carlson, PFC Gerald Effa and Sgt. David Klippel. "There is a saying," according to White, "that no one really dies until they are forgotten. I believe the Township Board has taken a step to insure that does not happen in the case of these four heroes." He feels it will be a lasting memory as well as an enhancement to the historical interest of Holmes Township.

Work on a memorial of a different type also started at a meeting at the local Extension Office on Monday. This one should be done by July 28 and will cover the history of Menominee County.

It is being funded by a grant which allowed for the hiring of Renick Stevenson, an artist who has worked with children and communities in many areas, creating murals expressing their interests, dreams, memories and cultures. Stevenson says he will work with a group of students, mostly teens, to come up with a design to be painted on a barn, owned by Jerry Beck, on Wildwood Road east of Wallace. Once the outline of the design is done, on panels to be mounted on the barn (no climbing on scaffolding or ladders will be required), he plans to stay busy mixing paint (that is supposed to last for 900 years!) and cleaning brushes. The kids - and their families, friends, neighbors and anyone interested - will be doing the final painting. Besides emphasizing the background of the area it is meant to be fun; an opportunity for people of all ages to make new friends, express themselves creatively and make a lasting impression,

6/23/01 - Most of the paving work in front of city hall and the new public works building is about finished - after days and days and days of work. Even in the rain. People in the neighborhood won't miss all the big trucks and noise, but that's the price of progress. Sidewalks and curbing by the tennis court and on the south side of part of Samuel Street were also replaced or added. It all looks very nice.

Some kids are still going to school, willingly, although regular classes are over. Craig Hartges worked with one bunch in a two-week gymnastics rogram and a four-day girls volleyball camp. On the final day the parents were invited to play a few games against the girls. Both teams did remarkably well, but I think the parents enjoyed that final match-up almost more than the kids.

Jason Strohl had several students helping with the one week basketball camp he ran for girls and boys. Participants in all the camps received certificates and some got medals and trophys as well.

6/10/01 - I really hate to do this, but Mayor Getzen, at the Thursday night City Council meeting , asked me to include it in my report...AND, since I can't help them keep dogs from barking, or get the barnacles out of some of the city water, or speed up plans for the ice rink pavillion, or comment intelligently on financial projections for the next several years, I may as well be cooperative and tell you that if it should happen to rain on the 4th of July the festivities will be rescheduled for Saturday, the 7th of July. Surely by July the daily showers will have ended and you can forget I ever mentioned the "R" word.

If you have any comments or suggestions, please take a minute to write H. Barb Upton.