by Richard Lamb — Advance Editor

An entertaining production is planned at the Rogers City Community Theatre (RCCT) production of “Yearbook Reflections.” Theresa Gibson, a veteran of several performances at the local theater, directs the annual summer youth play this year. The production opens Thursday and runs through Sunday at the Rogers City Theater.

Cast of the play “Yearbook Reflections.” (Photo by Richard Lamb)

“A group of high school kids are getting ready to graduate. The yearbooks come in and they start to reflect back on their 12 years in school. There are some poignant parts, some funny times, some competitive times and there are some sad times. There are also some really good times,” Gibson said.

The four who are getting ready to graduate are Jacob “Stitch” Bruski, Elaina Madison, Madison Tulgestka and Bradley Heidemann. Others portray the four in their younger years as they reflect on their time in school while turning the pages of the yearbook. The Rogers City version alters the original script a bit to include events from all 12 years in school, instead of just the students’ senior year.

It is a play, which combines elements of comedy and drama while presented as a musical, Gibson said. The cast features 21 students from all over the county. Directing a cast of children presents its own concerns, but Gibson said the process has been a joy.

“It has been an honor and a privilege for me to be on this eight-week journey with these kids. I have learned from them,” the first-time director said.

“They have come together and worked together. They have mentored each other,” she said. “They have stepped up and helped each other.”

“I have seen growth in the kids beyond the scope of the play. It is awesome to watch,” she said.

Ashley Nowicki choreographed the play while Madison Tulgestka is musical director. Elaina Madison is assistant director.

“I am really impressed with all the help and direction from the RCCT board of directors, the parents and the community. Everyone has been so helpful,” Gibson said. “I hope the community comes out to support them. They really deserve it.”

Steven Fendrich wrote the play while music and lyrics are by Scott Deturk.

Show times for the play will be Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Rogers City Theater.

by Peter Jakey–Managing Editor

Ten years after Lana Stempien’s body was found on the shores of Hammond Bay, her family has not given up searching for answers as to what happened to her on Lake Huron, Aug. 11, 2005.

Lana, 35, and her boyfriend Charles “Chuck” Rutherford, 35, disappeared that day under what the family believes are mysterious circumstances. Her body was found a few weeks later, while his has never surfaced. He was pronounced legally dead in Presque Isle County Probate Court.

SOMETHING HAPPENED to attorneys Charles “Chuck” Rutherford and the late Lana Stempien in August 2005 while out on Lake Huron.

Lana, an attorney for the city of Detroit, set sail from a dock at Stempien’s parents’ cottage on Belle River, in Ontario, Canada, and headed north, planning to hug the Lake Huron shoreline, before crossing the Straits of Mackinac to the island.

Two days into their long planned getaway on Lake Huron, the young attorneys vanished.

Stempien was an expert and experienced boater, trained by her father, a retired U.S. Coast Guard officer.

John VanMaele, who has lived and worked in Rogers City for seven years, learned about boat safety from Lana’s father, Tom – his cousin.

“Our family grew up on the water,” said John. The Stempien family is a tight-knit bunch that did not miss an opportunity to get together.

“We all learned to handle boats and be out on the water, swim and water ski. Lana learned the same way, through her dad and me.”

John said Lana was a fun-loving woman, while Chuck was a serious individual. “I only met him a couple of times,” he admitted. “She was a helluva woman. She was a model and paid her way through law school. She did everything on her own.” She also was the captain of her 27-foot Wellcraft cabin cruiser, Sea’s Life.

The unmarried couple were last seen at 12:45 p.m. Aug. 11, 2005, motoring into brisk winds after gassing up at Presque Isle Harbor.

At 1:44 p.m., the last time anyone in Lana’s family would hear from her, she made a chatty, 14-minute call to her Aunt Pat in Florida.

“She said that they were near Rogers City, and expected to be docking at Mackinac Island in about two hours. Her aunt said she was in very good spirits and she didn’t hear anything wrong in her voice,” said cousin Sheri Koczara Burch, who lives in Virginia.

Her family never heard from her again, and Sea’s Life never made it to Mackinac Island. At 9:10 a.m., the morning of Aug. 12, 2005 the Stempien family contacted authorities and the Coast Guard put out an alert.

(The complete story is in the Sept. 3, 2015 edition of the Presque Isle County Advance)

by Angie Asam–Staff Writer       

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is not moving out of Presque Isle County or Rogers City according to a report state Rep. Peter Pettalia gave to the Presque Isle County Board of Commissioners Friday.

Pettalia, Sen. Jim Stamas, DHHS officials and two county commissioners met last Wednesday before Pettalia’s presentation to the board Friday.

STATE REP. Peter Pettalia was present at Friday morning’s Presque Isle County Board of Commissioners’ meeting to update the board on what is going on with the Presque Isle County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) building.
(Photo by Angie Asam

“We had a meeting with DHHS folks from Lansing. Two members from the department came up and joined us this Wednesday to give us an update on what is going on with the DHHS building and serving of Presque Isle County. I was unaware and was made aware that day that the DHHS service is not leaving Presque Isle County and is not leaving the city of Rogers City,” said Pettalia.

Pettalia went on to explain that what DHHS is doing is moving from the building they are currently operating out of to another location within Rogers City.

“I was made aware of that for the first time Wednesday. I had thought that they were vacating a brick and mortar presence in Presque Isle County and were going to disperse their workers accordingly to what the needs of the community were. The good news is that they are staying in Rogers City; they are staying in Presque Isle County. Their presence will remain and services will be at the level that they are now. No personnel are losing their jobs, the present personnel will just be moved to the new location,” said Pettalia.

Following the meeting Wednesday Pettalia left with a sense of comfort. “I am very comfortable that our citizens in Rogers City and throughout Presque Isle County will remain serviced well, no changes whatsoever to them,” said Pettalia.

The challenge that the county and community will face is having another empty building.

“The changes that are being made at DHHS here and throughout the whole state, we were told 47 units were under some form of scrutiny one way or the other and I believe the number was 18 that they were going to move to different locations. It is based on money. Where they believe they could save money. Some of them are moving to courthouses, city buildings and even into schools. Those decisions are department decisions they are not legislative decisions so they don’t come across my desk. When I had first heard about this about 10 weeks ago is when I reached out and I was further educated to a level of comfort Wednesday,” said Pettalia.

County commissioner Stephen Lang was also in on the meeting. “I would agree with you. I think there was a lot of miscommunication in the early portion of this discussion and I think at least myself along with you and Sen. Stamas got quite an education Wednesday,” said Lang.

“The department did admit that their communication was lacking on this. They will be sending out a press release actually describing what they did, what their plans are. They admitted that their messaging was poor and it brought up major concerns in Presque Isle County and amongst the folks that work there and the folks that desire service. I am comfortable and I am convinced that we are not going to lose service, we’re not going to lose personnel, the people in Presque Isle County I think will be represented as they are today,” replied Pettalia.

Commissioner Mike Darga, who was very vocal when he heard that the DHHS building in Rogers City was closing was not present at the meeting held Wednesday but was called and told that Pettalia would be at the Friday board meeting to explain things.

“I think as a whole, the whole ordeal was to keep the service here. It’s not so much the building, even though a beautiful building is going to be empty. Our main objective was to keep our citizens at bay and being able to get the services. We will find out what the savings to the state are at a later time. I was very vocal on it. I was very concerned. I think the concern is gone now, we can tell our constituents and all of the people that use the services that it will not change at all it is just going to be in a new location,” said Darga.

“Until Wednesday I did not know that they planned another footprint within Rogers City and remaining in Presque Isle County. They admitted that they just didn’t message it. As most of us, and I think most of the people in Presque Isle County were under the thoughts that they were leaving the brick and mortar presence in the county but still remaining the service. I was always made aware that no one was losing their jobs and services weren’t diminishing,” said Pettalia.

by Peter Jakey–Managing Editor

The annual Millersburg Homecoming celebration remains alive and well with Labor Day weekend events planned.

The homecoming is a longtime staple in the village, going back many decades. This year, there are new and old events to be enjoyed.

SHEILA BEAM is being honored for her volunteerism in the village this past summer. Born and raised in Millersburg, she is the daughter Robert and Willodean Garms. Her hobbies include animals, crafts and the outdoors. (Photo by Peter Jakey)

Saturday is filled with various activities; including citywide garage sales starting at 9 a.m. Maps will be available at Mini Mart. The D & M Depot Museum opens at 10 a.m., and just like years past, there will be bake sales.

There will be skeet shooting at the fairgrounds at 10 a.m. (Sign-up at 9 a.m.)

The grand parade is at noon with longtime Millersburg resident Sheila Beam being honored as this year’s grand marshal.

Sheila was born and raised in Millersburg, attended the Vilbrun School in Ocqueoc, before going to Onaway High School.

She left the area at 18 for several years, moving to towns from coast-to-coast. She came back to Millersburg to take care of her mother in 1996 and has been here ever since.

Sheila is being honored for her tireless volunteerism in the village.

“She is a good all-around worker,” said Larry Dittmar. “She did all the mowing this summer, including the green belt lots, parks and the trailhead.”

She sweeps the streets, removes garbage, trims tree branches and has been doing the upkeep of the tennis courts.

“I enjoy keeping the village looking nice,” said Beam.

Like many grand marshals, the honor comes with some reluctance and her first instinctive answer was to turn it down, “But I really appreciate their acknowledgement of everything I have done.”

Following the parade, there will be kids’ games at the Millersburg Trailhead Pavilion along Luce Street.

The duck race will be at 6 p.m. at the Ocqueoc Bridge. They go on sale Friday at 5 p.m. at the Mini Mart.

Jimmy Bancroft and the Boys will be entertaining at 7 p.m. at the Depot.

Sunday is the bump ‘n’ run at the fairgrounds. It starts at 1 p.m. and is sponsored by the Millersburg Volunteer Fire Fighters Association.

by Angie Asam–Staff Writer

One of two additions to the agenda at Friday’s Presque Isle County Board of Commissioners’ meeting was for the board to name civil counsel. By a 4-1 vote, with commissioner Lee Gapczynski voting no, the board named Haider Kazim of the Cummings, McClorey, Davis and Acho (CMDA) P.L.C as its civil counsel.

With the motion to name civil counsel, prosecuting attorney Rick Steiger who was serving in that capacity was relieved of those duties.

With the motion to name civil counsel, prosecuting attorney Rick Steiger who was serving in that capacity was relieved of those duties.

“The prosecutor has left the room, I was going to thank him for his past help but tell him that he will be relieved of that responsibility,” said chairman Carl Altman. As he finished that statement Steiger re-entered the room. “Rick we have acquired other civil counsel for the board and even partly at your suggestion and so I just wanted to take a second to thank you for the work you’ve done for the board in the past,” said Altman. Steiger had previously suggested that the board seek outside counsel.

“It’s been a privilege working with you. Now when I made the suggestion to obtain private counsel that was specific only to the issues going on in the jail. But I respect your decision and it has been a privilege getting to know all of you,” said Steiger.

Altman then told Steiger if he had any other questions to come to the board, and he immediately asked if there had been a vote. A vote had not yet taken place.

“Technically we didn’t motion to have you as our civil counsel so I wasn’t sure whether it was necessary to have a motion to remove you as our civil counsel,” said Altman.

“I don’t think we need to have a motion to remove him, I just think we need a motion that we name Haider Kazim as our civil counsel,” said commissioner Stephen Lang.

Vice chairman Bob Schell added a clarification to the motion naming Kazim as civil council, which was made by commissioner Mike Darga and seconded by Lang. “For clarification there was no retainer or annual fee to do this, it’s simply on a per hour as used basis,” said Schell.

BEFORE THE vote happened Steiger added comment. “By statute of course I am at the discretion of the board to become civil counsel. There’s other counties that, many other counties including Cheboygan, that the prosecutor is not civil counsel. I would say that I am sort of hurt over the fact that it comes in light of all the misgivings that have been going on that I’ve exposed but aside from that gentlemen I appreciate your decision. If you don’t feel comfortable with me and you want to go with someone else for whatever reason,” said Steiger.

Altman replied, “I am not going to go into much detail but it just seems that we’ve kind of lost confidence and so this is our decision.”

“I’ve never gotten you sued though, over all the years I’ve never gotten you sued. I have always had your back,” said Steiger.

FOLLOWING THE roll-call vote Steiger offered one more comment, “Gentlemen I appreciate it and best to you,” before packing up his belongings and exiting the meeting.

by Peter Jakey–Managing Editor

A Save-A-Lot grocery store is expected to open around Feb. 1 in the Mariners’ Mall in Rogers City.

Freeman Family Enterprises of Gaylord, which owns and operates 23 Save-A-Lot stores including all the stores in northern Michigan, will be moving into the space long vacated by Presque Isle Pharmacy in 1998.

“We had been looking at Rogers City for a while,” said president Tim Freeman. “We talked with the owners of the building and worked out the details on the lease.”

Mariners Mall will welcome a new tenant, a grocery store to occupy the former Presque Isle Pharmacy space. (Photo by Peter Jakey)

The store will occupy just under 14,000 square feet. “The east side of the building is about 30-inches lower than the west side, so we have to put fill in and pour a new floor to bring it up to the same level,” said Freeman. “We will completely demolish everything inside. It will virtually be a brand new store.”

Freeman Family Enterprises is owned and operated by Tim, Tom and Paul Freeman, the grandsons of Glen’s Market founder, C. Glen Catt. “So, we have been connected with Rogers City for a number of years,” said Freeman. “We are third generation grocers. In 1999, we owned 26 Glen’s Markets that sold to Spartan Stores and me and my brothers worked out an agreement with our dad and uncle to purchase the three Save-A-Lot stores in Alpena, East Tawas and Cadillac.

The company has stores from Sault Ste. Marie to south of Grand Rapids. They plan to hire 18 to 20 associates.

OFFICERS FROM the Presque Isle County Sheriff’s Office responded to a two-vehicle accident along North U.S.-23 Wednesday just after 9 a.m. in Rogers Township. According to a press release from sheriff Bob Paschke, the accident involved a semi trailer and a passenger vehicle. The release states, “This was a head-on collision and the driver of the passenger vehicle was killed in the accident.” The driver of the semi was taken to Alpena Regional Medical Center. No names were released. Investigators were on the scene and with the amount of debris created by the accident, authorities were expecting the highway to be closed for several hours. U.S.-23 was closed in the morning hours from Spens Road to 646 Highway. Later, a detour was established bypassing the accident scene. (Photos by Angie Asam)

The accident occurred near the entrance to the 40-Mile Point Lighthouse park. (Photos by Angie Asam)

The victim of Wednesday morning’s tragic traffic crash has been identified as James Lee Hopp, 66 of Rogers City. Hopp, the driver of a vehicle traveling on US-23 near 40-Mile Point collided with a loaded semi truck driven by Duane Robert Tulgestke, 49, from Rogers City just after 9 a.m. Sept. 9. Tulgestke was transported to Alpena Regional Hospital with unknown injuries.

James Lee Hopp

According to a release from the Presque Isle County Sheriff’s Department, Hopp’s vehicle “was traveling south on US-23 when it crossed the centerline and struck the semi truck.” Hopp was pronounced dead on the scene.

US-23 was closed for 12 hours while crews worked at the scene. Alcohol is not believed to be a factor in the accident and the accident remains under investigation.

The accident occurred near the entrance to the 40-Mile Point Lighthouse park. (Photo by Angie Asam)

Michigan State Police motor carrier, the Rogers City Fire Department, Rogers City Ambulance, Sheriff Department deputies and the Rogers City Police Department, assisted Presque Isle County accident investigator Sgt. Chris Flewelling on the scene.

JIM HOPP, BELOVED high school teacher for 31 years at Rogers City High School, was the author of several books, including his most recent “Jewel by the Sweetwater Sea,” published in 2013. His writings reflected his love for his hometown and his writings inspired others.

As he said in the forward to “Jewel by the Sweetwater Sea,” he knew the value of living in a small town and he loved the place he called home.

Jim Hopp (at left) took his teaching and writing talents to Moscow with a delegation of teachers with the Huron Shores Writing Institute in 1991. (Photo by Richard Lamb)

“Ideally this history will enable the reader to admire the essence of a town many Americans would proudly call home, whose glorious, cloud-tinged sunrises and moon glows rival any in the world, where you can casually walk along the beach at Lakeside Park and ignore life’s barbaric yawp, while enjoying the glorious roar of Lake Huron’s splendid surf,” Hopp wrote.

His other books included “Maidez! Tragedy at Sea” (the sinking of the Carl D. Bradley),“ a later expanded edition of the Bradley and Cedarville shipwrecks); “Echoes from the Sunrise Side”and  “Execution 13”. He collaborated on other books of history about Rogers City.

Jim Hopp in a 2000 RCHS yearbook photo

HOPP HAD A great impact on his students, including his former student, who is now an author himself, Charlie Bunton. Bunton had Hopp as a teacher from 1994-1997.

“He was one of the most supportive people I have ever met. Not just to me, but to anyone who knew him. He impacted lives, far beyond the reaches of the classroom. When I published my first book, he was the first person to offer his congratulations. Little did he know, he was the inspiration to write it in the first place,” Bunton said.

Bunton’s book “Rogers City, a history of the Nautical City” was published in 2013.

Jim Hopp was born Sept. 5, 1949 in Alpena. He is a 1967 graduate of Rogers City High School, attended Alpena Community College, and graduated from Central Michigan University with a bachelor’s degree in education. He took advanced studies at Marygrove College, Michigan State University and The University of Michigan.

Jim, along with his brothers, worked for several years at Hopp’s Standard Service, once operated by his father at the corner of Third and Erie Streets in Rogers City.

He is survived by his parents, Carroll and Helen Hopp of Rogers City; his brothers Jeffrey of Rogers City and Neil (Linda) of Mt. Pleasant; sisters Carole Ann of Rogers City and Christine of Gaylord; several nieces and nephews, and great nieces and nephews. He was preceeded in death by a brother, Randolph, in 1983, and his grand parents, Paul and Dora Hopp and Paul and Anna Mulka.

He retired from Rogers City High School in 2005 after 31 years as a teacher. For many years he served as yearbook and journalism advisor while also teaching English and history classes.

In 1988 he won an NBC National Teaching Award for excellence in journalism education, and he was honored as Rogers City Teacher of the Year in 1990.

HIS FAMILY WILL host a celebration of James’ life on Saturday, Sept. 26 at 2 p.m. at the Beck Funeral Home, Rogers City. Visitation will commence at 1 p.m.

Please, in lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Presque Isle District Library and/or the Presque Isle County Historical Museum.

by Peter Jakey–Managing Editor

It’s a fight one in eight women face in this country. About 12 percent of women in the U.S. will develop invasive breast cancer during their lifetime.

There is no sure way to prevent it, but there are steps women can follow to lower risk factors such as lower body weight and a good diet. Early detection from a mammogram can increase the survival rate.

Not every woman catches it early.

Izzy Auger

Isabell “Izzy” Auger of Millersburg was going through life’s duties, making money to support her family by cleaning shoreline homes in Presque Isle County and Petoskey, as well as driving to Rogers City to take care of her mother.

All was well until Izzy started feeling dizzy.

“I could not stop,” said Izzy. “I needed the money.” She and her husband Tom are raising their college-age son and four grandchildren, the two youngest of 5 and 6, in a modest home along Maple Street.

The illness eventually slowed her to the point where she had to see a doctor.

Shortly after, in late March 2013, Izzy was diagnosed with stage III-breast cancer, meaning the cancer had extended beyond the immediate region of a tumor.

It’s when the fight started.

The outcome was uncertain; however, the purpose was very clear. Her family needed her to get through it.  I said, let’s do whatever we have to do get it over with,” she said.

Izzy had a mastectomy to remove one breast and began the process of killing any lingering cancer cells with chemotherapy at the Alpena Regional Cancer Center.  It is a treatment that uses drugs to destroy the cells. As in the case of cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, she became weak and lost her hair.

To make matters worse, Tom was laid off from his job of more than 14 years; however, it may have been a blessing in disguise.

“It was God saying, ‘Tom, you have to take care of the kids and her, and she needs a ride to chemo every other day,’ ” she said.

Izzy would get home from the treatments and barely had enough energy to walk from the vehicle to her bed where she would go no further.

“Tom would go to the store and I would get, ‘Mom, mom, make me a peanut butter and jelly,’ ” she said. Tom and the older children would help with the younger ones as the treatments continued. She remained upbeat.

“I wore my little hat and went to basketball games, and walked on parents’ night,” said Izzy. Her oldest grandson, Cortez Washington, who has lived with Izzy and Tom for 17 years, is standout athlete at Onaway High School.

On treatment days, she would take her grandchildren along as inspiration; however, it appears the woman with a personality bigger than life would cheer up others.

“The nurses would always love when she was there because she kept the other cancer patients entertained and happy,” said Tom. “Alpena was very good to us.”

Like many families fighting cancer, the cancer chapter has been emotional, with a positive outcome so far.

Izzy is fully recovered with no signs of cancer. Her hair has grown back, and surprisingly, it grew out curly. She looks different, but is still vibrant and full of life.

“Her getting better was such a blessing,” said Tom.

Izzy is willing to talk to anyone who may be faced with similar circumstances. She also has one piece of advice: take your children or grandchildren along if chemo treatments are needed as a reminder of what the fight is all about.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) in Presque Isle County will soon be moving into a new home.

According to a MDHHS press release, the new location will be 164 N. Fourth Street, a building owned by the Presque Isle County Historical Museum.

Previously, Cory Budnick operated her State Farm insurance office in that location. She moved her business to a North Third Street building at the beginning of the year.

The new home of the Rogers City office of the DHHS will be at 164 N. Fourth Street, as announced Sept. 16.

Residents of Presque Isle and Montmorency counties will continue to receive services from MDHHS staff in relocated offices in each county by Nov. 1. MDHHS will release the location for Montmorency County as soon as it is finalized and the lease signed.

Locations are determined using the MDHHS customer service model that is keeping with Gov. Rick Snyder’s River of Opportunity concept of providing person-centered services while working in coordination with partners to better meet the needs of customers. The new Presque Isle office is conveniently located next to Northeast Michigan Community Mental Health.

The department has been working with the real estate team at the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget to secure new space and coordinate the relocations to continue to serve Presque Isle and Montmorency residents as seamlessly as possible.

“We are committed to continuing to meet the needs of residents in Presque Isle and Montmorency counties,” said Terry Beurer, MDHHS chief deputy director for field operations. “Our goal is for people to be able to receive the same services in new space not far from the former locations.”

The new locations are being selected to provide cost savings while maintaining access and optimal service delivery to customers. Key areas considered in these office relocations include geography, caseload, impact on staffing and the availability partners.

The date that the Presque Isle office will move will be announced later. In the meantime, customers can continue to visit the current MDHHS location at 1242 W. Third St. in Rogers City.

by Peter Jakey—Managing Editor

The superintendent search in Posen will pick up some steam next week.

The district’s executive committee has narrowed a field of 19 applicants to seven for public interviews.

The names, which were released Wednesday morning, are: Bruce Matson, Engadine; Kristen Tebo, Onaway; Becky O’Bryant, Rogers City; Michelle Wesner, Bellevue; and William Taylor, South Haven.

The interviews will be Oct. 1 and 5. More details about the times will be published in a follow-up article next week.

“We picked seven, but we would like to interview five or six,” said board president Ken Wozniak. “We took seven in case one or two says they are not interested, after we ask them.” The list includes men and women.

John Palmer

“I think we have seven really strong candidates,” said board member Brian Konieczny, who is a member of the committee.

Interim superintendent John Palmer suggested the board one-half an hour before the interviews to prepare questions. “Some will be more pertinent to our situation,” said Wozniak. Teachers Hollie Kuchnicki and Glenn Budnick will be invited to sit in on the interviews and provide input.

The board decided at the end of the last school year to move forward with a search for a new superintendent/K-12 principal. Palmer, who commutes from Cheboygan every day the students are in class, agreed to stay on until the new person is hired.

In other board news:

• Beth Hincka and Mandee Hincka were approved as 2016 trip club advisors, replacing Hannah Pontius. They also will serve the Class of 2018. Both are volunteer positions and Wozniak said he had a letter from two individuals interested in volunteering as advisors in 2019. He thought there was discussion about phasing out the trips.

“We talked about ending the trips, but I don’t think we ever acted on it,” he said.

A couple board members wondered if they should conduct a survey.

Wozniak said the board should ponder a decision during the next month. “Talk to the parents, talk to the community and get their thoughts,” said Wozniak.

• Palmer said the student count is at 234, which is where it was a year ago at this time.

• The board is still trying to rid the property of the portable classroom.

“We tried to take bids on it and nobody wants it,” said Palmer. “We need to get that building out of here.”

Different people have expressed interest, but now school officials would be willing to listen to anyone who would haul it away.

• The high bidder for the school’s van was Jesse Chappa, who will pay $400. Additionally, the Cheboygan-Otsego-Presque Isle Educational Service District offered the district a 2005 van for $1. It graciously accepted.

• Head cook Mary Ann Zakshesky was granted a leave of absence of up to 90 days to tend to family matters; however, she told Palmer she could be back within the next couple of weeks. “But it might be longer than that,” said Palmer.

Rogers City High School can boast some pretty famous alumni.

There is Pulitzer Prize winner Patricia O’Toole, a 1964 grad.

Mark Smolinski is a 1957 graduate, who went on to win a Super Bowl with the New York Jets.

Add Mary K. Viegelahn’s (RCHS Class of 1980)  name to that prestigious list after her appearance before the U.S. Supreme Court, April 1^st.

The daughter of Howard and Kathleen (O’Toole) Viegelahn Mary grew up on a farm outside of Rogers City as the youngest of six children. Her five brothers, John, David, Howard, Ralph and Mark, all reside in Rogers City.

She is a Chapter 12 and Chapter 13 trustee from San Antonio, Texas.  

Mary Viegelahn argued a case before the Supreme Court earlier this year.

Late last year, the Supreme Court justices agreed to weigh in on whether undistributed funds held by a Chapter 13 trustee should go to creditors or back to the debtor once the bankruptcy is converted from Chapter 13 to Chapter 7, an issue that has split the 1st Circuit and 5th Circuit Courts of Appeal for the last couple of years and has divided bankruptcy courts for 30 years. 

Charles E. Harris filed for Chapter 13 in 2010 after falling behind on his mortgage and agreed to make payments. He fell behind again with Chase Manhattan. Mary held a portion of the monthly payments and later distributed funds to creditors. Harris sued for the money, and when the courts were divided, he filed a petition with the Supreme Court.

Approximately 8,000 requests (petitions for certiorari) are filed with the court each year. Of that, only 1 percent are granted.

The percentage of licensed attorneys who appear before the court during his or her legal career is approximately 1 percent; and according to Wikipedia and other sources there were 1,225,452 licensed attorneys in 2011.  

“To say that it is an honor to appear before the U.S. Supreme Court is an understatement, whether one wins or loses,” said Mary.

(The complete story appears in the Sept. 27, 2015 edition of the Advance)

Tim Nagy (middle at right) with the 2015 RCHS varsity football team. (Photo by Richard Lamb)

As reported in the Sept. 24, 2015 issue of the Advance, Rogers City High School (RCHS) varsity football coach Tim Nagy handed RCHS athletic director David O’Bryant his resignation earlier this week.

Nagy was contacted by the Advance for comments Tuesday, but those comments arrived via e-mail after the Advance went to press Wednesday at noon. In his comments, received Wednesday afternoon, Nagy offers his side of the story.

“The whole thing started when I was verbally attacked by David O’Bryant in regards to making a football team decision. I was repeatedly called on the phone while at home as Mr. David O’Bryant demanded my resignation. This disagreement involved bringing a sophomore student athlete I needed to play on varsity due to the fact that we had six players injured that week and he is probably the best lineman I had available. And for whatever reason Mr. O’Bryant insisted he play on the junior varsity team,” Nagy told the Advance.

Nagy did not coach at last week’s Hillman game, missing for what O’Bryant characterized as an “illness.” Rogers City lost 22-6.

“This has put the team in a ‘plan to fail’ situation in that all the teams we compete against put their best players on the field regardless of the class year they are in. This has been proven in that our junior varsity team has been very successful and the varsity has struggled,” Nagy said.

The longtime coach said he has done everything possible to bring a great football program to RCHS. His teams have improved by two wins per season each year he coached from one win to three to five last season. One of those losses from last year’s 5-4 season came when an ineligible student played in a game. O’Bryant took the blame for allowing that to happen, a forfeit loss, after defeating AuGres on the football field. The forfeit cost the Hurons a playoff berth in 2014.

“As I was driving home following a meeting (Tuesday), I felt that I was being investigated for committing some type of major crime. But I realized I had done nothing wrong and did not deserve to be treated in this fashion. Basically my options were to be suspended, quit or be fired. I was forced into this situation by the unprofessional approach of Mr. O’Bryant,” Nagy told the Advance.

“I cannot coach under these conditions and have decided to disassociate myself from Mr. O’Bryant. Apparently Mr. O’Bryant has demanded the resignation of (other) coaches recently at Rogers City. I find this to be a troubling pattern. The least I expect is a written apology concerning this matter signed by David O’Bryant,” Nagy said Wednesday.

Nagy said he loved coaching at RCHS and has met some great people and this situation is disappointing.

by Angie Asam–Staff Writer

The trial in the case of the people of the state of Michigan v. Richard Strzelecki began yesterday (Sept. 29)  with jury selection at Belknap Township Hall. The Honorable Judge Scott L. Pavlich introduced the case, thanked the prospective jurors for being at the selection and read the information in the case.

Strzelecki remains jailed without bond and is charged with two counts of first-degree homicide and two counts of felony murder in the deaths of brothers Eugene, 60, and Henry Hincka, 48. Strzelecki was a neighbor and farming businesses partner with the brothers and his wife Beth in HERB Produce. The incident occurred Jan. 15.

The jury selection process began at approximately 9:25 a.m. with 14 prospective jurors being called to the jury seats in the front of the hall. Questions began to find out if some jurors needed to be dismissed for cause. In total Pavlich dismissed 10 jurors with cause, those who he felt had reasons they could not serve or be fair and unbiased heading into the trial. The defendant has asserted the defense of legal insanity.

Defendant Richard Strzelecki is led into the jury selection by undersheriff Joe Brewbaker. (Photo by Angie Asam)

From there he gave the defense and prosecution a chance to dismiss for cause or simply just dismiss for other reasons. Through that process defense attorney Dan Harris dismissed four jurors and prosecuting attorney Rick Steiger dismissed three. At 10:40 a.m. the jury of 14 was seated and the case moved back to the county courthouse where the trial began at 11:30 a.m. with jury instructions and opening statements by the attorneys.

Steiger, in his opening statement, asserted that after hearing all the evidence, including testimony from doctors, that Strzelecki might have been mentally ill, but he was not legally insane.

Harris told the jury to be aware there are two sides to the story. He said the defense is not disputing what happened, but the question is why, he said in his opening statement. A series of events, including his own physical and mental health and the financial stability of the business, pushed Strzelecki to a tipping point, Harris said.

After a lunch break Steiger began calling witnesses to testify beginning with Stzelecki’s neighbor Mark Darga followed by 9-1-1 dispatcher Randy Idalski, 9-1-1 coordinator Renee Szymanski and finally Presque Isle County Sheriff’s Department sergeant John Kasuba.

Testimony lasted until about 4:45 p.m. when Pavlich told the jury that would be all for the day. Court will resumed at 9 a.m. Tuesday.

The trial is expected to last all week.

(More coverage will be in the Oct. 1, 2015 edition of the Presque Isle County Advance)

by Angie Asam–Staff Writer

Final arguments were set to be delivered Wednesday afternoon in the case of the people of the state of Michigan v. Richard Strzelecki. The case began Monday after jury selection. Strzelecki faces two counts of first-degree premeditated murder, two counts of felony murder, one count of home invasion in the first degree and one count of felony firearms. His attorneys will be arguing for legal insanity in the case. The trial is expected to last all week.

The Presque Isle County Courthouse is the site of the trial of Richard Strzelecki.

It is alleged that Jan. 15 Strzelecki murdered brothers Eugene, 60, and Henry Hincka, 48. The brothers along with Strzelecki and his wife Beth had a business partnership operating HERB Produce in Posen.

The Honorable Judge Scott L. Pavlich is presiding over the case. At 10:40 a.m. Monday the jury of 14 was seated and the case moved back to the Presque Isle County courthouse where the trial began at 11:30 a.m. with jury instructions and opening statements by the attorneys.

During opening statements Presque Isle County prosecuting attorney Rick Steiger told the jury “this isn’t something you can strip down.”

“Mr. Strzelecki was in business with two individuals and his wife. Those two individuals were these gentlemen right here (pointing to photos of the Hincka brothers). The business that they operated was a produce business that had been in business for several decades. Over the years the business started going south. Mr. Strzelecki recently had learned that the business was about $300,000 in debt. He was approached by Gene Hincka and Gene did the books. Gene stated to him and the evidence will show ‘listen we have to go bankrupt, there is nothing else we can do’ and pride cometh before the fall, Mr. Strzelecki was concerned about his reputation in the community. So what was his decision, two days prior to the murder of these two gentlemen he went to see a doctor. At the time he went to see the doctor he was depressed. He was prescribed medication called Zoloft and he had taken it for two days. What did he decide to do two days after seeing that doctor to solve his problems and cure his depression, he woke up at 7 a.m. or so and he decided at that point he needed to kill these individuals. He proceeded to go to his gun cabinet, pulled out a 30-30 filled the rounds, went to his truck, drove down to the (Eugene and Henry) Hincka residence, barged through the kitchen door, Eugene was sitting at the kitchen table, he shot from the hip and shot him right in the chest, he turned to run away and he shot him in the back. At this point the brother comes out of the bathroom, same thing, shoots him in the chest, turns to run away, he shoots him in the back, fatal shots. He went home, and you will hear the tapes, he called 9-1-1 and told them he shot his neighbors. He was cooperative with the police,” said Steiger.

“He in cold blood went into the home with one specific purpose, to kill these two men for a failing business relationship. This is not the act of someone who is legally insane, this is the act of someone who has a vendetta, he is at his wits end and decided to murder and take the lives of these two men,” said Steiger. Steiger asked the jury to come back at the end of the trial with a verdict of guilty but mentally ill on all six counts.

Defense attorney Dan Harris took his turn to make opening arguments. “In most aspects of our lives there are two sides to every story. In this case we are not disputing the acts that were just described to you. The question in this case is why. We acknowledge we all have challenges in our lives, we all have our ups and downs, physical ailments, depression and other things that affect our moods and how we act. Just because we have those challenges we are not suggesting that it is OK to go out and commit crimes. What we are suggesting that this case meets the requirements of legal insanity. HERB produce meant a lot to him, it was very important to him. It was his life and always had been. They grew most of the produce on his family farm. This started the rumination in his head, this was a major problem for him, because of how it would affect the other people that had done business with him over the years,” said Harris.

Harris then talked about a tipping point, a point where in a complex situation a small thing produces a large and irreversible change.

“There was heavy rains and crop damage in September and October of 2014. He had a hernia that developed which prevented him from going to the field to get his crops. He also had kidney stones that developed and produced excruciating pain. As he is looking out over the fields he has farmed his entire life and he couldn’t do anything. He was cascading and everyone around him knew it,” said Harris.

Harris said Strzelecki went to a doctor and was prescribed Celexa for his depression and had an adverse reaction. He was later prescribed Ativan and again had an adverse reaction. Just two days before the murder he was prescribed Zoloft for depression. He also discussed that during kidney stone surgery in October of 2014 his prostate was knicked and “in his head it is getting worse and worse and worse,” said Harris.

“He was a jokester. It got so bad he wouldn’t even smile. It got so bad that his daughter sent him a letter every day for 25 days to try to pull him out of this funk but it didn’t work. To suggest that there is some plot here or that this is premeditated, that is not this case, you won’t hear a shred of evidence on that. He woke up in that morning without ever even considering harming them or anyone in his life with a compulsion that this would fix the problem,” said Harris.

The defense asserted that there was a disorder of mood or thought (mental illness) and that because of the mental illness Strzelecki wasn’t to appreciate the nature and quality or wrongfulness of his actions.

MARK DARGA WAS THE  first witness called to the stand by the prosecution. Darga is Strzelecki’s neighbor who testified that on that morning Strzelecki came to his house and told him that he shot the Hincka brothers.

Randy Idalski, the Presque Isle County 9-1-1 dispatcher on that morning that took the call Strzelecki made himself was next to testify and the tape of that call was played for the jury.

“Presque Isle 9-1-1.”

“Yes this is Rich Strzelecki from Posen. I just shot my neighbors.”

“You did what?”

“Killed my neighbors.”

“You’re kidding me.”

“I’m at home, I shot Gene and Henry Hincka. I will be at my house, come pick me up.”

Renee Szymanski, 9-1-1 coordinator, Dr. David Start, the forensic pathologist who conducted the autopsies on the Hincka brothers, PICSD sheriff Robert Paschke, Michigan State Police (MSP) trooper Mike Jermeay each described their parts in the investigation. Others who testified included Allied EMS paramedic Andrea Baker, MSP troopers Ken Polhemus and James Buck, Norm Smith, who served as the nurse at the Presque Isle County Jail and Det. Mulka.

Tuesday afternoon the defense began presenting its witnesses and evidence to the court and jury. Nikki Landon, Strzelecki’s daughter, Strzelecki’s friend Ed Kandow, Dr. Keith Wright and Strzelecki’s sister Theresa Greenglski testified Tuesday afternoon.

Site of the Jan. 15 murders of brothers Eugene and Henry Hincka.

TESTIMONY RESUMED Wednesday morning at 9 a.m. Once testimony is concluded the attorneys will give closing arguments before the jury is given final jury instructions and sent to deliberate a verdict.

A verdict must be unanimous and the jury will be narrowed to 12 people by nature of drawing two names from hat. All 12 must agree on the verdict before it can be delivered. It is anticipated the jury could get the case Wednesday afternoon or Thursday morning.

(More details of each witnesses testimony is in the Oct. 1, 2015 edition of the Presque Isle County Advance. Updates after the Wednesday session will be posted on this site. A full report will be printed in the Oct. 8 edition of the Advance.)

Wednesday evening (Sept. 30) a 12-member jury found Richard Strzelecki, 64, of Posen guilty but mentally ill on six counts related to the Jan. 15 murder of Henry and Eugene Hincka.

Testimony in the case ended at a little after 2 p.m. Wednesday and at 2:40 p.m. final arguments from the attorneys began. Following final arguments the Honorable Judge Scott L. Pavlich read the jury its final instructions and at a little after 4 p.m. the jury retreated to the jury room to begin its deliberations.

After requesting dinner and three pieces of evidence including the tape of the 34-minute interview conducted at the jail the day of the incident with Strzelecki and Presque Isle County Sheriffs Department Sgt. John Kasuba and Detective Joe Mulka. The jury also requested a list of medications Strzelecki was on at the time of the incident and the tapes of the 9-1-1 calls Strzelecki made that day.  The jury reached a verdict just before 9 p.m.

The jury came into the courtroom at 9 p.m. and read the verdict. Following the reading of the verdict defense attorney Dan Harris asked that the jury be polled. Each juror was asked if guilty but mentally ill was their verdict and each responded yes.

Strzelecki was found guilty but mentally ill on the following six counts; homicide first degree Eugene Hincka; homicide first degree Henry Hincka; felony murder Eugene Hincka; felony murder Henry; home invasion first degree and felony firearms. Sentencing in the matter is scheduled for Oct. 26.

The Presque Isle County Sheriff’s Department took Strzelecki into custody, he will be lodged at the Presque Isle County Jail.

The brothers along with Strzelecki and his wife Beth had a business partnership operating HERB Produce in Posen.

(More details later on PIAdvance.com and in next week’s Advance)

Richard Strzelecki (at left) is pictured as the verdict is being read. Pictured are his attorneys Travis Groat and Dan Harris. (Photo by Angie Asam)

Richard Strzelecki (at left) stands to hear the verdict of the jury.

Jurors found Richard Strzelecki, 64, of Posen guilty but mentally ill on six counts Wednesday evening in 53^rd Circuit Court in Presque Isle County. Through the course of the three-day trial defense attorney Dan Harris and co-counsel Travis Groat were arguing for legal insanity regarding the charges stemming from the Jan. 15 murder of brothers Henry and Eugene Hincka.

The Honorable Judge Scott L. Pavlich explained to the jury in final instructions before releasing them to deliberations what the charges were and the choices they had when coming up with a verdict.

“In this case since there is an insanity defense if you find that the prosecutor has proven every element of each charge beyond a reasonable doubt then the defense does have the burden to prove by a preponderance of the evidence the defense of insanity,” said Pavlich.

He then explained that if the jury felt that the prosecutor had not proven the elements of each charge beyond a reasonable doubt the jury must return a verdict of not guilty.

“One of the defenses raised in this case is that the defendant was legally insane at the time of the crime. Under the law mental illness and legal insanity are not the same. A person can be mentally ill and still not be legally insane, because of this and because the law treats people who commit crimes differently depending on their mental state at the time of the crime it is important for you to understand the legal meanings of mental illness and legal insanity,” said Pavlich.

The law defines mental illness as a “substantial disorder or thought or mood that significantly impairs judgment, behavior, capacity to recognize reality or the ability to cope with the ordinary demands of life.”

Pavlich then explained legal insanity. “To be legally insane a person must be mentally ill as I have defined that condition but that is not enough,” said Pavlich.

The legal definition for legal insanity is that “a person must because of mental illness lack substantial capacity either to appreciate the nature and quality or the wrongfulness of the conduct or to conform his conduct to the requirements of the law.”

“To decide whether the defendant was legally insane at the time of the crime you should go through the following two steps. Step one, are you satisfied that the defendant has established by evidence that outweighs the evidence against it that he was mentally ill at the time of the crime. Unless you are so satisfied he was not legally insane. On the other hand if the defendant has proved that he was mentally ill you must go on to the next step. Step two, are you satisfied that the defendant has established by evidence that outweighs the evidence against it that he lacked the substantial ability either to appreciate the nature and quality of the wrongfulness of his conduct or to conform his conduct to the requirements of the law he is charged with violating. If the defendant has proven both step one and step two you must find him not guilty by reason of insanity,” explained Pavlich.

FOR EACH of the six charges the jury was to find a verdict on, they were given the choices of not guilty, not guilty by reason of insanity, guilty but mentally ill and guilty.

“There is another verdict that is completely different from the verdict of not guilty because of insanity, this is called guilty but mentally ill. To find the defendant guilty but mentally ill you must find each of the following; first, the prosecutor has proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty of a crime; second, that the defendant has proved by a preponderance of the evidence that he was mentally ill, as I have defined that term for you, at the time of the crime; third, that the defendant has not proved by a preponderance of the evidence that he lacked substantial capacity either to appreciate the nature and quality or the wrongfulness of his conduct or to conform his conduct to the requirements of the law,” said Pavlich.

DURING THE closing arguments made by attorneys for both sides the defense argued for legal insanity while the prosecution argued for guilty but mentally ill as a verdict.

Following more than four hours of deliberation, the jury found Strzelecki guilty but mentally ill on the following six counts; homicide first degree Eugene Hincka; homicide first degree Henry Hincka; felony murder Eugene Hincka; felony murder Henry Hincka; home invasion first degree and felony firearms.

(More on this story will be published in the Oct. 8, 2015 edition of the Presque Isle County Advance)

by Peter Jakey–Managing Editor

Carmeuse Lime & Stone was putting a new rotary blasthole-drilling rig into operation this week at the Calcite Plant.

Made in the USA, more specifically at the Caterpillar (CAT) plant in Denison, Texas, it arrived in Rogers City in two large pieces, Sept. 22

CAT representatives were training mechanics and drillers this week, preparing for it to become fully operational by week’s end.

THE NEWEST piece of equipment at Calcite is this Caterpillar drilling rig. Standing in front of it are the men that are going to operate and maintain it. At left is operator Chris Shay. Mechanics Anthony Lafleche and Edward Kania are on the right. (Photo by Peter Jakey)

“The drill that’s in service out there right now, that we have had for 14-plus years, will still stay in service,” said Ray LeClair, director of operations, Great Lakes region. “The quarry has expanded to the point where it almost takes a day to tram that piece of machinery from one end of the quarry to the other.”

LeClair said the drills would be positioned at each end of the quarry. “Which will allow us more versatility, and allow the plant to extract reserves without high-grading a particular area.”

Driller Chris Shay said, “It is a larger machine, so we will be drilling faster and keep up with the blasting. The other one was getting old and there were some issues.”

It weighs about 120,000 pounds and the drill tower stands 47 feet and can be operated at 5-degree increments to a maximum of 25-degree angle.

“It will drill a blast hole six and three-quarter inch in diameter, but this rig can go up to a nine inch blast hole in rock,” said CAT rep J.Y. Roch. It can go 120 feet deep; however, “The deepest holes here at Calcite are 80 feet.”

“That’s if we do full benches, but we have been doing partial benches over the past number of years, which are 40 to 50 feet in height,” said LeClair.

Carmeuse crews in Rogers City were adding a fire suppression system over the last week.

“There are a lot of hydraulic hoses, and if a hose were to rupture and spray hydraulic fluid on the hot engine or the engines exhaust system, that could create the possibility of a fire,” said LeClair. “The fire suppression system will extinguish any kind of a flame instantly, so you don’t do damage to the machine.”

LeClair said the opinions of the current drill operators were sought for input in the decision making process and visited a site with a similar rig. “They went with this one because the controls are similar to the existing drill and it will be a little more user friendly,” said LeClair.

by Peter Jakey–Managing Editor

It is not the first time members of St. John Lutheran Church have debated the future of a tree on the grounds of the church.

A large Douglas fir, quite possibly the oldest and largest in the area, has been leaning precariously toward the church building for more than two decades.

Following the big blow of early August, it lost some lower branches after another tree that didn’t survive the storm, scraped one side of it.

For the church body, the risk of major damage to the building outweighs the sentimental value of the historic tree that was there when P.H. Hoeft’s mansion on the hill was still standing. The property was later purchased from Hoeft in 1959. The new church building was dedicated in 1970.

“With the way that roof is built, the three main trusses are all tied together, it is counterbalanced,” said church member Don Schaedig. “If that tree were to hit on one of those beams on that corner, the entire roof could collapse. So, that would be a tremendous calamity, if anything.”

The tree is slated for removal in the coming days.

VOTING MEMBERS OF St. Johns Lutheran Church in Rogers City decided to remove a leaning Douglas fir tree which some say causes a potential danger to the church building. (Photo by Richard Lamb)

In 1994, the tree was in the spotlight when the late Fred Trafelet, a longtime member of the congregation, asked Presque Isle Soil Conservation District forester Dave MacArthur to look at it. MacArthur said Douglas firs are normally found out West with its best growth occurring on the West Coast.

“It is a very important lumber tree and normally will live for 300 years,” stated MacArthur in a letter to Trafelet. He also stated that it was a strong tree that appeared to be in excellent health “and could possibly stand for another 100 years” He said it should be monitored for any changes.

That change came a few weeks ago, leaving the church congregation to reconsider its options.

The tree has a lot more history that can be traced than most in Rogers City. It’s the second time in two decades an Advance article has been written about it.

Plus, St. John trustee chairman Jerry Mendrick said it’s not out of the realm of possibilties to believe that P.H. Hoeft planted the tree himself.

Hoeft modeled his bungalow-style house after a trip he took to California.

It is possible he brought some seeds home with him from the West Coast.

by Peter Jakey–Managing Editor

Posen High School (PHS) is the first of the three county schools to take part in homecoming activities this fall.

PHS’ pep club organized several spirit week activities, new and old, in the build-up toward the football game and fall dance. The theme is safari.

The week started with dress-up day and was followed by safari day, where students wore clothing with spots and stripes. Wednesday was fake an injury day.

Today is color day with seniors wearing white; juniors, gray; sophomores, blue; freshmen, pink; and junior high, green.

On Friday, in a break from the traditional wearing of the school colors, red and white, it will be black-out day.    

The powder puff game starts Friday at 12:15 p.m. and the pep rally is at 2:15 p.m., a few hours before the football game with Onaway.

POSEN’S 2015 fall homecoming royalty includes, front from left, senior Evan Schuch, elementary rep Ava Ewing, queen Jolene Reese, king Kyle Knopf, elementary rep James Lucas, senior Lauren Romel, middle, exchange student rep Max Schultz, sophomores Cami LaTulip and Caleb Reese, juniors Taylor Roznowski and Nathan Mulka, exchange student Anna Soerensen, back, junior reps Gabe Jakubcin and Riley Krajniak, freshmen Brooke Ciarkowski and Jared Sharpe. (Photo by Peter Jakey)

Homecoming queen Jolene Reese will be escorted by king Kyle Knopf and will be introduced at halftime of the football game, along with the rest of the class representatives. All are featured in a photo on the front   page.

The dance is Saturday from 7:30 p.m. to11:30 p.m. with disc jockey Pink Noise entertaining in the old gym. The queen will receive her scepter and the king his crown at 8:00 p.m. from Posen head varsity football coach Greg Pietsch.

The pep club officers include: president Lyndsey Romel; vice president Lauren Romel; treasurer Paige Haske; and secretary Jolene Reese.