THE PHILIP R. Clarke arrived at the Port of Calcite Saturday around noon, and after a few delays, pushed off for Gary, Indiana around 3 p.m. Sunday. Along with a power outage that lasted a couple of hours, Carmeuse Lime & Stone crews were slowed by product that was froze together. (Photo by Peter Jakey)

by Peter Jakey—Managing Editor

A sure sign of spring is the arrival of the first boat into the Port of Calcite, even though spring looked more like the dead of winter over the weekend.

The Philip R. Clarke arrived at the south dock Saturday around noon under deceiving, bright sunshine.

The temperature at Carmeuse Lime & Stone was 19 degrees Fahrenheit with lots of snow on the ground from a  week’s worth of storms. It may have been 19, but it felt much colder with strong winds.

The weather did not make it any easier to load the 767-foot vessel, built in 1952 by the American Shipbuilding Company in Lorain, Ohio. It seems appropriate that she was christened on a blustery November day in 1951.

According to plant manager John Abbitt, a wench broke on the Clarke when she arrived to begin the problems, but then a transformer went down in the quarry about mid-afternoon that cut the power and brought  the loading process to a quick halt.

“It was totally unrelated to the boat,” said Abbitt. “It was just a coincidental thing, so our electricians had to get that going.”

Carmeuse crews were not able to start loading until about 8 p.m.

“We had some water issues, which is pretty normal, considering how cold it was,” said Abbitt.

Additionally, bulldozers were used to break up the stone on the surge pile that was froze together.

“All and all, it went well – better than expected,” said Abbitt. “The employees did a great job.”

The Clarke was eventually loaded with 25,000 tons of 1-by-2-inch stone by 3 p.m. and then it was off to U.S. Steel, Gary Works in Gary, Indiana.

The next boat was the Joseph H. Thompson, which was loaded by Tuesday and ready for its trip to Ashtabula, Ohio. “It was going much smoother,” said Abbitt.

And it is supposed to get much warmer by the weekend.

by Peter Jakey–Managing Editor

For a couple of decades, Joan Moran’s house on Tower Pond has not only been home sweet home for the 74-year-old, but it’s become a safe haven for man’s best friend.

At first glance, the modest dwelling, with its bright yellow door in front, does not look like a place that would house eight dogs and their loving caretaker.

Moran has literally opened her doors to many dogs over the years. She has gotten different breeds, demeanors and personalities; however, there is one common denominator. It’s the value Joan places on each dog’s life.

Holly is a sheltie with one of eight stories. She was given to an 84-year-old family member as a Christmas present, but when the energetic dog kept knocking him over, Holly’s next stop was the Cheboygan County Humane Society.

SNACK TIME at the Joan Moran home can get a little crazy. The Tower woman has had rescue dogs and animals almost all of her life. (Photo by Peter Jakey)

Joan is a frequent visitor to the facility located along Hackelburg Road. Executive director Mary Talaske knows her well and gave her a call. She was delighted to provide the 17-month dog a forever home.

“Joan is a type of person everybody wishes they could be,” said Talaske. “Most people want to do something to help, Joan gets past the want and goes out and does it.”

Once a dog makes it to Joan’s pack, “This is where they stay,” she said. Holly and Joan have been together for seven years.

Sweetie is a registered Maltese born without a tail and had four homes when a call came from Cheboygan.

“People wanted her for breeding. I don’t know why anybody would pick a little female, who is deformed, and want to breed her, puppy-mill style,” said Joan.

The other dogs are Zoe and Zina, a pair of Chihuahuas, along with Chester, Cocoa, Cinder and London Rose.

“They are all good guys,” said Joan, looking at them gathered around her living room chair. Holly affectionately licking Joan’s Crocs.

She has taken in as many as 10, but at her age, “I have to watch the ages of these animals, because they could outlive me.” She has had a discussion with her son about their future care, God forbid, something happens.

“They keep me going,” said Joan. She walks three and four at a time along the rail-trail a few blocks away and does it each day. “If I tried to do all of them at the same time, it would be a disaster.”

She goes through about 25 pounds of food a week at three stations and always keeps the water filled.

The dogs are all well-behaved and have so many personality quirks.

Zina is the most loving and most times can be found in Joan’s lap. Zoe is usually there, too. She is missing a few teeth and easily has the worst breath.

“If you were in a car with her for an hour, you would know it,” said Joan with a chuckle.

Most dogs enjoy going for rides and she has taken all eight on rides in her car. “It does not work well at all,” said she, laughing as she tried to get the words out.

That’s why the good Lord made windows.

“And they lick all the windows,” said Joan.

In the house, there’s always hair in every corner and always something to clean up in the yard.

“It is a constant job of cleaning,” she added.

There is a doggie door in the living room leading out to a deck with stairs to the rest of the fenced in yard.

London Rose gets an award for standing in the doggie door and letting cold air in on winter days. When this happens, she gets a little help.

“I will say, ‘Holly, will you get London out of the door?’ ” said Joan.

A few minutes later, her neighbor arrived home from work, which started one barking. Most of them ran out the doggie door to investigate. She said it’s like raising a bunch of kindergartners.

Why does she do it?

“It’s a calling,” she said. “The first animals I took in, I was five-years-old, were kittens that were dumped off. My mother told me to get rid of them. I instead took them in my room and that was an absolute disaster. She let me keep one of them.”

Her kind heart toward animals has continued to this day.

Two years ago, she rescued a labrador retriever that been at a home near Hillman where authorities seized 37 dogs and six miniature horse. The story made statewide news and led to the conviction of a 35-year-old woman.

Joan got a call from the Elk Country Animal Shelter to see if she was interested in taking in one or two.

Joan was not interested in any puppies because people are more apt to adopt them. She prefers the older ones that people typically do not want.

The lab was, old, blind and had foreign substances in its ears. “I said, ‘okay, I will take her,’ ” said Joan. She was 28 pounds when she brought her home.

“When she passed,” said Joan, pausing to keep her emotions in check, “she was probably about 80 pounds. “This gets to be heartbreaking after a while.”

She has a little cemetery in the corner of her yard.

Last year, Joan took half of the dogs to a blessing of animals and pets on the feast day of Saint Francis of Assisi at St. Paul Catholic Church. She took the dogs that are good on leashes and would get along with others at the event.

“It’s a lot of work, but it is a great life,” said Joan.

by Angie Asam–Staff Writer

David O’Bryant may soon be the new part-time superintendent for Rogers City Area Schools (RCAS). O’Bryant currently serves as the secondary principal and athletic director for the district.

By a 4-1 vote Monday (April 11) the RCAS Board of Education authorized the hiring of O’Bryant subject to a negotiated contract between interim superintendent Lee Sandy, board president John Krajenta and O’Bryant. Board member Bryan Hall voted against the hiring. Board members Deedra Haselhuhn and Don Kromer were absent from the meeting.

The Rogers City School Board of Education voted to offer current RCHS principal and athletic director David O’Bryant a contract as part time superintendent of schools. (Photo by Angie Asam)

If an agreement is reached, the board will be looking to hire a new high school principal.

On June 30, 2015 the board accepted the resignation of Katy Makowski who had served as the district’s superintendent and elementary principal. She hired on as superintendent in 2011.

At that time the board hired Sandy as interim superintendent for the school year. Last October the board advertised for a superintendent/principal position. On Dec. 21, 2015 the board interviewed O’Bryant and Ron Kraft for the position. The board chose not to hire either candidate at that time.

In late February the board approved posting a superintendent/elementary principal position. After a public forum and hearing comments from teachers, staff, parents and community members the board again changed directions.

The planning and finance committee met March 21 and investigated if the district could afford hiring a part-time superintendent and keeping a high school principal and elementary principal, effectively giving the district two and one-half administrators.

Finance committee members Ivy Cook, Cory Budnick and Frank Andrews came to the board with the recommendation to hire O’Bryant Monday evening.

“Based on certain scenarios we could afford it. After the recent posting things were leaning more towards a part-time superintendent and three administrators versus two combined,” said finance chair Cook.

At that time vice president Bryan Hall asked about the scenarios Cook referred to. Cost saving ideas were discussed at that finance meeting as well as a retirement incentive plan. Cook told the board that the retirement incentive savings alone could cover the cost of the part-time superintendent.

Cook said the committee chose not to take action to implement any of the other cost savings mechanisms suggested at this time, leaving those to a superintendent during this transition period.

Hall’s concern was looking at the budget deficit and how much the district would be spending out of its fund equity. “I think it is going to be close to the 10 percent,” said Sandy. Policy states that the board keep at least 10 percent of a year’s operating budget in the fund equity. Sandy also mentioned that if some employees took the early retirement incentive the district could choose not to replace them resulting in more savings.

Cook moved “that the Board of Education authorize the hiring of Mr. David O’Bryant as part-time superintendent of the Rogers City Area Schools subject to a negotiated contract between interim superintendent Lee Sandy, board president John Krajenta and Mr. O’Bryant.” Budnick supported the motion.

AT THAT time Krajenta asked for board comments or questions on the motion.

“Would it be appropriate to ask Mr. O’Bryant about his name in the newspaper, what is your intention,” asked Andrews. He was referring to the Advance article last week stating that O’Bryant was a finalist for the superintendent position at Benzie Central Schools.

“My intention as far as that position? My intention is that I will go to the interview, I will sit down and negotiate a contract. If a contract is reached here and agreeable to both sides I will withdraw my name,” said O’Bryant

Hall then spoke of his concerns. “I don’t think it is being fiscally responsible taking our fund equity down that low that quick. We are spending right down to the minimum by policy. We are basing things on tentative cost reductions,” he said.

“My opinion on the matter is, I understand what Bryan is saying and respect that, but we are avoiding a split which seems from outreach of parents and teachers and everyone else a good idea,” said Budnick.

Krajenta told the school community at the beginning of the year that this would be a year of change in the district.

“Obviously there have been major changes within our school system. This is just another major change. Whether it brings stability, that would be the hope. Having two and one-half administrators in the school system would be a plus but at a cost,” said Krajenta.

“I can see Bryan’s point. We tried doing the split posting, that didn’t go so well. We’ve heard from the search team that looking for a part-time superintendent is difficult. I think the numbers that we are looking at, there is a lot of unknown there. We are thinking of the doom and gloom and it could be better. There was a lot of cost saving ideas presented to the finance committee. There are some that I think are actually a little bit of low hanging fruit that could be easily implemented,” said Cook.

The vote was then taken and the motion passed. If a contract is negotiated the board will be looking to hire a new high school principal.

IN OTHER SCHOOL BOARD NEWS:

• By another 4-1 vote with Hall being against the motion the board approved offering a retirement incentive to union employees within the district. Hall said he felt the move was a short-term solution to the problems and thought the district needed to cut spending. According to Sandy if one employee retires the incentive would save the district $15,000 and the number goes up as the number that take part rises.

• The board accepted the resignation of Peter Scott, middle school/high school teacher. O’Bryant told the board that he had received an e-mail the Friday of spring break that indicated Scott would not be returning. No explanation for the resignation was given. O’Bryant told the board he tried to contact Scott via telephone but did not reach him. Krajenta asked him to continue to try to reach him and get an explanation.

Everyone is invited to attend a National Day of Prayer community gathering next Thursday, May 5, sponsored and supported by several area churches. The NDP Task Force (www.nationaldayofprayer.org) has chosen this year’s theme as, “Wake Up America,” emphasizing the need for individuals, corporately and individually, to return to the God of our fathers in reverence for His holy name.

All are welcome to join a gathering in front of the county courthouse in Rogers City May 5 from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. coinciding with thousands of similar gatherings across the country. The event will begin with the reading of a national prayer written by this year’s honorary chairman, Dr. Tony Evans, followed by a time of open prayer.

The front page of the Advance told of the tragic story of the sinking.

by Angie Asam–Staff Writer

With a heavy load of limestone from the Calcite Quarry 51 years ago the Cedarville was bound for Gary, Indiana when heavy fog in the Straits of Mackinac altered the ships course, ultimately ending in tragedy.

Saturday the Great Lakes Lore Maritime Museum will hold a bell- tolling ceremony in memory of the men who lost their lives that day. Museum director and survivor of the sinking, Dave Erickson, will give a brief history of that fateful day before the bell is tolled once for each man who lost his life that day and since the sinking. The ceremony begins at 2 p.m. and bell ringers are needed.

May 7, 1965 loaded with more than 14 tons of limestone, the ship was a mile east of the Mackinac Bridge when heavy fog greatly reduced visibility. Seeing the Norwegian SS Topdalsfjord on the radar the two ships communicated with one another from a mile away.

The captains were discussing how the ships would pass each other with the Norwegian ship planning to pass the Cedarville on the starboard side. Captain Martin Joppich intended for the Cedarville to cross the bow of the Topdalsfjord but the message was not received and the Norwegian vessel continued its course colliding with the Cedarville at hatch #7 on the port side.

Above the waterline the collision caused some damage but below the water was a large hole created in the hull of the ship. Within a few minutes the Cedarville began to list to the port side.

Water was pumped into the starboard side ballast tanks in an attempt to counteract the water coming in the port side as Joppich planned to run the ship aground and prevent it from sinking. As the ship moved towards land, the weight of the water forced the bow of the boat down and the ship began listing to the starboard side eventually rolling over before sinking.

Ten of the 35 men aboard the ship did not make it home that day. Survivors were picked up by the German freighter MV Weissenburg and transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Mackinaw.

The Cedarville lies in about 110 feet of water in the Straits of Mackinac Shipwreck Preserve. The highest point of the hull is around 35 feet below the surface and the cabins of the ship are at about 75 feet under the waterline.

Built in 1927 the Cedarville was launched as the SS A.F. Harvey and entered service for the Pittsburg Steamship Company, a division of U.S. Steel.

In 1956 the ship was transferred to the Bradley Transportation Division and was renamed. The 588-foot freighter is the third largest ship lost on the Great Lakes behind the Edmund Fitzgerald and sister ship Carl D. Bradley.

The classic musical “My Fair Lady” is set to open at the Rogers City Theater Friday, bringing familiar songs to the stage. The live production of the Rogers City Community Theatre features some of the most elegant costumes to see the stage.

The play is directed by James DeDecker and will be presented Friday, Saturday and Sunday and May 20, 21 and 22.

by Richard Lamb—Advance Editor

Wouldn’t be loverly to see a wonderful musical this weekend? The songs will make you want to dance all night, as you become accustom to being entertained by a talented cast. All you will want is a one enormous chair–or at least a comfortable chair at the Rogers City Theatre. 

“My Fair Lady” opens Friday with a performance at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. A performance is set for Sunday at 2. The same schedule is set for next weekend, May 22-22.

I had the chance to see the dress rehearsal tonight and came away humming the songs. James DeDecker directed the play featuring his wife, Lucy as Eliza. She does a wonderful job singing all the great songs, including “Wouldn’t it be Loverly.” Wes Eagleson portrays  Professor Higgins and Karl Heidemann is Col Pickering.

Other cast members are Nolan Ryan, Jodi Collins, Denise Perrault, Bob Starnes III, Melissa Linick, Morgan Suszek, Bob Starnes IV, Brittany Vanderwall, Shiloh McLennon, Carly Claus, Baylee Lijewski, Salena Heidemann, Donna Klein and Sabrina Miller.

Marcy Starnes is the stage manager, Val Schalk serves as costume designer, Lawrence Anderson is the set designer, Bill Halsey is sound engineer and Sally Halsey is the lighting engineer.

The ensemble cast sings and dances through familiar songs dressed in some of the best costumes ever seen on the Rogers City stage. A highlight of the local production is the classic costumes worn by the cast, adding much elegance to the production.

“It’s been incredible. We have been able to partner with Alpena Civic Theater and use some of their tuxedos and tails and borrow a few hats. The other aspect that has made the costuming so special is that Recollections Historic Costumery of Hawks has provided a lot of the costumes and hats for the show,” said James DeDecker, director of the show.

He said Recollections tailored many of the costumes for the ladies and tailored all of lead character Eliza Doolittle’s costumes.

Mike Marx, a familiar performer, who was set to play a major role, suffered a stroke on Palm Sunday, causing a shuffling of the cast. His presence will be missed and honored, the director said.

“We have certainly missed having Mike involved in the production. It was devastating for everyone involved in the theatre, not only this production but also the theater as a whole. Not having him here has been very difficult. We have been able to work through it. Karl Heidemann has been able to step into the role as Col. Pickering that Mike had been playing,” the director said.

Veteran performer Morgan Suszek came to the cast and assumed Heidemann’s former role. Marx, who is the president of the RCCT board, is recovering in a downstate hospital.

“We are dedicating the show to Mike for his continuing recovery,” DeDecker said.

“My Fair Lady” is the latest in the string of great productions by the Rogers City Community Theatre. Go see it!

Girls on the run event Saturday in Rogers City drew hundreds of runners on a gorgeous May day.

Shared are a few photo highlights from the event.

… Read Full Story

ONAWAY HIGH School’s highest ranking students from the Class of 2016 will lead the entire senior class into the gym Sunday at 2 p.m. Pictured from left are honor student Isaac Nave, valedictorian Thomas Anglin and salutatorian Eleana Domke.

All three will present speeches, followed by high school band selections, including the traditional playing of “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Cameron Horn, 2017 class president, will present the Class of 2016, before the board of education presents diplomas.   … Read Full Story

by Richard Lamb–Advance Editor

A celebration of one hundred years of St. John Lutheran School drew an overflow crowd to the school auditorium Sunday. The school began in 1916 with the hiring of its first fulltime teacher.

The Rev. Galen Grulke, former student and current pastor of Heart of the Shepherd Lutheran Church, Howell, served as master of ceremonies for the event, which drew several former teachers and pastors. Several offered remarks at the celebration potluck at the school.

“You all are here because somebody taught you that Jesus loves you and you, in turn, did the same for others,” Rev. Grulke said encouraging the congregation to continue the work of the school.

Current teacher and principal Linda Schalk introduced former teachers and pastors in attendance including Larry Wissner, Les Roth, Carol Roth, Bud Helmreich, Kathy McFall, Ken Schroeder, Rodney Goehmann, Holly Wirgau, the Rev. Barton Gray and the Rev. John Schreiber. Schalk also welcomed Marcia Weller, daughter of longtime pastor the late Rev. Robert Weller and former teacher Clara Weller.

The Rev. Eric Voigt, who serves both St. John and Immanuel Lutheran in Moltke, said his time serving the congregation has been an enjoyable experience.

“It has been a joy to witness the growth in the kids over the past 11 years I have been serving. It is wonderful to see the wonderful young men and women these students have become,” Rev. Voigt said.

As a history major in college, Rev. Voigt said he appreciates the history of the school and all of the pastors and teachers who have come before him.

A FEW OF the many teachers and pastors who served at St. John were present for the 100th anniversary celebration of the Lutheran school. Those current or former church workers are (from left) Carol Roth, Ken Schroeder, Les Roth, Rev. John Schrieber, Larry Wissner, Rev. Galen Grulke, Rev. Barton Gray, Rodney Goehmann, Linda Schalk, Bud Helmreich, Kathy McFall, Stacy Purol, Holly Wirgau, Rev. Eric Voigt, Jennifer Voigt, Karen Quade, Tonya Langlois and Julie Riddle. (Photo by Richard Lamb)

Bruce Braun superintendent of 159 schools for the Michigan District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod congratulated the congregation for the success of the school. Braun said back in 1916, costs were high and the economy was not great, but yet the congregation pursued starting a school.

“We live in a world where Lutheran schools are needed more than ever,” Braun said. He said it was an honor to sit on the stage with former teachers and pastors, whom he called a “hall of fame.”

God calls us to accept challenges, Braun said, saying it is not easy to maintain a Lutheran day school.

Rogers City mayor Tom Sobeck presented a plaque declaring May 22, 2016 St. John Lutheran School Day. He acknowledged the cost of a faith-based education is high, but worthwhile.

“Every penny, every minute, every ounce of sweat that it takes is worth it. When we go through a faith-based education, I don’t think we realize until we are well past that age, what value that was and what effort our parents took to get that to us. One hundred years of doing that is incredible,” Sobeck said.

***     ***     ***     ***

Lutheran education actually began at St. John in 1873 with the calling of the first pastor, but the congregation voted to build a school building in 1910. Brothers Max and Leopold Kulhman constructed the building at a cost of $945. With the enrollment increasing over the years, that building became too small and was sold and moved to house the present St. Luke Episcopal Church on the corner of Erie and First Streets.

The church called Louis Schilke in May, 1916 to serve as its first full-time teacher with a salary of $60 per month. He served two years until moving to Austin, IL, causing a two-year suspension of school operations. With the arrival of Hans Hanson in 1920, school resumed. Hanson stayed for nine years as the school grew. By the end of the decade, enrollment surpassed 100 pupils for the first time.

Classes were taught in German until 1926 and church services, previously conducted in German, were switched to English the same year.

With the arrival of teacher M.L. Wiess in 1929 and the Rev. Louis Linn in 1930 enrollment increased, as did congregational membership.

The school had two teachers from 1930 until the 1941-42 school year when a third teacher served the school. A fourth teacher came in 1951 and a fifth teacher came in 1955. Six teachers served beginning in the 1959-60 school year.

The Mendrick building on Erie Street, directly across the street from the former location of the old church, served as school from 1930-1941. At a cost of $50,000, a new school was dedicated at its present location, adding three classrooms, offices, kitchen and an auditorium to the school.

In 1954, expansion came again at a cost of $95,000, adding three more classrooms to the north side of the property, a 6,200 square foot addition preparing for the peak enrollment of 226 in 1959. Present at the dedication were the Rev. Robert Weller, Rev. Linn and principal Norman Utech.

Some of the longest-serving teachers at the school included Ray Newkirk 1954-1987, Elsie Gruhn, 1955-1973; Noel Schroeder 1965-1993; Phyllis Schroeder 1969-1993; Kathy McFall 1975-2003 and Les Roth 1965-1981.

The school now has an enrollment of 70, including preschool and kindergarten. Linda Schalk, herself a former student of the school, has served as a teacher at St. John for the past 19 years and principal since the retirement of Ken Schroeder in 2009.

“It is amazing how I can remember all of my teachers from St. John but not so much from my high school and college years. What an influence they had on my life and the lives of the many students they came in contact with,” Schalk said.

The current staff consists of teachers Mrs. Jennifer Voigt, Mrs. Laurie Maynard, Mrs. Stacy Purol, Miss Karen Quade, Mrs. Tonya Langlois, Mr. Eric Frisco and secretary Julie Riddle.

Subscribe to the Advance for all the local news. Call us at (989) 734-2105

Coach Karl Grambau’s Huron softball team claimed its fifth straight district title with wins over Hillman, 12-2 and Onaway 9f1. They move on to the Lake Leelanau St. Mary’s regional Saturday at 12:30 to play Frankfort. The winner plays the winner of the Central Lake vs. Mio contest which begins at 10 a.m.

On the baseball side, Rogers City lost to Hillman while Posen defeated Onaway before losing to Hillman in the district championship.

More details and lots of photos will be in the next Advance.

A color guard led the processional into Memorial Park Cemetery to honor the dead on Memorial Day. (Photo by Angie Asam)

by Angie Asam–Staff Writer

With a small change in the parade route the Rogers City Memorial Day ceremony went off very well with many people in attendance under bright sunny skies. The parade didn’t start at Westminster Church this year but rather at the Courthouse with the remembrance ceremony.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 607 color guard and members of the Rogers City Serviceman’s Club handled the ceremony with the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Rogers City High School (RCHS) Marching band looking on.

When the ceremony was finished and fallen soldiers were saluted the parade moved to Memorial Park Cemetery on Larke Avenue where more honors were bestowed.

Ken Radzibon, former probate judge and local attorney, was the keynote speaker for the event. “We live in a country where we do not share a common ethnicity, or common religious background. Instead, what we share as Americans, are the freedoms that have been passed down through the generations before us,” he started.

Radzibon talked about the freedom of religion, speech, press and the freedom to vote. He talked about how those freedoms did not come without a cost.

A brief ceremony honored the dead at the Presque Isle County Courthouse on Memorial Day in Rogers City.

“Today is a special day for many reasons. As we remember the sacrifices of our members of the armed services who purchased and protected our freedoms with their own lives, let us pause and think about the cost they have paid. Without their willingness to serve our country in many times of need, we would not be able to enjoy the freedoms we so cherish,” he said.

Monday was the 150^th anniversary of Memorial Day, first celebrated after the Civil War when the graves of the war dead were marked with fresh flowers. In 1868 Gen. John Logan, first commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, proclaimed that May 30 of each year would be set aside as a day of remembrance. Monday just happened to be May 30.

“If you go back in time to the Revolutionary War, and then count all of the deaths of members of the armed services who have given their lives in all conflicts fought by our country, the price of freedom stands today at over 1.2 million Americans. That’s 1.2 million,” said Radzibon.

“I appreciate those of you who have given up part of your day, to honor those who have fallen, by coming to these ceremonies. Too often our country and the commercialism so prevalent today celebrates this weekend not for the purpose for which it was designed, but to mark the ‘start of summer’. We should all strive to use this day, or at least part of it, to reflect on the sacrifices of those who have fallen for our country as we continue to enjoy the freedoms for which they gave their lives,” said Radzibon.

Radzibon ended his speech quoting some stanzas from the poem “Bivouac of the Dead” by Theodore O’Hara.

Following the speech, the fallen were saluted again. After remarks from officer of the day and former sheriff Mike Peltz about the everyday heroes walking among us, the color guard was dismissed to render honors at Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery and Peace Lutheran Cemetery.

Many were out to attend the ceremony with the RCHS band playing the national anthem. The ceremony was proof that Memorial Day isn’t just the start of summer or an extra day off work or school, but a day to reflect and honor those who have paid the ultimate price for our freedoms when they lost their lives protecting and fighting for them.

(From the May 26, 2016 edition of the Presque Isle County Advance)

by Peter Jakey–Managing Editor

Memorial Day is a time to honor men and women who died in the wars.

John Veihl and David Bruning are men who paid the ultimate price for their county.

For the Veihl family of Tower, Memorial Day is not only a time to remember, but it is a time that weighs heavy on their hearts. The family buried John at Forest Lawn Cemetery the day after Memorial Day 1968. The 20-year-old was in Vietnam for less than four months.

The 1966 Onaway High School (OHS) grad worked for the State Highway Department in Bay City and was involved in helping to survey the site of the Zilwaukee Bridge in Saginaw before being inducted into the Army in 1967. He could have had his job back, upon returning.

He held the record for high hurdles at OHS for a number of years. He was a good student and had a love of hunting and fishing.

“He went overseas on March 9,” said John’s mother Arla, who still lives in Tower. She lost her husband 4Woodrow last December.

Woody was a World War II veteran and served his country well, three years in Africa and Italy. John wanted to do his part. He was the oldest of five boys and decided to serve as well.

There are letters John sent to his mother and father.

“He always wanted to know how the kids were doing,” said Arla, fighting back tears.

“He was going to get married before going into the service,” said brother Brian Veihl. “Dad told him to wait until he got out of the service.” They put the wedding on hold, but he took her to the prom while on furlough.

The family knew what could happen. The Onaway community already had mourned the loss of Charles D. Chapman in Vietnam.

Arla, like many mothers, worried about her son, and when her second oldest Gary was drafted, “I wrote to somebody so he would not have to go to Vietnam. I did not want to go through that again.”

Woody and the boys were playing baseball at the ball diamonds when the Michigan State Police arrived to tell them John had been critically wounded.

“They came to my vehicle and asked where Woodrow was,” said Arla. “I figured something had happened. They got Woody off the field and that was the end of the ball game.”

“He got hit with shrapnel,” Brian explained.

Two days later, a knock came at the front door with the tragic news.

“Evidently, he was wounded before because he received two Purple Hearts, but he did not tell us,” said Arla. The medals have been in a glass frame in her living room for almost 50 years.

“Everybody was very good to us,” said Arla.

She feels a sense of pride for her son’s service to the country, but still finds it difficult to talk about or attend services in Onaway each year.

Five years ago, the Chapman family spearheaded an effort to place a new plaque on the war memorial because John’s last name was spelled wrong for many years. His name is also on the war memorial in Rogers City and Cheboygan.

It’s a soldier and a family to remember Memorial Day, along with Sp/4 David Kenneth Bruning, who was 23.

The Advance headline from March 14, 1968 read: “Native son loses life in Vietnam War.” He was the first from Rogers City lost in Vietnam.

David was the youngest of three boys born to Kenneth and Melva Bruning, who passed away in January.

Like his brothers, David graduated from the old high school building. David graduated in 1963.

“He was easy going and funny,” said brother Tim, who still lives in Rogers City. “He was a good worker.”

“He was outgoing,” said his brother Mark.

David was working for Fletcher Paper Company of Alpena. He had been married since November 1966 and living in Alpena.

“I am thinking they said, ‘We don’t want you,’ and sent him home,” said Mark. “He got married and then he was inducted, which is very normal for Uncle Sam.”

He entered the service May 10, 1967 and arrived in Vietnam five months later. He received a Purple Heart for wounds received January 4, 1968. He recovered and was returned to action.

“I think he was wounded three times,” said Tim. “He was in the hospital for one of his birthdays. I remember that.”

In letters to his father, “He talked about what a screwed up Army it was,” said Tim.

He was killed near Tan Son Nhut, March 4, 1968.

“I was the guy that took the call,” said Mark. “I was at work and my sister in-law called me and told me and told me that they had knocked on her door. I went home and told my father and mother. Not a real good thing to do. Then, I went and told my brother.”

“It was tough on all of us,” said Tim. “We all wondered why it had to happen. It was needless and senseless.”

Mark wonders, “Was it really worth it? Now we have a president who just went over, and eased opened the doors to sell them war materials in Vietnam. That is where my brother was killed.”

David’s body arrived back in Rogers City March 12. He was buried in Alpena.

The family also remembers Russell Bruning, who is on the World War II memorial.

“They were a brave lot,” said Tim. “They went and fought for what we enjoy – what most of us take for granted. For some, it is just a holiday weekend.”

For others who lost immediate family members, it’s so much more.

“Some of us really know…” said Tim, his words tailing off, not able to finish.

Mark, who also served, said there are thousands of other to remember as well. It’s the reason the holiday has been designated.

For the fifth-straight year, coach Karl Grambau will lead his softball team into the regional round. The hot-hitting Hurons defeated Hillman 12-2 and Onaway 9-1 to earn the right to play Frankfort in the regional semifinals Saturday at 12:30 p.m. at Lake Leelanau St. Mary.
Frankfort, ranked ninth in the May 24 Michigan High School Coaches Association poll, defeated Suttons Bay 24-1 and Lake Leelanau St. Mary 19-3 to move to the regional round.
Rogers City came out smoking in the district semifinals against host Hillman, scoring seven runs in the first inning. Freshman pitcher Jayna Hance led off with a single, sophomore shortstop Kayla Rabeau followed by reaching on an error and then senior catcher Sarah Meredith drove in Hance with a single. Sophomore third baseman Hannah Fleming followed with a three-run homer to jump-start the drive to the district title.

“We have really come a long way from the beginning of the year from where we were to where we are now,” said coach Karl Grambau. Grambau said the big first inning against Hillman sparked the team. “I guess it was a good thing to be visitors and get the bats going first.”
The Hurons banged out 15 hits with Rabeau hitting a homer and two singles, while Meredith and junior right fielder Hannah Dittmar getting three singles each.
Hillman threatened in the third inning, scoring two runs on only one hit, two walks and two Huron errors, but that was the only challenged faced. Hance set them down in order 1-2-3 in the fifth, sixth and seven innings.
Rogers City added one in the fourth, two in the sixth and two more runs in the seventh to earn a 12-2 win over Hillman.
Onaway faced Rogers City for the district championship and again the Hurons’ bats came alive in a 9-1 win. Onaway drew first blood, as Jade Galer led off the bottom of the first with a single to left and later scored on freshman second baseman Kennedy Crawford’s single. But that was it for the Cardinal offense. Onaway reached second base only three times after that. Kayla Metty had a one-out double in the third inning, but was stranded, Metty reached second on an error, but couldn’t advance and Alison LaFave singled in the fourth inning but was left on second base.
Two runs in the third came as Hance and Rabeau, who had four hits in the game, each singled and came around to score. Rogers City scored four more in the fourth and added three in the fifth.  Hance and Megan Brege each had two hits while Taylor Fleming had a home run in the fifth inning. Hance went all the way for the win.
“We’ve had some tough luck on this field, we lost to Posen and Onaway here before in tournament play, but we played really well today and its a tribute to how hard these girls have worked,” Grambau said.
“I told them to keep their heads up and how I had many compliments on their competitiveness and sportsmanship throughout the year, not only from other coaches but from other fans and umpires,” said Onaway coach Jodi Brewbaker. The Lady Cards finished 24-8.
The Hurons (27-11) ranked sixth behind Coleman, Unionville Sebewaing Area, Rapid River, Kalamazoo Christian and Inland Lakes, won the state championship in 2014 after making the final four in 2013. Coach Grambau coached the 2004 team, which finished as state runner-up in Division 4.

Crawford’s walk-off shot lands Onaway in final, Posen battles to the end
Onaway freshman Kennedy Crawford lined a walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh-inning to break a 1-1 tie and send the Cards to the district championship game.
Callie Selke, who started the game on the mound for Onaway and struck out 15 Posen batters, started the bottom of the seventh with a walk. That’s where she was when Crawford turned on a 3-2 change up and put it over the left-field fence.
“I told Kennedy during a time out, that you have done it all year for me,” said Brewbaker. “Do it some more and she did it. It was amazing.”
Onaway led most of the game after taking a 1-0 lead on a throwing error in the third. Both teams had scoring chances throughout the contest, but the score was 1-0 going into the top of the seventh. Posen’s Taylor Roznowski and Lyndsey Romel walked and moved to second and third on a sacrifice bunt by Hannah Stone. Kayla Lenard came to the plate and reached on an error that scored Riley Krajniak, pinch running for Roznowski, to tie the game.
The game appeared to be headed to extra innings, before Crawford’s dramatic end.
“We said we were going to leave a lasting impression on everybody who watches this game and thought the girls did that today,” said Posen coach Glenn Budnick.
Budnick was pleased with the pitching of starter Jolene Reese and the performance of the defense behind her. Brewbaker told her squad before the game “To beware of Posen” after the Cards defeated them during the season.
“Posen is a team that does not give up and they are well coached. I told them its going to be a battle and it definitely was a battle,” said Brewbaker.
The Vikings started 1-9 at the start of the campaign and finished 17-5 over the final 22 games.

Sarah Meredith celebrates Hannah Fleming’s home which provided the winning margin in the 6-4 win over Mio.

On the strength of two complete games by freshman Jayna Hance and key hits by Ally Streich and Hannah Fleming, the Hurons defeated Mio to claim the regional softball title. The Hurons topped Frankfort 7-6 in the regional semifinal to set up the title game with North Star League rival Mio for the right to move on to Tuesday’s quarterfinal with Inland Lakes.

With the score tied 1-1 in the bottom of the third, Streich drilled a two-out double to score Sarah Meredith, who reached on an error, Hannah Fleming, who doubled, and Hannah Dittmar, who was hit by a pitch.

Freshman pitcher Jayna Hance got the wins in both games at the regional tournament Saturday in Lake Leelanau. (Photos by Richard Lamb)

Mio rallied to score two runs in the top of the sixth on two hits, a walk and a Huron error. Then in the bottom of the sixth, Hannah Fleming’s home run gave Rogers City a 6-3 lead. Mio then scored one and had two on base when Hance got the final out on a fly ball.

Hannah Fleming (7) is greeted by her teammates after slamming a two-run homer in the 6-4 win over Mio.

St. Dominic Parish in Metz will be the site of a summer festival Sunday.

The smell of barbequed chicken will be in the air as St. Dominic Parish in Metz celebrates the arrival of summer. The festivities begin at noon on the parish grounds and run until 5:30 p.m. Sunday on the parish grounds.

The day features a Chinese raffle, with many handcrafted and new items, along with the famous chicken dinner. Games, door prizes, raffle prizes and dancing will highlight the afternoon activities at the parish.

Anne and the Polka Pals will play music from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. to add to the atmosphere of the day. St. Dominic Parish is located in downtown Metz on County Road 441, approximately six miles south of U.S. 23.

HERE COMES THE sun to welcome people to the beach at Lakeside Park in Rogers City. Summer has finally arrived to the delight of visitors to the area and those who braved the long winter months.

Many activities, including concerts by the city band each Thursday at 7 p.m. are planned for the park during the summer, but mornings like this don’t need any activities to be enjoyable. (Photo by Richard Lamb)

by Peter Jakey–Managing Editor

The stage is being set in Onaway for the “Greatest Fourth in the North.”

The annual celebration in the Sturgeon Capital is the town’s biggest event of the year with a parade, the best arts & crafts in the north, food and fireworks. There will be activities going on throughout the weekend, culminating with the final day of festivities on the holiday.

“We have some fun activities planned for the Fourth,” said Jessica Richards, Onaway Community Chamber of Commerce president.

Saturday there will be a “Raise the Roof” 5 K run/walk at 8 a.m. at Holy Cross Lutheran Church.

The Dancing Hippo Arts & Crafts Show starts a three-day run and will be open Saturday from noon to 4 p.m.

Later that night, it’s kids night at the Onaway Speedway with a fireworks show. At 8 p.m. is one of a few new events called Blues, Brews, and Booze at Manzana’s Restaurant.

Going along with the theme this year, Sunday there will be a superhero costume party/costume contest at the Bluffs on Black Lake at 8 p.m. The entry fee for the costume contest will be donated to the 2017 fireworks fund. There will be prizes for first to third place.

“Everyone who enters is also welcome to walk in the grand parade in their costumes the next day,” said Richards. “The grand parade will kick off at noon. Honored guests include our grand marshal, Marty Mix, accompanied by his wife and kids.

“Also, new this year is our parade ambassador, Petey Szala. He received multiple nominations from community members, so he’s proudly kicking off our parade.”

Moran Iron Works will have its usual entry and once it has gone through the parade it will end up in Awakon Park.

Kids’ games start at 10 a.m. Monday, as well as the last day of the Dancing Hippo. The American Legion Post will have a food and beverage stand at Brian’s Auto Sales.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars chicken dinner starts at 10 a.m. until gone.

The giant salad bar at St. Paul Catholic Church is back along with another staple: the pie and ice cream social at United Methodist Church. Both church events start at 11 a.m.

“Join us for the Best Fourth in the North fireworks at dusk near Horrocks Field along M-211,” said Richards.

It was a great day in the history of the Rogers City High School band program, and it happened 40 years ago while the country was in the midst of its bicentennial.
The country was celebrating its 200th year of independence and Rogers City band members were right in the middle of the biggest parties in Washington, D.C. and the City of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia. It will be 40 years ago,  July 1, 1976, that they left.

Read about the band’s trip, including an interview with director Steve Bergmann, in the June 30, 2016 edition of the Presque Isle County Advance. To subscribe please call (989) 734-2105.

by Peter Jakey–Managing Editor
It was a great day in the history of the Rogers City High School band program, and it happened 40 years ago while the country was in the midst of its bicentennial.
The country was celebrating its 200th year of independence and Rogers City band members were right in the middle of the biggest parties in Washington, D.C. and the City of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia. It will be 40 years ago tomorrow, July 1, 1976, that they left.
“The excitement of being part of the country’s birthday celebration, left the biggest impression,” Mary Jo (Modrzynski) Vaughn who played flute and piccolo in 1976.
The Marching Hurons were not only Rogers City’s representatives for the birthday bashes, but the state’s ambassadors as well.

Steve Bergmann
1976 RCHS Band Director in a 2016 photo

Three Greyhound buses transported 108-band members and chaperons more than a 1,000 miles.
Some of the students, which included eighth-graders all the way up to the 1976 graduates, had never been on a Greyhound or out of Michigan for that matter.
And what a contrast it must have been going from Third Street in downtown Rogers City to Constitution Avenue in D.C. and Market Street in Philadelphia.
The trip could not have been possible without a supportive community, who helped band members raise more than $10,000 to make the trip possible, but even after all this time, a lot of credit goes to band director Steve Bergmann, 70. He ensured band members were ready for the walks along the parade routes and for the heat.
The retired educator is alive and well in Naples, Florida. He just celebrated his 35th wedding anniversary on Monday.
Bergmann started his career in Indian River after graduating from Northern Michigan University in 1968. In 1971, he took a public school job in Las Vegas, Nevada.
That’s where principal Del Conley and superintendent Jack Newton found him and lured him back to northern Michigan to teach the Rogers City students in the band program.
“I am being very honest when I say this, it was the best thing that happened to me,” said Bergmann, of coming back to Michigan. “Rogers City was always a great music community. They hired me and it was a wonderful thing.”
Before the bicentennial year, Newton, who had a son in band, wanted the band to go out and perform somewhere during the celebratory year.
“I started thinking, where could we go?” said Bergmann. “What’s more Fourth of July than Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.?”

The administrators and board of education were on board, and so were the parade committees.
That was the easy part. The next step was to raise $10 K.
“Today, it would be $100,000,” he said. “That was a ton of money.” There were lots of supporters. Some businesses got behind the students with various promotions, including “Beef up the Band.”
The kids picked up rocks at the golf course and put on dinner shows to bring in money. “The outpouring for the kids was unbelievable,” said Bergmann.
The preparation was not easy, and started in November 1975. Band members drilled five and six nights a week all the way up until the Fourth of July, even though the students were out for the summer. Some of the marching took place on the runway of the airport.
“I remember doing a lot of endurance exercises because it was a long parade route,” said Mary Kroll Muszynski, who played mellophonium instead of the french horn she played in concert band.
“I remember picking rocks at the golf course and different fundraisers we did to raise money to go.  I remember a long bus ride to Pennsylvania. I remember the cameras in the middle of the street that we had to watch as we marched through.  We had fun doing some sightseeing and we made great memories!” Muszynski said.
“Practice, practice, practice,” said Diane (Vekaryasz) Delekta, who twirled a rifle.
“I recall weeks and weeks of diligent practices on the selection pieces of music as well as extra time spent on perfecting our marching skills,” said Terri Wenzel Orban. All the music had to be memorized, too.
“If you had Adidas sneakers with black stripes, we had to cover them with tape. Everything had to be perfect,” said Yvonne (Atkins) Brege, who played alto saxophone in the parades and has played in the city band since the summer of 1976.
“I know I was pretty difficult on the kids,” said Bergmann. “We wanted them to be physically fit enough to march in those parades. They took it in stride and worked very hard and that is something commendable for all of them, and I really mean that. That was a special group of kids.”
The first parade was on July 3 in Philadelphia.
Orban, a trumpet player, recalls how nervous she felt getting dressed on the day of the parade, “Anxiously waiting and waiting for the Michigan band announcement to line and prepare.”
Bands joined the procession according to the order which its state joined the union. Michigan, represented by two Girl Scouts carrying a flag, several state policemen, and the Rogers City marching band, was the 26th state in the parade. The parade was already four hours old, according to the article written by Jim Karshner.
“I remember listening and watching all the other bands march by and my nervousness increased with each passing band realizing that soon it would be our turn!  How exciting and electrifying it felt when Mr. Bergmann blew his whistle and our drum cadence began,” said Orban.
In the nation’s capitol, parade goers were 30-deep. Vice president Nelson Rockefeller and country star Johnny Cash stood behind bullet-proof glass, waving to the band as it passed.
Delekta remembers having to keep her rifle still during this part; however, many band members do not recall seeing dignitaries or celebrities.

AUDIO FROM THE 1976 RCHS MARCHING BAND:

“We just knew we were being watched,” said Vaughn. “We could not look around us to see what was going on.” Vaughn still plays in the city band in Munising where she lives and will be in that city’s Fourth of July parade.
Staying in formation and playing the music correctly were more the priorities. There also were large television cameras to dodge. They would split the band and then they would have to get right back in formation.
“The skyscrapers and the buildings were impressive and hearing the sound bounce off of the buildings was neat,” said Vaughn.
“I remember that while we were marching, Mr. Bergmann and parents were checking in with us, as it was a hot day and squirting water in our mouths and asking if we were ‘ok.’  At the end, I remember feeling so proud!  I was a part of something really amazing, I was with a fine group of musicians and I was truly blessed with a band conductor who demanded perfection and commitment, and at the same time, made it fun!” said Orban.
“It was a very special time and truly a highlight, and I mean that very honestly, of my teaching career,” said Bergmann.
After Rogers City, the band director was in many more places and took bands from other schools to England, China and Mexico. “Because Rogers City was the first, it was one of the major highlights of my career in teaching and I mean that very honestly.  It was a special time in history and a special time for the kids.”
“What a moment in history!” said Orban. “And I was a part of it!”
It is a moment to reflect and cherish this Independence Day.