Deputies honored for work on homicide case

Iron County Sheriff Deputies, from left,  Ryan Boehmke and Wade Cross, received recognition for their work on investigating and convicting David Levack for the murder of county resident Joyce Johnson. Sheriff Mark Valesano presented them with Distinguished Service awards. Lt. Greg Cunningham of the Michigan State Police Dickinson County Post and Iron County Prosecuting Attorney Melissa Powell also presented service awards at the Iron County Board of Commissioners’ Aug. 28 meeting.

CRYSTAL FALLS—Two Iron County Sheriff deputies received Distinguished Service awards for their work on the investigation and conviction in a homicide case in Iron County in September 2011.
 Deputies Wade Cross and Ryan Boehmke received the awards from Sheriff Mark Valesano during the Iron County Board of Commissioners’ Aug. 28 meeting.
 They also received recognition from the Michigan State Police and the Iron County Prosecutor’s office.
 “In 2011, our Sheriff’s Department took on the huge responsibility of investigating a homicide,” said Valesano.

Ojibway Correction Officer Mickey Stachowicz was honored with the Michigan Department of Corrections valor award in ceremonies held at the Ojibway Correctional Facility in Marensico on Aug. 2. Picture, from left, are OCF Deputy Warden Dan Quigley, Acting RPA Michael Curley, MDOC Director Daniel Heyns, Stachowicz, and the Stachowicz family, granddaughter Molly Jackman (in front), wife Beverly Stachowicz, daughter Kelly Jackson holding his granddaughter Mya Jackman and Master Sgt. Norman Stachowicz. (Ojibway Correctional Facility photo)
MARENISCO—Mickey Stachowicz, a corrections officer at the Ojibway Correctional Facility here, was recently presented with the Michigan Department of Corrections valor award for his role in the arrest and conviction in a murder case in Iron County.

CRYSTAL FALLS—The Forest Park Board of Education approved a number of new staff  hirings as it prepares for the upcoming 2012-13 school year.
 At the board’s Aug. 27 meeting, action was taken to approve hiring Tamara Ranta as custodian/lunch aide; Kim Payne, teaching second grade; Kurt Anderson, middle school social studies and physical education; Mary Ann Johnson, high school social studies; Karen Nylund, secondary school clerk; and August “A.J.” Murray, high school substitute teacher.

IRON RIVER—With the Michigan High School Athletic Association relaxing some of its eligibility guidelines, the West Iron County Board of Education made a policy decision allowing home-schooled middle school students to take part in the district’s sports programs.
 At the board’s Aug. 20 meeting, requests were made by two families who have junior high-aged children who wish to participate in eighth grade basketball.
 Under the new MSHAA guidelines, the students may request a reduced schedule.

Crystal Falls Township Supervisor Tom Lesandrini (far right), and the Board of Trustees hosted an open house at Gibson Lake Park and campground Aug. 14, showcasing the completion of a $250,000 renovation and upgrade, accomplished through a DNR Trust Fund grant, matched with in-kind work and local contributions.
CRYSTAL FALLS TOWNSHIP—The Crystal Falls Township Board of Trustees held its Aug. 14 meeting at Gibson Lake Park, hosting an open house for the newly renovated park and campground.

CRYSTAL FALLS—Although assured it has “absolute indemnification” concerning Stambaugh Township’s  Chicaugon Lake permit ordinance, the Iron County Board of Commissioners is getting pulled into the issue anyway.
 At the board’s Aug. 14 bi-monthly meeting, Chairman Wayne Wales said he had been contacted by a representative from the DNR service office in Marquette who had concerns about the county’s liability with ticketing violators of the ordinance, and also with the “poison” in the lake from the chemical treatment applied to kill the milfoil.

Veterans Memorial Committee members include, from left, Al Wodzinski, Grant Helgemo, Paul DeNicola, Joy DeNicola, Austin Atanasoff and Mike Franzene.  Not pictured are committee members Mike Henschel and George “Buzzy” Stoychoff. (DeNicola photo)
BATES TOWNSHIP—The Bates Township Veterans Memorial Committee, in collaboration with Austin Atanasoff’s Eagle Scout project, will be constructing a veterans’ memorial at Bates Township Cemetery, which will be unveiled on Memorial Day 2013.
 The anticipated cost to erect the memorial is expected to be about $10,000.

ByIRON RIVER—A proposal to amend Iron River’s charter regarding the council’s structure was rejected by the City Council at its Aug. 15 meeting.
 The proposed change would eliminate the rule of electing one council member from each of the four precincts, and a separate ballot for mayor.
 If it had passed, five council members would be elected at large, with one selected as mayor.
 The proposed amendment brought up discussion about eliminating precincts entirely or reducing them to two.
 “Why should we have precincts,” asked Councilman Al Perlongo. “We’re too small.”

Jackie Samuelson, 16, of Phelps stands proudly next to her steer, G.I. Joe, which was chosen Grand Champion at the Iron County Fair on Aug. 17. He’s an Angus-Simmental cross and weighs 1,210 pounds.

IRON RIVER—As it plans to put a county-wide road millage renewal on the November ballot, the Iron County Road Commission agreed to modify its disbursement of the collected taxes to four cities and the village of Alpha or risk, quite plainly, losing the support of the voters in those municipalities.
 The recommendation and action to accept the agreement was reached after a lengthy discussion with representatives of Iron River, Caspian and Crystal Falls, along with their attorneys, at the Road Board’s Aug. 14 meeting.