Diane,
Never said they were required to allow access for anything other then hunting and fishing. So I do not know where you are going with it.
As I said before there was alot of misinformation put out before during that period concerning public access and you should review it. If you read those past articles, you can see an intentional disregard for actual fact by many people. PS Many of the items listed in your post are also not allowed on public lands either and that was never mentioned.
And just remember, when lands are put into CFR, WE the people ARE paying for that land and WE do have access to that land.

Tim,

As I have always maintained, landowners of CFR land are required to allow public access for hunting and fishing only. Some allow for more activities, but they're not legally obligated to.

Commercial Forest Program

"Lands listed in this program are open to the public for hunting and fishing. The CF lands are not public lands. These lands are private lands under the control of private owners, who through CF allow the public the privilege of hunting and fishing only. The CF lands are not posted or signed as Commercial Forests and may be fenced and/or gated. While permission to hunt of fish on CF lands is not required, we recommend you notify the landowner of your intention to do so. It is a courtesy they will appreciate, and it will contribute to your own safety.

Although a person has a right to hunt and fish on these lands, the property is privately owned and subject to normal private property rights. Unless you have permission of the property owner, the right to hunt on the land does not extend to associated activities such as the following:

Littering

Camping

The cutting of shooting lanes, or the cutting or destruction of brush, trees or other plants for any purpose.

The use of nails, bolts, wire, tree steps or other materials or activities which harm, lessen or destroy the value of trees.

The construction of blinds or the construction or placement of other structures, except for the gathering of dead materials found on the ground.

Target-shooting or sighting-in firearms.

The use of ORV;s or other vehicles on private property when prohibited by fencing or posting. If vehicles are allowed, care should be taken to avoid blocking access to roads or parking areas.
A person engaging in an activity not allowed by a property owner may be criminally or civilly liable, or both."

The above is taken directly from the DNR's Web site.

Diane,
Go back and read some of my accusations concerning the DNR and locals. In summary, it appeared some DNR people figured thier job secrurity was more important then our lands and others perpetuated misinformation concerning access to CFR lands. If you go back and read some of the comments in the papers you'll see what I mean. I have a friend that knows the "assessor" for the DNR and he knows the process for determining land prices, most of the time it is done as HE sees fit, not the actual value. This whole thing stunk of personel agendas (like most DNR actions).
Like most actions done by the DNR, this was done using thier mathematics and thier science with very little regard for true mathematics or true science (or even actual law for that matter i.e. Bete Grise South matter). Anyway, the swap WAS and would have been a good thing for this area. But when my children get older and wonder why they cannot hunt there anymore you bet I'll blame people like you.

Walt,
I guess I was more speaking of the people who think they can dump in woods and don't care. I do understand the main reasons for the gates, but also think that if people would have paid more respect to LSL's lands in the past, we would not be dealing with this now.

Time to go, naptime is almost over and we've got some sledding to do. I do love how the little ones look all bundled up in winter. And it may sound mean but I do have fun pushing them over in the snow like a turtle but they get sick of that game pretty quick. Anyway enjoy the snow all, it looks like a big one this weekend.

Tim, I agree with most all of what you say. It looks like its time for the silent majority to stand up and be counted once again. Most people want the swap to happen small at first, a trial run if you may. Then get a little bigger. I want I.P. here period. We need them more than they need us. Look what happened when the people spoke out on the ski hill, its time to be counted. Lets all start backing I.P. more this might help in a lot of ways. Also lets not think we can stay away from development. Keweenaw county is not out of the red yet!!!! I think the meetings were a positive move in the right direction.

Tim,
Walt Arnold, from LSLC, clearly defined the reasoning for the gates: To protect their(LSLC)
investment, the roads they have made or improved.
Trash is a secondary issue. The gates remain locked because in the spring steelhead fisherment like to get as close to the stream as they can and with soft wet ground (roads) the result is ruts, lots of 'em, that harden later, and destroy the improved road. Apparently, deer season is another time of the year that they think would damage their roads if the gates were open. I think that would depend on how cold it is, like today, with single digit temps, road damage would be minimal.

I also forgot to mention (you wouldn't want me for a reporter) that he gave me the name of a man who I assume works for LSLC, the person to call if someone would like a gate opened, say, if you bagged your buck and he lies dead a half mile behind LSLC's gate. Dave Fehringer.

He also mentioned the possibility of having the gates opened when it is unlikely that road damage would occur. Like how about that free fishing weekend?

(Can the pasty.cam show some pictures of that unique Keweenaw vegetation presented in photos by that photographer with another hard name to spell. I think his first name is Charles? Or maybe the cam has done so? When? there's a lot there.)

Lisa,

At the meeting Monday night, Tina Hall said that the NC doesn't have the staffing to manage a large tract of land in the U.P. (she's 50% of the staff for the whole area). However, they would be willing to take ownership of a large tract temporarily to facilitate its transfer to a governmental body. She also made the point that the U.P. has gained a great deal because the lumber companies have held onto large parcels of land for timber production; otherwise the land would have been split into 40s, 80s, and sections long ago. She considers it very important to make sure that the lumber industry remains viable here.

On Tuesday night, the meeting in Houghton H.S. Auditorium also had some information concerning the lumber industry. Although there are a few businesses (Horner Flooring, etc.) that create value-added lumber products, most of the lumber is trucked out to other areas without providing much benefit to the local economy. It would be better to have some more value-added lumber businesses in the area (a wilderness cabin manufacturer, as Walt has pointed out, would benefit our area). Art Abrahamson of I.P. said on Monday that his company was constantly evaluating its land holdings to determine their "highest and best use" (i.e. "most profitable use to the company"), so it would be good for the land use planners to help keep lumbering viable and to make splitting up the land for retirement homes, no trespassing signs, etc., less attractive to I.P.

Back to the Tuesday night meeting: I was glad to see two of the new Houghton County commissioners there, plus some of the township supervisors. Also, the meeting gained a lot by the comments of an attendee who contended that "everyone who has lived here less than ten years or makes more than forty thousand dollars a year should leave the meeting." This encouraged several lifetime residents to speak up who had earlier been reluctant to speak because of the education and general prominence of the presenters. It's clearly going to be important for everyone to realize that planning doesn't mean destroying the existing Houghton County way of life, but may be the only way to preserve it.

Anyway, maybe Houghton County can catch up with Keweenaw County in the planning area sometime in the future.

Lynn

Tim,
I don't know what "misinformation" you're referring to but I will take responsibility for disseminating information, and in particular, as to the public access issue. As I have said all along, don't take my word for it--ask the DNR or read the statute. I believe at Monday's meeting in Calumet, Byron Sailor discussed the CFR law.

You can blame me if you want, but I can't take the credit. It was the DNR who determined that the swap wasn't in the best interest of the State.


Diane

Paul,
There already is a combination of state-owned and private land (agricultural, residential, and CFR) land where I live. I'm not selling my land so I guess it wouldn't affect the "price" at all. Now if you're referring to property value--I have to say that I really don't know. I do know that in this area, acreage is getting harder and harder to come by. Reasonably priced property doesn't stay on the market very long--provided it even makes it to the market. I think a good portion of the land that is sold is never listed.
Diane

Hello everyone,
Just thought I would ring in on the swap issue. As I have said before, the main reason for the swap failing was the INTENTIONAL spreading of false or misinformation concerning the Houghton County lands and allowable access to CFR lands.
Diane,
I do not know if you are one of the ones that were duped by this misinformation or ones that was spereading it. Either way, I blame people like you for the swap failing. Just a suggestion, try getting more informed.

Walt,
As for the roads being gated, I belive it is time we the people undertake the punishment of these aholes who dump thier garbage on our lands. That means all of us. I'm sick of seeing beer cans, candy wrappers, and "white goods" in the woods when I go for walkabouts. Maybe all these people understand is the kind of justice people like you and I can inflict. If anyone sees this kind of activity, just put it on this site and we'll do the rest. Maybe when this dumping and polluting ends, we can have the kind of access we want.

On a lighter note, Merry Christmas to all.

Diane, if there was sellable land added to the surrounding land you own would the price of your land go up or down?

Diane, well then give them some of that!!! They are not digging for oil, I suppose you could come up with something for anything I suggest. You are a true pain in the patuttie, You want but don't want to give!!!! Its your attitude that should be overlooked as well as mine is by most. I want the best for Keweenaw as a whole, I know planning is the way to go, also give and take, don't be so set in your ways!!! WHATS YOUR PLAN OTHER THAN STATE TAX DOLLARS
ps the downstate people have something to say about tax dollars too

WARNING TO PAUL FROM THE MODERATING COMMITTEE: Please avoid personal and inflammatory remarks, or they will be moved to the ranting section. Be nice to Diane. We respect both of your opinions.

Paul,
Glad to hear you say that "maybe the water shed thing wasn't the answer." Now take a look at a Houghton County platbook and pick out some state land that isn't in the watershed. Good luck.

Jeff, (and the rest),
I meant to mention this earlier. Over the summer, on the Mendota site, someone anonymously suggested that I ask for a key to the gates. I replied that I had thought about it, but hadn't.
So while I was talking with Walt Arnold (now there's a name I can spell) I asked if I could have a key. Mr. Arnold took a dim view of that idea, and said something about favoritism and something else that sounded like that had been done before (I wondered why that car was parked a mile and half past the handi-capped parking spot by the gate).

I also talked with Bill Deephouse (another easy name to spell) about gates. He said something along the lines of being willing to walk past a gate, as well. (If you fish a stream and there's a path along the bank, go elsewhere. It isn't really any fun until you trip for the tenth time over tag-elders or walk through chest high grass.)
But Bill mentioned a berm, or mound, on the path or trail that leads to Lost Lake. Lost Lake was stocked. And there are some other rules that apply there, as well, but the berm in that location raises some other questions, among them,
who else is involved in the patterning of the gates and berms? if any. Or has LSLC developed a road going into Lost Lake? No ice fishing there, this winter.

Diane, the gift is that I.P. is considering a land swap of some sort DAAAAA. I don't here a lot of people telling me how beautiful your trees are down there! If you ever get in a car and ride south you will go 5 hours of nothing but trees before you start to see any building of any size. It is your attitude that screwed things up before, maybe the water shed thing wasn't the answer but some of the other land around could be traded. There is only so much shoreline period. The flatlands are vast and could be traded. Not all from one place but a few places. Who once said you can please some of the people sometime, and some of the people all the time but never will you please all the people all the time!!!! I don't think you could be pleased anytime!!!!

Paul,
I'm not at all sure what you just wrote. If you ever get tired of making jam, I'm sure you could get work in Florida designing butterfly ballots!

What in the world is a "true tree hugger?" Do you think I'm against logging? I'm not. Not only do I have a woodlot that I plan to log this winter, this weekend I'll go out, cut one (a tree) down, and bring it in the house!

What exactly did I say about "my land" that makes you think I'm out of my head? Is it because I believe that eventually ALL public land will be developed?

"As stated before the KEWEENAW is much more than your or my land, as a matter of fact it is I.P.s land tooo!!!! Get a grip and be realistic, don't look a gift horse in the mouth." What is THAT all about? Just what IS this "gift" you're talking about?

You might be surprised to know that not everyone's idea of paradise is the tip of the peninsula. As gorgeous as it is, I'm lucky if I get up there once a year--usually to show it to a visitor. Most of the time, my friends and family want to hang out down here and spend some quality time fishing, hiking, etc. They don't want to spend half a day on the road getting up there and back.

Call me selfish if you like. I just happen to believe that if the State wants more public land up there, it should purchase the parcels it wants--not swap for them.

Diane

P.S. When I speak of the KEWEENAW, I'm referring to a four-county area.

Diane, I think everyone concerned sees your selfish ways. You are a true tree hugger, I think you are out of your mind with the way you speak of your land. As stated before the KEWEENAW is much more than your or my land, as a matter of fact it is I.P. s land tooo!!!! Get a grip and be realistic, don't look a gift horse in the mouth. Everyone will be asked to give a little that way many swaps can be accomplished. Not all Houghton county, Baraga & Ontonogan counties have a stake in this as well. Same as the ski hills united we stand divided we fall. Pick your favorite spot in Keweenaw and then pick a wooded area in Houghton county that you would be willing to give up for it. It will be interesting to see your swap your way!!!! In the meantime don't let your undies get all bunched up!!! Listen to a little SMOOTH before answering. This ain't no country club baby.
-----SHOW ME YOURS AND I'LL SHOW YOU MINE---------

Paul, you say "I say just maybe if we approach I.P. with a solution something like a section or two at a time for a ongoing swap then maybe we can get things done. I think for every section along the shore of the great big one, the state give I.P. 3 sections of interior woodland in surrounding areas."

You didn't say where the "surrounding areas" are, but if you mean the Houghton County lands that were proposed in the "failed" land swap--forget it! Been there, done that.

I also believe that someday, ALL of the land in this area will be worth more as developable real estate than it will be as timberland. Your neighbors to the south are just as concerned about NO TRESPASSING signs down here as you are up there.
If your intention is to trade away the public land in Houghton County so that you can keep public access close to home, I hope you'll understand if the people down here graciously decline your generous offer.

Jeff,
Earlier, I posted that "the gates are protecting their investment." (roads,other) Mr. Abramson must have been corralled downstairs after the presentation, but Walt Arnold (from LSLC) was introduced prior to the show and he was upstairs in the ballroom (who wanted to be a ballroom dancer? didn't see him there.} So I asked Walt why the gates. LSLC spends big money on developing roads and the times of the year when logging roads are susceptible to damaging vehicular traffic are both spring and winter (deer season).

Frank Stubenrauch (sp? why can't that guy have a name that can be spelled easier?) in his presentation suggested that "white goods" are being dumped on the land. (I've always assumed that all that junk metal receives a price at the next stage in the line of recycling, and I remember bringing junk metal to Ripley and receiving money for it (years ago,25 or so). But now to throw anything away one must pay. I'm a small contractor (under 200 lbs) and since '92, when I returned to the area, I've paid about $8,000.00 at the various transfer stations, enough, in '92, to buy a chunk of ground, where, if some posts are correct, I could do anything with my ground and I could have thrown that trash away there and paid for the ground. Hmmm.

Paul: I see great merit in your approach to the Keweenaw's relationship with IP. Every new life's journey begins with babysteps. I have to wonder how long the wood products of the Keweenaw will remain more valuable to their shareholders than the real estate value however. Just don't spend too much time on your "sackerrilleac" if you really want the "public access" policy to remain as is. I suspect the "private/keep-out/no trespassing" tendencies are on the UP-swing.
Jim: Looking forward to seeing your CC Minerals and Mining History page at Yahoo take shape(not to state the obvious, but your addy for it needs a colon--rather than a period--after the http)
Walt: Any definitive word on why the gates? I know it can be hard on some of the older folk, but as long as foot traffic is allowed I have no complaints. Half the fun of going to someplace special is in the gettin' there.

Lisa, whadda ya mean man, just kidding. I do think a small swap to set things in place for further trades is a good idea. It would be a lot easier in the long run. I am for I.P.. I think we should treat these people with respect and change the way they are looked at altogether. They should be looked at as the real friends of the Keweenaw! I am totally happy with the way they have handled their lands, put yourself in the shareholders place, this is the stock people that hold the rights as well as the big people in the top offices. We should make every effort to please these people with a fair trade and if anything at all give them a deal they can't refuse. We still get to hunt their land and a lot of other things without any hassel,wheres the beef? SHOW ME THE BEEF!!!!

Hello all,

I've started a yahoo club dedicated to local minerals and mining history. If these areas interest you, join, and share your knowledge. The addy is http.//clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/coppercountryminerals

Hey everyone,
Well I've gotten some input on the meeting last night.
The one thing that is rattlin around in my head is the way the land that is for sale is classified.
For the most part I believe it is classified under CFR, and most zoned under cd-ep. So...
If someone wanted to buy a say 40 acre spread of land, they would have to pay for the acreage, now if they wanted to build a house, they would have to pay a fine to get it out of the CFR classification. The going rate I believe to do that is about $1600 so not only do they have to pay the price for the land but also to get it out of CFR classification. Not to mention if they choose to build something that doesn't fall under the CD-EP zoning. What a headache.
I could be wrong on this but I believe the source is correct.
Also I believe it was pointed out that the NC is NOT looking to buy huge tracts of land, only some areas that have significant items that need to be sheltered. I could have sworn someone had been saying that they thought the NC was planning on buying up alot of land and then no one could use it. I believe that was put to rest last night.
I am interested in hearing what anyone else got out of this meeting. Was it a help with any of the land use planning that everyone has been yipping about?
HHHMMMM Paul, as usual you have a different way of looking at things my friend.
I will reserve comment on it till a later date.
Well let me know what else was said.
By the by Ms. Sandy I did go to see the new format at KT and I'm not impressed and by the amounts of posts on the new site no one else is either, but then again this site is awful slow lately too so maybe it has nothing to do with the format.
But thanks for the invite.
Take care all.
Lisa

If I.P. pays 1.40 per acre in taxes that means they pay about 27 million dollars overall. Now that is a chunk of change!! I say just maybe if we approach I.P. with a solution something like a section or two at a time for a ongoing swap then maybe we can get things done. I think for every section along the shore of the great big one, the state give I.P. 3 sections of interior woodland in surrounding areas. We all understand that lake frontage is more vauable than interior so a 3-1 ratio is a sound figure to start with. This way one nice place at a time could be traded, letting them to select cut as they have done for years. Lets not get a overbearing trade going that will be too big to handle. Take it one step at a time and then repeat it, something like making love, again and again and again YIPPIE AYE KI AHHHHH
SEE YA ON THE SLOPES

I was glad that I got back from business meetings Seattle in time to catch the very informative meeting in Calumet last night. The IP rep made it very clear that the company is, and always will be, in the business of buying and selling land. They are committed to cutting timber so long as that is the most profitable use of the land. When it becomes more profitable for them to sub-divide it and sell it off for retirement homes, they meet their responsibility to their shareholders by selling off the land. Because of the beauty of the Keweenaw, many retiring baby boomers are going to look to the area for future summer homes, and IP will be duty-bound to sell them land.

Walt,

It sure seems that the CFR tax should at least have some kind of index so it would be raised either to match inflation in general or the rising property values in the county.

Lynn

Jim,
While I am grateful to the various parties for their willingness to allow access, I do not think we need to be overly grateful for their benevolence. We help pay their taxes--the state chips in $1.20 of their property tax.

So we should be allowed access. Additionally, we have a natural right to walk the land, along with an obligation to care for the land (and the water).

Vehicular traffic is seen on CFR land (the Mandan Road, the old railroad bed along the Gratiot, the logging roads by No Name Pond and the logging roads that extend past Thayer's Lake). Vehicular traffic has been automotive and snowmobile and four-wheeler. And access happens all of the time, as you know, for events other than hunting and fishing.

And CFR lands have not seen an increase to help pay for the improvements to area schools. The rest of us taxpayers, in addition to paying CFR land taxes, are paying increased taxes for our schools. (This, after we voted for an increase in the sales tax!) When was the last CFR tax increase?
Here in Lake Linden, voters were asked four times for an increase in millage to fund a new elementary school, and we would have been asked indefinitely until approval was granted.

No, one reason why the access, other than hunting and fishing, has been permitted is so John Q Public swallows the gift of a low tax rate for CFR lands.
Additionally, all that is required to withdraw lands from CFR is money, and if an outfit owns some 18 million acres worldwide, money is not a problem. But money is a problem for many taxpayers here, in the Copper Country. (Read the tax sale notice when it comes out.) Yet we help pay their property tax while we struggle to make ends meet year in, year out.

P.S. I do not think IP is going to move from the area--they have three mills, or was it four, that use the logs cut, according to Mr. Abramson's presentation. (California had no mills, and land was sold.)

P.S.S. Mr. Stupak's aid, I think his name is Matthew Johnson?, mentioned that funds to buy land for the public are available from natural resource withdrawals from the land. Trees are a natural resource, and while they are renewable, unlike natural gas, not enough return is seen in their area for their usage.

Hi all, just returned from the public access forum. It was very informative. Especially the definition of CFR lands, by the DNR.

Here it is in a nutshell.

1. The lands must be used for, and be able to support sustainable forestry.

2.The only access to the public required is foot trafic, for hunting and fishing only. No berry picking camping birdwatching etc.
I think we should be grateful to these land owners who have allowed much more over the years.

3. They are taxed on a flat rate of $1.10 per acre, from the landowner. In addition of $1.20 per acre from the state, for a total of $2.30 to the county in taxes.

4. The reasoning behind this is to promote a supply of timber and wood fiber for consumer use,and a method of controlling game populations. It wasn't set up as a means of public access to private property, as many like myself have believed.

There were many other good points made. Both the state and the N.C. set the record straight, on their role, in purchasing any lands, for public access.

The gates are protecting their investment in the roads they have made, according to Walt Arnold.
And trash is another issue, or "white goods" as Mr. Stubenrauch (sp?) asserted. I mentioned the possibility of opening the gates when the roads wouldn't be threatened by weather, traffic, and that sounds like a possibility.

Now on to the CFR tax rate. I think every property owner in the Copper Country is paying an increased property tax because every school district in the Copper Country has either had to one, build new, or two, build additions. I know my tax has increased because of the needed funding for an addition to the school in Lake Linden.

Mr. Stubenrach (Frank) mentioned that he didn't think much of an increase in the CFR rate as he spoke. I talked to him later and reminded him of the area schools which have had to rebuild, remodel. I think we came to an agreement that a small increase in the CFR rate is in order.
I think our story would be that $.15 an acre wouldn't be out of the question. But you know how a story can be stretched in the telling and now I can't remember if that was $.15 or $1.15 an acre.

Hey, the CFR tax rate didn't go up to finance all the new school renovation and rebuilding that has taken place here in the Copper Country.

And as far as that boulder in the water--send her to the Smith-stone-ian. Those folk in the Keweenaw part of the Copper Country didn't want anyone using Keweenaw beyond the border of Allouez...so they can remain the Keweenaw, and the rest of us can go back to using the Copper Country and there will less confusion as a result!

Hey all,
Fill me in on something.
Are any of the public access lands behind those gates?
If so isn't that a big deal?
HHHMMM, I will have to look into this a bit more and see what I can dig up.
Walt, I hear what you are saying.
Hopefully the meeting tonite will clear up some questions about usage etc. Who knows, hope you all get the answers you are looking for.
Smile and nod.
Lisa

I think it was last week that I asked if the gates to LSLC land were opened for deer season.
No answer came.

So this Saturday, during the fog, I left Lake Linden and headed out on the Gay-Lake Linden road.
All of the gates were closed. I didn't inspect any of them to see if the locks were open, but I doubt they were.

Curiously, one of the gates had the pole where the gate locks lying on the ground. Apparently, someone had pulled that post up. I wonder why? Perhaps a deer hunter over the rifle season had bagged his/her buck further back, behind that gate, on the Houghton County side of the line, and they decided to drive in to retrieve their harvest rather than to drag out by hand.

There was one gate that was clearly open, the last one before the Traverse River. Behind this gate there are several camps and it is my understanding that these camp owners have a key to this gate and that this key also opens the other gates.

Last summer (not this one) there was one of the gates left open for much of the summer. That was last summer and this summer I didn't see it open at all. I wonder why?

I've worked for two of the people who work for LSLC. I think their job is called timber cruisers--they have a four-wheeler in the back of their trucks, they visit logging sites, sawmills, work in the woods much of the time.
This last summer I made a point of criticizing the locked gates--I spend much time fishing the rivers behind those locked gates.

Like I said, last summer there was one gate left open. This summer that gate remained locked. I know other people who would like to fish those rivers one mile, two miles behind those locked gates, but they do not, because they are older and do want to make the 25-30 minute walk (for me) into the river.

Maybe tonight we can get a definitive answer on why the gates?

I've heard everything from trash being dumped, (we could band together and have clean-ups), to four wheel drive vehicles tearing up the road in Spring (the gate could be locked during the soft muddy ground time), to environmental terrorists who drive in on their Honda ATVs and vandalize logging equipment---but much of this summer there was no logging going on behind those locked gates.

C&H had a habit of allowing people onto their land to cut tops, other junk wood. And they certainly didn't make it difficult for those who enjoy hunting and fishing to access their land.

I reported on some CFR land on Torch Lake that has the four inch concrete surveyor markers, markers defining future lakeshore estates. How about we beging to question CFR and those who claim it? After all, because of one trash dumper the land is inaccessible. Because of one four wheel drive vehicle, the gates go up.

So if this Torch Lake CFR shoreline becomes lakeshore estates in a few years, will anyone remember this? Will anyone care? 43.8 acres. Let's see, that works out to about $40 in taxes.
This is Torch Lake Township--the township that is also paying for a new Lake Linden Elementary School. A school that was only built after about four pleas at the ballot box.

Hey, it's your tax money, too.

I forgot to mention I talked to bubble gum today, that is a old friend of mine. I also saw a car passing through town!!!!(two people wearing ski masks, and a gun rack full) must have been tourists seeya

Yes be nice out there! Do not forget who owns what. Also don't forget to bring your chain saws for resharping classes. I will hold a special 101 class in the alley directly behind the pub. If anyone wants a chain sharpend free please bring it. On a lighter note PLEASE SHOW some respect that seems to leave a lot of meetings right around showtime. I will be glad to show all of you new chain saw owners how to start your engines as well as how to hold on for dear life once you squeeze the trigger!!! I will only be teaching the class on a limited selective and very short basis, (something like crossing rocks). Bring a file of right size along with some sort of log for testing, do not bring a pecker pole and expect any serious consideration from me. Ten inches and up also need not apply. I am looking for level headed people with a little backbone and common sense to be present. Once again I will not accept payment of any sort except CASH or raw frozen thimblebrries, (MUST BE PRECLEANED OR YOU WILL BE ELECTRONICALLY BILLED AND SUBJECT TO STIFF FINES). Also remember a rake for the sawdust and wheelbarrow to get the •••• out of the way for my next student. I will take no one under ten years of age or less than fifty pounds also no old gray hairs (insurance costs go up for hardattacks). One more thing if you own a styll or a fancy saw please don't show me up, if you want to be a show off I have 102 classes starting after the meeting. ALL SAWS HAVE TO BE PREAPPROVED BY ANY STATE INSPECTOR WHO WILL GIVE YOU A SHORT FORM TO FILL OUT!!! Do not forget the gas and oil I will not cut into profit for some of you lame brained individuals who can't follow simple directions. DO NOT BRING GREEN WOOD!!!!I will not be responsible for pulled sackerrilleacks,lostlimbs or oil on contacts. Do not wipe sweat on pants of another bystander or try to cheese out once you start a cut,(THAT ABOVE ALL REALLY •••••• ME OFF). Bring a chook and gloves and also remember to tip well!!! SEE YOU IN CLASS!!! Yours truly Paul

PS TRAINING COST SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Last I saw on Channel 6 about Mt. Bohemia opening was 12-9, but Mother may have something to say about that. We have about 2-3" of frozen base here in Mohawk, perfect to build a base on, but now we need some fresh snow. Wish they'd had sno-makers on Ripley Hill back in 1947/48/49 when it was my second home! Have fun everyone!

Tomorrow night there will be a public forum in Calumet regarding continued public access to the special places of Keweenaw that we all love and treasure. It will be addressed by several speakers, most importantly by a rep of IP. We must all remember this discussion must remain positive and courteous to have any chance of being the start of a positive process for continued public access to those places. A solid turnout will help put political pressure behind public access also. Encourage all your friends and family to be there. Let's make our feelings known, POSITIVELY!

has anyone heard when mt bohemia is expected to open for business. i am looking forward to another trip to the keweenaw with my snowmobile and skis. good day to all from iowa. bob thompson