Yes,
As our seniors dig deep into their pocket to afford that ride to the top of the mountain to enjoy a beautiful view, and as they weigh the change in their purse and ask themselves if they can afford that ride up the mountain, they wonder if they should remain home, by the fireplace, that isn't lit, because there's a gate on the road where they used to cut firewood, and they seriously question whether or not they should take that ride up the mountain, or if they should save their bankroll to hand over to the government for taxes.

Gleefully, they hop on the T-bar, and cackle wildly as they are carried to the top--shoot, let the kids pay their taxes--they wiped their noses when they were running. And besides, the kids have this big playground, tax-free, in a sense,
and what does schooling matter, anyway. They fondly recall recess and this big playground which helped them prepare for life, which helped them grow to become good tax-payers.

Shoot, anyone would become a good tax-payer if threatened with no recess. Now, as they reach the top, they realize it would be nice to have some money after taxes, so they could buy a tobaggon to go dashing through the snow.

I haven't heard of too much CFR land getting placed on the tax sale roll. Course, there are other lands and lots that get placed on the tax sale roll.

CFR land has forever and a day been taxed incredibly low, sinfully low. The mining companies like C&H, Copper Range enjoyed low taxes on acres and acres of lands. Where are they now?

And when exactly did Commercial Forest lands see a tax increase? And why should only the locals see their tax bill go up to pay for services and schools? Why can't this not-from-my-hometown outfit (IP) pay a trifle more in taxes to help the overburdened taxpayers of the Copper Country?

Our seniors deserve a break. As they continue to wrangle with the rising cost of prescription drugs, seaside lots are being sold at outrageous rates, while the folk doing the selling are enjoying low tax rates on other lands that would be developed just as quickly as the seashore if there was money to be made.

The mining companies enjoyed a low tax rate on the land. But at least the mining companies contributed more to the communities around their mills. They built hospitals, bathhouses, and when someone suggested they gate their land, that someone was given a ride to the Wisconsin border on a slow sleigh by a driver who loved baked beans.

It's nice of the land company to have made that road going into the shoreline area near Sunset Bay Campground. And they didn't block that road either. What are those seaside lots going for? Here on Torch Lake, a land company is selling lakeshore estate lots beginning at $93,000.00. Shoot, before you even begin to build you'd have over a hundrit grand into the pproject. And this land company also enjoys the benefit of a 43.8 parcel of CFR land that has already been surveyed and pinned plotted and platted for future lakeshore estates--eventually they're going to develop one of those rare Torch Lake cedar swamps and the whitetail take a dim view of that.

So keep track of what lands are withdrawn from CFR in the coming years and ask yourself if it was worth it--that free access that many espouse.

[Anyone see any mining companies supervising the Superfund clean-up, the Florida Location tar-ditch clean-up? Who is paying for that playground where small sailors navigated the snakegrass?]

CFR, lets think about that, isn't that the out door playground that my kids play on, you know that natural thing. The exact thing we want to keep open to the public along with a steady supply of jobs. No I don't think a increase will do us as a county any long term good. It will only strain a strained relationship. I think industry like the smart zone will do more for our area than a tax increase on the free lands we enjoy. Yes they could stop all motorized traffic, yes they could stop berry pickers, yes they could stop and block all roads buttttt they aren't!!!! I.P. is right now at least at the table with a lot of concerned people on a plan of some sort for all involved. Lets not start sticking a pin in their ••• just to get a quick fix. What we need is a improved tourist trade and with that will come the added tax dollars from new business. We need I.P. to be as lax as they can be with the rules on CFR lands. We surly don't need a bunch of you can't go there signs. Get real the woods are fine as they are lets not depend on something that could be changed to private property and no fishing or hunting and the like. Sure then they pay through the nose but then we can't use their land. We as a community should not have to depend on one source to float our boat. Lets work on a deal to swap some land and be realistic. Make great places to go and plan development. SEE YA ON THE SLOPES !!!!

Locals...take a look at what our tax money is doing for the KIDS at the high school. Check out KT. 2500 bucks ain't nothin to sneeze at.

Come on, Paul, a raise in the CFR rate is for the kids, something even you should be ranting about. And that, my friend, makes sense, too.

How many acres of CFR are there in K County? And when was the last time CFR saw a tax rate increase?
??? 160,000 thousand acres? Close.
times $.50 an acre increase? Reasonable.
Equals=======$80,000.00
Now what is the projected shortfall?

Come on people. Everybody saw a tax increase with the many school renovations and new buildings in this area. Except for CFR.

At least the mining companies helped build their share of the community around here. And...?

Speaking of "Power" struggles, I see UPPCO is requesting a 10% rate increase over the next 3 years. Weighing this with the current power shortages out west, it seems like a timely reminder of whom most of us are really dependent upon.
ps Have to say I got a kick out of seeing that Gomer and Barney morph down below. Now that's funny(and I voted for 'em)!

Most of the time I don't post on this side cause to me I make sense. Now for all who care to accept reality we as a country have been screwed and have a smile to show for it. We all will wonder what the real out come would have been if things were done right. I did not really care for either but my side lost, which isn't so bad anyway. I just don't like the idea of the chads, bumps, or dingle berries that were or were not counted. I would wonder if the county vote on the ski hill was in the same mess what the •••• would we do!!! Say Donna was Gore and I was Bush, do you see us agreeing on how to count the dingle berries. Her side would say they are green , my side would say they are brown, her side would say count them, my side would say don't pick them!!! Her side would say lets jam, my side would say were in a jam!!!Her side would say cut the crap, my side would say they are crap!!!
Moral of the story is don't pick the dingle berries!!!!

This is to Paul of Eagle River!
Few questions for ya? What are your thoughts on the commissioners giving themselves and other county officials raises this year when the budget is in the red? Seems to me if you or I overspent our checkbook we would be in deep doo doo. Maybe even spend time with Ron and company. I was also wondering if you applied for any of those good Road Commission jobs that are opening up? Excellent jobs with good pay and benefits. Can you tell me who is in line for the 911 Director for Keweenaw County? Could it be all these jobs above will be filled through the good ol boy network or the nepotistic way in which things are done in Keweenaw County? Oh I forgot, you and I need not apply, we grew up on the wrong side of the tracks.

Think ol' Al & his sidekick found themselves a new job !!!

Corn-fused,
I think it counts and if we lose faith we lose all we love. It is our RESPONSIBILITY to properly vote for who represents our views.
Anyways keep the faith.

The debacle in Florida with the vote count has me wondering how many votes throughout the history of this country have not been counted for one reason or another.

Earlier this year, in this area, on one of these discussion sites devoted to local interests, we heard about one vote in Keweenaw County--I think it was during the primary season--when machines must not have read votes because the entire oval was not blackened. Someone had a letter in the Gazette referring to this and the writer admonished future voters to blacken all of the oval.

The next presidential election should be an interesting one. This election we saw happen what we heard could happen, one getting more popular votes, while the other will win a seat in the White House because he was awarded more electoral votes.

So does my vote really count? And is it really counted?

Pray for the GREEN and ORANGE, the ORANGE and GREEN!
Faith & Works, Works and Faith!
Peace at last in the whole of Eire?
Someday, Someday, Bloody Someday, Cousins!
Surely Someday SUNDAY will come!
Oisin

10/4 Timmy:
Don't 'spect Lassie to untongue you like he did me last year.
Yeah, that's right!
Daddy yooth-enized her with his 4/10 last night.
Terminal heartworm...and that's no dogsh_t, T!
ps: I've got a brand new K Mart 35 mm Kodak and it's made outa cheap cardboard...nyeh nyeh...
See ya when the Sun and Moon meet for everyone's mutual inspiration on Christmas Morn, Bro!
Love(I guess),
Sis

ps: And don't moan to Mom about stocking stuffers, your 2 front teeth are now fully covered on our new mutual HMO!(God Bless those High Tech Thunder Bay Forgers!)

By Old North on Wednesday, December 13, 2000 - 10:58 pm:

A magnanimous loser, a gracious winner, an education in the workings of democracy for us all.
You can't ask for much more than that.
Bully for everyone involved!

Here's to a 2-lanterned bipartisan beacon based on good ol' pragmatic American Common Sense!

Last year I took a picture of my sister Susie on Christmas morning with her tongue stuck to the porch railing. She was crying.
My Daddy said were gonna have an 'clipse this year after Santa comes.
All across North America.
He said I'd better wear my sunglasses if I try to take a picture.
Maybe Susie will take a picture of me while I'm taking a picture of the 'clipse.
Tongues don't stick to cameras do they?

Cupid,
I'll try to fit it into the schedule. Maybe when Santa is parked on the neighbor's house.

This catch-Santa-in-the-act contest for kids should have some rewards, dontcha think? For instance, one prize could be one of them two-tone, Scent-Lok camo outfits, size large (I'll grow into it). A fly-rod could be second prize.
And shoot, if no other kids participate (there's nothing to do!), I'd be happy to take home all of the prizes. Area merchants could improve their image by donating some of these prizes.

So parents, if you don't want just one kid winning, let your kids know about this contest.

This is in reply to Paul of Eagle River and snow up to the posterior region. We flatlanders down here is southeast Mi. got up to 15 inches of snow yesterday and last night. In Sterling Hts. we received 10.4 inches. While this is laughable by Copper Country standards, try dealing with rush hour traffice to and from work. The freeways are an absolute mess, not to mention main and side streets.

Because the wind blew up to 40 miles an hour during the night, we have snow drifts 2 feet high. Where do the plows put all of this snow?

Since most people did NOT go to work today, (probably went skiing, I heard that Mt. Holly had more then the usual amount of skiers for a Tuesday) traffic was decent, with the exception of trucks slipping and sliding on the Xways off and on ramps.

I would rather be in Eagle River, or anywhere in the Keweenaw, then in this mess down here when we have any amount of measurable snow.

Only two more years, and just maybe this can be a reality.

So, everyone enjoy the snow (but don't have a heart attack shoveling it, a few people in the area died yesterday and today beacuse of shoveling), and remember the grass, oops, the snow is not always whiter somewhere else.

By Cupid on Tuesday, December 12, 2000 - 05:30 pm:

While you're at it could you get a shot of Comet?
Here's lookin' atcha:

Almost forgot. You'll want to wear your slippers cause last year I caught two earaches, one in each ear, and Ma had to bring me to see Dr. Kolb and my teacher was there, too! So get ready!

As you can tell from the time of this post, it is early. (I'm warming up for the big day, the day before Christmas, actually, the early morning hours before the presents are all stacked neatly under the tree.

This year, I plan on catching the big fat man in the act! O, I'll be ready with my digital camera in hand, hiding behind the couch. At the first sounds of crinkling paper, I'll spring up and snap his mugshot. Won't he be surprised!

I'll be the most famous ten-year-old, probably in the whole wide world! Don't know why nobody has thought to do this before now.

Come to think of it, I think I can do it. But I'm going to challenge every kid out there to make it a point to catch Santa on film!

I tried last year, but Ma heard me get out of bed each time I tried to sneak down the steps. She'd yell, "Get back in bed, or Santa won't come!"
This year, I'll only pretend to go to bed, and duck behind the couch.

Any other kid out there want to try this?

Earlier today, I saw a buck doing a tiptoe across Torch Lake. A big'un, at least an 8, possibly a 12, if he hadn't been minus one side of his antlers. He made it across, a fine demonstration of walking on the water, much as I am capable of doing when the line breaks and that steelhead begins to make his way north.

Since it was the last day for muzzle-loaders, and I hadn't shot at anything, at the end of the day I made short work of a stump.

And can someone find the off switch, already?

By TR on Sunday, December 10, 2000 - 03:52 am: