Five area school districts expect to share special state funding totaling $75,000 as early as this month, if state lawmakers release the money that was earmarked last fall. The two-year appropriation is for isolated schools in the Upper Peninsula and is dubbed “Saving Paradise” for the Whitefish Township district that inspired it. It will support Paradise and four other districts that would not be able to consolidate with neighboring schools if they were to go bankrupt. The other schools are Mackinac Island, Beaver Island, Grand Marais, and DeTour.

According to the Eastern Upper Peninsula Intermediate School District (ISD), Mackinac Island will receive $84,546. Paradise school in Whitefish Township, which is the most in need of funding, will receive $215,872, Beaver Island will receive $115,376, Burt Township is expecting $135,384, and DeTour will receive $198,822.

Distribution was initially held up because of a required budget review of each school by the ISD, which is distributing the $750,000. Inaccuracies in some of the budgets forced a second review. Then the state became preoccupied with school bankruptcies in Detroit and Grand Rapids.

ISD Superintendent Jim Feil said that distribution should now come with each district’s state aid payments later in April.

St. Ignace Yard Clean Up Begins Monday, April 25

Residents of the City of St. Ignace may dispose of bagged leaves and bundled branches and twigs in a four-day curbside program beginning Monday, April 25, and ending Thursday, April 28.

Monday, April 25, all areas north of Truckey Street and east of I-75 will be picked up.

Tuesday, April 26, all areas south of Truckey Street and north of US-2, including all areas west of I-75, will be picked up.

Wednesday, April 27, all areas south of US-2 will be picked up.

Thursday, April 28, will be a pick-up date for any areas missed during the first three days.

Leaves, grass clippings, and small twigs must be contained in paper or plastic bags.

Limbs, branches, and small trees less than six inches in diameter will be picked up and must be piled nearly along the roadside, butt ends to street. No larger stumps or trunks and no processed wood will be picked up.

Drop-off service is available throughout the year at Dock No. 3 for leaves, limbs, and branches only.

Bulk Item Pick Up Day April 30

St. Ignace residents may dispose of household bulk items Saturday, April 30, at 6 a.m., when crews will collect trash such as furniture, bed springs, toilets, tubs, sinks, stoves, and appliances. Items should be left on the curb for pick up.

Up to two yards per household (approximately the size of an eight-foot pickup truck box filled to level) or three bulk items are allowed. All loose items must be boxed, bundled, or bagged.

Tires, batteries, or hazardous waste products will not be accepted. Discarded refrigerators must have attached certificates indicating the freon has been removed.

Forest Service To Host Open House

An Open House is planned to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the United States Forest Service Tuesday, May 3, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the St. Ignace Office, Sault Ste. Marie Office, and Point Iroquois Lighthouse 21 miles west of Sault Ste. Marie.

The St. Ignace Open House will include a showing of the documentary “The Greatest Good” at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. The documentary uses rarely seen footage and photos, sweeping aerial shots, and dozens of interviews to tell the story of the American landscape and the history of the Forest Service. Historic fire fighting tools will be displayed in the visitor center, and refreshments will be served.

At 3 p.m. the American flag will be lowered to half mast and a moment of silence observed for those who died in the line of duty.

The United States Forest Service was created July 1, 1905, to sustain healthy, diverse, and productive forests and grasslands for present and future generations.

Silver Mountain Disc Golf Course Open in St. Ignace

The new disc golf course at Doc Holle’s Silver Mountain, on the corner of US-2 and Cheeseman Road in Moran Township, has officially been opened.

Course builder Steve DuFresne of St. Ignace said that the gates will be open Saturdays and Sundays beginning Saturday, April 23, from 8 a.m. until dusk. He added that players who wish to park at the gate and walk in may also play weekdays during daylight hours, or may play by appointment if they contact him at his barbershop at 643-0366. When school gets out for the summer, gates will likely be open daily.

There is no fee to play on the course and discs are available near the start at the base of the mountain.

Democrats To Gather April 30

Chippewa County Democrats will meet Saturday, April 30, at 10 a.m. at the Country Kitchen Restaurant in Sault Ste. Marie. A Michigan Democratic Party staff representative will address the group. Additional information is available from Paul Warrick at (906) 495-7343.