DeTour Area
By Barbara Buschbacher 297-8075 bbann@sault.com

So many of us are relieved and elated to see January end. What makes January seem like the longest month of the year? There are many answers to that; one is, that February is the shortest month of the year, and then March, which is like an entrance to spring. We shouldn't get too far ahead of ourselves, as there is a lot of activity between now and then.

First of all, Super Bowl Sunday is this weekend. I like half-time and the advertisements. Football is great, only if the Detroit Lions or the Green Bay Packers are playing, but unfortunately that's not happening this year. So we'll root, Go Bears!, Go Colts! Enjoy the game.

The Friends of the Library will hold their silent auction Wednesday, February 14, at the school library. It would be nice to take that "Valentine" or someone special there to let him or her bid on an item of their choice.

Thursday, February 15, a cooking class, "Cooking from Tuscany," will be held at the Dockside Cafe at 5:30 p.m. The fee is $40, which is to be paid in advance at the Dockside or to Sue Lehman. This class is sponsored by Consolidated Community School Service. Last year's cooking class was a great success and a lot of fun.

A benefit fish fry dinner for Dennis Bender will be held Saturday, February 10, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Raber Hall. There will be many door prizes and raffle drawings.

DeTour girls volleyball games are underway and both varsity and junior varsity are doing very well. The DeTour boys basketball games have also been exciting. Be sure to attend the sports and give our young people your support. It's encouraging for them to see the bleachers fully occupied and cheering for the home team.

Beginning Thursday, February 1, the Board of Education has eliminated all transportation to athletic events unless the location is more than 100 miles away. Coaches and the athletic director will work out transportation to and from events with parents on a game-by-game basis. School bus transport will continue to be provided for those games that are more than 100 miles from DeTour.

The school board election is on the agenda for May. Nominating petitions for the two seats on the board must be filed with the county clerk by Tuesday, February 13, at 4 p.m. Petitions are available at De- Tour School's central office for the May 8 election. The last day to register for the May election is Monday, April 9.

Excerpts of the DeTour Village Council meeting Tuesday, January 16, are provided by Clerk Linda Fisher.

Representatives from Wade- Trim, Kelly Cunningham and Gary Johnson, presented a wastewater system improvement overview. The sanitary sewer system is now 25 years old, and the grinder stations and lift stations are in need of repair or replacement. The company estimates the project will cost $500,000. Mr. Cunningham will look into some refinancing possibilities for the old sewer loan to reduce interest costs and help rebuild the system.

The next phase of the Industrial Park is to have the utilities run into the park, which is a major cost. The Economic Development Committee is looking for grants to help with this expense.

To apply for the Recreation Grant for the Carr waterfront property, our five-year recreation plan needs to be updated. Claire Schultz has taken the plan and will look into what needs to be done to update it.

Street Commissioner Richard Newland will bring estimates for work to be done on Sims Street, and recommend whether it will be better to repave or just patch the trouble areas.

Jeff Galarowic as chief operator of the waste and sewer treatment plant and Alice Vermeulen was hired as a part-time water and sewer operator.

Dennis Aubert asked Council to consider a 100-foot vegetative buffer area in front of the Industrial Park to block the view of the park from M-134 and the two residences across the street.

Bob Trudo, whose official retirement was January 12, will stay on to oversee the water plant operations and will remain the zoning administrator.