Gould City
By Marilyn McNeil 477-6925 donmar@lighthouse.net

The artwork of Newberry High School senior Jenny Kihm, of Curtis, is on display downstairs at the Curtis Park Center. Miss Kihm's work may be viewed during Wellness Center hours.

The Curtis Community Arts Council is accepting artwork for future display at the Curtis Park Center. If you would like your work considered, call (906) 586- 6384.

The Upper Peninsula Single District 10 Lions Club is collecting used computer ink cartridges (except Epson brand) to help raise money for the 2007 Curtis Independence Day parade. Cartridges can be placed in designated boxes at the Fish and Hunt Shop, Curtis Elementary School, Manistique Lakes Clinic, State Savings Bank in Curtis, Naubinway, and Manistique, Jack's Supervalue in Manistique, Newberry High School, and First National Bank of St. Ignace in Newberry. For more information, call Rich Owen at (906) 586- 6194.

"Musical Chairs" will be the theme of this year's art project to be displayed around the Curtis area, then auctioned at Art on the Lake. Paint, or decorate, your old chair and turn it in by Monday, June 25. Check at Curtis Service for a chair if you don't have one, or old chairs can be dropped off there for others to decorate. Registration and complete rules are available at Curtis Service. For more information, call Lynda at (906) 586-3667.

The Portage Anglers Club will sponsor a walleye jamboree for adults and children Friday, May 25, Saturday, May 26, and Sunday, May 27, on Big and South Manistique Lakes. Registration sites include JR's Sport Shop, State Savings Bank, Fish and Hunt Shop, Lakeside Grocery and Liquor, and Watson's Marina. The grand prize for the adult division is a 14-foot Mirror Craft boat with a Tohatsu motor and trailer. The grand prize for the children's division is a 50 percent payback. For more information, visit online at www.portageanglersclub.org, or call Brenda at (906) 586-3454.

The Curtis Community Arts Council will sponsor Music in the Park every other Thursday evening at 6:30 p.m. in June, July, and August at Curtis Park.

The biggest little town parade and Fourth of July celebration will be Sunday, July 1, on Main Street.

Members of the Curtis Elementary Learning Fair and homecoming committee are in need of past photographs of the school, as well as any pieces of memorabilia that help tell the 50- year history of the school. The committee also will accept written memories submitted by Friday, May 4. All materials will be returned. Anyone with knowledge of past teaching staff or class pictures is asked to call Nancy Watson at (906) 586-9706 or (906) 586-9731.

As part of a movement to support troops, Manhattanville My Soldier will offer free red "My Soldier" awareness bracelets. All those who enroll in the My Soldier program agree to adopt a soldier. They receive a starter kit with guidelines for writing letters to deployed U.S. armed service people, and a red My Soldier bracelet to publicly show their support for American troops.

To receive a free My Soldier bracelet, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope with two stamps (required for thickness) to: My Soldier Bracelet Office, Manhattanville College, 2900 Purchase Street, Purchase, NY 10577. This program puts politics aside, and lets U.S. soldiers know that someone back home cares. The goal is to show support for troops serving in hardship areas such as Iraq, Afghanistan, and Africa by establishing pen-pal relationships with them.

The annual smelt festival in Naubinway turned into a trout fishing contest owing to the lack of cooperation from the smelt. This event started in 1993 as a way to celebrate the annual return of the tiny smelt and the smelt fishermen. It has become a spring ritual.

Condolences to the family of Faye Bigger of Gould City. Mrs. Bigger passed away Monday, April 9, at the Luce County Annex in Newberry, where she had been a resident for the past few years. While in the Annex, Faye still enjoyed playing bingo and dancing whenever she could. I remember her being chosen queen a few years ago at the Annex. When I think of Faye, I always see her with her beautiful smile. She will long be remembered and missed by her family and many friends.

Happy birthday to Joel Everhart May 4 and John Ketcher May 6.

Stay safe and stay well. See you next week.