50 YEARS AGO

The Republican-News

& St. Ignace Enterprise

Thursday, April 30, 1959

St. Ignace people first became aware of the "new" Michigan State Police way back in 1921 when three troopers, stationed in Negaunee, came by horseback in three days to patrol the Mackinac county fair. But it wasn't until the spring of 1937 that the present state police post serving the eastern peninsula was ready for official use.

Nearly 100 cribbage players enjoyed the [annual cribbage league banquet] feast, after which John Lahaie presided as toastmaster and presented the Alvin Goudreau trophy to the league champions, Taylor Appliance, and a trophy to Charles Ryerse for attaining the high individual score for the season.

The more than 100 petitioners who asked to be annexed to the Rudyard school district won their plea to the St. Ignace township board of education at a meeting held on Thursday evening at Carp River.

Contractor Roy Carlson and his crew this week put the finishing touches on the fine new front installed at Bentley's Dairy Bar and at the same time got well advanced on a new job, that of a "facelifting" for Charles Gustafson's Marine Bar.

Workmen have been busy "fitting out" the Straits of Mackinac, former state ferry, which has been docked here since being laid up after the bridge was put in operation in 1957.

Covey's Sanitary Service bowling team from St. Ignace won the championship in the Fraternal league at the Soo this year.

Zion Lutheran church women are sponsoring a rummage sale for the second week in May in the old Highstone store building. All members are urged to contribute. The Naomi circle is in charge.

A notice of hearing for a telephone rate increase was read [St. Ignace City Council]. Mayor Phillips recommended that this action should be protested by the city. No further action was taken by council.

After deliberating on the proposal

submitted at a previous meeting, a motion was made by Alderman Law and seconded by Alderman Fenlon that the city council of St. Ignace, being in accordance with the proposed agreement drawn up by the Michigan State Waterways commission, support the proposed grant of control by the Michigan State Legislature of the three state dock properties in the City of St. Ignace to the Michigan State Waterways commission. Motion carried. [St. Ignace City Council]

People reported that the smelt were running heavy in Hoban's Creek Monday night. "One scoop would fill a five-gallon pail," it was said.

Walter J. Murray, Detroit attorney and native of St. Ignace, has been named by Gov. Williams to the Mackinac Island State Park commission. He succeeds T.C. Carroll for a term ending in April 1965. Senate confirmation is required.

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Shama [of Mackinac Island] arrived Monday from New York and are the first curio store operators to arrive for the summer.

Mr. and Mrs. R.D. Musser and daughter arrived Monday from Chicago and have opened their summer home on Lake Shore Drive. Mr. Musser is assistant manager of Grand Hotel. [Mackinac Island]

Michigan Bell Telephone company today announced the purchase of vacant property in Blaney Park for the construction of a microwave tower and associated facilities. The site is located in Newton Township.

The folk of Evergreen Shores haven't thought any of changing the name to Hamtramck Shores, but are talking up incorporating it as a village. That way all the tax money would stay on the Shores and they could have a few improvements once in awhile in the community.

35 YEARS AGO

The Republican-News

& St. Ignace Enterprise

Thursday, May 2, 1974

Over 300 4-H'ers participated in Mackinac County 4-H Achievement Day activities Saturday at the Youth Center Cedarville.

The "St. Ignace Cinema," formerly the Saint Ignace Theatre, will be open under new management this weekend, May 3-5, 1974. Plans call for a full schedule of top motion pictures to be run in the summer schedule ahead. The St. Ignace Cinema is owned by Cinema III of Charlevoix.

Michigan Power Company will be serving the St. Ignace area beginning this fall with natural gas for heating, cooking, and water heating. Work on gas lines throughout the City is now underway with lines extending from Marquette Park north on Bus. I- 75 to beyond Morneau corner, and residential pipe lines being laid on Abe, Goudreau, and Marley streets.

Congressman Philip Ruppe held private interviews on national legislative issues or personal matters Saturday at the Mackinac County Courthouse, followed by a noon luncheon at the Northern Lights Restaurant.

Bonita Laakko, of St. Ignace and a Lake Superior State College freshman majoring in executive secretarial studies, has been selected to the queen's court for the 26th annual ROTC military ball.

15 YEARS AGO

The St. Ignace News

Thursday, April 28, 1994

Several experts this week will take the stand in Mt. Clemens to argue that faulty standards on the Mackinac Bridge contributed to the 1989 death of a woman whose car plunged off the bridge.

Forty years ago this week, on May 8, 1954, the second of two groundbreaking ceremonies launched construction of the Mackinac Bridge, still perhaps Michigan's most-noted public works marvel.

St. Ignace School Board members and support staff representatives met for four hours Tuesday, April 26, but common ground in their contract talks proved elusive.

St. Ignace will increase its city property tax levy by one mill to maintain its endangered community recreation program.

If big band music, swank surroundings, and a small pool featuring swimming women dressed in mermaid garb are the secret to success, Bill Ogle might just prove the naysayers wrong. The restaurant owner admits his idea has raised a few eyebrows. As with other grand schemes, the owner of Paul Bunyan Pasties and Seafood Palace and Beef House got this idea from a dream.

"It was the same as when I came up with the idea to cook the world's biggest pasty" during Memorial Day weekend," Ogle said. "I woke up one morning and said, 'I'm going to build a pool with mermaids and I think it'll be a big attraction.'"

Reports about the death of Damian's Apothecary are greatly exaggerated, to paraphrase Mark Twain. Ken Behr, of South Bend, Indiana, said he has no plans to close the downtown St. Ignace landmark, despite some lingering rumors that the pharmacy is defunct. Behr last month bought the drug store from Glenn Law Jr., who owned the business for more than 20 years.

Michelle LeCount, a senior at St. Ignace LaSalle High School, has been honored with the Chairperson's Gold Star Award from the Michigan Association Girls Basketball-AAU. The award is based upon perceived dedication to AAU, academic excellence, attitude, club loyalty, and talent.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The St. Ignace News is seeking original prints or reprints of old photographs depicting areas in the Eastern Upper Peninsula to be scanned into the archives and for the Looking Back column. Photographs to be loaned or donated to the Michilimackinac Historical Society can also be dropped off at The St. Ignace News.