Saturday's Coat Give-a-way was a huge success, as more than 600 people showed up to receive free coats, blankets, mittens, gloves, hats, and hygiene products. The products arrived late Thursday night, and were put together on tables, by size, arranged by a group of 15 volunteers. The event started at 11 a.m. Saturday, October 26, with a blessing of the coats and for all the people that brought us these products all the way from Knoxville, Tennessee, from a group called Baptist Ministries. By 11:15 a.m. the line to receive the donated clothing was so long that it ran from the doors of Kinross Township Hall, to the Soo Co-op bank.

The event was put together by Michelle Tobias. Her brother lives in Knoxville, and she got together with him and the ministries to have this event. Because this was the first year that this event took place, there were some details in the process to be worked out next year. To make sure that every family could get a coat, everyone was allowed only one coat, but some people wanted to take more, making it hard to tell people as they left that they could only take one coat per child. The number of people waiting for a coat, for more than an hour, shows an indication how slow our economy has become. The giveaway was also organized by the Orioles.

The line for the coat giveaway extended outside the Kinross Township doors all the way to the Soo Coop bank. Many families waited in line for more than an hour to receive a donated coat. Construction is beginning on the Local Express gas station, with a deadline of December 18. The business has been missed in the area for the last nine months.

The varsity football team lost 34 to 28, in a match up Friday night against the St. Ignace Saints. The teams were evenly matched up until the last four minutes of the game. Our boys played an excellent game and should be proud of the way that they played. Many enjoy the games in St. Ignace; they have a wonderful field.

Upcoming sporting events for the week of October 4 is junior varsity football and varsity football at Rogers City, volleyball at Sault Ste. Marie, and cross county in Escanaba.