DeTour Elementary students who made the honor roll in the first and second marking periods receive certificates and medals. Pictured are (front, from left) Emily Bennett, Alex Reynolds, Grace Krzycki, Grant Fountain, John Lee Wentworth; (middle) Wyatt Galarowic, Jaxon Wilkie, Gunnar Fountain; back) Moriah Reed, Cameron Livingston, Skylar Pardee, Madison Wilkie, Kaalin Goetz. Missing from photograph are Wade Warner and Sarah Bailey. (Photograph by Sara Galarowic) DeTour schools are busy this time of year. The results of the second marking period are complete and 19 students have achieved honor roll status, receiving all A’s and B’s, many for the second time. Honor roll students for this marking period will be published in a compiled honor roll listing in an upcoming issue of this newspaper.

Elementary cheerleading for the basketball season will begin in March. Students in third through sixth grades who are interested in cheerleading may call coach Sherry Bailey at (906) 493-5088 or coach Debbie Fountain at (906) 297-5024. The girls and boys basketball teams will honor their parents at halftime during their games this week. The girls game was Tuesday, February 16, and the boys will play Friday, February 19.

DeTour community education will have two new classes beginning in March. Yosh VanVoorhees and Chuck Lanning are co-instructors for “Self Awareness and Defense for Women.” Classes will be Monday evenings, March 1, 8, 15, and 22, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Deadline for registration is Thursday, February 25. The instructors presented a demonstration for middle and high school girls Wednesday, February 10, and have invited the students to register for the class at half price. Kim Dunn, a certified instructor, will teach a class on foot reflexology Thursday, March 4, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. This class must have at least six students and is limited to 10. The program will include a 10-minute demonstration on each participant. To register for either of these classes, call Sue Lehman at the school at (906) 297-2011, extension 164.

Many area residents purchased items at the recent Friends of the Library silent auction, and the group now has $2,070 to use for the support of community library events. According to longtime Friends member Angie Leonard, this was an all-time high for the auction.

In case you’re wondering, the yellow ribbons that have been showing up on all local businesses are compliments of Tom Lehman. Tom purchased the ribbons to remind us of our local young men who are currently serving with Unit 1437 of the Michigan National Guard in Iraq. In addition to the Lehmans’ son, Nathan, Donnie Newell, C.J. Spohn, and Robert Young are all part of that unit. If you would like to purchase a ribbon to display on your home or mailbox, call Tom at (906) 297- 8088. The Lehmans received two ribbons at the going-away ceremony for the unit but thought it would be nice if the community could show support by placing ribbons everywhere. I’m sure it’s important to our guys to know they’re in our thoughts and prayers every day.

There’s not a lot of snow out there, but start gathering up what you can to build a snow person with a Sweet Treat theme for the Winterfest Saturday, February 27. Call Candy Postula at (906) 297- 5885 to register your entry for judging. The DeTour Area Chamber of Commerce will award cash prizes for the top three entries. While working on your entry, you might also look for a great chili recipe. It’s not necessary to pre-register your chili, but it must be at the DeTour Village Hall before 11 a.m. Saturday, February 27, to be entered in the chili cook-off. While looking for chili recipes and building snow persons, be sure to vote for your favorite youngster for Winterfest King and Queen. Eighteen elementary boys and girls have placed canisters around the DeTour and Drummond Island area, asking for your vote to make them Winterfest royalty. Winners will be announced at the close of Winterfest, and king and queen crowning will take place at a dance for youngsters to grade eight following the announcement. Proceeds from the canisters will be donated to the EUP Fine Arts Council for restoration activities at the Cultural Center. Sherry Bailey is chairing the king and queen contest and dance.