A Social Event

I enjoyed the second social event of my lazy days Friday and Saturday. Ironwood was the location of a Holiday gathering of family at brother Marv's house. From the top are Andy and a puppy dog, then Gayla the photographer, then all the doggies (Lord forbid that I not include a picture of them) and lastly the "old folks" gathered round the table! Thanks for having this "old folk" over Marv! And thanks for all the food Marv and Dorothy, and Rovelskys, and Marv Jr for the special "treat"!

Jan Tucker

The news article Subterra which I just posted was written for the Daily Globe by Jan Tucker. I had the pleasure of working with Jan way back in the "old days" of her and my "youth". It was about the mid sixties when Jan started doing the Ontonogon County show on WJMS radio of Ironwood. As the Ontonogon area sales rep for the station I set up the remote broadcast equipment in Jan's home. From her home she did the show for a few years before switching it to WMPL radio in Hancock. During her many years of broadcasting a daily show she also wrote for many newspapers in the Western Upper Peninsula. I always read with interest her writings where ever they appear. Maybe someday I will stop by and pay her a visit.

Subterra

While prowling around in the latest issue of the Ironwood Daily Globe I found this most interesting story about portions of the so called closed White Pine Mine being used in a most unusual way. Here's the story

Subterra lighting up former White Pine MinePublished Friday, December 22, 2006 2:03:14 PM Central Time
By JAN TUCKER
Globe Staff Writer
WHITE PINE -- The bowels of the former Copper Range Mine in White Pine are dark, cold and damp. But you reach a door, open it and you are in another world, a world of plants, bright light and warmth. You are at Subterra, the second of three underground growth centers in the world.
The concept of a growth center in the White Pine Mine was the result of a story in National Geographic. Eric Dudson was president of Copper Range in 1996 and the owners of the mine had made the decision to close it down and flood it. Dudson was reading National Geographic and there was a story of a underground growth center in the Flin Flon Mine in Manitoba. Dudson contacted Brent Zettl owner and president of Prairie Plant Systems, which operated the center.
Zettl first stepped foot on the White Pine Mine site in 1996.
In 2000, Subterra was formed and the second underground mine in the world in White Pine became a reality. Reality was slow to come to fruition, however, since it took until February 2004 to negotiate with the former mine owners and the State of Michigan the long-term access to the site.
Meanwhile a 3,000-square-foot pilot project opened with a contract with Health Canada to grow tobacco for use in the study of treatment for bone cancer.
Today, the growth center is full and serious discussion s are underway with three pharmaceutical firms
The largest present contract is with Prairie Plant Systems own firm developing a Hepatitis C vaccine. The vaccine is licensed through the University of Canada at Saskatchewan, Division of Vaccines and Infectious Disease. Prairie Plant Systems has the world wide rights for the plant manufacture research. Zettl said that the plant becomes the living host and the plant actually manufactures the vaccine. Zettl said the discovery found the protein molecule is designed to go after the core of the hepatitis virus.
Zettl said that since the present 3,000-square-foot chamber is full, the company has a potential of developing over 60 acres in the mine when new contracts are available. He said it would take about eight months to prepare an expansion.
Zettl continued that the vaccine is processed on the site and what is left is burned.
A second contract underway at Subterra is growth of a plant that produces insulin. It is being done on a pilot scale at the present time.
Zettl points to the Canadian operation which he said started slowly at first and now has large laboratories which meet all regulatory compliances with good manufacturing practices. "We have proven we have the ability to produce this material under all regulatory and secure conditions and manage all genetic materials in an environmentally responsible manner," Zettl said.
Zettl is passionate about the future of the center.
"I see a good future here," he predicted, noting that by 2020 it is expected that medicines produced in plants will be worth $26 billion in the retail system.
He continued that outdoor manufacture of these products will not be an option for the pharmaceutical companies since outdoor risks are too high . The companies need quality control, ideal weather and confidentiality.
"Nothing will stop the march of science as we have some nasty diseases that need to be harnessed. The use of plants as a living host is basic and environmentally the safest way to go," Zettl said.
He called the growth centers in Canada and White Pine pioneers in a cutting edge field. He explained that often he has been unable to talk publicly about the program because some pharmaceutical companies do not want their competition to know about specific experiments. "But we want the public to know we are alive and kicking in White Pine and right now operating at capacity."
Zettl will be featured soon on the HD Television network when he flew to Los Angles for an interview with Dan Rather. That interview featured the Canadian Growth Center in the Flin Flon.
For White Pine, and Subterra, the future is promising and that cold, dark, empty mine has a bright future, one that could help cure disease and ease pain for millions of people

Will He?

Well, what do you think? The gate has a big "F" on it. Will he go home for the winter and come back out again and head back "up north"? Or is it time for him to stay inside and enjoy the fruits of his "labors". Congratulations on a great career!

World Record Gingerbread House!

Check it out! Its at the Mall of America! It sounds rather sweet!

• The gingerbread house has 1,496 square feet
  
• Built from 14,250 pounds of gingerbread and 4,750 pounds of icing
• It took approximately 1,700 work-hours in nine days to build.
• Embellishments include: 1,800 Hershey’s chocolate bars; 2,800 pearsons nut rolls; 1,200 feet of Twizzlers; 100 pounds of Tootsie Rolls; 300 pounds of DOTS; 100 12" Whirly Pops; and thousands of other candies

Here's a Front Cover but the Story is about Looking at the Back Cover

Christopher tells me that Julia likes to read the Berenstain Bears books but also spends much time studying the tiny pictures of the front covers of other books which are printed on the back cover of most of the BB books. She once asked her Dad why one of the characters had a certain look on her face. I think it was the book about stage fright. Its hard to imagine that Julia could actually see the looks on the faces because the pictures are so small. I am trying to keep up with her supply of these enjoyable books and could well go broke supplying them! They were well enjoyed also by daughter Beth so I suppose Rebecca will have a supply of them. I wonder if Beth's collection is in storage?

Let There Be Light!

In case you haven't noticed the days have been getting shorter and shorter and the nights longer and longer. Tonight the sun will be gone for 16.4 hours and tomorrow it will appear for 7.8 hours. We might as well live in Lapland or on the North Slope! But take heart, tomorrow is the winter solstice when the sun has moved as far away as possible and starts to move back and that means longer days and shorter nights! Or is it that the Earth begins to tilt back to where it needs to be for summer to happen here in the northern hemisphere. And keep in mind that before long we will celebrate the vernal equinox and the summer solstice! Isn't that nice!

The Party

Well, last evening I attended my 11th Gunville Christmas Dinner. This could be the last as my future location is unknown at this time. I just might be living in a warmer climate next year. Nontheless I was asked by many how things were going as I hadn't seen anyone from the company in two weeks. What does one say? I'm still kicking..... things are about the same....we're trying to keep this breathing problem under control. The Gunville guys, Bob and Ryan, still talked about me pulling the horses next summer. Time will tell. Anyway it was nice to know that so many people, many of whom I had very little contact with, cared to take the time to talk with me and express their concerns and offer advice. Thanks to them. Dinner was served and Reggie and Bob talked their usual talk and I headed for home! Thanks for dinner Gunvilles!

The Girls of Christmas 2006

What can Grandfather say other than declare that this is a great bunch of pictures of a great bunch of girls. From the top: ,Julia Playing, Rebecca of the Netherlands,Julia Reading, Rebecca Sleeping, , Genevieve Bundled Up, , and Genevieve Smiling!

Oh Christmas Tree!

My first Christmas tree in 10 years was harvested at Home Depot and dragged home and placed on my window table! I like my Christmas tree! Now I need to get some presents to put under the tree. Maybe a SS check!

Hey, This New Beta Is Really Fast

Fast publishing...like seconds even with an image. Nice spell checher too!

Modern Car Scared Me

At the store today I accidentally.......I swear accidentally....put my Volvo key into the ignition of my Grand Caravan and the Grand Caravan went nuts a hootin' up a storm and whatever else! I couldn't figure it all out at first but pulled the key out of the ignition and it got all quiet again. My old '94 Topaz ,see it in the background, never did that! I did take the truck key off the ring and stashed it in my briefcase. I was lucky I was at a secluded store and not in the first row at the mall!

I Need To Test The New Blogger!

Those blogger guys at Google have been pestering me to switch to the new blogger thing so I did and I find it to be quite the same as the old one. I see a a blue and an orange button on the bottom of the wrting page but that's about all! Oh and there is a spot to write in "Lables for this post" whatever that means. I did notice that I was able to click on a button on another bloggers blog and I went directly to this blog. How nice! I think I'll try a new look too since I'm at it! How about the denim style?

What I Will Not Miss

I will not miss seeing trucks which have slid off the road in extremely slippery conditions. I will not miss trying to see through a windshield with the windsheild wipers not quite able to clean the snow off. And I will not miss those to go pizzas with the see through pepperoni and the grains of sausage! I will not miss winter on the road!

But Even at Home I have Problems!

I discovered that I have more covers for plastic the storage boxes I bought than I have storage boxes themselves! But after a few hours I noticed that I had packed and put into storage a double.
I hadn't noticed that two were still stuck together! Problem solved!

Rich Brown Surprized by Goldenaires

State Representative Rich Brown of Bessemer was apparently surprised by his fellow corps members. That's Brown in a white shirt furthest left behind a drummer in a gold shirt. Brown was Gogebic County Clerk for many years before being elected 110 th District State Representative. Here is the story from the Ironwood Daily Globe.

Goldenaires go to Lansing Published Saturday, December 9, 2006 4:26:19 PM Central Time LANSING -- The State Capitol in Lansing is buzzing after Marty's Goldenaires, a drum-and-bugle corps based in Bessemer, made a surprise appearance on the floor of the Michigan House of Representatives Tuesday to honor drum major Rep. Rich Brown, D-Bessemer. Brown's term in office ends on Dec. 31 due to Michigan's term-limits law. Brown was visibly astonished as the Goldenaires marched into the chamber to the steady rhythm of a powerful marching cadence and lined up in front of the Speaker's rostrum. The corps performed in honor of Brown, who has been involved with the corps for the past 24 years. "I was overwhelmed and completely taken by surprise by the tremendous performance on the House floor by Marty's Goldenaires," said Brown. "The level of commitment and dedication displayed by members of the corps in making a mid-week, 10-hour-plus-long bus trip to Lansing is nothing short of amazing. I am truly honored and humbled to have been on the receiving end of such a wonderful tribute by this fine group of committed and talented musicians." Brown took over conducting duties after the first number to lead the corps in a second selection, much to the joy of his House colleagues. Generally, demonstrations and productions of such scope are prohibited by the rules of the House of Representatives. However, rules were suspended temporarily by House Speaker Craig DeRoche, R-Novi, to allow the corps to musically celebrate the accomplishments and character of the popular 110th District representative. In a special downtown reception following the festivities in the House chamber, Brown led the corps in rousing renditions of "Joy to the World," by Three Dog Night; "Touch Me," by the Doors; "Wipeout," by the Surfaris; and a medley of "Georgia on My Mind/Sweet Georgia Brown."

http://www.ironwooddailyglobe.com/1209gold.htm

Sorry Again Volvo

I abandoned you on Friday, December 1st, after that snowy run to Menomomee Falls. On Sunday I cleaned out my stuff....tools, clothes, food, microwave, power inverter, bedding and so on and on. Driving you was a pleasure with the all the features of a brand new 2007 truck. It was the other work involved that I could no longer do. Cranking landing gear, climbing into the trailer to check the load, and other necessary physical activity was too difficult. My lungs just don't work that well anymore. I decided I couldn't continue driving and with the advice and consent of my supervisor and friend Reggie who trained and hired me ten years ago I made the decision to leave the driving to someone else that very day. I will miss driving and the guys and ladies at Gunville. Gunville Trucking has been very
good to me over the past ten years. I was hoping to drive at least one more year and might possibly do some short runs on the weekends in the future but time and developments will tell. I might go to help out at the office someday and watch the drivers as they come and go about their business. Thank you Volvo 1024, Volvo 1008, Volvo 185, GMC/White 172 and GMC/White 143. All combined you gave me quite a bunch of "rides" ..... 1,525,000 miles of them!

Sorry Volvo

Volvo might take the backseat to this mode for Dad. I and Volvo have separated for a little while I take a little "health brake". If the young ones can bike so can I even if its 0 degrees. I've seen quite a few old fellows riding in the area. I do need to see if the City of Iron Mountain would install logs on the sides of the streets for rest stations! This photo comes from a bike trip The Expats and I took this spring in the "forest" near the town where they lived. Was it Woudenbug?

A Local Hero Came Back Home

As I drove around the local area on errands today I encountered the thousands who came to say farewell to a fallen soldier. Here is his story from the Daily News. How many more will come home via Dover?

IRON MOUNTAIN — More than 1,000 people filed through the Michigan National Guard Kingsford Armory Sunday to pay their final respects to the Dickinson County soldier who was killed in Iraq.

Local law enforcement officials conducted traffic control on Carpenter Avenue throughout the afternoon Sunday as friends, family and private citizens honored the Dickinson County hero.

Sgt. First Class James Priestap, 39, of Hardwood was killed by enemy gunfire in Baghdad on Thanksgiving Day.

Priestap and 59 other members of the 46th MP Unit out of Kingsford were deployed to Iraq on July 9.

Priestap, a 1985 graduate of North Dickinson High School, was married to Connie (Harder) Priestap.

A public visitation was held from 1 p.m. until 8 p.m. Sunday, and from 11 a.m. to noon today at the Kingsford Armory.

The full military honors funeral was scheduled for noon today at the Kingsford Armory with the sergeant’s uncle, Pastor Terry Priestap, and Pastor Carl Hammer of Norway officiating.

Burial with full military honors will be at Foster City Cemetery.

Sgt. Priestap’s body was flown back to the area from Dover, Del., on Saturday.

The North Dickinson County School District was closed today to allow friends and family to attend the funeral

Mourning Doves Supported by Voters

They put up a good fight for their survival and it paid off!

I talked about my personal family flock (they are supposedly monogomous and strong supporters of the family) back some time ago!

It is strange that Upper Peninsula counties had large "YES" numbers even though the special hunting seasons of recent years were only held in the far south of the Lower Pennisula.

MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF STATE Bureau Of Elections P.O. Box 20126 Lansing, Michigan 48901 Phone: (517) 373-2540

Election Results GENERAL ELECTION November 07, 2006

UNOFFICIAL as of Thursday, November 09, 2006 3:14:27 pm

State Proposal - 06-3: Referendum: Hunting Season for Mourning Doves

	TOTAL
COUNTY	BY
CODE/NAME	COUNTY	Yes	No
01 ALCONA	5,272	2,170	3,102
02 ALGER	3,655	1,580	2,075
03 ALLEGAN	43,654	16,393	27,261
04 ALPENA	11,753	5,058	6,695
05 ANTRIM	11,262	3,526	7,736
06 ARENAC	6,615	2,498	4,117
07 BARAGA	3,150	1,380	1,770
08 BARRY	24,943	9,327	15,616
09 BAY	45,693	15,164	30,529
10 BENZIE	8,128	2,532	5,596
11 BERRIEN	49,800	17,747	32,053
12 BRANCH	13,997	4,783	9,214
13 CALHOUN	26,259	8,507	17,752
14 CASS	15,912	6,902	9,010
15 CHARLEVOIX	11,089	3,461	7,628
16 CHEBOYGAN	11,392	3,474	7,918
17 CHIPPEWA	12,961	4,157	8,804
18 CLARE	11,456	3,793	7,663
19 CLINTON	30,339	12,282	18,057
20 CRAWFORD	5,708	2,044	3,664
21 DELTA	14,497	6,266	8,231
22 DICKINSON	9,475	4,163	5,312
23 EATON	44,808	15,498	29,310
24 EMMET	13,581	4,134	9,447
25 GENESEE	159,598	45,053	114,545
26 GLADWIN	10,759	3,966	6,793
27 GOGEBIC	5,979	2,318	3,661
28 GD. TRAVERSE	35,551	11,406	24,145
29 GRATIOT	14,860	5,368	9,492
30 HILLSDALE	15,396	6,000	9,396
31 HOUGHTON	11,569	4,764	6,805
32 HURON	13,974	5,196	8,778
33 INGHAM	102,110	28,961	73,149
34 IONIA	22,127	9,108	13,019
35 IOSCO	10,965	3,554	7,411
36 IRON	4,723	2,033	2,690
37 ISABELLA	18,475	6,186	12,289
38 JACKSON	55,490	18,407	37,083
39 KALAMAZOO	91,444	26,755	64,689
40 KALKASKA	6,466	2,219	4,247
41 KENT	233,770	80,284	153,486
42 KEWEENAW	1,141	425	716
43 LAKE	4,415	1,527	2,888
44 LAPEER	35,718	13,550	22,168
45 LEELANAU	11,939	3,407	8,532
46 LENAWEE	33,619	13,510	20,109
47 LIVINGSTON	75,950	27,720	48,230
48 LUCE	2,254	841	1,413
49 MACKINAC	5,400	1,819	3,581
50 MACOMB	305,244	92,742	212,502
51 MANISTEE	10,449	3,348	7,101
52 MARQUETTE	23,609	8,881	14,728
53 MASON	11,941	3,648	8,293
54 MECOSTA	14,626	5,261	9,365
55 MENOMINEE	7,388	3,295	4,093
56 MIDLAND	33,934	12,273	21,661
57 MISSAUKEE	6,094	2,742	3,352
58 MONROE	53,800	21,089	32,711
59 MONTCALM	22,169	7,982	14,187
60 MONTMORENCY	4,568	1,904	2,664
61 MUSKEGON	61,745	17,062	44,683
62 NEWAYGO	18,609	6,886	11,723
63 OAKLAND	493,095	132,940	360,155
64 OCEANA	10,202	3,364	6,838
65 OGEMAW	8,563	2,987	5,576
66 ONTONAGON	3,048	1,343	1,705
67 OSCEOLA	9,231	3,458	5,773
68 OSCODA	3,504	1,213	2,291
69 OTSEGO	10,139	3,420	6,719
70 OTTAWA	106,722	40,887	65,835
71 PRESQUE ISLE	6,312	2,493	3,819
72 ROSCOMMON	11,515	3,648	7,867
73 SAGINAW	78,565	23,707	54,858
74 ST. CLAIR	61,498	21,766	39,732
75 ST. JOSEPH	18,660	6,969	11,691
76 SANILAC	16,193	5,637	10,556
77 SCHOOLCRAFT	3,356	1,514	1,842
78 SHIAWASSEE	28,966	10,795	18,171
79 TUSCOLA	22,066	8,590	13,476
80 VAN BUREN	25,694	7,793	17,901
81 WASHTENAW	128,925	35,885	93,040
82 WAYNE	600,991	140,822	460,169
83 WEXFORD	12,016	4,515	7,501
	TOTAL
COUNTY	BY
CODE/NAME	COUNTY	Yes	No
===============	==============	==============	==============
Totals	3,652,528	1,132,075	2,520,453

Do Not Think Snow. It Will Come without Help

For Ironwood, Michigan for the 24-hour period
ending at 7 p.m. Thursday
(Posted afternoons)

Temperatures
High 28 Low 23
Year ago: High 51 Low 30
Records
High: 69 (1903)
Low: -4 (1951)

Precipitation
Last 24 hours: none
Snowfall
Last 24 hours: none
Year to date: 17.6 inches

I drove through the Ironwood area Thursday afternoon and chuckled at the snow piles here and there. Looks like they have had 17.6 inches so far this season. That's a good start! I'm glad its there and not here!

Oh My!

This one made me laugh! This guy ought to be a politician!

I'm Glad It Is Almost Over

I am sick and tired of the political campaign and its related news. The last couple of weeks have caused me to wonder if maybe they are all nuts. I think most of the candidates and their mouth pieces should be spanked. Does anyone else feel the same?

Little Red Riding Hood Beware

An interesting little article on wolves appeared in the local paper. It seems that the local wolf population is growing larger and moving closer to human habitat. I knew this would eventually happen. We humans simply can't leave nature alone as was done back in the old days. Feeding of deer is not only endangering the deer population but now the wolves are being drawn into the feeding areas. There are regulations regarding feeding and baiting but they are seldom followed and enforcement of the regulations is almost impossible. Thus the problem with the big bad wolves!

The Interchange

Here an old road, there a new road, everywhere an orange barrel or a sign, and cranes by the dozens, and workers by the hundreds as work on the Milwaukee Marquette Interchange continues! Amazing! They are building a new interchange within the old one with relatively feew closures of the system.

Pickup Load

Going to make a few sandwiches?

Rebecca Lenore

Rebecca Lenore, my third grand daughter, was born October 24 in the Netherlands. The parents are daughter Beth and son in law Dan Stafford. It must be the year of the girl!

Sixflagszilla and the Spiders

Each October Sixflagzilla and the Spider Family take over a bit of the infrastructure at Six Flags Park near Gurnee, Illinois.

Only Five Months of __________ ! Can You Guess What?

See this story in the Ironwood Daily Globe! Just one more reason to escape to somewhere else!

Try Parking This One Downtown

I've seen a few of these moving south on I35 between Duluth and the Twin Cities. I don't know what the cargo is but it must be very, very heavy! One of these days I'll get a better shot.

Here is a view as I met a couple of the behemoths on the highway between Duluth and Brainerd. I was told by a driver who lives in Duluth that the cargo is a generator/turbine for a wind farm. They arrive in Duluth on ships from Europe and are then transported by truck to sites in the Midwest. Can you imagine that sitting atop the "pole" and having propellers that are maybe a hundred feet long attached as well? I would like to see one of these lifted to it's position! I'll next try to find out how heavy the thing is. Any help will be appreciated! Check out this site for pictures of the unloading of blades earlier this year

Copper Country Snowflake to be Famous

Check out the Ironwood Daily Globe article on snow flakes. A Copper Country snow flake will be on our postage stamps and can be seen on the lower left above. The picture of the four flakes comes from the usps web site.



usps.com/communications/news/calendar/fdevents/06_snowflakes.htm.

Its Time To Go To XM

I ran to Minnesota yesterday with a driver who has an XM reciever in his Volvo. He convinced me to get to town ASAP to pick up my hardware and start enjoying XM variety. I think I'll enjoy it!

Its High School Bowl Season.

I took time this week to stop in Ironwood and have a visit with my brother, his friend, and my nieces husband, Larry, who is the father of the well informed Randy Rovelsky, captain of the Westwood High School Bowl team. They were televised this evening and easily beat the opposition. Keep up the answering Westwood!

The Brownie!

I picked up one of those Duncan Hines Hungry Man Dinners today on the way home. Its in its second "nuking" phase as I write. The first part of the "nuking" involves 4 minutes and then carefully removing the silly little brownie. Now a "t-v dinner" as they were called in the old days is supposed to save dishes so when one removes the brownie the best place to put it is into ones mouth"

Fall 2006

Driving around the northwoods is always a special treat in late September and early October. The colors of fall never grow old to this old lover of the color season. Its one spectacular view after another.

The Ohio Show

Yes, it was Hillsboro, Ohio, for the weekend draft horse festivities....all 400 miles one way. A good time was had by all as we met some very nice Ohio folks and put the horses through the paces. In the picture you see Jeff commanding the six horse hitch around the arena. This is the last event we'll be attending this season and I look forward to next summer and fall when the horses ride again!

Driving Around the Horses!

He drives them around at the shows. Meet our "horse driver" Jeff Batton. At 23 he is probably one of the regions best having worked with his family's draft horses and "pulled" his own team at age 9 or so! Jeff drives them as a team in harness, as single cart hitch, as a team hitch, unicorn hitch, four hitch and as a six hitch. Imagine the skills needed to control six plus tons of horse from the seat of the wagon telling Jim and Doc and Marcus and Mike and Sam and Chief to do their things! Its been fun helping the crew and just watching the shows. Lets go again guys! This weekend we're planning to be off to Hillsboro, Ohio, to the Southern Ohio Draft Horse Show and Field Days. It'll be a four day adventure, the first such trip for the Wilderness Farms team.

The Wonder of a New Silky

Julia was treated with a brand new bigger girls silky when I visited there to see the baby Genevieve. (Genevieve also got a new baby silky). Julia wasted no time showing off the flannel side and then the silky side and later the silky became a swimming pool! She reportedly now keeps both the older and the newer silky in her bed and when awake doesn't let either get too far from her.
Ahh, the wonder of a blanket!