LANSING — Iron County Sheriff Mark Valesano was elected the 2020 president of the Michigan Sheriff’s Association at the MSA Board of Directors fall meeting in October.
    Valesano’s term began Jan. 1 and will run through Dec. 31. He will be responsible for representing the MSA at various meetings around the state and nationally.
    Valesano is the second sheriff from Iron County to serve as president of the Michigan Sheriffs’ Association. He follows Sheriff Edward P. Sandri who served as president in 1965.
    “Sheriff Valesano is the consummate sheriff,” said MSA Executive Director, Sheriff Blaine Koops (Ret.). “He is well respected by his peers. Many of his fellow sheriffs seek Mark out for his guidance and wisdom. As importantly, he enjoys strong support from his constituents in all corners of Iron County. Congratulations Mark on your well-deserved presidency.”
    Valesano is entering his 12th year as Iron County Sheriff. He has been with the Iron County Sheriffs’ Office for over 30 years. Valesano served as an Iron County patrol deputy and was a D.A.R.E. officer for 10 years. Prior to his service with the Iron County Sheriff’s Office, Valesano served as a police officer with the Crystal Falls City Police Department. He has more than 35 years in the law enforcement profession. He also holds professional seats on the U.P. Michigan Municipal Risk Management Board, Iron County Kinship Board, the Upper Peninsula Substance Enforcement Board, and the Iron County Collaborative Board.
    Valesano holds a bachelor’s degree from Northern Michigan University. He also is a graduate of the Northern Michigan University Police Academy. He is a certified police officer in the state of Michigan.
    Valesano and his wife Linda have been married for 40 years and they have three grown children and two grandchildren. The Valesanos are members of the Guardian Angels Catholic Church in Crystal Falls. Valesano is an avid outdoorsman, loves to golf and spend time with his family.

The Iron County Locker Lunch program held a shoe drive fundraiser this fall. Shoes were collected from local residents and organizations, stored in bags and piled up in the basement of Dina Mia Kitchens. On Jan. 8, West Iron County High School students moved the approximately 2,500 shoes upstairs for loading onto a Penske rental truck.  The shoes are to be transported to Orlando, Fla, where the organization Funds2Orgs will then send the shoes overseas. The Locker Lunch program, directed by Sue Fritz and her daughter-in-law Susan Fritz, will receive a check from Funds2Orgs based on the weight of the shoes.

IRON RIVER — In mid-September of 2019, the Locker Lunch program in Iron County began a shoe drive fundraiser to raise funds for purchasing food for local children and to help people in underdeveloped countries.
    That effort lasted through mid-November and culminated on Jan. 8 when the shoes – more than 2,500 of them – were loaded onto a Penske rental truck by West Iron County high school student volunteers and sent on their way.
    The shoes will eventually end up with Orlando, Florida-based Funds2Orgs, which will issue a check to Locker Lunch based on the total weight of the shoes.
    And that should be a significant number given how quickly the students began to sweat as they passed the bags along a chain from the basement of the Dina Mia Kitchens building up the stairs to a loading dock, where they were then transported onto the truck.
    At the end of the drive, Locker Lunch had collected 115 bags with approximately 25 pairs of shoes, boots, slipper, flip-flops, etc. (children sizes to adult) in each.
    “I think it’s been hugely successful, beyond my dreams” said Locker Lunch President Sue Fritz of the campaign. “You know, you always hear that comment ‘It takes a village,’ and it certainly does. But more than that, it took this village to get it done. And this village is what made it all happen, Iron County.”

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CRYSTAL FALLS — The criminal proceedings involving Stephen and Dana Horton began 18 months ago when the Caspian couple was arrested on multiple methamphetamine-related charges.
    Now it finally appears that the case is winding down, at least prior to any appeals, as Stephen Horton was sentenced by Judge Donald S. Powell on Jan. 13 to 4½ to 20 years in prison for manufacturing methamphetamine at the Hortons’ Caspian home.
    Dana Horton’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for Jan. 27.
    Stephen Horton had also been facing charges of conspiracy to commit a controlled substance (manufacture methamphetamine), operating or maintaining a laboratory, and purchasing or possessing pseudoephedrine to make methamphetamine.
    Those charges were dismissed in a plea agreement between Prosecuting Attorney Melissa Powell and defense attorney Abbey Anderson in which Horton agreed to plead guilty to the manufacturing charge.
    The path to get to Stephen Horton’s sentencing kept spiraling even to the very end. Horton initially sought to have the evidence in the case suppressed because the police had no “specific and articulable” reason to conduct a protective sweep of his home, meaning that the police entered his home illegally in violation of the Fourth Amendment, the right to be secure against unreasonable searches and seizures.

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CASPIAN—At its reorganization meeting Jan. 8, Caspian commissioners elected Matt Jacks as mayor by a 4-0 vote, with former mayor Gary Sabol unable to attend the meeting.
      Commissioner Mark Stauber was elected as mayor pro-tem.
      During the reorganization meeting, Stauber and newly elected Mickey Stachowicz were sworn into office by City Manager John Stokoski.
      The new mayor named Stachowicz to the Multipurpose Committee and noted that all other committee appointments will remain the same, adding that appointments to the city’s Recreation Board will be made later.
      The board also thanked Commissioner Randy Thunander, who did not run for re-election, for his time on the board.
      The board also retained the services of the law firm of Polich and Tousignant as its legal counsel as well as its current auditor, CPA Barry Gaudette of Traverse City. It approved retaining its current investment policy.
      Highlighting the board’s return to its regular meeting was the 2018-2019 audit presentation by former auditor Scott Kenney, who has served as the city’s financial consultant for the past year.

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CRYSTAL FALLS — The Michigan State Police are investigating the death of an inmate at the Iron County Correctional Facility.
    At approximately 7:50 a.m. on Jan. 11, sheriff deputies reported the discovery of a deceased inmate, according to a press release from the Iron County Sheriff’s Office. The inmate, Jonathan Joepaul Parker, had died of an apparent suicide.
    “The Michigan State Police were requested to do an independent investigation of the death,” the press release stated. “The investigation is ongoing, and no other details can be released at this time.”

Friday night skating at the Iron County Ice Arena in Caspian brings family and friends together for a fun evening on the ice. The arena is located at 100 Museum Drive. Open skating is held on Fridays from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The cost is $3 per skater. Check in the Reporter’s Winter Fun Guide for a skating-buddy coupon. The event is sponsored by the Iron Amateur Hockey Association. For information about skating and the area’s hockey program call 265-3818. (photos by Kevin Zini)

IRON RIVER—Like many other school districts in this region, West Iron County has to scramble when it needs to fill important positions in its staff.
    It’s happening again. Superintendent Chris Thomson told the school board at its Jan. 21 meeting that its middle school-high school guidance counselor, Megan Nyberg, is leaving to take a new position.
    Nyberg is resigning effective March 1 to take a position with the Dickinson-Iron Intermediate School District. Thomson said he would meet with Mike Berutti, middle school-high school principal, on how best to fill the job through the end of the school year.
    During a later interview, Thomson said there is a critical shortage in many education positions: “Guidance counselors, special ed teachers, math-science teachers, physical education teachers and elementary teachers.”
    In his 20 years in school administration, “That’s the biggest change in my job: We’re dealing with a lot more what-ifs.” In the past, he said, there used to be many applicants for school positions. Not anymore.
    “And this is not just West Iron. A lot of districts are short of teachers or are really struggling to find teachers in certain core areas.” With teachers hired during the 1990s starting to retire, filling those vacancies in a more competitive hiring environment is a challenge.
    “The last two times we looked for guidance counselors,” Thomson said at the meeting, “we’ve only had one applicant.” In the end, the district asked Chris Harrington, who had retired, to come back part-time.
    The task now is to identify the right person for the position – and come up with a fallback plan in case that person can’t be found.

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CRYSTAL FALLS — A Caspian man accused of stabbing another man with a screwdriver at Holiday Stationstore in Iron River in October has been found not competent by a forensic examiner.
    Ian Louis Bortolameolli, 35, will now be transferred from the Iron County Correctional Facility to a state of Michigan Forensic Psychiatric Center for treatment and care after he was deemed “not competent at this time” by Iron County Judge Donald S. Powell in a hearing in Iron County Trial Court on Jan. 20.
    Powell based his ruling on the report turned in by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Center for Forensic Psychology. The licensed psychologist met with Bortolameolli in Marquette and the report sent was dated Jan. 8.
    Bortolameolli is facing charges of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder (10-year felony), assault with a dangerous weapon (four-year felony) and aggravated assault (a one-year misdemeanor).
    Bortolameolli appeared at the competency hearing via Polycom from the Iron County Correctional Facility. He adamantly disagreed with the evaluator’s assessment.
    “You know that I am fully competent so I’m asking for a second opinion,” Bortolmeolli said. “Someone more trusting, something less set up.
    “It’s extremely inaccurate ....”
    During her client’s rebuttals, defense attorney Abbey Anderson cautioned Bortolameolli against making statements that could be used against him. Powell reiterated the advice to Bortolameolli, who nonetheless kept voicing his frustrations.
    “I’m not worried about it,” Bortolameolli responded.
    “I do believe, Ian, that there is a substantial likelihood that after some treatment, you’re going to be doing fine and you’ll be able to participate,” Powell said.
    “Don’t give me any (expletive) treatment,” Bortolameolli answered. “Sir, this charade has to end at some point. I know you’re in on it, my brother gave me a warning. You guys had this planned a very long time again. He gave me a heads-up. Stop, please.”
    At the time of the incident, the Iron River Police Department said in a press release that the victim was stabbed in the abdomen several times and received a puncture wound and laceration to his face. The wounds were reported as superficial.
    The IRPD added that the attack appeared to be random at the time of the arrest and that the victim did not know his attacker.

IRON RIVER — The Iron River City Council held its first meeting of the 2020s on Jan. 15 with a number of noticeable changes to the makeup of the board. The highest profile change was the new mayor at the head of the table, Dennis Powell. Other new faces included Benjamin Garcia and Ronjo Leonoff as council members. The meeting was also well attended by city residents, with roughly 20 people there. The attendees – which included County Commissioner Mike Stafford – were treated to an animated city meeting session, which saw some debate over a variety of topics, not the least of which were appointments to vacant positions in city government.
    While Powell had won the election in 2019 for the position of mayor, one open vacancy was that of deputy mayor. When the position came up for a vote later during the meeting, Powell nominated Leonoff for the position.
    However, the nomination proved to be a contentious placement. Since one seat on the board was still vacant for that meeting, tie votes were suddenly possible, and that’s what occurred. While Powell and Leonoff voted in favor of it, Rodney Dood and Benjamin Garcia voted against the appointment. A tie vote meant the motion failed, and given that, Leonoff was not appointed to that position.
    Garcia then nominated Dood for the position, stating that Dood had prior experience on the board. This motion passed, with Powell, Dood and Garcia voting for it and Leonoff voting against it. While voting for it, Powell stated that Iron River had to have a deputy mayor.
    A move to fill the remaining vacant council seat also proved to be turbulent. According to statute, the council would have to appoint someone to the open position by Feb. 13 or hold a special election by then. Powell nominated Anthony Clements for the position because he was the runner-up to both Leonoff and Garcia for the other two seats in the recent election.

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Like many residents, Mary Mower of Iron River takes her snowshoeing seriously and with a smile. She gets exercise on her backyard property where there’s plenty of snow and even some signage to keep her and friends on track.

CRYSTAL FALLS/IRON RIVER — Three years ago, Bill and Deb Weis met Robbie Ivey, a local young man who was diagnosed with the neuromuscular disease Duchenne muscular dystrophy as a child.
    At the time, the Weises were volunteering for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. The couple had been heavily involved in the MDA in the Milwaukee area, where they lived and worked. In the preparations for the inaugural MDA “Toast to Life” event in the U.P., the couple met Robbie and his mother Carrie.
    During their interactions, Carrie asked Bill, a retired Microsoft employee, about the possibility of voice-activating Robbie’s bed because he was unable to use his remote any longer.
    And so began Limited Mobility Solutions, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit company whose goal is to “leverage existing home automation devices that are compatible with Google and Amazon smart speakers to help people who have lost their independence due to debilitating disease or injury so they can regain some of that independence.”
    The company also explores how extending home automation to areas not currently available, like beds, recliners or door openers.

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CRYSTAL FALLS — The Crystal Falls City Council held its regularly scheduled monthly meeting on Jan. 13. The meeting itself was straightforward, with a presentation and a few new matters for the year that the council directed its attention toward. A presentation by the Iron County Economic Chamber Alliance took up much of the meeting’s sub-hour runtime.
     Iron County Economic Chamber Alliance, or ICECA, is a 501(c)6 nonprofit. It is a county-wide organization that assists local businesses and promote Iron County in other sections of the country. It also works with other organizations in the county or state to improve the county’s business and tourism environments.
    Chamber Director Erika Sauter discussed economic developments in the county over the past year, and also upcoming activities, particularly the Humongous Fungus festival held in Crystal Falls during the summer.
    Sauter distributed a form to the council outlining the basics of the festival, and provided information derived from the 2019 event. The festival will be held on July 31 and August 1 of this year, and Sauter described the event as a “priority festival” that could bring in tourism to the city, and ultimately be an economic driver for the area.
    One example of an activity that the ICECA feels has some potential for growth along those lines is guided mushroom forays, which have been ongoing over the past two years. Two groups of 20 people are sent out, with supervision, to hunt for mushrooms in the woods. While the honey fungus – the mushroom that the Humongous Fungus festival celebrates – is not in season at that time, participants can find other mushrooms and edible materials on their journeys.
    Sauter reported people from a wide range of locations, ranging from as close as Wisconsin to as far away as the state of Washington, actively sought out the tours and then participated in this activity. As a result, ICECA feels that the tours could bear expansion going forward, specifically adding an additional group to the tour to match the interest in it.
    In addition to expanding tours into the woods, Sauter suggested that educational materials regarding the fungus be made available. This included documentaries on the fungus, and markers indicating the general area where the fungus could be found. The materials would be made approachable based on current social preferences; for example, the fungus markers would be called “selfie signs.”

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CRYSTAL FALLS—Three more very familiar faces will be missing from Forest Park when the 2020-21 school year starts.
    During its regular meeting on Jan. 27, the school B\board accepted the retirements of fourth grade teacher Joni Horst, high school science teacher Jen Toivonen and K-12 guidance counselor Harold Payne.
    Together, they have 73 years of service to the district: 29 years for Horst, 25 years for Toivonen and 19 years for Payne. The board accepted all three retirements “with regret.”
    Payne’s letter said that it had been his privilege to serve the students and families of Forest Park, and he thanked the district’s teachers, administrators and staff.
    “I believe it is an exciting time at Forest Park,” Payne’s letter concluded, “and the future looks bright.”
    In her letter, Horst thanked the district for the many experiences she has had. “My employment as a teacher here has been mostly enjoyable, and I will miss my colleagues and the students when my last day here arrives.”
    All three positions were posted in-house to the staff, which will have five days to apply. “I do anticipate a little bit of movement,” noted Superintendent Becky Waters, as teachers move from one position to another and others claim vacancies that are created. “We will be doing some shuffling around.”

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Forest Park held a ceremony on Jan. 31 to formally dedicate and rename the school’s weight room in honor of Clark Schwedler, a 1997 Forest Park grad who became a Navy SEAL and was killed in action in 2007. Pictured, in front, from left, are CJ Post, Kate (Schwedler) Kokotowich, retired Judge C. Joseph Schwedler, Susie Schwedler, Claire Kokotowich, Tom Schwedler, Kurt Anderson, Mike Day, Jackie Giuliani and Kevin Hagglund; in back are Becky Waters, Mark Allen, Cameron Harrington and Scott Holmes. The memorial sign was made locally by Crystal Steel House.

CRYSTAL FALLS — A 42-year-old Crystal Falls man was killed in a snowmobile crash on Trail 113 south of Superior Avenue on Feb. 4.
    The Iron County Sheriff’s Office reported on Feb. 7 the victim was Jason A. Clark.
    According to a press release from the Iron County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded at approximately 9:17 p.m. to report of a crash. The preliminary investigation showed that Clark was traveling north on the trail when he failed to negotiate a curve, struck a tree and was thrown for the snowmobile. He was pronounced dead at the scene.    
    The crash remains under investigation.
     Deputies were assisted by Michigan State Police accident investigators, Iron County Search and Rescue, Aspirus EMS, Nash Funeral Home and Iron County Central Dispatch.

IRON RIVER—Snow is the word. Roofs around the area, especially the flatter ones, are trying to hold on, struggling with the white burden they bravely bear. But building owners know that Old Man Winter is going to be sending occasional storms here and there well into April … when he feels like it.
    Our most recent storm was the 7.5 inches of heavy whiteness we shoveled and plowed between Jan. 22 and 24. After that, there was a break in the action until a minor system moved through over the weekend.
    Through the end of January, Iron County had been dumped on to the tune of 55.7 inches from the start of the snow season.
    As of Jan. 31, the official snow depth was 22 inches—which melts down (literally) to 4.6 inches of water. Those who live in low areas and along rivers will need to be alert when spring arrives.
    All these readings come from the West Iron County Wastewater Treatment Plant south of Caspian, the only cooperative observer in Iron County.
    This winter’s total through Jan. 31 is the highest since the winter of 2014-15, when 62.7 inches were measured. That winter, we finished with 83.2 inches. But we had more snow during 2013-14 (89.6 inches) and 2018-19 (83.5 inches).
    Last winter, Iron County had only measured 31.9 inches through Jan. 31. But surely you remember February 2019, which brought an all-time monthly record of 39.8 inches to Iron County.
    That’s the second highest monthly snow total in any month on record. Still No. 1 is the 44.6 inches in December 1996. That winter (1996-97) is the last time we had more than 100 inches in any winter season.
    So how are we doing this year? How does it compare? This table shows snowfall totals by month over the last 10 winters.

CRYSTAL FALLS — The final local portion of the case of a Caspian couple (now divorced) who were arrested in July 2018 on methamphetamine charges was completed in Iron County Trial Court on Feb. 3.
    After having pleaded guilty earlier to one count of operating/maintaining a methamphetamine laboratory, Dana Horton, 45, was sentenced to 20 months to 10 years with the Michigan Department of Corrections by Judge Donald S. Powell. Her former husband, Stephen Horton, was sentenced to 4½ to 20 years in prison three weeks earlier for manufacturing methamphetamine at the Hortons’ Caspian home.
    The scoring guidelines for sentencing in Dana Horton’s case called for a minimum of five to 23 months in jail or prison.
    On the night of July 19, 2018, an Upper Peninsula Substance Enforcement Team investigation resulted in the discovery of an active methamphetamine lab at the Hortons’ residence.
    While the investigation found that Stephen Horton was the person cooking methamphetamine at the home, Dana Horton had purchased pseudoephedrine and had arranged for others to purchase pseudoephedrine for the purposes of manufacturing methamphetamine.
    Defense attorney Geoffrey Lawrence explained his view of Dana Horton’s involvement in the case.
    “I understand that Iron County needs protection from drug dealers and it’s been this Court’s practice and willingness to incarcerate drug dealers for lengthy periods of time,” Lawrence said to Judge Powell as he began his sentencing argument. “And I understand your reasoning behind that.
    “But Dana Horton is not a drug dealer, she is a drug addict. Her criminal involvement in this case was not motivated by monetary gain, she wasn’t selling drugs for profit, she wasn’t manufacturing the drugs.”
    Lawrence said his client’s participation in the case was that she knew her husband was manufacturing methamphetamine, she purchased and arranged the purchases of pseudoephedrine and she was a user of the drugs.
    “Stephen Horton was the clear leader,” Lawrence continued. “He was the meth cook. Dana knew what he was doing, but she didn’t stop him.”

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This horse-drawn wagon from Rocking W Stables made its way along a snow-banked trail at Young’s for the annual Winterfest celebration on Feb. 8. Skiers, snowshoers and those on fat-tire bikes also used the trail to enjoy the outdoors at the winter event.

CRYSTAL FALLS — A pair of Milwaukee men were sentenced in Iron County Trial Court on Feb. 3 for delivery of controlled substances in Iron River in March 2017.
    Kenneth Michael Greer, 36, was sentenced by Iron County Judge Donald S. Powell to six to 20 years in prison for delivery of a substance containing heroin/cocaine, while Davin Vincent Veir-Washington was sentenced to one year in county jail for delivery of a substance containing heroin/cocaine.
    Greer’s sentence will run concurrently with a Dickinson County sentence of seven to 30 years in prison stemming from delivery of a controlled substance in April 2017. Greer is currently serving his time with the Michigan Department of Corrections in the Marquette Branch Prison.
    Veir-Washington’s sentence will run concurrently with his sentence in Marinette County of four years in prison for possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance.
    The local case involving Greer and Veir-Washington stemmed from charges that were linked to the March 2017 overdose death of 31-year-old Jamie Iraci in Iron River.
    During Greer’s sentencing hearing, defense attorney Jeffrey Paupore motioned to strike any reference to the Iraci death from the record. During Veir-Washington’s sentencing hearing, defense attorney Abbey Anderson spoke to the same point.

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IRON RIVER—Today washboards are museum pieces, but apparently you can still see some in Mastodon Township. All you need to do is look down.
    According to a recent letter from the Township Board to the Road Commission, read during the commission’s Feb. 11 regular meeting, washboard conditions prevail on County Road 424, just east of the village of Alpha.
    The issue was first raised during the commission’s January regular meeting. At that time, Chairman Ernest Schmidt said the county has no plans to repair that part of 424 for the next 15 years, since it had only been a few years since work was last done on the road.
    “Your 15-year schedule is unacceptable,” the board’s letter replied, noting that drivers of package delivery trucks have been complaining about the road’s condition. The letter pointed the finger at contractors who did the work, saying “to not make them accountable for such a terrible job is beyond our understanding.”
    The township asked the road commission to investigate “why the road became a washboard in such a short time. Prior to this repair, the road has never been in this condition. Therefore we do not believe that rain may have caused the issue.”
    It asked for an engineer’s explanation and some possible solutions. “The contractor should be held accountable and should repair the problem now, not in 15 years,” the letter ended.    
    Schmidt said his “15 years” remark in January was just “a play on words.” “Of course, we’re not just going to let it go,” he said. “We have to do something.”
    Schmidt said his point is that the road was last paved in 2004—16 years ago. “The washboard starts at the top of the hill, at the circle,” he told Mastodon Township Supervisor Frank Siewiorek, who was in the audience. “All the way down the hill you’ve got washboard. That had nothing to do with us.
    “And then there’s a huge dip right at the very bottom. That’s nasty, Frank! That’s worse than the road.” (Siewiorek said the dip has been there since the Alpha sewer project. “It was never filled in.”)
    Schmidt also mentioned another part of road near a log yard. “That’s new pavement there, in the last few years. And it’s doing the same thing.” Both talked about other places where a relatively new road base is buckling.

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