tagged w/ Marquette County
-
Coach of Marquette team will not file any plea for himself from now. His team has made a Big Dance in its match with West Virginia. It was a 67-61 upset, which happened due to Marquette. Golden Eagles required 11 points for levelling the score of his team. But they could only reach 13-6 during 5:50 time. After this victory, Marquette has come to (20-12) so it will be facing 14th ranked Louisville. That match will be played in Madison Square Garden on this Thursday Night. It will be a match of quarterfinals.Coach of Marquette team will not file any plea for himself from now. His team has made... more
-
-
-
When officials with the Eagle Mine Project in Michigan's Upper Peninsula arrested Cynthia Pryor for trespassing in April 20, 2010, they didn't count on the public outrage over the jailing of this 58 year old grandmother and longtime environmentalist.
In this video, Pryor explains what happened before and after her arrest.
Cynthia Pryor of Big Bay, Michigan belongs to several environment groups including serving as the the Sulfide Mining Campaign Director for the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve. Her attorney, Kevin Koch of Negaunee, MI, says Pryor wants a jury trial on the misdemeanor charge.
Pryor is scheduled for a pretrial court hearing at 1 p.m. on May 6. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 30 days in jail and or a $250 fine.
The video was produced by the nonprofit Cedar Tree Institute in Marquette, MI, which has founded numerous youth, faith and Native American related environment projects.
Petition to support Cynthia Pryor
www.savethewildup.org/jailed/petition
Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve:
http://www.yellowdogwatershed.org/blog
Save the Wild U.P. (SWUP):
http://www.savethewildup.org
SWUP Facebook Page:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=20079015072
SWUP Causes on Facebook
http://www.causes.com/causes/46130?recruiter_id=60587135
Stand for the Land blog:
http://standfortheland.com
Stand for the Land flickr photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/49633257@N03
Stories by Gabriel Caplett and others on the “Headwaters: Citizen Journalism For the Great Lakes” website.
http://headwaters.net
Headwaters stories include opposition to the Kennecott Eagle Mine project and alleged international crimes and bad acts by Kennecott Mining and its parent company Rio Tinto:
“Taking a Stand”: Sacred Site Celebrated Despite Citizen Arrest
http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/taking-a-stand-sacred-site-celebrated-despite-citizen-arrest
Pryor Ordered to Leave Jail:
http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/pryor-ordered-to-leave-jail
Cynthia Prior Pleads Not Guilty:
http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/cynthia-pryor-pleads-not-guilty
Cynthia Pryor arrested at mine property:
http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/citizen-arrested-for-%E2%80%9Ctrespassing%E2%80%9D-on-public-land/
Eagle Mine Concerns Raised at Rio Tinto Meeting:
http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/audio-rio-tintos-annual-general-meeting
Upper Peninsula Mine Threatens Sacred Tribal Rights:
http://headwatersnews.net/mining-blog/upper-peninsula-mine-threatens-sacred-tribal-rights
Rio Tinto Stomps on Indigenous Rights in Upper Peninsula of Michigan:
http://headwatersnews.net/mining-blog/rio-tinto-stomps-out-indigenous-rights-in-upper-michigan
Kennecott Minerals parent company Rio Tinto accused of crimes ranging from bribery to espionage to violating mining act:
http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/uk-serious-fraud-office-to-investigate-rio-tinto
http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/rio-tinto-employees-charged-with-industrial-espionage-and-bribery
http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/rio-tinto-pleads-guilty-to-breach-of-mining-management-act-again-2
USA Today and Washington Post stories from Associated Press by writer John Flesher article about Chauncey Moran, vice chairman of the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve and a volunteer stream monitor
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/2007-09-08-276323347_x.htm
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/08/AR2007090800356.html
More stories and info about Chauncey Moran:
http://www.waterkeeper.org/ht/d/OrganizationDetails/id/707
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5AP05J20091126
Mining Journal stories:
Native American activists protest at Eagle Rock 4/25/10:
http://miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/543341.html
Mining Journal Editorial: Cooler heads must prevail in mine protests 4/25/10:
http://miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/543354.html
Pryor pleads not guilty to trespassing: Mining opponent arrested at Kennecott operation 4/21/10:
http://miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/543227.html
Mine foe Pryor remains jailed 4/22/10:
http://miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/543253.html
Rally Held at Eagle Rock
http://miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/543014.html?nav=5006
Mining Journal Video of Rally:
http://www.miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/543018.html?nav=5056
DEQ mine decision questioned 1/16/10:
http://miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/539169.html
Yellow Dog Plains on Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_Dog_Plains
Yellow Dog Plains Pix via Wikipedia By Maynard Leon and Kirill Zikanov (Wiki username Kirillz)
Trouble on the Yellow Dog Plains:
http://savethewildup.org/files/swup/265.pdf
GRANHOLM, DEQ DECISION CONDEMNED BY U.P.
http://www.ausableanglers.org/files/members/RIVERWATCH48.pdf
Protect the Earth: Part 2, Walk to Eagle Rock By Michele Bourdieu
http://keweenawnow.blogspot.com/2009/08/protect-earth-part-2-walk-to-eagle-rock.html
State of Michigan Info on Eagle Mine Project:
http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135-3311_4111_18442-130551--,00.html
Nonprofit Cedar Tree Institute:
http://www.CedarTreeInstitute.orgWhen officials with the Eagle Mine Project in Michigan's Upper Peninsula arrested... more
-
-
American Indians and non-natives are encouraged to visit the northern Michigan campsite that is blocking a sulfide mine - as in sulfuric acid - from being built under Sacred Eagle Rock.
Levi Tadgerson, an Anishinaabe man who loves and respects the environment, narrates this video that invites everyone to join the encampment at the base of Eagle Rock - the sooner the better because a confrontation between mine owners, the police and those protecting Sacred Eagle Rock could happen at any moment.
Tadgerson is a 22-year-old Northern Michigan University senior and member of Bay Mills Indian Community.
In the video, you will see the many amazing things happening to protect Sacred Eagle Rock including an appearance by popular American Indian singer/songwriter Elder Bobby "Bullet" St. Germaine of Iron River, MI - an elder of the Lac Du Flambeau tribe in Wisconsin.
He sings and leads a thank you drum under the shadow of Sacred Eagle Rock.
This video was shot on 4/29/2010.
Background:
Eagle Rock has been a sacred place to hold ceremonies since the Ojibwa tribe was created and was seeded to the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) under treaties with the American government.
The multi-tribe encampment, that could be raided by mine guards and police at any moment, is blocking the Eagle Mine Project by international mining giant Kennecott Minerals and its parent company Rio Tinto.
KBIC member Glen Bressette Jr., 38, of Harvey, Michigan brought a rare legally-permitted Eagle has been received to award feathers to those who honor their tribes by protecting sacred Eagle Rock and other honorable actions.
Dozens of people from numerous tribes have spent days at the camp - and many others have brought supplies to the remote site on dirt roads about an hour from any city.
The state of Michigan has claimed ownership to the land - but the lease with Kennecott only takes effect when the mine has secured all permits.
Opponents say the mine must still get a federal EPA groundwater permit - but under a technicality the mine owners say they do not need the permit and recently put up “No Trespassing” signs.
The American Indians rushed to the sight after Kennecott ordered the arrest of longtime mine opponent Cynthia Pryor of Big Bay, MI on April 20, 2010.
Pryor was out for her usual walk on the Yellow Dog Plains when she spotted a bulldozer - and refused to leave saying the mine still had an EPA permit pending.
Pryor is a member of the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve.
Among the Ojibwa tribes from Michigan and Wisconsin on sight are KBIC, Lac Du Flambeau, and Bay Mills Indian Community.
As of April 30th, the mine guards has not confronted the campers - but the day before ordered no still or video cameras are allowed. That has campers worried about why what they do not want videotaped or documented - thus nerves are high.
When a reporter arrived a short time later - the campers allowed him on the sight and this story was videotaped.
For more information call:
1-906-401-0109
The video was produced by the nonprofit Cedar Tree Institute in Marquette, MI, which has founded numerous youth, faith and Native American related environment projects.
Bobby "Bullet" St. Germaine of Iron River, MI - a member of the Lac Du Flambeau tribe in Wisconsin.
He is a well-know longtime native singer:
http://www.bobbybullet.com
Petition to support Cynthia Pryor
www.savethewildup.org/jailed/petition
Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve:
http://www.yellowdogwatershed.org/blog
Save the Wild U.P. (SWUP):
http://www.savethewildup.org
SWUP Facebook Page:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=20079015072
SWUP Causes on Facebook
http://www.causes.com/causes/46130?recruiter_id=60587135
Stand for the Land blog:
http://standfortheland.com
Stand for the Land flickr photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/49633257@N03
Stories by Gabriel Caplett and others on the “Headwaters: Citizen Journalism For the Great Lakes” website.
http://headwaters.net
Headwaters stories include opposition to the Kennecott Eagle Mine project and alleged international crimes and bad acts by Kennecott Mining and its parent company Rio Tinto:
“Taking a Stand”: Sacred Site Celebrated Despite Citizen Arrest
http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/taking-a-stand-sacred-site-celebrated-despite-citizen-arrest
Pryor Ordered to Leave Jail:
http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/pryor-ordered-to-leave-jail
Cynthia Prior Pleads Not Guilty:
http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/cynthia-pryor-pleads-not-guilty
Cynthia Pryor arrested at mine property:
http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/citizen-arrested-for-%E2%80%9Ctrespassing%E2%80%9D-on-public-land/
Eagle Mine Concerns Raised at Rio Tinto Meeting:
http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/audio-rio-tintos-annual-general-meeting
Upper Peninsula Mine Threatens Sacred Tribal Rights:
http://headwatersnews.net/mining-blog/upper-peninsula-mine-threatens-sacred-tribal-rights
Rio Tinto Stomps on Indigenous Rights in Upper Peninsula of Michigan:
http://headwatersnews.net/mining-blog/rio-tinto-stomps-out-indigenous-rights-in-upper-michigan
Kennecott Minerals parent company Rio Tinto accused of crimes ranging from bribery to espionage to violating mining act:
http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/uk-serious-fraud-office-to-investigate-rio-tinto
http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/rio-tinto-employees-charged-with-industrial-espionage-and-bribery
http://headwatersnews.net/mining-article/rio-tinto-pleads-guilty-to-breach-of-mining-management-act-again-2
USA Today and Washington Post stories from Associated Press by writer John Flesher article about Chauncey Moran, vice chairman of the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve and a volunteer stream monitor
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/2007-09-08-276323347_x.htm
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/08/AR2007090800356.html
More stories and info about Chauncey Moran:
http://www.waterkeeper.org/ht/d/OrganizationDetails/id/707
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5AP05J20091126
Mining Journal stories:
Native American activists protest at Eagle Rock 4/25/10:
http://miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/543341.html
Mining Journal Editorial: Cooler heads must prevail in mine protests 4/25/10:
http://miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/543354.html
Pryor pleads not guilty to trespassing: Mining opponent arrested at Kennecott operation 4/21/10:
http://miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/543227.html
Mine foe Pryor remains jailed 4/22/10:
http://miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/543253.html
Rally Held at Eagle Rock
http://miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/543014.html?nav=5006
Mining Journal Video of Rally:
http://www.miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/543018.html?nav=5056
DEQ mine decision questioned 1/16/10:
http://miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/539169.html
Yellow Dog Plains on Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_Dog_Plains
Yellow Dog Plains Pix via Wikipedia By Maynard Leon and Kirill Zikanov (Wiki username Kirillz)
Trouble on the Yellow Dog Plains:
http://savethewildup.org/files/swup/265.pdf
GRANHOLM, DEQ DECISION CONDEMNED BY U.P.
http://www.ausableanglers.org/files/members/RIVERWATCH48.pdf
Protect the Earth: Part 2, Walk to Eagle Rock By Michele Bourdieu
http://keweenawnow.blogspot.com/2009/08/protect-earth-part-2-walk-to-eagle-rock.html
State of Michigan Info on Eagle Mine Project:
http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135-3311_4111_18442-130551--,00.html
Nonprofit Cedar Tree Institute:
http://www.CedarTreeInstitute.orgAmerican Indians and non-natives are encouraged to visit the northern Michigan... more
-
-
Marquette, Michigan – During the first two weeks of May 2009, over 12,000 trees have been planted the interfaith Upper Peninsula EarthKeeper Team across a 400 miles area of northern Michigan and in Minocqua, Wisconsin thanks to volunteers at over 100 churches and temples.
The trees were planted near homes, camps, churchyards, schools, parks and many other places by thousands of volunteers from ten faith traditions.
Children of all ages helped make the project a success and underscored why its important to protect the environment - it's their future at stake.
The EarthKeepers handed out over 12,000 red pine and white spruce seedlings at over 100 churches and temples across northern Michigan.
This video details some of the planting, distribution and preparation for the 209 EarthKeeper Tree Project that started on Earth Day 2009 with the planting of a three-foot white spruce at Presque Isle Park along Lake Superior in Marquette, Michigan. Bishops and other EarthKeeper faith leaders blessed the tree as it was planted on a wooded hillside one day after a snowstorm.
In previous projects, the EarthKeeper Initiative has removed nearly 400 tons of hazardous waste from the environment - most of which was recycled - and involves the congregations of over 150 churches/temples from ten faith traditions in 50 communities, American Indian tribes, college students and other youth.
The EarthKeepers were founded in 1994 by Rev. Jon Magnuson, executive director of the non-profit Cedar Tree Institute in Marquette and Carl Lindquist, executive director of the Superior Watershed Partnership.
In 2004, the bishops and other faith leaders signed the original EarthKeeper Covenant - pledging to actively protect the environment and reach out to Native Americans. The religious communities include Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Methodist Church, Unitarian Universalist, Baha'i, Jewish, Zen Buddhist and the Quakers.
The group teams with Native American tribes including the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC). Another major partner is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that sent representatives to the collections
From 2005-2007, the group of adults and youth held an annual EarthKeeper Clean Sweep each Earth Day during which over 20,000 northern Michigan residents turned in household hazardous waste at 20 free collections sites across a 400-mile area involving all corners of the pristine Upper Peninsula.
With a message of encouragement from their faith leaders, enthusiastic congregations turned out during three-hour collections:
In 2005, over 45 tons of pesticides, herbicides, lead-based paint, batteries and many other hazardous substances from northern Michigan homes was turned in by residents during the first clean sweep. Partners included landfills and local governments.
In 2006, over 320 tons of electronic waste was collected including computers, keyboards, hard drives, other computer related components, televisions and cell phones. Nine semi-trucks transported the vast majority of the electronics to a recycler in the Lower Peninsula.
In 2007, over one ton of pharmaceuticals was turned in including more than $500,000 in dangerous narcotics. Pharmacists and law enforcement agencies were among the clean sweep partners and staffed each of the collection sites as required by federal law. The drugs were properly disposed in high-tech EPA-approved incinerators.
In 2006, the faith leaders and the head of the KBIC tribe gathered for a news conference with college students to announce the creation of the Northern Michigan University EarthKeeper Student team. It was the first time these bishops and other faith leaders had been in the same room and many met for the first time.
http://www.upearthkeepers.org
http://www.superiorwatersheds.org
http://www.cedartreeinstitute.orgMarquette, Michigan – During the first two weeks of May 2009, over 12,000 trees... more
-
-
WBUP TV story on interfaith EarthKeepers planting 12,000 Trees for Earth Day
The WBUP/WPKP Channel 5 & 10 news department in Marquette, Michigan helped promote the latest interfaith Earth Keepers Project.
The Upper Great Lakes News (UGN) Network did a story on Upper Peninsula Earth Keepers who will plant 12,000 trees across northern Michigan in honor of Earth Day 2009.
The story has an interview with Gail Griffith, EarthKeeper Implementation Team co-chair.
The Earth Keepers thank reporter Lindsey Cramer and the rest of the UGN Team.
WBUP/WBKP TV - UGN
http://www.tv5and10.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:wbkp-wbup.jpg
Lindsey Cramer
Lindsey at lscbc.com
Channel 10
WBUP-TV
(906)-225-5700
The public and media are invited to an Earth Day 2009 Blessing of the Trees planting ceremony with representatives of ten faith traditions at 3:30 p.m. on Wed., April 22 next to the Presque Isle pavilion in Marquette.
"The EarthKeeper project this year is one where people from across the U.P. will see tangible results of their earth stewardship," said Gail Griffith, EarthKeeper Implementation Team co-chair. "I hope that congregations involve their young people in their planning and planting."
The EarthKeeper team includes ten faith traditions with over 150 participating churches/temples, the nonprofit Superior Watershed Partnership (SWP), the nonprofit Cedar Tree Institute (CTI), and the Northern Michigan University EarthKeeper Student Team.
Founded in 2004, the EarthKeeper Covenant is signed by the bishops/leaders of ten faith communities: Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Methodist Church, Unitarian Universalist, Baha'i, Jewish, Zen Buddhist and the Quakers.
The trees "will be wrapped individually in a plastic bag with planting instructions,” said Carl Lindquist, SWP executive director. "It's fun and it helps further our long term protection and restoration goals for local watersheds and the Great Lakes."
On Sat., May 2, participating churches and temples will pick up their trees at local conservation district offices and have been asked to bless the seedlings before planting at numerous locations Sun., May 3 assisted by the NMU EarthKeeper Student Team and other volunteers.
To request trees call Kyra Fillmore at 906-228-2388
The trees were purchased/donated by the U.P. EarthKeeper team, SWP, Holli Forest Products, the Forestland Group, Plum Creek Timber Company and Meister's Greenhouses.
"Our interfaith tree planting effort is more than another conservation project," said Rev. Jon Magnuson, CTI executive director and EarthKeeper Initiative co-founder. "With prayers, hymns and the blessing of 12,000 seedlings, it's a gentle proclamation of a new consciousness and commitment among our faith communities to care for God's creation."
This is the fifth U.P. EarthKeepers environment project for Earth Day.
From 2005-2007, over 15,000 people turned in more than 360 tons of household hazardous waste at a dozen collection sites across the U.P. Most items were recycled and the remainder was properly disposed under federal guidelines including electronic waste like electronic waste like computers, monitors and printers plus cell phones, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, herbicides, oil-based paint and vehicle batteries.
Last year EarthKeepers provided a household energy conservation checklist that resulted in over 3 million pounds of carbon being reduced. In past projects, EarthKeepers partnered with numerous groups including the U.S. EPA and the Keweenaw Bay Indian community.
For tree info call the SWP at 906-228-6095
U.P. EarthKeeper Team:
http://www.upearthkeepers.org
Nonprofit Superior Watershed Partnership in Marquette, MI
http://www.superiorwatersheds.org
Nonprofit Cedar Tree Institute in Marquette, MI
http://www.cedartreeinstitute.org
Interfaith graphics by Justice St. Rain (Bahá'í Community) of Interfaith Resources - Special Ideas website:
http://www.interfaithresources.com
1-800-326-1197
justice@special-ideas.comWBUP TV story on interfaith EarthKeepers planting 12,000 Trees for Earth Day
The... more
-
-
Upper Peninsula EarthKeepers discussed the planting of 12,000 trees across northern Michigan for Earth Day 2009 during the live interview on WKQS Radio in Marquette, Michigan.
The interview was on WKQS in Marquette at 7:30 a.m. on Monday April 20, 2009
News Director and WKQS Sunny 102 morning drive co-host Walt Lindala interviewed Natasha Koss of the Superior Watershed Partnership & Catholic EarthKeeper Kyra Fillmore, EarthKeeper communications coordinator for faith communities, about the EarthKeeper Tree Project coming up in May to plant 12,000 trees around the U.P.
WKQS
http://broadcasteverywhere.com/marknwalt
The public and media are invited to an Earth Day 2009 Blessing of the Trees planting ceremony with representatives of ten faith traditions at 3:30 p.m. April 22 next to the Presque Isle pavilion in Marquette.
"The EarthKeeper project this year is one where people from across the U.P. will see tangible results of their earth stewardship," said Gail Griffith, EarthKeeper Implementation Team co-chair. "I hope that congregations involve their young people in their planning and planting."
The EarthKeeper team includes ten faith traditions with over 150 participating churches/temples, the nonprofit Superior Watershed Partnership (SWP), the nonprofit Cedar Tree Institute (CTI), and the Northern Michigan University EarthKeeper Student Team.
Founded in 2004, the EarthKeeper Covenant is signed by the bishops/leaders of ten faith communities: Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, United Methodist Church, Unitarian Universalist, Baha'i, Jewish, Zen Buddhist and the Quakers.
The trees "will be wrapped individually in a plastic bag with planting instructions,” said Carl Lindquist, SWP executive director. "It's fun and it helps further our long term protection and restoration goals for local watersheds and the Great Lakes."
On May 2, participating churches and temples will pick up their trees at local conservation district offices and have been asked to bless the seedlings before planting at numerous locations Sun., May 3 assisted by the NMU EarthKeeper Student Team and other volunteers.
To request trees call Kyra Fillmore at 906-228-2388
The trees were purchased/donated by the U.P. EarthKeeper team, SWP, Holli Forest Products, the Forestland Group, Plum Creek Timber Company and Meister's Greenhouses.
"Our interfaith tree planting effort is more than another conservation project," said Rev. Jon Magnuson, CTI executive director and EarthKeeper Initiative co-founder. "With prayers, hymns and the blessing of 12,000 seedlings, it's a gentle proclamation of a new consciousness and commitment among our faith communities to care for God's creation."
Those donating to the project include Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Western U.P. Chapter 30918 in Ironwood, MI
This is the fifth U.P. EarthKeepers environment project for Earth Day.
From 2005-2007, over 15,000 people turned in more than 360 tons of household hazardous waste at a dozen collection sites across the U.P. Most items were recycled and the remainder was properly disposed under federal guidelines including electronic waste like electronic waste like computers, monitors and printers plus cell phones, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, herbicides, oil-based paint and vehicle batteries.
Last year EarthKeepers provided a household energy conservation checklist that resulted in over 3 million pounds of carbon being reduced.
In past projects, EarthKeepers partnered with numerous groups including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Keweenaw Bay Indian community.
For tree planting info call the SWP at 906-228-6095
U.P. EarthKeeper Team:
http://www.upearthkeepers.org
Nonprofit Superior Watershed Partnership
http://www.superiorwatersheds.org
Nonprofit Cedar Tree Institute
http://www.cedartreeinstitute.org
Interfaith graphics by Justice St. Rain (Bahá'í Community) of Interfaith Resources - Special Ideas website:
http://www.interfaithresources.comUpper Peninsula EarthKeepers discussed the planting of 12,000 trees across northern... more
-
-
(Marquette, Michigan) - National harmonica champion "Hurricane" David McChesney and folk singer Michael Waite will perform at a free candlelight benefit concert on February 23 for the non-profit Cedar Tree Institute.
Everyone is invited to attend the 7 p.m. "Songs of the Earth" concert this Monday at the Messiah Lutheran Church in Marquette.
Twice named one of the 15 hardest working non-profits in America by World Magazine, the Cedar Tree Institute (CTI) was founded in 2004.
"To show respect and honor the environment 100 votive candles will be glowing during the concert," said Rev. Jon Magnuson, the co-founder of the Earth Keeper Initiative and CTI director.
Best-known for its interfaith and youth-related environmental projects, the CTI founded the Great Lakes Earth Healing Initiative, the Zaagkii Wings and Seeds Project involving teens and Native American youth protecting pollinators and the Manoomin Project that is restoring wild rice across the central U.P. Other CTI efforts include the Janus Project for hospice workers.
A songwriter from Joshua Tree, California, McChesney has played the harmonica for nearly four decades and performs under the name "Hurricane" David. An avid wildlife photographer, McChesney recently published the book "Muir Roots: At One with the Wild," a collection of 176 color images and various tales about his adventures in the wilderness including the Galapagos Islands.
The son of a gourmet cook and an English professor from the Milwaukee area, Waite has always lived in the U.P. Waite, who plays guitar, and two friends recorded the 2007 album "Let it Go."
Waite said he will play some ballads and original songs about a "stark winter" that were inspired by his home in the forest near Halfway Location between Marquette and Big Bay.
Both performers said they are helping to raise funds for the CTI because of its dedication to protecting the environment.
"Taking care of the earth and what's around us is part of living on the Earth," Waite said. "What ever you do you should include that as part of your work."
McChesney, who lives near the Joshua Tree National Park, said "everything I have done has been nature and wildlife oriented."
"I have been an environmentalist for years and years," McChesney said. "My home is a wildlife sanctuary with 95 species of birds, bobcats on the roof, coyotes in the yard and roadrunners looking through the window."
There is no charge to attend however donations are welcome.
For more information call 906-228-5494
Related websites:
CTI:
http://www.cedartreeinstitute.org
"Hurricane" David Jesse McChesney
http://www.outmywindows.com
Michael Waite
http://www.michaelwaitemusic.com(Marquette, Michigan) - National harmonica champion "Hurricane" David... more
-
-
Two Northern Michigan University students started the New Year learning about Fair Trade during the peak of the coffee growing season in Nicaragua.
Since their return on January 12, Lisa McCarthy and Sarah Swanson have begun a series of presentations at U.P. churches to encourage Americans to buy Fair Trade coffee that ensures poor Nicaraguan farmers don't lose money in the labor-intensive industry of coffee production.
The NMU students among 13 Americans on Lutheran World Relief Study Tour.
In the final part of a three-part video series, The students describe how the women of Nicaragua are treated with respect, the importance of families and the environmental protection efforts of one Nicaragua’s organic farmers.
The group visited the capitol of Managua, and the villages of Matagalpa, Jinotega and La Reyna.
Fair trade ensures fair wages, and protects women's rights and human rights plus fights poverty.
Arriving at the peak of the coffee harvest, the students visited many aspects of the industry including dry mills, wet mills and coffee cooperatives.Two Northern Michigan University students started the New Year learning about Fair... more
-
-
Two NMU students - Lisa McCarthy and Sarah Swanson - are giving presentations across the Upper Peninsula on their recent Lutheran World Relief trip to Nicaragua during which they met with coffee farmers and learned about fair trade.
The NMU students among 13 Americans on Lutheran World Relief Study Tour.
In part two of a three-part video series, the students look at the Fair Trade movement efforts of Lutheran World Relief, Equal Exchange and the Center for Global Education.
A look at Fair Trade Principals including prohibiting child labor, protecting the environment, the need for fair wages and help the entire community not just coffee farming families. The students describe staying with coffee farming families in a small village in a mountainous area, interacting with the children and some of the interesting and inspiring people they met.
The group visited the capitol of Managua, and the villages of Matagalpa, Jinotega and La Reyna.
Fair trade ensures fair wages, and protects women's rights and human rights plus fights poverty.
Arriving at the peak of the coffee harvest, the students visited many aspects of the industry including dry mills, wet mills and coffee cooperatives.
They spoke on January 13, 2008 to a group at the St. Mark's Lutheran Church (ELCA) in Marquette, MI.Two NMU students - Lisa McCarthy and Sarah Swanson - are giving presentations across... more
-
-
Northern Michigan University students Lisa McCarthy and Sarah Swanson are giving presentations across the Upper Peninsula on their recent Lutheran World Relief trip to Nicaragua during which they met with coffee farmers and learned about fair trade.
The NMU students were among 13 Americans on Lutheran World Relief Study Tour entitled NICARAGUA: Pour Justice to the Brim from January 5-12, 2009
The group visited the capitol of Managua, and the coffee growing regions of Matagalpa, Jinotega and La Reyna.
Fair trade ensures fair wages, and protects women's rights and human rights plus fights poverty and protects the environment.
At the peak of the coffee harvest, the students visited many aspects of the industry including dry mills, wet mills and coffee cooperatives.
They spoke on January 13, 2008 to a group at the St. Mark's Lutheran Church (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America ) in Marquette, MI.Northern Michigan University students Lisa McCarthy and Sarah Swanson are giving... more
-
-
Photo by Lisa McCarthy
Two Northern Michigan University students are promoting Fair Trade for Nicaragua coffee farmers and others during presentations at churches across the Upper Peninsula.
In January 2009, the students were among 13 Americans on a Lutheran World Relief trip to Nicaragua during which they met with coffee farmers and learned about Fair Trade.
Fair trade ensures fair wages, and protects human and worker’s rights plus helps fight poverty and protect the environment.
The students, Lisa McCarthy of Greenville, WI and Sarah Swanson of Rapid River, MI, returned from Nicaragua on January 12, 2009 and spoke the next day to a group at the St. Mark's Lutheran Church (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) in Marquette, MI.Photo by Lisa McCarthy
Two Northern Michigan University students are promoting Fair... more
-
-
Marquette, MI - Northern Michigan teens are continuing their mission to protect pollinators during 2009 by helping butterflies & restoring native plants to areas of the Upper Peninsula.
The best know, pollinators are bees - like honey bees & bumble bees.
Billions of these bees are dying across the world in a syndrome called Colony Collapse Disorder.
Bees are disappearing & it’s not clear why - although human impact on the environment are among the suspected causes like pesticides & global warming. A world without bees would mean world without food, as was dramatically pointed out in the Jerry Seinfield 2007 comedy Bee movie. Bees go on strike causing plants across the world die. That means no food, no flowers, no trees, the death of civilization. After bees, the next best pollinators are butterflies.
Marquette, MI area teens & Native American youth spent the summer of 2008 building butterfly houses that are longer & slimmer than birdhouses & are lined with bark.
Teens participating in the KBIC Summer Youth Program built & painted the houses at the tribe’s Natural Resource Department along Lake Superior.
KBIC Natural Resource Department Director Todd Warner said the Zaagkii Project is a good way for youth to become aware of their connection to natural resources & nature.
The butterfly houses offer protection to butterflies that can enter thru tiny slits.
Butterfly houses also offer rest to migrating monarchs & can be used for reproduction.
Marquette teens have planted or distributed 26,000 native plant including at the Hiawatha National Forest greenhouse in Marquette.
In the spring of 2009 some of the plants will be planted at several areas across northern MI including at Sand Point, a beach that the KBIC has been repairing from the effects of copper mining. About 100 years ago, the mine dumped copper processing waste into Lake Superior polluting miles of shoreline. KBIC capped the pollution & the native plants will be used to attract wildlife & restore the ecosystem. The Zaagkii Project was founded by the non-profit Cedar Tree Institute in Marquette that has sponsored numerous environment projects. The Zaagkii Project is sponsored by the CTI, Marquette County Juvenile Court, KBIC & the United States Forest Service.
Future videos include a look at a bee farm in Marquette County that fascinated Zaagkii Project teens.
Contributors include: Marquette Community Foundation, Negaunee Community Fund, Negaunee Community Youth Fund, M.E. Davenport Foundation, Kaufman Foundation, Phyllis & Max Reynolds Foundation, Upper Peninsula Childrens Museum, Borealis Seed Company.
KBIC Ceo Chris Swartz Jr.
906-353-6623
KBIC Natural Resource Department (NRD)
Todd Warner, Director
Evelyn Ravindran, Natural Resources Specialist
906-524-5757
Kim Klopstein, KBIC Summer Youth Program
906-201-0020
USDA USFS Milwaukee
Jan Schultz, Botany & Non-native Invasive Species
414-297-1189
Beekeeper Jim Hayward
906-475-7582
Cedar Tree Institute Ex. Dir. Rev. Jon Magnuson
906-228-5494
http://www.cedartreeinstitute.org
Mqt Cnty Juvenile Court:
http://www.co.marquette.mi.us/probate.htm
Mqt/Neg community foundations
http://www.mqt-cf.org
U.P. Children's Museum
http://www.upcmkids.org
Bee Movie Jerry Seinfeld & DreamWorks Animation
http://www.beemovie.com:
http://monarchwatch.org
Monarch Author Lynn M. Rosenblatt
http://www.monarchbutterflyusa.com/Magic.htm
Austin, Texas Honeybee video: Johnnie Hargrave
Photos: Richard Burkmar; Paul Billiet & Shirley Burchill
Wikipedia photos: Tübingen-Hagelloch, Björn Appel, Warden, Debi Vort, Kristof Van der Poorten, John Severns, Waugsberg, Kenneth Dwain Harrelson, Derek Ramsey, John O'Neill
http://zaagkiiproject.wordpress.com
http://www.miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/519835.html?nav=5001
http://indiancountrynews.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5028
http://www.indiancountrytoday.com/archive/28395844.htmlMarquette, MI - Northern Michigan teens are continuing their mission to protect... more
-
-
(Marquette, Michigan) - The Zaagkii Wings and Seeds Project in Marquette is protecting pollinators like butterflies because billions of honeybees and bumblebees are dying worldwide in syndrome called “Colony Collapse Disorder.”
Marquette teens and Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) youth spent this summer building the first of dozens of white cedar butterfly houses that will be created over the next three years. Lined with bark and slimmer than birdhouses, the shelters offer protection, rest and reproduction safety to Monarchs and other butterflies.
Butterflies are a close second to bees in transferring pollen from one plant to another.
Experts are unsure why bee colonies are collapsing but pesticides, climate change and other man-made reasons are among the suspects. Without pollinators the world food supply will dry up including fruits, vegetables, flowers, other plants and trees.
The Zaagkii Project was founded by the non-profit Cedar Tree Institute (CTI) in Marquette.
“The problem with disappearing pollinators is a cause for concern (because) all life is interconnected,” said Todd Warner, KBIC Natural Resource Director.
Sponsors are KBIC, CTI, Marquette County Juvenile Court and the United States Forest Service (USFS).
“We are seeing a reduction in the number of bumblebees,” said Jan Schultz, Botany and Non-native Invasive Species Program Leader at the USFS eastern region office in Milwaukee.
The Zaagkii Project will plant native plants on the once-barren and polluted Sand Point, a Lake Superior beach that the KBIC is restoring from the effects of old copper mining waste. Marquette teens planted and distributed over 26,000 native plant seeds including at the Hiawatha National Forest greenhouse in Marquette.
The KBIC will use many of the plants at Sand Point Beach that was polluted about 90 years ago with stamp sands from the Mass Mill.
The first tribal Brownfield cleanup site in the Midwest, future plans include a nature tail, restoring a historic lighthouse, swimming, camping, boating, picnic areas and fishing ponds.
The goal is “the propagation of the native species rather than having the exotics come in and destroying what we have established,” said Evelyn Ravindra, KBIC NRD Natural Resources Specialist.
KBIC Summer Youth Program members Ethan Smith,17, and Janelle Paquin,15, and other NativeAmerican teens measured, hammered and painted the butterfly houses.
"We put the bark on the inside for the butterflies to rest on," Smith said.
Marquette teens were given a tour of a bee farm with about 60,000 honeybees.
If all bees disappeared the world food supply would be devastated as “fruits, vegetables, nuts and other commercial crops” vanish, said Beekeeper Jim Hayward of Negaunee Township. “We are all dependent on bees.”
The Marquette teens “went to libraries and studied about the Monarch butterflies and their life cycle and their migration patterns,” said Danny Weymouth, 16.
Restoring indigenous plants is vital to wildlife “so our native species don't get overruled and extinct by predator species,” said Justin Fassbender, 16.
Ensuring the future of native plants is important because “there are a lot of invasive species,” said Devin Dahlstrom, 15.
The public can help protect pollinators by being careful with insecticides, Schultz said.
“Apply the pesticide really early in the morning or at dusk when the pollinators aren’t active,” Schultz said.
The Zaagkii Project contributors include the Marquette Community Foundation, the Negaunee Community Fund, the Negaunee Community Youth Fund, the M.E. Davenport Foundation, the Kaufman Foundation, the Phyllis and Max Reynolds Foundation, theUpper Peninsula Children's Museum in Marquette and the Borealis Seed Company in Big Bay.(Marquette, Michigan) - The Zaagkii Wings and Seeds Project in Marquette is protecting... more
-
-
A documentary will be shown on Dec. 5, 2008 in Marquette Michigan about a mining giant with deep pockets and its plan to build a sulfide mine in Marquette County.
That mine will open the flood gates for dozens and maybe hundreds of sulfide and uranium mines.
Some brave citizens and groups are in an all-out war to protect the prstine land and the Salmon Trout River - while questions are raised about state officials and their relationship with Kennecott Minerals.
The state guardians of the environment eagerly jumped into the sack while wooed by Kennecott.
The film was financed by the Charles S. Mott Foundation and produced by the National Wildlife federation.A documentary will be shown on Dec. 5, 2008 in Marquette Michigan about a mining giant... more
-
-
Some of Michigan's elected officials - like Governor Jennifer Granholm - are selling out the beautiful streams and lush forests of the Upper Peninsula in exchange for some quick cash.
Many people who once loved our governor - now think Granholm doesn't deserve to be a democrat - because she's acting like a Republican.
Granholm and others - like famous actor/director Jeff Daniels - proclaim their love for the Upper Peninsula but are remaining strangely silent in the fight to stop Kennecott Minerals and other mining companies from building sulfide mines nicknamed "acid" mines.
Granholm, Daniels and others with power should be leading the fight to stop the Eagle Project.
In fact - the governor's top Upper Peninsula aide - her point man on the mine issue - recently quit his job to take a lucrative position with Kennecott''s parent company. That speaks volumes as the gov remains tight-lipped.
The National Wildlife Federation has produced a documentary about the gallant fight to protect the Upper Peninsula.
The public is invited to a free showing of the film om Dec. 5, 2008 in Marquette at Northern Michigan University.Some of Michigan's elected officials - like Governor Jennifer Granholm - are... more
-
-
The Michigan Earth Keeper Initiative promotes interfaith environment projects and America's top Muslim Imam brought just that message to Marquette, MI
Imam Hassan Qazwini, head of the Islamic Center of America, spoke on Oct. 22, 2008 at the Lutheran Campus Ministry (LCM) Lothlórien House in Marquette.
Northern Michigan University (NMU) Health & Nutrition Professor Mohey Mowafy of Marquette introduced Imam Hassan Qazwini:
Imam Hassan Qazwini:
Quoting the Qur’an, Imam Hassan Qazwini said:
Corruption (Mischief) has appeared on land and sea because of (the meed) that the hands of men have earned, that (Allah) may give them a taste of some of their deeds: in order that they may turn back (from Evil).
“Corruption has appeared on the sea and on the land due to what the man did - or what the man does.”
Meaning that God created this very beautiful, splendid planet. And he gave it to us as a gift. But he asked us not to corrupt it, not to ruin it, not to destroy it.
Did you know that in this country, we only form five percent of the world’s population, but we consume 25 percent of the world’s energy. This means that I am taking my own share - yet I am taking the share of five other people in this world. I am using my own share plus the share that belongs to five other people - I am consuming.
It means that I am stepping over my limits. And I am doing such injustice to the environment. I am selfish. I want to enjoy myself. I don’t care about the environment. I don’t care about others. I want to use everything for my own benefit only.
Many of you love hunting. How many of you hunt?
Answering the Imam’s question, reporter Greg Peterson says “I am growing my beard (for deer season) right now.”
Imam Hassan Qazwini:
Hunting is a hobby that many people love to do. In Islam, my religion, two people can hunt only.
A hunter - meaning whose career is hunting, someone who makes a living out of hunting.
And the second one: A man who is wandering the desert or the woods. And he got so hungry, and he could not find anything to eat, he went and he hunted something. He ate. That’s fine.
But for someone to do it as a hobby - it’s prohibited (in Islam).
Because God allowed me, permitted me as a human being, he gave me the right to take the life of an innocent animal only when I need it. When I need to fill my stomach. When I am hungry. Or when I need to make a living because I have to make a living.
But for me to go out and enjoy myself with the cost of killing an innocent animal - God says: ‘Here your freedom is over.’ You can not take the life of an innocent animal simply because you wanted to enjoy yourself. Simply because you wanted to have some fun.
You may tell me: “I am not going to waste it.”
I know, but what was my incentive when I hunted this animal. My incentive was to enjoy myself not because I was hungry. My point that I am trying to say is this: That God want this equilibrium to be kept and to be preserved.
We Muslims refrain from eating so many kind of fish - the kind of fish that does not have scale on the skin - we cannot eat. Why?
Because we know that if we are allowed to eat everything in the ocean then the balance the equilibrium in the ocean will be upset.
Therefor - not only my well-being - the well-being of the environment will be in danger.
So the bottom line is - that Islam is one of the religions that emphasizes protecting the environment.
You can use from the environment as much as you need - not as much as you enjoy.
Imam Qazwini
http://www.icofa.com/aboutus/imam.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hassan_Al-Qazwini
Qur’an and environment:
http://www.blogtoplist.com/religion/blogdetails-17864-3.html
http://theislamicscience.blogspot.com/2007/04/man-and-pollution.html
Lutheran Campus Ministry Marquette
http://www.nmulutherans.org/
Rev. Jon Magnuson - Non-profit Cedar Tree Institute:
http://www.cedartreeinstitute.orgThe Michigan Earth Keeper Initiative promotes interfaith environment projects and... more
-
-
Marquette, Michigan - In the marble halls of one of Michigan's most famous courthouses, an Independent candidate for Marquette County prosecutor filed a recount petition in her race against a longtime democratic incumbent.
Former assistant prosecutor Cathy Church cited uncounted absentee ballots and suspected problems with Diebold optical scanners used to tabulate ballots as the reason for the recount. She lost to the incumbent by 1,784 votes or about six percent.
"We decided there were some anomalies we wanted to look at," Church said. ""You took your ballot and put it into a machine that may or may not have sucked your ballot in on the first attempt."
Church served for 14 years as an assistant prosecutor of domestic violence cases.
She said the $400 filing fee was worth "the peace of mind."
The Nov. 12, 2008 press conference scheduled for the front steps of the historic courthouse was moved inside the main doors due to a cold rain.
The Marquette County Courthouse was the site of the director Otto Preminger's famous 1959 movie trial "Anatomy of a Murder" based on a book penned by prosecuter and future Michigan Supreme Court Judge John D. Voelker, under the name "Robert Traver," and starring Jimmy Stewart, Lee Remick, and a score by Duke Ellington.
At the same courthouse in 1913, former President Theodore Roosevelt was awarded six cents after winning a libel suit against a local newspaper publisher who wrote that Roosevelt was addicted to alcohol.
Church said the optical scanners used to tabulate the vote are sometimes being unreliable.
Diebold optical scanning machines “don't always read people's marks on the ballots correctly," she said.
"The scanning machines (in Marquette County) have had problems around the county," Church said. "Any mark within the circle counts as a valid vote in Michigan."
"However, the scanners are like anything, what they are doing is they are sending out some type of reading device and unless - and I think - if it's a check mark or an X it has a 15 percent chance of reading it."
"The scanner would not have picked it up but a hand recount will," she said.
At different precincts, voters were asked to mark their ballots different writing utensils including pencils and blue and black ink pens, and absentee ballots were filled out with black felt tip pens, said Professor Ruth Watry, NMU political science professor.
"I was going to take a pen out of my purse and she (the clerk) gave me a felt black tipped marker and said ‘this doesn't always read the pen well why don you use this' and some other people who had absentee ballots mailed to them from the city of Marquette has these markers mailed with the absentee ballot," Professor Watry said.
"I did a lot of research on this and according to the manufacturers, if the scanners have an infra-red reader on them there are only four types of marking instruments you are supposed to use" including a number two pencil and a Sharpie, Church said.
"It can be highly selective," she said.
Many voters voted straight party tickets but could check her name as an independent candidate for prosecutor.
"That's known as a split ticket" and if the scanner correctly reads the ballot "it should override the straight party ticket for that particular race," Church said.
"My race is pretty unique. I am not affiliated with any party" and there "was no republican candidate," she said.
"Poll workers work very hard in kind of a thankless job. I want to stress to you that I think those people do a stellar job."
"Michigan bought all these optical scanners for their precincts it was about a $32 million dollar contract," she said.
Berry County, Michigan had never had a problem with voting until using the optical scanners in 2006, she said.
"When Barry County transmitted the data 15 out of the 16 malfunctioned and they dropped 1,500 votes. Ohio just had a problem with the 11 out of 40 counties."
The recount date has not been set.Marquette, Michigan - In the marble halls of one of Michigan's most famous... more
-
-
Marquette, Michigan - In the marble halls of one of Michigan's most famous courthouses, an Independent candidate for Marquette County prosecutor filed a recount petition in her race against a longtime democratic incumbent.
Former assistant prosecutor Cathy Church cited uncounted absentee ballots and suspected problems with Diebold optical scanners used to tabulate ballots as the reason for the recount. She lost to the incumbent by 1,784 votes or about six percent.
"We decided there were some anomalies we wanted to look at," Church said. ""You took your ballot and put it into a machine that may or may not have sucked your ballot in on the first attempt."
Church served for 14 years as an assistant prosecutor of domestic violence cases.
She said the $400 filing fee was worth "the peace of mind."
The Nov. 12, 2008 press conference scheduled for the front steps of the historic courthouse was moved inside the main doors due to a cold rain.
The Marquette County Courthouse was the site of the director Otto Preminger's famous 1959 movie trial "Anatomy of a Murder" based on a book penned by prosecuter and future Michigan Supreme Court Judge John D. Voelker, under the name "Robert Traver," and starring Jimmy Stewart, Lee Remick, and a score by Duke Ellington.
At the same courthouse in 1913, former President Theodore Roosevelt was awarded six cents after winning a libel suit against a local newspaper publisher who wrote that Roosevelt was addicted to alcohol.
Church said the optical scanners used to tabulate the vote are sometimes being unreliable.
Diebold optical scanning machines “don't always read people's marks on the ballots correctly," she said.
"The scanning machines (in Marquette County) have had problems around the county," Church said. "Any mark within the circle counts as a valid vote in Michigan."
"However, the scanners are like anything, what they are doing is they are sending out some type of reading device and unless - and I think - if it's a check mark or an X it has a 15 percent chance of reading it."
"The scanner would not have picked it up but a hand recount will," she said.
At different precincts, voters were asked to mark their ballots different writing utensils including pencils and blue and black ink pens, and absentee ballots were filled out with black felt tip pens, said Professor Ruth Watry, NMU political science professor.
"I was going to take a pen out of my purse and she (the clerk) gave me a felt black tipped marker and said ‘this doesn't always read the pen well why don you use this' and some other people who had absentee ballots mailed to them from the city of Marquette has these markers mailed with the absentee ballot," Professor Watry said.
"I did a lot of research on this and according to the manufacturers, if the scanners have an infra-red reader on them there are only four types of marking instruments you are supposed to use" including a number two pencil and a Sharpie, Church said.
"It can be highly selective," she said.
Many voters voted straight party tickets but could check her name as an independent candidate for prosecutor.
"That's known as a split ticket" and if the scanner correctly reads the ballot "it should override the straight party ticket for that particular race," Church said.
"My race is pretty unique. I am not affiliated with any party" and there "was no republican candidate," she said.
"Poll workers work very hard in kind of a thankless job. I want to stress to you that I think those people do a stellar job."
"Michigan bought all these optical scanners for their precincts it was about a $32 million dollar contract," she said.
Berry County, Michigan had never had a problem with voting until using the optical scanners in 2006, she said.
"When Barry County transmitted the data 15 out of the 16 malfunctioned and they dropped 1,500 votes. Ohio just had a problem with the 11 out of 40 counties."
The recount date has not been set.Marquette, Michigan - In the marble halls of one of Michigan's most famous... more
-
-
Video of WKQS Radio exclusive interview with Independent candidate Cathy Church who filed a petition for a recount due to uncounted ballots and possible failures of the Diebold optical scanner voting system
(Marquette, MI) - Cathy Church, Independent Candidate for Marquette County Prosecuting Attorney, filed a Petition on Wednesday November 12, 2008 for a Full Recount of the ballots cast in the General Election on November 4, 2008 and posted a $400.00 deposit with the Marquette County Clerk.
The decision to petition for a recount was made after reviewing the total vote counts for Marquette County precincts, learning about voting irregularities within Marquette County during the general election and investigating the performance history of similar optical scanners used by various jurisdictions during recent elections.
Some of the information considered in reaching this decision included, but was not limited to:
Two absentee voters’ selections for a write-in candidate were not posted in the precinct’s final tally. (The write in candidate received 0 votes despite two voters casting their vote for the candidate.) Many voters had difficulty getting the optical scanners to accept their ballots and had to load and reload the ballots more than once before the scanner accepted them.
Different Marquette County precincts provided different marking instruments for the ballots ranging from pencils, ink pens and felt tip pens. When one voter attempted to mark his/her absentee ballot with an ink pen at one precinct, he/she was told to use a felt tip pen because the optical scanner in use might not read ink from a regular pen.
If a voter checked their ballot with a check mark or X, the optical scanner might not register these legitimate votes because of limitations on the scanners reading abilities.
In Ohio’s primary election this spring, the same scanners as used in Marquette County, malfunctioned in 11 out of the 40 Ohio Counties where they were in service, resulting in dropped votes. This situation prompted the scanner manufacturer to issue a nationwide customer alert in August 2008. Approximately 1,750 jurisdictions used the flawed system.
In Barry County, Michigan, a glitch in a computer program was believed to be the cause of a problem with the voting machines the first time they were used in 2006. All of the ballots had to be counted by hand after county officials noticed the optical scan machines scrambled the results. This glitch affected 15 of the 16 Barry County townships, including the city of Hastings and resulted in 1500 dropped votes.
Cathy Church stressed she has the utmost confidence in all the precincts, election officials and poll workers who performed their duties diligently and conscientiously during the election.
This recount request is based on the limitations of the technology of the optical scanners, NOT the election officials or poll workers’ work product or ethic.
The recount is also requested because to Cathy’s knowledge, a county-wide recount has not been done since these scanners came into service in every precinct in the county.
Cathy believes that the only way to measure the performance of the optical scanners is by a hand count of the ballots. As a candidate in the last election, Cathy is one of the few people permitted by law to petition for a recount.
Given all of this information, Cathy felt it prudent to petition for a recount to assure that all individuals who voted in the past election, and those who will vote in future elections in Marquette County, had and will have their votes accurately counted. A recount is the only method available to Cathy that will check the accuracy of the scanners and their technology.Video of WKQS Radio exclusive interview with Independent candidate Cathy Church who... more
-
