Ishpeming, MI — Cliffs Natural Resources, (NYSE: CLF) (Paris: CLF) announced today that its Michigan Operations’ Empire Mine processing plant has received a Sentinels of Safety Certificate of Achievement in Safety in the large metal nonmetal mill group.  The award covers the 2010 statistical period.  Due to verification procedures by MSHA and the National Mining Association, Cliffs did not receive the 2010 award until April of this year.

The Sentinels of Safety awards are presented annually by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and the National Mining Association to recognize achievement for outstanding safety records and is considered the most prestigious safety award in the mining industry.

The Empire processing plant qualified for the award by working 816,033 employee hours in 2010 without experiencing a work injury that resulted in a fatality, permanent disability, days away from work, or days of restricted work activity.  This is the first Sentinels of Safety award received by Cliffs Michigan Operations.

“This is a tremendous honor for our employees,” said James Kochevar, interim general manager, Michigan Operations for Cliffs.  “Safety is the number one core value at all Cliffs operations. The Empire plant employees’ attention to safe work procedures and personal safety is a reflection of that core value.  The men and women who work every day in the Empire plant should be very proud of their achievement.”

UPPER PENINSULA

A few trout have been taken in rivers and streams but low water levels and temperatures have kept the run down. Marquette County streams had an early run of steelhead and it appears the run is about over.

Keweenaw Bay: Catch rates were up and down for those trolling for salmon in 20 to 50 feet of water. Most were using spoons or body baits between the head of the bay and Sand Point or north between the Falls River and the L’Anse Township Park. Trolling speeds were between 1.9 and 2.3 miles per hour.  

Falls River: Was producing some smelt but not sure for how long.  

Marquette: Lake trout were caught right on the bottom in 200 feet of water in the Upper Harbor and north of Granite Island. Chinook and coho action was spotty for those trolling in 30 to 40 feet of water outside the harbors and near the Chocolay River. Water levels in area rivers were extremely low.

Menominee: Boat anglers were still trolling for walleye and trout in both Michigan and Wisconsin waters. Catch rates were down however those putting in four to five hours of effort caught the occasional walleye when trolling crawler harnesses. Catch rates for walleye and brown trout were slow off Stony Point. Boats trolling north and south off the Cedar River did catch a few brown trout and splake. Shore anglers using crawlers or stick baits caught nothing.

Menominee River: Had a good number of shore anglers and those wading from Stephenson Island upstream to the Hattie Street Dam. Water levels decreased with the closing of the gates at the first dam. This made trout and walleye fishing a bit more difficult but those looking for suckers have done well.

Au Train: Boat anglers were trolling for chinook and coho but catch rates were slow. Those fishing close to shore for lake trout caught no fish. The best area for coho was trolling near the mouth of the Au Train River and Red Rock.

Cedarville and Hessel: Were not seeing much fishing pressure.

Carp River: Anglers are still seeing steelhead.

The  National  Park  Service (NPS) has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA)  for a Great Lakes Invasive Plant Management Plan (IPMP) for ten parks
located  in  the  Great  Lakes  region: Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, Grand  Portage  National  Monument,  Ice Age National Scenic Trail, Indiana
Dunes  National  Lakeshore, Isle Royale National Park, Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Sleeping Bear
Dunes  National  Lakeshore,  St. Croix National Scenic River, and Voyageurs National Park.

The  public comment period for the Great Lakes IPMP/EA has been extended to May     15,     2012.      Please     visit     the    NPS    website    at
http://parkplanning.nps.gov/ipmpea  to  retrieve the EA, or view a hardcopy at any of the ten Great Lakes parks headquarters.

Comments  should  be  submitted electronically using the “Open for Comment” link  at  http://parkplanning.nps.gov/ipmpea.   Alternatively, comments may
also  be  mailed  to:  Great  Lakes  IPMP,  c/o Kleinfelder, 300 E. Mineral Avenue,  Suite  7, Littleton, CO 80122-2655.  Comments must be received by,
time-stamped,  and/or post-marked by May 15, 2012, 5:00 pm eastern standard time (EST).

For    more    information,   please   visit   the   project   website   at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/ipmpea   or  contact  Carmen  Chapin  at  (715)
682-0631 ext. 230.

Ishpeming, Michigan (MI) – The City of Ishpeming Volunteer Fire Department has been awarded a competitive grant through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. Ishpeming Volunteer Fire Department will receive $23,400 .

The Assistance for Firefighters Grant Program is administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA). The City of Ishpeming Volunteer Fire Department will be receiving funds through the AFGs Operations and Safety Program, which provides assistance for fire departments. The Ishpeming Volunteer Fire Department will be receiving funds to replace a 14 year old thermal  imaging camera, upgrading one of the fire trucks deck monitors to a remotely controlled deck monitor and funding for two portable ground monitors.

The primary goal of the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) is to meet the firefighting and emergency response needs of fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical service organizations. Since 2001, AFG has helped firefighters and other first responders to obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training, wellness and fitness, health and safety modifications to stations and facilities and other resources needed to protect the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards.

Edward Anderson
Fire Chief
Ishpeming Volunteer Fire Department
100 S. Lake Street
Ishpeming, Michigan 49849

REGULAR BOARD MEETING
NICE Community Schools
Monday, April 16, 2012 – 6:30 PM
WESTWOOD HIGH SCHOOL Media Center

I      Preliminary Activites/Motions

1.  Call To Order
2.  Pledge of Allegiance
3.  Roll Call
4.  Public Comment Regarding Items on the Agenda
5.  A    roval of Agenda
6.  Communications/Recognition

II     Consent Agenda

1.  A     roval of Previous Meeting Minutes
2.  A    roval of Bills
3.  Treasurer’s Report

III     Reports, Presentations and Discussion Items
1.  Superintendent’s Report
2.  Aspen Ridge Principal’s Report
3.  Westwood High School Principal’s Report
4.  Committee Reports
•    Personnel
•    Finance
IV      Business/Action Items
1.  Personnel
2.  Hear second reading and consider adoption of revised policy 4510, Technology.
3.  Hear second reading and consider adoption of revised policy 8260, Anti-Bullying.
4.  Consider adoption of a resolution to solicit bids and finance school bus.
5.  Consider budget amendment.
6.  Consider Board Distinguished Service Award recommendation
7.  Consider Superintendent’s Evaluation (the Board and Superintendent will consider closed
session to deliberate)

V      Community Comments * See below

VI      Closing

1.  Closing Comments by Board or Superintendent
2.  Adjournment

No qualified individual with a disability shall be denied access to any program, or public meeting sponsored by the NICE Community Schools because of his/her disability.  If special arrangements are necessary for you to access the above-mentioned meeting, please contact the Superintendent’s office (906) 485-1021.

Members of the public wishing to make comments should identify themselves and are asked to keep comments between 3-5 minutes.  Members of the public wishing to voice complaints about individuals should go through proper channels established under Board policy before requesting Board consideration.

Office of the Superintendent
Gwinn Area Community Schools
(906) 346-9283

A special meeting of the Board of Education, Gwinn Area Community Schools, will be held on Monday, April 16, 2012 in the Gwinn High School Library.

Meeting called to order:    4:30 P.M.

1. Call to Order
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Approval of Agenda
4. Public Comment
5. Discussion
a. Personnel Matter
6. Public Comment
7. Adjourn

This meeting is a meeting of the Board of Education in public for the purpose of conducting the Gwinn Area Community School District’s business and is not to be considered a public community meeting.  There is a time for public participation during the meeting as indicated on the agenda.

Office of the Superintendent
Gwinn Area Community Schools
(906) 346-9283

The regular meeting of the Board of Education, Gwinn Area Community Schools, will be held on Monday, April 16, 2012 in the Gwinn High School Library.

Meeting called to order:    6:30 P.M.

1. Call to Order
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Approval of Minutes
4. Approval of Agenda
5. Student of the Month
a. Gwinn Middle School
b. Gwinn High School
6. Public Comment
7. Financial Report
a. Presentation of Claims
b. Financial Report
8. Committee Reports
a. Building & Site Committee
9. Superintendent’s Report
a. District News
b. Board Update
c. Correspondence
10. Information
a. Archer Program
b. Board Reception – Graduation
c. Superintendent Self-Evaluation
11. New Business – Action
a. MARESA Budget Resolution
b. Set Special Board Meeting Date – Personnel Matter
c. Gifts & Donations
i. Scott Sather – small, portable, homemade amplifier donated to Gilbert Elementary School
ii. Donor’s Choose – $966.32 in poetry books/writing notebooks for Amy Laitinen’s creative writing class at GHS
iii. Gwinn All-Sports Booster Club – batting cage, baseline machine, and softballs (total value of $1,014.99) donated to the GHS girl’s softball team
12. Public Comment
13. Adjourn

This meeting is a meeting of the Board of Education in public for the purpose of conducting the Gwinn Area Community School District’s business and is not to be considered a public community meeting.  There is a time for public participation during the meeting as indicated on the agenda.