Third Time's the Charm? - Highway Cleanup This Evening

FIRST HIGHWAY CLEANUP AGAIN RESCHEDULED - TONIGHT

PLEASE COME JOIN US FOR THE (AGAIN) RESCHEDULED FIRST HIGHWAY CLEAN UP OF 2025!

Well, the first time we scheduled this it was cancelled due to the cold weather, and the second time (last Tuesday) we had to cancel due to rain and the Canadian wildfire smoke. Let’s hope the third time (tonight Tuesday, June 10th at 5:30 PM) is the charm. Come join us!

We’ll be cleaning our stretch of highway as part of the Adopt-A-Highway program — M-26 from just past Goat Hill Rd heading out of Ripley, and from there on to Dollar Bay.

Parking is available at the Adopt-A-Highway sign just past Goat Hill Rd. We provide gloves, safety vests and bags. 

Questions? — Need clarifications? — Last minute volunteer? — Call Barb Turuc at (906) 370-5496.

IT’S STILL EARLY IN THE SEASON BUT ITS ALWAYS ADVISABLE TO BRING YOUR OWN WATER BOTTLES.

REMEMBRANCE

This week we remember, and mark the passing of, three individuals who, in their own distinct ways, fostered community and embodied service to their fellows here in Houghton County. Their examples and their contributions will not be forgotten, and as we mourn their absence, we also celebrate the legacy of service they have left behind.

CLARENCE MCDONALD

Clarence McDonald passed away at the age of 93 on June 5th after a short illness. In the words of Brian Hoduski, “Clarence was a stalwart member of our party. He was for a while my co-chair, was a Wisti Leadership awardee, led the local UAW retirees, volunteered for every parade and project, and was an all-around good guy. It was hard taking his place leading the pledge at this year’s Spring Fling, [which] he always led.”

Visit the online obituary and share your memories of Clarence McDonald here.

DOUGLAS STUART

Douglas Stuart, age 94, died surrounded by family members on May 8, 2025, at UP Health System – Portage Hospital. Service to his country and community was an integral part of his life. A veteran of the Air Force, the Air Force Reserves and Navy Reserves, he retired from military service after 33 years with the rank of Navy Captain. He held numerous positions over a more than 30 year career at Michigan Tech.

Among his many community service activities Mr. Stuart served for five years on the Houghton County Parks and Recreation Committee, and served on the Portage Lake District Library Board for several years. An Eagle Scout himself, he was an active and recognized leader in scouting for many years. In 1994 he was a founder of the Keweenaw Community Foundation, and served as Executive Director and Chairman of the Board for many years.

We are pleased to know that his example of service continues through the work of the KCF, and that his spirit of service is embodied by, among others, his daughter-in-law and HCDP member Nadija Packauskas, with her active dedication to Ukraine and other causes.

Find the full obituary for, and share your memories of Douglas Stuart here.

SHIRLEY WANHAAHO

Shirley Anne Wanhaaho passed away unexpectedly at her home on Wednesday, May 28, 2025. She was 79.

Shirley dedicated her life to caring for others. She worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant, providing home care in Houghton County and later at Baraga County Memorial Hospital, where she served for nine years before retiring in 1999. She found joy in gardening, quilting, and canning. Shirley had a deep love of her family, and especially cherished time spent with her grandchildren, who brought her immense happiness.

Shirley was the wife of Keith Wanhaaho, longtime Democratic Precinct Delegate.

Visit the full online obituary and share your memories of Shirley Wanhaaho here.

VOLUNTEER FOR HOUGHTON DEMS SUMMER EVENTS

WE NEED YOUR HELP FOR SUMMER EVENTS

The Houghton County Dems are marching in three parades this summer as well as hosting an information table at Bridgefest, Pasty Fest, and the Houghton County Fair. This is an important time for us to show our unity and presence in the community. Families and kids in wagons and strollers are welcome at the parades. We don’t have our entry position/# yet, so just look for the yellow Mustang convertible!

We’re trying something new to gather tabling sign-ups and marchers in addition to reaching out personally – see the links below. For any questions or problems with the forms, call Nancy Verive (812) 573-1403. Thanks in advance and let’s have some fun!

PARADES:

Bridgefest - Friday, June 13, 2025 - Parade @ 7:05 PM

• Theme is Children’s Books and Stories. We are printing several signs that show children’s book covers and that Dems support public libraries. The car will have some graphics looking like shelved books.

• Parade Line Up begins at 5:30 PM on S Lincoln Dr, Hancock (US-41 north of M-203 intersection)

• The parade will follow the regular route through Hancock AND Houghton.

• If possible, please arrange pick-up or a ride back to your vehicle for after the parade. “Shuttle service” rides back to Hancock will be available if needed departing from near the Super 8 in Houghton.

South Range 4th of July - Friday, July 4, 2025 - Parade @ 2:00 PM

• Line up begins at 1 PM at the South Range Elementary School.

Strawberry Festival - Saturday, July 12, 2025 - Parade @ 11:00 AM

• Line up begins at 10 AM by the triangle park on US 41 at the south end of town.

TABLING AT EVENTS: 

Please sign up to work a shift at one of the HCDP tables at Bridgefest, or Pasty Fest. Sign-up for the Houghton County Fair shifts will be done separately.

The most urgently needed tabling slot — for someone not planning on marching in the Bridgefest Parade — is working the table from 7 PM to 9 PM Friday June 13". Otherwise, Bridgefest tabling is covered.

In addition to sharing literature, the table will feature a button-making activity. We hope to have 2 volunteers at every shift. We will contact volunteers via email to share any additional information as well as serving as a reminder closer to each event.

DON’T SIGN THESE PETITIONS TO AMEND MI CONSTITUTION - THEY ARE VOTER SUPPRESSION

HCDP ADOPTS DECLINE TO SIGN RESOLUTION

At the monthly meeting last Wednesday the Party adopted a resolution urging everyone NOT to sign two ‘Proof of Citizenship’ petitions you will likely see over the next few weeks / months.

Both petitions are attempts to enshrine into our state constitution many of the restrictions of the now stalled Federal SAVE Act, and to do so by cloaking the restrictions in positive language, as efforts to “protect our vote” by “not allowing aliens to vote.”

In fact these proposals will not protect your right to vote but are instead voter suppression efforts. They are not a solution to a problem - it is already illegal for non-citizens to vote. Rather, they would create a new problem by making it harder for eligible voters to vote.

The petitions are from ‘The Committee to Protect Voters Rights’ and ‘Americans for Citizens Voting’.

You can find the full wording of the resolution as presented at last Wednesday’s meeting here. Also available is a list of talking points prepared by the organization Voters Not Politicians to provide you a more complete picture of the voter suppression effects of these proposals. You can find that here.

VOTE YES ON AUGUST MILLAGE PROPOSALS

Another vote was held at last Wednesday’s monthly meeting to approve a recommendation to Vote YES on the millage proposals that will appear on the ballot in the upcoming August election. After some discussion a motion was made to approve the recommendation, and it was passed by the membership at the meeting.

There are five millages on August 5th ballots across the county. They are:

• an operating millage renewal for Baraga Area Schools (on ballots of Baraga area voters in both Baraga and Houghton County

• a renewal proposal for the operation of Canal View

• a bond proposal for the Copper Country Intermediate School District

• a bond proposal to fund the proposed new County Jail

• and a millage proposal to fund Copper Shores Meals on Wheels.

Proposals will appear on ballots of effected precincts as appropriate.

THE HOUGHTON COUNTY DEMS RECOMMEND YOU VOTE YES ON THESE MILLAGE PROPOSALS.

A PDF file containing the language of all five proposals can be found on the County government’s website.

THE BIG BAD BILLIONAIRE BILL AND WHAT YOU CAN DO TO FIGHT IT

The Big Bad Billionaire Bill - the Republican’s Reverse Robin Hood scam to take food and healthcare away from poor and middle income Americans in order to fund tax cuts for the rich - is through the House, and now the ball is with the Senate. But what does that mean? When will the Senate vote on this budget bill?

Given the divisions among Senate Republicans over various previsions of the bill, it’s unlikely that they’ll simply adopt and pass the bill the House gave them. There will be changes - for good or bad, before the Senate is ready to vote. At this point, we expect that the good changes will be minimal, but will likely get lots of PR. But any bad changes will make what is already THE most unfair federal budget legislation in at least the last 50 years even worse. 

OUR NEWSLETTERS FROM JUNE 3RD AND MAY 27TH SHOW THE LENGTHY LISTS WE’VE COMPILED OF THE WORST IMPACTS OF THE BIG BAD BILLIONAIRE BILL!

Trump has said he wants to see the bill passed by the Senate by the 4th of July. The public feud between Musk and Trump over the last week highlighted the Republican fractures around the bill, which Musk labeled “a disgusting abomination” - one thing we can agree with him on.

Realistically we shouldn’t expect a vote in the Senate until after the July 4th break. And, given that the last approved continuing budget resolution funds the government through September, it might not even happen until after Labor Day.

SO THERE IS STILL TIME TO FIGHT!

NOW, WHAT CAN YOU DO TO FIGHT THE BIG BAD BILLIONAIRE BILL?

Given everything that this bill threatens, we urge you to join the push to convince lawmakers NOT to vote for the Big Bad Billionaire Bill:

JOIN A VIRTUAL PHONE BANK

The National Indivisible organization is running virtual phone banks every Wednesday and Thursday of this month. Volunteers will call voters and connect them directly to their Senator. The focus is on empowering voters in red areas to connect with their Republican Senators and urge them to vote No on the Big Bad Billionaire Bill.

THIS IS A SIMPLE BUT POWERFUL WAY TO HELP MAKE SURE OUR VOICES OF DISSENT ARE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR IN THE US SENATE.

06/14: BRIDGEFEST LOCALLY / NO KINGS DAY NATIONALLY

There is another No Kings Day this Saturday, June 14th. It’s being called “A Nationwide Day of Defiance”. The date was chosen to coincide with the scheduling for Donald Trump’s military parade / birthday-party-at-taxpayer-expense in Washington, D.C.

Here in Houghton County June 14th is the Saturday of the annual Bridgefest weekend. That means that the Lift Bridge, our best and most visible venue for local protests, will NOT be available. Because of this, there is no coordination occurring locally to hold a No Kings Day rally and/or bridge march.

YOU CAN HELP LOCALLY WITH BRIDGEFEST!

See the Summer Events item above to volunteer to march with us in the Bridgefest parade, and to help with other summer events!

YOU CAN JOIN A ‘NO KINGS’ MARCH ELSEWHERE IN THE UP

If you are not planning on volunteering with the HCDP’s Bridgefest march and tabling, and aren’t attending Bridgefest, and if you want to march on June 14th and are willing to travel, there are options.

There will be No Kings marches here in the UP in Marquette, Escanaba, Ironwood, Saint Ignace and Sault Ste. Marie. If you are traveling outside the UP on the 14th, there are over 1500 marches planned, so there will likely be one nearby where ever you go.

You can find more information about these No Kings events by going to the map at the No Kings website and clicking on the city you’d like to travel to (the map allows you to zoom in and out). Then click RSVP to be taken to the sign up form with information on each individual event.

SAVE THE DATES!

HOUGHTON COUNTY DEMOCRATS — SUMMER EVENTS

See the item above for information on how to march with us and for opportunities to help staff the HCDP Information Table at some of these summer events!

Marquette Dems Summer Sizzle

The Marquette County Democratic Party have announced their Annual Summer Sizzle Fundraiser. The event will take place on June 26, 2025 at 5:30 pm at Marquette Charter Township Community Center.

Tickets are available for purchase through ActBlue or can be bought at the door. (Advanced purchase: $30, At the Door: $35.)

Governmental & Community Meetings

TUE JUNE 10

This month's regular meeting of the Houghton County Board of Commissioners is this afternoon at 3 PM in the Conference Room on the fifth floor of the Houghton County Courthouse. Find more information on the Board's webpage (find the Microsoft Teams virtual meeting info here).

The Calumet Village Council meets in a Working Session tonight at 6 PM in the Village Council Chambers. Further information can be found on the Village website.

WED JUN 11

The Houghton City Council meets at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday. The Meeting Agenda can be found in the Searchable Document Center of the Council's website.

This newsletter is paid for with regulated funds by the Houghton County Democratic Party, and is not authorized by any candidate or candidate committee.

Contact us by email at [email protected] or by text or voicemail at 906-523-1233