Legend says the eastern white pine helped broker peace between Native nations, creating the Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) Confederacy, which includes the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin it is revered as the “tree of peace” by nations of the confederacy and beyond Today, the Menominee Nation borrows the story of the white pine from the Oneida for its Peace Tree Project, which plants trees throughout Wisconsin and the Midwest, particularly in areas marked by division, unrest and protest. That's why the Menominee planted some in Milwaukee this spring in a call for healing and unity The original confederacy consisted of five tribes that had historically been at war with each other – the Oneida The warring tribes had come together under the leadership and guidance of the Great Peacemaker He helped form the union known at the Great Binding Law The union was signified by burying weapons of war under the roots of a white pine tree Hoping to foster that same kind of peace and unity in Milwaukee, members of the Menominee Nation and Menominee Tribal Enterprises planted “peace trees” in the city as the culmination of a week of events for Earth Week and Arbor Day on April 25 “There are lots of problems in Milwaukee,” said Nels Huse marketing specialist for Menominee Tribal Enterprises “And a lot of them can be resolved really easily.” He referenced the violence seen during the George Floyd protests in the region and other violence in the city as a reason it needs to heal Huse asked spectators to grab arrowheads that had been provided and symbolically bury them near newly planted eastern white pines as tribal drummers performed ceremonial songs The trees were planted in collaboration with the Milwaukee Area Technical College and the Milwaukee School of Engineering at the MATC campus and Innovation Park The eastern white pine can live up to 500 years and grow more than 200 feet tall The trees planted in Milwaukee came from the tribe’s 230,000-acre forest managed by Menominee Tribal Enterprises about a 45-minute drive northwest of Green Bay The Menominee Forest is touted by scientists and foresters from around the world as one of the last primeval single tracts of virgin timberland in the Great Lakes region More: 'Our spiritual home': Wisconsin's pristine Menominee Forest a model for sustainable living, logging The eastern white pine was once a dominant tree in northern and central forests in the U.S. But extensive logging during the late 1800s combined with wildfires severely reduced the tree’s population in the region according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Frank Vaisvilas is a former Report for America corps member who covers Native American issues in Wisconsin based at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Contact him at fvaisvilas@gannett.com or 815-260-2262. Follow him on Twitter at @vaisvilas_frank .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Advance Local Weather AlertsOn Friday at 10:18 p.m EDT the National Weather Service issued an updated flood warning in effect until Saturday at noon EDT for Menominee County "Minor flooding is occurring and minor flooding is forecast for Menominee River near McAllister." Water covers the boat docks near the river gauge and there is extensive flooding of wooded lowland areas," states the weather service don't drown when encountering flooded roads Motorists should not attempt to drive around barricades or drive cars through flooded areas Please report observed flooding to local emergency services or law enforcement and request they pass this information to the National Weather Service when you can do so safely The next statement will be issued Saturday morning by noon." A flash flood warning is issued when a flash flood is imminent or occurring A flash flood is a sudden violent flood that can take from minutes to hours to develop It is even possible to experience a flash flood in areas not immediately receiving rain A flood warning is declared when flooding is on the verge of happening or is already underway A flood advisory is released when flooding is not expected to reach a severity level necessitating a warning it can still cause considerable inconvenience and potentially lead to situations that threaten life and/or property A flood watch is issued when conditions are favorable for flooding It doesn't guarantee that flooding will occur but it signifies that the possibility exists especially if you live in a flood-prone area or find yourself camping in a low-lying region the weather service offers essential flood safety guidelines: If you reside in a flood-prone region or are camping in low-lying terrain the first step to safety is relocating to higher ground When local authorities issue an evacuation order This reduces the risk of electrical hazards during flooding Steer clear of flooded basements and submerged areas: Avoid basements or rooms submerged in water with electrical outlets or cords Preventing electrical accidents is crucial Avoid any water that may be charged with electricity Just 6 inches of fast-moving water can forcefully sweep you off your feet In the event you become trapped by moving water make your way to the highest point available and contact emergency services by calling 911 especially in low-lying and flood-prone areas Remember this crucial advice: never attempt to drive through water on the road as little as 12 inches of rapidly flowing water can carry away most vehicles Heavy rainfall may lead to flooding if prolonged or if there is excessive runoff Excessive runoff can be a result of saturated ground and/or rainfall intensity Follow these recommendations from the weather service to stay safe in heavy rain: Avoid parking or walking in close proximity to culverts or drainage ditches as the swiftly moving water during heavy rain can potentially carry you away Use the two-second rule to maintain a safe distance from the car in front of you and allow an extra two seconds in heavy rain Gradually ease off the accelerator and avoid abrupt braking to prevent skidding Stick to the middle lanes to minimize the risk of hydroplaning Outer lanes are more prone to accumulating water Enhance your visibility in heavy rain by activating your headlights Be particularly vigilant for vehicles in blind spots The initial half-hour of rain is when roads are slickest due to a mixture of rain Exercise heightened caution during this period Large trucks and buses can reduce your visibility with tire spray Avoid tailgating and pass them swiftly and safely these precautions can make a significant difference in ensuring your safety on the road Remember to stay informed about weather conditions and heed guidance from local authorities for a secure journey Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, (updated 8/1/2024) and acknowledgement of our Privacy Policy, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/1/2025) © 2025 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us) The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of Advance Local Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here Ad Choices In the wake of sweeping federal funding cuts by the Trump administration in recent weeks Department of Agriculture grants that fund tribal colleges and universities in Wisconsin and beyond have vanished — putting students that rely on them in jeopardy A recent report from ProPublica found that about 20 college students at the College of Menominee Nation in Keshena rely on grants from the federal agriculture department to cover their tuition these cuts are leaving these students with only a few weeks left on their campus Chris Caldwell, president of the College of Menominee Nation in Keshena, joined WPR’s “Wisconsin Today” to talk about how the funding freeze and the uncertainty surrounding it has affected the students and faculty on his campus The following was edited for clarity and brevity your colleagues and students that this funding that you were expecting — some of which was already spent — wasn’t coming Chris Caldwell: We had seen in the original federal funding freeze memo that was issued by the Office of Management and Budget that pretty much all of our federal grants were frozen and so we started reaching out to our agency contacts and even our elected officials’ offices some of the funding started to become available again But there are a few projects that we still haven’t been able to access RF: Your college received a USDA grant that’s funding CC: No. That is our USDA Next Gen Grant It’s a $9 million workforce development grant we had secured a year and a half ago that goes towards student scholarships curriculum development and also partnering with communities and other institutions focused on food The only thing we’ve received so far from the USDA is a notice that funding is paused and that’s the only notice we’ve received RF: What does that mean for your operations on a day-to-day basis There were specific positions that were helping to facilitate that large body of work Internships help keep our students proceeding through their academic journey they determine whether [those students] are able to stay full time or not as we advocate for getting those programs restored we’re also looking at other ways to support our students We do not offer loans here at the College of Menominee Nation We want to make sure our students graduate without debt so they can continue forward But that does make it a little more difficult for us We don’t have the same types of resources or assets that other larger institutions have that they could switch to but we don’t know how long this will continue RF: What are you hearing from current and prospective students about how this affects their planning for the next school year there’s a lot of concern across the board to begin with and whatever is going on in the government that’s impacting us that doesn’t help them make better decisions I write regular updates to our student body and our college as a whole We visited our elected officials’ offices back in the first week of February and some students came with us and shared their stories with [Sen they didn’t have many answers either so I’m not exactly sure when answers will be coming RF: Even before this year’s funding freezes Congress was underfunding tribal colleges and universities violating commitments made to those institutions under past laws Why should Congress provide funding for tribal campuses CC: Tribal land grant institutions were created back in the 1990s to serve tribal nations that chartered them and the reason we were provided with specific funding programs was because other land grants that were established were actually given land so there’s a whole history behind that.  and we generated a $16 million impact and supported almost 360 jobs in this region of Menominee and Shawano County I have no doubt we could make an even bigger impact Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board Michigan enjoy a strong community bond -- almost making them "one and the same." you'll find no marijuana dispensaries in Marinette the cannabis market is heating up -- drawing concerns over the booming pot shop business The intersection of 10th Avenue and 10th Street in Menominee is one of the busiest intersections in the Upper Peninsula it will become even more congested when the city's eighth pot shop opens on the southwest corner the plan is to direct traffic through the alley My concern there is that the alley is in very rough condition," said Michael DeDamos "I don't know that the alley's going to be adequate enough of a mitigation tactic to really keep from having any public safety issues." Menominee Mayor Casey Hoffman says traffic isn't the only potential problem It is right next to the DAR Boys & Girls Club and it is the walking path between Menominee Elementary and the DAR Boys & Girls Club and it's frankly a danger to our kids," Hoffman said The city's growing cannabis market extends beyond this intersection The Fire Station expanded its drive-thru services to include a retail store Elevated Exotics opened its newest retail location "While some from the outside might see the market as saturated we kind of see the market as flush and growing," said Nilsson Davis "It is concerning when you have multi-state operators coming in from all over the place and putting themselves in busy intersections and stuff and they might not necessarily have the forefront of the community at mind," Davis said Hoffman thinks the city's marijuana market is over-saturated the city hopes to limit more dispensaries through zoning laws But as long as the demand for the product holds up he says pot shops will keep looking for a way into the market When Wisconsin legalizes [marijuana] or when Governor Whitmer manages to pass through an expensive wholesale marijuana tax we may see fewer dispensaries here in the city of Menominee," Hoffman said it may be difficult for Highwire Farms to thrive in the old A&B Automotive Building "If 10th and 10th ends up having the kind of traffic that we're seeing at Lume Cannabis I think we will see an influx of people filing complaints and eventually I will use those complaints to shut that business down because it is a nuisance," Hoffman said the city is getting $400,000 in tax money because of its increased number of pot shops in 2024 Michigan legalized medical and recreational marijuana use back in 2018 maintains a ban on cannabis -- although CBD oil is legal Tony Evers' budget proposal includes a push to legalize and regulate recreational marijuana use State Republicans instead want just medical marijuana legalized -- and only for individuals who are severely ill The Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin has seen a sharp decline in overdoses resulting in hospitalization or death this year after two years of record-high overdose deaths on the reservation So far this year, the tribe has seen a nearly 70 percent decrease in overdoses leading to hospitalizations or deaths, the Menominee announced in a recent news release emergency management director and co-chair of the Menominee Tribe’s Drug Addiction Intervention Team He called the data a testament to tribal organizations’ efforts to provide accurate information education and necessary resources to those struggling with addiction but we will continue to work together to find solutions that lead to healthy outcomes for our communities In 2022, the Menominee declared a state of emergency related to the impacts of drug use and addiction had the highest overdose death rate in all of Wisconsin In May, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that overdose deaths declined nationally by 3 percent from 2022 to 2023 But the Menominee actually saw an increase from 2022 to 2023 The tribe recorded 16 overdose deaths in 2022 and 19 in 2023 Director of Wellness Programs at Maehnowesekiyah Wellness Center and co-chair of the Drug Addiction Intervention Team was our greatest year of loss,” Caldwell said The tribe has only seen three overdose deaths so far this year She said the tribe declaring a state of emergency in 2022 led to a community meeting that generated ideas about how to address the opioid crisis That meeting then led to increased cooperation between local organizations through the Drug Addiction Intervention Team to expand outreach and find gaps in existing addiction resources “That team was really formed to look at the problem as a whole we all collaboratively made these goals,” Caldwell said “I feel like that was a huge part of making or decreasing those overdose levels.” One of the biggest areas of focus was community education aimed at reducing the stigma around addiction and fostering more understanding “The easiest thing about addiction is that we can point fingers Caldwell said the tribe also used data to find “hot spots,” places in the community with a disproportionate number of overdoses and “hot times” when overdoses were happening more frequently she says the community was able to get recovery coaches on the ground to help make people aware that resources were available “I know there’s a lot of opinions out there thinking that we’re giving this stuff out and it just is making people overdose or use more Caldwell said she believes making Narcan available to “anyone and everyone” is likely the “No 1 thing that changed within this community to help drop our overdose rates.” There’s also been a mindset shift in the community where individuals are more willing to ask for help and acknowledge a desire to change.  has seen an increase in the number of patients seeking assistance for mental health or addiction issues She said the tribe is also trying to increase early intervention efforts “We actually are trying to increase our interventions or almost prevention-type efforts within our schools,” Caldwell said “We’re trying to get in there earlier and earlier or provide opportunities to our parents to just have some discussion.” While the Menominee are encouraged by the sharp decrease in overdose deaths and hospitalizations She views it as an investment that will pay off for future generations “This is work that is going to continue to need attention,” she said “Just like someone that’s in recovery that’s something they have to work on for the rest of their lives we’re going to keep fighting against drugs and alcohol and all the things that come with addiction.” Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInUPPER PENINSULA (WLUC) - Feeding America West Michigan is helping families keep their shelves stocked in Wilson and Newberry Thursday The first event is at the Hannahville Community Center at W484 Casino Lane attendees are to walk up to get their food The second event is at the GCCP Dunlap Center at 6545 M-123 Food distribution for this pantry starts at 2 p.m Attendees will need to have enough space in their trunk or backseat for volunteers to put food into Attendees may also need to provide the name and household size for any family they’re picking food up for if a family cannot attend If you wish to volunteer or donate to Feeding America West Michigan, that can be done here In its three-decade bid to win approvals to open a casino in Kenosha the Menominee tribe Friday expressed its "optimism for the road ahead" under the new Trump administration "We are hopeful that Bureau of Indian Affairs will determine the project is beneficial to both the Menominee and the Kenosha Community," Menominee chairman Joey Awonohopay wrote in the memo emailed to the news media Off-reservation casinos are required to win federal and state approval before they can open we can bring this project to life and deliver lasting benefits for Kenosha The tribe's casino bid picked up new energy in 2022, when the Menominee teamed up with Hard Rock International a giant casino company owned by the Seminole tribe The facility would be located on about 60 acres on the east and west sides of 122nd Avenue in Kenosha The Village of Bristol in 2022 agreed to sell the land to Hard Rock for more than $15 million In order to open an off-reservation casino in Kenosha the tribe must win approval from the federal government Tony Evers then has the unilateral power to approve or veto any off-reservation proposal in the state Awonohopay's memo expressed optimism that tribe can win government approvals He wrote that a required environmental assessment of the project "has shown no negative impact." The chairman wrote that "President Trump and his administration have made it clear they are interested in creating jobs and streamlining rule processes to increase efficiency within the government." Awonohopay said: "We are well-positioned to achieve project approval." The gaming market in the state-line area has changed dramatically since the tribe first proposed opening a Kenosha casino In that time the Potwatomi casino in Milwaukee has expanded its operation and is now raking in about $400 million a year in gambling revenue In addition the Ho-Chunk tribe has broken ground and is building a $400 million casino in Beloit Illinois has become home to about 15 casinos including gambling halls in Waukegan — located just south of Kenosha — and Rockford The Menominee-Hard Rock plan calls for about 1,500 slot machines and 50 table games The project includes a 150 room hotel and seven restaurants Contact Cary Spivak at (414) 550-0070 or cspivak@jrn.com Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInMENOMINEE (WLUC) - UPDATE: The Menominee City Police Department was searching the bay of Green Bay near the Menominee North Pier Lighthouse for Lisa Pipp The Menominee Police Department says it is actively investigating the disappearance of Lisa Pipp who was reported missing after an incident on the ice of Green Bay Lisa became upset during an argument and walked away from their vehicle toward open water on Jan He left to seek help but was unable to locate her upon returning the department launched its search efforts: The Menominee Fire Department followed the footprints on the ice as far as conditions permitted Enstrom Helicopter Corporation also assisted with the search by flying a helicopter and searching the area The department is continuing to follow up on leads and analyze additional evidence collected during the investigation The department thanked agencies for their assistance and expertise in the search: The department encourages anyone with additional information about Lisa’s disappearance to contact the Menominee Police Department UPDATE: The Menominee City Police Department is searching the bay of Green Bay near the Menominee North Pier Lighthouse for Lisa Pipp Police say multiple agencies have been called in to assist with the search for the missing woman UPDATE: The Menominee Police Department is actively searching the area of Harbor Drive to locate missing 42-year-old Lisa Pipp According to an updated Facebook post from the Menominee City Police Department the area will be closed to traffic until further notice The Menominee PD is actively following up on leads and tips The Menominee City Police Department is asking for help locating a 42-year-old woman to check on her welfare In a Facebook post made early Monday night the department encourages anyone who may have seen Lisa Janine Pipp to contact police Pipp is believed to have exited a vehicle without her phone or jacket near the lighthouse in Menominee She was last seen reportedly wearing a purple shirt and blue jeans If anyone has information on her whereabouts contact the Menominee City Police Department at 906-863-5568 or by private message on its Facebook page (WLUC) - Officers from the Menominee Police Department responded to a report of two aggressive pit bulls near Menominee Elementary School after the School Resource Officer alerted dispatch that the dogs were at the playground barking at children aggressively on Thursday According to a press release and Facebook post from the Menominee Police Chief officers quickly located the dogs in the 1200 block of 10th Street where it was initially reported that a person had been attacked It was later determined that while the dogs aggressively charged the individual another person was chased by the dogs and had to seek safety in the bed of a pickup truck Attempts were made to capture the dogs using a dog pole and tasers officers observed the dogs running back toward the school playground To prevent an immediate threat to the children officers struck the dogs with a patrol vehicle and subsequently had to fatally shoot one of them Residents are urged to use caution and report any sightings to the Menominee Police Department at (906) 863-5568 MICHIGAN (WLUK) -- New information is being released in the search for a missing woman near the lighthouse in Menominee the Menominee City Police shared the water search for Lisa Pipp has been suspended after a thorough search Lisa Pipp's boyfriend reported her missing after she walked away from him while the two were on the ice of Green Bay on January 13th Pipp walked away from the couple's vehicle toward open water and refused the boyfriend's attempts to get her to stop Authorities say the boyfriend told them he left to get help but was unable to locate her upon returning has been extensive and included surveillance and witness accounts and a three-day search with the Michigan State Police Dive Team under challenging conditions A shoe believed to belong to Pipp was recovered in the rocks along the shore was discovered leading away from the shore toward open water The road in the area of the search has been reopened Police previously shared Pipp left the vehicle without her phone or jacket Pipp was reported to be wearing a purple shirt and blue jeans "We encourage anyone with additional information about Lisa’s disappearance to contact the Menominee Police Department," a press release from police states "Your help is vital in this ongoing investigation." WARNING: Some viewers may find the content of this story disturbing MICHIGAN (WLUK) -- The Menominee Police Department responded to a report of two aggressive dogs near Menominee Elementary School Thursday afternoon Officers responded to the scene after the school's resource officer called to say two pit bulls were aggressively barking at children on the school's playground It was later determined the dogs aggressively charged two individuals one of whom got away by hiding in the bed of a truck Officers located the dogs in the 1200 block of 10th Street Attempts to use a dog pole and tasers to capture the dogs were unsuccessful Authorities say the dogs ran back towards the playground which is when officers struck the dogs with a patrol vehicle Officers shot and killed one of the dogs to prevent the immediate threat to nearby children Residents are urged to use caution and report any sightings of the dog to the Menominee Police Department at (906) 863-5568 Hundreds gathered at the Oshkosh Convention Center to learn more about the past and present of the region's indigenous communities It’s the beginning of a series of workshops and informational sessions for people to learn about Native American culture "It really is all of our heritage,” city of Oshkosh Marketing & Fund Development Coordinator Anne Schaefer said "I think it's really a good opportunity to learn and be educated about what's important to them and how we can honor their history." The series is called ‘Bridging Past and Present: Exploring Native American Cultural Heritage.’ The sessions will also have Native American artists demonstrating their culture After archeologists discovered an extensive Native American village at Menominee Park in 2023 tribes are now trying to provide education to the public Now that state laws and federal laws are in place it gives us more of a place at the table to talk about these for preservation," Tribal Historic Preservation Officer of the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin David Gridnon said and the city of Oshkosh have all been working together to ensure preservation "We meet in consultation and we talk to mitigate the process of making sure that they're handled properly first of all and that they are either protected and preserved in a certain matter that we feel is the best for that too," Ho Chunk Nation Tribal Historic Preservation Officer Bill Quackenbush said The preservation process is a sensitive issue for tribes These discussions allow them to share their knowledge on preserving the history Quackenbush hopes the cultural items will be used for people to learn from and bring awareness about indigenous heritage "If there is educational components instilled within the park system it should serve as some sort of education for the public," Quackenbush said Menominee senior Isaiah Odom (8) lets out a scream of joy after a 35-32 overtime win over Traverse City St Francis in a MHSAA Division 7 district championship game on Nov 2024 at Walton Blesch Stadium in Menominee That was the only thing that stood in the way of a Menominee win over Traverse City St Francis a district championship and to keep its revenge tour alive on Saturday Junior Tanner Theuerkauf received the snap out of the shotgun and rolled to his right Theuerkauf re-routed himself and rolled to his left As he rolled to his left he saw junior Dawson Bardowski wide open on a drag route Theuerkauf fired a pass toward the endzone St Francis junior Brandon Lesinski leaped in hopes of getting a hand fingernail or any body part on the ball to deflect it Pandemonium ensued inside the confines of Walton Blesch Stadium Menominee’s quest to return to Ford Field stayed alive and well with a thrilling 35-32 win over the Gladiators “I couldn’t be happier for our guys and our team,” Menominee coach Chad Brandt said “I’m just so proud of the resiliency and the love and passion for each other to keep competing when things aren’t going the best We got the ball last and just a couple more points than they did.” St Francis received the ball for the first possession of overtime and stared down a 3rd-and-3 the sixth one committed by the Gladiators in the contest Junior quarterback Tyler Endres dropped back to pass ultimately opting to scramble around and pick up three yards All the Gladiators needed was to keep Menominee out of the endzone for four plays Theuerkauf picked up four yards on first down He attempted to connect with senior Kaiden Bell on second down Then he found Bardowski for the game winning score All the credit goes to my teammates,” Theuerkauf said “The (offensive) line blocked amazing We really overcame adversity today.” The Gladiators handed the ball to senior running back Eli Biggar on 1st-and-10 from the Maroons 17-yard line He was stopped by Theuerkauf for a gain of eight But Theuerkauf didn’t immediately get up any momentum or energy the Maroons had at that point disappeared with 36 left in the third quarter 42-yard drive with a five-yard score from Braxton Lesinski and the Maroons stared at a 23-21 deficit and took possession with 16 seconds left in the third from their own 20-yard line Theuerkauf wasn’t in command of the huddle rested on the young shoulders of sophomore Dylan Beal The Maroons started down a pivotal third down He connected with Bardowski for a 42 yard gain moving Menominee to the Gladiators’ 16-yard line “I’m just thankful that I got to go in,” Beal said “I didn’t like that (Theuerkauf) went down I just had to step up and do my role.” Two plays later Theuerkauf returned to the game ultimately scoring from three yards out for a 29-23 lead with 6:22 left All Menominee needed was a stop on defense and a win was within reach With St Francis starting its ensuing drive on its own 32-yard line there was a chance to keep the downstate foes out of the endzone 68 yards and 5:58 of game clock later Endres scored from 1-yard out on a QB sneak All the Gladiators needed was a successful PAT try to take a lead with less than 30 seconds remaining The game stayed tied at 29 as the Menominee faithful erupted into chaos All of this occurred after the Gladiators opened the game with a 14-0 lead in less than 8 minutes into the game the Gladiators led 17-14 with 25 seconds left in the first half missing his target and smacking the chest of Menominee junior Landon Daigneau Menominee led 21-17 with a confidence boost and momentum entering the break “We knew we were battle tested,” St Francis coach Josh Sellers said We didn’t take advantage of our opportunities today.” Now the Maroons advance to the regional championship game Its opponent is a familiar name to the Menominee faithful The Maroons and Norsemen met in the state semifinal game a year ago in Gaylord will feature the same element St Francis faced: North Muskegon has to make the near 7-hour drive A Trip which may be faster driving through Chicago and Wisconsin than crossing the Mackinac Bridge Menominee’s quest to return to Ford Field remains alive and well for one more week “It means everything,” Menominee senior Lucas Thoune said with tears beginning to form in his eyes “I don’t know where I’d be without Menominee football.” — Bay College baseball tripped south over the weekend for a Saturday and Sunday doubleheader .. Copyright © 2025 Ogden News Publishing of Michigan | https://www.dailypress.net | 600 Ludington St. MENOMINEE, Mich. —The Menominee Police Department is searching in the bay of Green Bay for 42-year-old Lisa Janine Pipp Pipp was last seen near the lighthouse in Menominee and is believed to have gotten out of a vehicle without her phone or jacket She was last seen wearing a purple shirt with blue jeans The police department also said Pipp has a cross tattoo on her chest Those with information to help find Pipp can reach out to the Menominee Police at 906-863-5568 Rashad Alexander can be reached at ralexander@gannett.com and 920-431-8214 Oshkosh Common Council on Tuesday approved a short-term measure to keep one of Menominee Park’s biggest attractions around for another year after voting to use $50,000 of interest earnings from the American Rescue Plan Act to fund repairs to the amusement area Dealing with public backlash over potentially losing the fan favorite ride council voted 5-1 in favor of allocating the funds to train repairs for 2025 — with Mayor Matt Mugerauer casting the lone dissenting vote “If I had something in front of me that said ‘Here’s how we’re not only going to repair it but here’s how we’re also going to fund it,’ then that’s a different story for me,” explained Mugerauer of his decision to vote against the resolution “This is only to pay for repairs and that doesn’t solve the problems we had and that’s not just at the amusement center within Menominee Park.” The decision was made late last year to ground the 40-year-old historic park ride amid staffing issues and mounting costs to repair the tracks and housing for the train during the offseason Dig deeper: Engine from 1950, dilapidated building help spell end of tracks for Menominee Park train Oshkosh Parks Director Ray Maurer said the train operated at a $13,000 loss as recently as 2023 while only averaging between 10,000 to 11,000 riders over the last three years Staffing issues also meant the city had to modify operating hours from seven days a week and eight hours daily in 2019 to 1-7 p.m But the decision was met with severe scrutiny as several community members voiced their displeasure over social media while Northwestern readers unanimously opposed the move in a recent callout “I think this is a great example of ‘a decision was made at budget the general public said they didn’t like that decision and we listened and now we’re willing to change it,'” said council member Kris Larson I think everyone needs to know that can happen because we hear often that doesn’t happen.” The initial decision even led Oshkosh West High School senior Adrea Matulle to start a GoFundMe page to “keep the train on track,” raising $2,750 of the $50,000 goal the issue was personal for her as she rode the train every summer so she intends to allocate the GoFundMe to some aspect of the Menominee Park ride will be the first person on the train and I am getting a conductor hat I’m probably going to be the one driving it,” said Matulle who attended the council meeting in person Tuesday Running alongside both the Pratt and Siewert trails to the north side of Menominee Park Zoo the train has served as one of Menominee Park’s major attractions for four decades as a huge fan favorite for several generations of children in the Fox Valley area The train was initially run privately in the 1980s before the city took over operations from 2002 And Mauer acknowledges the city may have to go back to the previous arrangement if the train is going to remain at Menominee Park beyond 2025 “We’re going to have some further discussions with individuals who expressed an interest in making donations different ideas on how to operate the facility whether that’s a public-private partnership or private business coming back in to operate it,” said Mauer “I think everything’s on the table right now.” The parks department will also have to address Menominee Park’s water amenities which were also slated to become a casualty of financial constraints staffing issues and weed growth in the lagoon “We need to look at that equipment and where we’re at as far as any repairs or anything that might need to be purchased,” Mauer said In a previous interview with the Northwestern Larson spoke of working behind the scenes to put together a group to help fund the amusement area and add more attractions to Menominee Park Contact Justin Marville at jmarville@gannett.com budget restraints and water access have led Oshkosh officials to discontinue the amusement rides at Menominee Park this year as well as water sports like kayaking and canoeing visitors to Menominee Park have enjoyed all of its attractions "I've grown up visiting Menominee Park and going on the train and I know it's a very cherished part of the community as well," said Oshkosh resident Adrea Matulle But according to the city's park director the train -- as well as other amusement rides including kayaks and paddleboat rentals -- won't be available in 2025 Weather and weed growth in the early part of summer limit access to the pond area for water recreation its tracks and the lack of a secure storage facility for the train have become too cost-prohibitive to maintain "This is something that we've been trying to evaluate for the last number of years As we saw the operation for the train -- the cost of that not only for staffing but upkeep of the train engine itself and repair of train tracks and other things to keep the operation moving," said Oshkosh Parks Director Ray Mauer It's a decision city officials didn't take lightly the amusement rides are part of an account that is supposed to be covering its own costs while also generating some revenue to help pay for other expenses associated with its operation "I just want to try and save it in some effort," added Matulle "Menominee Park is a very historical part and Menominee Tribe The train has been up for 40 years and taking a part of that is just limiting future generations to enjoy it." City officials tell FOX 11 they are unaware of any public campaign to try and raise money to save the train the parks director believes it will cost more than the initial $50,000 investment to keep things in the park on track "That $50,000 is something that would cover some of those immediate needs That doesn't include the fact that we currently don't have a budget for this year for the amusement rides." While Oshkosh officials won't derail any attempt by the community or potential corporate partners at helping to revive amusement program they admit it would most likely take a long-term commitment to make it happen (WBAY) - The Menominee City Police Department says that after an extensive search they’ve found a shoe and a set of footprints that are related to a missing woman 42-year-old Lisa Pipp was reported missing on January 13 near the bay of Green Bay Her boyfriend told police that on the 13th she became upset during an argument and walked away from their vehicle towards the water and he left to seek help but couldn’t find her after returning Menominee City police then began a search effort as well as searching the bay with Michigan State Police dive teams They have been unable to locate Pipp at this time Police say they found a shoe they suspect belongs to Pipp on the shore as well as a set of footprints leading away from the shore and towards the water Police say the footprints show one bare and one shoed foot The Menominee Fire Department followed the footprints on the ice and a helicopter search was conducted with assistance from the Enstrom Helicopter Corporation Police say they have suspended the search given the thorough nature of the water search They are continuing to follow up on leads and investigating the evidence collected They do not suspect foul play at this time The Menominee City Police Department has been assisted by: the Marinette County Sheriff’s Office the Delta County Sheriff’s Office Marine Team PREVIOUS: The Menominee City Police Department is now searching the bay of Green Bay with the assistance of other agencies for a missing woman their investigation led them to search the bay of Green Bay specifically near the Menominee North Pier Lighthouse They’ve also called in multiple agencies for assistance They also say that Harbor Drive is closed until further notice PREVIOUS: Police in Menominee in the Upper Peninsula are looking for a missing woman got out of a vehicle near the lighthouse in Menominee Temperatures were below zero overnight Wednesday She was reported wearing a purple shirt and blue jeans Police want to make contact with Pipp to make sure she’s OK If you think you’ve seen her or might know where she is call the Menominee City Police Department at (906) 863-5568 MENOMINEE, Mich. (WLUK) -- It bills itself as a chance to build a brighter future for families and children in the Marinette and Menominee areas. Improvements are underway inside an old bowling alley. M&M Children's Museum President and Founder Pam Lee says the future exhibit space is coming together "We're going to have a little hydroponic area right here We will have the workshop and art room," said Lee and we are working with the architect to make final plans," she said "Right now, what we're doing is design development and we're just seeing what fits the footprint," said Bill Marklein, U.P. Engineers & Architects project manager Marklein says there could be up to 26,000 square feet of space to work with Marklein says other exhibits include a full-sized helicopter "A couple of those more elaborate displays we're going to be putting in additional considerations to see how they fit where they are going to line up with our egress routes," he said Lee says M&M Children's Museum may open in the spring of 2026 "One of the things I wanted to bring to the community is a place for families to get together and have a positive impact and grow and have a social hub," she said The museum is hosting a fundraiser Saturday at the Riverside Country Club in Menominee will be open Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m The Lake Fly Café will serve as a warming shelter and weekend skate hours will remain open as conditions permit Eric’s Skate Club are available to the public on the weekend The public is also welcome to skate on the rink in conjunction with the extended Menominee Park Zoo hours of 10 a.m but the warming shelter and free skate rentals will not be available on weekdays Closures will be announced at https://www.facebook.com/MenomineePark and those seeking more information can contact the Oshkosh Parks Department at 920-236-5080 2024's business closures: Which businesses shut their doors in 2024? Here are some that closed in Oshkosh. the Oshkosh Parks Department announced they did not have the budget to continue the Menominee Park Train but now there's a chance to get the historic ride back on track (The following is a transcription of the full broadcast story Walking through the empty train station at Menominee Park almost I would just come to the train and ride it," she says When Matulle heard the train was leaving Oshkosh council member Joe Stephenson says he worked with his fellow council members to come up with a solution I was like hey this is important to other people "I wanted to make sure we could get this thing back on track.” the city council will vote on allocating $50,000 to the train The money would come from the interest the city has made in loaning out ARPA funding– the COVID relief fund signed into law by former president Joe Biden and then over the summer I think we’re going to come up with a long-term plan," Stephenson says “We really want to save the train," she says "I think this is a historic part of Oshkosh that needs to be cherished and not just thrown away.” Oshkosh Parks Director Ray Maurer says there is still not a confirmed funding source for the long-term future of the train We cover stories making an impact in Oshkosh. This is your home to stay on top of what is changing in Oshkosh and why it matters to you and your family. We want to hear from you! Click here and tell us what we should be covering in your neighborhood OSHKOSH – The Menominee Park train may not be derailed after all Oshkosh appears to have found a solution to its train problem as common council is set to vote on a resolution to approve $50,000 of interest earnings from the American Rescue Plan Act to fund repairs to the amusement ride area at Menominee Park Efforts to reach Oshkosh Parks Director Ray Maurer proved unsuccessful before deadline but the resolution was listed as an agenda item for Tuesday’s common council meeting at City Hall city staff is asking for council to approve a Parks Revenue Facilities Fund budget amendment to include $50,000 from the ARPA interest earnings “to make the necessary repairs and improvements to the amusement ride area to allow for operations in 2025.” Interim City Manager John Fitzpatrick also made mention of the resolution in his latest city manager’s report saying it’s being viewed as a short-term fix “I think that Parks Director Mauer has talked to me and the Finance Director about how we could just fund the repairs to the train without incurring additional tax dollars so we’re going to ask the council to approve the use of this ARPA interest to get us to a point where the train could be operational,” Fitzpatrick said “We’re still going to have to explore additional funding mechanisms through the community primarily for operations and this would give us time to seek that funding.” The resolution comes mere weeks after news broke that the train at Menominee Park would no longer be in operation for the first time in about 40 years because the amusement park area was being run at a significant loss Maurer estimated the ride operated at a $13,000 loss in 2023 after only averaging 10,000 to 11,000 riders for the past three years Assistant Parks Director Chad Dallman said the park would need $50,000 to fund repairs to the train and track Maurer also revealed the train's engine is from the 1950s and would need to be replaced soon were also set to become a casualty of financial constraints and other factors beyond the parks department's control The announcement was met with severe backlash from the public with several community members making comments online and one Facebook post garnering more than 100 comments and another 42 reactions Northwestern readers also voiced their displeasure in a recent callout asking for the train to be saved the local press reported about it and people made their views heard and now there is a resolution to reverse the decision … this is how government is supposed to work,” said council member Kris Larson “I’m working behind the scenes hoping we can put together a group like a 'Friends of the Park' that can help fund the amusement area at the park and add more draws to the park.” the train served as one of Menominee Park’s major attractions for four decades as a huge fan favorite for several generations of children in the Fox Valley area Spring election: Winnebago County spring election will include races for county exec, school board & council But Maurer revealed the city had issues properly staffing the ride having to modify operating hours from seven days a week and eight hours daily in 2019 to three days a week from 1 to 7 p.m The area was closed in 2024 because of a reconstruction of Pratt Trail Road the resolution asked for the recruitment of seasonal part-time staff to operate the amusement area (WLUK) -- A pedestrian died after being struck by a vehicle in Menominee sustained fatal injuries as a result of the collision OSHKOSH – Menominee Park's train won't be leaving the station for the first time in about 40 years The train amusement ride is not going to be operational at Menominee Park this year because of budgetary issues surrounding repairs and maintenance Assistant Parks Director Chad Dallman told the Northwestern the park would need $50,000 to fund repairs to the train and track and properly staff the amusement area for the seasonal activity “It’s a very unique feature to Menominee Park we won’t have the train amusement ride for the coming year due to the financial implications — and that’s something we will need to evaluate in the master plan,” Dallman said “The park’s amenities will be discussed by the park board but the feasibility of the amusement area has been very challenging with seasonal staffing,” he added New zoo bear: Oshkosh zoo welcomes Alaskan black bear named Mr. Reeves. Here's when you can see him. The news comes as somewhat of a surprise considering the train served as one of Menominee Park’s major attractions since the 1980s the train was initially run by a private contractor before the city took over operations from 2002 both the train and neighboring Menominee Park Zoo have become huge fan favorites for several generations of children in the Fox Valley area "We live within walking distance of the park so my kids would always walk through the zoo and get to the train because that's the part they looked forward to the most," said Oshkosh resident Matthew Eldred "It's relatively inexpensive and I know kids loved it so it's sad to hear it's no longer going to be operational." interim City Manager John Fitzpatrick and Finance Director Julie Calmes proved unsuccessful prior to publication and questions regarding the budgetary aspects of the decision were left unanswered The city’s 2025 budget was adopted last November with the total operating budget set at $233.5 million — a 34% increase on the 2024 total of $174.3 million City budget: City of Oshkosh avoids property tax hike in adopted 2025 budget that lowers tax levy, rate The train doesn’t appear to be the only casualty of recent financial constraints as Dallman revealed the park’s aqua bikes will also be shelved this season “with hopes of reintroducing them at some point soon.” Menominee Park also featured a carousel in the past but according to Dallman that was also removed years ago “There are potential plans in the long term to do a beach house along the beach once that project can take fruition in the future,” Dallman said “I hope we can come together for a long-term plan to fully utilize our park system.” Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInUPPER MICHIGAN WLUC) - Feeding America West Michigan is closing out the week with two food pantry events in the U.P throughout the day Thursday to help families experiencing food insecurity The first mobile food pantry event is at the Greater Marinette-Menominee YMCA at 1600 West Drive. Food distribution begins at 10 a.m. Central time. The second event is in Alger County, at Munising Wesleyan Church at n6310 Knox Street Food will be distributed there at noon Eastern time Stand-ins planning on picking up food for families unable to attend should be prepared to give the name and household size for the family they’re picking food up for Attendees are asked to stay in their vehicle OSHKOSH – Menominee Park Zoo will unveil its new Bear and Fox Exhibit and celebrate the arrival of its new black bear, Mr. Reeves and the public is invited for a ribbon-cutting at 12:30 p.m attendees can meet a trio of foxes and their fun-loving neighbor Carolers and musicians will be spreading the joy of the holiday season and the zoo will sell special black bear and fox souvenirs The public can sip on some hot cocoa and have a fox or bear-shaped cookie as well A very special jolly guest from the North Pole will also be visiting the event Events: This week in Oshkosh, attend a holiday concert, go to Reindeer on the Square & more events Contact Brandon Reid at breid@gannett.com OSHKOSH (NBC 26) — Oshkosh City Council voted at its meeting Tuesday night to approve allocating $50,000 to keep the Menominee Park Train open for another year The money comes from interest the city has made on ARPA funds The train was originally cut from the Oshkosh Parks Department 2025 budget because of the need for repairs and increasing operation costs The council said it hopes to find a long-term funding source for the train to keep it open longer than one year Mayor Matt Mugerauer was the only person to vote against the decision Neither Marks nor the county have formally replied the lawsuit Defendant Brian Helfert used his position as a Menominee County Sheriff’s Deputy and School Resource Officer to groom assault and rape Menominee County children in a repeated These assaults relied upon and occurred in Menominee County offices and vehicles and often occurred while Deputy Helfert was in uniform and armed The Plaintiff was one of those child victims subjected to repeated and longstanding rape and sexual abuse by Deputy Helfert through 2013 to 2019,” the suit states “Plaintiff seeks accountability for Deputy Helfert’s predatory actions as well as for the complicit and negligent actions of Menominee County through the Menominee County Sheriff’s Department.” The suit recounts multiple assaults by Helfert the suit names the former sheriff and county as defendants for allegedly not taking action “Its failure to properly train and supervise Defendant Marks and Defendant Helfert was so obvious and likely to result in the violation of Plaintiff’s constitutional rights that Defendant Menominee County’s failures must be considered a policy of the Menominee County that resulted from Defendant Menominee County’s deliberate indifference to the rights of the Plaintiff,” the suit states According to a news release Monday from the Menominee Police Department 42-year-old Lisa Janine Pipp is believed to have gotten out of a vehicle without her phone or jacket near the lighthouse in Menominee Officials say they are concerned for her welfare police said they were actively following up on leads and tips which lead them to search the area of Harbor Drive law enforcement said their investigation has turned to the bay of Green Bay Multiple agencies have been called in to assist with the search (WLUK) -- Officials are releasing new details regarding a homicide investigation on the Menominee Indian Reservation In March, authorities confirmed human skeletal remains found in a forest Oct. 30, 2023 a descendant of the Menominee Indian Tribe a search warrant in connection with the investigation -- which was approved in June -- was unsealed FOX 11 delved into the warrant and determined it was requested by a special agent with the FBI The agent wanted to look at Facebook accounts of two people -- including messages they may have exchanged with Alegria-Ford the agent suggested one of the individuals may have been the last person to see Alegria-Ford alive It is believed that Alegria-Ford lived on the Menominee Indian Reservation or in the city of Shawano at the time of his disappearance Alegria-Ford had associates in the city of Shawano and on the Menominee Indian Reservation Anyone that may have information on Dean’s disappearance or his associates are asked to call the Menominee Tribal Police Department’s tip line at (715) 799-5806 Menominee juniors Tanner Theuerkauf (3) and Dustin Bardowski (12) celebrate a Theuerkauf touchdown during a MHSAA Division 7 district semifinal game against Houghton Lake on Nov MENOMINEE — With a shade over four minutes left in the first half Menominee faced a 4th-and-21 from Houghton Lake’s 40-yard line Junior quarterback Tanner Theuerkauf dropped back to pass scanning the field in hopes of keeping the drive alive fired the ball and connected for a gain of 32 yards and a first down Senior Isaiah Odom scored from two yards out two plays later This is one of multiple examples of how Menominee’s offense dominated Saturday’s district semifinal matchup against the Bobcats The Maroons seemingly did whatever they pleased on offense in a 62-6 win at Walton Blesch Field “There was definitely a step up by our guys from last week to this week,” Menominee coach Chad Brandt said Kudos to every man in the locker room and our coaches.” The Maroons wasted little time jumping ahead out of the gate when junior Clayton Miller rumbled 27 yards for a touchdown On their next possession Theuerkauf rolled to his right broke multiple tackles and dashed 64 yards for a touchdown On the Maroons next offensive play after forcing the Bobcats’ third punt of the game up to that point Theuerkauf fired a 30-yard dime to junior Blake Paasch for a 21-0 lead The Bobcats came up empty on 4th-and-1 on the ensuing drive Theuerkauf then found Komp for a 26-yard touchdown With 1:11 left in the first quarter Menominee found itself ahead 28-0 It also ran a whopping total of six offensive plays “It starts with the offensive line,” Theuerkauf said I can’t tell them enough how Thankful I am for them.” bolting 37 yards for a 35-0 lead with 9:21 to go in the second Menominee later pieced together a nine play 53-yard drive capped with Odom’s two-yard dash and turned a Bobcats interception into a Theuerkauf 27-yard touchdown pass to Dustin Bardowski to take a 49-6 lead at the break Sophomore Caleb Barstow added to the advantage by taking the second half’s opening kickoff the length of the field for a touchdown A second Bobcats interception led to sophomore Dylan Beal scoring from one yard out for a 62-6 advantage The Bobcats lone scoring drive started with a play that left Menominee fans speechless Houghton Lake started its drive with 9:21 remaining in the second quarter at its own 35-yard line Junior quarterback Shawn Skocelas heaved a deep throw on first down getting his hands on the ball for a deflection It landed in the hands of a waiting Bobcat’s receiver for a chunk play which set up a first down at the Menominee 32-yard line Skocelas successfully hurled a deep pass to Tyler Bailey on 4th-and-5 for Houghton Lake’s lone touchdown The Bobcats did outgain the Maroons in the air 162-135 But Menominee won the rushing battle 207-32 The Bobcats earned -5 rushing yards at halftime “I was pleased that the guys came out with the energy that they did,” Brandt said “It does take another level of intensity Very happy with the guys’ level of urgency to pick it up and say ‘this is playoff time.'” Now the Maroons continue their quest to return to Ford Field at 1 p.m The opponent is none other than Division 7 juggernaut Traverse City St Francis The Gladiators finished the 2024 regular season at 6-3 and earned a 41-16 win over Charlevoix in the semifinal round St Francis also possesses deep rooted success seven state title game appearances and four state championships teams in playoff games during that stretch But none of those 18 games were against Menominee “They’re a big time program,” Theuerkauf said “I know we have to come all play our best game We just have to have a good week of practice.” 1960 — The Gladstone Braves won their track and field opener RAPID RIVER — Weather conditions may have been perfect for ducks but less than that for track and field here .. NEGAUNEE — A baseball doubleheader on Wednesday between Escanaba and Negaunee ended in a split as the Eskymos won .. Bark River-Harris sophomore Dane Schmitt delivers a pitch against Menominee on April 8 MENOMINEE — After weeks of practice in the gym Bark River-Harris boys baseball took to the diamond in Menominee The Broncos loaded the bases in the first inning as sophomore Dane Schmitt got a lead-off single Jacob Mileski was hit by a pitch and Gabe Spear drew a walk but Andy Johnson struck out and Chase Richer grounded out to the second baseman to end the top half of the first The Broncos walked two of the first three Maroon batters in the bottom of the first Robert Finger popped up to the catcher for the second out and Drew Olson reached on a dropped third strike to load the bases for Menominee Ethan Short came up with a well placed single that brought in two runs and the Maroons led 2-0 “We were excited to get out here and play,” Maroons coach John Jasenovsky said “We were chomping on the bit after having two games cancelled last week and the team came out ready to play today.” Gavin Derocher walked and stole a base then later scored on a bases loaded walk to cut the deficit to 2-1 The Broncos were unable to squeeze any more runs across in the second inning leaving the bases loaded for the second time in as many innings Blake Malke and Dylan Beal each had singles and scored runs in the bottom of the second inning to extend the Maroons lead to 4-1 “We have a lot to build on from this,” Broncos coach Al Botwright said “Many of these kids were seeing their first varsity action and I feel they did very well having not had a single outdoor practice.” The Maroons busted off seven runs in the bottom of the third to extend their lead to 11-1 The Broncos responded in the top of the fourth scoring five runs Derocher had a lead-off single and Schmitt reached on an error Mileski and Dominick Lantagne each drew walks Spear hit an RBI single and Andy Johnson had a two-RBI double and the Broncos cut the deficit to 11-6 Menominee went on to outscore the Broncos 5-0 from there and won in five innings via mercy rule Bark River-Harris senior Jacob Mileski attempts to lay down a bunt against Menominee on April 8 Menominee specializes in supporting wood processors in the Northern Great Lakes region and across the Midwest by supplying and reconditioning a variety of industrial cutting tools This acquisition significantly expands Burton’s geographic footprint and enhances its technical capabilities enabling it to provide better service to primary wood producers Burton strengthens its already comprehensive technical expertise in wood processing technology “We are excited to work more closely with the This partnership will allow us to elevate our service offerings and better address the needs of our customers in the Midwest.” “Burton has been important partner for many years we’ll be able to significantly expand our network and capabilities I can’t wait to see what we accomplish together.” CEO of Burton Mill Solutions and sister companies USNR and Mid-South Engineering “This acquisition aligns perfectly with our mission to provide innovative solutions that enhance productivity and effciency in the wood processing industry.” Menominee’s Great Lakes location will complement Burton’s existing network of saw and knife reconditioning service centers in Maine Burton Mill Solutions is the leading North American manufacturer and supplier of industrial saw blades The Burton family includes industry leading brands like Simonds International Burton is further extended by sister companies USNR a global leader in sawmill and panel machinery North America’s oldest and largest professional engineering services firm exclusively serving the wood products industry Menominee Saw & Supply specializes in designing and reconditioning cutting tools and supplying a variety of related products to the primary and secondary wood products markets in the Northern Great Lakes region Menominee was originally established in 1897 as an offshoot of the Wells Lumber Co. but has since expanded and diversified to become a regional leader helping sawmills and other wood processors across a large geography Menominee aims to be a trusted partner for wood processors seeking reliable and effcient cutting solutions has acquired Groupe Expan and its subsidiaries Groupe Isolofoam Canadian manufacturers of expanded polystyrene solutions US LBM has renamed its Breckenridge and Edwards Building Centers and the Colorado locations of Foxworth-Galbriath Lumber as Colorado Building Supply Jeld-Wen is permanently closing its Chiloquin Doors plant in Chiloquin Southern Forest Products Association has released a new technical publication "Allowable Load Tables for Machine-Graded Lumber" OSHKOSH (NBC 26) — Oshkosh is saying goodbye to a 43-year-old attraction The Oshkosh Parks Department has decided to cut the Menominee Park train from its 2025 budget Parks director Ray Mauer says the decision was a tough but necessary one as the entire amusement area had been losing profit for multiple years "The whole intent for the amusement area was for the operations to be covering its cost plus generating some revenue so that when or if these major needs and repairs came that we had some funding available to help with some of those major costs and that just hasn't been happening," Mauer says The Menominee Park Children's Amusement Center near the zoo used to have several attractions the carousel was in need of major repairs a few years ago the Parks Department tried to find a buyer or sponsor for the amusement center Mauer says with even fewer attractions in the center today The Menominee Express Train is in need of $50,000 worth of repairs. A local student started a gofundme to try and raise the money Many locals have also expressed their disappointment regarding the train's closure "We should be putting money into this park Mauer says money for repairs isn't the only thing needed to keep the train open; staffing and operational issues need to be solved as well "The employees there need to be 18 years or older based on the job duties and trying to find reliable individuals for those operations has been not very easy to do the last couple of years a sponsor or donor would need to pay for each year's operational costs would be some conversations that we'd be willing to have," Mauer says Mauer also says he doesn't know exactly what it would cost to run the train annually so I'm not comfortable with sharing that information right now." North Muskegon Norsemen head coach Larry Witham before a high school football game against the Montague Wildcats at Montague High School in Montague on Friday .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Josh VanDyke | jvandyke@mlive.comThe North Muskegon football program has adopted an anybody anywhere mentality in recent years and they proved that Saturday in the Division 7 regional championship game The Norsemen traveled 450 miles to face Menominee in a rematch of last year’s Division 7 state semifinals and didn’t show any signs of road fatigue once they hit the field The West Michigan Conference Rivers Division champions put together a defensive clinic as they wore down the host Maroons in front of their home crowd and came away with a 23-0 road win “What I’m really the most proud of is the fact that we traveled 450 miles to go play at their place and held them to nothing,” said North Muskegon head coach Larry Witham “That’s a team that scored 501 points in the regular season “I think they thought that we were going to throw the ball all over the place and they played a little bit of a different style of defense than what they’re accustomed to I think the field conditions weren’t the greatest The field was a little muddy and much more conducive to their way of doing things than ours North Muskegon took advantage of six Menominee turnovers throughout the game and cashed in twice with points The opportunistic squad led 7-0 at halftime and tacked on a pair of touchdown runs and a field goal in the second half to eventually seal the deal and secure the program’s second straight regional championship North Muskegon (11-1) advances to face Millinton (12-0) in the Division 7 state semifinals next Saturday at 1 p.m The Cardinals defeated Pewamo-Westphalia 28-0 in their regional matchup “I don’t think that’s ever happened in our school’s history and it couldn’t have happened to a better group of kids,” added Witham on his program’s second consecutive regional title “These kids work their butts off to get where they’re at now It’s onward to Millington next week and we’re excited about that challenge “We know (Millington) has a very dynamic quarterback a very good defense and they are 12-0 for a reason They are going to come out confident in what they do and we are going to be ready to play too We’ll see what happens when the ball is kicked off and where chips fall.” Hunter Wilder opened the scoring for North Muskegon with a 21-yard touchdown run with seven minutes in the first half to help the Norsemen take a 7-0 lead into halftime North Muskegon pulled away in the third quarter with a 25-yard field goal from Owen Booth following a fumble recovery from Henry Husmann and added a 6-yard touchdown run by Cullen Bartos later in the period following another Menominee lost fumble Wilder tacked on his second rushing touchdown of the day a few early in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach Bartos finished with 114 yards rushing and one touchdown on 19 carries and caught three passes for 21 yards to pace the North Muskegon offense while Wilder added 72 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 12 carries Bryce Colbert was 12-for-18 passing for 126 yards and connected with TJ Byard for 57 yards on five receptions Landen Grimm for 25 yards on two receptions and Drew Bartos for 23 yards on two receptions Charlie Meyers finished with eight tackles to lead the North Muskegon defense after missing last week’s game with an injury Cullen Bartos had six tackles and one interception one tackle for loss and one fumble recovery and Henry Husmann had four tackles Witham viewed the return of both Meyers and Jaxon Bean to the starting lineup on Saturday as a huge boost to an already unrelenting group “Those are two really big pieces of what we do,” Witham said of Bean and Meyers “Having those guys back was certainly a great thing to have but kudos to the kids who filled in for them last week to get the job done Without their efforts last week against a good McBain team we wouldn’t have had this opportunity today I’m just tickled to death about the way these kids play for each other That’s the whole idea and that’s what this team is all about.” North Muskegon rides an 11-game winning streak into next week’s state semifinals and has outscored their playoff opponents 106-14 in three games has“We just did what we had to do to win,” added Witham “That’s kind of been the modus operandi of this football team all season We just do what we can to win the football game “This is a player-driven team led by a bunch of guys who just love to compete This coaching staff does everything we can to help these guys be successful and they have bought into it and gone out there every week and performed We’ve got 45 kids who are committed and they keep moving forward.” Follow Josh VanDyke on Twitter and Facebook for more West Michigan sports content If you would like your local high school sports news delivered free to your inbox daily, click here and sign up for one of our local high school sports newsletters Love reading about local sports? Don’t miss any of the excitement from the season ahead. Purchase your subscription and get full access to every story on MLive