Media Email: news@cobbcommunications.org Powered by I.F. Lake Superior looms large over Michigan's Upper Peninsula offering plenty of opportunities for nautical exploration "Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake in the world," according to Pure Michigan Lake Superior borders Michigan's Upper Peninsula to the south along with the nearby states of Wisconsin and Minnesota to the west Lake Superior has an average depth of about 500 feet, and a maximum depth of 1,332 feet, according to the Great Lakes Commission. How wide is Lake Superior?Lake Superior's maximum width is 160 miles, Lake Superior Circle Tour notes. How long is Lake Superior?Lake Superior is 350 miles long at maximum While the Great Lakes Commission says Lake Superior is the coldest of the Great Lakes, temperatures change. Lake Superior is experiencing a warming trend, marking it among the fastest-warming lakes worldwide, according to GLISA a collaborative between Michigan State University and University of Michigan supported by NOAA Temperature observations across the lake on May 5 range as low as 37 degrees Fahrenheit The lake has a reputation for being so cold that bacteria can't grow in body, so instead of floating, corpses sink and, as the Gordon Lightfoot song suggests, the lake never gives up its dead Lake Superior's dozens of lighthouses include more than 30 in Michigan, Pure Michigan said. There are seven in Minnesota and seven in Wisconsin, according to Lake Superior Circle Tour. In Canada, there are 32, Lake Superior Magazine reported The Benjamin Noble disappeared on Lake Superior during a severe storm on April 27, 1914, according to the Minnesota Historical Society Isle Royale National Park among the nation's least-visited national parks is a remote island in the middle of Lake Superior "Wolves and moose, the wild north woods forest, ever-changing weather and a cool climate, and the crystal clear waters and rugged shoreline of Lake Superior characterize Isle Royale National Park," Pure Michigan says What is the origin of the name Lake Superior?French settlers named the lake Le Lac Superior meaning the upper lake More: November's gales are famous on the Great Lakes. These wrecks show spring can be deadly The lake's Ojibwe name is Kitchigami, meaning great lake, the National Park Service said Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@freepress.com SUPERIOR — Northwood Technical College and the University of Wisconsin-Superior are gearing up to recognize the class of 2025 with commencement ceremonies Northwood Tech holds its ceremony and reception at Superior Middle School The program will include remarks from college leadership and student speakers along with the conferring of diplomas and certificates A reception follows the ceremony in the Superior Middle School gymnasium About 750 students will be eligible to receive diplomas when UW-Superior conducts its commencement on Saturday Chancellor Renée Wachter will preside over the ceremony and present diplomas to students who have earned associate a 1985 graduate who founded the Molecular Imaging and Theranostics Center Her work led to the first in-human positron emission tomography imaging study in patients with sickle cell disease and was editor of the college's literary magazine She is graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in writing and English The Chancellor’s Leadership Award will be presented to Tasneem (Nemo) Aidabi The award is given to graduates who were leaders in student government and made other positive contributions to their campus and community Clarion County native Maria Battista has announced her bid for Judge of the Superior Court Battista has over 15 years of legal experience in civil and is a former Assistant District Attorney She is also a skilled mediator and public speaker Battista was counsel to the Departments of Health and State Battista was a hearing examiner where she presided over hundreds of cases including for the Department of Corrections and Probation and Parole Those who know her best have found her to have a strong legal mind Battista’s professional background includes teaching several communication and criminal justice courses she has been a presenter for continuing legal education courses in mediation Battista plans to use her diverse legal and educational background to establish an office that is efficient Battista said “Many people don’t know who the candidates are who are running for judge what people do want are judges who are fair and impartial I have always treated people fairly and provided them an opportunity to be heard as a hearing examiner I would do the same if elected judge of the Superior Court.” Battista’s prior candidacy for judge of the Superior Court in 2023 was too close to call on election night Battista secured first place in 52 of the 67 counties in the race among four candidates for two open Superior Court seats Battista said she is battle-tested with a network across the Commonwealth and at the grassroots level and is committed to working hard to earn the support of voters across the Commonwealth Battista said “The opinions issued by our appellate courts have far-reaching impact on each of our lives which hears appeals in criminal cases and most civil cases including cases involving families and children is the court of last resort in approximately 97% of cases as the PA Supreme Court hears less than 3% of these cases.” Battista said she will bring a fresh perspective to the court and is uniquely qualified to serve as a judge on the Superior Court with her diverse experiences as an attorney Battista was raised in a rural community in northwestern PA Her rural roots are also important and will bring geographic diversity to the court Battista said she would be humbly honored to have the support of voters on May 20th and is 1st on the ballot for Superior Court Family was the most important thing in his life and he watched college and professional sports of all kinds spending his free time hunting and fishing He loved animals and spending time with his grandchildren Dan was a lover of all things PSU and a staunch supporter of the legendary Joe Paterno Following a stint as a cryptanalyst with the NSA Olson took a job with IBM where he worked as a financial analyst for 26 years in a crash involving a lawn mower in Greene Township the public is invited to another ‘Paint Night With Patty’ in our downstairs area at Zion Reformed Church Penn State Extension Spring has sprung and while the change is welcome it is often when horticulturists see problems emerge that got The Franklin County Free Press is your local news website We provide you with the latest breaking news and videos straight from Franklin County PA The Franklin County Free Press is a Neil Publishing, LLC Any views or opinions expressed in this publication are of the individual or entity who submitted it and not the publication Our publication is open to the public to weigh in on matters of public interest AI technology assists in content creation on this site; verify independently for accuracy Call or Text: (717) 862-5656   Email: info@fcfreepress.com A skier was rescued Friday after sliding approximately 800 feet down the south face of Mount Superior in Utah’s Little Cottonwood Canyon. The man, visiting from out of town with two companions, had removed his skis and donned hiking boots when he lost his footing and slid uncontrollably down the mountain, Fox 13 News reports Salt Lake County Search and Rescue responded securing him on a sled and lowering him down the mountain using ropes before transporting him to the hospital “He was alert, some lacerations and some bruises—no broken bones that we could tell,”  Ryan Clerico, Vice Commander of Salt Lake County Search and Rescue, told Fox 13 News His helmet was pretty badly damaged in the slide and fall.” A LifeFlight helicopter was used to hoist one of the other skiers off the mountain after he felt uncomfortable skiing down on his own The third man was able to ski out on his own Clerico emphasized the dangers of spring skiing and recommended that those venturing into such conditions carry an ice axe to help stop any potential slides This incident serves as a reminder of the risks associated with spring skiing and the importance of proper equipment and preparedness Superior Aero Estates’ new runway was completed and then shortly after welcomed its first aerial visitor as part of a grand opening celebration in late summer last year. This was a significant milestone in the project in Culver, Minnesota, that Nick Clattenburg began pursuing in earnest in 2016.  “The first phase [of the airpark] is platted, and we have plans to put in some hangars. Then we have phase two planned, which will have minimum lot sizes of two and a half acres— instead of four and a half acres.”  As Clattenburg can attest, developing an airpark from scratch is a substantial undertaking. Carving a 3,500-foot-long landing strip out a dense forest is only one of the major tasks he focused on at the outset. Just like when it rains, developing an airpark isn’t all sunshine—but he expects there are rainbows at the end.  Clattenburg is quick to provide suggestions for others who are exploring the thought of developing their own fly-in community.  Superior Aero Estates is well into the development process, and Clattenburg is currently laser-focused on selling lots.  “The runway is complete and will be ready for visitors this spring once the snow melt dries up,” he said. “Superior Aero Estates isn’t currently charted, as we wanted to avoid drop-ins during the fall while the grass was still getting established. However, we expect it to be charted soon. Clattenburg is excited that the airport will help remedy the hangar shortage in the Duluth area. Pilots have the option to buy their own space or rent it directly from Superior Aero Estates.  “There’s a very clear shortage in the country for hangars, but especially in Duluth,” he said. “MNDOT has even highlighted this in their state airport system plan, confirming that with Duluth International Airport [KDLH), Cloquet Airport [KCOQ], Moose Lake, and others, they all have wait lists with 30 to 40 people. I’m sure there’s some overlap, but that’s still a substantial amount of people looking for hangar space. “We have all this extra acreage where we could make more hangars, some of which will be for rent. We are currently scoping about 20 acres for hangars and with that, we are looking at about 23 buildings—which would be 69 hangars. People will be able to build their own hangars, including box hangars, and expect that we will have some for rental as well. It would be a 99-year lease—consider it yours.” The initial plans call for hangars to be 40 by 60 feet, with in-floor heat and bifold Schweiss doors. Four of these predesigned Morton buildings will be listed for sale in late spring and built on demand once purchase agreements are in place.  Clattenburg provided an overview of his plans for 2025, which includes marketing efforts, as well as breaking ground on additional airport infrastructure.  “Improvements to the land would include some initial hangar space that is going to be right off the runway,” he said. “We have a 2-acre piece of land that we are going to use to test the waters with hangars to see what the market adoption will be. Then marketing, we will be making some additional content, videos for sure, and hosting some additional fly-ins now that the runway is usable. Getting people to come in and enjoy what we built here allows the airport to speak for itself.” The first planned fly-in for this year is scheduled for June 7.  “[It will feature] food trucks, music, and games,” he said. “YouTuber Grant Baker has already confirmed he’ll be stopping by with his family in a PC-12, and I’m working on securing additional display planes for the event. Anyone interested in flying in to tour the airpark [at other times] is more than welcome. We just ask that you coordinate with us through the contact form on our website so we can track visitors and notify you of any runway maintenance or mowing.” The meeting was presided over by Scott Sharp and Diane Lowrey served as sergeant at arms Program Chairman Gary Dolan spoke about Lake Superior a location he and his family have visited for many years beginning in his childhood with his brother and father The Dolan family spends summers in Grand Marais Dolan noted that Lake Superior is the largest of the Great Lakes and is larger than the other Great Lakes combined the lake’s volume of water would cover both North and South America to a depth of one foot He described the Lake Superior Circle Tour a route covering 1,826 miles through states and Canadian provinces that border the lake He explained the surrounding geography varies with sandy shores on the southern edge and rocky terrain in the north is a town of about 1,500 residents and has been recognized by several groups as “The Best Small Town in the U.S.” Dolan said the summer tourist season is consistently busy and attracts visitors from across the country He also shared stories about family friends they’ve met during their visits members were reminded of their responsibility to put up and take down flags around the courthouse on Flag Day An update was also given on the Bright Futures Trenton bathroom project which is being supported through a District Grant The club discussed the possibility of local service organizations jointly sponsoring a community fireworks display on July 3 Members agreed to participate in the effort The estimated cost of the event is approximately $6,500 including insurance and the fireworks show The program for the May 8 meeting will be presented by the owners of Bent Tree Gallery Gary Dolan will serve again as program chairman Congratulations to the News and Documentary Emmy nominations Anderson Cooper (CNN) was recognized with many nominations for his program The Whole Story Jeffrey bragged about the large number of viewers on FOX Trump is targeting two successful channels Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star Follow these steps to easily submit a letter to the editor or guest opinion to the Arizona Daily Star Respond: Write a letter to the editor | Write a guest opinion Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly Since Putin has decided to hold a “victory” parade in Moscow on May 9th he will try to glorify the heroic success of the “Russian” soldier It is a sad day that a woman who has reported news in Tucson for years is gone du… Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInMARQUETTE (WLUC) - A performance showcased the hard work of three graduating high school seniors on Sunday The Superior String Alliance held a side-by-side concert in Marquette to celebrate James Uchytil Uchytil says it’s awesome to play professionally with people he’s looked up to for years “Getting to create music with diverse groups of people--professionals and other students--creates connections and it’s a really rewarding community,” Uchytil said Superior String Alliance Executive Director Danielle Simandl says the students attended the SSA’s summer camp for years She’s amazed to watch them grow up and perform with the Marquette Symphony Orchestra “They have so much experience under their belts in the first place so that’s why we’re asked to do this,” Simandl said and this is fun to be side-by-side with you.’” Simandl says it’s important for young musicians to get out of the practice room and perform for an audience developing your whole artistry as a musician and to put that all into what really is a small moment in time for a performance is an extremely important part of things for us as artists,” Simandl said Uchytil’s love for music will continue to grow through opportunities like the concert He plans to study the violin at Lawrence University Conservatory of Music Uchytil says he couldn’t have gone on to pursue a career in music without the support of the community and other musicians “They just really helped me create my own sound and express myself in my own way and it’s made me want to do it for the rest of my life,” Uchytil said An afternoon of music brought generations of Yoopers together Utah (KUTV0 — Search and rescue crews responded Friday morning to reports of a fallen hiker in the Mount Superior area of Little Cottonwood Canyon Salt Lake County Sheriff’s deputies said they were dispatched to the mountain just before 11 a.m Both ground and aerial resources were deployed According to Salt Lake County Public Information Officer Arlan Bennett the hiker—a 30-year-old man—sustained lacerations to his face and head He was wearing a helmet at the time of the fall and was reported to be in stable condition He was transported by ambulance to a local hospital The Utah Department of Transportation announced the closure of State Route 210 at milepost 10 No estimated time of reopening was reported The Ontario Superior Court of Justice ordered a defendant in a personal injury case to pay the plaintiff $282,251.79 and the third parties $155,739.31 in costs the defendant lost control of her vehicle on a highway and hit the vehicle driven by the plaintiff The plaintiff suffered orthopedic injuries including a crush fracture to his heel bone He brought an action against the defendant The plaintiff alleged that he joined the Canadian military at 20 years old He said he lost his qualification to fly helicopters while recovering from his injuries and was unable to return The defendant accepted that there was no issue of contributory negligence in this case She filed a third-party claim against those responsible for maintaining winter operations for the highway: Ontario’s transportation ministry and its winter maintenance operator The proceedings included mediation in December 2020 and a pretrial in December 2023 The defendant made an offer requiring the third parties to contribute 50 percent of any settlement the plaintiff and defendant settled the action for $210,000 plus prejudgment interest They asked the court to fix the plaintiff’s cost award The third parties argued that the settlement amount was unreasonable The minutes of the settlement stated that the plaintiff and his witnesses were ready to attend trial for the defendant’s claim against the third parties to provide evidence supporting that the settlement amount was reasonable under s which covered a situation involving recovery between tortfeasors required the tortfeasor settling the damages to prove to the court that the settlement amount was reasonable the judge inquired whether the third parties would have to pay the percentage of the damages assessed at trial if the judge decided on an amount higher than the settlement sum and found the transportation ministry liable for some portion Within hours of the judicial assistant sending this inquiry the third parties accepted that the settlement amount of $210,000 was reasonable The Ontario Superior Court of Justice’s costs decision noted that the plaintiff spoke clearly and without exaggeration as a witness and made a reasonable formal offer to resolve the case in April 2024 the court held that the defendant’s requirement in the offer for the third parties to contribute 50 percent of any settlement was entirely unreasonable The court found that the defendant’s insurer unreasonably alleged that it could not settle without the third parties’ contribution particularly in this case involving objective orthopedic injuries and lacking potential contributory negligence on the plaintiff’s part “If the defendant decides to dig in its heels and refuses to entertain settlement discussions without the participation of the third party it is trying to meld the two actions together,” wrote Justice Jaye Hooper for the court the court decided that their position – on the issue of whether the settlement was reasonable – was unreasonable and factored this into its cost award The court deemed the $210,000 settlement relatively modest The court expressed concern about the third parties’ refusal to accept that settlement amount as reasonable given the plaintiff’s evidence of his injuries and lost career The court said that the third parties later accepted the settlement amount as reasonable because they knew the judge might assess damages much higher than $210,000 upon looking at the evidence of the plaintiff and his experts The court ruled that the third parties should have accepted the settlement as reasonable when the parties agreed on the amount in May 2024 rather than dragging the plaintiff through even more stress and expense than he had already suffered (877) 456 6241 tears and photos as Kharissa Anderson graduated Thursday She didn’t walk across a high school stage or wear a cap and gown As the newest graduate of the Douglas County Treatment Court program she sat in a courtroom to celebrate her success “You have come so far from when we first met … I’m so proud of you," said Anderson’s best friend said she jumped into the program with both feet June 1 “My kids deserve the best version of me," she said "and I’m so happy to be back in their lives and be a mom again and accomplish all these things I thought I had to give up on because I thought I was too old." Anderson ticked off the list of accomplishments made since she started the program I pay my bills … and it feels amazing because I have quite a past where I made many McMullin was the one who told Anderson about treatment court “I was in jail at the time and completely lost in life,” Anderson said I had been going down the wrong road for a long time.” “I kind of let go in life and went downhill,” she said She became addicted to methamphetamine and was convicted of numerous crimes in Douglas County Circuit Court she was sentenced to five years of prison and five years of extended supervision after being convicted of multiple charges party to burglary and possession of methamphetamine “I never had a good relationship with the courts and they tell me they’re proud of me and I’m not running and hiding or doing something wrong "And it feels really good because I don’t think they’re out to get me and I don’t think anything like that now They’re there for people … it’s all different.” Anderson participated in drug treatment while in prison “but you’re not faced with all these things on a day-to-day basis where you have to do it.” “And I would not have done it without this program “It’s structured the way it is for a reason I needed the accountability I needed to learn different ways to think and different coping skills and I did.” Circuit Court Judge Kelly Thimm applauded her growth and you know a lot of things had to change," Thimm said And I think where you are today is an inspiration for other people because so she'll still be in touch with the court She can also continue to take part in sober activities offered through the program “Nobody wants to be an addict," Anderson said I don’t believe anybody wants the life they’re living in that moment But sometimes you feel hopeless and you don’t know where to go and what to do and that’s where I was at that point when I entered that program.” said she encourages participants to advocate for themselves when searching for a job or housing and share about the steps they're making in the program "We're a whole lot more than the worst decision we ever made," Prokosch said "Just giving people an opportunity is huge It can make a difference between their being successful and not." The program is seeking donations to support sober activities Venues where participants can do community service are also sought SUPERIOR — Douglas County could help the city expand a program that provides land in exchange for in-fill new housing development the Land and Development Committee recommended the county sell three undeveloped parcels of land in the city of Superior for the Vacant to Value: New Construction program with room for a single house to be built on each are located on the 1800 block of East Ninth Street the 1900 block of Banks Avenue and the 1600 block of Ohio Avenue The parcels were taken by tax deed in 2014 and were put up for sale Serck said the city’s goal is to purchase the properties for the prices set for the parcels in 2014 The total cost for the buildable parcels would be $7,000 “We would put them in our Vacant to Value: New Construction program which is a program where we actually give lots away and people construct on them,” Serck said “… It’s been good to get properties back up and running again.” The first nine of those added over $34,000 to the tax rolls in Superior Two of the homes weren’t built at the time of last year’s assessments If approved by the Douglas County Board on May 15 the sale would double the city’s inventory of available land for new housing development SUPERIOR — There's a certain type of person who makes being a musician look absolutely miserable (Scroll through Pitchfork and you'll spot a few.) None of those were in evidence Thursday for the Duluth Homegrown Music Festival's annual Superior Night crowds packed six venues for 18 sets of music by artists from Junkyard Mule — who kicked the night off after the mayor's reception at Superior Tavern — to Cars & Trucks Photographer Clint Austin and I took in a sampling seym0ur glass took the Superior Tavern stage Salinger character who spells his name with capital letters and without a zero seym0ur glass is the electronic project of Ned Netzel who dropped dollops of heavy lo-fi as the crowd lazily batted a latex inflatable around encouraging attendees to overcome their Midwestern hesitance and fill a gap on the floor in front of her Good cheer marked the singer-songwriter's set which brought her wide dynamic range to bear on emotive songs flecked with elements of soul and jazz including one about how she had just completed a 20-mile bike ride and a subsequent skinny dip before toting two guitars to Superior The Main Club was buzzing as Kaylee Matuszak prepared to take the stage with her new band (The gag is that both bassist Cory Jezierski and drummer Leon Rohrbaugh are in fact husbands .. Matuszak recorded her 2024 LP "Leading Lady" with Rich Mattson and Steve Solkela songs like "Call Off the Dogs" and "COLOR TV!" came alive much to the gratification of a crowd that squeezed forward yet still found some room for dancing Matuszak didn't miss a beat even when the amplifier cord detached from her electric guitar; she kept right on singing as she plugged the ax back in and resumed strumming "I love when there's a problem and I immediately know how to solve it," Matuszak said with satisfaction a virtual fireplace that was playing on one television near the stage helped convey a sense of warmth not that the room needed it as eager attendees prepared for a set by Woodblind long favored for its bonhomie and sophisticated musicianship With Jason Wussow and Veikko Lepisto at the band's core it expanded Thursday to a "Woodblind Jubilee Super Big Band" with upward of nine musicians including Jen West on duet vocals — and Teague Alexy hopping on stage for a rapturously received appearance "That was a who's who of Homegrown history up there," Austin said Given a stage area that seems almost to sink into the room's back corner at least one person was moved to climb atop a bar stool for a glimpse of Hiroko and her bandmates You would never have guessed it wasn't a summer Saturday from the energy of the audience raising hands high above their heads to clap for a set that brought out the driving energy of Hiroko's smartly crafted songs having already played a blistering Sunday night set with her Riot-Grrrl-inspired band C U Next Tuesday Hiroko closed with her debut single "Ashes," noting that it was recently released on Spotify — where her artist bio describes her as "Duluth May 3 to correct the name of drummer Leif Hinkel in a photo caption California Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero and the Judicial Council of California today mark their third annual celebration of Public Service Recognition Week Said California Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero: "This week we honor the 20,000 dedicated public servants of our state's judicial branch of government and help ensure that justice is not just an ideal but a reality for the communities we serve every day." Public Service Recognition Week is celebrated annually during the first week of May to honor the people who serve our nation as federal Videos produced by the Judicial Council highlight five of California's dedicated public servants who speak about why they choose to serve in the judicial branch Court executive officer for Nevada County Superior Court, who started as a Judicial Fellow: Chief information officer for Sutter County Superior Court who helps make remote access to courts a reality: California Supreme Court capital appointments coordinator who helps ensure defendants in death penalty cases have adequate representation: Civil and probate director with Riverside County Superior Court who launched one of the state's first CARE Act programs: View all videos on YouTube Special thanks to the Superior Courts of Los Angeles and San Francisco counties for video footage highlighting their dedicated employees and to the County of San Diego for CARE Court graduation footage Click on an image below to view in full size The Judicial Nominating Commission for the State of Georgia has shortlisted a state court judge and a trial attorney as candidates to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of Flint Judicial Circuit Superior Court Chief Judge Brian J A state court judge and trial lawyer are in the running to become the next Flint Judicial Circuit Superior Court judge The Judicial Nominating Commission for the State of Georgia shortlisted Henry County State Court Judge Chaundra D for a vacancy created by the resignation of former Chief Judge Brian J Law.com National Law Journal New York Law Journal The Legal Intelligencer Daily Report Online Brugh Lower of Gibbons has entered an appearance for industrial equipment supplier Devco Corporation in a pending trademark infringement lawsuit accusing the defendant of selling knock-off Graco products 18 in New Jersey District Court by Rivkin Radler on behalf of Graco Inc Read More Yalowitz of Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer have entered their appearances for Hanaco Venture Capital and its executives 24 in New York Southern District Court by Zell accuses the defendants of negligently and fraudulently managing the plaintiff's $1 million investment Read More Attorneys from A&O Shearman has stepped in as defense counsel for Toronto-Dominion Bank and other defendants in a pending securities class action 11 in New York Southern District Court by Bleichmar Fonti & Auld accuses the defendants of concealing the bank's 'pervasive' deficiencies in regards to its compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act and the quality of its anti-money laundering controls Read More a Pennsylvania company providing shared communications infrastructure Wolf of Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani to fend off a pending breach-of-contract lawsuit 25 in Michigan Eastern District Court by Hooper Hathaway PC on behalf of The Town Residences LLC accuses Crown Castle of failing to transfer approximately $30,000 in utility payments from T-Mobile in breach of a roof-top lease and assignment agreement Read More Schwartz of McCarter & English have stepped in as defense counsel to Electrolux Home Products Inc 26 in New York Eastern District Court by Poulos Lopiccolo PC and Nagel Rice LLP on behalf of David Stern alleges that the defendant's refrigerators’ drawers and shelving repeatedly break and fall apart within months after purchase Read More Already have an account? Sign In A Fairview Township man accused of sending threatening messages to Erie Insurance is asking the Superior Court of Pennsylvania to review an Erie County judge's decision to put him back behind bars Ross C. Langley, 37, through his lawyer, Justin Smith, on April 30 filed a petition for special review with the Superior Court asking for a review of action during an April 24 bond hearing in which Judge John J. Mead granted a motion by the Erie County District Attorney's Office to revoke Langley's bond whom Erie police listed in case documents as a terminated Erie Insurance employee Chief Deputy District Attorney Steven Liboski sought the bond revocation as he accused Langley of violating the conditions of his bond by continuing to contact Erie Insurance and company officials and making threatening and harassing social media posts Liboski also told Mead at the April 24 hearing that since filing his motion on April 4 requesting a bond hearing he was made aware of additional harassing and threatening posts and of emails sent to Erie County District Attorney Elizabeth Hirz Liboski said the emails to Hirz were more troubling because he said they were almost overt threats of violence who appeared at the April 24 bond hearing by phone the lack of time he had to speak to his client and to review the alleged threatening messages and the failure by prosecutors to authenticate the alleged messages Mead stated at the hearing he had the opportunity to review the messages Liboski provided to the court and said he believed Langley is a danger to the community The petition for specialized review asks the Superior Court to review four questions raised by Langley and Smith They include whether the court erred or abused its discretion by issuing a bench warrant for Langley's arrest on April 22 in Mercer County when prosecutors did not request a warrant be issued and no reason for its issuance appeared of record Langley was in the Erie County Prison and appeared by video from the facility during the April 24 bond revocation hearing Smith appeared at the hearing by phone because he was in Crawford County for a previously-scheduled court hearing there The petition also asks the court to determine whether the trial court erred or abused its discretion in denying a motion to continue the bond hearing Among Smith's arguments for seeking a continuance was that he had just been retained by Langley on April 23 and hadn't yet spoken to Langley and had not reviewed the Erie police criminal complaint The petition additionally questions the granting of the revocation when prosecutors presented no evidence demonstrating that it is "substantially more likely than not" that Langley would harm someone if released and no evidence was presented that there is no condition of bail within the court's power that can reasonably prevent Langley from inflicting harm Smith declined to comment on the matter beyond what was written in the petition said he will be waiting to hear from the Superior Court if and when a response is required Langley is awaiting trial in the case after he was held for court in absentia at his March 13 preliminary hearing Contact Tim Hahn at thahn@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @ETNhahn. Oakland: A pancake breakfast is 8-11:30 a.m Superior: Cathedral School holds a rummage sale from 9 a.m Proceeds support the school's Angel Fund assisting families in crisis holds a rummage sale and bake sale from 9 a.m Superior: Northland Grandmothers For Peace invites all to its annual meeting at 11 a.m at Superior Public Library to discuss “building a working-class anti-war movement.” Bring a snack to share Superior: Adults-only designer purse bingo is at noon at the Belgian Club Gordon: Northwood High School's prom grand march and coronation is at 7:30 p.m Minog: The Northwood/Solon Springs softball team is holding a car wash and bake sale from 11 a.m Superior: Area churches sponsor a free community meal from 5:30-8 p.m Summit: Learn about the health of Amnicon Lake at 5:30 p.m University of Wisconsin-Superior professor Jeffrey Schuldt presents the findings of a limnological study Superior: Watch a free screening of “Companion” at 6 p.m Maple: The Maple Memorial Cemetery Association holds its annual meeting at 10 a.m The association will review improvements made in the past year and plan for the future Superior: A free chair yoga class for ages 12 and up is at 10:30 a.m Superior: A release party for the 2025 edition of The Nemadji Review the University of Wisconsin literary journal in the Erlenbach Lecture Hall in Swenson Hall Superior: The Douglas County Genealogy Club meets at 6 p.m Anyone with an interest in genealogy can join Superior: The University of Wisconsin-Superior Music Department holds its spring concert at 7:30 p.m Songs will range from an African American spiritual to Bob Dylan’s “The Times They Are A-Changin.” Admission is $5 for adults and free for students Superior: Spartan Art Fiesta and Spartan Manufacturing open house is at Superior High School An exhibit of a variety of art by Superior students is in the main gym from 4-7 p.m The manufacturing program invites guests to the technical education wing for tours “Burnt Gloveboxes II: Embracing Life When It Goes Up in Flames.” Copies available for purchase Superior: University of Wisconsin-Superior students Abby Stegall Gianna Hopke and Selah Swanson and associate professor Hector Landa perform a free piano ensemble at 7:30 p.m Superior: LiveWell hosts a free beading craft activity from 3:40-4:40 p.m Superior: “Man versus machine” is the title of the next presentation in the Richard I Bong Veterans Historical Center’s free speaker series at 6:30 p.m Army veteran and former law enforcement officer will speak about the development of military weapons and tactics from World War I to present Superior: The University of Wisconsin-Superior jazz band and jazz orchestra play a concert at 7:30 p.m in the Manion Theater in the Holden Fine Arts Center A $15 donation to support a scholarship for a UWS jazz musician volleyball and board games beginning at 5 p.m Superior: The Douglas County Caregiver Coalition holds a senior caregiver conference from noon to 5 p.m in the Northwood Technical College conference center The event includes four educational sessions for caregivers and families Family caregivers can register for free by contacting the Douglas County Aging and Disability Resource Center at 715-395-1322 or leah.crist@douglascountywi.gov This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page According to a news release on the Cobb County website, Superior Court Judge Sonja N. Brown was honored for her dedication to volunteerism during the 25th Annual Justice Robert Benham Awards for Community Service Benham was a Georgia Supreme Court justice who served for over 30 years before retiring in 2020 see a video of Benham speaking about the awards bearing his name The awards recognize members of the State Bar of Georgia who have made meaningful contributions to their communities highlighting the positive impact lawyers can have beyond their professional duties In addition to two lifetime achievement recipients four other honorees from across Georgia were recognized at the ceremony Judge Brown has served as a Cobb County Superior Court judge since January 1 she was a full-time Cobb Magistrate Court judge She remains active in a variety of philanthropic efforts including her role on the Board of Directors for the Tommy Nobis Center She is also a long-time supporter of Covenant House Georgia and has participated in its annual Sleep Out: Executive Edition event each year since 2014 to raise awareness of youth homelessness she chaired the organization’s fifth annual Sleep Out: Women Unite “I am truly honored to have received this award,” said Judge Brown “Justice Benham is such a wonderful example of how to serve your community and to be counted alongside him and these other wonderful honorees is humbling.” Judge Brown said she enjoys serving Cobb County both in and out of the courtroom and encourages fellow members of the legal profession to engage in community service efforts Her legal career includes roles as a DeKalb County Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney a DeKalb County Deputy Chief Assistant Solicitor-General and a Fulton County Chief Senior Assistant District Attorney She began her legal career as a paralegal and contracts administrator and later became staff counsel at Convergent Media Systems Corporation in Alpharetta Brown holds a Juris Doctor from Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School a Master of Arts in Christian Practice from Duke Divinity School and a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Media Arts from Clark Atlanta University She has cited her role as an aunt to her two nieces and four nephews as her most cherished position and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Left – Porsha Winfrey, award winner. Right – Judge Kimberly A. Childs, presenter (photo courtesy of Cobb County) Porsha Winfrey, the coordinator of Cobb County’s Drug Treatment Court, received the… Here are the 52 new businesses issued licenses by Cobb County on the week ending Friday, May 2, 2025. These are only licenses for businesses in unincorporated Cobb County. Cities… The following are scores for the past week for restaurants, school cafeterias, hotels, and other food service facilities in Cobb County from the Georgia Department of Public Health. For more… According to AAA’s weekly report, gasoline prices in Georgia showed little movement over the past week. Prices rose one cent to an average cost of $2.92 per gallon for regular… The National Weather Service forecasts sunny skies here in Cobb County on Monday, May 5, 2025, with a high near 70 degrees. Tonight it is expected to be mostly clear,… Homegrown is the Twin Ports’ biggest musical festival of the year. On Thursday, May 1, it’s Superior’s turn to play host. The entire event is eight days and features dozens of acts — making it nearly impossible to see them all. Someone who has kept tabs on them is Kala Moria of Homegrown’s steering committee, though she said even she’s losing count. “This year, we have 177 acts and the number of venues is — I think — in the mid- to high-30s. I can’t remember exactly,” she said. Moria and Hayward singer-songwriter John Sonofmel spoke with WPR’s Robin Washington on “Morning Edition” about the festival and the logic behind which bands play in Superior and which in Duluth. This conversation has been edited for clarity and brevity. Robin Washington: John, you’re one of Thursday’s opening acts at Earth Rider Brewery at 6:30 p.m., following a mayor’s reception at the Superior Tavern at 5:45 p.m. What will you be performing? RW: Kala, how do you decide who plays in Superior and who in Duluth?Kala Moria: Every year we get tons of applications from bands. We have to navigate getting in new acts and older acts, as well as making sure that there’s a good mix of genres. When the time comes for scheduling, we try to get bands in at places where they may not perform during the rest of the year. Also, there are certain venues that can only fit certain styles, like some that can’t accommodate bands with drum sets.  RW: Is there any particular reason for holding the acts in Superior all on one day instead of spread out throughout the week? KM: We try to schedule it so that everything is centralized each evening. That allows people to take the trolley or just walk around between venues. There’s also a West Duluth night. There’s a Canal Park night, and the first Sunday night is usually downtown Duluth.  JS: That’s another great aspect of Homegrown. You get to meet new people, because everybody is walking around between venues. You hear the jocularity. You hear “Happy Homegrown!” which is the official greeting.  If you have an idea about something in northern Wisconsin you think we should talk about on “Morning Edition,” send it to us at northern@wpr.org.  SUPERIOR — A letter and an internal investigation obtained through a public records request and a federal lawsuit filed in March point to issues within the Superior Police Department involving the police chief's wife. A consultant was hired to investigate allegations against investigator Mikayla LeRette, who is assigned to the Lake Superior Violent Offender Task Force. The investigation found policy violations but no legal violations. LeRette later filed suit against the city of Superior and a former supervisor, retired Capt. Thomas Champaigne. The lawsuit filed on March 7 in the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin accuses the city and Champaigne of violating the Fair Labor Standards Act and LeRette’s Fourth Amendment rights. The Fair Labor Standards Act violation claims supervisors failed to provide a suitable place for lactating mothers. According to the lawsuit, LeRette agreed to put a chair in the women’s locker room, behind a curtain in a shower stall, and use an extension cord to connect a breast pump to electricity in the shower area. From November 2022 until September 2023, the complaint states LeRette experienced countless interruptions, including from male janitorial staff and male members of the police department. A female supervisor would turn the lights off in the shower and sigh in disgust while LeRette was lactating, the complaint states. The lawsuit also claims Champaigne violated her Fourth Amendment rights by placing a tracking device on the police vehicle assigned to her without a warrant authorizing the installation. The lawsuit is seeking undisclosed compensatory and punitive damages. The lawsuit follows an internal investigation conducted last year into whether LeRette misrepresented her working hours and took absences without authorized leave. The monthslong investigation by an outside consultant determined that LeRette violated several department policies by reporting to work late or not at all when she should have been on duty. Daniel Hardman, a principal with DDH Public Safety Consulting LLC, conducted the investigation at a cost of about $15,144 after LeRette’s superiors became suspicious she was misrepresenting her working hours. “The case was complicated by two issues: One, she is assigned to a drug task force in the city of Duluth, Minnesota outside of the daily site of her immediate supervisor, and second, her husband is the newly appointed police chief of the Superior Police Department,” Hardman wrote in the 29-page report that revealed Hardman had uncovered about 63 hours of unaccounted time between February and May of 2024. Hardman concluded that LeRette had been “deceptive” when she couldn’t recall specific dates and actions that had occurred several months earlier. He cited a minimum of five violations of department policy in his conclusion, including ethics, attendance, efficiency, neglect of duty and conduct. LeRette refuted the allegations in an undated, 25-page memorandum to Mayor Jim Paine. “This investigation has been a targeted attempt to destroy my career due to my pregnancies, use of FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act) time and perceived association with administrative decisions beyond my control,” LeRette wrote. “The clear bias, selective enforcement of policies and retaliatory actions taken against me have permanently damaged my professional standing.” LeRette requested her record be cleared and urged an external review of the actions taken against her to ensure accountability for “those who abused their authority.” Paine said he wrote a nondisciplinary, supervisory counseling note to LeRette following the internal investigation. “I don’t think it either sustained or dismissed the allegations, at least in this case,” Paine said. Telegram Reporter Maria Lockwood contributed to this story. © 2025 BVM Sports. Best Version Media, LLC. has shown promise as a return specialist and athlete Bryant's unexpected rise—being picked earlier than anticipated—along with impressive college performance raises questions about Mims' future and standing in the Broncos' offense Head coach Sean Payton's history with drafting wide receivers adds weight to this competition especially given Bryant's striking comparisons to Michael Thomas from 2016 As the Broncos prepare for the upcoming season the coaching staff will likely evaluate how to integrate both Mims and Bryant effectively The competition for wide receiver spots could lead to strategic adjustments in game plans as the roster solidifies Denver's decision on wide receiver placements could drastically impact Mims' career trajectory Mims might need to elevate his game or risk losing his role in the offense as the Broncos look to optimize their aerial attack The summary of the linked article was generated with the assistance of artificial intelligence technology from OpenAI We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it OK Privacy policy "Gay men and gay women just let loose and have a blast They know how to have a really fun time," says the 'White Lotus' alum Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application A Celebration of Life will be at Vintage Italian Pizza Maki who passed away peacefully at Park River Estates Care Center in Coon Rapids She was united in marriage to David Maki on November 3 Barb worked as a clerk at Glass Block in Duluth for many years and at the Superior School District Barb enjoyed spending time at her home on the lake and loved spending time with her family and Susan (Alex Moreno) Maki of Golden Valley; brother in law John (Debby) Maki of Kenyon; grandchildren She was preceded in death by the love of her life Special thank you to the staff at Flourish Assisted Living in Golden Valley Emblom Brenny Funeral Service is Cherishing the Memory and Celebrating the Life of Barb Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors SUPERIOR — Library patrons are making their voices heard about federal cuts via postcard and are being invited to give $1,888 to a library endowment The postcards provide an opportunity to send a message to legislators about cuts in federal library funding due to the closing of the Institute of Museum and Library Services which was outlined in a March 14 executive order Roughly 92% of Douglas County library patrons will be affected by the cut according to Superior Public Library Director Sue Heskin The move would impact inter-library loans — the opportunity to borrow a book from any library in the system — and digital resources "The reason inter-library loan would be affected so much is that the computer system that connects all our catalogs together is entirely federally funded," Heskin said "There just would not be any money for the computer system or the staff to run it." The loss of those staff members could impact the BadgerLink database which offers digital newspapers and online resources and Libby "It would be a big blow to us," Heskin said those Wisconsin offices are shuttered and the staff are on administrative leave Grants administered directly through the Institute of Museum and Library Services have been discontinued "These cuts will hurt rural libraries the most," Heskin said "And we do have our rural libraries in Solon Springs and Lake Nebagamon that rely on delivery and some of these supported services Superior Public Library staff set up a table with the postcards April 23 The display included addresses for legislators and information on how the loss of federal funding could affect services Patrons are encouraged to share their personal stories about the importance of libraries with legislators There's a box where people can leave their postcards and a jar for monetary donations to cover postage "How do you get your message out there when everybody else has the same needs and messages?" the initial batch of 200 postcards was running low manager of library programs and partnerships The Superior Public Library Foundation kicked off a new fundraising campaign that bridges the past and the future The 1888 Founders Circle Campaign is named after the year the library was founded It is the second phase of an effort to raise a sustaining endowment to support services and programming for Superior and Douglas County residents “It’s a wonderful opportunity to make a legacy gift you can be part of the future of our library in our city and our county,” said Sue Hendrickson The foundation is seeking donations of $1,888 Tailored for individuals and small businesses with the names of donors placed on a plaque near the history section of the library The goal of the nonprofit is to raise an endowment of $400,000 which would provide a minimum of $20,000 annually to Superior Public Library without touching the principal The group has collected $335,000 to date — much of it in large corporate donations when the library was remodeled in 2018 Foundation leaders have given $115,000 right back to the library “They help us fund things that are outside of our budget or things that come up without plan,” Heskin said “They help us start new projects … They help us with staff training funding and they just provide support for events and build knowledge in the community about our services.” the foundation’s $20,000 grant to the library provided: Although the foundation can't step in to help with federal funding cuts Foundation Board President Jim Purvis said the endowment is a way to provide consistent support for Superior Public Library far into the future "You can't take the libraries for granted anymore Superior Public Library and its branches received nearly 108,000 visits and circulated over 255,000 items The system's 24 public computers saw nearly 8,000 uses and there were over 18,000 uses of its public Wi-Fi Courtesy of campaignsHARRISBURG — On May 20 Democrats and Republicans will choose their parties’ candidates for a vacancy on Commonwealth Court and on Superior Court The winners will compete in the November general election Pennsylvania’s two intermediate appellate courts have the power to affirm or reverse decisions made in lower courts Their rulings can be appealed to the state Supreme Court Each court serves a distinct role within the commonwealth’s legal system Commonwealth Court presides over civil actions brought by and against the Pennsylvania state government and hears appeals primarily in cases involving state departments and local governments and civil cases that are appealed by county Courts of Common Pleas The person who wins the open seat on Commonwealth Court could help shape Pennsylvania’s laws on everything from elections to firearms while the candidate who wins a seat on Superior Court could help decide the outcomes of high-profile criminal cases Judges on both courts also are often top candidates to fill openings on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Not all voters will be able to participate in the upcoming judicial primaries Pennsylvania is one of nine states that has closed primaries which prevent third-party and unaffiliated voters from participating in partisan elections Pennsylvania is one of a handful of states that elect judges in partisan contests meaning candidates run under the banner of a political party There are a few key differences between a judicial election and other political elections in the commonwealth Prospective judges can’t directly ask for donations They also can’t make promises that they’ll rule in certain ways Because judicial elections tend to have relatively low voter turnout and because judges have less direct contact with the public than local representatives party endorsements can be a powerful determinant of who wins a judicial primary Ratings from the Pennsylvania Bar Association can similarly be important. The bar ranks candidates as “highly recommended,” “recommended,” or “not recommended” based on their judicial records and interviews with a judicial evaluation commission Commonwealth Court Democratic candidate: Stella Tsai Republican candidate: Matthew Wolford Republican candidate: Joshua Prince Democratic candidate: Brandon P. Neuman Republican candidates: Maria Battista Republican candidate: Ann Marie Wheatcraft The nine-member Commonwealth Court is the first stop for many high-profile cases In March 2025, the court decided a lawsuit brought by Spotlight PA ruling that emails and other communications between Pennsylvania lawmakers and the lobbyists who try to influence them can remain hidden from the public There is one seat open on Commonwealth Court this year The Democratic party has one candidate running The court currently has five judges who were elected as Republicans and three elected as Democrats This election will fill the seat of Ellen Ceisler who was elected as a Democrat and retired in January The mandatory retirement age for Pennsylvania’s judges is 75 Courtesy of CampaignCourt of Common Pleas Judge Stella TsaiDemocratic candidate: Stella TsaiWebsite Tsai has served as a judge on Philadelphia’s Court of Common Pleas since 2016 then elected to a 10-year term the following year she says that she has worked across the city’s criminal Tsai worked as chair of administrative law in Philadelphia’s law department managing child welfare and social services attorneys After that, she left the city for a period and became a business litigation partner at the firm Archer & Greiner. Her profile on the website for the University of Pennsylvania's Carey Law School where she is an alumnus and an adjunct professor notes that she concentrated on “regulatory compliance Tsai says on her campaign website that she has “volunteered to safeguard voting rights and civil rights.” She previously served as president of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Pennsylvania and in various official capacities with the Pennsylvania Bar Association The state Democratic Committee has endorsed Tsai’s candidacy The Pennsylvania Bar Association rated her as “highly recommended,” saying she has “a long and diverse legal career” with extensive trial experience in state and federal courts and that she is respected among fellow judges and considered “enthusiastic Read Tsai’s answers to the PBA questionnaire here Courtesy of CampaignAttorney Matthew WolfordRepublican candidate: Matthew WolfordWebsite Wolford is a solo practitioner based in Erie and specializes in environmental law though he has also worked in state government in the past he describes his practice as focusing partially on “defending clients against government enforcement actions and helping clients work through complex regulatory challenges,” and partly on “fighting for private property rights,” which includes taking on disputes over zoning and easements and with homeowners’ associations Wolford was an attorney for the state Department of Environmental Protection and before that was a deputy state attorney general supervising the environmental crimes section regional field office in Meadville He also worked as a special prosecutor for the attorney general’s office and the U.S attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania Wolford is endorsed by the Pennsylvania Republican Party The Pennsylvania Bar Association noted in its assessment of Wolford that his other professional activities include a longtime adjunct professorship at Erie’s Gannon University and he is “active in the bar association and community organizations.” The PBA rated Wolford as “highly recommended,” noting that he has been “litigating all aspects of environmental law,” both civilly and criminally and at trial and appellate levels Wolford is “highly regarded for his work ethic prompt and efficient performance and legal expertise in the environmental area,” the association wrote Read Wolford’s answers to the PBA questionnaire here Courtesy of CampaignAttorney Joshua PrinceRepublican candidate: Joshua PrinceWebsite runs a law firm that specializes in gun-related litigation Prince unsuccessfully ran for Commonwealth Court in 2023 he was endorsed by a handful of conservative GOP lawmakers Prince told Spotlight PA at the time that he wasn’t aware of Scavo’s background when the photo was taken Prince said in early February that he was dropping out of the race when he failed to secure the GOP endorsement. However, nine days later, he reaffirmed his candidacy writing on his campaign website that the endorsement process had been “anything but fair That year, Prince told Spotlight PA in an email that he disagreed with his PBA rating and pointed to the success of candidates who didn’t have the group’s blessing Read Prince’s 2023 answers to the PBA questionnaire here. Prince answered a candidate questionnaire for the website Ballotpedia this year, and you can read his answers here The 15-member Superior Court handles criminal and civil cases that don’t involve the government Democratic primary voters will have just one candidate they can vote for Republicans will choose between two candidates The panel’s main role is to review lower courts’ verdicts. Notable recent decisions include a 2019 opinion tossing out rapper Meek Mills’s conviction on drug and gun charges One seat on Superior Court has been open since Judge Daniel McCaffery was elected as a Democrat to the state Supreme Court in 2023 The court currently has eight judges elected as Democrats and six Republicans was selected through a vote by members of the court and serves a five-year term in that role Courtesy of CampaignCourt of Common Pleas Judge Brandon P. NeumanDemocratic candidate: Brandon P. NeumanWebsite Neuman, of Washington County, has served as a judge on the county’s Court of Common Pleas since 2018. He was a member of the state House of Representatives from 2011 to 2017 Neuman primarily presides over civil court and a veteran’s specialty court and has also presided over criminal and family law cases Last year, Neuman handed down a notable ruling that ordered Washington County to notify voters if their mail ballots have errors that would keep them from being counted so that those voters would be able to cast provisional ballots During his time in the legislature one of Neuman’s biggest accomplishments was a successful 2015 law that sped up the processing of rape kits which was aimed at addressing a major backlog Pennsylvania had at the time Neuman was a trial lawyer and handled “complex civil litigation and representing victims who have been neglected or abused in nursing homes,” his campaign website says Neuman is “highly recommended” by the Pennsylvania Bar Association which said his “opinions demonstrate knowledge of substantive and procedural legal issues and the ability to provide good factual backgrounds and well-developed legal arguments.” The association added that Neuman’s colleagues believe he has high integrity and “treats all individuals fairly,” among other positive attributes You can read Neuman’s answers to the PBA questionnaire here Courtesy of CampaignAttorney Maria BattistaRepublican candidates: Maria BattistaWebsite Battista previously served as assistant general counsel for the Pennsylvania Departments of Health and State under former Govs She also was a prosecutor in Franklin and Venango Counties and was a contract specialist for the Department of Defense Battista ran unsuccessfully for Superior Court in 2023 She is currently president at Judge Government Services She was endorsed by the state Republican Party during her last bid for a judgeship but this time was beaten out by Ann Marie Wheatcraft The Pennsylvania Bar Association did not recommend Battista because she did not participate in its rating process Courtesy of CampaignCourt of Common Pleas Judge Ann Marie WheatcraftRepublican candidate: Ann Marie WheatcraftWebsite Wheatcraft is based in Chester County and has served since 2012 on the county’s Court of Common Pleas She became the court’s president judge at the beginning of this year after being selected by her colleagues on the bench Wheatcraft has supervised the county's treatment courts for drug The Pennsylvania Bar Association noted in its review of Wheatcraft’s record that she was involved in those courts’ creation and development As supervisor, she met regularly with people in recovery to track their progress and try to help them exit the justice system without criminal records The PBA also noted that Wheatcraft worked to introduce “comfort dogs” in Chester County courtrooms and serves on several nonprofit boards and statewide committees including the Pennsylvania Association of Trial Court Professionals Before joining the bench in Chester County, Wheatcraft was an assistant district attorney in Chester County. In its endorsement the Chester County GOP said she had prosecuted “some of Chester County’s most violent crimes including armed robbery Wheatcraft is also endorsed by the Pennsylvania Republican Party The PBA “highly recommended” Wheatcraft for the bench calling her an “an experienced jurist known for her high degree of professionalism and undisputed integrity,” and noting that she has presided over hundreds of criminal and civil cases Read Wheatcraft’s answers to the PBA questionnaire here Spotlight PA’s Stephen Caruso and Kate Huangpu contributed reporting for this guide We grant elected officials extraordinary power when we give them our vote which means we must demand extraordinary accountability once they are in office That’s why Spotlight PA’s reporting is more important than ever with no political agenda or opinion pieces allowing us to prioritize investigative and public-service journalism that gets results If you’re looking for a meaningful way to make a difference in these uncertain times I can’t think of a better investment than Spotlight PA’s truthful trusted reporting for Pennsylvania — journalism that gets real results Your tax-deductible support of any amount will ensure our vital work can continue Sign up for PA Post to understand what's happening across PA - in less than five minutes a day © 2025 Spotlight PA. This site is powered by Netlify DULUTH — Some premier real estate along the city's waterfront will be off-limits to visitors as the community heads into its busy summer tourism season Army Corps of Engineers soon will begin temporarily fencing off a popular stretch of shoreline in front of the Lake Superior Maritime Visitor Center and about 200 feet of a heavily used stretch of the Lakewalk on the doorstep of the Duluth Ship Canal will be closed to traffic as well The barricades are designed to provide a safe berth for construction crews as they install a concrete tee-wall fronted by a stone "revetment" designed to armor the shore from Lake Superior's relentless battering with the contract awarded to North Interstate Construction of South Range The improvements are meant to stave off damage following repeated storm events that have grown both in intensity and frequency in recent years The work will be funded through a federal bipartisan infrastructure act helping to ensure the stability of the area for years to come president of the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce said the local business community is grateful for the investment That's not to say the impediments to visitors will be painless Baumgartner described the obstructed area as "the front-row VIP site" for people to view commercial vessels sailboats and charter fishing boats departing and entering the harbor Army Corps of Engineers stresses that access to the north pier of the Duluth Ship Canal we need to let people know there will still be many ways to take in the beautiful Lake Superior scenery," Baumgartner said who represents the Canal Park neighborhood likened the project to the sort of seasonal roadwork required to keep the city's infrastructure in good working order "We need to bear some temporary pain for the long-term benefits," she said The work is expected to continue until November The final landscaping should be completed by spring 2026 About another 1.5 million people walk the north and south piers of the Duluth Ship Canal When the DeWitt-Seitz Marketplace opened its doors it 1985 it heralded a new era for a building that has been a part of Duluth’s The building that now houses the DeWitt-Seitz Marketplace in Duluth as it was in 1952 the 10 Marketplace businesses that comprise the building’s lower floors will celebrate their 40th Anniversary The building stands boldly in the center of one of the top tourist destinations in Minnesota it is now listed in the National Register for Historic Places for its status as a rare surviving example of the manufacturing and jobbing factories that once populated Duluth’s early-20th-century waterfront Its transition from mattress manufacturer and warehouse to bustling marketplace in 1985 in a tourist hub is a testament to the Art Dock in DeWitt-Seitz Marketplace in Duluth ability of the city to adapt to changing times “I was 11 when dad bought the building in 1961,” says Sam E When his father passed away in the early 1980s Sam bought out the rest of the family for a new chapter “The biggest challenge was trying to keep the building occupied It was also the Sears warehouse for their downtown store,” he continues “Once Sears moved out it opened a lot of extra space The bottom floor was empty.” Sam thought the building would work well as a retail space the building was officially opened in 1985 the first tenants being the Blue Heron Trading Company J-Skylark and Minnesota Gifts by Sandra Dee All four continue to operate in the building to this day The transformation to locally owned retail stores and restaurants played a pivotal role in revitalizing the area as a tourist and commercial destination The Blue Heron Trading Company opened on May 15 Much debating took place while looking at other Canal Park and downtown locations At that time the neighborhood was very industrial We attended city round table meetings as the plans for the area were taking shape We had the opportunity to rent the corner space in the Dewitt Seitz Building and we took it.” The Blue Heron has become well known for its unique selection of cooking gear colorful home décor accessories and carefully chosen specialty foods from Minnesota and beyond If you enter through the Lake Avenue entrance besides the rustic Douglas Fir staircase in front of you Bev Johnson shared how the Art Dock came to be a fixture in this retail space “The owner (Sam Atkins) had a vision to fill the building with artist studios and art stores A group of 80 artists started meeting to talk about this idea seven of us started the Art Dock,” Johnson said Blue Heron features a kitchen area for doing classes The vision for Canal Park was going to change Canal Park from what it was (industrial) to what it is (tourist destination) Today the Art Dock promotes fine art and handcrafts from approximately 130 area artists within about a 100-mile radius of Duluth For both locals and visitors with families Cindy and Erik Nelson are the current owners but it was Erik’s parents who established the business here “I think they always enjoyed being part of a creative community the historic nature of the building and neighborhood would have appealed to my parents the energy of new adventures was multiplied by a building undergoing a redefinition and other new businesses starting up,” he says selling souvenirs of Duluth and Lake Superior Owner Sandra Dee Rothman recognized the opportunity right away “It was the beginning of the development of Canal Park.”   Early additions to the Marketplace mix were Hepzibah’s Sweet Shoppe “Canal Park was an up-and-coming tourist destination There was an opening on the first floor right next to the front door Hepzibah’s sells chocolates and candies only “Most of our products are handmade right here in Minnesota or imported from Europe We are known for our award-winning truffles and a large selection of Jelly Belly jelly beans.” Hunter Miner became the new owner on January 1 “DeWitt-Seitz is the ultimate location with so much character,” Hunter says In 2009 a new set of owners took over – Derek Snyder “We sell a Minnesota take on worldly dishes,” the owners say “We love Canal Park and all the worldly tourists Owning a restaurant here has been a dream come true.” loved going to DeWitt-Seitz to eat and shop One of the people they sold smoked fish to was Bill Rogers at Allouez Marine in Superior In 2001 the Goerdts opened a retail store adjacent to the rear entrance the Smokehaus moved to its current location downstairs The two newest kids on the block are Naturalight and Pholicious Naturalight Candles and Coffee moved here in May 2022 “I’ve always loved the hustle and bustle of the Canal Park area I fell in love with the windows and natural light in our suite It fit our name and product perfectly,” said owner Kyia Plummer-Caven The business makes and sells soy candles in over 30 different scents alongside other locally made self-care and gift items “We feature over 40 small woman-owned businesses and their art We expanded and added a full-service coffee and espresso bar in January 2024 after noticing a lack of locally sourced coffee in Canal Park.” In late 2024 the former Taste of Saigon came under new ownership with a new name: Pholicious Joel Perrin and Hein “Jenny” Nguyen-Perrin remain committed to bringing authentic Vietnamese cuisine to Canal Park specializing in Phó and Asian cuisine,” Joel says introducing Vietnamese culture to anyone who is willing to give it a try Historic images of the DeWitt-Seitz building in Duluth Tweets by @lakesuperiormag !function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+"://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs"); SUBMIT EMAIL HERE A Great Lakes Information Network partner MN 55802 • 218-722-5002 • edit@LakeSuperior.com