I don't know a lot of things. The joy in that is that I am not alone, and the potential for finding kindred spirits is limitless. The other side, however, is that the clueless among us often lose valuable opportunities.
In the past few weeks I've sat around a few local tables, had small conversations in hallways and in windswept parking lots, and in it all I have become aware of small puzzle pieces.
I've learned that the tribe wants to build a boat ramp somewhere between the Back Bay and Whitefish Point.
I've learned that the village of Bay Mills has over $300,000 in the bank. I've also learned that the village wants to abandon its present town hall property, which happens to be adjacent to an old boat ramp, as it steers toward a new "municipal" type building across from the Iroquois Light.
I've learned that the ambulance for Superior and Bay Mills wants and needs a new building, and would like to build one on Lakeshore Drive. It's in a residential neighborhood, and it can't keep certain supplies in its present home.
I've also learned that the tribe's Charter School is looking for a new building as it grows and it develops an athletic program. And from that I learned that the building housing the present Boys & Girls Club may someday have to be replaced.
I know there is a skating rink in the tribal housing. I found it once.
I've learned that the U.S. Forest Service wants to develop Lakeshore Drive's potential for beauty and recreation. But I also learned that in so doing, it wants to thin the woods along the drive. Sounds okay, but no one has contacted the Chippewa County Road Commission, or for that matter, old timers, who remember not so long ago, before those woods thickened, how the wind and snow blinded that road for whole stretches.
I also learned that the U.S. Forest Service didn't meet with the township to talk about some of those recreation ideas, and make certain that the township people liked their ideas, or not. Or whether the township people might have thrown in with them and made these things happen sooner, or better. Or not.
I also know that the township's recreation committee doesn't know a whole lot about any of this, because no one contacts them. I know. I'm on it.
I can't seem to learn if this Lakeshore Drive project has linked up with the tribe's heritage people to make certain that at the very least, sites aren't damaged, or that whatever is done along there doesn't eventually lead to damage.
All these little pieces lie around like gems.
There are more. I just haven't learned about them. You might.
The point is that no one is linking all these plans, all the needs together. One group may not technically have much to do with another - except we're neighbors and we share the some roads, the same kids, the same tourists, the same shoreline. And we should share so much more.
Pat Egan is the former publisher of the Sault Evening News. He is a recipient of the William Allen White award for editorial writing. He and his wife Debra live at Salt Point.
Pat Egan is the former publisher of the Sault Evening News. He is a recipient of the William Allen White award for editorial writing. He and his wife Debra live at Salt Point.
