EDITOR’S NOTE: Superiorland Yesterdays is prepared by the reference desk staff at Peter White Public Library.

30 years ago

MARQUETTE — A Bothwell Middle School student was on indefinite suspension today pending an investigation of a trash can fire in a school bathroom. According to Marquette Area Public School Superintendent William Bergin, smoke was detected in the school at about 8:05 a.m. Thursday. Students were evacuated from the building and the Marquette Fire Department was called. The fire, which was confined to a wastepaper basket, was quickly extinguished and students reentered the building after about 20 minutes, Bergin said. No injuries were reported, though students with asthma, allergies or who otherwise were bothered by the smoke were given the opportunity to go home, according to Bergin. School officials, along with Marquette City Police and Fire Department investigators are still probing the incident. “It was very minor,” said Marquette Fire Chief Tom Belt. “A smoldering fire in a wastebasket in a bathroom. It looked like juvenile fire-play.”

60 years ago

MUNISING — Changes in the pay schedule for teachers of the Munising School District were made at a meeting of the board of education and the teachers’ salary committee. The starting salary was raised from $4,750 to $5,000 annually, with four percent increments annually up to 10 years. A 60-day accumulative sick leave clause also was added to the contract, with the understanding that, should an additional $40,000 or more in state aid be made available, the board discuss insurance payments with the salary committee. Members of the board also agreed to include $1,000 in the school budget to assist the playground steering committee after they were informed by Bruce Andrews, chairman, that the committee was working on plans for rebuilding the athletic field this summer. The money appropriated will pay for the cost of power machinery needed in construction of the new field. William T. MacNeil, superintendent of Munising public schools, informed board members that the superintendents of Alger County had drawn up an application to have nursery schools in three areas in the county set up under the Economic Opportunity Act. He reviewed the application and recommended that the board approve it. The board’s share would be 10 percent, which would be written off in the form of rental of facilities and classrooms. The measure received approval of all members.