Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties

Tickets to UP Sports Hall of Fame induction banquet available

ESCANABA — Tickets are available for the 44th annual Upper Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame induction banquet.

The banquet is May 9 at Island Resort and Casino in Harris, 15 miles west of Escanaba on U.S. 2-41. It is the fourth year at this location after being held in Escanaba, Iron Mountain and Marquette in previous years.

Tickets are $25 per person and must be purchased and/or ordered by May 1. They are available throughout the Upper Peninsula from members of the UPSHF executive council.

The banquet begins at 6 p.m. (EDT) in the room behind the casino proper. Also recognized will be four U.P. high school students who will receive college scholarships from the Hall of Fame.

The 2015 induction class includes former University of Michigan basketball teammates Krista Clement of St. Ignace and Carly (Benson) Harrington of Carney, Wayne Sickler of Calumet, Becky Iverson of Gladstone, Paul Feldhausen of Iron Mountain, Dick Franti of Ontonagon, Jack Hooper of Iron Mountain, Steve Swanson of Ishpeming, the late Don “Mitt” Miller of Houghton and the late Hugh “Muzz” Murray of Sault Ste. Marie.

Nomination deadline is June 1 each year, and once a person is nominated the file remains active until they are selected. It can be updated at any time.

There are currently 268 nominations on file, with 147 in the pre-1970 division and 121 in the post-1970 division. Each year, seven inductees come from the post-1970 division and three come from the pre-1970 division.

New nominations, or updated information on previous nominees, should be submitted to UPSSA executive secretary Dennis Grall in Escanaba, either at 2115 24th Ave. S., 49829, or via email at [email protected].

Three new members have joined the executive council charged with selecting the annual inductees. Joining the council are Jim Dwyer of Sault Ste. Marie, Dan Hingis of Stambaugh and Mike Maki of Laurium.

They replace Duane Tirschel of Iron Mountain, Steve Swanson of Ishpeming and Gene Maki of Wakefield. Maki, the lone surviving original council member, is now en emeritus member.

For tickets, contact:

Ontonagon: Cathy Shamion, 906-885-5739.

Wakefield: Nancy Osier, 906-229-5176.

Bessemer: Jim Partanen, 906-663-4031.