Phtoto courtesy of Keweenaw County Sheriff Curt Pennala. Keweenaw County Sheriff’s Office reports more than 80 emergency trail signs have been stolen or destroyed.

KEWEENAW COUNTY – The Keweenaw County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help after discovering more than 80 emergency trail signs have been stolen or vandalized, putting lives at risk on local snowmobile and ATV trails. According to a Tuesday release from the Sheriff’s office, more 80 emergency signs have been stolen, broken, or vandalized in recent months. Because they were made of plastic, the signs were described as easy targets and couldn’t withstand the harsh weather conditions or intentional damage.

The signs, installed every half mile, are critical in helping emergency responders from the Sheriff’s Office, Keweenaw Search and Rescue, and local fire departments locate injured or lost riders in remote areas, Sheriff Curt Pennala said. Without them, emergency responses are delayed, especially in poor weather or low visibility conditions. “These signs aren’t just markers–they’re lifelines,” Pennala said in the release “Their removal is not only reckless, it endangers lives. We need the public’s help to both restore them and find out who’s responsible.”

The signs were originally installed through donations and volunteer labor. The sign installation was a multi-year project led by area resident Joe Schneller. Schneller began the project in early 2021, and in March, 2023, the Keweenaw County portion of the project was completed and then proceeded into Houghton County.

The signs, located on trails 135, 134, 3, and 17 were placed in half-mile intervals, each marker having a number. Dispatchers would then match that number to matching GPS coordinates pre-set to correspond with the trail marker number.

The project was personal to Schneller. It twas in memory of his wife, who passed away in 2020 at the age of 58. Ann Gasperich, who was the Keweenaw County Zoning Administrator during the sign project, was involved with it. In June, 2021, she told the Daily Mining Gazette that Schneller’s wife, Linda Kay (Corrigan) Schneller, passed , and he wanted to dedicate the project to his wife. Linda passed away on July 3, 2020 after a battle with cancer. “He’s been raising money through (social media),” Gasperich said. “It’s all by donation.”

Pennala said Keweenaw Search and Rescue is now leading a GoFundme fundraising effort to replace the damaged signs with aluminum versions that will be more durable and theft-resistant. the GoFundMe address is: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-us-save-lives-on-keweenaw-trails. The goal is $10,000.

All funds will go directly to replacing and upgrading emergency signs, including:

• High-quality aluminum signs;

• Reinforced posts and mounting materials;

• Volunteer coordination and installation.

“Our emergency sign system isn’t just about navigation–it’s about getting help exactly where it’s needed, fast,” Pennala said. “Whether it’s a snowmobiler with a broken leg, an ATV accident in deep woods, or a lost rider with no signal–these signs are their lifeline.”