To the editor:

Many thanks to Keweenaw Clean-Up volunteers and supporting businesses and organizations.

Thank you to all the volunteers who helped make the first-annual KORC Keweenaw Clean-Up a success! The Keweenaw Outdoor Recreation Coalition (KORC) goal was to help the Michigan DNR by cleaning up the Keweenaw Tip roads and other State and public land that is popular for a wide variety of user groups. Over 40 people worked together to help remove over 1 ton – 2,000 pounds – of trash from areas around Copper Harbor including High Rock Bay, the Mandan Road, Schlatter Lake, the Medora Creek bridge, and the Clark Mine. KORC thanks everyone who contributed and wishes to acknowledge the following groups and individuals.

Thank you to every person who heard the call and came out to do the dirty work! Thanks to the KORC members who helped facilitate the event. We wish to extend an extra special thanks to Don and Peg Kauppi and The Mariner North for providing food and refreshments, helping organize the event, and also taking responsibility for disposing of the major metal culverts and other items found in the woods. Don spearheaded the effort in locating and responsibly disposing of numerous rusted barrels, culverts, pipes, and other large metal items. As well as the recyclable cans.

Thank you to Mark Ahlborn, Rich Probst, and Mark Salo for bringing trailers and equipment to haul the larger items.

Thank you to Ace Hardware of Calumet for donating trash bags and gloves for the volunteers.

Thank you to Scott Wendt, Grant Township Supervisor, for providing an ample supply of Grant Township trash bags.

Thank you to the Keweenaw ATV Club for showing up in force and early on to tackle the High Rock Bay Road.

Thank you to the members of the Keweenaw Overland Adventure Retreat who did an amazing job out at High Rock Bay.

Thank you to KORC members and volunteers who also came representing outdoor organizations in the Keweenaw including the Copper Harbor Trails Club, Keweenaw Snowmobile Club, Calumet Keweenaw Sportsmen’s Club, and more.

Thank you to The Print Shop in Houghton for printing the map and instructions for the event. The maps displayed local landmarks and cleaning locations and were developed by the Keweenaw Community Forest Company (KCFC) with help from Daniel Lizzadro-McPherson at Michigan Technological University.

Thank you to all the organizations and businesses up in Copper Harbor for supplying door prizes for the event. These included a dinner for two gift certificate from The Mariner North, one night lodging from the Copper King, two hand-painted whiskey glasses from Gail English, a framed picture of Neowise from George Bailey Photography, a T-shirt and hat from the Gas-Lite, and a hat from the Copper Harbor Trails Club.

Thank you to KORC steering committee members Ben Ciavola and Erika Vye for showing up early and guiding volunteers to the clean-up areas.

Thank you to Steve Brimm for capturing some wonderful photos documenting the clean-up.

Thank you to steering committee members Erika, Gina Nicholas, Don Kauppi, and Peg Kauppi, and outreach coordinator Andrew Ranville for organizing the event.

Finally, thank you once again to the volunteers and so many more who helped make the event a success. We look forward to doing another KORC Keweenaw Clean-Up event in the future. If you are looking to volunteer or become a member of the coalition, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us or join at: www.keweenawoutdoorrecreation.org.