clock Apr 7, 2006 7:12 pm US/Central

News From The UP

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(AP) UPPER PENISULA. HOUGHTON, Mich. (AP) -- Issues and Answers, a Virginia-based market research firm, is locating a call center in Houghton.
The center may provide up to 120 jobs, said Peter McGuinness, the company president. Gaylord and Menominee also were being considered.
The center will be located in the new Red Ridge Plaza on Sharon Avenue. McGuinness said the target date for a grand opening is May 15.
The vice president of human resources will be in town next week to interview candidates for manager and administrator.
McGuinness said the company is looking for a mixed set of employees, including students and families looking to supplement a primary income with a second job.
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MARQUETTE, Mich. (AP) -- A 2-year-old boy was found dead in the Escanaba River on Friday after a six-hour search.
The child's name, the cause of death and other details were not immediately available, The Mining Journal reported.
Marquette County Sheriff's Capt. Dave Lemire said the child was reporting missing Thursday night from a residence in Ely Township.
Divers and tracking dogs were used in the search, along with a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter from Traverse City.
The child's body was found in the river around 2:15 a.m. Friday. The river was flowing faster than usual because of snowmelt runoff, Lemire said.
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MARQUETTE, Mich. (AP) -- Marquette County is increasing septage fees at the K.I. Sawyer treatment plant.
The county board voted Tuesday to increase the fee from 4 cent per gallon to 5 cents per gallon. After a trial year, the commissioners plan to reassess the market and decide whether to boost the rate again.
While the 4 cent rate is at the state average for septage fees, it falls below the rates of several area facilities.
Septage is the material companies take from septic tanks. It is too concentrated, by state law, to dump into a typical municipal water and sewer treatment system.
The rate increase was needed to cover potential damage or wear to the facility, county administrator Steve Powers said.
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MARQUETTE, Mich. (AP) -- The Marquette County Sheriff's Department is helping raise funds to support a Battle Creek police officer and Upper Peninsula native shot in the face during a standoff with a fugitive.
Robert Miller, 32, was released from Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo on Tuesday and is recuperating at home. He is expected to recover, but it's uncertain when he will return to work, said Jackie Hampton, Battle Creek Police Department commander.
"While this was a very, very sad incident, on the other hand, we're so relieved his injuries weren't fatal and that Rob is supposed to make a full recovery," Hampton told The Mining Journal for a Friday story.
Miller is from the Negaunee area and graduated from Negaunee High School in 1992. He graduated from Northern Michigan University's Regional Police Academy in 1998. He joined the Battle Creek force after serving as a part-time deputy in Marquette County.
The fundraising drive is "a way to give him a financial boost for expenses that aren't covered and until worker's compensation paperwork is complete and kicks in," Undersheriff Jack Schneider said. "A lot of police people in this area know Rob and know what a good guy he is."

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