Wednesday, January 31, 2024
The Mining Journal 5A
Region
Man pleads
guilty to
child porn
charges
Originally faced 20 counts
By Houghton Daily
Mining Gazette staff
was seized in a search of
Barrette’s residence.
HOUGHTON — A Han-
cock man pleaded guilty to
charges related to down-
loading child pornography
in Houghton County Cir-
cuit Court Monday.
Dominic Barrette, 21,
was charged with one
count of child sexually
Barrette said Monday
he had purchased a link
to a packet of files online,
which had included mate-
rial involving prepubescent
children. He had accessed
the material between Feb.
21 and Aug. 14, he said.
Barrette’s attorney, Da-
vid Gemignani, said he
planned to seek a sen-
tencing under the Holmes
Youthful Trainee Act. That
would defer a conviction
pending successful com-
pletion of a probation peri-
od. If that happens, the case
would be dismissed.
Barrette also agreed to a
waiver of disqualification.
Judge Brittany Bulleit had
reviewed the search war-
rant in the case while she
was still serving as county
prosecutor, although no
charges were filed until
months after she was sworn
in as judge.
The Senator Tom Casperson Memorial Bridge, which spans over the Escanaba River north of Escanaba, is shown. Work
on the bridge is one of the local road and bridge projects planned planned by the Michigan Department of Transportation
over the next several years. (Escanaba Daily Press photo)
abusive
material-aggra-
vated possession, and one
count of using a computer
to commit a crime.
In exchange for his guilty
plea, 18 other counts were
dismissed: eight each of
both charges, plus one
count of child sexually
abusive material-posses-
sion.
The child sexually abu-
sive material-aggravated
possession carries a maxi-
mum sentence of 10 years
in prison, while the com-
puter charge is punishable
by up to seven.
The latter charge, filed
by his predecessor, was
for using a computer to
commit a crime of four
years or more but less than
10 years, Prosecutor Dan
Helmer said. Because the
maximum sentence is 10
years, it should have been
the next tier up; however,
Helmer had agreed not to
amend the charge.
Local MDOT
projects eyed
“It’s quite commonplace
in cases like this where
prosecutors will review a
warrant prior to any search
being done and then the in-
vestigation continues,” she
said. “That’s likely what
happened. I don’t recall the
specific warrant and I don’t
recall any conversations
with officers.”
By Escanaba Daily
Press staff
ESCANABA
Michigan Department of
Transportation has big
plans for the Escanaba area
in the coming years
pathway that crosses the
bridge to be closed for a
day or two.
all of its roadwork proj- tion with the roadwork.
ects with utility improve-
More information about
—
The
ments — a necessary step the corridor project will be
to avoid high costs and re- released as MDOT as the
peated roadwork in areas plans progress. The project
affected by the city’s lead as a whole is being funded
service line replacement through the federal Bipar-
project. MDOT is also tisan Infrastructure Law,
working with the city to also known as the Infra-
allow utility improvements structure Investment and
to take place in conjunc- Job Act.
“We plan to keep the
northbound shoulder open
while the pathway is get-
ting the overlay. This will
allow bikes and pedestri-
ans to use the northbound
shoulder while the path is
closed,” said Weingarten.
Looking into the future,
MDOT has other big plans
for the Escanaba area, in-
cluding a major reconstruc-
tion of US-2 from North
30th Street to 9th Avenue
in the city of Escanaba.
That project is slated to
begin in 2027, with a sec-
ond phase in 2028 recon-
structing 9th Avenue to
Danforth Road.
According to Weingar-
ten, plans for the project
are in the very early design
sages and MDOT is cur-
rently in discussions with
stakeholders in the area.
However there are a few
things being talked about
by MDOT.
The first project planned
for the area is mainte-
nance work on the Senator
Tom Casperson Memorial
Bridge, which spans over
the Escanaba River north
of Escanaba. That work is
expected to kick off in June.
During the construction
period, motorists can ex-
pect lane closures. Work
will begin with repairs to
the expansion joint on the
north end of the bridge
deck, which will require
a single right-lane closure
of southbound US-2. The
repair and lane closure is
expected to take about two
weeks.
In late summer, MDOT
crews will complete an
epoxy overlay on the
bridge deck. The project
is expected to cost around
$290,000.
“We are still working on
the proposal,” said Dan
Weingarten, MDOT Su-
perior Region media rep-
resentative. “The project
is anticipated to be let for
bids in May.”
Under the plea agree-
ment, the minimum sen-
tencing guideline range
will be 10 to 23 months.
The agreement also stipu-
lates the sentences will not
be consecutive.
Barrette was arrested in
August after an investiga-
tion by the Michigan State
Police Computer Crimes
Unit, Internet Crimes
Against Children (ICAC)
Task Force. The investiga-
tion was prompted by the
discovery that Barrette was
viewing the material on the
internet, the MSP said in
August. Digital evidence
Gemignani and Barrette
said they had no objection
to Bulleit staying on.
PUBLIC NOTICE
Alger Transit Authority
The original plea dead-
line had been in November.
Helmer had requested the
date be postponed because
of the turnover in the of-
fice; he was not formally
sworn in until mid-No-
vember. Earlier this month,
the case was moved from
the January trial docket to
April’s.
Barrette’s bond was re-
voked and he was remand-
ed to custody. Sentencing
will take place within 30 to
45 days.
PROPOSED STATE AND FEDERAL APPLICATION FOR OPERATING AND/OR
CAPITAL ASSISTANCE
All citizens are advised that Alger Transit Authority has prepared an application to
financial assistance for fiscal year 20 25 as required under Act 51 of the Public
Acts of 1951, as amended assistance as required under the federal transit laws,
as amended.
Alger Transit Authority is requesting a total of $2,866,564.00 through the
program(s):
Western Upper Peninsula
experiencing agricultural,
horticultural growth
One topic of discussion
is proposed non-motorized
improvements for the cor-
ridor.
MDOT is coordinating
with the railroad about
potential changes to the
railroad viaduct near Ken-
tucky Fried Chicken as
part of the project, and ini-
tial plans include replacing
the railroad overpass with
a wider span to allow pe-
destrian connectivity.
Alger Transit Authority ensures that the level and quality of transportation service
regard to race, color, or national origin in accordance with Title VI of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964. F regarding our Title VI obligations or to file a complaint, please
contact us at the address given below.
By Houghton Daily
Mining Gazette staff
with the average farm size
at 271 acres. Farms range
in size from 10 to 1,000
+ acres, the majority of
which are between 50 and
179 acres. Market value
of products sold totaled
$2,200,000, divided be-
tween crops (58%) and
livestock, poultry and
products (42%).
During the same period,
the number of farms in Ke-
weenaw County increased
50% to nine, totaling 240
acres.
The overlay project will
help preserve the bridge
deck by sealing cracks and
keeping salt and water out
of the deck.
Work on the overlay will
require intermittent sin-
gle-lane closures in both
directions, and the project
is expected to take approx-
imately two weeks to com-
plete.
HOJUGHTON — The
agriculture industry has
been experiencing sig-
nificant growth in the
four-county area since
2012. While USDA cen-
sus data is nearly seven
years old, the 2017 Census
of Agriculture reported sig-
nificant increases in land
converted to agricultural
use in all four counties,
with Houghton showing
the greatest growth.
The proposed application is on file at Alger Transit Authority 530 E. Munising Ave,
and may be reviewed during a 30-day period February 1, 2024 March 2, 2024
8:00am-5:00pm Written comments regarding the application and/or March 2 2024
between the hours of a public hearing to review the application must be received
by notice of the scheduled date, time, and location will be provided at least 10 days
in advance.
Submittals should be sent to Alger Transit Authority or via e-mail to
The city of Escanaba has
been working to combine
Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Bureau of Construction Codes
Administrative Rules for Construction Code - Part 10. Michigan Uniform
Energy Code Rule Set 2021-48 LR
The work will also re-
quire the non-motorized
&
Administrative Rules for Construction Code - Part 10a. Michigan Energy Code
Rule Set 2021-49 LR
According to the census,
between 2012 and 2017,
Houghton experienced an
18% growth, to 208 farms,
with a market value of
products sold of just over
$6 million.
The greatest number of
farms (41%) were between
50 and 179 acres, with one
encompassing more than
1,000. Land in farms to-
tals just over 26,000 acres.
The census also reports that
64% of the share of sale
was in livestock, poultry
and products, and 34% in
crops.
Ontonagon County, the
region’s next biggest pro-
ducer, with 27,000 acres
of land in farms, listed a
marked value of products
sold at $3 million. The
largest percentage of farms
comprises 50-179 acres,
with crops making up 81%
of share of sales and live-
stock, poultry and products
comprising 19%.
Baraga County has also
shown an significant in-
crease, up 14%, with the
number of farms totaling
65 in 2017.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Thursday, February 22, 2024
09:00 AM & 01:00 PM
Enthusiasm + Passion
= Success
Michigan Library & Historical Center. First Floor Forum
Michigan Historical Center, 702 W Kalamazoo St, Lansing, MI 48915
The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs will hold a public hearing to
receive public comments on proposed changes to the Construction Code - Part 10.
Michigan Uniform Energy Code rule set and Part 10a. Michigan Energy Code rule set.
Growing new and existing business
in Marquette and Baraga Counties
(906) 250-9182
The proposed rules provide the latest standards to protect the health and promote the
safety and welfare of the State of Michigan residents by regulating the installation and
inspection of energy within the state.
By authority conferred on the director of the department of licensing and regulatory
affairs by section 4 of the Stille-DeRossett-Hale single state construction code act,
1972 PA 230, MCL 125.1504, and Executive Reorganization Order Nos. 2003-1,
2008-4, and 2011-4, MCL445.2011, 445.2025, and 445.2030.
CITY OF NEGAUNEE
MARCH BOARD OF REVIEW MEETINGS
2024
The proposed rules will take effect 120 days after filing with the Secretary of State.
The proposed rules are published on the State of Michigan’s website at www.
michigan.gov/ARD and in the 2/15/2024 issue of the Michigan Register. Copies of
these proposed rules may also be obtained by mail or electronic mail at the following
email address: Lara-bcc-rules@michigan.gov.
As required by the State of Michigan Statute:
The City of Negaunee Board of Review will meet
in the Michigan Room of the Negaunee Public
Library, 319 West Case Street on the following
days and times:
Comments on these proposed rules may be made at the hearing, by mail, or by
electronic mail at the following addresses until 2/22/2024 at 05:00PM.
Attn: Tony Williamson, Bureau of Construction Codes
P.O. Box 30254, Lansing, MI 48909
March 5th at 3 pm for an organizational meeting
Monday, March 11th from 3 pm to 9 pm
Friday, March 15th from 9 am to 3 pm
The public hearing will be conducted in compliance with the 1990 Americans with
Disabilities Act. If the hearing is held at a physical location, the building will be
accessible with handicap parking available. Anyone needing assistance to take part in
the hearing due to disability may call 517-243-9100 to make arrangements.
The Census of Agricul-
ture reports that land in
farms totaled 17,604 acres,
