The UPside

Jim Kurtti has spent decades preserving and promoting the Finnish-American heritage in the Copper Country and surrounding areas

Richard Borseth noticed some of the veteran’s headstones in the Lakeview Cemetery in Bergland had enough moss and algae growing on them that they had become unrecognizable. As a veteran himself, he decided he was going to do something about it and pressure wash them.

As a UPS delivery person, Paulette Archambeau was known for skipping her lunch break to spend a little extra time talking with her customers. She’s retired now but hasn’t stopped doing what she can for her community.

During the week of Aug. 28, Kleen Worx Detailing in Ishpeming performed free car washes and vacuuming for veterans.

The group has grown and evolved and now provides financial assistance for everything from utilities, to rent, to home repairs, and is there to assist all veterans, active duty, guard, and reserves.

Sharon Nickels has been a hard-working volunteer, even serving as president much of the time.

Originally started in 2014 with 30-40 kids, the Delta County Junior Golf Association has grown to include around 120 golfers this year.

John VanDusen is a Kingsford Middle School teacher and a coach for the varsity football team. He’s also been a member of the National Guard for 23 years, having deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Josh Frantti grew up in Calumet, played football at Michigan Tech, and is now a Calumet High School teacher.

For more than 30 years Stu would be a part of more than 20 boards, committees, and organizations working on everything from economic issues, education, recreation opportunities, and so many other important things in the area.

Dancing with our Stars - Marquette County Style is an annual fundraiser for the U.P. Hospice Foundation, in which area ‘stars’ raise money over the course of ten weeks, then compete in a dance competition.

Walking into the hospital can be a scary experience, but a dedicated group of volunteers is there to help.

If you’ve been to an Escanaba High School sporting event over the past 20 years, you’ve likely come across a resident who is not only a top fan, but a volunteer assistant athletic director.

For the third summer in a row, Gary Bell walks from South Beach in Marquette to the Dead River Bridge every day, collecting trash along the way.

The group was formed in the mid-80′s when a funeral director was looking to have military rights performed for a veteran, and a group of vets stepped up to help.

Carol Mihalko Shaltz first learned about the new Beacon House building, a place for patients and families of patients to stay while receiving care at the hospital in Marquette, from her daughter who was doing volunteer work.