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Country Connection
Airport completes project, gets new gadget
Marquette County and Sawyer Airport officials are pleased to report that June marked the completion of the first phase of a two-phase project for the rehabilitation of Sawyer’s airfield taxiway lighting system.
In 2009, Sawyer was one of Michigan’s select few to receive federal stimulus funds allocated to airports nationwide under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Program.
Improvements completed during Phase I consisted of:
• Construction of a new on-airfield lighting vault complete with new runway and taxiway constant current regulators
• Backup emergency generator
• Taxiway lighting fixtures with energy efficient LED technology
• Lighting cans for each taxiway light for improved drainage to prohibit freeze-ups and damage during the winter season
• Grounding rods to protect the system from on-airfield lightning strikes
• Computer-aided lighting controls for the operation, maintenance and troubleshooting of the entire system—with monitoring equipment located in the airport operations office, lighting vault, and air traffic control tower.
“As we close out the completion of Phase I, records indicate the project will come in under the budget of $1,939,000 by approximately $10,000,” said Keith Kaspari, Airport Manager at Sawyer. “Phase II, with a project cost of $1,290,470, will provide for similar improvements to the taxiway light fixtures on the north half of Taxiway Alpha, all of Taxiway Bravo, and complete the demolition of the old lighting vault. Funding obtained for both phases of the project amounts to $3,229,470, and completion will provide continued cost efficiencies in the operation and maintenance of the airport.”
Phase II construction began June 14, and is expected to take approximately sixty-five calendar days, barring any delays due to inclement weather.
In other news, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced the deployment of a Reveal explosives detection system (EDS) machine for screening checked baggage at Sawyer.
Through CT scan technology and sophisticated algorithms, explosives detection system machines can quickly determine whether a bag contains a potential threat. If a weapon or potential explosive is detected, the machines alert transportation security officers so they can manage the bag appropriately.
Prior to the deployment of this equipment, TSA officers had to swab each bag to screen it for explosives. The new machine, a Reveal CT-80DR, is fully automated, eliminating the need to swab each bag and reducing the number of bags that have to be opened.
For details, visit www.tsa.gov
—Scott Erbisch
SARC gets mythic
For fans of the Percy Jackson novels or Greek Mythology, or both, join the Salvation Army Recreation Center (SARC) in K.I. Sawyer for Olympian Fan Week, from July 6 through 10. Each day will feature a different activity, craft, contest or movie based on novels by author Rick Riordan or mythology in general. Activities begin at 5:30 p.m. each day. For details, call 346-5974.
Masters of Disaster
Join Ryan Lipinski and Addy Lamon from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. as they offer children “Masters of Disaster,” a twelve-session program hosted once a month at the SARC and taught by the Red Cross. For details or future sessions, call Tricia at 346-5974.
Meet the Staff
Joel came to the SARC in March 2010, interning from the Escanaba Salvation Army Corp. He was born in Grand Rapids, and attended Grand Rapids Community College. He began attending the Escanaba Salvation Army in 2008, and eventually became an intern there in 2009. He will be with the SARC throughout the summer, so feel free to stop by, say hello, and welcome him to our area.
SARC offers summer lunch program
The Salvation Army Recreation Center will host the Summer Lunch Program through the Gwinn School system and the United States Department of Agriculture for all youth up to the age of eighteen. The program will be offered from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Monday through Friday through August 27. Call 346-5974 for details.
Seasonal Crafts and Fun
Youth and adults can come to the SARC on Friday nights from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. and create some great seasonal crafts with Vicki. All supplies to make the crafts will be provided.
—Doug Swartout
MCAC helps Sawyer Dental
Thanks to a recent donation of $1,823 from the Medical Care Access Coalition (MCAC), the Sawyer Dental Center in Gwinn was able to purchase new equipment and supplies for performing root canal surgery.
The donation allowed for the purchase of an endodontic handpiece, which reduces the amount of time it takes for the procedure. Several precision dental drill bits and files were also purchased. MCAC is a non-profit agency that coordinates volunteer and donated health care services in order to provide uninsured persons with health care.
The agency regularly refers patients to Sawyer Dental Center, which is part of a federally qualified health center.
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