November 1954
- charliebunton
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
A lively snake dance down Main Street kicked off homecoming week for the spirited students of Rogers City High School. As the sun set and streetlights flickered on, the air buzzed with excitement and celebration. Dressed in bright, colorful outfits, students filled the street with cheers and laughter. Earlier in the week, class representatives were chosen: freshmen Ann Yarch and James Selke; sophomores Norma Trapp and Ivan Paull; juniors Sharon Karsten and Tony Przybyla; and leading the seniors as homecoming king and queen, Walter Buza and Bonnie Dagner.
The next evening, the excitement carried on with a grand homecoming parade, the highlight of the week. Leading the way was the high school marching band, their upbeat tunes filling the streets and earning cheers from the crowd. Right behind them, the cheerleaders performed lively routines bursting with school spirit. The queen’s float glittered with decorations, a symbol of the student body’s pride, while each class rolled out their own creatively themed floats, showcasing the teamwork and imagination they had poured in all week. The parade was more than just an event—it was a lively celebration of friendship and school pride, put together by the brand-new Pep Club. With 60 enthusiastic members, the club took charge of decorating the high school before games, boosting school spirit, and getting students fired up to create an energetic cheering section in the bleachers.
The Hurons wrapped up their season with a tough 14-0 loss to the Petoskey Northmen, ending a challenging run with a 3-5 record. Even so, the night had its highlights, with the homecoming king and queen crowned during the dance by Superintendent Harry Grambau. Later, students kept the celebration going at Lakeside Park, where a big bonfire lit up the night as they swapped stories, roasted marshmallows, and made memories to last forever.
In other sports news, the Varsity Club, led by Coach Dick Abraham and made up of male athletes who’ve earned their varsity letters, took a trip to Lansing. There, they got to enjoy an exciting game as the Michigan State Spartans crushed the Washington State Cougars with an impressive 54-6 win at Macklin Stadium.
It was election season in Michigan, and G. Mennen "Soapy" Williams was re-elected as Governor. This win was especially notable as it was the first time in his career he carried Presque Isle County, narrowly defeating Republican Don Leonard by just 389 votes. Meanwhile, local citizen Emil Peltz was re-elected as State Representative, winning every county in his district over Democratic challenger Edward Sheltrown from West Branch.
As part of their education and involvement in local governance, students at Rogers City High School had the unique opportunity to engage with the political process during Student Government Day, where senior class members took over City Hall. Nick Matwiyoff was elected as mayor for the day, with Darlene Hopp stepping into the role of city clerk, and Jackie Miller serving as city treasurer. Walter Buza took on the responsibilities of city manager, while John Joppich assumed the role of chief of police. Other roles included James McDonald as superintendent of public works, Betty Klingshirn as health officer, Terry Sorgatt as city attorney, and city council members Ed Derry, Janet Getzinger, Connie Richards, and Dick Raymond, all of whom eagerly participated in this educational experience.
Finally, in the spirit of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, students at Rogers City Elementary were busy preparing for the festive season. Mrs. Grace Meyer's third-grade class delved into an engaging study of the life of the pilgrims in colonial America, immersing themselves in the history and traditions of the time. The students were actively involved in creating illustrated booklets based on the captivating stories they had learned, which they planned to share with their family members during Thanksgiving dinner, enriching their holiday experience with knowledge and creativity. Meanwhile, Mrs. Nina Ferdelman's kindergarten class enjoyed an exciting field trip to William Cook's turkey farm in Petersville. The little ones were especially delighted with the colorful feathers Mrs. Cook generously provided them, which they would use to craft Indian hats in class, fostering a sense of connection to the holiday and its traditions.
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