1 of 11
Chris Benka / Wawanow.ca
The Northern Lights Motel along Highway 17.
2 of 11
Chris Benka / Wawanow.ca
Highway 17 north of Wawa.
3 of 11
Chris Benka / Wawanow.ca
The Northern Lights Motel along Highway 17.
4 of 11
Chris Benka / Wawanow.ca
The Ford dealership.
5 of 11
Chris Benka / Wawanow.ca
Near Sandy Beach.
6 of 11
Chris Benka / Wawanow.ca
Michipicoten Harbour, Oct. 29.
7 of 11
Chris Benka / Wawanow.ca
Michipicoten Harbour, Oct. 29.
8 of 11
Chris Benka / Wawanow.ca
A truck in Michipicoten Harbour, Oct. 29.
9 of 11
Chris Benka / Wawanow.ca
The road to Michipicoten Harbour in Wawa.
10 of 11
Chris Benka / Wawanow.ca
The road to Michipicoten Harbour in Wawa.
11 of 11
Chris Benka / Wawanow.ca
Construction on Highway 17, Oct. 27.
This marks the launch of a new regular feature on LakeSuperior.com: Around the Circle This Week. If you enjoy the magazine's Around the Circle pages, you'll definitely enjoy this. Look for a new post, chock-full of news and links, every Friday.
Wawa Flooding Update
The rebuilding continues in Wawa after last week’s flooding, when 5 inches of rain fell on the Ontario town in less than 24 hours.
Wawanow.ca has several photo galleries of the devastation. The owners of the flooded Northern Lights Motel shared their story on their website.
Highway 17 North and South have both reopened, but motorists should drive carefully on the gravel sections. Several local highways remain impassable.
Municipal officials estimate the repairs will cost “tens of millions” of dollars.
But with the tragedy comes support, reports the Sault Star:
With Deb and Jim Sanders’s two vehicles in Lake Superior and their home and possessions lost, it didn’t take long until offers of help were coming from all over town. The couple lost their home four days ago when torrential rains caused Brient Creek to overflow and come raging down the hill to flood their home at Michipicoten Harbour.
So far, the community has raised more than $14,000 for the two.
Hurricane Sandy Stirs Up the Great Lakes
Waves on Lake Superior topped out at 10.5 feet Tuesday as the remnants of Hurricane Sandy rolled through, but the other Great Lakes experienced much heavier seas, according to the Detroit News.
Lake Huron, where peak waves averaged 23 feet, had the roughest water. Lake Michigan’s biggest waves measured an average of 21.7 feet, Lake Ontario 14.2 feet and Lake Erie 14. After vessels hunkered down Tuesday, shipping on the lakes resumed Wednesday morning.
Meanwhile: Northern Clearing and Xcel Energy crews from Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan left for the East Coast early this week, the Ashland Daily Press reports. Minnesota Power and Superior Water Light and Power also sent crews. They and other workers from across the country will help clear downed trees from power lines, repair damaged systems and eventually restore power to the hundreds of thousands still without it.
If you've heard of other groups from near Lake Superior helping on the East Coast, let us know: pb@lakesuperior.com.
World Premiere of UMD Professor's Play at the Kennedy Center
A play written by University of Minnesota Duluth theatre professor Tom Isbell will make its world premiere next month at the prestigious Kennedy Center for the Arts in Washington, D.C.
“The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg” runs November 17 to December 9. Adapted from the 2010 Newberry Honor-winning Rodman Philbrick book, the play tells the story of a 12-year-old boy’s adventures during the Civil War.
Tom has taught at UMD since 1994, preceded by 10 years as a professional actor. This is the third play of his to run at the Kennedy Center.
A look at the week ahead
Saturday, Nov. 3: Runnin’ for the Law, a benefit race in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Day-of-race registration available.
Thursday, Nov. 8: Finlandia University’s Nordic Film Series presents “Max Manus,” a biographical war film about the Norwegian resistance fighter. 2 and 6 p.m. in Hancock, Michigan.
Friday, Nov. 9: “Our Environmental Destiny” with special guest Robert F. Kennedy Jr., in Duluth.