A Menominee Trivia Quiz

Dear George,

My sister and I have a stronger home town attachment than practically anybody else I know.  I’m not sure just why.   Maybe it’s because we grew up in a small town in the U.P.   In any case, home towns are important, providing the world of opportunities that help shape who one becomes as a person.  Recently I’ve been assembling information on Menominee, and I’ve organized it here in the form of 36 “trivia questions”.  Some are easy, some are hard.  For persons who grew up in Menominee, I think a score of 30 would be excellent and 25 would be very good.  Had I not made the quiz up, I think I would have scored about 23.   I wonder what other natives  and expatriates might do.  (Note: The answer key is given at the end.) 

Love,

Dave

1.  What does “Menominee” mean in the Ojibwe language?

a.            River mouth

b.            White pines

c.            Wild rice

d.            Home of the sturgeon

2.  Menominee is located exactly halfway between:

a.                        Ohio and Minnesota

b.                        Milwaukee and Green Bay

c.                        Lake Huron and Lake Michigan

d.                        the North Pole and the Equator

3.  How many streets does the city of Menominee have?

a.            84

b.            114

c.            145

d.            219

4.  The most common national ancestry in Menominee is:

a.            French

b.            Irish

c.            Polish

d.            German

e.            Swedish

5.  Menominee’s population reached its peak in:

a.            1900

b.            1930

c.            1960

d.            1990

6.  Which religious denomination has the most adherents in Menominee?

a.                        Catholic

b.                        Lutheran

c.                        Methodist

d.                        Presbyterian

7.  How many acres of parks are there in Menominee?

a.                        19

b.                        35

c.                        82

d.                        130

8.  The M&M brewery produced _____ beer.

a.                        Pure Lake

b.                        Grizzly Bear

c.                        Great White North

d.                        Silver Cream

9.  The oldest church in Menominee, dedicated in 1869, is the:

a.            First United Methodist Church

b.            First Presbyterian Church

c.            St. John the Baptist Catholic Church

d.            Emmanuel Lutheran Church

10.  In which of the following categories is Menominee significantly below the average for  the state of Michigan?  

a.                             Unemployment

b.                            Foreign-born population

c.                             Hispanic population

d.                            All of these

e.                        None of these

11.  How many state championships have the Menominee Maroons football team won in their division  since 1998?

a.            Zero

b.            One

c.            Three

d.            Five

12.  If you wanted to have a Wabash for lunch, you would go to:

a.            Schloegels Bay View Restaurant

b.            Berg’s Landing

c.            Jozwiak’s Bar & Grill

d.            The Downtown Sandwich and Ice Cream Shop

13.  Menominee’s summer Concert in the Park series is held on which evening?

a.            Wednesday

b.            Thursday

c.            Friday

d.            Saturday

e.            Sunday

14.  If you went to a movie in Menominee in 1950 you would have gone to either:

a.            the Fox or the Roxy

b.            the Lloyd or the Menominee

c.            the Bijou or the Strand

d.            the Mariner or the Waterfront

15.  How many vehicles cross the Interstate Bridge between Menominee and Marinette each day?

a.            2,490

b.            5,880

c.            11,320

d.            20,760

16.  The current mayor of Menominee is:

a.            Jean Berggren

b.            Jean Chaltry

c.            Jean Stegeman

d.            Jean Wilcomming

17.  Menominee exceeds the national average in:

a.            Low health care costs

b.            Water quality

c.            Air quality

d.            All of these

e.            None of these

18.  In 2012 who received the most votes for President in Menominee?

a.            Barack Obama

b.            Mitt Romney

19.  Percentage-wise, which occupation is more common in the city of Menominee than in the state of Michigan as a whole?

a.            Education

b.            Farming

c.            Healthcare

d.            Production

20.  The last log drive on the Menominee River was held in: 

a.            1897

b.            1907

c.            1917

d.            1927

21.  What proportion of adults (25 & over) in Menominee have a bachelor’s degree or higher?

a.            17%

b.             27%

c.            37%

d.            47%

22.  The largest employer in Menominee is:

a.                             L.E. Jones Co.

b.                            Lloyd/Flanders Industries

c.                             Angeli Foods

d.                            Enstrom Helicopter Corp.

23.  In the 1940's the Lloyd Building in downtown Menominee was occupied by the:

a.            A & P Grocery Store

b,            Menominee Glove Company

c.            Montgomery Ward department store

d.            All of these

e.            None of these

24.  According to Tripadvisor (as well as most people we know), the number one restaurant in Menominee is:

a.            Lighthouse Grill & Diner

b.            La Cabana Mexican Restaurant

c.            Berg’s Landing

d.            Thai Cuisine

25.  In a recent year there were 536 violent crimes per 100,000 people in the state of Michigan.  In Menominee the rate was  ___ violent crimes per 100,000.

a.            117

b.            239

c.            481

d.            714

.

26.  Menominee High School ranks in the top ___ in the state of Michigan.

a.            25%

b.            47%

c.            62%

d.            81%

27.  The local radio station in the twin cities of Menominee and Marinette is:

a.            WBAY

b.            WMAM

c.            WMAR

d.            WMEN

28.  Which railroad historically served Menominee and Marinette?

a.            Wisconsin Great Northern

b.            Green Bay and Milwaukee Line

c.            St. Paul and Minneapolis Railway

d.            Chicago and Northwestern

29.  Does Menominee have more churches or bars?

a.            More churches

b.            More bars

30.  Which of these Menominee County attractions is located in the city of Menominee?

a.                 The DeYoung Family Zoo

b.                The North Pier Lighthouse

c.                 The J. W. Wells State Park

d.                The Chip-In Casino

31.  Compared to the state of Michigan as a whole, Menominee County ranks higher than average in:

a.                 Adult obesity

b.                Adults reporting poor or fair health

c.                 Sexually transmitted diseases

d.                Excessive drinking

32.  The wettest month of the year in Menominee is:

a.            March

b.            April

c.            May

d.            June

33.  The most common last name of deceased Menominee residents is:

a.                 Anderson

b.                Johnson

c.                 Olson

d.                Smith

34.  Menominee County ranks above average for all Michigan counties in:

a.            smoking

b.            adult obesity

c.            alcohol-impaired driving deaths

d.            all of these

e.            none of these

35.  The Babela Master Circuit, held in Menominee in 2005, 2008, and 2009, involves:

a.                 Fishing

b.                Hunting

c.                 Snowmobiling

d.                Golf

36.  The website Niche ranked Menominee #32 among 56 Michigan towns and cities in terms of the best towns in Michigan to raise a family.   Among the following dimensions, Menominee ranked highest (i.e., most favorably) in:

a.            Access to Day Care

b.            Access to Grocery Stores

c.            Crime and Safety

d.            Education

I hope you had fun and did well.  The answers are below.

Love,

Dave

SOURCES:

www.bestplaces.net, “Menominee, Michigan”; 

www.books.google.com, E.S. Ingalls, “Centennial History of Menominee County”; 

www.city-data.com, “Menominee, Michigan”; 

www.countyhealthrankings.org, “Menominee (MM)”; 

www.local.niche.com, "Best Towns to Raise a Family in Michigan”; 

www.mandmchamber.com, “Quality of life”; 

www.menomineecounty.com, “Menominee County”;

www.nationalbridges.com, “National Bridge Inventory Database Search”; 

www.mm regionalguide.com, “Menominee – Marinette Regional Guide”;

www.statisticalatlas.com, “Menominee, Michigan (City); 

www.usa.com, “Menominee, MI”; 

www.wikipedia.org, “Menominee, Michigan”

ANSWER KEY

1.c.  “Menominee” means “wild rice”.

2.d.  Halfway between the North Pole and the Equator.

3.a.  Menominee has 84 streets.

4.d.  28.9% of residents report German ancestry, followed by French (8.2%), Irish (7.7%), Polish (7.6%), and Swedish (6.0%).

5.a.  Menominee’s population was 12,818 in 1900; 10,320 in 1930; 11,289 in 1960; 9,398 in 1990.  

6.a.  Catholics are highest (63%), followed by Lutherans (22%, Methodists (3%), and Presbyterians (2%).

7.d.  There are 130 acres of parks in Menominee.

8.d.  Silver Cream beer.

9.b.  The First Presbyterian Church is oldest.

10.d.  All of these — below average in unemployment, foreign-born, Hispanic (see city-data.com). 

11.c.  Three division state football championships.

12.c.  Jozwiak’s sells The Wabash.

13.b.  Concerts in the Park are on Thursday evenings.

14.b.  The Lloyd and the Menominee were Menominee’s movie theaters in the 1950’s. 

15.d.  20,760 vehicles cross the Interstate Bridge daily.   (see national bridges.com) 

16.c.  Jean Stegeman is Menominee’s current mayor.

17.d.  All of these — above average in low health care costs, water and air quality.

18.b.  Romney received 51% of votes; Obama, 48%.

19.d.  Production occupations are above average; the others, below average.

20.c.  Menominee’s last log drive was held in 1917.

21.a.  17% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher.

22.a.  L.E. Jones is Menominee’s largest employer.

23.d.  All of these — A&P, Menominee Glove, Montgomery Ward.

24.c.  Berg’s Landing is rated number one, followed by the Serving Spoon Cafe, the Ogden Club, and Schloegel’s Bay View Restaurant.

25.a.  Violent crime rate of 117 per 100,000, about 22% of the state average.

26.b.  Menominee High School is ranked at the 47th percentile in the state.

27.b.  WMAM is the local radio station.

28.d.  The Chicago and Northwestern railroad ran through Menominee and Marinette. 

29.a.  Menominee has more churches (17) than bars (8).  

30.b.  The North Pier Lighthouse is located in the city.  

31.d.  Menominee County ranks above the state average in excessive drinking (20% report heavy or binge drinking vs. 18% state-wide).  (see countyhealthrankings.org) 

32.d.  June is the wettest month.

33.b.  Johnson is the most common name.  Anderson is second; Smith is third. 

34.d.  All of these — smoking, obesity, alcohol-impaired driving deaths.  (see countyhealthrankings.org) 

35.a.  The Babela Master Circuit is a fishing tournament.

36.c.  Menominee was most favorable in “Crime and Safety”.  

Should Ohio Legalize Marijuana?

Dear George,

The big political issue in Ohio this season is whether or not to legalize medical and recreational marijuana in the state.  A group called ResponsibleOhio gathered over 310,000 registered voter signatures, initiating a General Election vote on Nov. 3 for or against a Constitutional Amendment to legalize marijuana in Ohio.  I hadn’t worried much about the issue, but recently I decided it’s time to catch up. 

Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the U.S., and, following alcohol and tobacco, it’s the third most popular recreational drug.  Close to half of the U.S. population in the 12-64 age range have tried marijuana, an estimated 12% have used it in the last twelve months, and 7% have used it in the last 30 days.  (22) [Note: numbers in parentheses refer to sources at end.]  Most marijuana users began as teenagers, and every day over 3200 teens use marijuana for the first time. (7)

Whether legal or illegal, marijuana is big business worldwide.   Mexican drug cartels take in $25 to $30 billion a year, much of it in marijuana sales. (22)   In addition to imports from Mexico and elsewhere, marijuana is believed to be one of the larger agricultural cash crops in the U.S.  In 2010 law enforcement officials estimated that the annual black market value of marijuana sold in the U.S. was $41 billion. (10)

Most people smoke or ingest marijuana because of enjoyable mental and physical effects.  It makes them happy, more relaxed, more sociable and uninhibited.  Users typically experience a distorted sense of time, random thought patterns, and short-term forgetfulness.  In some cases they may also experience anxiety, depression, paranoia, or even psychotic experiences.  All of these various effects are usually short-term, reaching their peak in 10 to 30 minutes, and lasting up to two or three hours.  (7, 21)  Researchers generally conclude that long-term effects  of heavy use by teenagers include reduced thinking ability, memory loss, and decline in learning capacities.  It is believed that heavy users lose an average of 8 IQ points between the ages of 13 and 38, though those who began as adults do not show such declines.  About 1 in 11 users become addicted.  Compared to non-users, heavy marijuana users show lower life satisfaction, worse mental and physical health, decreased sex drive, more relationship problems, lower high school and college graduation rates, lower income, and higher unemployment.  (7).  On the other hand, most experts agree that the negative health and social consequences of marijuana are less harmful than those associated with alcohol and tobacco, both legal drugs in our society (13)  While it’s sometimes argued that marijuana leads people to try harder drugs in search of a stronger high, this is not true for the substantial majority of marijuana users.  Most drug use begins with alcohol and nicotine rather than marijuana.  (16)  

Common arguments against the legalization of marijuana include the following:

·       Marijuana use is dangerous in terms of harmful cognitive consequences, health-care costs, parental neglect of children, and other third-party costs.

·       The easy availability of marijuana would create new consumers. 

·       Marijuana can be addictive. 

·       Legalization means more driving under the influence of marijuana. 

·       Employees testing positive for marijuana have more industrial accidents, incur more injuries, and have higher absenteeism rates. 

·       Use of marijuana can lead to the subsequent use of hard drugs.

·       Legalizing marijuana sends a message to young people that drug use is acceptable. 

·       Legalization offers no guarantee that the underground market will diminish. 

·       The majority of marijuana users are in their teens and twenties, and it’s very unlikely that legalization will stop youth under 21 from using marijuana. 

·       The state should not be involved in the distribution of drugs considered immoral by a substantial portion of the population. (11, 19) 

  

Attitudes about legalization of marijuana have shifted dramatically in recent years.  A 2015 survey by the Pew Research Center found that 52% of respondents favored the legal use of marijuana (up from 32% in 2006), while 44% said they were opposed.  (4)  Attitudes vary sharply by age.  Gallup found in 2013 that 67% of 18-29 year olds supported legalization, while only 45% of those 65 or older did so.  (9)  To date,19 states have decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana, and 23 states have legalized it for medical purposes.  Ohio removed jail penalties for possession of up to 3.5 ounces in 1976, and the misdemeanor penalty today is a $150 fine. (15)

Proponents of marijuana legalization offer numerous arguments, including the following:

·       Despite huge expenditures of money and effort, prohibition of marijuana has failed, particularly in terms of restricting youth access.

·       Marijuana is less harmful than a number of widely used drugs (e.g., tobacco, alcohol) which enjoy legal standing in the society.  

·       Marijuana production, quality control, and distribution will come under the rule of law with legalization.

·       Legalization will create jobs and opportunities in the formal economy rather than in the criminal black market.

·       State and local governments will receive major new sources of tax revenues to support critical public services.

·       Illicit marijuana trade is associated with violence in the community.

·       With legalization, the black market would be largely eliminated; law enforcement resources could be redirected to crimes that actually threaten the community; and prison and court costs would be markedly reduced. 

·       Though whites and African-Americans have very similar rates of selling and using marijuana, African-Americans are far more likely to be arrested, charged, and convicted for marijuana offenses. 

·       Criminalization is a violation of civil liberties.  People should have the legal right and personal freedom to ingest into their own bodies what they choose.  (7, 14)

If it receives a majority of votes, the ResponsibleOhio plan would give rise to a Constitutional Amendment that would legalize medical and recreational marijuana use by Ohio residents 21 and older.  Commercial production of marijuana in Ohio would be restricted to 10 privately-owned farms, the specific land-sites for which are specified in the amendment.  Approximately 20 private investors have been recruited as owners of the 10 farms, and they are currently contributing $2 million per farm for campaign funds, as well as arranging to spend $20 million to buy the land and $300 million to build facilities.  This does not exclude individual residents from growing their own marijuana.  Adult Ohio residents who pay a $50 license fee can grow up to 4 flowering plants per household and possess eight ounces of marijuana.  They cannot sell marijuana to others, though they can share.  Like alcohol, marijuana can be consumed at home and in other private places, but not in vehicles, schools, day care centers, jails, etc.  The governor would appoint a 7-member Marijuana Control Commission to regulate homegrown and commercial marijuana production, sales, taxation, and research.  The Commission would grant licenses to selected members of the public to open retail establishments after those applicants pay a $10,000 fee.  The amendment allows for one store for every 10,000 residents — a statewide potential maximum of 1,159 stores.  Marijuana for personal use would be taxed 5% at the retail level and 15% at the wholesale and manufacturing levels.  Tax proceeds would be distributed to municipal and township governments (55%), county governments (30%), and to the Marijuana Control Commission (15%).  A task force estimated that by 2020 the 10 privately-owned farms would be doing $1.1 billion in sales, testing and production facilities would make over $725 million, and retail stores would take in $2.2 billion.   ResponsibleOhio planners estimate that tax revenues for local communities would reach $500 million by 2020.  (1, 3, 5, 6, 18, 23) 

The ResponsibleOhio proposal was developed by a small group of lawyers and business entrepreneurs, spearheaded by Columbus-based political consultant, Ian James, who was also instrumental in persuading Ohio voters to approve four privately-owned gambling casinos in the state several years ago.  James has stated: “By reforming marijuana laws in November, we’ll provide compassionate care to sick Ohioans, bring money back to our local communities and establish a new industry with limitless economic development opportunities.” (4)  The investors recruited by James and his group who will receive all profits from the ten farms include a former NBA superstar, an ex-Cincinnati Bengal, a former boy-band member, a fashion designer, a WEBN radio host, a Dayton pain specialist, a Cincinnati philanthropist, two great grandsons of President William Howard Taft, and several other Ohio and non-Ohio businessmen, financiers, and investors.  (6, 18)

ResponsibleOhio is expected to spend as much as $20 million in its pre-election campaign, including TV and radio advertising, direct mail, social media, voter registration, local canvassing, and an all-county bus tour.  There is little organized opposition to date, although many groups and prominent individuals have objected to the plan.  These include high-level /Republican officials in Ohio state government (the Governor, Attorney General, State Auditor, and State Treasurer), the Republican-dominated Ohio state legislature (which added its own proposed Constitutional Amendment to the ballot in an effort to block marijuana legalization), the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association, the Ohio State Medical Association, state sheriff and prosecuting attorney associations, the Libertarian and Green parties of Ohio, and several grass-roots pro-legalization groups.  (1, 2)   

The most frequent criticism of ResponsibleOhio’s proposal is the decision to limit growing sites to 10 facilities which are owned and operated by financial backers of the campaign.  This is seen as creating a monopoly (or, more accurately, an oligopoly) dominated by a small number of wealthy sellers who will enjoy huge profits while eliminating all commercial growing opportunities for the community at large.  Although the Libertarian Party of Ohio favors legalization of marijuana, it opposes the ResponsibleOhio amendment.  Its political director states: “This isn’t a proposal to restore rights to Ohioans.  It’s a crony scheme to line the pockets of a few wealthy investors.” (12)  The president of another pro-legalization group has argued, “…it seems like it was conceived in a smoky backroom by a bunch of consultants who said, ‘Let’s go out and get some investors and we’ll all make money.’” (6)  In reply, Ian James, ResponsibleOhio’s director, has said, “The honest and most easy response is: I am going to profit from this.  If people are upset about me making money, I don’t know what to say other than that that’s part of the American process.  To win and make this kind of change for social justice, it does cost a lot of money.” (18)  ResponsibleOhio argues that the ten farms are separate from each other and will compete with one another, the opposite of a monopoly; that restricting the number of farms makes monitoring easier and increases motivation to cooperate with regulators; that over 1100 business licenses for manufacturing, dispensary, and retail sales will be open to the public, creating widespread economic opportunities; and that legalization will bring hundreds of millions of dollars of new tax revenues to local communities.  (1) (23)

Ohio’s ballet issue isn’t a simple decision.  Persuasive arguments can be made on either side, and reasonable people can disagree.  I find myself torn when I think about how to vote.  On the one hand, my primitive puritanical self, which dates back to childhood in a stern Lutheran family, says that a Yes vote amounts to institutionalizing “sin”.  On the other hand, my college-age, more free-thinking self thinks that legalizing marijuana is a long overdue, sound idea.   I don’t much like the notion of a few already rich people using a constitutional amendment to make hundreds of million dollars in profits for themselves.  Ohio’s liquor stores are state owned and state run, and that could be extended to marijuana sales and production, with all of the net proceeds going to public benefit.  Many pro-legalization pot activists in Ohio advocate voting against Issue 3, arguing that more sensible and fair proposals will be forthcoming in the future.  Other pro-pot people argue that, despite the imperfections in the ResponsibleOhio plan, investors will always get rich as a result of marijuana legalization, and this is the only available option that Ohioans are likely to see in the foreseeable future.  All in all, my current inclination is to vote no.  We’ve lived our entire lives without a marijuana store down the block, and I suppose we can wait a while longer.

Love,

Dave

SOURCES CONSULTED:

(1) www.balletopedia.org, “Ohio Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2015)”; 

(2) www.cincinnati.com, “Who’s for, against ResponsibleOhio plan to legalize pot?” (Aug. 17, 2015); 

(3) www.cincinnati.com, “What you need to know about marijuana initiative” (July 24, 2015); 

(4)  www.csmonitor.com, “Is Ohio about to legalize recreational marijuana?”  (Aug. 13, 2015); 

(5) www.dailykos.com, “Will Ohio become the fifth state to legalize marijuana?” (Aug. 14, 2015);

(6) www.dispatch.com, “Backers of marijuana issue in Ohio are organized, well-funded” (June 25, 2015); 

(7) www.drugs.com, “Cannabis”, “Marijuana”, “DrugFacts: Marijuana”, “Marijuana use and education outcomes”, “Trends and statistics”;  

(7a) www.drugpolicy.org, “Marijuana Legalization and Regulation”; 

(8) www.forbes.com, “Economists Predict Marijuana Legalization Will Produce Public-Health Benefits” (Nov. 1, 2013); 

(9) www.gallup.com, “For First Time, Americans Favor Legalizing Marijuana” (Oct. 22, 2013); 

(10) www.havocscope.com, “Marijuana Facts”; 

(11) www.legalizatonofmarijuana.com, “Arguments for and against the legalization of marijuana”; 

(12) www.lpo.org, “LPO Opposes Responsible Ohi Cannabis Initiative” (May 2, 2015);

(13) www.nbc.com, “No High Risk: Marijuana May be Less Harmful Than Alcohol, Tobacco” (Feb. 26, 2015); 

(14) www.nytimes.com, “Marijuana Economics” (April 14, 2015)”;

(15) www.norml.org, “Ohio Laws & Penalties”;   

(16)  www.psychologytoday.com, “Marijuana: The Gateway Drug Myth” (Aug. 26, 2014); 

(17) www.thedailychronic.net, “’ResponsibleOhio’ Collects 550,000 Signatures in Marijuana Legalization Drive” (June 10, 2015);

(18) www.truth-out.org, “Political profiteers push Ohio’s pot vote”;

(19) www.usnews.com, “There are smarter ways to deal with marijuana than legalization”; 

(20) www.washingtonpost.com, “Where Americans smoke marijuana the most” (Aug. 5, 2014); 

(21)  www.webmd.com, “How Does Marijuana Affect You?”; 

(22) www.wikipedia.org, “Cannabis (drug)”, “Illegal drug trade”;  

(23) www.yeson3ohio.com, “About”