Technical Education

NEGAUNEE TOWNSHIP — A majority of the U.P. fire departments are completely made of volunteers. They’re people that come from all walks of life, donating their time to keep their communities safe.

When emergency hits you won’t find these people sliding down a pole on their way to the scene. Rather they’ll be rushing in from their own beds, family holidays or even thanksgiving dinner.

They’re volunteer firefighters, they make rapid rescue response possible for even rural U.P. communities.

“We get out, and we do the same thing as the paid departments in big cities instead of from a volunteer perspective,” says first responder Dennis Karuzas.

To become a volunteer firefighter, you must pass a physical and take 220 hours of firefighter coursework.

Some have volunteer firefighting their way of life.

‘When the pager goes off, whether it’s 2 a.m., 3 a.m., 4 a.m., you jump out of bed and go,” says 33-year volunteer Reuben Romvack.

In Negaunee township they train once a week, and respond to a call a few times a month. That

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Sir Michael Wilshaw, who will become head of Ofsted in January. John Stillwell/PA

A headteacher hailed as a “miracle worker” for dramatically improving failing inner-city schools will be the new head of Ofsted.

Sir Michael Wilshaw, renowned for showing “tough love” to pupils and their parents, will start his new job in January 2012.

He will have a pre-appointment hearing in front of MPs on the cross-party education select committee and his appointment is subject to the approval of the privy council.

The 64-year-old will fill a role left vacant in June when the former head of Ofsted, Christine Gilbert, left early. Gilbert was said to have been under pressure to leave after the coalition government came to power.

Wilshaw, who was knighted in 2000 for services to education, is said to have been courted for the role for some time.

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A satirical bake sale at UC Berkeley captured national attention this week when its Republican student sponsors priced cupcakes according to the buyer’s ethnicity.

But their mockery of affirmative action – and the angry backlash on campus – also put the spotlight on a little-known bill awaiting action by Gov. Jerry Brown that could run afoul of California’s constitutional prohibition against public agencies granting preferences on the basis of race, ethnicity or gender.

Or it might not.

That’s what the fight will be about if Brown signs SB185, a bill intended to increase the presence of black, Latino and Native American students on public campuses by letting schools include race and sex in the factors that they use to decide who gains admission.

California’s Constitution prohibits “preferential treatment” on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin in public employment, public education or public contracting.

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Joy Lewis/Reporter-News Ben Starr took time to taste every bite of his jalapeno cornbread at Joe Allens Pit Bar-B-Que on Thursday.

Joy Lewis/Reporter-News Ben Starr wore his pumpkin-decorated chef hat to the Wylie Bulldog Education Foundation fundraising dinner on Thursday.

Joy Lewis/Reporter-News Ben Starr savors every bite of his Joe Allens Pit Bar-B-Que brisket and jalapeno sausage at the restaurant on Thursday. Ive eaten BBQ in almost all 50 states and this is still the best, Starr said. Starr, a contestant on the Fox reality television show Master Chef, grew up in Abilene.

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MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Nick Toon arrived at Wisconsin with the high expectations that naturally come with having big-time game and a famous last name.

Now having shaken off an injury-plagued 2010 season, Toon finally is showing the consistent production that could make him an NFL player this time next year – and he’s gaining on his father in the Badgers’ record books.

Toon had a career-high 155 yards receiving and two touchdowns in Wisconsin’s 59-10 victory over South Dakota on Saturday. The son of former Wisconsin and New York Jets standout Al Toon, Nick believes he can follow his father’s path to the NFL.

“Definitely,” Toon said. “I think a lot of people have aspirations of playing at the next level in college, and hopefully that’s something that will happen for me down the road.

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