Beartown Victims Fundraisers Scheduled

Residents of Baraga County and the Keweenaw are rushing to support the victims of the Beartown Firefighters crash and their families.

25-year-old Alan (A.J.) Schwartz and 23-year-old James Shelifoe, both of Baraga, were killed Saturday afternoon when the transport vehicle in which they were riding flipped over and split in half on a freeway north of Minneapolis. Six of the seven other passengers in the van were injured. All are expected to recover. The firefighters were on their way to fight a wildfire in Idaho. (See our full story here.)

The L’Anse and Baraga Fire Departments will hold “Fill the Boot” fundraisers this afternoon between 1:00 and 6:00 at the L’Anse Fire Hall in downtown L’Anse, and at the Eagle Radio parking lot on US-41 in Baraga.

A similar fundraiser will be held at the Chassell Fire Department between 4:00 and 8:00.

Boots have also been placed at The Finn’s by the Skanee Volunteer Fire Department, and at the Hardwood Steakhouse by the Covington Volunteer Fire Department.

A spaghetti dinner fundraiser for the victims of the Beartown Firefighters crash will be held at the L’Anse VFW hall today from 5:30 until 8:30. Bring extra money for raffles and gift basket auctions.