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Driven to Wisconsin after helping win U.S. Revolution, Mohicans now have bought land back home

One of the most storied tribes in Indian Nation has taken another step toward reclaiming history that was ripped away from it more than 200 years ago.

The Stockbridge-Munsee Mohican Tribe of Wisconsin recently closed a deal to purchase 372 undeveloped acres of Monument Mountain, which carries sacred meaning and is part of its original homeland in Massachusetts.

Shannon Holsey, President of the Stockbridge-Munsee Mohican Nation, makes remarks last summer.

Shannon Holsey, President of the Stockbridge-Munsee Mohican Nation, makes remarks last summer.

The Mohican Tribe had been located on what is now parts of Massachusetts and New York for thousands of years before being forced to move by European colonists, and eventually settling in Wisconsin more than 200 years ago. The tribe has been reclaiming some land in New York and Massachusetts in the past few years.

More: This tribe helped win the Revolution, then were expelled and migrated to Wisconsin. What’s changed now?

“It represents a ‘landback’ movement to reclaim land in a way that differs from the Western colonial way of thinking about it,” Stockbridge-Munsee Mohican Nation President Shannon Holsey said in a statement. “We are trying to reclaim our ways of being, which was never based on money. It’s the reclamation of our kinship systems, our governance systems, our ceremony and spirituality, our language, our culture and our food and medicinal systems. Those are all based on our relationship to the land.”

Mohican people still make pilgrimages to Monument Mountain as it has always been a place where tribal members would leave stone offerings imbued with prayers to Creator. The stones had been formed into a monument, giving the mountain its name.

The mountain’s peak reaches 1,642 feet and includes public hiking trails offering views of a river valley and the Berkshires highlands and Catskill Mountains.

In…

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The Last of the Mohicans: Roy Williams Edition

And then, there was one.

The 2020 recruiting class was viewed as a major one for the UNC basketball program, as six prospects made their way to Chapel Hill.

At the time, we didn’t know that this group would be the final recruiting class of the Roy Williams era. We also had no idea that this group would be part of a rare class that received an additional season of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Five years later, we’re finally closing in the end of that recruiting class’ collegiate tenure, as one Williams recruit still has at last one college game left to be played.

Day’Ron Sharpe took his talents to the NBA after one season in Chapel Hill. Walker Kessler transferred after his freshman year and ended up becoming a star at Auburn, a brief stint that also led him…

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MacLeish To Be LWV Delegate for Annual Conference

ELIAS MacLEISH (Photo provided)

MacLeish To Be LWV Delegate for Annual Conference

COOPERSTOWN—The League of Women Voters of the Cooperstown Area has announced that Elias MacLeish will be the 2025 delegate to the annual Students Inside Albany conference in Albany. Elias, the son of Padraic and Shelby MacLeish, is a junior at Cooperstown High School and lives Hartwick.

“Congratulations to Elias. The SIA program is a fantastic immersive experience for our area students,” said Kristin Pullyblank, co-president of the LWV of the Cooperstown Area. “Civics education is at the forefront of the League’s mission, and we are fortunate to have been able to send at least one student since the inception of the program in 2001.”

The League of Women Voters of New York State Education Foundation Inc. sponsors one delegate from each League in New York to SIA. The program is designed to increase high-school students’ awareness of their responsibility in representative government and provide information about the tools necessary for meeting that responsibility. This year’s SIA Conference will take place May 18-21 and will bring 40-some students from across the state to Albany.

Students will participate in a series of interactive lectures on topics such as the state budget process, the role of lobbyists in the legislative process, citizen rights to access government information, the role of media in politics, and the move to reform state government. Shadowing their senator and their assemblymember for an afternoon and attending a session on the Chamber floors are two of the highlights of SIA.

At Cooperstown High School, Elias is involved in mock trial, Envirothon, yearbook, cross country, track and field, and Leadership Training for Athletes. He has also been leading a project to restore the LaCava Nature Center.

Elias is interested in pursuing studies that…

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In Memoriam: Frances P. Wayman

In Memoriam

Frances P. Wayman
1926-2025

FRANCES P. WAYMAN
(Photo provided)

HARTWICK—Frances P. Wayman, a Hartwick native, died peacefully at home on March 21, 2025.  Frances, the youngest of 10 children, was born on June 24, 1926 at her family’s farm on the top of Scotch Hill to Anton and Mary Zupevec of Austria. After her family moved to North Street, Frances walked across the field to Hartwick High School, graduating the only girl in a class of five.

Frances met her future husband, Douglas F. Wayman, when they both worked at Mohican Florist in Cooperstown. They were married on May 19, 1945. Frances and Doug purchased their present home on School Street in Hartwick, where they raised their two children, Kenneth and Linda.

Frances’ passion for cooking led her to 25 years as a cafeteria cook, first at Hartwick High School and Grade Center, then retiring from Cooperstown Elementary School after the Hartwick school’s closure. She is still known by many of Hartwick’s community as “the cafeteria lady” who always made sure neither her students nor staff left hungry!

During the summer, Frances enjoyed entertaining friends at the family’s camp on Canadarago Lake. She was an expert seamstress whose talents were often sought out by the community. Frances was an avid gardener. Included among the vegetables were the special pole beans from Yugoslavia, brought to this country by her sister. A reunion favorite, always requested, were her baked beans. In retirement, Frances enjoyed caring for her senior siblings, exercise classes and other activities with her lifelong neighborhood friends.

In 2004, after 59 years of marriage, Frances lost the love of her life, Doug, and in 2018 her daughter, Linda Alessi, of Long Island. Frances is survived by her son, Kenneth Wayman; son-in-law Dan Alessi;…

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Ashland County crash reports March 7-13

ASHLAND COUNTY — There were 12 crashes reported in Ashland County by various law enforcement agencies between March 7-13.

Each crash report can be found on the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s crash retrieval database.

  • The Ashland County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) reported a crash with property damage on March 8 in Vermillion Township.
  • The Ashland Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) reported a crash with property damage on March 8 in Vermillion Township.
  • The ACSO reported a crash with property damage on March 10 in Mifflin Township.
  • The Ashland OSHP reported a crash with a suspected minor injury on March 10 in Sullivan Township.
  • The Ashland OSHP reported a crash with property damage on March 10 in Mohican Township.
  • The Ashland OSHP reported a crash with property damage on March 10 in Jackson Township.
  • The Ashland OSHP reported a crash with property damage on March 11 in Mohican Township.
  • The ACSO reported a crash with property damage on March 11 in Jackson Township.
  • The ACSO reported a crash with a possible injury on March 11 in Montgomery Township.
  • The Ashland OSHP reported a crash with a suspected minor injury on March 11 in Mohican Township.
  • The Ashland OSHP reported a crash with property damage on March 12 in Troy Township.
  • The ACSO reported a crash property damage on March 12 in Hanover Township.

Click here to access each report between March 7-13.

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Lead reporter for Ashland Source who happens to own more bikes than pairs of jeans. His coverage focuses on city and county government, and everything in between. He lives in Mansfield with his wife and… More by Dillon Carr



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Mohican

Ohio’s Mohican State Park visitor center in progress

Loudonville, Ohio — A new Mohican State Park visitor center is taking shape, bringing an exciting addition to one of Ohio’s most beloved state parks. Despite winter’s chill, construction crews have continued their work, steadily advancing toward an anticipated late 2025 opening.

The ODNR Division of Engineering and construction crews are nearing completion of the truss installation, a key milestone in the project’s progress.

By late February, crews anticipate completing the roofing, bringing the structure closer to its final form.

“We’re thrilled to see this project moving forward, even through the challenges of winter weather,” ODNR Director Mary Mertz said. “The new visitor center will serve as a gateway to Mohican State Park, giving visitors an opportunity to learn about the area’s natural beauty while enhancing their overall park experience.”

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Strategically located near the park’s main entrance, the new visitor center will be a prominent feature visible from the roadway.

Nestled next to the state scenic Clear Fork of the Mohican River within the floodplain, the site offers a unique blend of natural beauty and accessibility. The building’s design includes an extended, low-slope ramp leading to the entrance, flanked by educational rain gardens and gathering spaces, providing visitors with interactive and educational opportunities.

The visitor center’s grand entrance will feature landscaping to mitigate potential flooding concerns. The space will also feature exterior porches and a fireplace, creating a welcoming space for visitors to relax and enjoy the outdoors year-round. Inspired by traditional forest lodges, the new visitor center will have olive green exterior siding atop a stone base,…

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Wisconsin women who made history

March 7, 2025 Marci Glaus

The PBS Wisconsin Education collections The Look Back and Wisconsin Biographies provide important stories of women who have made history in our state. From the first public school teacher in Wisconsin to a bowling shirt icon, women from Wisconsin have contributed their time and talents even before Wisconsin was a state. Celebrate Women’s History Month by learning about and sharing these great stories.

Electa Quinney: Mohican Teacher and Mentor

Electa Quinney was a Mohican educator and mentor who is known to many as Wisconsin’s first public school teacher. She taught both Native and non-Native students together and led her community with generosity and a commitment to education for all. This telling of Quinney’s story starts many years before her birth, when her ancestors were forced to leave their homelands in the East, and follows her to the area in Wisconsin that is now the present-day home of the Stockbridge-Munsee Community Band of Mohican Indians.

A Stitch in Time

Using a needle and thread was considered a necessary household skill for girls and women in the 1800s. They made samplers to practice stitches and show off what they could do. Margaret Miekel’s sampler helps us stitch together the living and learning in the area before Wisconsin was officially a state!

Carrie Frost: Fly Fishing Boss

Carrie Frost was a fly fishing entrepreneur who paved the way for other female business owners in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Even though women could not vote and in many cases could not own property, Frost created a successful manufacturing company and gave over 150 Stevens Point women a chance to earn wages at a time when they were…

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Three Teens Arrested for Series of Burglaries and Auto Thefts in Bethesda

The Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) has arrested and charged three teenages with multiple residential burglaries, thefts, and auto thefts in Bethesda between April and December 2024, recovering evidence linking them to additional crimes.

According to MCPD, “Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – 2nd District Investigative Section have arrested and charged 19-year-old Casey Jones of Bethesda, 19-year-old Caleb Taylor of Rockville and 18-year-old Arden Gormley of an unknown address with a series of residential burglaries, thefts and auto thefts that occurred between April and December of 2024.

The investigation by detectives has revealed that Jones, Taylor and Gormley allegedly committed burglaries in several Bethesda homes, and stole vehicles and property.

  • Monday, November 18:
    o   Attempted burglary on Davenport Terrance
    o   First-degree burglary on Avalon Drive
    o   First-degree burglary on Cranston Road
  • Tuesday, November 19:
    o   First-degree burglary and auto theft on Mohican Place
  • Saturday, November 23:
    o   First-degree burglary on Cromwell Drive
  • Sunday, December 1:
    o   Attempted burglary on Cromwell Drive
    o   Attempted burglary on Welborn Drive
    o   First-degree burglary and auto theft on Harwick Road
    o   Theft on Cromwell Drive
    o   First-degree burglary and auto theft on Ramsgate Road

On Wednesday, December 4, officers arrested Jones, Taylor and Gormley after they forced entry into a home on Massachusetts Avenue and stole property and a vehicle.

Through the course of the investigation, detectives identified Jones, Taylor and Gormley as the suspects who committed the crimes listed above.

Detectives obtained arrest warrants against the three, charging them with first-degree burglary, second-degree burglary, auto theft, theft and related charges. Detectives obtained and executed search warrants at several homes, where items of evidentiary value connecting Jones, Taylor and Gormley to the crimes were recovered. Detectives also found evidence that linked Jones, Taylor and Gormley to over a dozen of additional burglaries, thefts and auto thefts…

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Big Brother unrecognisable with huge red and black mohican 15 years on

BIG Brother star Sam Pepper looks very different 15 years after he shot to fame on on the show.

Sam, 35, shot to notoriety during a foul-mouthed row with Josie Gibson as they practised a dance routine for a task.

A man with a mohawk poses with Donald Duck.

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Big Brother’s Sam Pepper looks completely unrecognisable with huge red mohicanCredit: InstagramSam Pepper on Big Brother 11.

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Sam appeared on the reality show 15 years agoCredit: RexSam Pepper on Big Brother 11.

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His taste of Big Brother fame spurred him on to build a controversial YouTube careerCredit: Rex

Sam looks unrecognisable now with a red and black mohican in a recent post.

He posed for photos at Tokyo DisneySea as he showed off the eye-catching hairdo.

Sam captioned it: “Boys will be boys,” which prompted fans to say they liked the new look.

His taste of Big Brother fame spurred him on to build a controversial YouTube career and a petition to shut down his channel after a bad-taste prank in which he pretended to kill his friend got more than 200,000 backers.

Along with Logan Paul, Sam filmed a video lassoing women on the streets of Santa Monica and he later denied allegations of sexual assault.

The backlash began after Sam posted his Fake Hand Ass Pinch Prank online.

The video received a number of complaints and was taken down in days.

He then uploaded another video of a woman doing the same to men and that was also removed within minutes.

Sam later admitted it was all part of a social experiment to highlight sexual harassment against men.

First look at new series of Celeb Big Brother as ITV reveals when show will return amid line-up rumours

At the time, Sam’s legal team…

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Mohican

Ohio Treehouse Cabins Make For a Peaceful Getaway in Amish Country

A tiny, octagonal cabin greets us in the canopy of The Mohicans. And then, we nerd out a little: It’s a true treehouse, held up by cables and wooden beam supports drilled into two healthy, towering trees. 

We step up a wooden staircase and open the arched front door to a blast of warm air. The Nest is big enough for a bit of luxury: a queen-size bed, a reading chair, a full bathroom (with steaming hot water in the shower), a sink, a mini fridge, a microwave, two space heaters and a small TV with a DVD player. A vaulted ceiling frames a dangling chandelier, and a rope swing dangles beneath the treehouse, with a fire pit nearby. A wraparound porch connects to a boardwalk, leading to a nearby event venue. 

RELATED: Cleveland’s 24 Best Wedding Venues

And then there’s the view: a vast sea of barren wintry trees, which blur in the pastel pinks and blues of the dimming sunset.

The Nest, often a honeymoon suite for warmer weather weddings held in the 200-capacity venue next door, is the smallest of 10 unique treehouses at The Mohicans. In the offseason, it’s a cozy respite from chaotic holiday schedules, winter blues and city life.

“I love Cleveland. Born and raised here,” says The Mohicans co-owner Kevin Mooney, “but in Cleveland, sometimes, there’s not as much to do, so I think we’re a great getaway. And I think it’s another way to enjoy nature in the wintertime.”

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Mohicans Treehouses

Kevin and Laura Mooney first purchased the 77-acre property in Glenmont, 90 minutes south of Cleveland, as a nature-filled escape for their own family. But after he sold a sales consulting company at 40, Kevin found he wasn’t ready to retire. The Mooneys decided…

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