Photos courtesy of Lucky Shot Photography in Harbor Springs, and the Forest Park and Iron Mountain Schools. Other photos, videos by RRN News.
VIDEO OF “MIRACLE MINUTE” IN IRON MOUNTAIN
VIDEO OF MOMENT OF SILENCE IN IRON MOUNTAIN
It was an Orange and Black night in gyms around much of northern Michigan Monday night as teams near and far showed support for the Escanaba Eskymos in the wake of last Friday’s traffic crash that claimed the lives of Tara and Jerry Weaver.
The Weavers were on their way to Sault Ste. Marie to watch their son, Lukas, play basketball, but died when a semi truck crashed into them in eastern Delta County.
There were “orange-outs” and fundraisers held to try to help the three kids who are now dealing with the loss of their parents.
A moment of silence all the way down in Harbor Springs, ands everybody wearing orange. In Crystal Falls, they raised nearly $1,400 dollars at the basketball game against Carney-Nadeau.
In Powers, the wrestling team raised $216, and another fundraiser is set for Tuesday night.
“Everybody’s trying to do what they can,” North Central Athletic Director Randy McLeod said. “Sports is one big family. I don’t care if you’re from Escanaba, or you’re from Iron Mountain, or if you’re from North Central. We are one big community. So whatever we can do, we’re going to go ahead and do that. All the proceeds to the Weaver family. Any little thing we can do, that’s what we’re going to do.”
In Iron Mountain, a moment of silence and a sea of orange in the gym as the Mountaineers raised nearly $3,400 in a “Miracle Moment” collection, along with a portion of the ticket sales.
“We’re all in this together,” Iron Mountain Athletic Director Jerry Sardina said. “All of us school districts work together. We know each other and we love each other. We’re all one big family when it comes to education and supporting each other. We’re just letting the Escanaba community know that we support them, and we’re praying for them, and we certainly have them in our thoughts. Anything we can do to help and be here for them, we want them to know that we are here, and that we’ve got their backs.”
Many other Upper Peninsula schools are also planning fundraisers and special tributes this week to support the Weaver children: Lukas (current senior), Sophie (current sophomore), and Noah (2021 EHS graduate). All Eskymo athletic events are cancelled this week as the community grieves.
Tara and Jerry Weaver will be laid to rest on Friday at 11 a.m. after a funeral at St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Escanaba. A visitation will be held on Thursday from 11 until 6 at the Crawford Funeral Home.
Michigan State Police continue to investigate the circumstances of the crash that claimed the Weavers’ lives. The preliminary report said that driving too fast for conditions was a factor in the tragedy.
The Canadian truck driver who lost control of his vehicle was not hurt in the incident. The driver of a third vehicle from Oshkosh, Wis., that hit the back end of the semi after the initial crash suffered multiple broken bones, according to the Michigan State Police.
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