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May 16, 2000Town grieves for Stupak's sonMenominee High School principal says Bart Stupak Jr. was 'an exceptional young man'MENOMINEE (AP) - Flags at this Upper Peninsula community's City Hall flew at half-staff Monday and Menominee High School students grieved over the weekend shooting death of U.S. Rep. Bart Stupak's 17-year-old son."We're all very saddened. He was a likable young man," Menominee High principal Paul Schneider said while at least a dozen counselors were helping students cope with Bartholomew Stupak Jr.'s death. The teen-ager, who was serving as Student Council treasurer and was to have been the group's president next year, was found dead Sunday at his family's home. An autopsy's preliminary findings Monday confirmed the teen-ager died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Acting Police Chief Jeffery Jones said in a statement. "He was an exceptional young man," Schneider said of the late student known to schoolmates as "B.J." With "any activity planned by the Student Council, B.J. was in the middle of it." Schneider described the student as "one of the most mature people I've worked with" and a "businessman." "He just always did what he felt had to be done and had the foresight to look ahead and say, 'Why don't we try this,' " the principal said. President Clinton offered condolences Monday to the family, saying during an annual peace officer's memorial in Washington, D.C., that prayers should go out to the lawmaker from Michigan who once served as a state trooper. "Law enforcement doesn't have a better friend in the Congress than" Stupak, Clinton said during the Capitol memorial honoring 139 officers killed on duty. "I hope you'll remember (the Stupaks) in your prayers because he has been as good a friend as the people in blue have ever had in the United States Congress." The lawmaker's wife, Laurie, is the mayor of Menominee, a town on Michigan's border with Wisconsin. A statement Monday by U.S. Reps. John Dingell, D-Dearborn, and Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, on behalf of the Michigan congressional delegation, said "we were devastated to hear the sad and tragic news" about their colleague's son. "The death of this bright, energetic young man has struck a devastating blow to everyone close to this wonderfully loving family," the statement said. "In this time of need, we pray that Bart and Laurie and their son, Ken, are able to draw strength from one another and from all who befriended and loved Bart Jr." Schneider, the principal, said he recalled seeing Bart Stupak Jr. on Saturday night at the prom, where nothing appeared amiss with the student. Classmates had selected the young Stupak to represent them on prom court, the EagleHerald of Marinette, Wis., and Menominee reported Monday. Jones, the acting police chief, told the newspaper that the Stupak home hosted a post-prom party Saturday evening. Jones said investigators estimate the teen-ager died between 8:30 and 10 a.m. Sunday, when "some of the kids were sleeping and the music was playing." "The party was over and everyone had gone to bed," Jones said. "Just a few close friends of Ken's were there." Jones did not return telephone messages Monday to The Associated Press. The late teen-ager had been a member of his school's football team, played on the Menominee American Legion baseball squad and was a manger of the high school's volleyball team. In the wake of Bart Stupak Jr.'s death, the baseball team scrapped its planned games this week against Escanaba and Mid County. "I don't think their hearts would be in it," coach Merle Russell told the EagleHerald. Monday night's scheduled City Council meeting also was canceled, as was observance of Student Government Day in which Menominee High students fill positions at city hall. The senior Stupak gained national attention in June when he was among 31 Democrats who received donations from the National Rifle Association within the previous two years, but the only one to vote against an NRA-backed amendment to loosen background checks at gun shows. With that vote, Stupak broke with his traditionally pro-gun voting record to favor the same background checks at gun shows that exist at licensed gun shops. Stupak is an NRA member who normally has backed gun owners on Capitol Hill. Several years ago, he voted against a ban on assault weapons and a waiting period for handgun purchases. Laurie Stupak had been on the Menominee City Council for several years when her husband won his first congressional election in 1992. She stayed to fulfill her commitment to the city and to keep their sons in the same schools. Son Ken is now 19. A visitation for Bart Stupak Jr. was scheduled for 5 p.m. EDT Wednesday at Menominee's Holy Spirit Catholic Church, three hours before the funeral Mass there. - A memorial fund for Menominee High School student government activities has been established in Bart Stupak Jr.'s name. Contributions may be sent to The BJ Fund, in care of Menominee High School, 2101 18th St., Menominee, MI 49858. |
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