WAUPACA, Wis. — Officials of Waupaca Foundry Inc. announced in a Monday press release that they will cease operations and close their Ironwood plant in mid-February. According to the announcement, all employees have been offered relocation to iron foundry operations in Marinette or Waupaca, Wisconsin, or in Tell City, Indiana. The Ironwood plant — which opened in 2019 and currently employs 18 full-time workers — is a grinding and cleaning operation for castings produced at Plant 1, a gray iron foundry in Waupaca. The press release said...

By MEGAN HUGHES [email protected] IRONWOOD — The Gogebic-Iron County Airport Board welcomed new member Peter Matonich at an annual reorganizational meeting on Monday. The board also re-elected Pat Hanson as chairperson, Dan Siirila as vice chairperson and Mario Loretti as recording secretary. James Lorenson continues to serve as a board member. Board members also voted to continue operating under Robert’s Rules and to continue scheduling regular meetings on the second Monday of the month at 5 p.m. in the airport office. The board...

By MEGAN HUGHES [email protected] BESSEMER — In a Jan. 8 reorganizational meeting, members of the Bessemer Board of Education voted to maintain the same positions. Hence, Jim Partanen will remain as president, and Brady Halverson will remain as vice president. Tara Graham and Beth Steiger also will continue as treasurer and secretary, respectively. In other reorganizational action, the board also: — Approved First National Bank, Gogebic Range Bank and the Michigan Liquid Asset Fund Plus as depositories for school funds. ...

By PAMELA JANSSON [email protected] HURLEY — Members of the Hurley City Council discussed on Tuesday evening the possibility of hiring a building inspector but agreed that they first should be clear on what they need. Mayor Joanne Bruneau suggested consulting first with Daniel Soine, who has helped the city with zoning and planning in past years. The mayor first suggested that building inspection needs perhaps could be handled by existing city staff, with emphasis on Scott Santini, director of Public Works. “If you’re asking...

By SARAH LAUZON Globe Student Intern [email protected] MERCER, Wis. — The MECCA Winterfest race team in Mercer has announced the cancellation of all live Winterfest events originally scheduled for Saturday. Virtual Winterfest events will remain available. “We are incredibly disappointed to have to cancel Winterfest’s live events for the second year in a row,” said race director Rodney Silvis in a Jan. 11 press release. He added, “Our volunteers have been working hard and were ready to host this exciting event, but...

By PAMELA JANSSON [email protected] BESSEMER — Members of the Bessemer City Council on Monday approved an audit report prepared by Rukkila/Negro and Associates in Houghton. The focus was on the year ending June 30, 2024. Mayor Peter Tacconelli said the auditor gave a positive report. “She was very impressed with how the girls are handling the books and how up to date we are with the funds,” he said. Councilman Adam Zak said the final few pages of the audit report did indicate the need for “corrective measures” such as more...

By JASON JUNO [email protected] IRONWOOD — Gogebic started 2025 right, with wins at Mesabi, 67-36, last week and at home over Central Lakes, 53-42, Saturday. The Samsons have won three straight overall with a win over Minnesota State CTC to end 2024. “Anytime you can string a couple together, it’s a huge confidence boost for the team,” GCC coach Denver Sharow said. “To start the second half of the season on a three-game run — huge, huge. Just watching them play at a different level is great. They’re starting to come...

By JASON JUNO [email protected] LAKE LINDEN — Ewen-Trout Creek keeps getting better at defending Lake Linden-Hubbell’s All-U.P. backcourt. When the Panthers gave up 51 points to Cleo Milkey and Emily Jokela in a regular-season game last year, they lost. In the next meeting, that number was down to 34, and E-TC won a close regional tournament matchup in March. And on Thursday night in Lake Linden’s gym, the Panthers only surrendered a combined 22 points and they dominated the Lakes for a 56-41 victory. “They’re both really...

By JASON JUNO [email protected] IRONWOOD — The Ewen-Trout Creek girls are ranked fourth in the first Michigan Sports Writer Girls Basketball Poll of the season. The Panthers are still second in the U.P. Division 4 poll. St. Ignace is first in both the D-4 U.P. and statewide polls. The Saints avenged an earlier loss to Sault Ste. Marie, which is ranked fourth in the U.P. big-school poll, last week with a 57-46 road win. E-TC picked up a big victory last week as well, winning 56-41 at Lake Linden-Hubbell, which dropped two spots to...

By JASON JUNO [email protected] IRONWOOD — It’s been a tough start to 2025 for the GCC Samsons. After a loss to Hibbing to start the calendar year, they lost a tough one at Mesabi Range, 77-76, last week. They returned home and picked up a nice win, 87-62 over UW-Baraboo Friday night, before losing the next afternoon, 89-78 to Central Lakes. On Saturday, they finished with 78 points, but it was still a big scoring drought in the second half and the handling of a brash defense that cost them a chance to win. Gogebic shot well in...