Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
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BESSEMER — To have the cup, or not have the cup. That is the question. That was the theme of Monday’s trial against Kenneth Wayne Peters, 50, of Bessemer. Peters is on trial for allegedly murdering his 79-year-old wife Ethel Grzena-Peters in August 2012. Peters continued to be cross examined by prosecuting attorney Richard Adams about his actions leading up the his wife’s disappearance on Aug. 4, 2012. According to a previous testimony from Tiffany Youngberg, Peters was drinking gin from a pur...
ONTONAGON — What started out as a nice Sunday kayak ride for two Ontonagon men ended up a cold spill into icy waters and an even colder night in the woods for one of them. The Ontonagon County Sheriff’s Department reported the men set in to the Firesteel River early Sunday afternoon. Undersheriff Gerald Balcomb said the river was very fast with the spring run-off and one of the kayaks overturned and spilled its driver into the water. The second kayaker assisted the spilled man, helping him to shore. The second kayaker continued to the Fir...
With temperatures continuing to climb and snowbanks continuing to shrink, eyes remain glued to local water levels for potential flooding in area throughout Gogebic and Iron counties. According to Iron County Emergency Management director Stacy Ofstad, water levels in the Montreal River have rose a “little over a foot” over the weekend, and it will continue to go up. “We’re not too worried about it yet,” Ofstad said. “I have been working with Mark Bluse from the Hurley Public Works Department...
WAKEFIELD — Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Wakefield held its annual Rummage and Bake Sale on Saturday and Sunday. The proceeds from the event, benefitted Father Daniel Hall, according to volunteer Janice Clark. The building was opened in 1961. “We just want to keep the building going,” Clark said. “This helps pay for the utility bills, heat and it also helps us keep the building open in the winter for people who use it for indoor walking.” The event took place over two weekends, and a...
BESSEMER — Kenneth Wayne Peters, 50, of Bessemer, testified Friday about how he came to meet the woman he is accused of murdering. Peters is on trial for allegedly murdering his wife, Ethel Grzena-Peters, 79, last August. Prosecutor Richard Adams rested and defense attorney Rudy Perhalla asked for Judge Roy Gotham to throw out the case, saying there wasn’t enough evidence to continue the proceedings. Gotham denied the motion, ruling there was enough evidence for a “rational juror to render a dec...
BESSEMER — “Red flags” were raised from the beginning, according to Desiree Lacosse, of Oshkosh, Wis., when it came to her late mother’s relationship with Kenneth Peters, 50, of Bessemer. Lacosse testified for the prosecution Thursday against Peters. Peters is on trial for murdering his wife, Lacosse’s mother, Ethel Grzena-Peters, last August. “My mom told me in the winter of 2010 that she was going out with a guy who had similar interests as her, and that he was much younger,” Lacosse said....
HURLEY — Questions were asked and answers were given during a special meeting for the Iron County Board of Supervisors Tuesday at the Iron County Courthouse. The meeting was designated for board members to ask questions of Gogebic Taconite representatives, in relation to a proposed iron mine near Upson, Wis. Local residents from Iron and Ashland counties filled the county board room, asking questions of the board during the public comment portion of the meeting. Topics discussed included i...
BESSEMER — Jurors heard testimony from a former cell mate of Kenneth Peters who spoke about fixing “damning evidence” during 32nd Circuit Court proceedings on Tuesday at the Gogebic County Courthouse in Bessemer. Peters, 50, of Bessemer, is on trial for allegedly murdering his 79-year-old wife Ethel Grzena-Peters in August 2012. Prosecuting attorney Richard Adams called Isaac Laplander, of Ironwood, to the stand and questioned him about his experience as Peters’ cell mate in early Decembe...
IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP — Nearly 200 area residents enjoyed tasty treats and an upbeat atmosphere Monday evening at the Gogebic Community College Foundation’s fourth annual “Taste of the Gogebic Range.” Thirteen restaurants in Ironwood and Hurley offered samples of steak, chicken and pasta entrees; soups, sandwiches, desserts and more. Participants were the Branding Iron Pub, Breakwater Restaurant, Don and GG’s Food and Spirits, the Elk and Hound, Golden Dragon Chinese and Japanese Restauran...
IRONWOOD — The Ironwood Area School Board of Education discussed adjusting policies for the school district Monday. The board reviewed and discussed seven NEOLA of Michigan policies relating to a variety of topics, with six being approved. The one policy that didn’t pass was on recommendation of superintendent Tim Kolesar, in relation to the number of hours each grade level would be required to have on health education. According to Kolesar, the district would have to provide a minimum of 50...
MERCER, Wis. – The Mercer Public Library celebrated the completion of its building project Saturday afternoon during a bustling open house, citing extensive community support as a key part of its success. The project doubled the library’s space, adding a large room for books, a colorful children’s room, a multipurpose meeting room and a new entrance to the original library room just off the Mercer Community Center building. The project, originally expected to take five years, was compl...
IRONWOOD — The Ironwood-Hurley Boy Scout Troop 323 served pancakes during a breakfast fundraiser Sunday morning at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Ironwood. About 200 tickets were sold halfway through the fundraiser, which benefits a 10-day trip to the Black Hills of South Dakota at the end of June. Scouts were on hand to sell tickets and serve breakfast with help from Knights of Columbus and Masons members in the kitchen. Many adult troop leaders are members of the two groups, S...
BESSEMER — Flood season preparations are under way in Gogebic and Iron counties. According to Iron County Emergency Management Director Stacy Ofstad, roughly 10,000 sand bags have been purchased this year, with about 17,500 bags available in case of flooding emergencies. Sand bags have also been purchased in Gogebic County. The last big flood on the Gogebic Range was in 2002, said Jim Loeper, Gogebic County Emergency Management Director. He has reviewed records of the flood to determine what e...
ONTONAGON — A program to dramatically reduce drunk driving in the five western Upper Peninsula counties was kicked off at the Ontonagon County Courthouse Wednesday and Thursday. Ontonagon, Houghton, Baraga, Gogebic and Keweenaw counties will form a regional driving while intoxicated court approach. Retired Judge Patrick Bowler, after 24 years on the bench, is the state judicial outreach liaison for the program. He conducted the training session for judges and officials of the five counties in On...
IRONWOOD — The Gogebic County Children’s Trust Fund commended local high school students and community members for being role models at an annual awards banquet Wednesday at Gogebic Community College. Four students from the Gogebic County school districts were honored for their efforts. “All four of these students have not only applied themselves in the classroom, but have gone above and beyond for their communities,” CTF chair Kitti Colassaco said. “These are young people who have helped ot...
BESSEMER — Members of the jury listened to testimony on bloodhounds and forensic video analysis Wednesday during day five of the Kenneth Peters murder trial at the Gogebic County Courthouse in Bessemer. Peters, 50, of Bessemer, is on trial for allegedly murdering his 79-year-old wife, Ethel Grzena-Peters, in August. Gogebic County Prosecutor Richard Adams started the afternoon by questioning Det. Sgt. Louise Horn, of Vilas County, Wis., on her involvement in the case. Horn works with b...
IRONWOOD — “Take a trip through hit after hit” with the Lowell Street Band, with two performances at the Historic Ironwood Theatre Friday and Saturday. According to band member Ken Stasiak, the group is looking forward to the event. All of the members are returning this year, including Ryckie Holm, Kevin Maki, Nick Wulff, Keith Cannon, Steve Boyd, Rob Ahnen, Ron Niemi, Dan Pitrone and Stasiak. While the members are the same, they have been practicing different songs to introduce to audie...
WAKEFIELD — According to Michigan State Police Trooper Matt Lequia, of the Wakefield Post, it all started for him as an Upper Peninsula boy in middle school. “I did a ride-along with a trooper and I got a good taste of what it was like,” Lequia, formerly of Champion, said. Lequia is a trooper at the Wakefield Post after graduating from the 124th Michigan State Police Trooper Recruit School in March in Lansing, along with 90 other recruits. “I am really excited,” Lequia said. “I am happy to be in...
HURLEY — The Hurley School Board heard pleas from students and parents Monday to keep two staff members employed next school year despite district budget concerns. Chris Tweiten and Nicole Giancola-Routheaux may have their jobs terminated before the 2013-’14 school year, according to school officials. “Mr. Tweiten is more than just the (cross country) coach or teacher,” high school student Athena Butkiewicz said. “He is an extraordinary person who is always there when students need him. He r...
IRONWOOD — Three real estate agents from Action North Realty in Ironwood have received awards for their work through Re/Max. Owner Dean Lantta and associates Nancy Zak and Judy Kucera were all named to the Re/Max of Michigan Executive Club for 2012. The award means each earned from $50,000 to $99,000 in commissions over the year. “I’ve got a great office and team, and we work together to accomplish our goals throughout the year,” Lantta said. Kucera was also named to the Executive Club in 2008...
ONTONAGON — More than a quarter of a ton of weight was lost by competitors in the seventh annual Aspirus Ontonagon Fitness Center Meltdown in Ontonagon. The three-month contest saw two-person teams competing for the largest percentage of weight loss. The top team award was garnered by Joe and Linda Haas. They lost 58.5 pounds, or 23.6 percent of their body weight. Coming in second with a loss of 60.5 pounds or 21.6 percent of body weight was the team of Todd Penegor and Erik Hartzell. Coming i...
HURLEY — A backpack left near the front door of Gogebic Taconite’s office in downtown Hurley led to the evacuation of the area for more than six hours Saturday until a bomb squad declared there was no threat. Gogebic Taconite personnel located the backpack near the front door of their office at 402 Silver St. Saturday morning and reported it as a “suspicious item” to police at about 10 a.m., according to Hurley Police Chief Dan Erspamer. Police cordoned off a four-square block area of downtow...
HURLEY — Local residents warmed themselves up with a hot meal benefitting the Iron County Memorial Building Restoration Committee at the Iron Nugget in Hurley on Sunday. Attendees dined on hot bowls of chili and a baked potato bar with all of the fixings. “Our turn out was really good,” committee chairman Paul Mullard said. “Once church let out, we had a rush.” One hundred percent of the proceeds benefit the project, and according to Mullard, the numbers for this year’s chili feed were up ove...
BESSEMER — Friday’s continuing trial against Kenneth Wayne Peters, 50, of Bessemer, was “unpredictable,” according to 32nd Circuit Court Judge Roy Gotham after a day of testimony at the Gogebic County Courthouse. District attorney Richard Adams called numerous witnesses, presenting a case against Peters for allegedly murdering his wife, Ethel Grzena-Peters, 79, of Bessemer, in August 2012. Grzena-Peters went missing on Aug. 3, 2012, and her body was found on Aug. 13, 2012, in Watersmeet Townshi...
IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP — The Ironwood Township Planning Commission will be reviewing a rough draft of the revised zoning ordinance during a meeting on April 18 at 6 p.m. at the Township Hall. The goal, according to township supervisor Alan Baron, is to have residents involved with the revising process. “We have the zoning ordinance online for people to look at, and we also have given out paper copies if people request them,” Baron said. “Having people involved with the process is importa...
