Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
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IRONWOOD — With the site of this year’s Gogebic County Fair confirmed at the Pat O’Donnell Civic Center in Ironwood, members of the county fair board discussed admission and scheduling at their Monday evening meeting. “It’s all tentative,” said Fair Board member Linda Nelson. Although Fair Board members agreed that this year’s location makes an admission fee impractical, Nelson said, “I’d like to make sure that we have donation cans.” She also said that a bundle ticket for carnival rides could be sold as $15 in advance or $20 upon arrival. N...
BESSEMER — A question of whether or not to allot funds to the Gogebic County Council of Veterans Affairs has created a difference of opinions among governmental entities in Gogebic County. The issue was discussed at the March 27 meeting of the Gogebic County Board of Commissioners and has been scheduled for the next meeting’s agenda, as well. The commissioners’ discussion arose after learning that the city of Ironwood had informed the CVA that it will not pay its current requested allotment of $8,517. The 2024 budget for the CVA is $67,7...
HURLEY - The 2023 annual report of the Iron County Forestry and Parks Department includes both good and bad news. On one hand, the report summarized, "2023 proved to be a challenging financial year for the ICFD. Declining stumpage prices, lack of consistent pulpwood markets, and continued high inflation caused lower revenues and a higher cost of doing business." On the other hand, the report added, "The department still had another busy year with many recreational users visiting our county parks...
MARENISCO TOWNSHIP - Members of the Marenisco Township Board of Trustees voted to approve their new fiscal year budget on March 29. Estimated revenues for the new budget, which started Monday, are $1,275,400, and estimated expenses are $1,109,950, for a difference of $165,450. The largest expense noted is $460,000 for the Marenisco Township Hall. According to Township Supervisor Bruce Mahler, the "town hall" category includes expenses for the hall and grounds, the library and historical museum,...
BESSEMER - Last week's Gogebic County Board of Commissioners began on a high note with a donation of $10,000 to the county's Search and Rescue Team from the Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians. Commissioner George Peterson III presented the check on behalf of the tribe. "They are wonderful people," said Peterson of the tribe, led by James Williams Jr. Peterson praised the tribe's ongoing generosity to a number of local causes. The commissioner's sweatshirt also included a...
BESSEMER — In an attempt to streamline the organization and documentation of seasonal storage at the Gogebic County Fairgrounds, one of the committees of the Gogebic County Board of Commissioners is requesting clarification of how the system has been managed to date. Members of the Personnel and Negotiations Committee voted last week to send to Thomas Hampston, a member of the county Fair Board, a letter with a list of questions regarding the storage process. The letter signed by Committee Chairman Daniel Siirila began as follows: “A rec...
IRONWOOD - Gerard Lauzon drives a school bus for the Ironwood Area Schools, and he used to run a photography business. As of last fall, he also participated in a Rite of Candidacy Mass at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Marquette. That event celebrated his commitment in studying to become a deacon. "I'm actually now finishing up my second year of the education and formation process," said Lauzon. "I still have three more years. It's a 5-year process." Along with his mentors, he...
BESSEMER — Members of the Gogebic County Board of Commissioners and the Gogebic County Fair Board again reached an impasse during a meeting last week. In the county board’s previous meeting, commissioners requested that fair board members provide a plan of how they conceive a 2024 county fair. But Fair Board Member Linda Nelson instead requested more input from commissioners regarding precisely what they wish in relation to the pending fair. Nelson said that fair board members held a long meeting on Dec. 14 to discuss how to approach the 202...
BESSEMER — Members of the Gogebic County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously last week to fund the county 4-H coordinator as a full-time position for eight months, from April 1 to Nov. 30 in 2024, at a salary of $40,000. Until now, 4-H Coordinator Ashley Dennis has been employed on a part-time basis. Chairman James Lorenson said the funds can be drawn from the county budget’s allotment of $40,000 for youth activities. Paul Putnam, District 1 director for the Michigan State University Extension, lobbied for the change at the Dec. 20 mee...
IRONWOOD - Balmy temperatures resulted in a large crowd at Ironwood's Jack Frost Festival parade Saturday night. "There were lots of people," said Michael Meyer, director of the Ironwood Chamber of Commerce, which sponsored the event. "The crowd of children this year was just amazing." He estimated on Monday that there were twice as many kids attending this year's parade as last year, thanks to this season's 30-degree evening. "Last year, the munchkins were all bundled up," added Meyer, whereas...
BESSEMER - A new K-9 deputy was sworn in last week by Gogebic County Sheriff Ross Solberg, and - doggone it - nobody could stop smiling. Named Debwe, the yellow Labrador sat briefly on a chair in front of the sheriff while the dog's handler, Deputy Cody Smith, repeated the vow for his canine buddy. The men then slipped onto the dog's neck a custom collar denoting his K-9 status in the Sheriff's Office. The good-natured creature quickly bored with the pageantry and wandered off to collect as...
BESSEMER — Increasing numbers of deer within city limits have led members of the Bessemer City Council to vote unanimously to request a state permit for an archery hunt. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many deer,” said Councilwoman Linda Nelson, who opened the discussion. “I don’t remember it ever being this bad.” Nelson claimed that, on Monday morning, there were 15 deer crossing the road when she went to work. The city has an ordinance that prohibits the feeding of deer, but the problem is in enforcing it, said Mayor Adam Zak. Council me...
Spring skiers should note that their days are numbered with more and more snow melting as temperatures continue to rise. The last day for skiing at Big Powderhorn Mountain Resort will be Saturday in Ironwood Township, and Sunday is the final day at Jackson Creek Summit in Wakefield Township. Sugar Cup races will occur on that day. In Ontonagon County, the final day for Greenland Ski Hill will be on either Saturday or Sunday, and Monday will be the last day at the Porcupine Mountains Ski Area.... Full story
WAKEFIELD — Members of the Wakefield City Council voted on Monday evening to submit an application for state grant funding that would help finance an expansion of the Eddy Park Campground. City Manager Robert Brown shared the news by phone on Tuesday and also explained some of the council’s modifications to the expansion plan. The application due on April 1 will be submitted to the Trust Fund of the state Department of Natural Resources. If successful, the grant would provide $300,000 toward the project that is estimated to cost nearly $2....
BESSEMER — The City Council of Bessemer is reaching out to encourage membership in three of its sub-groups that help to keep the town running effectively. A total of five vacancies now exist on two of the city’s commissions and on its Downtown Development Authority. The situation has become serious enough for the Planning Commission that council members voted at their Monday evening meeting to approve a resolution that will allow members of that commission to conduct meetings even when they cannot meet a standard quorum. City Manager Jen...
BESSEMER — A resolution to adopt a final 911 Service Plan was approved by a vote of the Gogebic County Board of Commissioners last week. According to the resolution, the plan will be “pursuant to the Emergency Telephone Service Enabling Act, 1986 PA 32, as amended.” “Among other provisions, the plan identifies a chosen 911 vendor as the primary public safety answering point for all 911 calls within the boundaries of Gogebic County and recognizes the millage reliance or other funding models if the millage is not in place,” stated an agenda notic...
RAMSAY - A rerouting of snowmobile Trail 2 between Ramsay and Wakefield was expected to be complete today, with a ribbon cutting set for Saturday at 10 a.m. The event will take place in Ramsay where the trail crosses South Verona Road, between Railroad Street and the point where Main Street becomes Horseshoe Bend. "We're pretty pumped," said Steve Hamilton, president of the Gogebic Range Trail Authority, on Monday. "We're all pretty happy." Hamilton said the nearly 4-mile rerouting - which was... Full story
HURLEY - Festivale Italiano drew a hefty crowd on Saturday, packing Silver Street with people of all ages exchanging smiles, hugs and shout-outs. The 70-ish temperatures were warm with just enough wind to feel a little crisp at times. "Not too hot, not too cold - this is perfect," said Benjamin Romanowski of Hurley, who was there with his daughter, Breanna, 10. Romanowski, who was wearing a "Hurley Pride" sweatshirt, said that, earlier in the day, his daughter had played in Wakefield's 3-on-3...
IRONWOOD - Aug. 27 represented the end of this year's Emberlight Festival: a 2-month round-up that included multiple art shows, a global film festival, performance infusions, and three main stage events that featured national and international singers. "Horizons - Heritage -Harmony" was the festival theme, and those words were expressed in both explicit and implicit ways throughout the offerings. The festival just premiered in 2021, so it is still taking form, but has become increasingly...
IRONWOOD - The Gogebic County Fair kicked in on Thursday afternoon as registrations continued throughout the evening. The Midway was busy with games in gear, fair food flowing, and long lines at favorite rides such as the tilt-o-whirl. "It's amazing," said Genesis Rady of Ironwood, who was taking a break with her friends on the outskirts of the carnival area. "It's so fun." On the small stage, popular tunes such as those by Chicago were offered to an appreciative audience by Superior Horns and...
A survey now underway is aimed at gauging the economic and social impact of arts and culture in this region. "It kicked off a couple months ago," said Howard Sandin, vice chair of the Upper Peninsula Arts and Culture Alliance, which is based in Marquette. On behalf of the alliance, Sandin said he already has been collecting surveys at several local events such as at last weekend's Main Stage event for the Emberlight Festival. Surveys also will be collected on Saturday, from 6-7 p.m. at the...
SAXON, Wis. - One of the most popular events at this year's Iron County Fair was the draft horse pulling contest, in which four 2-horse teams pulled thousands of pounds in an attempt to show who's boss. It turns out that every team left with an award, but that seemed less important than the sheer excitement that the Sunday contest generated among all parties: horses, drivers and members of the audience who watched in anticipation from the fairground grandstands or from behind a fence...
SAXON, Wis. - Saxon had a high-energy weekend with three fun-filled days of activities at the Iron County Fair. As the aroma of familiar fair foods wafted throughout the air, ongoing music - whether live or piped in - provided an additional lift, along with the squeals of kids enjoying a host of carnival rides. Rain posed a threat on Saturday, but resulted only in some inconsequential sprinkles during festivities that drew a steady stream of people of all ages moving in every direction....
MERCER, Wis. - Wednesday's Loon Day in Mercer was a huge success, with dozens of tented stalls lining Railroad Street, Lakeview Avenue and neighboring locales. The shopping extravaganza lured a constant flow of wandering adults, skipping kids and lolling dogs, all captivated by aromatic snacks and hundreds of items for sale. The temporary market offered items as small as key rings and as large as furniture. Welcome vendor staples such as pretty clothes and yard signs were available in...
BESSEMER - Members of the Bessemer Planning Commission cleared the way for a new housing complex by voting on Tuesday evening to change zoning on city land that is directly south of the Iron Belle Trail, which in turn runs directly south of Bessemer City Hall. The vote means that the zoning designation for the site - which runs between Clayberg and Moore streets - will change from Country Estates to Mixed Density Residential. In abbreviated terms, Country Estates is known as CE, and Mixed Densit...
