Sorted by date Results 201 - 225 of 368
IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP - Ironwood second graders learned about snowflakes prior to hitting theWolverine Nordic Ski Trails on a field trip Friday. Students learned a brief lesson from Marcy Erickson, with the Michigan Technological University Center for Science and Environmental Outreach and the Western Upper Peninsula Center for Science, Math, and Environmental Education, She talked about the different types of snowflakes and the process by which snow is formed. Following the lesson, the students... Full story
HURLEY — The Aging Unit of Iron County will conduct an assessment of participants in its delivered meals program, according to interim executive director Leslie Kolesar, to ensure all participants are receiving the appropriate services. Kolesar said the home-delivery program received federal funding, and one of the requirements of the funding is that each participant be assessed annually to ensure it is eligible for the program. “The biggest guideline is the person needs to be essentially homebound, not able to leave the house under normal circ... Full story
HURLEY - The Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles Hurley branch now offers an expanded array of services, including vehicle registrations. "They used to provide drivers' licenses and identification cards, and now they can provide registration services - (for) vehicles, renewals of plates, that type of thing," said Patricia Nelson, a regional manager with the DMV. The expanded services apply to cars, motorcycles and light trucks, Nelson said. Trailers and heavy vehicles - more than 10,000... Full story
HURLEY — The Iron County Board of Supervisors Finance Committee this week approved about a $3,000 raise for Iron County Health Officer Zona Wick, bringing her salary closer to what several of the county’s other department heads make. Iron County Clerk Michael Saari argued the pay increase was deserved, especially when accounting for the fact that Wick delayed retirement twice, as the county has been unable to find a suitable replacement. “She does as much as anybody could do for the county,” Saari said. “And she’s good at her job.” “She... Full story
Even though it took a bit longer than last year for the trails to open, the recent snowfall meant snowmobilers could travel the Gogebic Range, with a parade of vintage snowmobiles traveling from Ironwood to Hurley Friday night to watch fireworks and kick off the weekend's Snowmobile Olympus races in Ironwood. The parade and fireworks were organized by the Hurley Chamber of Commerce, with the help of the White Thunder Riders Snowmobile Club. Beginning in Ironwood's Depot Park, the parade traveled... Full story
HURLEY — The Iron County Board of Supervisors Wednesday approved a deal allowing Lac du Flambeau inmates to be incarcerated in the Iron County Jail. “I’ve got room to house prisoners,” sheriff Tony Furyk told the board of supervisors’ finance committee in November when he first brought up the deal. “I certainly don’t want to refuse prisoners because it generates income here. I have an empty jail.” According to the information presented at the finance committee meeting, the program would be funded through a grant obtained by the tribe. The grant... Full story
HURLEY — Officials from a number of Iron County agencies met Friday at the Iron County Memorial Building to participate in a table-top exercise to develop a mass care plan for the county. The plan would be used in instances where the county needed to open up a temporary shelter, Iron County Health Officer Zona Wick explained, and could cover a range of emergencies including ice storms, tornadoes or fires. The creation of a care plan is required by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the state, which provides funding to the c... Full story
IRONWOOD - Ironwood students in kindergarten through sixth grades got the chance to take a break from their regular classes and celebrate Halloween Friday during the school's "fun frolic" event. The frolic allowed each grade to take part in a variety of games and activities in the elementary gym with the chance to receive candy for at the end of most events. Games included a sack race, coloring and a challenge that had student to find a safety pin in a bowl of rice while blindfolded. Each grade... Full story
HURLEY — Members of the Wisconsin Investment and Local Impact Fund Board met Friday to discuss four applications for reimbursement of costs incurred by communities related to Gogebic Taconite’s failed development of a mine site near Upson, awarding $203,611 in funds. The towns of Anderson and Morse, as well as Iron and Ashland counties, applied for funds from the board for a number of costs relating to everything from legal fees and developing ordinances to environmental consulting and water testing. To ensure some money would remain for fut... Full story
MANITOWISH WATERS, Wis. - The cranberry harvest is now in full swing and Ironwood's second graders got a first-hand look into what exactly goes into wrangling the tart berries. They took an adventure Monday as they travelled down U.S. 51 to visit the Vilas Cranberry Marsh in Manitowish Waters. The students took a tour of the marsh and received a demonstration on the process of harvesting the berries. The day was led by Bob Winters, owner of the marsh, who taught the students about the life... Full story
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] IRONWOOD - Ironwood's sixth through 12th graders have been enjoying the option of smoothies several times a week after the district received a commercial-grade blender as part of a grant program from the United Dairy Council of Michigan. According to information on the council's website, the grants were designed to increase the amount of dairy used in the schools. "Statistics show that milk-based smoothies continue to be a beverage of choice among... Full story
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] HURLEY - In an effort to complete the project before the cold weather sets in, work has begun on extending the paved portion of the regional non-motorized trail from the Montreal River to U.S. 51. The paved section will extend the trail, planned to run between Sunday Lake in Wakefield and the ski trails in Montreal Wis., into Hurley and give access to the trail via the city's streets. Ultimately, the regional trail is planned to connect to the... Full story
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] IRONWOOD - One might say the house was rocking for The Superior Horns and Blue Ice's performance at the Historic Ironwood Theatre Saturday night - but to imply the show was a simple rock concert would be a disservice to the wide variety of musical genres the group performed. Composed of several local bands, the group played a a mix of songs, ranging from rock to jazz to latin-influenced instrumental pieces. Each song featured a full horn section, a... Full story
IRONWOOD — Chuck Gervasio’s role in Ironwood’s annual Jack Frost Festival of Lights Parade is going to be a bit different this year, as parade organizers named Gervasio the grand marshall. The parade’s theme, “Christmas is ON the Air,” also honors Gervasio — the parade’s long time on-air announcer and co-host, according to parade organizers. Gervasio, of WUPM/WHRY, has worked with the parade for 19 of its 20 years, according to organizers, and while he has retired from announcing the parade, he will host a live WUPM radio broadcast from... Full story
HURLEY — While the deadline is roughly a month away, the Iron County Regional Trail Committee agreed Thursday to pursue a coastal management grant through the Wisconsin Department of Administration to help develop the Wisconsin portion of a regional trail. The committee agreed to seek a $50,000 grant requiring $25,000 in matching funds, according to information presented at the meeting. As the committee remains a loose coalition of citizens, Iron County will serve as the entity actually applying for the grant. The grant money would be used t... Full story
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP - Michigan Department of Natural Resources employees were busy installing new barriers along a section of the Lake Superior shoreline at Little Girl's Point Thursday in an effort to combat erosion near the mouth of Oman's Creek. The installation of the Beach Prisms - 4-by-10-foot concrete blocks with specially designed holes to allow the movement of water through them - is the first use of the technology in Michigan, according to... Full story
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] WAKEFIELD - Members of Ironwood's JROTC program tested their personal limits Wednesday as the program practiced rappelling outside of Wakefield. The members of the school's JROTC program in grades nine through 12 rappelled down an approximately 110-foot cliff-face near M-28 and Crusher Road, northeast of downtown Wakefield. In addition to being a fun event, the rappelling allowed the students to challenge themselves and discover what they are... Full story
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] IRONWOOD - It's 7 a.m. - 1 hour before classes start - and Ironwood K-12 Principal Denise Woodward is arriving for another day at Luther L. Wright. Upon arriving at her office, she is greeted by three students turning in a cell phone found outside the school and a student returning from a disciplinary issue. "It kicks in quick around here," Woodward said. "Honestly, I have no idea what time I have to be here to beat the first kids here." By 7:05,... Full story
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP - Representatives from groups working to promote and enhance the Gogebic Range gathered at Gogebic Community College Thursday to provide updates on their efforts and network with like-minded people. The event grew out of the Gogebic Range Next Generation Initiative, a group that began in 2008 as an effort to attract and retain young people. "That's what this is really all about, creating the kind of community that is attractive to... Full story
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] HURLEY — Iron County’s 4-H program is looking for both new members and adults who can help teach important life skills to members, according to Neil Klemme, the youth development agent with the University of Wisconsin’s Iron County Extension Office. 4-H-related activities are open to students as young as those in kindergarten, according to Klemme, with regular 4-H activities beginning in third grade and running through the freshman year of college. Klemme hopes those who join 4-H gain a numbe... Full story
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] IRONWOOD — Even though it was expected before the start of the school year, the playground equipment intended for the Ironwood Area School’s third through sixth graders has yet to be delivered to the district — an issue brought up during the public comment portion of Monday’s Board of Education meeting. “I’m just kind of wondering if the board — on the record — can tell me when, where, what’s the plan,” Jeff Ramme asked the board after recounting how the installation of playground equipmen... Full story
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] BESSEMER - Bessemer's athletes are going to have some more room to spread out after the school expanded the weight room Friday to make space for additional exercise equipment. Members of Bessemer's junior varsity football team helped clear a portion of the shop classroom that adjoins the existing weight room to make room for the new equipment. The district's booster club - along with an anonymous donor - raised around $8,500 to purchase some of the... Full story
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] MERCER, Wis - A small crowd gathered in Mercer Veterans Memorial Park Friday for the third annual flag retirement ceremony. Several organizers of the event spoke about the importance of the flag before both the American flag and the Prisoner of War/Missing In Action flag were replaced with new versions and the old flags disposed of in the proper manner. This year's ceremony not only reminds people of proper flag etiquette but also honors veterans... Full story
CRYSTAL FALLS — Detectives with the Upper Peninsula Substance Enforcement Team raided a residence on Thursday in Crystal Falls, according to a team news release, seizing drugs and firearms. According to the release, a search of the property — conducted by UPSET detectives, troopers from the Michigan State Police’s Iron Mountain Post and members of the Crystal Falls Police Department — resulted in the confiscation of 106 marijuana plants, over five pounds of processed marijuana and illegal firearms. A Crystal Falls man, 26, was arrested at the... Full story
Detectives with the Upper Peninsula Substance Enforcement Team made nine arrests in three drug cases in the Escanaba and Ishpeming areas earlier this week. Maurice Shaunetz Gray, of South Bend, Ind., and Jennifer Savanguaongsavanh, of Milwaukee, were arrested by UPSET detectives on Monday after they were spotted at an Ishpeming hotel. According a news release, the pair hve been the targets of an UPSET investigation for the last several months. During the arrest, detectives located heroin, morphine, packaging materials and more than $4,200 in... Full story