Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Sorted by date Results 51 - 75 of 133
BESSEMER - Bessemer's Planning Commission has recommended that city council shouldn't sell the 7.1 acres of public land near Steiger's Field to private citizens, and instead make it a part of Bluff Valley Park. Commissioners Bill Steiger and Ron Zaleski were absent from the meeting held Wednesday afternoon, though Steiger said in an email he opposed the sale. Zaleski and his wife, Marlene, a city council member, requested buying about 4.6 acres of city-owned land north of West Iron Street, and... Full story
BESSEMER - The Bessemer Planning Commission will discuss today the possible land sale of the public property near Steiger Field that roused some recent opposition from city residents. The original purchase proposal was made by two separate parties for a total of 7.1 acres north of West Iron Street, and between Massie Avenue and State Street. However, several city residents objected to the sale and told City Council and Planning Commission members that the land is frequently used for snowshoeing... Full story
IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP - Children and parents were invited out to the range for an annual Superior Range Family Fun Shoot event on Sunday afternoon. Members of the Superior Range Shooter's Club hosted the event and taught families how to safely shoot the variety of weapons available. John Pera, a Wakefield resident, has been active in the gun club for around 10 years and has held positions with its Board of Directors. He said club members bring their own firearms and ammunition to these types of... Full story
BESSEMER - Names of loved ones were written on paper bags that lined the track at Massie Field Friday afternoon. On the infield grass were tents, a dunk tank and a big, pink logging truck all set up to help raise money in the battle against cancer. The Gogebic County Relay for Life event typically raises between $20,000 and $30,000, and Carole Lillar, the event's chairperson, said this year's goal was to break that high-end mark. The nice weather Friday might have helped to do just that. "We've... Full story
HURLEY - As of Friday afternoon, 588 people had signed up to take part in today's 46th Paavo Nurmi Marathon. During registration at the Hurley K-12 School, race officials said there were 48 teams signed up for the five-member relay race, 184 people signed up for the full marathon, 152 for the half-marathon, and six teams for the two-person relay, as of Friday afternoon. Race director Rita Franzoi was pleased. "We try to keep adding and making it more for the entire community and also for familie... Full story
IRONWOOD - Eastbound traffic on U.S. 2 will still have access to the Gogebic County Fair set to begin next week, regardless of the ongoing U.S. 2 reconstruction. Several traffic barricades equipped with "Do Not Enter" signage still remain in place on the western end of U.S. 2, however signs were recently put in place informing eastbound travelers that the fairgrounds are accessible without having to take the detour route. The fair's western entrance will be available for visitors. "They should... Full story
BESSEMER - Two local welders may get a shot at being on national T.V. Employees of Lucky Dog Films, a television and video production company, are eyeing up Skeeter Winkowski and Jake Armata, of North Country Welding and Docks, in Bessemer, for a new television show to focus on repairs and fixing "odd objects and big projects." "What happens is, they're going to come here next week and they're going to film for four days," Armata said. "They'll present it to other networks and the networks will... Full story
After 11.8 percent of Gogebic County’s 13,481 registered voters submitted ballots at the polls Tuesday, the results are in. Michigan voters approved the ballot’s Proposal 1, which looks to remove the state’s Personal Property Tax and replace it with a local community stabilization share. With 86 percent of statewide precincts reporting, the proposal was set to pass with 69 percent support. The measure is believed to increase the number of small businesses in Michigan, by reducing the amoun... Full story
BESSEMER - Bessemer city officials are in the process of applying for grant money provided by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to fund repairs to damaged infrastructure resulting from this past winter's harsh conditions. The MEDC recently made $6 million in grants available to communities affected by the deep freeze. However, communities are required to meet certain criteria in order to be selected as a grant recipient. "We're adjusting ... based on the highest impact areas and urge... Full story
BESSEMER - With vows exchanged underwater or near volcanoes, and reception parties with hundreds of guests and price tags for thousands of dollars, the norm for weddings seems to be shifting toward the more extravagant, the better. But there are still those who prefer something a little more simple. Evelyn Carroll, of Eau Claire, Wis., now goes by Evelyn Lane after marrying Daniel Lane at the Gogebic County Courthouse in Bessemer Friday morning. "To me, marriage is about more than just all that... Full story
By RYAN JARVI [email protected] IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP - Brock Inglehart and Leola Walker are originally from southwest Michigan near Kalamazoo, but they have an official mailing address in Box Elder, S.D. The reason for the "mailing address" is because the couple has been living life on the road for the past two years as "professional RV'ers," Inglehart said. Driving around a motorhome, with a truck in tow and a motorcycle secured in its bed, Inglehart joked, "He who dies with the most toys... Full story
IRONWOOD - Gogebic Community College is looking to increase its appeal with a new logo and website, as well as improve its social media presence, to attract more potential students. Some of the college's degrees have seen a growing interest, such as its welding program, for which administrators are in the process of finding an additional instructor. However, in April three of GCC's programs - sociology, paraprofessional in education and a certificate of childcare - were suspended for having no... Full story
HURLEY - Four people were honored with the Distinguished Alumni and Friends Award given by the Hurley Education Foundation during its 12th annual awards ceremony held Saturday morning in the commons of the Hurley K-12 school. The first recipient was Roger Myren, who was the Hurley district administrator from 1987-97. Myren was instrumental in unifying all of the district's students under one roof by establishing the K-12 school building. "This was, and still is, a nice memory for me," Myren... Full story
OMA, Wis. - The second annual Aging-Friendly Communities Summit was held on Friday at the Oma Town Hall and featured a number of speakers discussing a variety of topics from elder law to dementia. The event was hosted by the Iron County Aging Friendly Communities Coalition, of which Andrea Newby is a member. Newby is a family living agent with Iron County's University of Wisconsin Extension Office. "We really just want to spread the word and try and engage as many people as we can," she said of... Full story
HURLEY - The Iron County Historical Society and the Iron County Museum has taken recent measures to insure the clock at the old courthouse building keeps ticking. Members of the historical society, along with David Malmquist, a clock repairman from Ashland, recently cleaned the clock and analyzed it for further work. "The clock is fairly dirty and I would like to take it down and overhaul the entire piece, but overall it appears to be in fairly decent shape," Malmquist said. The historical... Full story
IRONWOOD - Members of the Downtown Ironwood Development Authority heard a brief update about a proposed "Art Park" for an empty lot on Aurora Street Thursday morning. Ironwood Community Development Director Michael Brown updated DIDA members about the proposed Art Park for the city-owned green space between Mattson's TV and Appliance and Book World. "We're working with the Downtown Art Place and theater in conjunction on this project to come up with an idea where artists can display their art... Full story
IRONWOOD - The Ironwood Carnegie Library hosted a day of zombie-related events, including zombie make-up face-painting, on Tuesday afternoon. Ironwood resident Tyler Strand used liquid latex, powders and other make-up to provide willing participants with an opportunity to look like zombies. Strand has been interested in zombies and other things of the horror genre since he was a kid. "My birthday is Oct. 26, so it's close to Halloween and I guess it just kind of became my thing," he said. He's... Full story
HURLEY - The Iron County Mining Impact Committee discussed possible reclamation efforts at its meeting on Wednesday that would follow the mine being proposed by Gogebic Taconite near Upson, Wis. Joe Vairus, of the Iron County Forestry and Parks Department, addressed the committee with suggestions on how the mine's stockpile land could be used following completion of G-Tac's work and eventual withdrawal from the area. "I've heard ideas everywhere from putting a casino in there to having elk... Full story
BESSEMER - The city of Bessemer is looking to promote and advertise some of its commercially zoned property with hopes of spurring some economic development in the area. The Bessemer City Council unanimously approved the decision at its meeting Monday to move ahead with the potential sale of three properties; two downtown lots, one on Sellar Street and another on the corner of Sellar and Sophie streets, as well as an 80 acre parcel along U.S. 2. City Manager Mike Uskiewicz said the city needs... Full story
IRONWOOD - The Ironwood Chamber of Commerce will host a historical presentation with a few speakers to commemorate the 50th birthday of the giant fiberglass statue of Native American chief Hiawatha this weekend. The real-life Hiawatha is credited as co-founder of the Iroquois Confederacy, which united five separate Native American tribes. Ironwood Mayor Kim Corcoran is expected to say a few words, as is local historian Larry Peterson and Nancy Gotta, whose father-in-law, Charlie Gotta Sr., was... Full story
BESSEMER - The big jackpot of $28,338 from the 2014 Bessemer Blast 50/50 raffle has finally been claimed by a Wisconsin woman. Gwen Arbuckle, of Odanah, Wis., a supervisor at the Moccasin Trail complex, is the lucky winner with ticket number 1209. Officials verified the ticket on Wednesday. "I'm going to pay off some medical bills that I have," Arbuckle said of her prize. "I could always use a new roof, and then I'm also helping a student through our local parochial school." Arbuckle is part of... Full story
BESSEMER TOWNSHIP - The Bessemer Township Board recently approved a construction project to improve four of its gravel roads at a cost of nearly $85,000. The four roads to undergo construction are Chokecherry and Bluebird lanes, a small piece of Second Street and portions of Anvil and Koski roads. The portions of Anvil and Koski roads, slated for paving, will be the most expensive at slightly more than $46,000. The work on the remaining routes will involve putting down two layers of chip seal,... Full story
HURLEY - The cultural organization Little Finland will celebrate 50 years of existence with a three-day festival beginning July 25 featuring music, dances and traditional Finnish foods. Sonja Luoma, has been president of the Little Finland board for about eight years, and has been a member of the organization off and on for more than 35 years. She said people should attend the event "Just to have a good time." "We're going to have really good music and fellowship," she said. Luoma said the... Full story
RAMSAY - You know the old familiar aromas: that fried-food scent of heaven, roasted peanuts, the sugary sweetness wafting in from the creation of cotton candy, something reminiscent of farm life, and a little hard-work and sweat for good measure. It's not every day the circus comes to town, but for a majority of the year the entertainers and work crews with the Culpepper and Merriweather Circus visit small towns throughout the nation quite frequently. Leo has been a clown performer since 1998,... Full story
IRONWOOD - The major event of the year for the city of Ironwood is coming back once again, and it's bringing a few new attractions with it. Festival Ironwood will run from July 16-20, and chief organizers Will Corcoran and Keith Johnson said there will be a couple of new items, but the old favorites are still on the schedule. "We've added a few more activities on kids day," Johnson said. "We're doing the fish pond and a few more things, but the base has been there and we've tried to add a few... Full story