Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties

Articles from the March 14, 2024 edition


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  • Gogebic County Fairground projects lining up

    Mar 14, 2024

    By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] BESSEMER — Members of the Gogebic County Board of Commissioners’ Economic Development and Capital Improvements Committee learned last week that the county fairgrounds are positioned for progress on various counts. They also voted to authorize the county’s insurer — the Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority — to negotiate with U.P. Engineers and Architects in Houghton on costs relating to continuing plans to replace the 4-H horse barn and the hay barn. “MMRMA said today they would like to negotiat...

  • Airport votes to replace water pump

    Mar 14, 2024

    By MEGAN HUGHES [email protected] IRONWOOD — The Gogebic-Iron County Airport voted Monday at its regular monthly meeting to replace the airport’s water pump, which failed earlier in the day, leaving the airport without access to water in the main buildings. Airport manage Jeremy Busch said that with the lack of access to water, the bathrooms were unusable, and in the meantime the airport called in for portable toilets to be brought to the site until repairs could be made. “The capacitor went bad,” said Busch. “His suggestion was to re...

  • Work on Ironwood water treatment plant continues

    Mar 14, 2024

    By LARRY HOLCOMBE [email protected] IRONWOOD - Construction continues on the city of Ironwood's new water treatment facility near its well fields in Ironwood Township. On Monday, the city commission approved a Rural Development package for $375,134 for the ongoing Phase 1 of the project. $343,045 of that was to CD Smith Construction, with remainder going to engineering services, said city manager Paul Anderson. Anderson said the mild winter has helped construction and the company continues to do numerous wall pours as the concrete...

  • Historian speaks about Subcarpathian region

    Mar 14, 2024

    By MEGAN HUGHES [email protected] HURLEY - Amateur historian Leo Filipczak of Cornucopia, Wisconsin, paid a visit to Hurley on Monday evening to speak about the history of the Subcarphian region of Eastern Europe, it's impact during various wars, and its ties to national identity for people of Polish, Ukrainian and Slovakian descent. His interest in history began when he was young, he told the Globe following the presentation. "I've always been interested in history," he said. "I went...

  • Northwoods Maple: Syrup to the stars, or Northstars

    Mar 14, 2024

    By LARRY HOLCOMBE [email protected] HURLEY - Northwoods maple syrup was front and center at the Hurley K-12 School on Thursday, March 7. Students from the high school's Northwoods Manufacturing program were busy during the day making syrup and facilitating tours of the operation to a continuing run of small groups of elementary students. Each tour began with a short presentation with science teacher Dan Rye in a stand of tapped maple trees between the parking lot and Range View...

  • ICE CRYSTALS SKATING CLUB

    Mar 14, 2024

  • Gogebic County officials may hire temporary fair coordinator

    Mar 14, 2024

    By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] BESSEMER — Members of the Gogebic County Board of Commissioners’ Personnel and Negotiations Committee explored last week the possibility of hiring a temporary coordinator for the county fair. The fair coordinator position has remained open since Marlene Saari resigned from that role late last year. The committee’s informal discussion centered around whether the fairgrounds might be better served by a fairground administrator with a broader range of duties regarding the fairgrounds at large. “What are you...

  • Awkward Stage Drama Club prepares dinner theater production

    Mar 14, 2024

    By MEGAN HUGHES [email protected] IRONWOOD - The Awkward Stage Drama Club is preparing for its fourth Murder Mystery dinner theater, according to director Mary Hanson. The show, titled "How to Host a Murder Mystery Dinner Party (in 15 Simple Steps)" is planned for April 5-7 at the Golden Dragon restaurant in downtown Ironwood. Hanson said the dinner will feature hors d'oeuvres and dessert, and the entire evening will be "very interactive with the audience." Hanson said the show is set as...

  • Bessemer eyes security cameras for City Hall

    Mar 14, 2024

    By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] BESSEMER — Members of the Bessemer City Council considered options in security at their Monday meeting. Although no formal action was taken, Mayor Peter Tacconelli said he will talk to Department of Public Works Lead Ben Tucker, as well as former DPW lead Neal Nelson, regarding whether city employees can install security cameras in the Bessemer City Hall. “I do believe our DPW can handle that installation,” said Tacconelli. “I really don’t feel we need a technician to install those cameras.” Tacconelli’s...

  • Bessemer makes progress on new Parks and Recreation plan

    Mar 14, 2024

    By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] BESSEMER — Members of the Bessemer Parks and Recreation Commission voted last week to add several additional components to a pending new five-year recreation plan and a related capital improvements plan. Commissioners voted, specifically, to add the expense of a splash pad and ADA playground equipment to the improvement plan’s cost. They also voted to add the splash pad to the recreation plan and to track down which goals in the previous five-year plan already had been accomplished so that those ite...

  • Hurley prepares for US 51 project this summer

    Mar 14, 2024

    By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] HURLEY - Members of the Hurley City Council learned Tuesday evening that the city's $2.3 million utility construction project is set to start as soon as weather permits. Jeff Seamandel, a project manager in the Rhinelander office of MSA Professional Services, said he has scheduled an April 3 pre-construction meeting. He predicted that a May start date for construction led by Jake's Excavating and Landscaping will be set at that meeting. The session is expe...

  • Wakefield council hears reports from city officials

    Mar 14, 2024

    By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] WAKEFIELD — Two city officials provided annual updates to the Wakefield City Council on Monday evening. Public Works Director Michael Singleton and Water and Electric Lead David Semenac delivered the reports. Semenac said that flooding in the spring of 2023 posed challenges for his crew, which had to deal with water sampling, water boil notices, etc. He said his crew likes to average the installation of 15 new electric poles each year. “We were able to do 18,” he said of the past year. “We had a great c...

  • Muk UP ski race draws competitors of all ages

    Mar 14, 2024

    By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] BESSEMER TOWNSHIP - This year's mild winter resulted with more grass than snow on Saturday, but skiers still threw plenty of powder as they competed in the annual Muk UP at Black River Basin. Snowmaking at the Snowriver Mountain Resort site made it possible for the fundraising event for Team Z to proceed as usual with a crowd of supportive spectators at the bottom of the hill. "The snow is great here right now," said Dan Tregembo, director of Team Z, a...

  • Shawn L. Heckathorn

    Mar 14, 2024

    IRONWOOD, Mich. - Shawn L. Heckathorn, 57, of Ironwood, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 8, 2024, at his home, surrounded by his loving family. Shawn is survived by his wife, Coleen; children, David (Vanessa), Christina, Alycia (Aaron), Brittany (Ian) and Brian (Clare); grandchildren, Tyler, Spencer, Paige, Alejandro, Jackson, Aaliyah and Camden; brothers, Michael (Tammy) and Jesse (Brenda); many nieces and nephews; and mother-in-law, Betty. He was preceded in death by his parents, Edwin... Full story

  • Elaine 'Bunny' Perrero

    Mar 14, 2024

    CALUMET, Mich. — Elaine “Bunny” Perrero, 86, a resident of Calumet and Gardenview Assisted Living and Memory Care, passed away on Feb. 29, 2024. Bunny was born on Nov. 22, 1937, in Iron Belt, Wisconsin, to Abel and Josephine (Clapero) Karinen. She graduated from Iron Belt High School and attended Gogebic Community College. On Oct. 10, 1958, she married John Perrero in Iron Belt. They made their home in Calumet where John taught at Calumet High School. Bunny was an excellent cook and baker — there was always a pot of coffee on and goodies... Full story

  • Mari Lynn Faroni

    Mar 14, 2024

    BESSEMER, Mich. — Mari Lynn Faroni, 69, of Bessemer, passed away peacefully at her home on March 4, 2024. Mari was born on Jan. 23, 1955, in Ontonagon. She was united in marriage with Daniel Faroni on Sept. 2, 2005. She will be missed by her husband, Danny; children, April (Nick) Gearhart, Brianna Faroni, and Brandon White. No formal services will take place. The family has chosen the McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home in Ironwood to honor Mari’s legacy of life. To make an online condolence visit McKevittPatrickFuneralHome.com.... Full story

  • Panthers repeat as district champions

    Mar 14, 2024

    By JASON JUNO [email protected] IRONWOOD --- There are more complaints than compliments now that the MHSAA has dipped its toes into seeding the district basketball tournaments. Higher seeds don't automatically get home games - they should. Only the top two teams are seeded - why aren't the rest of the district teams? Those are the most common complaints and maybe they'll be addressed someday. But for all its faults, Michigan's limited seeding method often does the one thing it's...

  • Panthers advance in regionals with victory over Lakes

    Mar 14, 2024

    By JASON JUNO [email protected] HOUGHTON --- Lake Linden-Hubbell has two of the best scorers in the Upper Peninsula in Emily Jokela and Cleo Milkey. The Lakes' 1-2 punch led them to a top-five ranking in the U.P. all season and to a 23-win campaign. Ewen-Trout Creek, though, counters with more scoring options, three players who've been scoring consistently all season. All three, plus a fourth, MaKayla Basel, hit double figures in Monday's MHSAA Division 4 regional semifinal against the L...

  • Ironwood defeats Speedgirls in district semifinal

    Mar 14, 2024

    By JASON JUNO [email protected] IRONWOOD --- Ironwood came out ready to defend its home court in last week's MHSAA Division 4 District 97 semifinal. They dominated from the start and beat Bessemer 68-37. "They were tournament ready tonight," Ironwood coach Jesse Mackey said. "Every girl was locked in and ready to go." The Red Devils played well on both ends of the court. They attacked offensively from the start, getting to the foul line six times and taking a 24-8 lead after the first qu...

  • Schoeneman an All-American after taking 4th in shot put at nationals

    Mar 14, 2024

    By JASON JUNO [email protected] Aubrey Schoeneman made it to the NCAA Division III indoor and outdoor track-and-field national championships last year for Carthage College and she finished the shot put in ninth place both times. Top-10 finishes are excellent, obviously, but the Mercer graduate still had some unfinished business heading into this year. That’s because All-American status is only given to the top eight places. She made sure it wasn’t so close this year. Schoeneman finished fourth at the NCAA Division III indoor track-and-f...

  • Solon Springs clinches first trip to state

    Mar 14, 2024

    By JASON JUNO [email protected] ASHLAND, Wis. --- Solon Springs is going to state for the first time in school history after a 59-41 win over Owen-Withee in Saturday night’s sectional final at Ashland. The Eagles very nearly made it last year also. They led by 13 points with seven minutes left in the sectional final against Chippewa Falls McDonell Catholic Central and lost. This year, they led O-W by 15 with the same amount of time left. Isaiah Kastern, Solon’s 6-5 Bemidji State commit, dominated in a second-half stretch with mul...

  • Community Calendar

    Mar 14, 2024

    Email calendar items and community news to [email protected]. For more information, call 906-932-2211. Thursday, March 14 Bessemer St. Vincent de Paul, financial assistance, 9-10 a.m.; food pantry, 10 a.m. to noon. 906-663-4436. Ironwood St. Vincent de Paul, food pantry and financial assistance, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., located behind Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church. 906-932-4325. Gogebic County Veterans Service Officer, 10:30-11:30 a.m., Wakefield City Hall; 1-2 p.m., Watersmeet Township; 2:45-3:15 p.m., Marenisco Township. 906-667-1110.... Full story

  • Hurley City Council hears plea to improve ball fields

    Mar 14, 2024

    By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] HURLEY — At their Tuesday evening meeting, members of the Hurley City Council gave an informal thumbs up for plans to improve local ball fields. Brad Benton, speaking for Hurley Area Youth Softball and Baseball, said that he and his colleagues would like to “spruce up” local fields. He specifically asked permission to remove some of the pine trees around the baseball field. “It’s very wet,” said Benton, explaining that the trees keep part of the field shaded so that it does not fully dry out. As a result,...