Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
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By MEGAN HUGHES [email protected] HURLEY - The Hurley K-12 School hosted Governor Tony Evers on Monday as part of his back-to-school tour. The visit included a tour of the school and visits to several classrooms as the administration introduced him to students. School officials also toured him through several key areas of the building, including the science labs and Northwoods Manufacturing shops. As he toured classrooms, Evers answered students' questions. One student asked about what he...
By MEGAN HUGHES [email protected] HURLEY — Board meeting attendance and agenda procedures were the major topics of discussion at a Monday meeting of the Hurley Board of Education, with members discussing concerns about missing meetings and the potential of shifting meeting dates to better suit member schedules. “When somebody is not here, we really miss you,” said chairperson Leslie Kolesar. “We have a board that discusses things, that has differing opinions and ... different perspectives. When you aren’t here, you are missed....
By PAMELA JANSSON [email protected] GOGEBIC RANGE - Michigan Reconnect, which began in 2021 by offering free tuition to persons 25 years or older, now is offering a temporary expansion to persons 21 to 24 years old. The offer also applies to students already enrolled in college, but not to people who already have a college degree. The application deadline for persons 21 to 24 years old is Dec. 31, and they then must submit a free application for federal student aid - known by its acron...
By MEGAN HUGHES [email protected] HURLEY - The Kivajat Dancers perfomed at Little Finland this past weekend, bringing with them traditional Finnish and American folk songs and dances. According to director Kay Seppala, the Kivajat Dancers consist of three age groups: the Pikku Kivajat, who range from kindergarten to second grade; the Kivajat, who are in grades three through six; and the Loistavat, who are in middle and high school. "We are pretty evenly divided across the three age...
By PAMELA JANSSON [email protected] BESSEMER - The Gogebic County Board of Commissioners approved the 2024 winter tax levy at its Sept. 11 meeting. According to Kathy Jo Koval, the county's equalization director, the total millage to be levied on Dec. 1 will be 2.5791 mills. Agenda records in relation to her presentation to the board show that the millage was based on the 2024 taxable value of all county properties, which totals $692,678,879. The board also voted to schedule a public h...
IRONWOOD, Mich. - Curt Slabaugh was known as the unofficial, but acknowledged, "Mayor" of Black River Harbor Village shortly after moving there when he retired at age 55 as an elementary school principal in Rockford, Illinois. He moved there with his wife, Betsy, and stayed until they both moved again to Westgate Assisted Living Facility in Ironwood in October of 2022. At 91 years young, Curt passed away at Westgate after a struggle with Parkinson's Disease and dementia. As a dad, husband,...
ESCANABA, Mich. - Robert Lee "Minnow" Morzenti, 80, of Montreal, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully with his loved ones by his side on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, at the OSF St. Francis Hospital in Escanaba. Robert was born on Dec. 9, 1943, to Albert C. and Pauline (Cornetto) Morzenti in Ironwood. He was a graduate of the J.E. Murphy High School in 1961 before attending Gogebic Community College. After finishing school, he followed in his brothers' footsteps by serving his country. He joined the...
BESSEMER, Mich. - Joseph Robert Wroblewski gained his angel wings on Saturday evening, Sept. 14, 2024, surrounded by his family. Those of us that were blessed to have Joe in our lives knew he would always bring a smile to your face. He was devoted to his family. He was born on June 8, 1936, at Newport Hospital in the Jessieville neighborhood of Ironwood, to Andrew and Margaret (Hamil) Wroblewski. Both preceded him in death. He graduated from Bessemer High School. Joe was a member of the Army Air...
GWINN, Mich. - Leroy A. Ojaniemi, 73, of Gwinn, Michigan, died Saturday morning, Aug. 31, 2024, at his home, under the care of Lake Superior Life Care and Hospice. He was born June 22, 1951, in Ewen, a son of the late Larry and Gertrude (Pokela) Ojaniemi, Sr. He was raised in Ewen and worked as a farm hand and old-fashioned mechanic. Leroy will be remembered by his family for his sense of humor and as someone who always would be there for his family and willing to help others. He is survived by...
PENSACOLA, Fla. - Richard Charles "Dick" Nordine was born Nov. 18, 1944, in Toledo, Ohio, and died Sept. 12, 2024, in Pensacola. After graduating from Ewen High School in Ewen, Michigan, in 1962 and working summers at the Nordine Lumber Company in Kenton, Michigan, he obtained a master's degree in probability and statistics from Michigan State University. He taught math at MSU from 1970 to 1973 and was director of statistical applications at Nordhaus Associates Inc. in Farmington, Michigan,...
GAYLORD, Mich. - Marian (Nordine) Kalember, 77, of Gaylord via Bergland, Rogers City and Coopersville, Michigan, passed away on Sept. 10, 2024. She was born and raised in Kenton and Bergland and graduated from Bergland High School, marrying Neil Kalember, the love of her life, in 1965. She was employed as an elementary teacher at Posen Consolidated Schools for 29 years and then retired with her husband to Lake Gogebic in Bergland after building their "chalet on the bay." Marian loved time with...
IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Rudolf Richard Karliner, 89, a resident of Ironwood Township, passed away on Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, at Aspirus Ironwood Hospital in Ironwood. Rudolf was born on July 15, 1935, in Ahlen, Germany, a son of Wilhelm and Helene (Gidom) Karliner. He was an inventor and had more than 50 patents. Rudolf is survived by two sons, Michael and Mark; four grandchildren, Jamie, Jillian, Dylan and Jessa; six great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded i...
TROUT CREEK, Mich. – Alice V. Heikkala, 86, of Trout Creek, passed away on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, at the Iron River Care Center in Iron River. Alice was born on Aug. 26, 1938, in Trout Creek, a daughter of George and Altha (Russell) Tooley. She attended school in Trout Creek. Alice married Roy Maki and resided in Illinois until Roy’s passing. She then moved back to Trout Creek to help her elderly parents. On May 20, 2000, she married Paul R. Heikkala. Alice is survived by her husband of 24 years, Paul; four children, Valerie, Andy, Dee and Pat...
Email calendar items and community news to [email protected]. For more information, call 906-932-2211. Thursday, Sept. 19 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....
By JASON JUNO [email protected] HURLEY — Hurley’s offense has looked strikingly different the last two weeks than the lethal rushing attack its 26-year playoff streak was built on. In Friday night’s 26-12 win over Flambeau, the Northstars threw for 267 yards, which was more than the 238 yards they passed for in the last two seasons — combined. And so far, it’s helped them win games. When Prentice loaded up against the run last week, Hurley went to the air and discovered their passing game looked pretty dynamic in the new-to-them 8-playe...
By JASON JUNO [email protected] ONTONAGON — After two blowout wins to start the season, Ontonagon won a close one 46-40 at Newberry last week. “It was a heartstopper for sure,” Ontonagon coach Kadin Mustafa said. “We shot ourselves in the foot a few times, but we held it together. It was a good test for us.” The Gladiators were voted No. 4 in the first U.P. poll after the big win and the strong first third of the season. Caden Besonen finished with 430 all-purpose yards and he accounted for five of Ontonagon’s touchdowns. He caught t...
By JASON JUNO [email protected] BESSEMER — To say the Gogebic Miners are bit by the injury bug would be an understatement. “More like ripped apart,” Gogebic coach Nick Heikkila said. “Less of a bite, more of a mauling.” The Miners lost 38-18 at Munising Friday night. While the Mustangs are a good team, ranked third in the U.P., Gogebic has been dealing with many injuries. “Well-coached team; the kids, they play tough, they’ve got two big guys and then about seven other athletes out there that round out their 8-man team,” Heikki...
By JASON JUNO [email protected] IRONWOOD — Ironwood returns home this week with a winning record after beating Rapid River 60-28 Friday night. The Red Devils have won two straight after dropping the season opener to Munising. Rapid River provided more of a test than they received in a 70-0 win over Carney-Nadeau the week before, but Ironwood was up to the challenge. “We’re playing pretty confident right now,” Ironwood coach Kevin Lane said. “Not worrying too much about mistakes, those are going to happen. As long as we’re playing 100...
By JASON JUNO [email protected] MERCER, Wis. — Mercer has improved a lot before their rather late home opener thanks to some tough competition at tournaments across the state. The home crowd saw them sweep South Shore Tuesday on a special night for senior hitter Eiley Schoeneman, who tallied her 1,000th career kill. Mercer is up to sixth in the Division 5 coaches poll and they’re a tough matchup for a lot of teams. “I think we’re doing well, I feel like our last tournament in the Dells definitely helped,” Schoeneman said. “We got s...
