Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Sorted by date Results 26 - 50 of 147
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] Another year of skiing has largely come to an end as some of the local ski hills that were still open wrapped up operations this past weekend. Big Powderhorn Mountain Resort’s website showed the ski hill as closed for the season Monday after having 32 trails and six lifts open Saturday, according to Powderhorn’s ski condition report. “Overall, (the season) went well; despite the lack of natural snow and the pandemic,” said Bruce Noren, of Powderhorn. “I have to say we’re pleased with the season as...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] Given scarce snow all season and a current warming trend, the skiing season is now closed for Whitecap Mountains Resort in Upson, Wis. "This is the last day," said Tom Backerud from the front desk on Sunday. "We've gotten about half the snow we usually get, so it's been a little off," added Backerud, who handles reservations. The total regional snow count as of the end of last week was under 80 inches. Even so, Backerud said that business throughout the...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD - Area ski hills are calling the recent extreme cold snap both a blessing and the third leg of a perfect storm of a crazy season. The business adjustments for COVID-19, the low amount of snow, and around 10 days of below zero temperatures are a challenge for any resort, said Bruce Noren, co-owner and general manager of Big Powderhorn Mountain Resort in Ironwood Township. Yet, the season is going better than expected, he said. The skiers...
WAKEFIELD, Mich. - Theodore "Teddy" A. Finco Sr., 81, a lifelong resident of Wakefield, passed away peacefully Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital in Wausau, Wisconsin, with his family by his side. Ted was born on Nov. 5, 1939, a son of John and Domicella (Zielinski) Finco. He graduated from Wakefield High School with the class of 1957. After high school, he attended Northern Michigan University in Marquette. On Aug. 2, 1969, Ted married the former Roseann Chernak (his bride) at... Full story
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] BESSEMER — A state program can help cities and counties learn to use visitor first impressions to help identify assets and realize potential, according to a tourism specialist who spoke to the Gogebic County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday. Will Cronin, the tourism and community development educator for Michigan State University Extension, appeared virtually at the county commission regular meeting to discuss the First Impressions Tourism program. He said the program has helped marketing and d... Full story
HURLEY, Wis. — Rose Marie Hakari, 84, of Ironwood, passed away on Nov. 25, 2020, at the Villa Maria Health and Rehabilitation Center in Hurley, where she resided for three years. Rose Marie was born Feb. 9, 1936, in Brentwood Township, daughter of Harry and Rose (Gutt) Smith, on her family’s farm near Phillips. She married Donald Nasi in 1956, and they had three sons. She devoted her life to raising her special needs son, Scotty. Rose Marie worked at Powderhorn, Kmart, Big Boy and Hulstrom’s, also known as the penny candy store. Rose Marie... Full story
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD — Area ski resort managers are optimistic that more regional skiers will stay closer to home this season and help boost the struggling pandemic economy in the new year. All the local ski hills and trails plan to be open with adjustments to operations that discourage crowds and lines. Area cross country ski events have gone virtual, were canceled or are still being considered. Big Powderhorn Mountain Resort in Ironwood Township is p... Full story
BESSEMER, Mich. - Arlene Gierl, 87, of Bessemer, passed away on Saturday, June 27, 2020. Arlene was born on Sept. 6, 1932, in York, Wisconsin, daughter of the late Calvin and Elnora Mills. In 1950, she graduated from Owen High School in Owen, Wisconsin. She continued her education and graduated from Spencerian Business College in Milwaukee in 1951. On Sept. 10, 1953, Arlene was united in marriage to the love of her life, Robert "Farmer" Gierl. They enjoyed 65 wonderful years together. Farmer... Full story
BESSEMER, Mich. - Antonio "Tony" U. Paterno, 72, of 1305 W. Lead St. Bessemer, passed away in his home after succumbing to a courageous battle against cancer. Tony was born Jan. 30, 1948, in Asiago, Italy, to the late Tarcisio and Olga (Gheller) Paterno. At the age of four, Tony and his family moved to Wonthanggi, Victoria, Australia, where he completed school. In 1972, Tony moved to Ironwood, Michigan, and began working at Big Powderhorn Mountain where he was the assistant general manager... Full story
BESSEMER TOWNSHIP, Mich. - Carol Jean (Thomas) Cocking, 72, of Bessemer Township, passed away peacefully at home of natural causes on Tuesday, March 31, 2020. She was born on April 5, 1947, in Ironwood, daughter of the late Charles and Lucille (Barnecott) Thomas. Carol was raised in Hurley, Wisconsin, and graduated from J.E. Murphy High School, class of 1965. She spent much of her life in the food service industry working for various establishments including St. Sebastian Catholic School, Big... Full story
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] The skiing season ended this past weekend on a busy note, despite recent warnings of coronavirus and various health mandates from state and national officials. Big Snow Resort featured a final day of skiing on Sunday at Indianhead Mountain in Wakefield. The same resort's Blackjack location in Wakefield Township closed on Friday. Whitecap Mountains Resort in Upson, Wis., also had its final day of skiing on Sunday. Big Powderhorn Mountain in Bessemer...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD - The 11th Sisu Ski Fest promises to be the biggest ever but it won't lose it's small-town charm, according to organizers. There are 750 racers who pre-registered for Saturday's cross-country ski race as compared to 680 skiers last year, said Jackie Powers, Sisu race director. Spectators might find the best locations to watch at Kinnunen Road, Riverside Drive and at the "Finnish line" at Aurora and Lowell streets downtown. "We had skiers fr... Full story
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP - The fireworks were vivid under star-filled skies and snow covered ski hills and the sounds crackled sharply in the cold air to give crowds of patrons and community a memorial New Year's Eve celebration. It was convenient for people wanting to see more than one display. The torchlight parade and fireworks got underway just before 8 p.m. at Big Powderhorn Mountain Resort. That left enough time to drive over to enjoy another...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] WAKEFIELD - Temperatures near 40 degrees brought steady traffic to the slopes at Big Snow Resort's Indianhead location on Sunday. The impending New Year's holiday attracted numerous folks from other states to enjoy the snow that apparently is in short supply elsewhere. The Daily Globe talked to people from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Missouri, North Dakota and Vermont. "The snow starts about Wausau and progressively gets better and better," said Thomas...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD - Christmas is a time when many friends and families gather from near and far, with many returning home for a visit. Traditions often arise - like attending worship, gathering for meals and even last minute shopping for gifts to be exchanged. Tuesday - Christmas Eve - was busy with last minute shoppers visiting local stores up until most of them closed earlier than usual to allow employees to spend time with families. Ron and Mary Ann...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP — When winter arrives Fran Frye and Mark Stoeger leave Appleton, Wisconsin for the slopes of the Upper Peninsula. The two rent a condo and along with season passes they are ski patrol volunteers at Big Powderhorn Mountain Resort. “It’s our first day at Powderhorn but not our first day skiing this year,” Frye said Monday. “We ski patrol at Pine Mountain and we were there a little while yesterday.” The conditions were perfect, sh...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] ERWIN TOWNSHIP - This week's storms brought enough snow to the Gogebic Range that local winter sport enthusiasts were able to get out and enjoy some of the area's trails with two weeks of November still on the calendar. Roughly 18 inches of snow fell at ABR Trails in Erwin Township, according to co-owner Angela Santini, which was enough to open 43 kilometers of cross country ski trails on the property Wednesday. The open trails featured a mix of...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] BESSEMER - A 50th anniversary celebration of Ironwood's Copper Peak ski-flying hill was well-received on Saturday evening, with about 125 people enjoying the event at Powderhorn Mountain Resort's Caribou Lodge in Bessemer. Dubbed as "Copper Peak Goes Gold," the semiformal event began with a social, a pop-up shop and a silent auction, for which items were artfully displayed in the lobby and illuminated by glittering gold snowflake lights. Afterward,...
IRONWOOD - Wolverine Ski Trails will host the Mountains of the Midwest winter triathlon on Saturday, March 2. The race will include a 6k skate or classic cross-country ski, 8k fat tire bike ride and a 5k snowshoe. Racers can do all three disciplines or form teams of three competitors. The event starts at 10 a.m. at trails on Sunset Road east of Section 12 Road in Ironwood Township. Online registration is available at wolverinenordic.com. Walk-in registrations will be taken at Cold Iron Brewing...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] IRONWOOD - The two men representing Gogebic County in the Michigan legislature were in town Friday visiting with local officials and holding a public town hall to hear the area's concerns. State Sen. Ed McBroom (R-Vulcan) and state Rep. Greg Markkanen (R-Hancock) said they visited the area repeatedly during their 2018 campaigns for the 38th senate district and 11th state house district respectively and didn't want the community to think it was...
