Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Sorted by date Results 451 - 475 of 900
By RALPH ANSAMI [email protected] IRONWOOD - Greg Klecker, who has been on the job for about three weeks as Ironwood Public Safety Department director, stresses the importance of analyzing statistics in his new leadership role. With that in mind, he proudly points out that in the past five years as senior commander with the Buena Vista Public Safety Department in Saginaw, a study showed violent crime decreased by 19 percent. Klecker was sworn in by city clerk Karen Gullan at Monday's...
By RALPH ANSAMI and RICHARD JENKINS [email protected], [email protected] HURLEY - A Stevens Point, Wis., man entered a no contest plea Wednesday in Iron County Court to a May burglary in the Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles office at the Hurley tourism information center, a day after pleading guilty to a burglary-related charge in Gogebic County. Daniel Allan Erickson, 28, appeared in Iron County Court with his attorney, Douglas Muskett; who said a plea agreement had...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] BESSEMER - An Ironwood man was sentenced to at least a decade in prison Tuesday in Gogebic County Circuit Court. Ryan Frank Reinhard, 30, was sentenced to between 10 and 20 years in prison for possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver. He received a jail credit of 143 days for time previously served. "This was an active conspiracy involving numerous people in Gogebic County engaging in an enterprise of obtaining, distributing and using me...
By RALPH ANSAMI [email protected] HURLEY — Copper Street has been reopened to traffic, the Hurley City Council learned Tuesday. The infrastructure work on the street had to be shut down early when winter arrived in October, delaying the completion of the project to next summer and leaving a muddy mess. Now the ground has frozen sufficiently for the barricades to be removed along the street. The vacant lot at the southwest corner of Third Avenue and Copper Street is available for parking. City crews will keep it free of snow. City s...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] KALAMAZOO — Despite awaiting trial on federal drug charges, a Bruce Crossing man attempted to restart his illegal marijuana business in Ontonagon County. With both the criminal and forfeiture proceedings now complete, this detail and other information on the size and scope of Spencer Troy Ward’s drug operation are coming into focus. The continued criminal activity while on bond was cited as one of several aggravating factors in Judge Paul Maloney’s decision to impose a nearly 13-year prison sente...
By JAN TUCKER [email protected] ONTONAGON – The Ontonagon Village Council Monday approved a new agreement with the AFSCME Union, which represents the village public works employees. Village Manager Joe Erickson explained the contract changes are effective Jan. 1, 2018. Erickson explained the details of the contract, which include: —Elimination of the safety bonus and the equivalent of $150 will be rolled into wages. —Group life insurance was increased to $10,000. —Boot and work clothes allowance of $125 each were combined into one reimbur... Full story
POLICE REPORTS Ironwood Township Michigan State Patrol troopers arrested Joshua Edward Hotchkiss, 31, of Ironwood, on Thursday for domestic violence near Northstar Road in the township. COURT CASES 98th District Court, Bessemer Nov. 27: Anthony James Negri, 28, Bessemer, domestic violence, $905. Nov. 29: Leslie Ann Bradley, 49, Bessemer, domestic violence, $765. Iron County Circuit Court, Hurley Nov 14: Robert Leonard Carlson, 45, Ironwood, resisting or obstructing an officer, $443. Nov. 14: Matthew James Coons, 38, Ironwood, disorderly... Full story
By IAN MINIELLY [email protected] IRONWOOD - Colin Gauthier, a 13 year old Ironwood youth, spent the summer traversing at least 4,000 miles driving to and from different races throughout Wisconsin as part of the Wisconsin Off Road Series. Gauthier, even though he did not turn 13 until after his final race in the series, raced in the 13-14 Junior Series, making him younger than most of his competitors by as much as two years in any given race. The series' first race was on May 6 and...
ONTONAGON — A young girl was rescued from the frigid waters of the Ontonagon River on Friday. According to Michigan State Police from the Wakefield Post, the girl slipped off the boardwalk at Elmer Park in the village of Ontonagon and fell into the river. MSP Sgt. Glenn Gauthier said because of the ice build-up on the shore, the girl was unable to get out of the river without assistance. “It is suspected the victim was in the river for several minutes before assistance arrived. A citizen walking his dog found the female semi-conscious and was...
By IAN MINIELLY [email protected] BESSEMER — The new city council and mayor opened Monday’s city council meeting in Bessemer by adding three articles under “New Business” and could not get to them fast enough. New council member Allen Archie added to the agenda a review of the new police powers ordinance and zoning amendments passed by the prior council and returning council member Linda Nelson added an opt out procedure of the 2016 Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act passed by the last council, after a full year of content...
IRONWOOD — Videoconferencing capabilities at the Ironwood Memorial Building have greatly increased since Merit Network ran fiber-optic cable to the building, according to city manager Scott Erickson. Erickson said the faster internet speed should save money for the city in allowing the videoconferencing of events far away, cutting down on travel costs. City employees will be able to participate in some meetings and training by videoconferences, rather than making the long drives to the other end of the peninsula or to lower Michigan. In his Mon...
By LARRY HOLCOMBE [email protected] IRONWOOD - If 25 years as a police officer in the downstate communities of Holland and Wyoming; and 14 more as an officer in nearby Wayland Schools taught Harry Werkema anything, it's how much the world has changed, and not always for the better. As part of a talk about preventing violence, Werkema told an assembly of Luther L. Wright middle and high school students they need to speak up - and further more, change the way they "think, talk and pay...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] WAKEFIELD - It's been another banner year for the Wakefield Michigan State Police Post's annual food drive. The post - with the help of volunteers from around Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota who contacted the post about a community service opportunity - distributed 21,760 pounds of food to food banks across the Gogebic Range Tuesday, including in Ironwood and Bessemer. The post also collected 2,000 pounds of food in Ontonagon for food banks in...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] MARQUETTE — A former Bessemer resident has been sentenced to federal prison for methamphetamine trafficking and unlawful gun possession. Jeremy James Whitebird, 34, was sentenced to 17 years, eight months in prison for possession with intent to distribute meth. He was also sentenced to 10 years in prison for a firearms charge, but a Department of Justice press release announcing the sentences said they would be served concurrently. He was also sentenced to five years supervised release after he l...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] IRONWOOD - While the snow forced the celebration inside, it didn't appear to dampen the enthusiasm of the students as the Ironwood Area Schools celebrated Halloween Tuesday. The LLW Events Committee had originally planned to hold a "Trunk or Treat" event outside, according to committee member Michelle Trier, but the change in weather moved the events inside. The K-6 students had the opportunity to trick or treat through one of the first floor...
WAKEFIELD — Snow and ice mean maintenance crews will be on the road with snowplows, snow blowers and sanding trucks. Darren Pionk from the Gogebic County Road Commission, Sheriff Pete Matonich from the Gogebic County Sheriff’s Department and Michigan State Police Community Service Trooper Jerry Mazurek, have a few safe-driving tips when traveling near winter maintenance equipment. A snow plow driver’s visibility may be limited due to blowing snow around the truck. While traveling 40 miles-per-hour in icy conditions, law enforcement cauti...
By RALPH ANSAMI [email protected] IRONWOOD - The 8 inches of snow that fell when rain turned into snow on Friday set an Oct. 28 record for Ironwood, according to the National Weather Service office in Marquette. The snow was recorded at the Gogebic-Iron Wastewater Treatment Plant on the Montreal River off Cloverland Drive for the 24-hour period ending at 7 a.m. on Saturday. Another 2 inches fell for the 24-hour period to 7 a.m. Sunday, making the weekend's snowfall 10 inches. About...
By IAN MINIELLY [email protected] IRONWOOD - Don Horn, First Lieutenant and Post Commander of the state police post in Wakefield, said he bagged groceries as a 13-year-old. On Friday, he was in Super One bagging more groceries for the "Stuff a Goose" campaign. Horn said last year the Wakefield post received 22,000 pounds of donations and matches from the campaign that it donated to area food banks. This year, Horn is hoping the post can raise 30,000 pounds. Jerome Mazurek,...
By RALPH ANSAMI [email protected] HURLEY — A December jury trial has been set for a Stevens Point, Wis., man who faces Iron County burglary charges. According to court records, Daniel Allan Erickson, 28, is scheduled for a Dec. 19-20 trial on 12 charges, including two felony burglary allegations. Erickson appeared in court earlier this month and his $50,000 signature bond remains in effect. He is being represented by Douglas Muskett. Erickson is charged in connection with burglaries in the Department of Motor Vehicles office at the H...
By RALPH ANSAMI [email protected] IRONWOOD — Mayor Annette Burchell praised the Ironwood Public Safety Department and other responding agencies Monday for their quick response to the Golden Dragon restaurant fire last Wednesday. The downtown Chinese restaurant may not be reopening for another month because of the fire, according to city commissioner Jim Mildren, who talked with restaurant owner Anny Lin on Monday. Mildren noted the Kiwanis Club holds its noon lunches at the Golden Dragon and he pointed out what an asset the business is...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] HURLEY — The Iron County Board of Supervisor’s Finance Committee approved the purchase of a new software system for the sheriff’s department and dispatcher center Thursday. Darrell Petrusha, who handles many of the county’s technology needs, described the system as a “complete operating system” for the county’s dispatch center — handling everything from keeping records of reports and processing booking information to a mapping software when dispatching calls. “This is all-inclusive in...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] IRONWOOD - The dark smoke billowing out above downtown Ironwood Wednesday afternoon quickly drew a crowd to the area around the Golden Dragon Chinese Restaurant as firefighters worked to put out the flames of what is believed to be an out-of-control grease fire. The fire damage was largely contained to the building's kitchen area and a connecting roof vent, according to Ironwood Fire Marshal Brandon Snyder, with some other parts of the building...
By RALPH ANSAMI [email protected] HURLEY — A former Hurley School District teacher who has been charged with sending nude photos of herself to a student is being evaluated by a psychologist, her attorney said Monday. Nikki Pieczynski, 48, of Oshkosh, was scheduled for an initial appearance in Iron County Court, but instead her attorney, Steven Lucareli, appeared by speaker phone. Lucareli said Pieczynski is being evaluated by a professional who has 15 years of experience and he expects the case will be “resolved in short order.” Lucar...
By IAN MINIELLY [email protected] BESSEMER - The 39th annual Pumpkinfest kicked off Wednesday evening and ended with the 50/50 draw at the VFW and final poker run drawing at midnight Sunday. Saturday brought people from many states, some as far as away as Illinois, according to the license plates parked outside A.D. Johnston on Iron street. By 9:00 a.m., the gymnasium was full of vendors hawking their products and many people were shopping. Gail and Walt Soulier's homemade salsas and...
WAKEFIELD, Mich. - Charles Leonard Groesbeck, 93, of Bessemer, went to be with the Lord on Sept. 24, 2017. Charles was a resident of the Gogebic Medical Care Facility in Wakefield at the time of his passing. He was born on Sept. 1, 1924, in Warren. He was raised on a farm in Warren at the corner of present day Studebaker and Van Dyke. Charles graduated from Lincoln High School in 1942, where he played baseball. After turning 18 years old he enlisted in the United States Coast Guard and served... Full story
