Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
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MERCER, Wis. — The town of Mercer held its annual meeting on Thursday, where John Sendra, town board chair, asked the nearly 20 residents present to contact their elected state officials to ask their support for the town’s Premier Resort Area Tax (PRAT) request. Mercer voters approved PRAT on April 6. A municipality with at least 40% of its equalized assessed property value in use by tourism-related retailers, would qualify for PRAT. A municipality at less than 40% tourist driven value must have a PRAT request authorized by the state leg...
MERCER, Wis. - Students of the Mercer School District are getting a first-hand experience with wildlife field research through a county program. Mercer School eighth- and ninth-graders are continuing the annual participation in the Iron County Loon and Lake Study, in support of the Iron County Land and Water Conservation Department, according to Sarah Engler, the middle and high school science teacher at Mercer School. The project involves three field trips to the nearby Fox Lake and Deer Lake....
By CHARITY SMITH [email protected] WAKEFIELD — The Michigan State Police-Wakefield post is partnering with the Drug Enforcement Agency to host a national prescription drug take back day event today from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. The event provides citizens with the opportunity to dispose of all unwanted, unused, or outdated prescription pills they may have, according to a press release. The public is asked to bring back any unused prescription pills to the MSP post so that they can be properly disposed of. There is a green bin set up in the lob...
By CHARITY SMITH [email protected] IRONWOOD — A former Major League Baseball player, decided to commemorate his 55 years on earth by walking the Iron Belle Trail for a charitable cause on Thursday. Eric Hillman, of Ironwood, who pitched for the New York Mets from 1992-1994, raised $17,209 of his $20,000 goal as of press-time Friday. The money raised is going directly to No Kid Hungry in honor of his 55th birthday on April 27. Along with raising money for the organization, he said he also hopes to bring awareness to the cause. “Not all...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD - Discussion on the May First Friday focused on gardens and cleanup with a little forecast for live entertainment to return in June, according to the Downtown Ironwood Development Authority meeting on Thursday. Darrin Kimbler, a member of DIDA along with the Range Master Gardener program, said that plants were ordered for the pocket park downtown and other projects. The planting will occur later in May and the First Friday event would be...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD — The Downtown Ironwood Development Authority discussed several projects in various stages along with some pandemic grant relief opportunities and summer planning during a Thursday meeting. In his DIDA goals update, Tom Bergman, director of community development for the city of Ironwood, said the special committee on the downtown historical signage project has not met but should do so prior to the May DIDA meeting. He confirmed with the members that the committee would include Mayor A...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] MONTREAL, Wis. — It seems there are no easy answers, and no final decision was made, but the Montreal City Council discussed possible ways to fund much-needed road work throughout Montreal and Gile Tuesday. Mayor Erik Guenard said the city tries to set money aside in each budget for road work, but the amount often isn’t enough to do much. “We try to … set aside money on a yearly basis for road improvements, typically it has been $35,000-40,000,” Guenard said. “But again, that’s general fund...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] HURLEY — A Schofield, Wisconsin, man is facing charges in Iron County Court for his role in a fatal accident south of Hurley that closed a portion of U.S. 51 for several hours last October. Joshua L. Shields, 25, is facing one count of homicide by vehicle-use of a controlled substance, a felony that carries a maximum punishment of up to 25 years in prison or a $100,000 fine. Shields is charged in connection to a multi-car crash on U.S. 51 at Spruce Road in Oma on Oct. 1. Iron County Dispatch r...
IRONWOOD — The 18th annual city of Ironwood Spring Clean-Up Day will be held at the end of the month, according to a Tuesday announcement. The opportunity for Ironwood residents to dispose of items with a drop off dumpster will take place from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, April 30, and from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 1. The location is changed to the Ironwood Public Safety Building at 123 West McLeod Ave. Residents are asked to enter off of Alfred Wright Boulevard to enter the unloading area behind the public safety building. Residents are r...
HURLEY — The Iron County Health Department will be conducting a student COVID-19 vaccine clinic on Friday at Hurley K-12 School. The health department will be administering the Pfizer vaccine to students age 16 or older who wish to receive the vaccine, according to a post on the school district’s Facebook page on Tuesday. Parents were sent a survey about the service and were contacted by the health department to schedule a vaccination if they wished. The health department and the school district understand that this is a personal choice, sai...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] IRONWOOD — The Ironwood Area Schools has begun the preparation for this year’s graduation festivities, with the district’s board of education approving the list of graduates Monday. The list featured 36 seniors anticipated to graduate, assuming they continue to meet all the district’s graduation requirements. The board also approved four graduates in the alternative education program. “We’re looking forward to graduation this year. It’s always an exciting time, but this year will be extra special...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] WAKEFIELD — At a special meeting on Friday evening, the Wakefield Planning Commission voted to send a revised version of the city’s fencing ordinance to the Wakefield City Council. “This is for all new construction,” said City Manager Robert Brown Jr. He added, however, that property owners wishing to replace any of their existing fencing will need to check the revised ordinance, which is only one and one-half pages. The proposed ordinance covers details relating to varying maximum heights for front y...
ONTONAGON — Ontonagon Superintendent Jim Bobula told the Ontonagon Area Board of Education Monday that the school is working with a recycling group to provide an opportunity for the community to recycle. There are no recycling opportunities in Ontonagon and, beginning in June, recycling bins will be set out at the school. Bobula said the recycling of glass items will not be available immediately, but plastic, cardboard and magazines and other items will be taken. He also added that the school surveillance service will be in operation to monitor...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD - The first of several major summer sewer and water projects are underway in Ironwood. Contractors with Jake's Excavation started setting up heavy equipment along Lake Avenue on Saturday. At the same time, engineers with Coleman Engineering and technicians with Xcel Energy, Inc., were surveying and marking underground utilities to aid the workers in avoiding contact while digging. The city of Ironwood awarded Jake's Excavation the bid to...
By CHARITY SMITH [email protected] BESSEMER — As those 16 years old and older are now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, the Western Upper Peninsula Heath Department has reached out to all the school districts in the county, gauging interest among the students. While WUPHD officials have offered to set up a shot clinic in each school, Bessemer Superintendent Dan Niemi said they have decided to let the kids just walk over to the health department, located a block away. Parents of students age 16-18 can sign up their student to receive a...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP — Residential testing of private wells for the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the area of the Gogebic-Iron County Airport in Ironwood Township was held early last week, according to officials involved in the testing. The testing involved contractors with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), with assistance of the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department. The two are working as partners with the Michigan PFAS Action R...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] HURLEY - Live music performances are possible once again, thanks in a big way to special masks for the musicians and also their instruments. Members of the Hurley School Junior and Senior High Bands performed their spring concert on Tuesday in the school gym for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions last March 2020. The school district allowed the performances to start again in part because each performer was fitted wi...
By CHARITY SMITH [email protected] BESSEMER — The Bessemer Downtown Development Authority decided Wednesday to allow the Bessemer Area School District to hang senior banners on light poles around the city again this year if the district chooses. “Last year, just the community feedback, it was fantastic,” said DDA member Kady Meinke. “It was good seeing the kids pictures up there. It really brought a sense of community to our high-schoolers.” Fellow DDA member Cheryl Leskoviansky agreed, saying that she thought it was a good idea. Cit...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] WAKEFIELD — To fence or not to fence, as well as where and how to fence, was a major topic at Tuesday evening’s meeting of the Wakefield Planning Commission. City Manager Robert Brown, Jr. said the city’s current ordinance allows residents to install a fence directly on their property line. However, he noted, that can result in problems — particularly when new neighbors settle in. Brown added that six feet and three feet are the current height maximum and minimum, respectively, but he added that city of...
By CHARITY SMITH [email protected] BESSEMER — The Bessemer City Council hired two local contractors for its water and sewer projects during a special meeting on Wednesday. Jake’s Excavating and Landscaping LLC, of Ironwood, was awarded the contract for the city’s major water and sewer project, following the recommendation of its hire by C2AE Engineering, of Escanaba. The company came in as the lowest of four bidders with a total bid of $14,525,949, coming in $193,124 cheaper than the second lowest bid received. Ruotsala Concrete Const...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] WAKEFIELD - Wakefield City officials conducted the first of four public tours of current and pending sites for the Department of Public Works on Wednesday afternoon. A second tour was expected on Thursday afternoon, and two additional tours are scheduled for next Wednesday and Thursday at 5:30 p.m. Anyone wishing to attend should call the municipal building at 906-229-5131 to RSVP. Wednesday's tour started at the century-old garage attached to the former...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] HURLEY — The Hurley City Council on Monday approved a recommendation from the parks and recreation and finance committees to build a full court basketball court at Riccelli Park, a new court at Pena Park, and to continue researching costs for playground equipment at both parks. Riccelli Park has an existing half-size basketball court and aging playground equipment. To make room for a full-size court two restrooms that are no longer in use may need to be removed. The need to bid out the work or a...
