Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Sorted by date Results 1436 - 1460 of 9883
By CHARITY SMITH [email protected] WAKEFIELD - Residents at the Gogebic Medical Care Facility participated in World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on Tuesday, by planting a blossoming cherry tree in the community garden. Ashley Jarvenpaa, director of activities, said that June 15 was designated as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day in 2016, by the International Network of Prevention of Elder Abuse, the World Health Organization, and the United Nations. The World Health Organization posted a 2017...
By Zachary Marano [email protected] MERCER, Wis. — Mercer Library hosted its first outdoor movie event of the summer on Tuesday. Attendees gathered on the library grounds to see a showing of the 1996 film “Matilda” on the library's new outdoor movie equipment. Library director Teresa Schmidt said the library wants to host events where people can leave their homes and connect with the community, which is particularly difficult during the COVID-19 pandemic. Schmidt said that outdoor movie events will provide opportunities for the entir...
By Zachary Marano [email protected] UPSON, Wis. - At the head of the newly-opened trail from Casey Sag Road to Foster Falls stands a trailhead sign that was created by Ross Niemi, a 17-year-old, soon-to-be senior at Hurley High School. As part of the school's Northwoods Manufacturing program, Niemi said he designed the sign and crafted it using cedar and the industry-grade woodcarving equipment available at the school. Niemi said he started work on the trailhead sign in January 2021...
By Zachary Marano [email protected] HURLEY, Wis. - As work continues to construct a roundabout at the intersection of U.S. 2 and 51, Wisconsin Department of Transportation officials are planning the demise of the bridge over U.S. 2. Project Engineer Erik Lundwall said that constructions crews will start removing the bridge in late June, beginning with the half of the bridge that goes over the former westbound lanes on U.S. 2. "Bi-directional traffic is currently in eastbound U.S. 2 lanes while we work on the westbound portion,"...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] HURLEY — The annual Iron County Heritage Festival parade and related events in Hurley are now approved to go forward, according to Mayor Jay Aijala. The Hurley City Council discussed the details of the events and determined that the festival could be organized safely within the parameters of state COVID-19 guidelines as they currently stand with the Iron County Department of Health and the state of Wisconsin, he said. “We feel we’re in a very comfortable spot with the COVID pandemic and that we can...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] HURLEY — A contested conditional use permit to operate a tourist rooming house in Mercer passed the Iron County Comprehensive Planning, Land and Zoning Committee on Tuesday, with owners, neighbors and attorneys from both sides present at the meeting. The 4-1 committee approval established a list of conditions based on concerns that will allow Anitra and Gary Willis to operate their lakeside home at 5364N Falcon Road as a tourist rooming house (TRH) in a residential-recreation zoned district. The co...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD — Scheduling changes for Ironwood to Chicago flights are due to a pilot shortage, according to reports at the Gogebic-Iron County Airport Board meeting on Monday. Due to the nationwide pilot shortage, Boutique Air Inc., is unable to have two sets of pilots for its daily Ironwood service to Chicago, according to Michael Harma, airport manager. As of June 15 the airline has moved the flight time for Flight 831 to Chicago from 5:15 a.m. to 7:15 a.m., and moved up the 8:10 p.m. return F...
by Zachary Marano [email protected] IRONWOOD - The city of Ironwood's utilities department started removing the blacktop on VanBuskirk Road between Pioneer Road and Normandy Avenue last week. According to the city's Utilities Manager Bob Tervonen, VanBuskirk is being excavated to replace the water main under the road. He said that construction crew will replace 800 feet of the water main. The city is also replacing the water main and sewer lines on West Pewabic Street, he said....
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] MERCER, Wis. - A frequent comment in Mercer on Saturday was that the weather was "just right" for birding, bike rides and barbecuing at Carow Park. The 15th annual Lupine Junefest Bike Tour and Mercer Bird Festival on Saturday attracted bike riders from several states. The riders said they weren't disappointed, or overheated with morning temperatures in the 70s and a high of 82 degrees. "It was a beautiful day. I don't think the weather could have b...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] Perfect weather brought out people in droves during Michigan’s state-sponsored “free weekend” in which no licenses were required for fishing or ORV riding and no fees or stickers were needed for state parks. The beach and surrounding water at Lake Gogebic State Park were busy with a variety of activity, including boating, paddling, scuba diving and swimming. Ben Sondergrath and his fiancé, Rachel Torp, both of Chassell, said they were enjoying a long weekend filled with boating, fishing and campin...
WAKEFIELD — The Michigan Department of Transportation will begin resurfacing much of U.S. 2 and M-28 in Wakefield beginning June 21. The work will resurface about 1.2 miles of U.S. 2 from the Little Black River (west of the Industrial Park) east to Pierce Street (six blocks east of the school), and of M-28 from the intersection with U.S. 2 north and east to Crusher Road, northeast of Sunday Lake. MDOT expects to complete the work in September. The project includes asphalt milling and resurfacing, drainage structure repairs and pavement m...
IRONWOOD - Behind the ski chalet of Mt. Zion lies a hidden gem - a nature walk through the woods, over a small stream, covering approximately a mile. The walk has been used year round for hiking, snowshoeing and fishing, and even Frisbee golf, said a Gogebic Community College spokesperson. However, in 2016 a great "hundred year flood" severely damaged the two wooden bridges along the path. College officials plan to repair the bridges. "Imagine how nice this would be if these bridges were...
BESSEMER — The Bessemer Fourth of July planning committee is expecting “enormous” attendance at this year’s celebration of the nation’s birthday, said committee head Linda Nelson. After most events being canceled due to COVID last year, a full slate of Bessemer Blast activities are billed as the “biggest and best 4th of July celebration in the U.P.,” said Nelson. Much of the celebration will take place in downtown Bessemer on Sophie Street over the week prior to July 4, and will feature events for all ages. There will be many familiar even...
IRONWOOD - The city could assume temporary occupancy of the Pat O'Donnell Civic Center in early July, according to reports at the Monday board meeting. With the final list of items for contractors to revisit to complete or repair the work to complete the arena that started construction in the spring is nearing completion, according to board member reports, Dennis Hewitt, the former city assessor and building official who was involved in the construction process until his retirement in December....
By Zachary Marano [email protected] MONTREAL, Wis. — Mayor Erik Guenard told the Montreal City Council Tuesday evening there is a lot of construction and urban improvement happening in the city, but there is also a rise in blight in certain areas, including dilapidated buildings, unregistered vehicles and grass higher than 8 inches. Blight violations are identified by a blight enforcement officer. If the owner of the blighted property does not address it, the city sends in lawn services. The cost of the services are added to the o...
IRONWOOD — The city of Ironwood was awarded grant funds to help investigate residential water service lines to determine which contain lead or galvanized steel, according to a Tuesday announcement from state Rep. Greg Markkanen, R-Hancock. The nearly $215,000 Drinking Water Asset Management grant was awarded by the state Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy and funded through the Michigan Clean Water Plan. The Ironwood portion is part of a $500 million investment for infrastructure upgrades, such as replacing water service l...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD — The Ironwood Planning Commission expects to complete the site plan and conditional review process for the adult-use marijuana establishment license applications within a month. At its Thursday meeting the commission 5-0 accepted updated site plans and conditional use permits for CultivateD, LLC, an Ironwood company with plans for a retail location at 326 W. McLeod Ave., and a class C grower and processor marijuana establishment at 1700 Iron King Road. Commissioner Stephanie Hollaoway, a...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] WATERSMEET - Ten graduates of the Watersmeet K-12 School proudly received their diplomas on Tuesday morning in the Watersmeet Pavilion. The kindergarten ceremony was every bit as solemn and dignified as that of high school graduates, who already had their own ceremony on May 28. "It was a really strange year," began Charly Sartori, the kindergarten teacher, who noted the COVID-19 pandemic that has been in play for more than a year. Sartori told parents,...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD - A warm, sunny evening and the promise of an entertaining and educational experience drew a few hundred people to the Ironwood Downtown City Square for First Friday. The roar of applause showed the crowd was indeed pleased with the dance and story presentation of Woodland Sky Native American Dance Company. Heather Nyman, of Bessemer, said she enjoyed watching the event with her children, Bryce and Keira Martin. "The dress was pretty...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] With temperatures hovering around 90 degrees across the reagion on Saturday, it was not uncommon to see motorbikes, convertibles and kids running through sprinklers. Adding to the activity was what the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources called a “Free Fun Weekend” in relation to trails, parks and waterways. On both Saturday and Sunday, park admission fees, fishing licenses and trail fees were not required in any of the state’s 49 state parks, 15 state forests, numerous waterways or 44 state trail...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] BESSEMER — The Bessemer Area School District on Thursday approved the use of Massie Field for the annual Fourth of July fireworks celebration. The board’s 4-1 decision followed discussion regarding concerns about trash, certain fireworks that litter the field with casings, preventing the consumption of alcohol and use of tobacco on school property, and planning the flow of crowds in and out of the stadium. The approval stipulated that the Fourth of July Committee assume responsibility for fie...
WATERSMEET — The last day of school in Watersmeet isn’t until Friday, but district officials are gearing up for a busy summer of more education. The district is planning an eight-week Summer Skills Camp. The summer school for all grade levels of kids who live in the district will meet Monday through Thursday. The day will begin with breakfast at 8 a.m., followed by class from 9 to noon, and lunch from noon to 1 p.m. “We are very excited about the opportunity to provide the Summer Skills Camp and these two meals throughout this program as well...
