Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Sorted by date Results 1519 - 1543 of 9883
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] BESSEMER — An increase in development and real estate sales was credited in part for an increase in assessed value, according to the 2021 Equalization Report that was approved by the Gogebic County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday. The compilation of agricultural, commercial, industrial, timber and residential valuations among nine county taxing units that are used to fund county services was assessed at $7,801,943 for 2021, which is a 3% increase over 2020, according to Kathy Jo Koval, c...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] ERWIN TOWNSHIP - After meeting Tuesday evening for the first time in six months, members of the Gogebic County Chapter of the Michigan Townships Association voted in four new officers, including a brand new position. Wakefield Township Supervisor Mandy Lake, who had volunteered to head the meeting until new officers were elected, is the new chairperson. "She looks like she's doing a fine job here," said Erwin Township Supervisor Larry Grimsby, while...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] WAKEFIELD — The Wakefield City Council pledged on Monday to commit $2,500 toward the return of the town’s Fourth of July celebration. City officials and Fourth of July organizer Ann Marie Cooney said that members of the city’s Fourth of July Committee, as well as its Fireworks Committee, are deeply engaged in renewing the celebration. Last year’s events were canceled due to restrictions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, which shut down this area in March of 2020 and has had lingering effects ever si...
By CHARITY SMITH [email protected] IRONWOOD — Gogebic Community College President George McNulty shared with the college board Tuesday his concerns about the budget recommendation funding model proposed in the state House Appropriations Subcommittee last week regarding universities and community colleges during the 2021-2022 fiscal year. McNulty said he learned, that if enacted, GCC could face an 18.6% reduction in state funding. “If enacted as proposed, not only this fall, but phased in fully over the next three years, this recommendat...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD — Ironwood residents who have not paid water or sewer bills during the COVID-19 pandemic will need to resume by June 1 or pay late fees. The Ironwood City Commission 4-0 approved the request of the city water department to resume charges for city water and sewer along with late payment fees, and water turn on and off fees. Mayor Annette Burchell was not present on an excused absence. The temporary waiving of the reconnection fees and penalties on monthly utility bills has so far r...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] PAULDING — The multi-day search for a missing teen in the Paulding area ended Monday after his body was found in the woods near his home. Officials with the Ontonagon County Sheriff’s Department and County Emergency Management made the announcement late Monday afternoon, following the notification of Cam Besonen’s family. “Our community mourns the loss of this young man,” Ontonagon County Sheriff Dale Rantala said in the announcement. “Rescuers had been committed to finding him and worked tire...
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...
