Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Sorted by date Results 1538 - 1562 of 9650
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] WAKEFIELD — The Gogebic Range Trail Authority has reported that a $450,000 state budget appropriation has been allotted for ORV trail work between Wakefield and Marenisco. GRTA President Steve Hamilton said the project already had been approved for $250,000 from the state’s trail permit program. The new funds will bring the project total to $600,000. On Monday, Hamilton told the Globe that the money will cover completion of construction within an ORV trail known as the State Line Route. Michigan’s Departm... Full story
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] BESSEMER — The Gogebic County Commission members elected Jim Lorenson as board chair during an annual reorganizational meeting on Monday. The commissioners approved Lorenson as chair 6-1. He was the sole nominee by fellow commissioner George Peterson. Commissioner Tom Laabs was the lone no vote. Lorenson replaces previous commission chair Dan Siirila, who continues to serve as the District 1 county commissioner. “Thank you for your support,” Lorenson said to his fellow commissioners. “I will do...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] Even as the vaccination process continues, the number of local COVID-19 cases continues to rise; with Gogebic County passing the 1,000-case mark in the last week. The county has had 712 confirmed positive cases and 294 additional probable cases, according to the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department’s Monday update, for a total of 1,006 cases since the presence of the virus was first confirmed in the area in March. The county has 18 active cases as of Monday’s update and 39 deaths. Ont...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] As the process of vaccinating locals against COVID-19 continues, regional health departments are providing additional information on the rollout of the vaccines and when it is expected to become available to various groups of residents. “WUPHD expects vaccine administration to roll out over a series of months and is working with area hospitals, physicians and outpatient clinics to distribute available vaccines according to a phased approach that has been adopted by the Michigan Department of H... Full story
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] ONTONAGON - Snow was slow this year, but it finally allowed the last ski hill in Gogebic and Ontonagon counties to open to a grateful crowd on Saturday. Mother Nature appeared to make amends as she flooded Ontonagon's Porcupine Mountains Ski Area with kindly rays of sun and temperatures in the 30s. "It was a busy day," said Mountain Manager Bill Perrin as the afternoon wound down. He estimated that 375 patrons visited the hill. "It was a little more...
By CHARITY SMITH [email protected] IRONWOOD — People wanting to tube down Mt. Zion will have to wait at least 10 more days, according to Jim Vanderspoel, director of Mt. Zion operations at Gogebic Community College. The delay is due to a broken pump for the snowmaking machines. “The terrain park and the tubing park are not open, because I need to make a lot of snow to get those open and I have no capability of making snow at the moment,” Vanderspoel said. “I need to make a lot of snow in the tubing park to make that area safe. I need...
EWEN - Ewen-Trout Creek students in kindergarten through sixth grade were recently introduced to the school's new Fab Lab. Don Sidlowski, founder of the Northwoods Broadband and Economic Development Coalition, gave each grade a 25-minute introduction in the maker space room. In giving them an overview of the Fab Lab program, he introduced to the technology available in the room. Superintendent Dave Radovich said staff orientation on the program was held earlier in the school year, adding... Full story
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] WAKEFIELD TOWNSHIP — The annual New Year’s Eve Torchlight Parade and Fireworks display on Thursday at Blackjack Mountain ski resort attracted hundreds of vacationing skiers and area residents to welcome 2021 or perhaps just to put 2020 behind them. Pete and Jackie Cannon, of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, said they are annual visitors to the area resorts and come to Indianhead often. “It’s the snow and this is a good time of year to come between Christmas and New Year’s,” Jackie Cannon said. The couple...
By CHARITY SMITH [email protected] IRONWOOD — Mt. Zion opened for the season on Monday after a brief delay due to a lack of snow. “It went pretty good actually. It went as expected,” said Jim Vanderspoel, director of Gogebic Community College’s Ski Area Management program and operations at the hill located on the Ironwood campus. “It was a good opening day, we sold a lot of passes, but as far as numbers it was pretty average.” Vanderspoel said Mt. Zion normally sees between 100 to 115 people on opening day, but this year they only h...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] BESSEMER - Gerry Pelissero will retire this week after 20 years as the clerk of court and register of deeds for Gogebic County. Pelissero took office on Jan. 1, 2000, and served five terms. He credits his staff for his role in serving the public, the various county departments and employees. "I think first and foremost my staff, present and retired, have delivered to the residents of Gogebic County," Pelissero said. Getting to know the various clerk... Full story
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD — Westgate Nursing, Rehabilitation and Assisted Living in Ironwood will hold two rounds of COVID-19 vaccinations in January, followed by a booster vaccination around 20 days later, according to a facility official. Under the private-public partnership model the long-term care facilities within the Westgate family are working with Walgreens or CVS to provide free, on-site COVID-19 vaccinations for residents and staff, said Mike Deverso, vice president business development for Westgate in G... Full story
By CHARITY SMITH [email protected] MARENISCO — A Marenisco couple has created an ice skating rink on Lake Gogebic just off their shoreline property. According to Kristie Peterson, her husband, Steve, made the rink as a way to have fun this holiday season with family and friends while maintaining social distancing. “It was fun. We had some teenagers over that were home for the holidays. It was just something to do that was awesome,” Peterson said. She said they waited to make the rink until the ice on the lake was at least 5 inche...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD — Area full time care facilities and group homes are now scheduled for two rounds of COVID-19 vaccinations throughout January, according to local health officials. A Monday press release from the Michigan State Police said skilled nursing home residents and staff began receiving vaccinations on Monday through a pharmacy partnership for long-term care programs. A similar announcement from the state of Wisconsin noted that on-site vaccinations started Monday at skilled nursing facilities a... Full story
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] WAKEFIELD - Outgoing City Treasurer Sherry Ravelli imagined Dec. 17 as a final "relaxing" day as she said her good-byes and enjoyed pizza, cake and other treats with coworkers of the past 16 years. In an interview at the end of that day, however, she noted that she actually had been unusually busy due to routine auditing. "They're going to make me earn my pay right up to the end," she said, kidding. Although her final hours also included gifts from fellow... Full story
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD — Three partners will allow for the replacement of an electronic sign for the Pat O’Donnell Civic Center to be larger and better placed, according to reports at the Ironwood City Commission meeting on Monday. The city of Ironwood’s insurance company has agreed to allow for the purchase of the sign, known as a a reader board, to replace standard signage as part of its coverage for the replacement of the Pat O’Donnell Civic Center that is due to be completed in late January 2021, according t...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] BESSEMER — When it’s one, two three strikes you’re out regarding municipal property assessment reviews — the Michigan Tax Commission has created the option of a designated assessor to step in and bring the taxing unit into compliance. The Gogebic County Commission designated Kathy Jo Koval, the director of the county Equalization department, as its designated assessor at their Tuesday meeting. The action completes the interlocal agreement process that was already approved by local governm... Full story
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] MARENISCO — Members of the Marenisco Board of Trustees learned at their regular meeting last week that one of three candidates for police chief is now out of the running. “Jason Roberts (of Ironwood) was hired by Ironwood Public Safety,” said Supervisor Bruce Mahler, who retired as chief at the end of August and then was elected to his current role after former Supervisor Richard Bouvette retired. One of two remaining applicants for the open seat as chief is Jesse Yesney of Bergland, who currently works...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] MERCER, Wis. - The second annual free Community Christmas Feast at the Island View Lodge was not anticipated to be a big event due to the pandemic but it was a success no matter how you look at it, according to the owners and guests who attended on Friday. Last year there were around 17 people who came for the first free Christmas dinner, said Erin Doonan, who owns the resort with Alex Barnes. Many of those guests were senior citizens who saw the... Full story
WAKEFIELD — Students from kindergarten through high school attended Wakefield-Marenisco K-12 School on Monday and Tuesday after grades 9-12 had been on an extended break. The older students’ return followed a Dec. 18 announcement by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who lifted COVID-19 restrictions regarding high school students. Although Superintendent Jason Gustafson said it was nice to have “semi-normal” circumstances, the entire school once again was on break as of Wednesday — this time for Christmas vacation. The pandemic has created an erratic f...
IRONWOOD - The 12th Sisu Ski Fest will be a virtual event but organizers are excited about the prospect of the alternative event as they sent out registration packets on Monday. The 2021 Sisu registration period runs through Jan. 3, 2021. The event will run from Jan. 4 through Jan. 17. The difference this year is that there will not be a one-day event with a Sisu course and racers throughout Ironwood. To avoid the congestion of skiers, volunteers, observers and weekend events around the Sisu,... 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
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD - Although perhaps shared virtually in these challenging times the message of Christmas is no less powerful and transforming, according to area pastors who reflected on the celebration of the reason for the season. --- Rev. Donald Nickolson, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Hurley said Christmas Day celebrates the birth of Jesus. "For many of us news of this event is familiar and traditional. It may not feel new or startling. It may... Full story
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] WAKEFIELD TOWNSHIP — Members of the Wakefield Township Board of Trustees voted in a special Tuesday evening meeting to advertise an opening on the board. The action was taken in acknowledgment of last weekend’s passing of Gerald “Jerry” Niemi, who had just been re-elected to the board on Nov. 3. “I was looking forward to working with him,” said newly-elected Clerk Jennifer Ahonen in the virtual session. “He was a great board member.” “He was fantastic,” said Supervisor Mandy Lake. “He was an awesome...
