Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Sorted by date Results 1277 - 1301 of 9733
By CHARITY SMITH [email protected] BESSEMER - Highway construction will continue on through the Bessemer Blast holiday events, with approval from the Bessemer City Council on Monday. The city council 4-0 approved the request of the Michigan Department of Transportation to allow its contractors, James Peterson Sons, to continue work on U.S. 2 from Monday, June 28, through Wednesday, June 30, during the week of the Bessemer Blast. Council member Terry Kryshak was not present. "They would...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] WAKEFIELD — More than a week of celebration now begins in Wakefield with “Family, Friends, Freedom” as this year’s Fourth of July theme. The Matt Ahonen Memorial 24th Annual Softball Tournament begins today at 5 p.m. and continues at 9 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday at the softball field area on Cemetery Drive. Next Thursday, July 1, the Hometown Variety Show will be held at 6 p.m. at the Wakefield-Marenisco K-12 School. The show will be held outside on the north side, facing Sunday Lake. In the eve...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] HURLEY — The Hurley Public School Board lifted the mask mandate on Monday with instructions to the administration to monitor pandemic guidance recommendations leading into the next academic year in the fall. The action was effective immediately following a 5-0 vote. The school board and around a dozen others present for the regular meeting removed their face coverings — something that hadn’t been done at the meetings since the pandemic order started in March 2020. The board action included langu...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] MARENISCO TOWNSHIP - After nearly a year without an official full-time lead in law enforcement, the Marenisco Board of Trustees on Monday unanimously approved the hire of James Webber as the town's new police chief. Webber, who was hired as part-time support about a month ago, will start his new full-time role on July 1. Monday's vote was unanimous with town clerk Donna Kenney describing Webber's service thus far as "just awesome." "I do love your...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] MERCER, Wis. - Weekend activity varies from one household to the next, ranging from family brunches to gardening to a number of chores, errands and other options. For members of the Northwoods Traditional Archers, it's a great time to practice their skill, as they did on Saturday morning at the Northwoods Wildlife and Wetlands Club Range in Mercer. According to David Steinhorst, who heads the range's archery committee, the total group consists of 15...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] MERCER, Wis. — A special meeting of the Mercer town electors was postponed on Thursday after it was determined that public notice was not provided within the period required by Wisconsin statutes. The special meeting was to be held prior to the regular town of Mercer Board of Supervisors meeting, but was not posted within the timeline required, according to town clerk Debbie Hohner. The special meeting will be rescheduled with a date that will be posted within 15 days, but not more than 20 days p...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] GILE, Wis. - Saturday's Snake Hunt Fishing Tournament drew 28 boats and 56 registrants and resulted with five pairs winning in overall inches of up to 10 fish. Two men split the honor of catching the longest single fish. Operating out of the County C boat launch on the Gile Flowage, the contest accepted only northern pike, according to Curt Myers, who was manning the measuring table, where his wife, Terry, was recording inches measured by Mark Radovich....
By CHARITY SMITH [email protected] IRONWOOD — The Ironwood Carnegie Library is hosting a book talk at 6 p.m. this evening, via Zoom, with up and coming author Maxwell Hurley. Hurley, an Ironwood native, published the first two books in his young adult series “LIT” this year, and will be discussing the first book of the series along with his writing process, said library director Lynn Wiercinski. “LIT: The Dark Ignites” was released in February and is the first in Hurley’s young adult series that lean toward more mature themes and...
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....
