Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Sorted by date Results 1785 - 1809 of 9883
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...
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...
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...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] IRONWOOD — The three-district football co-op team in western Gogebic County is no more after the Ironwood Area Schools’ board of education voted to dissolve the co-op Monday, with the other districts in the co-op taking similar votes. The team consisted of students from the Ironwood, Bessemer and Wakefield-Marenisco school districts. “All three schools, through very cordial and collaborative conversation, … have agreed to dissolve the current Gogebic Miners football co-op with the intention we will...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] MONTREAL, Wis. — Northern Iron County Engaged Residents successfully completed its online crowdfunding fundraiser last week as the local group continues to raise money to develop a community garden in the city of Montreal. “I was pleasantly surprised by the support we received from everybody,” said Kari Klemme, NICER secretary and garden committee chairwoman. She said the online campaign on seedmoney.org — a non-profit focused on supporting public food garden projects — raised roughly $3,850, w...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] MARENISCO - Members of the Marenisco Township Board of Trustees voted Monday evening to explore how a newly-created ordinance could address a window to possible marijuana enterprise within the township. Newly-elected Supervisor Bruce Mahler made the matter his first major priority while directing his inaugural meeting after being elected to the role on Nov. 3. In the summer of 2019, board members had passed a previous ordinance allowing marijuana...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] BESSEMER - The turnout was so overwhelming for the drive-thru Santa event on Saturday that the host crew from the Bessemer VFW Post 3673 wasn't sure they were going to have enough gift bags. When all was said and done the volunteers had handed out 225 of the 250 gift bags to a line of cars that formed three circles in the VFW parking lot and stretched for a couple of blocks east down alleys to avoid congestion on Bessemer streets. Each car had a...
By CHARITY SMITH [email protected] IRONWOOD - Residents at the Westgate Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center in Ironwood and the Aspirus Long Term Care in Ontonagon received some Christmas cheer on Friday. Students in the Gogebic-Ontonagon Intermediate School District's CNA program visited the residents from outside their windows, and presented each of them with a bird feeder. "It's cool. I think they'll really like seeing the birds," said Savanah Clemens, a CNA student enrolled at...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] WAKEFIELD — Although Christmas Eve isn’t until Thursday, Santa Claus was ready for business last Friday with an early evening errand in the Wakefield area. Members of the Wakefield Volunteer Fire Department helped Santa to enact the important task of delivering responses to local kids who had sent letters to the big guy via the municipal building. “These are the little things that make a small town a home,” said City Manager Robert Brown, Jr. prior to the event. Late on Friday afternoon, Fire Chief M...
Email calendar items and community news to [email protected]. For more information, call 906-932-2211. Tuesday, Dec. 22 Gogebic County Veterans Service Officer, 9:30-11:30 a.m., Ironwood Memorial Building. 906-667-1110. Breakfast For Your Brain, 10 a.m., Mercer, Wis., Community Center. 715-561-2695. Alcoholics Anonymous, noon, Salem Lutheran Church, Ironwood. area74.org. Ironwood Kiwanis Club, noon, Golden Dragon. Alcoholics Anonymous, 6 p.m., Sharon Lutheran Church, Bessemer. area74.org. Woods and Blooms Garden Club, 6:30 p.m., Haines C...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] Dr. Jason Bombard was the first person to receive the COVID-19 vaccine at Aspirus Ironwood Hospital on Friday as the region's healthcare system continues its effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Aspirus Health announced it received its first doses of the Pfizer vaccine Thursday and was beginning to vaccinate staff at several of its Upper Peninsula hospitals. "Our top priority has been the health and safety of our staff and communities,"...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] MERCER, Wis. — The town of Mercer will continue its community outreach regarding a proposed Premier Resort Area Tax (PRAT) as a preferred source of revenue to maintain roads as opposed to placing the burden on the property tax. The Mercer Community Center held as many people as could be safely distanced at a special meeting prior to the regular town board of supervisors meeting on Thursday. There were several questions along with opponents and proponents of the PRAT that failed a previous ballot a...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] WAKEFIELD — Members of the Wakefield City Council learned Monday that the city’s municipal building may serve as a site for COVID-19 testing and/or immunizations. City Manager Robert Brown, Jr. reported that the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department in Hancock has requested to use the municipal building gym as a site to administer COVID-19 testing. He said that it could be just a one-time event before the end of the year or possibly could involve weekly sessions during the first couple months of 2021....
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD — The Downtown Ironwood Development Authority welcomed two new members at its virtual meeting Thursday, bringing the city board to full strength at nine members. The two new members are Bruce Greenhill and Darrin Kimbler. It was their first meeting since their mayoral appointments were approved by the Ironwood City Commission. Greenhill is the operations manager for the Historic Ironwood Theatre. Kimbler owns Taiga Farm and Vineyards in Ironwood Township. He is also the agriculture e...
By CHARITY SMITH [email protected] RAMSAY — The Powderhorn Area Utility District is close to finalizing a change to the district’s late fee which would make it non-compounding. The district board discussed the matter at its meeting Wednesday, held via telephone conference. The board is seeking to have the late fee for unpaid utility bills remain at 10%, but eliminate the compounding portion, to make it easier for customers to get caught up. The members heard that the Bessemer Township board approved the change at its meeting Monday and...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD - Jeanne Olsen's travels around the country to visit her children have also made her somewhat of a culinary ambassador. The Ironwood resident says her five grown children grew up eating pasties and that prior to each of her visits, she shops her favorite area bakeries to bring dozens of them with her. While visiting, she is also invited to hold a pasty making class for family friends and relatives, including her recent Thanksgiving trip to...
IRONWOOD — An Ironwood City Commission workshop on Monday revealed the benefits and consequences that come from choosing which grants to apply for in order to build a proposed water treatment and filtration system with a new pump station. Jeff Sjoquist of Coleman Engineering, said his firm is taking the lead on Michigan grant applications as the subcontractor to Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. SEH is the construction engineering firm that recommended a $9.7 million concrete, gravity filtered water treatment plant that would address manganese a...
