Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Sorted by date Results 1811 - 1835 of 9650
By CHARITY SMITH [email protected] IRONWOOD - HOPE Animal Shelter received a new handmade entrance sign on Aug. 23, from Sabastian Yaeger, of Hurley, an Eagle Scout candidate. In order to become an Eagle Scout, the highest rank in the Boy Scouts, Yaeger had to develop and carry out a service project to benefit his community. The sign is the completion of that project. "I chose to help HOPE with their sign because my family has two dogs we've adopted from them. I wanted to show how much...
IRONWOOD — A suspect is in custody in connection to an alleged stabbing Tuesday in Ironwood. The Ironwood Public Safety Department was dispatched to an address on the 400 block of West Cloverland Drive at roughly 11 p.m. Tuesday. Initial reports were that a man had been assaulted and was on the ground, bleeding heavily, according to an IPSD news release. It was determined the man had been stabbed multiple times, according to the release, and was transported to Aspirus Ironwood via ambulance. Witnesses told responding officers the suspect had f...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] HURLEY — The Iron County Health Department released its latest two exposure sites Tuesday where people may have come in contact with someone who had COVID-19. According to the announcement, the department can confirm there were positive cases at the Around the Corner Pub in Mercer on the evening of Aug. 27 and at the Antlers Pub in Mercer on the evenings of Aug. 26 and Aug. 27. Other than “evening,” no times were listed in the health department’s announcement. “If a person (who) tested positive for...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD — The Ironwood City Commission on Monday extended its opt-out ordinance for adult-use marijuana until November. The 3-0 approval with Mayor Annette Burchell and Commissioner Rick Semo not present, was to ensure the existing ordinance would not expire on Tuesday, Sept. 1, with its sunset clause. The extension will run through Monday, Nov. 9, the date of the first city commission meeting for the month. Mayor Pro Tem Kim Corcoran first inquired if there would be penalties from the state of M...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] IRONWOOD - Seventy-five years ago today, representatives from the Japanese government signed surrender documents, formally ending World War II. Hurley native Tom DeCarlo had a front-row seat to this moment in history. DeCarlo served aboard the USS Thetis Bay, which was anchored close to the USS Missouri where the surrender ceremony was held. DeCarlo recalls leaving the ship's engine room on the way to eat and seeing the Missouri in Toyko Bay. "I...
By CHARITY SMITH [email protected] IRONWOOD — The Cosmetology Academy at Gogebic Community College reopened to the public on Tuesday, having been closed since the pandemic abruptly shuttered its doors in March. The salon allows advanced students with at least 350 hours of experience working on mannequins and each other, to “fine-tune” their skills and become “salon-ready,” by working on members of the public under the supervision of a licensed stylist. Program Director Nicole Hocking and instructor Laura Erickson guide their students. ...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] ERWIN - Members of the Gogebic County Chapter of the Michigan Townships Association got a lesson in election rules at their meeting last week outside of the Erwin Township Hall. Gerry Pelissero, Gogebic County Clerk and Register of Deeds, provided the rundown as guest speaker of the evening. His aim was to provide procedural clarity in the wake of several changes that Michigan has undergone in recent years. He said he also, ultimately, wants to "see every...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] BESSEMER — A shoplifting complaint at a local store has led to the arrest of three people on local drug charges. The Michigan State Police and Gogebic County Sheriff’s Department responded to a shoplifting complaint at the Ironwood Walmart on Aug. 17 involving two people — a man who was arrested on the scene and a second who had fled on foot. During the investigation, law enforcement personnel learned both individuals were staying at an Ironwood motel, according to a Gogebic Iron Area Narco...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] HANCOCK — The Western Upper Peninsula now has a second death related to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, after the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department announced Houghton County’s first fatality Saturday. “Our heartfelt sympathies and prayers go out to the family who has lost their loved one,” WUPHD health officer Kate Beer said in the announcement. “This is a sad reminder of the seriousness of the COVID-19 threat. We must continue our prevention efforts, especially for the safety of our el...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] U.S. 2 has been humming with activity as asphalt placement has begun this week between Wakefield and Bessemer. According to Dan Weingarten, communications representative with Michigan's Department of Transportation, the $1.34 million project began on July 7 with gradual preparations for the current work along a 4.2-mile stretch. "This project is preventive maintenance - designed to improve the ride quality and maintain fair and good condition roads," said...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] HURLEY — The health departments in both Iron County and the Western Upper Peninsula continue to work with local school districts as they start the school year in the midst of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. “You, your children and our schools are preparing for a very different start to the school year. Positive cases continue to rise and the COVID-19 virus remains active in Iron County,” an Iron County Health Department spokesperson said in a news release Thursday. “Regardless of whether your ch...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] HURLEY — The Genisot family wants their COVID-19 experience to give others confidence that the community will get through the pandemic together but to expect that others will become infected before a vaccine or other solution will lessen the threat. “We’re expecting it with more staff. We’re expecting it with kids,” said Kevin Genisot, the administrator of Hurley K-12 School. “This is something that we are going to deal with at a level that hopefully everyone with an experience will find it eve...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] BESSEMER — The Gogebic County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday unanimously approved a three-year contract for county dispatching services to Negaunee Regional Dispatch. The contract was recommended by the Finance, Budgeting and Auditing Committee, and was supported by the Michigan State Police Wakefield Post. It will take effect on Jan. 1. The bid will realize approximately $145,259 in savings from the current contract with Iron County (Mich.) Dispatch, according to the letter from Heidi DeRosso...
By CHARITY SMITH [email protected] BESSEMER - A new park with a playground for kids was recently built behind the centerfield fence of Barber Field in the Yale Location of Bessemer and has opened to rave reviews. "I think it's wonderful especially with all the kids in the neighborhood. I know my grandkids really enjoy it, every night we got to take them down there," said Paulette Baldwin. According to Bessemer city manager Charly Loper, city officials started looking into the idea of...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] HURLEY — With the ongoing coronavirus pandemic limiting events, Northern Iron County Engaged Residents is encouraging locals to get out and explore the area by launching its Backyard Adventure Month Tuesday. “The idea of having this whole thing is because, with the COVID shutdown, people are looking for things to do,” said Ken Saari, NICER vice president and one of several event organizers. For the month of September, challenge participants can obtain a competition booklet that contains the entry...
IRONWOOD - The Gogebic Community College board worked to welcome the new school year with the hiring of four new staff members Tuesday, filling the positions of registrar, career counselor, Nordic ski coach and a networking specialist. The board formerly approved the hiring of Jacqueline Franzoi as career counselor, although she had already started her position. "We're really excited and we're thrilled to have her here," vice president of student services Jeanne Graham told the board as she intr...
HURLEY — The Hurley Board of Education will not make changes to its in-classroom with virtual option reopening plan, or the decision to go ahead with fall sports after taking no action at a special meeting on Tuesday. The school board approved its reopening plan 5-0 and fall sports schedule 3-2 at an Aug. 17 meeting. Three school board members requested a special meeting to revisit the decision, “due to the current health data change, and the importance of this decision,” as stated on the agenda. Leslie Kolesar, school board president, said the...
MERCER, Wis. — Staff and faculty of the Mercer School District are working through in-service days to prepare for the start of fall semester on Tuesday, according to District Administrator Sheri Kopka in her report to the Board of Education on Monday. The school’s reopening plan was reviewed by the Iron County Department of Health and the day-to-day school operation details will be provided to families so they know what to expect, she said. Supply donations included a $469 cash donation to help kids with school supplies, along with a sep...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD — The Ironwood City Commission will wait until September to consider a revised adult-use marijuana manufacturing ordinance proposal that failed a split vote in March. Mayor Annette Burchell was not present and Mayor Pro Tem Kim Corcoran urged the commissioners not to take action on the ordinance until the full commission was present. The 4-0 decision to postpone followed a public hearing and after commissioners made suggestions for changes. “We’ve been approaching this ordinance, I think...
By CHARITY SMITH [email protected] BESSEMER - Students at Bessemer Area Schools returned to much different campus than they had left, with the school making multiple modifications and improvements to the buildings both structural and cosmetic, and new technology available at A.D. Johnston Junior-Senior High. Students at Washington Elementary walked into a school Tuesday that has far fewer windows, at least temporarily. All of the old windows have been taking down and replaced with...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP — After failing to find any clarity regarding the state of donations to the township’s volunteer fire department, the Ironwood Township Board of Trustees voted to “outsource” the matter to an outside agency Monday night — meaning the matter is likely soon to be referred to law enforcement. “My recommendation is we outsource this to an outside agency to get the answers. Whatever the truth is, they’re going to let us know,” Supervisor Jim Simmons said. “We just want to get at the tr...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] IRONWOOD - The Luther L. Wright K-12 School was expected to be filled with students today for the first day of the 2020-21 school year, however, the district's board of education voted in an emergency meeting Friday to postpone the start of the school year until Sept. 8. "It is with a heavy heart that I inform you of the delay in the start of this school year. ... The reason for this delay is that our elevator, which is being upgraded, will not be...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] HURLEY — It has only been one week since the Hurley Public School Board decided to start the school year in the classroom with a virtual learning option — but a special meeting tonight will revisit the decision in part for updated information regarding COVID-19 cases in Iron County. “The magnitude of this decision is great and with school only a week away, it’s imperative that the board reviews the plan a final time to determine if it’s the most appropriate given our current situation...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] MERCER, Wis. — The Mercer Public Library will conclude its survey at the end of the month with prize drawings to encourage more people to help shape the long-term planning of a community centerpiece. All input is welcome but there is an effort to reach working age adults and those who don’t use the library regularly in particular, said Teresa Schmidt, director of the Mercer Public Library. The survey (bit.ly/mercerlibrarysurvey) wants to reach these people for some feedback to see what could change...
