Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Sorted by date Results 1762 - 1786 of 9883
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] WAKEFIELD Township — A six-year-old dream of establishing a hotel and casino complex at the top of Indianhead Mountain in Wakefield Township is inching closer to reality as plans are now in the works to construct a viable road to the proposed site. Barry Bolich, manager of the Gogebic County Road Commission in Bessemer, said by phone Thursday that the GCRC will apply for a state grant in hopes of “totally” rebuilding Indianhead Road, which connects U.S. 2 to Big Snow Resort’s Indianhead location. The gran... Full story
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD - With the construction calendar returning to normal following delivery and personnel delays, the Pat O'Donnell Civic Center may be open for use by mid to late February, according to officials. Most of the essential work is expected to be completed by mid-February, and if the ice is ready to be made, then the building could be open for use by the end of the month, said Michelle Rigoni-Sivula, civic center manager. That is contingent on...
By CHARITY SMITH [email protected] BESSEMER — The Bessemer city council will hold a special meeting at 6 p.m. on Tuesday to discuss the city’s master plan. “We’re just in the early stages, but the master plan is the guiding plan for the city for the next five years,” said city manager Charly Loper. The meeting, Loper said, is a “brain storming” session for the city council. However, the public is welcome to listen in and provide feedback and-or ideas to Loper directly either before or after the meeting. The city sent out an open-ended...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] Politicians around the region are reacting to the violence in Washington D.C. Wednesday as a violent mob loyal to President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol to delay the Congressional certification of Joe Biden’s presidential election victory. The proceedings resumed later Wednesday after the Capitol was cleared by law enforcement and was completed early Thursday. “As are so many Wisconsinites and Americans, I am watching these horrifying events unfold in Washington, D.C. in disbelief. The... Full story
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD - Siblings say the strength they find from each other after the untimely loss of their mother and the amazing show of community support has helped a great deal with the healing process. Cody Durant, 27, is the eldest of five siblings and the only one not living at the Bessemer home of their mother, Beth Durant, when she died of heart failure at age 43 on Oct. 5, 2020. The family was in shock and Cody said it was a moment to "grab the bull...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] HURLEY — The Hurley Police Department is embarking on a project to update its policies and procedures, according to reports at the city of Hurley Police, Fire and License Committee meeting on Wednesday. Hurley Chief of Police Chris Colassaco said revisions to administrative and operations protocols are always being conducted on an annual basis but that this year the department contracted with Lexipol, a law enforcement policies and training agency, to do a more thorough revision. “It’s a progr...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP -- The Ironwood Township Board of Trustees passed the township’s general fund budget at a special meeting last week but opted against approving raises for the three elected officials -- at least for the time being. The budget -- which passed by a vote of 6-1 -- projects $962,246 in general fund revenue and $1,005,067 in general fund expenses over the coming year, with the remainder of the expenses coming from the township’s fund balance. The fund balance is projected to be $587,26... Full story
By CHARITY SMITH [email protected] IRONWOOD - There is a new sledding hill in Ironwood. Miners Park Sledding Hill, which opened Tuesday, is within the Miners Memorial Heritage Park and makes use of an abandoned road. The road used to be known as Bonnie Road, before the road was moved. "It's a fun, modest hill. Thrill seekers won't be as excited about it, but it's good fun," said Rick Semo, president of the Friends of the Miners Memorial Heritage Park. Semo said the hill was the...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD — Discussion at the Ironwood Parks and Recreation Committee on Monday included the potential for adding fitness equipment stations along walking trails. In his presentation on Michigan Department of Natural Resources Trust Fund Grant application ideas for 2021, Tom Bergman, director of community development for the city of Ironwood, said fitness equipment for the Iron Belle Trail or other trails could be an upgrade to attract more and different types of trail users. The presentation was for the c...
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...
