Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Sorted by date Results 1614 - 1638 of 9883
By CHARITY SMITH [email protected] BESSEMER — The Bessemer City Council voted unanimously during its regular meeting Monday night to reconvene on April 5 in an in-person/virtual hybrid format. This will be the first time the council has met in person since March 2020. “We are now able to have meetings with up to 25 people as long as everyone is properly spaced,” City Manager Charly Loper informed the council. Loper suggested the hybrid meetings, but cautioned “a lot” of the county’s population is still waiting COVID-19 vaccination...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] MERCER, Wis. — The MECCA Cross Country Ski Trails are now entirely on public land after the Iron County Forestry Department completed a recent land purchase. The purchase acquired a 40-acre parcel that the trail had been on for years after the past owner, Jim Kichak, was interested in selling it. “We’re very pleased to now be on 100% public property. It gives us a long-term ability to plan and expand and enhance the trails without risk of having to reroute trails,” said MECCA President Mike Sh...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD — Social service extensions and free school meals will continue through summer in support of families during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to announcements from Michigan and Wisconsin. State social service departments in coordination with school districts are working to continue benefits for families with children who are missing free or reduced price school meals because of the COVID-19 pandemic for the 2020-2021 school year, the announcements said. “It looks like the free meals pro...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] Given scarce snow all season and a current warming trend, the skiing season is now closed for Whitecap Mountains Resort in Upson, Wis. "This is the last day," said Tom Backerud from the front desk on Sunday. "We've gotten about half the snow we usually get, so it's been a little off," added Backerud, who handles reservations. The total regional snow count as of the end of last week was under 80 inches. Even so, Backerud said that business throughout the...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD — Area emergency management officials say the flood risk is minimized this spring with less snow but that additional rain or snow over the next few weeks could change that outlook. “With a very mild winter so far, the spring snowmelt flood risk is below normal and no major flooding is anticipated,” said Heidi DeRosso, director of Gogebic County Emergency Management and 911 coordinator. The emergency management office continues to monitor the river and lake levels in the watershed and r...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] WAKEFIELD — The application for a $2.925 million loan was expected to be formally submitted this week to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development division in relation to a pending water project for the city of Wakefield. Matt Treado, the Ishpeming office manager of U.P. Engineers and Architects, reported the news at a Monday evening meeting of the Wakefield City Council. During the virtual session, Treado said he hopes to get a response to the funding request by May, and he anticipates adv...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD - Whether on the highway or downtown, restaurant owners say the pandemic continues to challenge them. Debra Federico, owner of Mike's Restaurant on U.S. 2, said she decided back in May 2020 to stay closed for indoor dining until a vaccine was developed and it would be safe and feasible for the small dining room to open. They constructed a takeout window in the interim and reopened in February with the vaccine rollout moving forward. "It's...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] BESSEMER — The Gogebic County Courthouse elevator will soon undergo repairs after breakdowns over the summer left people briefly stuck between floors. The Gogebic County Board of Commissioners on Thursday 7-0 approved a recommendation from the Economic Development and Capital Improvement Committee to authorize a $34,682 bid to Otis Elevator Company. According to meeting minutes, the committee found the repairs to be necessary immediately as it is the only elevator in the building. County Administra...
IRONWOOD — Gogebic Community College will hold its graduation ceremony virtually again this year. “Due to the uncertainty of COVID-19 and to protect our students, their families, faculty and staff, we decided to host a virtual graduation ceremony,” said GCC President George McNulty, in a press release Wednesday. “This decision was not an easy one, and we are already working diligently to provide students with a ceremony that they will remember.” The online presentation, similar to last year’s virtual commencement, will be shown on YouTube on...
By CHARITY SMITH [email protected] IRONWOOD - The Mt. Zion Winter Recreation Area at Gogebic Community College is closed for the season. The college made the announcement Wednesday. Jim Vanderspoel, director of GCC's Ski Area Management program and Mt. Zion operations, said the closure came just a few days earlier than he had planned. He said he had hoped to have the hill open through Sunday. "After the recent warm temperatures and heavy rainfall, we had no choice but to close," Vandersp...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD — The first of 16 applicants seeking various commercial permits to operate adult-use marijuana growing, manufacturing, retail, inspection and transportation licenses was held March 4. The planning commission heard a presentation of the marijuana microbusiness application of Three Twins Cultivators, by project partners, Joshua Norman, Ben Thompson and Benji Fisher. The three plan to build a growing and processing operation for 150 plants, with a separate onsite retail dispensary at 138 West...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] HURLEY — Eagle Bluff Golf Club was placed on the Hurley City Council agenda on Monday to discuss the lack of response regarding its overdue annual lease payment, according to Mayor Jay Aijala at the meeting. Aijala said the club was late with the $10,000 payment for 2020 for use of the city-owned golf course, and there had been no communication from the nonprofit Eagle Bluff board of directors. The council has worked with the golf club on lease issues in past years that have been financially c...
By CHARITY SMITH [email protected] BESSEMER - Demolition of the Traveler's Lodge in Bessemer began Wednesday morning. The motel and its property was purchased late last year by Dollar General, which plans to build a store there on U.S. 2 on the east end of the city. Workers with Angelo Luppino Construction started the demolition process early Wednesday morning, according to Paul Luppino of the company. Luppino said they were taking trees down as part of clearing the site and plan to...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD — The Ironwood City Commission on Monday approved changes to the adult-use marijuana ordinance to clarify conditional uses. The commission 3-1 approved an amended ordinance regarding conditional use permits. The revision is for consistency between the adult use marijuana ordinance and the zoning ordinance. Commissioner Joseph Cayer voted against, and Commissioner Rick Semo was not present with an excused absence. Tom Bergman, director of community development, said the adult use marijuana...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] HANCOCK — More than 25% of Ontonagon County residents over the age of 16 have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to the latest vaccine numbers that the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department released Monday. A total of 1,291 people, or 25.6%, have received the needed vaccinations, according to the WUPHD. Another 1,615 of the county’s 5,003 residents over the age of 16 have received their first vaccination dose. Nine hundred and ninety seven of the county’s 2,154 residents over...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] WAKEFIELD — The Wakefield City Council voted Monday evening 4-1 to approve a change in the dates of seasonal shift changes for city workers to coincide with Memorial Day and Labor Day holidays, rather than with daylight savings time. The decision is contingent upon union workers’ approval — something predicted by City Manager Robert Brown, Jr. Last year, city workers changed from a five-day schedule of eight-hour shifts to a four-day schedule of 10-hour shifts during the period of daylight savings time...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] BESSEMER — After two days of testimony, it took a jury less than an hour to convict a La Crosse, Wisconsin, man of all three drug charges he faced in Gogebic County Circuit Court Friday. Derrick Lee Menara, 43, was found guilty of possessing methamphetamine with intent to deliver, conspiracy to possess meth with the intent to deliver, and maintaining a drug house after roughly 45 minutes of jury deliberations. Menara had been accused of traveling to the area to sell drugs in August 2020. While h...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] BESSEMER TOWNSHIP - The first "Muk Up" ski race event had good weather and plenty of participants and fans on Saturday at Blackjack Mountain. "I hope they do it again next year," said Pat Orr, of Ironwood, who came to watch her adult son race. "The fresh air, the kids and the adults having a good time." The event was named to honor the late Tony Mukavitz, who passed away in May 2020. But the ski race itself was in the planning stages for several...
By CHARITY SMITH [email protected] MERCER, Wis. — There is still time for skiers and snowshoers to participate in the MECCA Trails Winterfest. The fundraising event has been extended through March 28 and trail conditions are “pretty good,” according to Beth Wetzler of the Winterfest committee. “I think sometimes people are scared that there’s not going to be good conditions (in the spring), but actually conditions can be pretty good in the spring. Some people it is their favorite time of year to ski and snowshoe,” Wetzler said. Howev...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] BESSEMER — The trial of a La Crosse, Wisconsin, man facing three local drug charges got underway in Gogebic County Circuit Court Thursday following jury selection the day before. Derrick Lee Menara, 43, is standing trial on charges of possessing methamphetamine with intent to deliver, conspiracy to possess meth with the intent to deliver, and maintaining a drug house. Menara is accused of traveling to the area to sell drugs in August 2020. While here, he is alleged to have evaded law enforcement r...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD — The city of Ironwood drinking water shows no failing marks, according to the annual report recently released by the city. Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants and the presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk, according to the city’s annual Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report). The city’s test results show that water samples tested in 2020 were...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] HURLEY - A vaccination a day may keep COVID-19 away as Hurley and Mercer educators and childcare providers started receiving vaccinations this week from the Iron County Health Department. Kevin Genisot, administrator of Hurley Public School District, said he was among the teachers scheduled to receive shots on Thursday afternoon at the Memorial Building. The Hurley School District has 95 employees to include substitutes, full and part-time staff,...
WAKEFIELD — The city of Wakefield has announced the end of an advisory for residents to boil water before drinking. A city press release issued on Wednesday at 1:45 p.m. notes that the advisory issued on Monday morning has been “fully lifted.” According to the announcement issued by City Manager Robert Brown Jr., “The water boil advisory was issued due to a sudden loss in water pressure below acceptable levels throughout the city’s water distribution system.” That issue, which resulted after a communication error between the city’s wate...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD - The mystery of the Friday water line break was solved late afternoon Wednesday when Ironwood Public Works crews found the source was a private line leading to a former nursing home. City crews and a leak detection specialist from the Michigan Rural Water Association determined late Tuesday afternoon that the break was in a 4-inch lateral line leading from the city main to the former Josephson's Nursing Home at 634 E Ayer St., said Scott...
