Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Sorted by date Results 2002 - 2026 of 9883
By MEGAN HUGHES [email protected] MERCER, Wis. - People gathered at the Mercer Veteran's Memorial Friday evening in honor of the seventh annual flag retirement ceremony. The ceremony, held yearly on Prisoner of War/Missing In Action Day, consisted of the retirement of two flags, the U.S. flag and the Prisoner of War/Missing In Action. The first ceremony was held in 2013 and is an event that holds significant meaning to the community. Members of local VFWs aided in the ceremony, folding t...
MERCER — The town of Mercer Board of Supervisors on Thursday discussed the possibility of hiring a part time blight officer while determining a course of action for repeated violations. A complaint from a neighbor brought an individual to the attention of the town board who had also had a 2019 motorhome violation that resulted in a permit purchase after several communications. The motorhome is back along with reported blight issues and the board discussed whether the township or Iron County should take action. Town attorney Fritz Schellgell r...
IRONWOOD - With the ongoing coronavirus pandemic preventing large in-person gatherings, two Gogebic Range organizations are hosting virtual versions of their annual races. Both the organizers of the Bridges and Bluffs half marathon and Copper Peak Trails Fest are hoping the community comes out to support the virtual events this year as they are the biggest fundraisers of the year for the Friends of the Iron Belle Trail and Sisu Dirt Crew respectively. Rather than completing the race on a single...
IRONWOOD — Ironwood citizens unable to vote at the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 3, may apply for absent voter ballots at the city clerk’s office in the Memorial Building at 213 S. Marquette St. Application can be made during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The city clerk’s office will also be open for such applications on Saturday, Oct. 31, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Completed ballots can be mailed back, dropped off at the clerk’s office or put in a special drop box scheduled to be placed near the flag pole in f... Full story
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] WATERSMEET - Wednesday's first full day of school this year "went as well as it could," according to Gerald Pease, superintendent of the Watersmeet K-12 school. "Nobody knows all the answers," said Pease in relation to addressing the current COVID-19 pandemic, but he said school officials and other community members are trying their best to create a safe environment for students. Pease did not yet have an official count of this year's students, but he... Full story
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] HURLEY — As part of an effort to transition to online permit sales, the Iron County forestry and parks committee changed how much people will have to pay for a permit to harvest boughs on county land. Prior to the decision, there were two permit prices — with county residents paying $100 for a permit and non-residents paying $150. Iron County Forestry Administrator Eric Peterson said the transition to selling permits online would be simpler if the price was changed to a single price. “It would make...
By CHARITY SMITH [email protected] IRONWOOD — Gogebic Community College is offering free testing of dial gauges for pressure canners from 3 to 6 p.m today and again on Monday, in conjunction with the Michigan State University-Extension and the University of Wisconsin-Extension. A pressure gauge used by someone who cans food items like vegetable and meat, must be tested once per year, according to a press release from the college. “It seems that with COVID and with other things around food safety this year, we have a lot more people who...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] HURLEY — The Hurley City Council on Wednesday approved a recommendation from the public works department to inform the Wisconsin Department of Transportation that the city intends to conduct preliminary work ahead of a planned highway reconstruction. Jeff Seamandel, a project manager with MSA, the city’s engineering consulting firm, said WDOT is planning a U.S. 51 reconstruction project in 2023 that will include the 2nd Avenue section through Hurley. If Hurley would conduct a utility replacement pr... Full story
By JAN TUCKER [email protected] ONTONAGON — The Ontonagon County Board Tuesday, adopted its 2020-2021 general fund operating budget and special revenue budgets. The general fund and other financing sources resulted in a budget of $3,791,986. According to the Ontonagon County Clerk Stacy Preiss, the number is just slightly over last years sum by about 3%. The special revenue budget includes funds such as the road commission, forestry fund, animal protection fund, court fund, SONCO Ambulance fund and similar funds and programs. Also in a...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] WAKEFIELD — After an extended discussion and a rescinded motion, the Wakefield Planning Commission voted Tuesday to grant a garage variance to Ken and Amy Libertoski at 1118 Charles Street. The unanimous vote, which allows the couple to build a garage before a house, included an attached bond that will require the Libertoskis to pay $4,999 if they do not also build a house on the same property within four years. “We plan to retire in two to four years,” said Ken Libertoski, who was present by phone at th...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD — After two years of committee meetings, workshops, public hearings and several revisions, the Ironwood City Commission approved the city’s adult-use marijuana ordinance on Monday. The 3-2 approval amends the city code to regulate adult-use marijuana establishments. The effective date of the ordinance was not announced at the meeting but the commission extended its option-out ordinance through Nov. 9 at a previous meeting to allow time for administrative and enforcement structures to be pu... Full story
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] UPSON, Wis. - With most cornhole leagues inactive during the coronavirus pandemic, the special events attract many players including the first ever tournament sponsored by Whitecap Mountains Ski Resort on Saturday. The tournament is one more way to draw people to the resort in the off-season, according to David Dziuban, resort manager. The golf course had an especially busy summer and in addition to weddings and family events, the cornhole...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] LANSING — The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services began reporting outbreak information for schools across the state Monday. “Parents and students should know that if their school is listed, their local health department and school are already investigating. Based on that investigation, people are contacted individually if they were possibly exposed to COVID-19 at school,” Dr. Joneigh Khaldun said in the announcement. Khaldun is the chief medical executive and chief deputy for health fo...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD — The Gogebic-Iron County Airport Board approved its budget on Monday, but the conversation dealt largely with either dedicating existing funds or returning them to the counties. The board 3-0 approved the $119,432 fiscal year 2021 operating budget. The budget remains the same as fiscal year 2020. Joe Bonovetz, board chair, and Brandon Snyder, board member, were not present. Patrick Hanson, vice chair, officiated the meeting. Board member James Lorenson brought up the fact that the airport... Full story
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] WAKEFIELD TOWNSHIP - An area ski resort looking to grow by adding off-season opportunities held its Lake Superior North Country Adventure Fest this past weekend, drawing dozens of motorized vehicle riders from around the Midwest. "It's mainly a social ride for the most part. There are no races," said Matthew Vaughan, CEO of Big Snow Ski Resort, which includes the hills and trails of Indianhead and Blackjack ski resorts in the Wakefield area. "It's...
IRONWOOD — Two people are facing drug charges following the search of a property in Ironwood Friday. The Gogebic Iron Area Narcotics Team executed the search warrant on a property near the intersection of Cloverland Drive and Curry Street Friday, a spokesman for the drug team said in a news release, as part of an investigation that started in June. Two individuals were arrested at the scene, according to the spokesman, on initial charges of conspiracy to deliver methamphetamine and maintaining a drug house. The names of the two people a...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] RAMSAY - Thursday's ribbon-cutting ceremony in Ramsay not only celebrated the opening of the newest local segment of the Iron Belle Trail, it also marked the latest milestone in the 10-plus year effort to develop the local non-motorized trail system. "I just want to thank everybody personally for this project, it is ... a group effort and it would not happened without everybody being here and working on it. ... What a privilege to work with you... Full story
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] RAMSAY — An effort to reduce the size of the Gogebic Range Water Authority Board ended after opposition from municipality members led to removing the action from consideration at its regular meeting Thursday. The municipalities represented on the water authority include the charter township of Ironwood, and the townships of Bessemer and Wakefield, and the cities of Bessemer and Wakefield. Each municipality has two or three members plus alternates and the Water Authority proposed a five-member b...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] WAKEFIELD — A name change for the Wakefield Public Library may soon be official, according to Joel Laessig, library director. In a Wednesday interview, Laessig said he will approach members of the Wakefield City Council on Sept. 14 to make the formal request. Library board members already have discussed the issue, and public hearings were held earlier this year as well. Laessig said the pending name change is based on a desire to honor the late Eugene Maki, who played a prominent role in the town’s cul...
Email calendar items and community news to [email protected]. For more information, call 906-932-2211. Saturday, Sept. 12 Community Pickleball, 9-noon, Patterson Tennis Court, weather permitting. Union Station Food Pantry and Northern Food Bank, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 252 E. Ayer St., Ironwood. Alcoholics Anonymous, 11 a.m., Salem Lutheran Church, Ironwood. area74.org. Community Pickleball Paddlers, 2-5 p.m., Mercer School gymnasium. 715-776-4588. Alcoholics Anonymous, 7 p.m., Salem Lutheran Church, Ironwood. area74.org. Sunday, Sept. 13... Full story
ROCKLAND - The Michigan State Police awarded a Rockland man with the "Distinguished Citizen Award," on Wednesday evening - the highest honor it can give to a civilian. The award was presented to Bruce Racine for rescuing his neighbor, Caryl Miilu, 85, from a house fire on June 3. "It is an honor and a privilege to recognize your high degree of civil duty that was displayed while assisting in the lifesaving of another," said Eighth District Commander Captain John E. Halpin in a letter that... Full story
IRONWOOD — The terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 continue to affect our lives, even as the event itself happened 19 years ago. Scott Erickson, the manager for the city of Ironwood, said the anniversary is a good time for people to reflect on the service of first responders in our community. Firefighters, law enforcement and medical first responders rose to the occasion on 9/11, and they continue to go into harm’s way every day to keep communities safe and healthy, he said. “I guess for me, this is a time to just remind people to reach out a...
BESSEMER - The Gogebic County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a public hearing on the topic of the county's 2020-21 operational budget for its next regular meeting. The board 7-0 approved a public hearing prior to the 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23 county board meeting at the request of Juliane Giackino, county administrator. The action followed a budget workshop prior to the regular meeting on Wednesday. The proposed budget was sent forward to the hearing without significant changes...
