Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Sorted by date Results 2101 - 2125 of 9883
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] WAKEFIELD — Members of the Wakefield Volunteer Fire Department made short work of a controlled burn of brush on Wednesday evening. According to Fire Chief Lou Boetto and Assistant Chief Mike Singleton, the brush dates back to a severe storm that hit the region in the summer of 2016. According to reports at that time, straight-line winds of about 90 mph destroyed countless trees and power lines and ripped the roof from the former ice rink on M-28 next to S...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD — The Ironwood Economic Development Corporation had an employment specialist attend the regular meeting on Wednesday. The meeting started with Steve Lehto, Jr., the new employer specialist for Gogebic and Ontonagon counties with MichiganWorks! Association. He is now in his fifth week on the job and available by appointment from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday at 100 South Mill St., in Bessemer. Lehto said he will assist people who are seeking employment along with helping e...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] HANCOCK — As the number of positive COVID-19 cases continues to climb, local health officials are warning of high-risk exposure sites in Gogebic and Iron counties that may be partially responsible for the sharp increase in cases. “The Western Upper Peninsula Health Department is raising concerns over recent case count increases in Gogebic County. Cases in Gogebic County have been steadily increasing, with over 90 cases reported in the last 30 days. Overall, numbers for the local health jur...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] HURLEY — Iron County voters head to the polls Tuesday in Wisconsin’s primary election, and although the lack of a single contested race takes much of the suspense out of the day, there are a number a federal, local and state contests to be decided. Voters will have to choose from between one of three ballots, choosing which party primary they wish to participate in — the Democratic primary, Republican primary or the Constitution Party’s primary. Four county-level races are on the ballot, accordi...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] MERCER, Wis. - The attendance was lower but vendors and organizers were still pleased with the turnout for the 40th annual Loon Day outdoor shopping event on Wednesday in Mercer. As one of the region's only large scale activities that was not canceled due to coronavirus, the Mercer Area Chamber of Commerce Board decided to go ahead with a redesigned event as opposed to canceling. Loon Day had 171 vendors and 225 booth spaces filled on Thursday, acco...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] Incumbent Gogebic County Sheriff Pete Matonich outpaced two challengers for the post in Tuesday’s partisan primary. Matonich received 2,162 votes to overcome Joseph Cayer with 384 votes, and David Kinnunen with 144 votes. There were no Republican candidates and Matonich will likely move forward unopposed on the Nov. 3 general election ballot. “All in all with the COVID19 social distancing and safety precautions the primary went well,” said Gerry Pelissero, clerk of court and register of deeds...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP - Boutique Air, the new Essential Air Provider for Gogebic-Iron County Airport, started service to the area on Saturday with flights to Minneapolis and Chicago. Boutique took over EAS service from Air Choice One with a contract from Aug. 1, 2020, through July 31, 2022, that was approved in April by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The San Francisco-based Boutique has air service routes nationwide and fly mostly the 9-seat...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] The partisan primary election results from Tuesday showed there were some changes in contested seats going forward to the general election in November, but many incumbents for town offices ran unopposed. In Ironwood Township, the Democratic voters chose incumbent Mary Segalin for the town clerk with 313 votes against the 242 votes for challenger Marlene Saari Mieloszyk. There were no Republican candidates. There were five Democratic candidates in the Ironwood Township trustee race where the top fou...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] IRONWOOD — With the school year quickly approaching, the Ironwood Area Schools’ board of education approved the district’s back-to-school plan Monday. Ironwood’s Return to School plan — which has to be submitted to the state by Aug. 15 — lays out the broad strokes of the district’s plans for teaching amidst the coronavirus pandemic this fall, with the biggest change from the district’s previous updates being that the older students will have a blended schedule of both in-person and remote learning...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD - The Ironwood Parks and Recreation Committee heard updates on several projects Monday during a Zoom webinar meeting. The committee held its annual election of chair and vice chair. Sam Davey was the sole nomination for the election of chair. He was reelected to the chair role 7-0. Tom Kangas was the sole nominee for vice chair. Kangas was elected 7-0 to replace Linda Jindrich as vice chair. In his update on the Downtown City Square...
By CHARITY SMITH [email protected] BESSEMER — The Bessemer City Council debated Monday night over granting a variance request to allow Charles and Julie Kopecko permission to expand their storage unit business on U.S. 2. “We provide a very vital service to the area,” Charles Kopecko told the council. “When people have a need to relocate possessions because they are remodeling their house, or have fire damage, or snow damage caving in their garages, we can supply storage for people for temporary use.” The Kopeckos have been operating...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] HURLEY — The Iron County Health Department released the results of last month’s testing events in Hurley and Mercer Monday. A total of 251 tests were administered at the July 23 testing event in Hurley, with 17 positives cases reported; while there were 228 tests and six positive cases at the July 24 event in Mercer. Health Department officials said not all the positive cases were Iron County residents. Health department officials are pleased with the testing events themselves, but ack...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] BESSEMER — Today is election day in Michigan as voters face a partisan primary election for many local, state and federal offices, as well as a few local millage requests. The winners of their respective primaries will advance to the Nov. 3 general election. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters may select either the Democratic or Republican party column on the ballot when choosing candidates in partisan races. There are no third party candidates in this election who are on the primary ba...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] WAKEFIELD - John Cox and Mandy Lake were both born in Wakefield, and they each left the region to pursue higher education and the jobs that went with it. Both of them, however, returned and it appears they are here to stay. Cox is the supervisor of Wakefield Township and Lake is the township clerk who will assume the top job directly after the November election. She is the only person running for the role. In a recent interview at the township hall, the...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] HURLEY — Iron County Sheriff Paul Samardich indicated his department won’t be forcing people to wear masks in a clarification he issued Friday regarding Gov. Tony Evers’ Thursday order mandating the wearing of masks or face coverings when in indoor public places. “In order to provide some clarification, please be advised the Iron County Sheriff’s Office will not be responding to complaints of individuals violating the governor’s mandate, nor will it be taking any direct law enforcement action as i...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD - The Ironwood Historical Society is celebrating its 50th anniversary and, although the pandemic shutdown has not provided much opportunity for fanfare, it has given the board and volunteers a chance to revitalize the museum and add new exhibits. "Yes, unfortunately the Depot Museum is closed, but our volunteer staff have been very busy behind the scenes," said Sandy Sharp, president of the historical society. "We have been paying close att...
By JAN TUCKER [email protected] EWEN — The Ewen-Trout Creek School Board agreed to send a letter to the Ontonagon County Board requesting that the school district receive 33% of a payment in lieu of taxes (PILT) that the county receives each year. According to Superintendent Dave Radovich, the action was taken because of the impending state reductions resulting from COVID-19. The 33% would be about $180,000, Radovich said. The action is a win for Pat Kitzman who for years has claimed that PILT funds were to be distributed 33% to schools, 3...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] BERGLAND — The six members of the Gogebic-Ontonagon Intermediate School District will be receiving funds for supplies to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 this fall after the GOISD board voted Wednesday to provide $172,000 in financial assistance. “The members of the GOISD Board of Education recognize that each of our local districts will be facing additional costs related to the requirements of reopening under the Michigan Return to School Roadmap. As a result, the GOISD Board of Education met...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] WAKEFIELD - A new press box is nearing completion on the south side of the athletic field next to Wakefield-Marenisco K-12 School. "It's looking pretty nice," said Superintendent Jason Gustafson at last week's meeting of the Board of Education. He urged board members to check out the progress. Gustafson informed the Daily Globe this week that he expects the project to be done before the new school year starts on Aug. 25. That will be just in time for the...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] LANSING — As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise in their states, the governors in Michigan and Wisconsin have brought back measures from earlier this year designed to halt the spread of the coronavirus. In Michigan, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a pair of executive orders Wednesday that again limits the size of gatherings to 10 people and closes bars to indoor service — including in the Upper Peninsula and other parts of the state’s Region 8. The order takes effect starting today. “As w...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD — The Ironwood City Commission on Monday held its second workshop to try and address details that led to a proposed adult-use marijuana manufacturing ordinance failing a split vote in March. Tom Bergman, director of community development, updated the commission from the previous workshop with a map that reflected concerns with more detailed restrictions with commercial marijuana within zoning commercial, industrial and light industrial that border with residential areas. He also addressed...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] SAXON HARBOR, Wis. - Iron County is getting a seven-figure payday after the Iron County Board of Supervisors approved an easement agreement with Enbridge Inc. for use of the land the company needs for a potential reroute of its Line 5 pipeline Tuesday. The deal will have the company pay Iron County $1.5 million for the easement on the property, along with a $51,790 road-access fee, for a total of $1,551,790. "That money would be paid up front to...
By CHARITY SMITH [email protected] IRONWOOD — Gogebic Community College is preparing for in-person and online classes to resume this fall, with safety measures to help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus for those returning to campus. “We’re doing a great job in putting things in place right now as far as risk,” said GCC president George McNulty during the board meeting, held via Zoom on Tuesday. “As we speak today, we are preparing for classes to begin in person on Aug. 24.” McNulty said that while they do have a virtual opt...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD — The Ironwood City Commission on Monday approved a resolution to support a grant application that would help renovate Norrie Park and embark on a Montreal River water trail project. The board 5-0 approved Resolution No. 020-011, a Trust Fund grant application with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The meeting followed a public hearing on the topic that had been delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic impact on the MDNR grant process. “I am excited about the opportunity to deve...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD - Bigger is better when it comes to maps, according to officials who want to promote area highlights for visitors. The Ironwood Tourism Council (Travel Ironwood) in collaboration with area businesses and nonprofit organizations embarked on a visitor information map project that is designed to showcase area attractions with a large, comprehensive design. The project is starting with four maps over the next few months with the ability to...
