Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
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By CHARITY SMITH [email protected] BESSEMER — The Bessemer Fourth of July Committee announced “with heavy hearts” the cancellation of the Bessemer Blast 2020 on Thursday, “due to the many uncertainties in the weeks ahead resulting from COVID-19.” “It was a tough decision, but with everything that is going on, we almost really didn’t have a choice in the matter,” said Linda Nelson, committee chair. “It was the only decision, and I guess the best decision we could make.” The committee’s unanimous decision came two days after the Bessem...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD - As plans for the new civic center are nearly finalized, the project visibly started Thursday with the deflation of the temporary dome that served the city for the year between permanent structures. Wednesday was the final day for the Pat O'Donnell Civic Center Board to provide requests for enhancements or changes to the project architect and insurance company that is paying to replace the 40-year-old structure after its roof failed under...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] BESSEMER — The Gogebic County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday approved the county’s COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan. The plan requires board approval and was approved unanimously. The plan is required by the state and is due by June 1. The document presented by Juliane Giackino, county administrator, has four sections that include protective safety measures, employee benefits as they relate to COVID-19, employees with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases, and a business continuity plan...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD — It’s still too soon for large group events due to the coronavirus pandemic and so First Friday for June will be a virtual concert and gift card giveaway, along with a call to support downtown businesses and restaurants. “As you know we can’t have any events with more than 10 people but we still want to move forward with First Friday,” said First Friday organizer Tim Erickson, a community development specialist with the city of Ironwood. “So, we decided to move forward in a virtual way...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] HURLEY — The Iron County Board of Supervisors approved taking out a loan to cover part of the cost of building a new garage in Mercer for the county’s highway department Tuesday. The county will borrow $1 million in a 5-year loan with an interest rate of 2.5%, with the board opting to take the shorter loan than the 8-year loan Highway Commissioner Mike Swartz had originally suggested. Swartz expressed concern about the highway department’s ability to pay the more expensive quarterly payments for t...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] IRONWOOD - The rain did nothing to deter volunteers from distributing 25-pound boxes of fresh produce to families at the Luther L. Wright K-12 School Wednesday. The district will continue to distribute produce boxes on Wednesdays through the end of June, according to Food Service Director Mary Hampston Kusz. The district received the delivery of 280 boxes of produce through U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farms to Families program to hand out...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD — The Ironwood City Commission on Tuesday heard the latest developments on the COVID-19 response in the western Upper Peninsula. Kate Beer, the health officer and administrator for the Western U.P. Health Department, attended the virtual meeting to report on the state and regional response. Gogebic County has five positive cases and one non-Michigan resident case who is recovering in the area. Houghton County reported two new cases on Tuesday — both travel-related. “Our big concern still...
By CHARITY SMITH [email protected] IRONWOOD — Gogebic Community College is moving forward with its standard fall schedule and in-person learning, despite many other schools choosing to move from face-to-face interaction and the traditional fall school calendar. According to Kim Zeckovich, director of admissions, marketing and community relations at GCC, no decision has been made to alter the fall schedule. GCC plans to start the fall semester on Aug. 24. GCC is not alone in the decision to open up in the fall as originally scheduled. Ba...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] MARENISCO - Despite the threat of thunderstorms, a Monday morning Memorial Day service took place at the Marenisco Township Cemetery with nothing but sunshine. Members of American Legion Post 523 took charge of the service, which was pared back slightly due to state restrictions regarding COVID-19. After the Pledge of Allegiance and a piped-in version of the National Anthem, Commander John Zorich addressed the crowd. "We are gathered here today to...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] WAKEFIELD — As part of an effort to promote safe riding in the region, the Gogebic Range Trail Authority recently donated helmets to kids without the proper gear. “It was one of the most rewarding things I think I’ve done with our club to date,” said GRTA President Steve Hamilton. “Some of these kids, the way they looked at some of these helmets, it was like it was the coolest thing they now owned.” The club donated 17 helmets and goggles to nine families at an event Thursday, according t...
BESSEMER - The American Legion Post 27 and VFW Post 3673 held a small ceremony in Bessemer's Hillcrest Cemetery Monday morning to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for the good of their country. The ceremony consisted of short prayers offered by Gary Grabow, pastor of Living Waters Missionary Church, a rifle salute, and the playing of "Taps." A wreath was also placed at the Veterans Memorial at the cemetery by Kathy Whitburn, president of American Legion Auxiliary Unit 27; Charles...
HURLEY - Although the coronavirus pandemic cut some of the traditional aspects of the event, the Hurley community came together to mark Memorial Day Monday. With no parade due to the pandemic, Monday's ceremony began in the Hurley Cemetery. VFW Post 1580 Commander Ricky Marchant reminded those assembled to enjoy their weekends and the extra time with loved ones, but to also remember the sacrifices made by those who lost their lives serving their country and their families. Reminders of the...
MERCER, Wis. - The sun came out to shine on 14 Mercer High School graduates who were standing in their caps and gowns on Sunday as the town drove by in tribute to a class that cannot hold a graduation ceremony. The students became the spectators of a parade in their honor of Iron County Sheriff's Office and Mercer Fire Department vehicles, a school bus, a tracked John Deere tractor, all-terrain vehicles and many cars and trucks belonging to family, friends and townspeople who decorated them...
BESSEMER - Approximately 20 to 30 people, many of them veterans, helped place American flags on veterans' graves at Hillcrest Cemetery in Bessemer, early Friday morning. "It's an honor to be able to do this for them. I'm 92 and still walking,"said Walt Maki, who served in the U.S. Army during World War II in Tokyo. "It's in memory for all those that served." The annual event is a collaborative effort between the American Legion and the VFW in Bessemer, and was organized by VFW commander Donna...
MARENISCO — A prospective buyer from Chicago has shown interest in purchasing the former Ojibway Correctional Facility in Marenisco for use as a farm to grow, process and test marijuana. Marenisco Supervisor Richard Bouvette reported the news to his Board of Trustees at their Wednesday evening meeting and shared further detail with the Daily Globe in a Thursday phone call. “I don’t know that this is going to fly,” said Bouvette, but he claimed, “This guy seems to know what he’s talking about.” The supervisor said that the man, who is from C...
MERCER, Wis. — The town of Mercer Board of Supervisors will revisit the fireworks ordinance in June, following action at its regular meeting Thursday. The board 5-0 approved a request to create a town fireworks permit and moved discussion of the permitting criteria for sales, possession and use to the June board meeting. The permit would also exempt the local fire department or designated organization for the purpose of a public display fireworks. Local municipalities may pass ordinances that enhance the state statute governing fireworks u...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD - Local business owners say it's been a struggle under the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown, but have mixed feelings about reopening under Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's recent order allowing some Upper Peninsula businesses to reopen with limitations today. Many business owners said they plan a cautious return or plan to wait out the rest of the COVID-19 shutdown. For some it's the type of business and the ability to operate with restrictions, while...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] MARENISCO — In the wake of continuing concerns about the spread of COVID-19, the Marenisco Township Board of Trustees voted on Wednesday evening to allow the Fourth of July Committee to use township property for a scaled-down celebration of this year’s holiday. “We figure this is the United States of America, and people have the right to gather,” said Supervisor Richard Bouvette. He added that the celebration could include a parade as long as units wish to participate and are willing to meet the require...
TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] HURLEY - An expanded parking lot at Hurley K-12 School will nearly double the number of parking spaces to help deal with overflow at events and add a needed second exit from the campus. The school board discussed the need for the extended lot earlier this year. Community officials and first responders had informed board members that special events and sports events at the school throughout the year results in overflow parking along the narrow entrance...
HURLEY — The Iron County Forestry and Parks Committee decided improvements to Schomberg Park were the best way to honor the memory of Thomas E. Popko, voting Monday to send a bid to pave the park’s gravel areas to the full county board. A former member of the Iron County Board of Supervisors and Forestry and Parks Committee member, Popko died Jan. 7. According to information presented at Monday’s meeting, he left the county a total of $56,150 when he died. “His request, when he came in and made these changes to his policies last summer was he...
ERWIN TOWNSHIP — A child who had been reported missing from a campsite near McDonald Dam Tuesday was located later that same day. The Gogebic County Sheriff’s Department received a report of a missing 4-year-old at approximately 10 a.m. Tuesday, according to Sheriff Pete Matonich. Matonich said the child’s mother had reported her son was playing with other children near the campsite and had possibly wandered off. GCSD deputies, along with troopers from the Michigan State Police’s Wakefield Post and members of Gogebic County Search and Rescue,...
IRONWOOD - The third annual Gogebic Community College service learning trip to Guatemala, originally scheduled for this week, has been tentatively rescheduled to leave on Dec. 12, as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The trip, in conjunction with Pura Vida Ministries, is an opportunity for students and members of the community to experience Mayan culture, while helping to build a cinder-block house for a Guatemalan family in need, according to Janie Williams, GCC's service learning trip...
LANSING — The Upper Peninsula is being allowed to partially reopen from the COVID-19 shutdown order on Friday. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Monday signed Executive Order 2020-92, allowing for the reopening of retail businesses, office work that cannot be done remotely, and restaurants and bars with limited seating in two northern regions of the state. “This is a big step, but we must all remember to continue doing our part to protect ourselves and our families from the spread of COVID-19,” Whitmer said. “It’s crucial that all businesses do everyt...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] HURLEY - For nearly a week the 46 graduating Hurley High School seniors and their families have been going through personal graduations at the school as part of the 126th commencement program that will be virtual and presented online Saturday. By the end of Monday, the school administration had 25 of the 46 graduates completed with the ceremony, photos and videos in half-hour appointments that started late last week, said Melissa Oja, the...
