Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
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By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD — With the expectation that the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases will increase, medical officials are calling for calm, continued self-isolation and to call ahead before going to a hospital or clinic with coronavirus symptoms. “We continue emphasizing how important it is for people who are experiencing symptoms to please call ahead instead of just driving to the doctor’s office,” said Chris Pogliano, M.D., chief medical officer at Aspirus Ironwood Hospital. “Aspirus has a designate...
By CHARITY SMITH [email protected] IRONWOOD — With rules against gatherings of more than 10 people in one place to help slow the spread of COVID-19, the funeral industry has had to make some adjustments. McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home in Ironwood and Cane Funeral Home in Ontonagon both recently purchased equipment which will allow for visitations and funeral services to be broadcast online. “It’s a way for people to go ahead and do a celebration of life or some type of funeral service, while still maintaining social distancing,” said An...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] MERCER, Wis. — The Town of Mercer Board of Supervisors approved a new snowplow loan, bids for roof and siding, and a mowing contract at its regular meeting Thursday. There were 32 people who attended the virtual meeting via GoToMeeting. This is the third public meeting that the board has held since the Wisconsin Attorney General’s office said the format would not violate open meeting laws during the coronavirus shutdown order. The board 5-0 approved an $8,844 bid for a roof replacement for Mer...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] LANSING - Michigan students almost certainly won't be returning to their classrooms this spring, after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Thursday she was canceling face-to-face classes for the remainder of the school year in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-35, which closed all K-12 school buildings for the rest of the school year - unless the COVID-19 or coronavirus pandemic ends - and set out guidelines for...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] The two major grocery stores in Ironwood and neighboring Hurley, Wisconsin have installed plexiglass shields at checkout stands. The shields are in place between the cashiers and customers to help protect against the spread of COVID-19. Cashiers are among the vulnerable essential workers who come face-to-face with the public each day during the coronavirus pandemic. "We like them," said Lawrence Glatczak, manager of Super One Foods in Ironwood. "The...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] HURLEY, Wis. - Hurley elementary teachers say online learning was already utilized in the classroom setting and has made for a smooth transition in the home setting after the shutdown order from the coronavirus pandemic. Administration and staff are in direct communication to ensure that what is happening from the state level is being incorporated at the local level, said Kevin Genisot, administrator of Hurley School District. Parents receive...
By TOM LAVENTURE and CHARITY SMITH [email protected] HANCOCK — The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Gogebic County is now at two, and there are zero cases reported in Ontonagon County. The information released Tuesday from Western U.P. Health Department in Hancock, showed that as of March 31 there have been 40 individuals referred for COVID-19 testing in Gogebic County. So far 12 cases tested negative, 24 tests are pending, and one test was canceled. Gogebic County is so far the only county in the western U.P. to have reported a d...
By CHARITY SMITH [email protected] When Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer mandated that residents “stay at home” to help slow the spread of COVID-19, many residents wondered how this was to be enforced, and essential business owners scrambled to get there employees papers to travel back and fourth to work. According to Gogebic County Undersheriff Ross Solberg, there have been “no more than half a dozen,” complaints received by his office, and they are usually regarding businesses and not individuals and many of the complaints were determi...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] MADISON, Wis. -— Gov. Tony Evers is seeking a major disaster declaration for Wisconsin as the state continues to work to fight the coronavirus pandemic. Evers sent a letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency seeking the federal declaration Tuesday for the COVID-19, or coronavirus, pandemic. “The response to this virus has required a tremendous response from the state and all of its communities that far exceeds the resources currently available to us,” Evers said in a statement. “By seeking...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD - The Gogebic Range Solid Waste Management Authority plans to continue the shutdown of its transfer station and recycling facility for the duration of the emergency order regarding the coronavirus pandemic. The waste management authority shut down operation except for garbage collection on March 23. The scheduled garbage collection in the townships of Ironwood, Bessemer, Marenisco and Wakefield and in the city of Wakefield continue on...
LANSING — The Michigan National Guard is now authorized to perform humanitarian missions around the state after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Monday President Donald Trump granted her request to allocate up to 3,000 members of the Michigan Army and Air National Guard for 90 days to help respond to the coronavirus pandemic in the state. The humanitarian missions will include helping run mobile screening facilities, distributing food and other crucial supplies, disinfecting public spaces and supporting public safety when required, according t...
By CHARITY SMITH [email protected] With the threat of the coronavirus looming everywhere, a record number of voters in Iron County, Wisconsin, are choosing to vote absentee in this year's presidential primary and many local officials are encouraging it. "We are definitely promoting it," said Mercer Town Clerk Debbie Hohner. "We were trying to find the best way to promote the idea of absentee ballots, so our deputy clerk, Beth Wetzir, actually created a Facebook page for us. Hohner said...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] IRONWOOD -- The Ironwood Area Schools is reducing the number of days it is distributing meals while classes remain cancelled in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Starting Monday, parents were able to pick up five days worth of lunches and breakfasts at the school for each child under 18 in their household, rather than receiving the week's worth of food over two distribution days. Ironwood Superintendent Travis Powell said the change not only...
By CHARITY SMITH [email protected] WAKEFIELD — Activities are continuing as scheduled for residents at Gogebic Medical Care Facility, they even enjoyed a visit and photo op with the Easter Bunny last week, in spite of the looming threat of COVID-19. Photos with the bunny were mailed to the loved ones of residents with the caption, “Somebunny loves and misses you. I’m doing ok.” “It’s the same course of activities, we are just a little bit more precautious, following social distancing guidelines, and frequent hand washing,” sai...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] As students across the state of Michigan continue to stay home in compliance with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s order closing schools in response to the coronavirus pandemic, districts await word on whether classes will resume this year and if they’ll be forced to make up any lost days. “We’re pushing for some direction on that, because that will inform decisions we make regarding virtual learning, or offline learning for families that don’t have reliable internet access,” Gogebic-Ontonagon Intermediat...
IRONWOOD — The Western Upper Peninsula Health Department has identified sites that were visited by an individual who recently tested positive for the COVID-19 disease from the coronavirus pandemic. Local residents visiting these sites may be at higher risk for exposure as the virus can remain airborne for at least three hours and can remain on surfaces for at least three days. The times listed for when the individual was at these four sites are all Central Daylight Time. The person tested positive for COVID-19 was reportedly at: —Our Lady of...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] MERCER, Wis. - For students of the Mercer School District, homeroom is now literally homeroom. Since the school shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, teachers have kept the students engaged in learning through emails, online platforms and have now added video conferencing. This past Monday the school started a daily school-wide morning homeroom session using the remote online conferencing platform from Zoom Video Communications. The effort is...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP — The Lake Superior shoreline attracted several area residents during the warm sunshine on Friday. Lori Danella, of Hurley, said the chance to do some walking and agate hunting was a cure for coronavirus-shutdown related cabin fever. She and her two sons, Virgil, 14 and Landon, 16 Hariu, made the trek to Little Girl’s Point County Park where they found several other beach combers and park dwellers. “It’s getting pretty tough o...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD - As a non-essential business during the coronavirus pandemic, Stormy Kromer found its niche making medical masks and gowns at a wartime production pace to help protect health workers from the COVID-19 virus. "The only way we will get through this crisis is together," said Gina Jacquart Thorsen, president of Stormy Kromer, a division of Jacquart Fabric Products. Area hospitals are contacting Stormy Kromer to see if the company can produce...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] The presence of the coronavirus on the Gogebic Range was confirmed Thursday, not just with the announcement of the first positive cases but with the deaths of two people -- one each in Iron and Gogebic counties. The Gogebic County case involved an elderly man with underlying health issues, according to the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department, which said it was notified of the COVID-19-related death Thursday. "Our heartfelt sympathies and prayers go out to the family who lost their loved one,"...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin Election Commission is urging the state’s voters to consider casting their votes in next month’s election via absentee ballot as a means of preventing the spread of the coronavirus. “If you are worried about getting to the polls on Election Day, make sure you are registered to vote at your current address and with your current name and request an absentee ballot as soon as possible,” said Meagan Wolfe, the state’s chief elections official. The April 7 election fe...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD - Local grocers are saying product shortages are temporary, and usually refilled in a day or two, while also emphasizing social distancing and reducing store visits to help fight the coronavirus pandemic. Overall the staff and community have been great in adjusting to prevention strategies for the coronavirus that is causing COVID-19, said Lawrence Glatczak, manager of Super One Foods in Ironwood. The store is doing what it can to limit...
