Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
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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...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] BESSEMER - A public hearing on a county resolution to seek grant funding to purchase forestland was delayed due to lack of mobility from the coronavirus, according to the Gogebic County Board of Commissioners meeting on Monday. The commission 6-0 approved the delay of a public hearing for the purpose commentary on the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fun grant application proposal for land acquisition of parcels totaling approximately 4,000 acres...
IRONWOOD — Domestic Violence Escape, or DOVE, Inc., in Ironwood, recently announced it was limiting some of its services in the wake of the COVID-19, or coronavirus, pandemic while still continuing its primary mission of empowering those experiencing domestic violence, sexual assault or child abuse. “Because we wish to respond proactively to the coronavirus outbreak, and to do our part in controlling the virus’ spread, we are going to remote services effective immediately,” Executive Director Pamela Niemi said in a letter on the organiz...
By RICHARD JENKINS and CHARITY SMITH [email protected] MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Tony Evers directed the Wisconsin Department of Health Services to issue a Safer at Home order prohibiting all nonessential travel Tuesday as the state works to combat the spread of the COVID-19, or coronavirus, pandemic. The order takes effect at 8 a.m. today, and runs through the morning of April 24, unless an order suspending it is issued prior to that date. “I know the COVID-19 outbreak has been difficult and has disrupted the lives of people across our sta...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD - Anny Lin said she understands the urgency to stop the spread of the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19 after experiencing quarantines and restrictions on movement on a recent visit to China. Lin, the owner of Golden Dragon Chinese Restaurant in Ironwood, traveled to China with her 9-month-old daughter, Amber Chen, for a Lunar New Year visit with family from Jan. 21 to Feb. 28. They arrived just before the start of the coronavirus pandem...
by JAN TUCKER [email protected] MARQUETTE - On Feb. 11 Sheriff Dale Rantala with approval of the Ontonagon County Commission sent two corrections officers from the Ontonagon County Sheriff's Department to Marquette for a six-week corrections training academy. Ryan Tucker and Ken Waldrop completed the academy held at the Ramada in Marquette. The academy instructor was led by Captain Brian Steed of the Marquette County Sheriff's Department with the help of numerous sergeants from Steed's...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] BESSEMER - At a Monday meeting of the Bessemer Area School Board, members voted to appoint a new trustee and to limit access to the schools, while also allowing planned maintenance to continue. "I guess this is an historic event - the first meeting using electronic technology," said Board President Jim Partanen. Board members met via ZOOM software, which allows people to gather virtually with the aid of either phones or computers. The action was taken in...
