Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Sorted by date Results 2219 - 2243 of 9883
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] HURLEY - Work improving the Hurley trailhead between the Montreal River and Second Avenue continues as volunteers were out Monday spreading soil on the site. The top soil was spread around the trailhead in areas with a lot of rocks and is intended to help improve the trailhead's grass cover and "make it more park-like," according to Ian Shackleford, one of the volunteers and a member of Iron County Outdoor Recreation Enthusiasts. "Two or three...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] HURLEY — The next eight weeks will reveal how the Hurley K-12 School will open for the fall semester, according to reports at the Hurley Board of Education meeting on Monday. The recommendation will include expertise from education and health professionals on a 10-member committee that will start meeting next week, Thursday, said Kevin Genisot, school district administrator. The committee will include six education staff, three registered nurses, the county health officer and a physician’s assistan...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP - The runway resurfacing work at the Gogebic-Iron County Airport is on schedule as the new commercial airline released its flight schedules to Chicago and Minneapolis. This is the biggest runway project since the last deep resurfacing in 1992, said Mike Harma, airport manager. The construction, which started in early June and will wrap up by July 15, has gone flawlessly thus far with good weather and skilled crews but the planning... Full story
By CHARITY SMITH [email protected] MERCER, Wis. - The Mercer Area Chamber of Commerce kicked off its summer fun schedule on Saturday with the 14th annual Lupine Junefest, a bike ride through the rural area where lupine wildflowers grow on the side of the roadways. "It's just about being able to promote our area, and get people out and utilizing our trails," said Chamber Director Melissa Biszak. This year, the event consisted of three routes of 10, 15 and 28 miles. Biszak said that they...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] IRONWOOD — Families getting food at the Ironwood Area Schools' weekly distribution got an additional benefit Monday, as the district started adding dairy to its offerings. “We are going to keep doing dairy throughout the summer, as long as the program from the government is still available,” Ironwood Food Service Director Mary Hampston Kusz said, explaining the dairy was received through a program designed to help dairy farmers impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. “We'll do it as long as we can....
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] LITTLE GIRL'S POINT - It looks like dredging will continue to be the way the mouth of Oman's Creek is kept open after the Department of Natural Resources announced it was no longer pursuing a project to construct a groin east of the creek's mouth. "The Michigan DNR Parks and Recreation Division will continue to maintain and operate the Oman Creek boating access site," DNR Parks and Recreation Division chief Ron Olson said in a release announcing... Full story
By CHARITY SMITH [email protected] MERCER, Wis. — The Mercer Library will reopen on Monday, following a prolonged closure as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. “It’s a little strange so we’ve done as much research as we can,” said library director Teresa Schmidt on opening the library with COVID-19 precautions. “We’ve made some changes to the library that we hope will keep everybody safe.” Library visitors are asked to enter through the reading room door and return books in the book drop. Only 10 visitors will be permitted in th...
By JAN TUCKER [email protected] ONTONAGON — Senior citizens and handicapped can now watch the beautiful sunsets on Lake Superior at the new Doug’s Sunset Park. The new park is adjacent to the present Ontonagon Township Campground. The park was made possible when the township was able to purchase the property from the estate of the late Doug Filppula. Filppula was a popular teacher with the Ontonagon school system and lived on the property. The house was razed and plans are underway to continue improvements to the park. According to Tow...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] HURLEY - The Iron County Museum will open for the summer season, next week, with a few adjustments for the new normal. The museum will open to visitors beginning Monday, said Kristin Kolesar, board treasurer of the Iron County Museum. The decision to open was made recently made after consultation with the Iron County Health Department regarding requirements for COVID-19 policies and procedures. "We encourage area residents and guests to visit the... Full story
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] BESSEMER — The Gogebic County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday approved the rate request for the biannual property tax levy for municipalities, school districts and other taxing units. The board action allows local units to start billing for the summer property tax levy for the cities and school districts, while the townships have the property tax levy in the winter, said Kathy Jo Koval, director of the Gogebic County Equalization Department. Koval said Tuesday that the normal county o...
By CHARITY SMITH [email protected] BESSEMER - The city of Bessemer announced Wednesday that all city parks are open for public use, but the bathrooms and kitchens remain closed because of COIVD-19 guidelines. Park goers are asked to wear a mask when one cannot maintain social distancing of 6 feet, bring hand sanitizer, wash their hands often, and clean up their garbage, according to a press release. The city also asks that park goers not share personal sporting equipment with people...
BESSEMER - One person is dead following a house fire in Bessemer on Tuesday evening, according to the Michigan State Police. Troopers from the Wakefield Post were dispatched to a structure fire at 213 Sellar St. in the city of Bessemer at approximately 9 p.m., according to an MSP press release. Upon arrival the house was fully engulfed in flames. Troopers attempted to enter the residence to locate anyone inside but were unable to due to the intense flames and smoke, according to the press... Full story
HURLEY — The Hurley City Council on Monday unanimously approved a resolution for its wastewater treatment report that received a perfect score. The resolution accepted the compliance maintenance annual report for the city’s wastewater collection system and will accompany the results to be reviewed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the permitting entity, said Gary Laguna, city water manager. After a two month review the WDNR will respond to the report and the resolution. The city received a “Grade A” for both the financi...
MONTREAL, Wis. — There will be some new faces on the Montreal council after two of its members resigned recently. Montreal Mayor Erik Guenard said at Tuesday’s council meeting that the city received letters of resignation from Rick Swartz and Joan Levra. The resignations were effective Monday, according to Guenard after he read the letters “I would like to thank them for their service. Joan has been on for quite a long time, and Rick was appointed, and I appreciate the work both of them did,” Guenard said. “I’m sorry to see them leave and I...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD — The Ironwood City Commission on Monday approved its fiscal budget and property tax levy for 2020-2011. The commission 4-1 adopted a resolution to approve millage rates for city services and to authorize the collection of a 1% tax administration fee and fee schedule. Commissioner Joseph Cayer went against the action with concern over a 2.5% water and sewer rate increase. Cayer questioned the commission’s decision to include the Consumer Price Index adjustment to keep up with costs for... Full story
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] HURLEY - Those driving along Wisconsin 77 through Hurley may notice that a new fire danger sign was installed on Tuesday. The new sign replaces a weathered sign on the south side of the highway at the snowmobile/all-terrain vehicle trail on Iron County land adjacent to the Cary Mine Convenience Store. Station owner Bob Walesewicz has been changing out the fire condition signs to indicate low, medium or high level fire danger for more than 10 years....
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] WAKEFIELD — The Wakefield City Council voted Monday evening to approve a 2020-21 budget of more than $4.6 million for the fiscal year beginning on July 1. Budget details show that $1,115,453 in general budget costs are expected in categories such as office staff remuneration, law enforcement, fire protection, building and grounds maintenance, elections, planning and development, parks and recreation, campground, inventory and billing, and a contingency fund for expenses “not anticipated in the budget proc...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] WAKEFIELD - Graduates of Wakefield-Marenisco K-12 School participated in a "senior lift-off" on Saturday evening when Big Snow Resort's Indianhead Mountain invited them for a chairlift ride in Wakefield. Parents and other family members gathered at the top of the mountain, next to Summit Lodge, while graduates in caps and gowns made a dramatic ascent from the bottom of the hill while "Pomp and Circumstance" was piped in over the landscape. Each graduate... Full story
IRONWOOD - Protests continue to be held in front of the Memorial Building in support of the Black Lives Matter movement and for an end to police brutality. Bill and Jodi Buergey said they have attended protests for more than 50 years for various issues. They came Sunday to support anti-racism and call for an end to systemic racism. They were compelled again by the state of the nation since the killing of George Floyd, an African-American man who died while handcuffed and laying on the ground wit...
By CHARITY SMITH [email protected] HURLEY - Many area Catholics were able to attend church services for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, as public Mass services resumed this past weekend at St. Mary of the Seven Dolors Catholic Church in Hurley. "It is good to be back," one woman was overheard exclaiming as she entered the church. "It was heartbreaking not to be able to come to church." Attendance was limited to 25% of the church's total occupancy, which limited...
TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD — Downtown Ironwood bars and restaurants may soon use more outdoor room for customers amidst the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions. During its virtual meeting Thursday the city of Ironwood Planning Commission 5-0 recommended that the city commission approve an outdoor seating policy for businesses. Members Nancy Korpela and Mark Silver were not present. City commissioner Joseph Cayer was present as a non-voting ex-officio member. “As businesses open up again we are trying to create some flexibili... Full story
TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] MERCER, Wis. — The town of Mercer Board of Supervisors on Thursday amended its private display fireworks ordinance to require permits for possession, use or sale of fireworks. The need for Mercer to amend its ordinance is to more effectively regulate the use of fireworks in accordance with Wisconsin Statute 167.10, the section that governs fireworks, according to township attorney Fritz Schellgell at the meeting. The ordinance now requires any person who wishes to use, possess, sell or otherwise d...
By JAN TUCKER [email protected] ONTONAGON - With eight long days behind them, FA Construction is about 80% done with the second phase of the Pebble Beach Drive-Braceburn Court reconstruction in Ontonagon. The project began last fall when the company reconstructed the ditches and replaced all of the culverts in the subdivision. With the drainage patterns disrupted by 40 years of building, water pooling on the streets ruined the old pavement, according to village officials and they decided to...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD - With the temporary inflatable dome removed on Thursday, the work now starts on the new structure that will be the new permanent arena to replace the old Pat O'Donnell Civic Center. When the dome was initially deflated, the material was still wet and could not dry out as it draped like a bowl over the hockey boards and plexiglass, said Jim Collins, chair of the civic center board. The water quickly drained from the reinflated dome and it... Full story
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] HURLEY — The Hurley Board of Education will have options to consider regarding an in-school or continued virtual learning start to the fall semester by its next board meeting. The administration is continuing to monitor the impact of COVID-19 and are preparing a multitude of scenarios and solutions for each one, said Kevin Genisot, school district administrator on Wednesday. “It continues to be a very fluid situation and final decisions will need to be made when the time gets closer to the start of...
