Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Sorted by date Results 2937 - 2961 of 9747
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] KIMBALL, Wis. - A group of volunteers gathered at the Kimball town park Wednesday for a work bee to touch up the area. The grassroots group Northern Iron County Engaged Residents, or NICER, organized the event that consisted of primarily giving several of the picnic tables and benches in the park a fresh coat of paint. "I think it really spruces up the area. Kimball Park is a beautiful spot to come down, listen to the water of the Montreal River rus...
By BRYAN HELLIOS [email protected] BESSEMER — The Gogebic County Board of Commissioners approved receiving a grant for an addition to the Iron Belle Trail during Wednesday evening’s meeting. Paul Anderson, an engineer for Coleman Engineering Company, presented the board with details for the trail extension from Bessemer to Ramsay. “There’s a lot of layers and complexities to this agreement through the attachments that I have provided to basically protect the county board (and) their interests in this project,” he said. The total cos...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] MADISON, Wis. — The state legislature’s Joint Finance Committee approved purchasing an easement to open access on over 14,000 acres of land in Iron County Tuesday — at $500,000 less than expected. If approved, the conservation and access easement would give the public access to 14,352 acres of land owned by the Keweenaw Land Association in the towns of Carey, Knight and Mercer. The state’s Natural Resources Board approved purchasing the easement using $4.8 million from the state’s Knowles-N...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] HURLEY, Wis. — A group of youth became skilled ‘bubbleologists’ on Wednesday as part of the Hurley Public Library’s summer library program. The session was taught by Annie McDonnell, a naturalist at the North Lakeland Discovery Center in Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin. The kids got a brief lesson before making their own bubbles inside and then went outside for some giant bubble-making art. “We talked about bubbles and where they are found in nature...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] WAKEFIELD - Qualifying races on Tuesday served as an opener for the 2019 Stock and Junior National Championships taking place this week on Sunday Lake in Wakefield. During the event, Eddy Park has taken on a new culture, with rows of small, colorful tents and resting boats that feature nicknames such as "Dadeo the Mad Polock" or "Brother Thunder." A running commentary on each race division blared from a loudspeaker as race participants, crew, family and fr...
By BRYAN HELLIOS [email protected] IRONWOOD — Citizen’s Tempers flared during Ironwood’s City Commission meeting on Monday. Ironwood resident Paul Grbavcich expressed his dissatisfaction on how he feels city officials have not addressed Ironwood’s water quality. “You did not answer these people’s questions, you were not prepared, you people don’t care,” he said. “You people do not care about this water.” Grbavcich referenced a water quality workshop on July 9 which he said the citizens were ignored and not allowed to voice their conce...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] HURLEY — In an effort to help defray costs, the Iron County Human Services Board sent a resolution to the full county board Monday asking the state to seek an exemption from a federal rule restricting Medicaid funding for certain treatment facilities. Iron County Human Services Director Cally Kilger said federal rules prohibit Medicaid reimbursements for placements in certain facilities unless a state seeks a waiver. “If we have to place an individual in an IMD (Institute for Mental Disease), whi...
By BRYAN HELLIOS [email protected] IRONWOOD - Gogebic Community College's new president met with members of the media during a noon luncheon Monday at the college. George McNulty, president of GCC since July 1, shared his vision of the college as moving forward together by dreaming and living bold. "If we keep that vision strong through every endeavor," he said, "great things can happen." Originally from Northern California, he moved to Reno, Nevada, where he said his career in higher...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] HURLEY — One of the two defendants accused of bombing a Kimball, Wisconsin asphalt plant in 2015 will have his competency to stand trial examined following a judge’s ruling Monday — two months after a competency exam was ordered in a separate case. Judge Gary Carlson ordered a competency exam for Robert “Barrel Bob” Gollubske, 82, who is facing two counts of being a party to the crime of using explosives to damage property in connection to several explosions at Mathy Construction’s Northwoods...
By STEVE NEWMAN [email protected] IRONWOOD - Monday morning, officials gathered to celebrate the building of a new branch on Ironwood's trail system. The new branch, which has been dubbed the "Curry Neighborhood Trail," begins by the Little League baseball field and meets the trail system by Miners Memorial Park. The trail was sponsored by Gogebic Range Health Foundation and funded by a combination of the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, GRHF and a contribution from the city...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD - Range Art Association members said this year's 64th annual Art Show had an increase in entries, more new artists, high quality and a diversity of styles. "I thought the event went wonderfully," said Nancy Korpela, president. "There were a lot of new items and new techniques that the artists are using." In the Master Art Show category, Ken Drawz won Best of Show. Connie Greany won the Melba Rigoni Technical Award. The Award of Excellence was presented to artists Arlene Sarkela and Gerry...
By BRYAN HELLIOS [email protected] IRONWOOD - A couple dozen people gathered on Lowell Street Saturday morning for the Pabst Mine Mural dedication ceremony. The mural, drawn by local artist Dan Perotti, serves as a memorial for the over 1,100 men who lost their lives in mining accidents on the Gogebic Iron Range. "This is a representation of why our community is here," Annette Burchell, mayor of Ironwood said while adding, "This wonderful community was built on the hard backs and the...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] BRUCE, Wis. - For the first time the annual Iron County Summer Youth Camp for kids going into fourth and sixth-grade was held at the historic Trail's End Camp in Rusk County, Wisconsin. The 146 acre camp is former logging land that was deeded to the Rusk County 4-H Club Committee in 1933, according to camp information. The camp expanded over the years and became a site for youth camping groups all around the state. It took some planning to run a...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] WAKEFIELD - All systems are go for the 2019 Stock and Junior National Championships to be held on Sunday Lake next week. The week-long event is authorized by the American Power Boat Association, which is the governing body for national outboard motor races. The Badger State Outboard Association in Wisconsin submitted the bid for the local races, and the Wakefield-Bessemer Rotary Club is providing local sponsorship. "It's fun to watch," said local race...
By STEVE NEWMAN [email protected] IRONWOOD - On Thursday, Waupaca Foundry held a ribbon-cutting for the opening of their seventh manufacturing facility, and the first in this area, in the Ironwood Industrial Park. A host of dignitaries attended the event, which celebrated the cooperation of area, city and state entities along with management at Waupaca to bring the plant here. The facility represents an investment of $4.3 million and will create 61 new jobs, 42 of which are already...
BESSEMER — David and Denise Solie of Columbus Wisconsin, claimed the record high Bessemer 50-50 prize of $36,996 on Friday afternoon. The duo has been supporting Bessemer Blast and buying tickets for years and say they “just got lucky,” according to a press release issued by raffle chairman Mark Malmberg. “We love watching the parade and seeing Marty’s Goldenaires. We’re always impressed how such a small community can come together and organize such a great celebration,” Denise said. The Solies enjoy the Gogebic Range area, especially Li...
By JAN TUCKER [email protected] ONTONAGON - A recent announcement by the U.S. General Services Administration about auctioning off lighthouses has brought some confusion in Ontonagon. While the Associated Press reported "three historic Great Lakes lighthouses owned by the federal government are going on the auction block," the navigational light for sale in Ontonagon is the "breakwater light" on the pier which sticks out into Lake Superior and not the 153-year-old lighthouse on shore closer...
By BRYAN HELLIOS [email protected] IRONWOOD - People stood with hands over hearts as Festival Ironwood officially began Thursday afternoon in Depot Park. Bob Cannon, chaplain for Ironwood's American Legion Post 5 opened the ceremony with a blessing and a prayer after Veronica Bolton sang the National Anthem. "Eternal Father we pray to you to bless the Ironwood festival of 2019 and give us fair weather, give us patience and understanding, for all our patrons, young and old. Give us...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] IRONWOOD — Following several car break-ins earlier this week, the Ironwood Public Safety Department is reminding residents about steps they can take to reduce the chance they are targeted. He made clear the problem isn’t isolated to a specific area, or even to the city of Ironwood. “It was primarily over one night recently, but there’s been other nights in the past … where people have reported their vehicles have been entered,” said IPSD Sgt. Matt Sterbenz. “Not only in our area, but Hurley has ha...
By BRYAN HELLIOS [email protected] BESSEMER — The Gogebic and Ontonagon County Friend of the Court joins together with fellow FOC across Michigan to celebrate the organization’s 100th year anniversary. Created in 1919, the agency is responsible for enforcing domestic relation matters. Linda Dean, Gogebic County’s FOC said when couples go through a divorce, any children who are involved receive assistance from her department. “We’re here for the best interest of children,” she said. “That’s why we’re here.” FOC gathers information...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] MERCER, Wis. - Author Callie Bates said her passion for telling stories and an interest in fantasy and mythology shaped her direction. Speaking to Mercer residents about her career on Wednesday at the community center, Bates talked about her new book "The Soul of Power," which is the final of a three book "Waking Land" trilogy published by Del Ray Books. She also told stories about her life and what pushed her to become a writer. "Callie is...
MERCER, Wis. — With the prevalence of smart phones and GPS, it’s increasingly rare to get around without the assistance of digital technology. However, Fe University is teaching an orienteering class next month for those interested in improving their skills with a map and compass. The class will be held Aug. 13 and 20 from 1-3 p.m., and 1-4 p.m. Aug. 22. The first two classes will be held at the Mercer Public Library. The third class will be held in the field, at a location still being decided. “Participants will explore compass types, discover...
