Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Sorted by date Results 3963 - 3987 of 9883
Editor’s Note: The following story is the second of a three-part series. Part 1, published on Friday, provided an overview of the status of an unnamed, multi-use trail connecting Wakefield to Marenisco. WAKEFIELD — The Western Upper Peninusla Trail Association operated for only five years, between 2012 and 2017, but its members are proud of what they accomplished during that time. According to Ross and Kim Kolesar, of Wakefield, who served, respectively, as WUPTA’s president and secretary, “informal” work already had been occurring for about...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] BESSEMER - An Ironwood man was convicted of three felonies in Gogebic County Circuit Court Thursday - including the two most serious charges he faced - while being found not guilty of a fourth. The jury deliberated for a little over one hour before finding Michael David Zupan, 34, guilty of two counts of receiving and concealing stolen firearms and one count of possessing a firearm while committing a felony. He was found not guilty of tampering...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] Editor's note: The following story is the first of a three-part series. WAKEFIELD - Many people may drive by the Wakefield Fire Hall on the city's main street without paying attention to the unpaved trail emerging from the brush on the other side of the road. The surrounding site is undeveloped and unadorned, so busy drivers may not realize that the unnamed, eastbound trail can take them on a 16-mile journey to Marenisco. As of this past summer, however,...
By RALPH ANSAMI [email protected] MARENISCO — As the effort to keep the Ojibway prison in Marenisco from closing as scheduled on Dec. 1 continues, the potential effects are being felt in many ways, including among man’s best friends. Inmates at the prison for months have been providing foster care for the Chequamegon Humane Association in Ashland, training dogs in their care. That arrangement comes to an end when the prison closes. Training dogs at the prison actually dates to 2014, or earlier, when dogs from the HOPE animal she...
By STEVE NEWMAN [email protected] IRONWOOD - Life-long Ironwood resident Laurie Schenk had never seen a moose. She was in her car leaving her home and there it was at about 10 a.m. on Sunday morning. "It came walking in the middle of the road, almost right in front of my vehicle," she said. She watched as it crossed from yard into yard in the neighborhood in Jessieville. "I kind of followed it up the hill and watched as it went into the ravine at the top of the hill on Birch Street, and...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] BESSEMER - The trial of an Ironwood man accused of receiving stolen firearms began in Gogebic County Circuit Court Wednesday. Michael David Zupan, 32, is charged with two counts of receiving and concealing stolen firearms, felony firearm and tampering with evidence. The most serious of the four felonies - the receiving and concealing charges - each carry a potential maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison. Gogebic County Prosecutor Nick Jacobs...
By RALPH ANSAMI [email protected] IRONWOOD — A “Find Your North Marketing Plan” that details strategies for the city and the Ironwood Economic Development Corporation has been released. The forward to the document states: “With unfiltered access to outdoor recreation, a growing infrastructure of trails and destinations and the seclusion of Upper Peninsula wilderness, Ironwood is one of the premier adventure destinations in the Midwest. “Ironwood is a small city with a rich history and amenities to appeal to any adventurer. Feel the art...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] BESSEMER - A Bessemer man convicted of child abuse last month will serve at least six years in prison. Gogebic County Circuit Judge Michael Pope sentenced Matthew James LaPlant, 37, on three felonies Tuesday. "The normal victim impact paperwork does not adequately address the depth of suffering, mental or physical, (the victim) has endured and will have to recover from for many months and years," Chief Assistant Prosecutor Tracie Wittla said,...
MARENISCO (AP) — A township in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is suing to stop the closing of a prison. Marenisco Township in Gogebic County says the state didn’t do an economic-impact study as required by law. However, a judge on Monday rejected a request for a restraining order which was filed by Marenisco Township. The Michigan Corrections Department in August announced plans to close the Ojibway prison in the months ahead. The prison has 203 employees, including some who live in Wisconsin. Local officials say closing the prison would great...
By RALPH ANSAMI [email protected] IRONWOOD — Monday’s temperatures in the 70s gave way to the lower 50s on Tuesday as fall arrived early across the Gogebic Range. Summer doesn’t officially end until Saturday, but the cool weather proved otherwise. On a warm Monday, several dogs and their owners romped through Ironwood’s Norrie Park, while a pair of competitors tried out the new disc golf course there. A half-dozen boat trailers parked at the County C boat landing on the Gile Flowage, near Hurley, were a sign fishermen were out after w...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] IRONWOOD — The Ironwood Area Schools is examining its branding efforts in order to get all the district’s teams and clubs on the same page, the board of education learned Monday. The first step of this process will begin next week as the district will hold a public meeting to discuss school color options. Ironwood Superintendent Travis Powell and Athletic Director Gordy Erickson said the district’s various teams have gotten uniforms in different shades and colors over the years. “There’s so many d...
By RALPH ANSAMI [email protected] HURLEY — Is it time to eliminate the Midget mascot? That’s what a committee in the Hurley School District will decide by the end of the year. “It’s time for a discussion,” school board president Joe Simonich, of Kimball, said Monday. He said the district had been threatened in the past with lawsuits regarding the Midget moniker. It’s planned the committee will come up with a recommendation for the school board by December. “We want this to be a transparent process,” Simonich said. Board members s...
By JEAN NORDINE [email protected] BESSEMER - At Monday's regular meeting of the Bessemer City Council, the council stated they want more input from the Michigan Department of Trasportation before making a decision as to if U.S. 2 should remain four lanes or go on a road diet and become three lanes. The council feels they need an actual survey to see exactly where the lanes would go, before they can make a decision. They also question whether compromises can be made. They are...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] WAKEFIELD - Organizers of a Sunday spaghetti feed at the Wakefield VFW hope the event will add to legal coffers aimed at disputing a recent state decision to close Ojibway Correctional Facility in Marenisco. Food was served steadily as the room quickly filled with local people willing to contribute the $10 fee for what they believe is still a fighting chance of reversing the state directive. "We've got just under $4,000 right now sitting in a bank...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] IRONWOOD - The Historic Ironwood Theatre was the hot place to be Saturday as comedian Charlie Berens performed at a stop on his "Oh My Gosh" tour. Berens, known for his popular "Manitowoc Minute" online series, entertained with his variety show - featuring standup comedy, singing and prerecorded sketches. The "Manitowoc Minute" features Berens putting an exaggerated Wisconsin spin on some of the day's top headlines and topics of interest in roughly...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] BESSEMER — Grins galore served as hallmarks of joy at Saturday’s Upper Peninsula Golf and Bocce Tournaments, sponsored by Area 39 of the Special Olympics of Michigan. Bessemer hosted both tournaments, with the bocce event held at Bluff Valley Park and the golf event held at Gogebic Country Club. Thunderstorms occurred early in the morning, but quickly cleared as the tournaments geared up. SOMI’s Area 39 director Barb Siira, who is resigning this year after 25 years in her position, said 134 athle...
BESSEMER - The popularity of the Iron Belle non-motorized trail extends to all age categories. Cutso and Phyllis Corullo, both 88, of Bessemer, have lived across the street from the new-to-Bessemer trail for the last 62 years. "Because of their location, they feel the trail runs through their front yard," said their daughter, Marge Leaf. That doesn't bother them, however. The couple enjoyed watching construction of the trail to Bessemer from Ironwood and now takes note of the many people who...
IRONWOOD — A Minneapolis area man is facing five felonies after he was arrested in Ironwood earlier this week for allegedly bringing drugs to the area. Brandon Bible, 35, is charged with possession with intent to deliver heroin, tampering with evidence and three counts of resisting or obstructing a police officer. The possession with intent to deliver charge carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison. A Gogebic-Iron Area Narcotics Team spokesperson said officers seized 70 grams of heroin — valued at $30,000 — during the investigation. Autho...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] IRONWOOD — Faced with equipment nearing the end of its life cycle, the Gogebic-Iron Wastewater Authority recently raised its rates to ensure operations can continue without interruption. The authority, created in 1983, treats wastewater for the city of Ironwood, Ironwood Township and the city of Hurley to ensure it’s clean and safe before it’s released into the Montreal River. Its current facilities include a plant built in 1986 to treat a daily flow of 3.4 million gallons per day, with a peak...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] SAXON, Wis. - While it's evident a lot of work stills needs to be done, Saxon Harbor's marina is beginning to take shape as workers poured concrete for the west boat launch Thursday. There are roughly three to four weeks of work left on a $2.77 million contract with Roen Salvage to dredge the marina basins and rebuild various parts of the harbor that was destroyed in the July 2016 storm. The final marina contract, covering much of the marina's...
By JEAN NORDINE [email protected] IRONWOOD - Author Sally Bair visited the Ironwood Carnegie Library Thursday afternoon to speak about her latest book, "Run Sally Run." She resides in Washburn, Wis., and is a former journalist. She writes children's books and a weekly devotional column for two newspapers and has won numerous awards for her writing. Bair has three children, 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Bair has been writing since 14. When she was inspired by the book,...
By RALPH ANSAMI [email protected] BESSEMER — A resolution that outlines funding for the Bessemer to Ramsay stretch of the Iron Belle Trail construction project was approved by the Gogebic County Board of Commissioners Wednesday. In February, the county board passed a resolution supporting submission of an application to the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund for development of the three-mile non-motorized recreational trail. The total project cost is $1,165,800, but it could be $1,428,000 if the trust fund money is approved. Paul A...
