Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Sorted by date Results 4855 - 4879 of 9862
Preliminary data from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation shows 58 people were killed in traffic-related crashes in October, compared to 46 a year ago. Through the first 10 months of this year, Wisconsin recorded 506 traffic fatalities, higher than the 485 deaths at this time last year, and also above the five-year average of 467. “We’re approaching that time of year when weather and travel conditions can change quickly,” said David Pabst, Director of WDOT’s Bureau of Transportation Safety. “Motorists should be prepared for potential...
BESSEMER — The Gogebic Range Trail Authority is seeking volunteers to assist in trail clean-up efforts. The more than a foot of heavy snow that has fallen was accompanied by strong winds that downed many trees, making most of the trails impassable, according to GRTA trail boss Deb Fergus. The club is asking people to volunteer to help clear the downed tree limbs, with 95 miles of impassable trails that need to be cleared about a month away from the traditional opener for snowmobiling. People are being asked to go out on their own on the u...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] MARQUETTE — A former Bessemer resident has been sentenced to federal prison for methamphetamine trafficking and unlawful gun possession. Jeremy James Whitebird, 34, was sentenced to 17 years, eight months in prison for possession with intent to distribute meth. He was also sentenced to 10 years in prison for a firearms charge, but a Department of Justice press release announcing the sentences said they would be served concurrently. He was also sentenced to five years supervised release after he l...
By IAN MINIELLY [email protected] BESSEMER - Gabridge and Company, represented by Sue Buitenhuis, provided a clean financial bill of health for the Bessemer Area Schools on Oct. 24. Buitenhuis issued, "The highest opinion you can receive and this is the standard you should shoot for." She followed that statement by comparing the BAS to other school districts and saying Bessemer has a low amount of debt compared to other school districts. The total long-term debt as of June 2017 for Be...
By IAN MINIELLY [email protected] BESSEMER - The Halloween Processional in the A.D. Johnston junior and senior high school in Bessemer was the site of all manner of costumed kids and teachers wearing a range of costumes from the scary to the hip. The youngsters from the Washington School joined their older classmates for a processional through the gym, led by members of the Empire and Resistance from Star Wars, so everyone could see the costumes and then the middle and high school....
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] IRONWOOD - While the snow forced the celebration inside, it didn't appear to dampen the enthusiasm of the students as the Ironwood Area Schools celebrated Halloween Tuesday. The LLW Events Committee had originally planned to hold a "Trunk or Treat" event outside, according to committee member Michelle Trier, but the change in weather moved the events inside. The K-6 students had the opportunity to trick or treat through one of the first floor...
WAKEFIELD — Snow and ice mean maintenance crews will be on the road with snowplows, snow blowers and sanding trucks. Darren Pionk from the Gogebic County Road Commission, Sheriff Pete Matonich from the Gogebic County Sheriff’s Department and Michigan State Police Community Service Trooper Jerry Mazurek, have a few safe-driving tips when traveling near winter maintenance equipment. A snow plow driver’s visibility may be limited due to blowing snow around the truck. While traveling 40 miles-per-hour in icy conditions, law enforcement cauti...
By RALPH ANSAMI [email protected] IRONWOOD - The 8 inches of snow that fell when rain turned into snow on Friday set an Oct. 28 record for Ironwood, according to the National Weather Service office in Marquette. The snow was recorded at the Gogebic-Iron Wastewater Treatment Plant on the Montreal River off Cloverland Drive for the 24-hour period ending at 7 a.m. on Saturday. Another 2 inches fell for the 24-hour period to 7 a.m. Sunday, making the weekend's snowfall 10 inches. About...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] MERCER, Wis. - A crowd of approximately 66 people gathered in the Mercer Public Library Monday to celebrate the unveiling of the library's new solar panels. The panels were purchased by the Friends of the Mercer Library and can generate a maximum of 16.12 kilowatts. "What started as a spark of an idea in January 2015 has finally resulted in our 16.12 kilowatt photovoltaic solar energy system, that is now at this moment ... giving some power to the l...
IRONWOOD — The overnight parking ban goes into effect tonight and extends through April 1 on all city streets. Vehicles must not be parked on city-right-of-way from 2 a.m. to 7 a.m. so snowplows can clear streets. Vehicles found in violation of the overnight ban will be towed away at the owners’ expense and are also subject to fines, according to Ironwood Public Safety Department Interim Director Michael Rimkus. The city will not be liable for damage to cars that are illegally parked. Also, there are rules for cleaning ice and snow from cit...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] HURLEY - Five hundred bags of candy weren't enough. The volunteers working the fun frolic at the Iron County Memorial Building ended the event without any candy left over Saturday, despite starting the day with over 500 bags. "I know we broke our record from last year with the amount of children attending," Dorothy Walesewicz, one of the organizers said, estimating over 200 kids attended the event. Along with the candy; the fun frolic had games,...
By IAN MINIELLY [email protected] BESSEMER - The Bessemer Bath Shoppe opened its door on Saturday for its official opening at the intersection of US 2 and Moore Street, across from A.D. Johnston. Owner's Robert and April Heckman outfitted the shoppe with their own homemade soaps, smelly jellys, and candles, while carving out space on their shelves for other local craftsman to also shop their wares, which include candles, jewelery, signs, and hand towels. The Bessemer Bath Shoppe is...
BESSEMER — The Gogebic County Sheriff’s Department offered to shelter residents suffering from cold temperatures due to a loss of power on Saturday inside the Gogebic County Courthouse at 200 N. Moore Street in Bessemer. The cold snap, combined with heavy wet snow and wind, dropped trees and branches across the area, causing at least 758 Xcel Energy customers to lose power, according to Xcel. In talking to the desk officer Sunday, no one took the department up on their offer for a free night stay and they closed the shelter Sunday when the...
By RALPH ANSAMI [email protected] IRONWOOD - Pouring rain turned into heavy snow Friday evening and it quickly accumulated across the Gogebic Range. When the thermometer hit the low 30s, the precipitation was pure white and it was the sticky variety of snow. Driven by strong north winds, the snow fell only about a week after autumn colors had peaked late throughout the area. An Iron County Highway Department plow truck pushed the slush from the U.S. 51-Silver Street intersection in...
By IAN MINIELLY [email protected] IRONWOOD - Don Horn, First Lieutenant and Post Commander of the state police post in Wakefield, said he bagged groceries as a 13-year-old. On Friday, he was in Super One bagging more groceries for the "Stuff a Goose" campaign. Horn said last year the Wakefield post received 22,000 pounds of donations and matches from the campaign that it donated to area food banks. This year, Horn is hoping the post can raise 30,000 pounds. Jerome Mazurek,...
By IAN MINIELLY [email protected] IRONWOOD — Next Friday at 7 p.m., the Historic Ironwood Theatre will host its seventh season of HIT Idol. HIT Idol is a local contest featuring area youth singing their hearts out on Friday night and the winners being announced on Saturday, Nov. 4. American Idol season 9 winner Lee DeWyze is coming to Ironwood in support of the competition. DeWyze said he did not so much “agree” to come to Ironwood and be a part of HIT Idol, “as much as I was asked to be a part of something that encourages young p...
By IAN MINIELLY [email protected] IRONWOOD - This Saturday the Historic Ironwood Theatre is showing "The Cat and the Canary," a 1927 silent horror film adaptation of John Willard's 1922 black comedy play. According to the HIT website, the wealthy Cyrus West is on his deathbed and his nephews and nieces gather around him like cats around a canary to get their greedy mitts on his estate. Due to the machinations of his family, West inserts a provision in the will that it not be read...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP — The Ironwood Township Board of Trustees will likely take action on a survey for township residents at its next meeting, after the township’s planning commission voted Thursday to send the questionnaire to the board for approval. The survey is part of the commission’s effort to update the township’s master plan as required every five years. “The reason to do the survey is to gauge if there is any change in public thought or opinion on land use from five years ago to today,” commi...
By JAN TUCKER [email protected] September unemployment in Gogebic and Ontonagon counties was down a slight tick as it was in 14 of the 15 counties in the Upper Peninsula. The September rate in Gogebic County was 5.6 percent, lower than the 5.9 percent in August and slightly lower than the 5.7 percent a year ago. The comparison indicates since September 2016, the labor force in Gogebic County has shrunk by 250 people and the number of people working is down by 275. Total unemployment in September 2016 was 325 and this September 350....
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP — The Ironwood Township Volunteer Fire Department is holding its second annual Halloween Fun Frolic Saturday. Department members and other volunteers will be in costume, handing out candy. Along with an opportunity for some trick-or-treating, there will also be a cake walk for cupcakes, games with small prizes and other activities. “It was a fun time last year,” Chief Scott Carlson said, adding around 150 kids attended last year’s inaugural event. The fun frolic will run from 1...
By RALPH ANSAMI [email protected] BESSEMER — The Gogebic County Board of Commissioners Wednesday approved a three-year contract for audit services with the Gabridge Company after previously tabling a bid from the firm. The contract calls for payments of $19,680 annually for 2017, 2018 and 2019. Gabridge, based in lower Michigan, said it was offering the county a 20 percent discount because the county’s fiscal year begins on Oct. 1 and that is a relatively slow time for Gabridge. County board member Joe Bonovetz, of Bessemer, said cou...
By IAN MINIELLY [email protected] BESSEMER - The Bessemer Recreation Commission met on Wednesday evening in the DDA room in the underbelly of city hall. City Manager Charlie Loper held sway as the group discussed crowd sourcing ideas to the city for what to do with Bluff Valley Park. The commissions idea is to place easels in the underbelly hallway for a month so residents can come by and write down their ideas to enhance and improve the park. After one month of public idea generation...
