Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
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By MEGAN HUGHES [email protected] BESSEMER — The Bessemer Area School District board bid a fond farewell to retiring Superintendent Daniel Niemi and K-6 Principal Mark Switzer at their meeting on Monday afternoon. This was Niemi’s final meeting with the school board, and as such, he ended with his last report as the superintendent at the schools, speaking about how all the students are registered for the upcoming year, and that ongoing searches for a foreign language teacher may change the schedule a bit. After he had completed his repor...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] BESSEMER - The Gogebic County Board of Commissioners voted last week to fund repairs to the livestock building at the county fairground in Ironwood. The repairs are not to exceed $9,135 and will be concentrated at the main entrance, which has suffered damage in the way of falling brick and siding. Although other fairground structures are targeted for demolition, county officials recently said the livestock building was the immediate priority, as it houses...
By MEGAN HUGHES [email protected] BESSEMER — The Bessemer Area School Board welcomed Richard Matrella and Nick Heikkila as the district’s new superintendent and dean of students, respectively, at a special meeting on June 14. They replace retiring superintendent and 7-12 principal Dan Niemi. Matrella has been teaching social studies and coaching in Bessemer, while Heikkila has been a physical education and health teacher, and a coach. Board member Beth Steiger said the board is hopeful to have their contracts signed by its June 26 reg...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] IRONWOOD — The Gogebic County Fair will run for four days, starting on Aug. 10, and many folks will visit the Ironwood site during that period. They may not realize how many other people work behind the scenes throughout the year to make the event a success, no matter what the obstacles. One ambitious group of contributors are members of the Gogebic County 4-H program, which is based within the Michigan State University Extension Office in Bessemer. As part of a Monday evening work bee at the county fairg...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] MARENISCO — Residents of Marenisco Township had the opportunity last weekend to dispose of unwanted items at an annual cleanup. According to Township Supervisor Bruce Mahler, five dumpsters were filled during the event. “That was the end of the grace period for people who have blight issues,” he said, adding that any such folks could be receiving a blight visit from the township this week. In other news, Mahler said that members of the township’s Board of Trustees discussed on Monday evening the possibi...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] In the wake of two spring snowstorms and a seasonal snow count unmet since the turn of the century, six counties in the western Upper Peninsula calculated more than $30 million in combined damages from rising waters that occurred from quickly melting snow. However, recent visitors from the Federal Emergency Management Agency concluded that — by their formulas — the damage actually amounted to little more than $8 million. The possible result is that the region then will not meet the $17.8 million thr...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] MERCER, Wis. - About 150 people registered for one of four different bike routes, as part of Saturday's JuneFest in Mercer. According to Melissa Copp - executive director of the Mercer Chamber of Commerce - participants chose routes of 10, 15, 28 and 50 miles, although some also decided for themselves just how many miles to go. "We did have to reroute due to construction," said Copp, but the threat of rain mostly fizzled out, resulting only in a few...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] WAKEFIELD — At their regular meeting on Monday evening, members of the Wakefield City Council voted to change their plan for hiring a new treasurer followed the city’s inability to find a qualified candidate after advertising since May 14. Instead, the city will look hire a full-time deputy treasurer with hopes of promoting the person to treasurer after some on the job training. The decision loosened educational requirements needed for the hire of a deputy treasurer instead of treasurer, including a req...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] HURLEY — Members of the Hurley City Council voted on Tuesday evening to approve the establishment of a fitness court by the Iron County Health Department in Cary Park. The action followed a presentation by Health Department representatives during a recent meeting of the city’s Parks and Recreation Committee. “It’s a good addition to the city and a good addition to Cary Park,” said Councilman Thomas Conhartoski. Marketed as “the world’s best outdoor gym” that is “made for all climates,” the fi...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] IRONWOOD — With only nine weeks remaining before the Gogebic County Fair, members of the Fair Board are voicing concern about fairground structures that were earmarked for demolition this year. “I don’t know what’s going to happen,” said Chairman James Byrns, who added that the downstate contractor hired by the Gogebic County Board of Commissioners could show up any day to address the deconstruction. He conceded that the long winter, more snow than usual and resulting extended road restrictions have been...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] A half dozen museums in Gogebic and Iron counties are joining forces to offer exhibits on the same themes during each of the three summer months. "Displays are up," said JoAnn Fleming of the Ironwood Historical Society. "This is a venture between area historical societies to promote the history of the area and their communities," Fleming said she hopes that, as of next week, each museum will have available rack cards that will include information about the themes and each of the cooperating museums. This...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] IRONWOOD — Fine weather drew dozens of people Sunday to the Gogebic Range Ride and Run, which started and ended at the Historic Ironwood Depot Park. The GRRR is an annual fundraiser for the Gogebic Health Foundation. Foundation members were happy with the enthusiastic turnout. “We have about 70 people signed up,” said Andrea Bergman, executive director of the foundation. “We just wanted to make it a social activity.” The GRRR provided participa...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] BESSEMER — Members of the Bessemer Planning Commission voted on Tuesday evening to approve a zoning amendment that will allow self-storage units with permission in C-2 (Corridor Mixed Use) and Country Estates zones. The action now stands as a recommendation to the City Council. The city had sought advice on the matter from Patrick Coleman, a principal with North of 45 in Hancock. After studying the details, Coleman reported in a May 16 memo, “My interpretation was that the property is not zoned cor...
By JASON JUNO [email protected] IRONWOOD - Ironwood honored those who died serving their country with its annual Memorial Day observance Monday. The day started with a parade that went from the Memorial Building to the Veterans Monument at the Post Office, where wreaths were placed, to Riverside Cemetery, where a ceremony was held. Six percent of the total population has served in the military; that number rises to 10% for Gogebic and Iron counties, Lt. Col. David Manki, U.S. Army...
By MEGAN HUGHES [email protected] IRONWOOD — Twenty-nine students graduated from Luther L. Wright High School at its 132nd commencement ceremony Friday evening. The ceremony featured speeches from members of faculty and the school board, as well as musical performances by the high school band and Accent! choir. The ceremony began with a presentation of the colors by the JROTC and a processional walk, including representatives of the upcoming classes each holding a flag for the classes 2024-2035. The final students to enter were the c...
By LARRY HOLCOMBE [email protected] BESSEMER — Jim Tannheimer was the guest speaker at Memorial Day services at Hillcrest Cemetery in Bessemer Monday morning. Tannheimer grew up in Yale Location, graduated from Bessemer high school and joined the U.S. Air Force. He credited John Frello, now the Gogebic County veterans service officer and a fellow Yale lad, for helping him decide to join the military. He retired 25 years later as a command chief master sergeant after spending much of his service recruiting others to join in s...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] MARENISCO — A Memorial Day service drew a long string of folks along the stone wall surrounding the Marenisco Township Cemetery. Amidst mild temperatures, American Legion Post 523 Commander John Zorich and Chaplain Bruce Mahler shared the presentation of the service. Mahler said that members of the U.S. Armed Services have come from corners rich and poor, black and white, male and female, and from every ethnicity. “Their one common characteristic is that they all took an oath to die for America,” he sa...
By LARRY HOLCOMBE [email protected] IRONWOOD — The Ironwood City Commission heard an update on the city’s proposed Phase 2 of its water treatment plant project as part of a public hearing Monday evening. Jeff Sjoquist of Coleman Engineering spoke about the $10.99 million second phase of a larger project. He said they hope to hear about funding for Phase 1 of the project soon. It would build a new pump house and include new pumping equipment, while Phase 2 will include the water treatment facilities, with the goal of removing man...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] BESSEMER — Members of the Bessemer City Council want detailed feedback from local property owners regarding restoration still needed as a result of utility and road work in the past couple years. The city is now in its third year of water and sewer improvements, combined with road repair or reconstruction in multiple locations throughout town. “I’ve had so many complaints all winter,” said Councilman Terry Kryshak, who requested that the subject be added to the agenda of the council’s meeting this past...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] WAKEFIELD TOWNSHIP - Crisp air and a lack of flies and mosquitoes make spring and early summer a great time to enjoy hiking in local parks. That was the case on Sunday at the Presque Isle Unit of the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park in Wakefield Township. "We hiked out to visit Speakers Cabin," said Lisa Talon, who was in the park area with Lissette Neville. They are both from Crystal Falls, and were waiting for Talon's husband, son and two of...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] Four members of the Federal Emergency Management Agency visited Gogebic County on Monday to assess damages in relation to recent flooding and spring storms. They were joined by two members of the Michigan State Police’s division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security. Rounding out the group were two staff members of the Gogebic County Road Commission — Manager Barry Bolich and Engineer Phil Strong — along with Heidi DeRosso, the county’s 911/emergency coordinator, and Kelsey Roble, a project...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] Two recent storms, along with flooding in relation to a heavy snow season, has resulted in tens of millions of dollars in damage for six counties in the western U.P. “So far, approximately $30 million in damage has been reported,” said Steve Derusha, 8th District Coordinator of the Michigan State Police’s Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division. And more costs are still “trickling in,” he said by phone on Tuesday. The estimated costs now qualify the region to apply for federal aid, which requi...
By MEGAN HUGHES [email protected] IRONWOOD - Gogebic Community College celebrated its 89th commencement ceremony on Friday evening, with families, friends and faculty celebrating the achievements of this year's graduating class. The commencement presented 195 certificates and degrees, spread across multiple departments. Some students earned multiple certificates and-or degrees. The ceremony began with the processional, as students walked to their seats to "Pomp and Circumstance" played by...
By LARRY HOLCOMBE [email protected] HURLEY — After months of study the Hurley School District has settled on a new dust collection system for the school’s shop classroom. The school board was presented with three system proposals from Stainless Specialists of Wausau and voted to purchase a system including installation for $359,685. District Superintendent Kevin Genisot said he expects the system to be installed over a three-week period, perhaps in the fall. The current dust collection system predates the school, which opened in 19...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] HURLEY — Members of the Iron County Comprehensive Planning/Land and Zoning Committee voted on Tuesday to deny the construction of a recreation-based business at a site owned by Melvin Pemble on Boyer Road in Mercer. The application by Chad Bierbrauer would have included a 3-unit campground with rental cabins, storage buildings, and pontoon and snowmobile rentals. The committee’s action followed a conditional use public hearing attended by several residents of that district. “There’s approximately 80 resi...
