Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Sorted by date Results 679 - 703 of 9883
By LARRY HOLCOMBE [email protected] HURLEY — Hurley School District officials are looking for a new plan for plowing snow beginning next winter. The city of Hurley has been plowing the school’s snow for free since the fall of 2006, but city officials told the school district earlier this year that they just can’t keep up with the status quo as costs have increased. The school board on Monday evening discussed calling for bids for the 2023-2024 winter and beyond. Administrator Kevin Genisot posed a the idea of a three-year contr...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] BESSEMER — A meeting of the minds took place last week as the city of Bessemer held a joint meeting with representatives from its City Council, Planning Commission, Downtown Development Authority, and Parks and Recreation Commission. City Secretary Samantha Dorr, who coordinates the DDA, set up the Feb. 13 session in the auditorium of the Bessemer City Hall. The idea was to discuss recent successes, to acknowledge challenges and to suggest goals for the near future. Mayor Adam Zak, who represented the C...
The 2023 Superior Snowshoe Walks season has a few more walks to go. Organizer Sam Davey said the season has gone really well, with warmer weather allowing for people to dress in fewer layers. Speaking at the Feb. 8, Wednesday afternoon walk at Schomberg Park in Oma, Wisconsin, Davey said he advises people to dress for warmer weather than it is. "Once you get going, start working up a sweat, it feels a lot warmer," said Davey. "We had one week of cold weather, but that was really it. ... I usuall...
IRONWOOD — The Ironwood City Commission approved vacating the alley south of the 400 and 500 blocks of East Birch Street, as well as Deane Street between the two blocks, at its meeting Monday evening. Michael and Greta Erm requested the move, as they plan to build a home there on Birch Street. Commissioner Jim Mildren said it was exciting to have someone building a new home in the city. A brief public hearing on the matter was held before the meeting, at which no one spoke. City Manager Paul Anderson told the commission there is opportunity t...
BESSEMER — The City Council of Bessemer is reaching out to encourage membership in three of its sub-groups that help to keep the town running effectively. A total of five vacancies now exist on two of the city’s commissions and on its Downtown Development Authority. The situation has become serious enough for the Planning Commission that council members voted at their Monday evening meeting to approve a resolution that will allow members of that commission to conduct meetings even when they cannot meet a standard quorum. City Manager Jen...
BESSEMER — A resolution to adopt a final 911 Service Plan was approved by a vote of the Gogebic County Board of Commissioners last week. According to the resolution, the plan will be “pursuant to the Emergency Telephone Service Enabling Act, 1986 PA 32, as amended.” “Among other provisions, the plan identifies a chosen 911 vendor as the primary public safety answering point for all 911 calls within the boundaries of Gogebic County and recognizes the millage reliance or other funding models if the millage is not in place,” stated an agenda notic...
IRONWOOD — The Gogebic-Iron County Airport Board held its monthly meeting on Monday, with board members discussing their annual reorganization, the purchase of a vehicle and ongoing plans for future projects. Patrick Harrison was unanimously re-elected chairman, Dan Siirila elected vice-chair, and Brandon Snyder was chosen as recording secretary. The board also voted to change the meeting time of its monthly meeting to the second Monday of the month at 3 p.m. to better fit into the schedule of multiple board members. The board held a lengthy d...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] BESSEMER TOWNSHIP - After a run of days with sub-zero temperatures, Saturday's mild temperatures filled the ski slopes at Big Powderhorn Mountain Resort. But the base of the hill also had an additional crowd of folks reveling in the 2023 Midwest Cat Clowder, which provided an opportunity to view a parking lot full of vintage Sno-Cats and groomers. A playful sign warned "Caution: Cat Crossing" while some of the engines rumbled, emitting the dense, distinct...
IRONWOOD — Longtime Gogebic Community College Board of Trustees member Susan Beals was elected chairman as the board held a re-organizational meeting Jan. 31. Other officers include William Malloy as vice chairman, Eric Fitting as treasurer and John Lupino as secretary. All will serve in their respective offices for two years. Other members of the board include Tom Brown and newcomers Robert Stempihar and Michael McPherson. The board will continue to hold regular meetings on the last Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m. with the exception of July, O...
By MEGAN HUGHES [email protected] SAXON, Wis. — The Saxon-Gurney Fire Department offered their annual roast beef fundraiser on Sunday, bringing back the tradition after a two-year absence. The crowd at the Community Center exceeded expectations, according to Chief Stacie Ofstad. “We have had about 200 people come through so far, and the day isn’t quite over yet.” He said the last time it was held they served about 125. “It started 30 to 35 years ago as a gun raffle,” he said. “About 18 to 20 years ago we switched to this weekend, the...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] BESSEMER — Kristie Peterson of Marenisco has accepted the job of clerk-treasurer for the city of Bessemer. She will begin her new job on Feb. 21. The offer was made on Feb. 2 after members of the City Council interviewed Peterson and one other candidate in a special meeting on Feb. 1. Samantha Dorr, the city’s secretary and coordinator of the Downtown Development Authority, reported the details on Tuesday by phone. Since July of 2021, Peterson has been a pupil auditor and general education assistant for...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] BESSEMER — The Gogebic County Fair Board increased in size last week when the Gogebic County Board of Commissioners voted to appoint Randall Kashich of Ironwood as a new member. Related discussion during that meeting and a prior Personnel Committee meeting also addressed the scope and power of the Fair Board as a whole. Fair Board Coordinator Marlene Saari had reported that two of the board seats were expiring as of the end of last year and that both of the current members — Holly Ramme and Shelley Suc...
By MEGAN HUGHES [email protected] MERCER, Wis. - Saturday drew a crowd to Mercer early in the day, as cross country skiers made their way to the MECCA Ski Trails for the annual Winterfest live races. "It turned out great, about twice as many skiers here than last year, said Mike Shouldice, one of the organizers of the event, "The 30K race that we just added was the most popular race this year, which was great." The 30K ski race loop involves two passes at the 15K loop, according to...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] HURLEY — Iron County has a new elder benefit specialist who happened upon the job quite naturally. “I originally had been working at White Cross Pharmacy, and part of what I did there was deliver medication to the elderly,” said Jerri Sokol. In a Monday interview with The Globe, she added that she really enjoyed those interactions. So when the elder benefit position opened in Hurley, Sokol regarded it as “a good fit.” Since August of last year, she has been working in the Iron County Aging and Disabilit...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] BESSEMER — A 5-year recreation plan for 2023-2027 was adopted last week by the Gogebic County Board of Commissioners, but members already anticipate addressing several new ideas proposed during a public hearing just prior to the vote. The Jan. 25 motion, specifically, recommended adopting the plan and sending it back to the county’s Forestry and Parks Commission with an acknowledgment of a potential need to rule on later updates, based on additional suggestions made by members of the public. Those sug...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] IRONWOOD — In hopes of moving forward with plans for an addition to Luther L. Wright K-12 School, trustees of the Board of Education of the Ironwood Area Schools voted on Monday evening to approve a resolution to establish a special election on May 2. The election will allow local residents to vote on whether or not to approve the borrowing of more than $16 million in order to enable funding of the pending project, which also includes other improvements to the school property. Trustee Aaron Ruotsala was t...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] The global status of copper mining, as well as its future potential, was the subject of a virtual session last week that included the man who for six years has led Highland Copper Company Inc., a Canadian-based enterprise with interests in Wakefield Township and the broader Copper Country. Titled “The Doctor Is In,” the Jan. 20 session included five participants with worldwide expertise in business and finance, digital information, geology and mining engineering. Lobo Tiggre, founder and CEO of Louis Jame...
By MEGAN HUGHES [email protected] IRONWOOD — Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Ironwood welcomed Father Brian Gerber on Jan. 2. “It is a beautiful church,” said Gerber during an interview Tuesday. Gerber said his earliest recollections of wanting to be a priest was when he was 6 years old. He remembers a project in which he wrote about what he wanted to be when he grew up. “The first time I really considered it was when I was in high school,” he said. Gerber has served as a priest for 15 years in several different parishes. “Before t...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] UPSON, Wis. - Winter fans relished a new blanket of snow last Saturday at Whitecap Mountains Resort in Upson, Wisconsin. Not only did the hills feature an ongoing descent of skiers and snowboarders, but neighboring Weber Lake also was a favorite passing point for snowmobilers from Trail 6. Additional folks were inside of Whitecap Hotel, basking in the warmth of the newly enlarged bar and restaurant area. Resort manager David Dziuban was nearby, talking to...
By MEGAN HUGHES [email protected] MERCER, Wis. - Mercer was abuzz with activity Saturday as snowmobile enthusiasts from all over paid a visit to town to enjoy the 16th annual Winter Blast hosted by the Mercer Sno-Goers Snowmobile Club. The event featured food, raffles and an antique snowmobile show at the Sno-Goers' groomer barn in downtown Mercer. Sno-Goers Treasurer Deb Hohner said volunteers were key to the event, including helping to set up Friday and serving food throughout the day...
BESSEMER — A 41-year-old women was sentenced Tuesday in Gogebic County Circuit Court for her involvement with the delivery of methamphetamine which occurred on July 11, 2022, in Bessemer Township according to Nicholas Jacobs, Gogebic County Prosecuting Attorney. Lynn Chapman, of Ramsay, was sentenced by Circuit Judge Michael Pope to serve a minimum prison term of 5 years and a maximum of 30 years. The maximum term included a Habitual Offender 2nd designation which increased the maximum by one and a half times, according to a release by J...
By LARRY HOLCOMBE [email protected] HURLEY — The Hurley School Board unanimously approved a resolution by the CESA 12 Board of Control to purchase a building as a new home for CESA’s operations in Ashland. District Administrator Kevin Genisot said 75% of the 17 school districts in the northern Wisconsin Cooperative Educational Service Agency need to approve such a motion before CESA moves ahead with a second proposal to purchase the former Hickman Chiropractic office on U.S. 2 in Ashland, as it looks to move from its current loc...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] BESSEMER — Despite not always agreeing on the finer details, members of Bessemer’s Downtown Development Authority are moving forward with a plan to seek outside advice on how to improve the city’s downtown area. At their Jan. 11 meeting, they reviewed a related draft for a Request for Proposals — often referred to by its acronym of RFP — that begins as follows: “The Bessemer Downtown Development Authority invites multi-disciplinary teams with experience in the fields of rural and urban planning, c...
HURLEY, Wis. — Nancy Ann Vaara, 83, of Bessemer, Michigan, passed away on Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023, at Villa Maria Health and Rehabilitation Center in Hurley. Nancy was born on April 13, 1939, in Ironwood, Michigan, to the late Raniero “Spun” and Edith (St. John) Matrella. She grew up in Bessemer and graduated from A.D. Johnston High School with the class of 1957. She married Robert “Bob” Vaara in Las Vegas in April 1983. She began working in 1966 as a clerk with Lake Superior District Power Company and continued her career with them as they beca... Full story
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] BESSEMER - Members of the Gogebic County Board of Commissioners held their reorganizational meeting on Jan. 4 and took their annual oath of office from County Clerk Ramona Collins. James Lorenson of District 4 also was elected as chairman, and James Byrns of District 3 was elected as vice-chairman. They are both from Ironwood, as are members Daniel Siirila (District 1) and Thomas Laabs (District 2). Remaining members are Joseph Bonovetz of Bessemer...
