Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
SIGNS, SUCH as this one where the snowmobile trail intersects with Ninth Avenue in Hurley, are being installed around Iron County as part of an effort to increase snowmobile safety.
RICHARD JENKINS
Hurley - Those riding snowmobile trails in Iron County may have seen bright signs along some of the trails encouraging riders to be safe.
The signs are the effort of the newly formed Iron County Trail Safety Committee.
The committee consists of representatives from a variety of groups, including the Hurley Chamber of Commerce, Iron County Forestry Department, Iron County Sheriff's Department, Aspirus Ironwood Hospital, Iron County Health Department and the county's motorized trail groups.
The committee, which met for the first time in the last two or three weeks, will work to improve trail safety on both motorized and non-motorized trails as they are developed throughout the county.
Its first initiative has been the signs, which urge snowmobilers to drive safely and drink responsibly.
So far nine signs have been installed on the county's trails, with plans to order six more. Signs are also being put in various local businesses.
The club is seeking to reduce the number of accidents on the trails, and improve communication between law enforcement and the trail groups as a way to also improve safety for those enjoying the county's trails.
Three snowmobilers have been killed in accidents in Iron County this winter.
According to Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources website, two of the three accidents involved alcohol, while results are still pending on the third.
