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  • AVA members wrap up 27th annual rally

    Tom Stankard|Jun 24, 2016

    HURLEY - With the parking lot full of motorcycles, American Voyager Association members gathered at the Iron County Memorial Building for a banquet and award ceremony Thursday evening to conclude their 27th annual rally. Earlier in the day, riders went on self-guided tours to a variety of regional destinations, including Clam Lake, Chequamegon Bay, Bayfield and Madeline Island. During the "long ride," AVA board member Don Medina, of Half Moon Bay, Calif., said he enjoyed seeing the beautiful...

  • Airport Day to offer free rides to kids Saturday

    Tom Stankard|Jun 24, 2016

    IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP — Children will have an opportunity to fly high in the sky during Airport Day Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Gogebic-Iron County Airport. Like the past 20-plus years, the event will offer free airplane rides for children through the Experimental Aircraft Association’s Young Eagle program, giving them an opportunity to see the Northwoods from 3,000 feet in the air. The Young Eagle program was founded in 1992, and is nearing 2 million rides given. Besides fun, its purpose is to entice kids to consider pursing a car...

  • AVA motorcycle rally attendees enjoy rides, games, camaraderie

    Tom Stankard|Jun 23, 2016

    HURLEY- Motorcycles have become a familiar sight and sound throughout Gogebic and Iron counties as the American Voyager Association Rally continued Wednesday. In the morning, the club offered its members a riding skills class. Later, riders went along a "secret" route with AVA Chairman Mike McGee. There were bike games in the evening, where attendees tested their skills by making their way through an obstacle course. Keith Stumpf, of Cleveland, said he is enjoying the rally. The 27th annual...

  • Voyager riders enjoy the Northwoods

    Tom Stankard|Jun 22, 2016

    HURLEY - The American Voyager Association Rally continued Tuesday, as riders went on self-guided tours around the area. AVA Chairman Michael McGee said Hurley was selected to host the rally because of its "beautiful scenery." "Based on the research we did, we liked the Lake Superior area," he said. "We like the forests and the waterfalls. That was fundamental to us in the selection of this area." Under sunny skies, McGee said riders went on self-guided tours throughout the day to Chequamegon...

  • Bessemer students use classroom experiences to author book on autism

    Tom Stankard|Jun 20, 2016

    BESSEMER - For a class project, four A.D. Johnston High School class members wrote a book describing a day in the life of the title character Carter, an eighth-grade student who has Autism Spectrum Disorder. The students are in a peer-to-peer class. As part of the class, special education teacher Jamie Stiffarm said Rachel Emery, Ciara Novascone, Kimberly Wendinger and Blayne Pellinen spent time as peers for students with learning disabilities and helped them with their classwork. The four...

  • 80 kids sign up for Carnegie summer reading program

    Tom Stankard|Jun 17, 2016

    IRONWOOD - At least 80 children signed up for the "On your mark, Get set ... Read" summer program Thursday afternoon at the Ironwood Carnegie Library. Assistant library director Lynne Wiercinski said a record number of children came to the library to pick up their reading logs and start reading "awesome" books. Wiercinski said the program's theme encourages kids to live a healthy lifestyle and is fun for everyone. The logs were accompanied with a jump rope and a pedometer. At the kick-off...

  • Ride off-road vehicles safely, legally this summer

    Tom Stankard|Jun 16, 2016

    With summer officially about to begin, Michigan Department of Natural Resources conservation officers and local law enforcement departments want to remind off-road vehicle riders to follow off-road-vehicle safety rules and land-use regulations, riding only where ORVs legally are permitted. "To ensure everyone's safety and the protection of our natural resources, ORV riders are cautioned to only ride their machines where it's legal to operate them," said Cpl. John Morey, DNR ORV and snowmobile...

  • 'Not all fats are bad' among food myths discussed

    Tom Stankard|Jun 15, 2016

    IRONWOOD - Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Anna Mooi from Aspirus Grand View debunked popular food myths Tuesday afternoon at the Ironwood Carnegie Library. In front of about 10 area residents, Mooi said there are eight food myths that impact people's diets. Not all fats are bad, Mooi said. She said 20 to 35 percent of people's daily calorie intake should come from fats. She said saturated fats are solid at room temperature and include meats and full-fat dairy products, such as butter and...

  • Superior Range Shooters Club holds event for women

    Tom Stankard|Jun 13, 2016

    IRONWOOD - Women from across the Northwoods learned how to shoot rifles, hand guns, historic firearms, and even throw tomahawks and knives, Saturday at the Superior Range Shooters Club. The Women on Target event was hosted by the Women of the National Rifle Association. More than 10 volunteers, including club members, showed 35 women the parts of the gun they were shooting and the proper technique to safely fire it. Watching a group of women shoot rifles, Gary Sell, club president, said it's...

  • UP city leaders learn about energy improvements

    Tom Stankard|Jun 11, 2016

    IRONWOOD - City officials gathered again at the Ironwood Memorial Building Friday morning to learn about energy options available in the Upper Peninsula on the second day of the U.P. Education Summit hosted by the Michigan Municipal League. Michael Larson, of Michigan Energy Options, said renewable options, like solar and wind, are more cost-efficient and more people are using them. But he said the problem is that the sun doesn't always shine and the wind doesn't always blow. Typically, he said...

  • GCC summer enrollment up slightly over last year

    Tom Stankard|Jun 11, 2016

    IRONWOOD — The summer semester began Monday at Gogebic Community Community College. Jean Graham, GCC Dean of students, said enrollment numbers are similar to last year’s summer semester. She said 10 more students signed up for classes this year, with around 210 students enrolled. She said the college expanded its summer curriculum, but enrollment numbers prohibited offering some of the classes. Over the past three years, GCC President Jim Lorenson said the college has been witnessing decreasing enrollment, and it is time to make changes to hel...

  • Bessemer council moves forward with water, sewer project

    Tom Stankard|Jun 10, 2016

    BESSEMER — The Bessemer City Council Monday agreed to move forward with a combined $11 million sewer-water project in Bessemer. On a 4-1 vote, the council agreed to sign management and water purchase agreements. The council agreed to send the documents to U.S. Department of Agriculture-Rural Development for approval. Council member Linda Nelson voted no. The documents will allow the city to eventually begin sewer projects worth $8,265,000 and put $3,465,000 into water system improvements. City clerk Jim Trudgeon said the agreements include $...

  • All Saints kindergarteners march

    Tom Stankard|Jun 9, 2016

    IRONWOOD - Wearing their finest clothes, four kindergarten students at All Saints Catholic Academy received their diplomas following Mass Wednesday morning. As hymns filled Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church, the four graduates in Emily Lightfoot's class made their way down the aisle to the front pew. The graduates read Bible verses and sang alongside their parents and other family members in the congregation. Graduates Cristina Braucher and Gavin Davis held a banner with a Psalm written in...

  • Students enjoy year-end fun

    Tom Stankard|Jun 8, 2016

    BESSEMER - Washington Elementary School students learned about the bells and whistles inside emergency and law enforcement vehicles Tuesday afternoon and even got to throw a pie in the face of school staff and law enforcement as part of a fundraising effort. Students climbed inside a Bessemer Fire Department fire truck, Michigan State Police Wakefield Post cruisers, a Beacon ambulance, a Gogebic County Sheriff's Department boat and up on a GCSD off-road vehicle. MSP Trooper Jerry Mazurek said...

  • Bessemer city manager search begins again

    Tom Stankard|Jun 7, 2016

    BESSEMER - After offering Daniel Wendt, of Monroeville, Ohio, the city manager position in May, the Bessemer City Council announced Monday the candidate has rejected their offer. After interviewing eight of 28 applicants, the council agreed to offer him the job during a May 23 meeting. The council agreed offer him a first-year salary of $50,000 and a list of benefits. On Monday, Mayor Kathy Whitburn said Wendt contacted her on May 26 and said he had accepted another position in a neighboring...

  • Bessemer adopts GOISD's common school-year calendar

    Tom Stankard|May 25, 2016

    BESSEMER — The Bessemer Area School Board adopted the 2016-’21 Gogebic-Ontonagan Intermediate School District’s common calendar Monday evening. Superintendent Dave Radovich said all six schools in the district will follow the calendar, with the same starting date and breaks. Students begin school on Sept. 6. Winter break begins Dec. 23 and students return to school Tuesday, Jan. 3. School will be closed for Presidents Day on Feb. 20. Spring break begins April 3 and students return Monday, April 10. There will be no school on Good Friday, April...

  • Welding students fabricate sign for GCC

    Tom Stankard|May 24, 2016

    IRONWOOD - Gogebic Community College welding students fabricated a sign bearing the college's new logo and placed it near the entrance of the Lindquist Student and Conference Center. Last fall, Gary Goulin, welding instructor met with the college's marketing committee to launch plans for the new sign. The welding students got to work in the lab to create a sample model and analyzed lighting options, which proved to be difficult. Goulin said they made four different attempts at choosing lighting...

  • O'Neill to present selections from new book

    Tom Stankard|Apr 13, 2016

    IRONWOOD - Local author Pat O'Neill will present selections from his new book, "Disciples of Critters," on Wednesday, April 20, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at The Golden Dragon in Ironwood. In the book, O'Neill emphasizes "folks should live more like critters and eat and work to develop minds and bodies with the strength and energy to help each other maintain a healthier planet with vigor and vibe that might resurrect the planet's sense of humor." In return, he said maybe the planet will smile at us...

  • Wakefield City Council revises offer to city manager candidate

    Tom Stankard|Apr 2, 2016

    WAKEFIELD — Following a meeting with potential City Manager Jason Laumann, the Wakefield City Council Friday made changes to the contract Laumann was offered. Prior to the council meeting, Mayor Joe DelFavero said Laumann received a phone call and had to leave to tend to a family emergency. DelFavero said Laumann was concerned his job was tentative, following a 3-2 vote to offer him the position at the March 18 meeting. Council members John Granato and Bob Blaskowski were the no votes. Granato said he voted no because there was no contract i...

  • Washington Elementary School honored

    Tom Stankard|Mar 23, 2016

    BESSEMER — The Mackinac Center for Public Policy recently presented Bessemer’s Washington Elementary School with an award for outstanding achievement. Superintendent Dave Radovich said Washington School received an “A” rating from the MCPP. Radovich said the rating is based on demographics, student population and social economics. Radovich said the award recognizes Washington Elementary to be among the top 224, or top 10 percent, of schools ranked. Radovich credits the district’s staff, students and parents for the rating. Radovich said pare...

  • Annual Pancake Day raises money for Hurley Lions, Iron County Youth Camp

    Tom Stankard|Mar 21, 2016

    HURLEY - The Hurley Lions Club and Iron County youth teamed up to raise money for the community during the annual pancake breakfast at the Liberty Bell Chalet in Hurley on Sunday. Pancake Day, held on Palm Sunday for more than 35 years, serves as a fundraiser for both the Lions Club and the Iron County Summer Youth Camp. Lions Club members made pancakes and washed dishes, while area youth worked as hostesses and servers by seating guests, serving beverages and food and bussing tables. Neil Klemm...

  • Wakefield council interviews potential city managers

    Tom Stankard|Feb 20, 2016

    WAKEFIELD - The Wakefield City Council interviewed seven potential candidates for the available city manager position this week. On Wednesday, the city council interviewed Perry Franzoi, Eva Smith-Fergason and Mary Servia. On Friday, the council interviewed Mike Womack, Jason Laumann and Richard Brackney. The council will also interview Thomas Budgick in the future. Lawrence Kapugia and Michael Lee withdrew their names, according to information from the council. During the interviews, Mayor Joe...

  • Boline retires from Gogebic County Victim Service Unit

    Tom Stankard|Jan 23, 2016

    BESSEMER - The Gogebic County Sheriff's Department announced Friday Marcella Boline has retired as coordinator for the Gogebic County Sheriff's Victim Service Unit. Boline began working for the unit as its coordinator 12 years ago. She said she was inspired to join the unit after being in a rollover accident in Canada. Shortly after the accident, Boline said the service unit there helped her get to a bus station and back home. Then, she said to "pay things forward," she began training to start...

  • Frequent flyers

    Tom Stankard|Dec 26, 2015

    IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP - 'Tis the season for traveling. Santa Claus wasn't the only one traveling during the Christmas holiday. Whether traveling by air or vehicle, this year AAA said a record 100 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles away from home to see family and friends. Of the 100 million Americans traveling, the U.S. Department of Transportation said only 5 percent choose to travel via plane. In Ironwood Township, people at the Gogebic-Iron County Airport flew on Air Choice One, to...

  • ADAPT teaches students about addiction, driving under influence

    Tom Stankard|Dec 19, 2015

    WAKEFIELD - As winter break approaches, the Alcohol Drug Abuse Prevention Team Thursday taught students in the Wakefield-Marenisco School District dangers of addiction and consequences of driving under the influence. ADAPT is made up of Jennifer Wanink, president; Heather Higgins, secretary; Liz Mathias, event coordinator and Michaela Perlberg, Gogebic Community College counselor. Together, their mission is to to educate the area about drug and alcohol use, to bring awareness to issues that...

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