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  • Iron County Fair

    Tom Stankard|Aug 5, 2016

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  • Bessemer school talks to city about plan ADJ expansion, parking issues

    Tom Stankard|Aug 4, 2016

    BESSEMER — The Bessemer Area Schools District Planning Committee and the city’s planning commission Wednesday discussed possible parking solutions concerning the expansion of A.D. Johnston High School. Previously, the school planning committee announced plans to build on to A.D. Johnston High School to the north, requiring the closure of Iron Street, as part of a move to close Washington Elementary School and transferring those students to the high school. Bessemer Planning Commission Cha...

  • Bessemer looks to take a bite out of blight

    Tom Stankard|Aug 2, 2016

    BESSEMER - The Bessemer City Council, Monday evening, adopted an amendment to the city's zoning ordinance to cut down on blight. According to information provided at the meeting, the city has cut 21 lawns this year and the property owners were billed July 8. To date, four property owners have payed their bills. Under the new zoning ordinance, the property owner has five days to comply upon receiving a notice from the city to remove the blight from their property. If the property owner does not...

  • Parade honors public servants, alumni

    Tom Stankard|Aug 1, 2016

    HURLEY - Hundreds lined Silver Street in downtown Hurley for the annual Iron County Heritage Parade on a sunny Saturday afternoon. Beginning with the "Star Spangled Banner," sung by Hurley High School class of 2016 member Reggie Kelly; floats, vehicles and people made their way up and down Silver Street to celebrate Iron County. The parade marshals were recently retired Hurley police chief Dan Erspamer, his father and retired Ironwood police chief Ted Erspamer, the new Hurley police chief Chris...

  • Heritage Day brings history to forefront

    Tom Stankard|Jul 30, 2016

    HURLEY - Folks of all ages experienced life before the turn of 20th century during Heritage Day Friday, presented by the Iron County Historical Society at its museum in Hurley. The historical society is marking its 50th anniversary this year and celebrated with a slate of activities this past week, helping begin the annual Iron County Heritage Festival. At the museum on Friday, a blacksmith, a broom maker and weavers demonstrated their talents during an open house. Dan Roesinger demonstrated...

  • Bubbles fill Hurley Library

    Tom Stankard|Jul 28, 2016

    HURLEY - Children put on safety goggles and filled Hurley Public Library with bubbles Wednesday while learning about the science behind them. When asked to describe bubbles, the children said bubbles can get really big, are clear and pop easily. Licia Johnson, from the North Lakeland Discovery Center, asked the child scientists what bubbles are made of. "Soap and water," one child said. Because bubbles contain water, Johnson said bubbles are a liquid. But she said bubbles also contain a gas....

  • Gogebic County Board hears post-storm road update

    Tom Stankard|Jul 28, 2016

    BESSEMER — The Gogebic County Board of Commissioners commended the county road commission Wednesday evening for its response to the severe storm that devastated the area, particularity Little Girl’s Point, two weeks ago. “On behalf of the county board, thank you for the road commission,” board chairman Joe Bonovetz said. Road Commission Manager Darren Pionk said temporary repairs are still ongoing. He said the National Guard saved the road commission “a ton of money and time” needed to make the Lake Road and Powers Road area passable. T...

  • Guard helps with Gogebic County road repairs

    Tom Stankard|Jul 27, 2016

    T BESSEMER - Following the severe thunderstorm of July 11 that devastated Little Girl's Point, the Gogebic County Road Commission is "hard at work" repairing roads in the surrounding area. Road commission manager Darren Pionk said Tuesday the commission has begun surveying and designing plans for the eight major sections of Lake Road that were damaged by the flash floods. Pionk said the damages total about $5.5 million. Down the road, Pionk said the commission has suspended all future road...

  • Wakefield cleans up from storm

    Tom Stankard|Jul 26, 2016

    WAKEFIELD-Following the thunderstorm that swept through Wakefield two weeks ago, city officials and the community joined forces to recover. As a result of the strong straight-line winds during the storm, several properties were damaged and lost power. City manager Richard Brackney said residents and city employees responded "tremendously" in the wake of the storm to begin cleaning up uprooted trees and debris. "It was just the community being a community," he said. "Lots of volunteers came out...

  • Illinois high school cross country team trains in Hurley

    Tom Stankard|Jul 26, 2016

    HURLEY - The Hoffman Estates (Ill.) High School cross country team are training in Hurley this week. For the past 10 years, assistant coach Matthew Ihms said the team has traveled from northwestern suburbs of Illinois to Wisconsin to train during the summer. In 1970s, head coach Kirk Macnider's father participated in the Paavo Nurmi Marathon and won. Macnider said his father inspired him to bring his cross country team to Hurley. Sixteen team members made the trip this year. The team consists...

  • Greenough wins top prize at 61st annual Art Show

    Tom Stankard|Jul 25, 2016

    IRONWOOD - Area artists displayed their work this past weekend at the Range Art Association's 61st annual Art Show at the Ironwood Memorial Building. Association president Nancy Korpela said she was pleased with the quality of art submitted this year. "The artists submitted very professional work this year," she said. Wildlife artist John McFaul judged the 43 entrees. After careful consideration, Kate Greenough's "Lady Madonna" won Best in Show. Greenough said she labeled her artwork after the...

  • Little Girls Point, Wakefield take brunt of storm in Gogebic County

    Tom Stankard|Jul 13, 2016

    The Gogebic County Emergency Management Agency and other local officials declared an emergency Tuesday morning because of the severe storm that began Monday evening. Reports of damage began around 9 p.m. in Gogebic County. Heavy rain and strong winds caused flash flooding and knocked down trees in Bessemer Township, Ironwood Township and the city of Wakefield. The Gogebic County Sheriff's Department said Wakefield, Little Girl's Point and Black River Harbor were heavily affected by the storm....

  • Bessemer council holds hearing on rezoning to allow asphalt plant

    Tom Stankard|Jul 12, 2016

    BESSEMER - Residents sounded off Monday evening on whether or not Pat Steiger should be allowed to rezone Steiger Timber Operations on Tamarack Avenue. In front of more than 30 people, Steiger said his property is currently zoned as a M-1, or light industrial. But he said he needs it be rezoned to M-2, or heavy industrial, in order to continue running his multiple businesses. Steiger said his business is a 24-hour business. He said trucks deliver lumber to and from his site, and customers use...

  • Aspirus Grand View construction project halfway to complete

    Tom Stankard|Jul 11, 2016

    IRONWOOD - Construction of the outpatient complex at Aspirus Grand View Hospital is about halfway to completion. Work on the $16 million, 42,000-square foot complex broke ground in November and is on track to be completed on Nov. 9. During the winter months, Miron Construction, the general contractors, laid the foundation and placed the steel framework of the future complex. Aspirus spokesman David Sim said the weather didn't affect the crew that much and they were able to keep on schedule. Sim...

  • Ironwood mayor calls new brand 'big step forward'

    Tom Stankard|Jul 9, 2016

    IRONWOOD - With great pleasure, the Ironwood City Commission approved the city's new brand and logo Friday afternoon at Depot Park. In front of more than 30 people, Ironwood Economic Development Commission member Gina (Jacquart) Thorsen said the tag-line of the new brand is, "Ironwood, find your north. "Find a path yet to be taken both literally and figuratively," she said. "Find a new shop, a great restaurant or new new favorite trail. Find a community group and make new friends. Find an...

  • Festival Ironwood to offer music, food, fun under big blue tent

    Tom Stankard|Jul 9, 2016

    IRONWOOD — The weather is getting warmer and that means Festival Ironwood is coming up. Soon, the big blue- striped tent will be set up at Depot Park and sounds of music will fill downtown. The annual community festival begins Wednesday and continues through the weekend. The event serves as a homecoming for many, as several class reunions are planned for the weekend. Every year, co-event coordinator Keith Johnson says people “look forward to the event and enjoy socializing with people downtown.” Music, food and refreshments play a big role...

  • Prairie Fire Children's Theatre returns to HIT with 'Robin Hood'

    Tom Stankard|Jul 8, 2016

    IRONWOOD - Robin Hood and his merry men are ready to save Sherwood Forest when the Prairie Fire Children's Theatre presents "Robin Hood" Saturday at the Historic Ironwood Theatre. With original script and music by Daniel Nordquist, HIT Managing Director Bruce Greenhill said "Robin Hood" continues PFCT's tradition of presenting classic tales on the Ironwood stage with local youth talent. The PFCT is a professional touring company based in Barrett, Minn., and has been bringing a theatrical...

  • Carnegie storytime visits art exhibit along Miners Trail

    Tom Stankard|Jul 8, 2016

    IRONWOOD — Children wandered through Miners Memorial Heritage Park Thursday morning and found fish in the trees as part of an art exhibit by Kate Greenough, of Ironwood. As rain trickled down, Ironwood Carnegie Library Assistant Director Lynne Wiercinski read a story to the children under the fish. She read “The Rainbow Fish,” written and illustrated by Swiss author Marcus Pfister. In the award-winning children's book, the most beautiful fish in the ocean is asked to share one of his shining scales with a little blue fish, and he refuses. All t...

  • Bessemer looks at closing Washington, expanding ADJ

    Tom Stankard|Jul 7, 2016

    BESSEMER -The Bessemer Area Schools District and its planning committee are developing plans to renovate and expand A.D. Johnston High School and close Washington Elementary School, meaning all the district's students would be in one building. Planning committee chairman Todd Johnson said tentative plans call for expanding the ADJ to the north, including closing West Iron Street, which is adjacent to the Gogebic County Courthouse and Sheriff's Department. Plans also call for moving and adding...

  • Smith claims record Bessemer 50-50 raffle prize of $33,490

    Tom Stankard|Jul 7, 2016

    BESSEMER - Mary Smith, of Kimball, Wis., has a new lucky number, 11622. She is this year's big Bessemer Blast 50-50 raffle winner, worth a prize of $33,490. Smith is an Iron County native and moved back from San Diego in 2009. As a kid, Smith said she remembers celebrating Fourth of July with her family in Bessemer. Since moving back home, Smith said she purchases raffle tickets every year and has come come close to the winning number before. Smith said she didn't make it to the Fourth of July p...

  • Bessemer Planning Commission chairman states case for rezoning property to allow asphalt plant

    Tom Stankard|Jul 6, 2016

    BESSEMER - Bessemer Planning Commission Chairman John Turkal explained to the city council Tuesday evening why the commission made its recommendation that the council approve a petition from Patrick Steiger to amend the zoning of Steiger Timber Operations on Tamarack Avenue. He read from a prepared statement, explaining why the commission is in favor of rezoning to allow an asphalt plant to be built there. On May 3, the city council heard Northwoods Paving Company, of Ashland, Wis., had applied...

  • Carnegie program teaches about birds

    Tom Stankard|Jun 28, 2016

    IRONWOOD - Children flocked to Ironwood Carnegie Library Monday afternoon to learn about challenges birds face while migrating. "What makes a bird unique?" asked naturalist Licia Johnson from the North Lakeland Discovery Center. A child said birds can lay eggs. With that, Johnson showed them different bird eggs. The size of the egg depends on the size of the bird. Bigger birds lay bigger eggs. Birds can fly, another child said. Johnson said birds can fly because they're covered in feathers and...

  • First flight

    Tom Stankard|Jun 27, 2016

    IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP —Young Eagles saw the Northwoods from a new perspective while being 3,000 feet in the air Saturday during Airport Day at Gogebic-Iron County Airport. Pilots donated their time and planes, and kids brought their enthusiasm and smiles as dozens of youth took their first plane ride as part of the Experimental Air Craft’s Young Eagle Program. The Young Eagle Program was launched nationally in 1992 and is closing in on its 2 millionth ride. The program’s mission is encourage youth to consider becoming a pilot when they grow up. L...

  • Carnegie Library plans busy week of activities

    Tom Stankard|Jun 25, 2016

    IRONWOOD — The Ironwood Carnegie Library will hold several events through to the end of June. Today, children are invited for story time beginning at 10:30 a.m. The children's book “Plantzilla” will be read. Following story time, kids can make terrariums with Erin Wolfe, of the 4-H garden club. On Monday, there will be fun and games at Depot Park starting at 11 a.m. Children can exercise and play games with the Great Start Collaborative. At 1 p.m. at the library, kids can learn the challenges of being a bird during “Bird Hurdles,” provided...

  • Children compete in MSU-E 'Top Chef' competition

    Tom Stankard|Jun 24, 2016

    IRONWOOD - Children put on chef hats and made healthy snacks to find out who is the "Top Chef" in a Michigan State University-Extension program at the Ironwood Carnegie Library Thursday afternoon. Children picked from an array of fruit, vegetables, cheeses, yogurt and nuts to make healthy snacks either by themselves or with a partner. MSU-Extension instructor Megan Martell said it's important for children to include healthier food options, like strawberries and cucumbers, in their diets. "The...

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