Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Sorted by date Results 26 - 50 of 281
IRONWOOD, Mich. - Dennis E. Novascone, 80, of Ironwood passed away on June 17, 2021, at Aspirus Ironwood Hospital. Dennis was born March 31, 1941, in Ironwood, the son of Emil and Kathryn (Jurakovich) Novascone. He graduated from A. D. Johnson High School in Bessemer, Michigan in 1959. He served in the U.S. Army from Nov. 1963 until Aug. 1965. He married Carol McRae on Sept. 29, 1979. He worked at Indianhead Ski Hill for 49 years as the food and beverage manager. Dennis was a good family man...
IRONWOOD, Mich. - Marlita Joy Everson passed away on Friday, May 28, 2021, at the age of 85. She was born on Feb. 26, 1936, to Steve and Marceil Filut in Milwaukee. She graduated from Washington High School and went on to college. She worked at the YMCA where she met Neil Everson. On June 11, 1955, they eloped to Iowa City. In 1970, they moved to the Upper Peninsula and started Everson Tool and Machine. She worked with her husband for 27 years. Marlita enjoyed golfing and was a member of...
WAKEFIELD, Mich. - Jeanne E. Giackino, 82, of Wakefield, passed away peacefully Wednesday evening, March 24, 2021, at her home. Jeanne was born on Jan. 18, 1939, in Wakefield, the daughter of Waino A. "Wayne" and Lillian M. (Hongisto) Jarvela. She attended Wakefield High School and graduated in 1956. On her 19th birthday, Jan. 18, 1958, Jeanne was united in marriage to the love of her life, Richard L. "Rich" Giackino, in Ramsay. Jeanne was an active member of All Saints Lutheran Church in...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] Another year of skiing has largely come to an end as some of the local ski hills that were still open wrapped up operations this past weekend. Big Powderhorn Mountain Resort’s website showed the ski hill as closed for the season Monday after having 32 trails and six lifts open Saturday, according to Powderhorn’s ski condition report. “Overall, (the season) went well; despite the lack of natural snow and the pandemic,” said Bruce Noren, of Powderhorn. “I have to say we’re pleased with the season as...
RAMSAY — As the city of Wakefield prepares for a decision on assuming control of the Indianhead Water system, the board of the current operator, Gogebic Range Water Authority, sought to learn more about the option at its virtual meeting on March 11. G Jean Verbos, water authority administrator, presented details of the Indianhead Water system to the board. This included a description of the customer base by meter size, commodity rate, readiness to serve rate, debt retirement and a profit and loss statement. There will be a more in depth d...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] Given scarce snow all season and a current warming trend, the skiing season is now closed for Whitecap Mountains Resort in Upson, Wis. "This is the last day," said Tom Backerud from the front desk on Sunday. "We've gotten about half the snow we usually get, so it's been a little off," added Backerud, who handles reservations. The total regional snow count as of the end of last week was under 80 inches. Even so, Backerud said that business throughout the...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] BESSEMER TOWNSHIP - The first "Muk Up" ski race event had good weather and plenty of participants and fans on Saturday at Blackjack Mountain. "I hope they do it again next year," said Pat Orr, of Ironwood, who came to watch her adult son race. "The fresh air, the kids and the adults having a good time." The event was named to honor the late Tony Mukavitz, who passed away in May 2020. But the ski race itself was in the planning stages for several...
WAKEFIELD, Mich. - Theodore "Teddy" A. Finco Sr., 81, a lifelong resident of Wakefield, passed away peacefully Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital in Wausau, Wisconsin, with his family by his side. Ted was born on Nov. 5, 1939, a son of John and Domicella (Zielinski) Finco. He graduated from Wakefield High School with the class of 1957. After high school, he attended Northern Michigan University in Marquette. On Aug. 2, 1969, Ted married the former Roseann Chernak (his bride) at...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] WAKEFIELD Township — A six-year-old dream of establishing a hotel and casino complex at the top of Indianhead Mountain in Wakefield Township is inching closer to reality as plans are now in the works to construct a viable road to the proposed site. Barry Bolich, manager of the Gogebic County Road Commission in Bessemer, said by phone Thursday that the GCRC will apply for a state grant in hopes of “totally” rebuilding Indianhead Road, which connects U.S. 2 to Big Snow Resort’s Indianhead location. The gran...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] WAKEFIELD TOWNSHIP — The annual New Year’s Eve Torchlight Parade and Fireworks display on Thursday at Blackjack Mountain ski resort attracted hundreds of vacationing skiers and area residents to welcome 2021 or perhaps just to put 2020 behind them. Pete and Jackie Cannon, of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, said they are annual visitors to the area resorts and come to Indianhead often. “It’s the snow and this is a good time of year to come between Christmas and New Year’s,” Jackie Cannon said. The couple...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] WAKEFIELD TOWNSHIP- A light agenda at a Wednesday evening meeting of the Wakefield Township Board of Trustees allowed newly-elected members to show appreciation to two members who are retiring and a third member who is changing posts. It was the last meeting that retiring Supervisor John Cox will chair. "It's been a real joy to work with all of you on the board," said incoming Supervisor Mandy Lake, who is leaving her role of clerk to take over Cox's job....
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD — Area ski resort managers are optimistic that more regional skiers will stay closer to home this season and help boost the struggling pandemic economy in the new year. All the local ski hills and trails plan to be open with adjustments to operations that discourage crowds and lines. Area cross country ski events have gone virtual, were canceled or are still being considered. Big Powderhorn Mountain Resort in Ironwood Township is p...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] HURLEY — A survey in which 90% of teachers say there are insurmountable challenges with combining in-school and at-home learning prompted the Hurley K-12 School Board to unanimously approve ending the virtual option at the end of the semester. In about six weeks, all Hurley K-12 students will start the second quarter attending in-person. The only exception are the students who signed up for the third-party Odyssey online curriculum program that does not require a live video feed with classes. S...
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By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] WAKEFIELD TOWNSHIP - An area ski resort looking to grow by adding off-season opportunities held its Lake Superior North Country Adventure Fest this past weekend, drawing dozens of motorized vehicle riders from around the Midwest. "It's mainly a social ride for the most part. There are no races," said Matthew Vaughan, CEO of Big Snow Ski Resort, which includes the hills and trails of Indianhead and Blackjack ski resorts in the Wakefield area. "It's...
WAKEFIELD, Mich. - Jack William Netzel Sr., 71, a longtime resident of Wakefield, passed away Monday, Aug. 31, 2020. He was born on Aug. 9, 1949, in Park Falls, Wisconsin, a son of Eugene and Ruth Marie (Lemke) Netzel. Jack was raised in Butternut, Wisconsin, and graduated from Butternut High School. He continued his education and earned an accounting degree from Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College in Rice Lake, Wisconsin, an associate degree from Gogebic Community College in Ironwood, and a...
MERCER, Wis. — Staff and faculty of the Mercer School District are working through in-service days to prepare for the start of fall semester on Tuesday, according to District Administrator Sheri Kopka in her report to the Board of Education on Monday. The school’s reopening plan was reviewed by the Iron County Department of Health and the day-to-day school operation details will be provided to families so they know what to expect, she said. Supply donations included a $469 cash donation to help kids with school supplies, along with a sep...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] RAMSAY — The Gogebic Range Water Authority board received some good news Thursday regarding highway construction that will require moving of water mains. The water authority engineer, Darren Pionk of C2AE, updated the board on the U.S. 2 reconstruction through Bessemer that will require the water authority to adjust the depth and placement of some water mains in the Marshalek Road area. A virtual meeting with Michigan Department of Transportation engineers addressed major concerns over the l...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] HURLEY — The Hurley school board will decide the start of the school year and the fate of the fall sports season at its regular meeting in August. The unanimous decision on Monday came after school administrator Kevin Genisot recommended the regular meeting date of Aug. 17, as opposed to an Aug. 5 special meeting that was proposed in June. This would give the 12-member special committee that includes the Iron County health officer opportunity to assess all available information to determine if a...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] WAKEFIELD - Graduates of Wakefield-Marenisco K-12 School participated in a "senior lift-off" on Saturday evening when Big Snow Resort's Indianhead Mountain invited them for a chairlift ride in Wakefield. Parents and other family members gathered at the top of the mountain, next to Summit Lodge, while graduates in caps and gowns made a dramatic ascent from the bottom of the hill while "Pomp and Circumstance" was piped in over the landscape. Each graduate...
IRONWOOD, Mich. - Anthony "Tony" or "T" John Mukavitz, 56, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, May 28, 2020, while biking on the Iron Belle Trail which he frequently enjoyed after a day of work. Tony was born on Sept. 30, 1963, the son of William "Bobo" and Barbara (Kleimola) Mukavitz. He grew up in Ironwood Township and attended local schools. He graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in Ironwood in 1981, where he lettered athletically in football, track and skiing. After high school,...
WAKEFIELD, Mich. — Carol Kalla-Jakkola, 65, of Wakefield, passed away Wednesday, May 27, 2020. Carol was born on May 16, 1955, in Ironwood, a daughter of Arnold and Dorothy (Hendrickson) Kalla. She grew up in a very large and loving family and graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in 1973. Carol was a longtime valued employee of Rovelsky and Co., and also worked at Indianhead Mountain Ski Resort. She excelled in customer service. Survivors include her brothers and sisters, Jeff, Cheryl (Gary), Debra (Jim), Ronald and Bridgett; along w...
WAUSAU, Wis. - Mary Jo (Tarnaski) Valesano, 71, a long time resident of Wakefield, Michigan, passed away at Aspirus Wausau Hospital on April 22, 2020. She was born on Aug. 14, 1948, in Milwaukee, to Peter and Dolores (Hyppa) Tarnaski. She attended the Wakefield Schools and graduated in 1966. Mary Jo earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Northern Michigan University in 1970. After graduation, she secured employment with the White Pine School District as a business education teacher and librarian....
SHELL LAKE, Wis. - Jeanne K. Gulan, 75, of Shell Lake, died Saturday, April 11, 2020, at Shell Lake Health Care Center. She was born on April 18, 1944, in Bessemer, Michigan, to E. Harry and Elizabeth (Giacomino) Smith. Jeanne married Anthony Gulan on April 23, 1966, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Hurley. Jeanne attended St. Mary's Grade School in Hurley and graduated from J.E. Murphy High School in 1962. She received her R.N. certification from St. Mary's School of Nursing in Wausau in 1965,...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] The skiing season ended this past weekend on a busy note, despite recent warnings of coronavirus and various health mandates from state and national officials. Big Snow Resort featured a final day of skiing on Sunday at Indianhead Mountain in Wakefield. The same resort's Blackjack location in Wakefield Township closed on Friday. Whitecap Mountains Resort in Upson, Wis., also had its final day of skiing on Sunday. Big Powderhorn Mountain in Bessemer...
