Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
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By JASON JUNO [email protected] HURLEY - Top-seed Hurley will look for the program's first win in the sectional tournament in 40 years tonight when they take on No. 2 Northwood in a semifinal at Hayward at 7 p.m. Hurley reached the sectional four straight seasons from 2009 through 2012, but they lost to Boyceville, Ladysmith and twice to Fall Creek in the semifinal. Hurley has since moved down to Division 5 as its enrollment has dropped. Northwood has eliminated Hurley the past two...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] ERWIN TOWNSHIP - Members of a Chicago area outdoors club are celebrating their 20th year of annual treks to the Ironwood area to cross-country ski, snowshoe and even some winter camping. The slogan of the Elmhurst Bicycle Club is "Riding at the speed of fun." That rule applies to silent sports of summer and winter, according to Kim Messina, one of a dozen club members who were at Active Backwoods Retreats (ABR Trails) on Tuesday. "There are 12 of...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] SAXON, Wis. - The turnout was very good for the Saxon-Gurney Fire Department's largest fundraiser event on Sunday, according to Fire Chief Stacy Ofstad. The annual roast beef dinner at the Saxon Community Center had a steady stream of guests coming from surrounding communities for the painstakingly prepared dinner and a bar, but also for a gun auction, raffle and door prizes. "We usually do about 260 (people) but I think we're going to be over that...
By JASON JUNO [email protected] IRONWOOD - Halftime came at a good time for Hurley Thursday night. As much as the Hurley coaches preached that playing rival Ironwood was just another game, the players weren't sold. The Northstars 10-point lead was down to one as Ironwood turned some careless Hurley possessions into easy layups and that advantage was down to one at the half. "It was good for us to get in the locker room and let some of those young guys a chance to catch their breath,"...
SAXON, Wis. - Mary (Loreti) Sears passed away peacefully at Aspirus Hospital in Ironwood, Mich., on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020. Despite all the physical problems Mary dealt with throughout her life, she never lost her fighting spirit and sense of humor. She loved to make people laugh. To know Mary was to know she was unapologetically herself. Mary was born in Ironwood on Sept. 4, 1955, to Alessio and Frances (Champagne) Loreti. She graduated from J.E. Murphy High School in Hurley in 1973 and then...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP - The fireworks were vivid under star-filled skies and snow covered ski hills and the sounds crackled sharply in the cold air to give crowds of patrons and community a memorial New Year's Eve celebration. It was convenient for people wanting to see more than one display. The torchlight parade and fireworks got underway just before 8 p.m. at Big Powderhorn Mountain Resort. That left enough time to drive over to enjoy another...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] IRONWOOD - With temperatures hovering around freezing and a cold drizzle coming down, people still showed up for the annual fundraising event Saturday evening at Miners Memorial Heritage Park. The annual Candlelight Snowshoe and Ski fundraiser is meant to have families navigate a one-mile course through the park that is lighted by candlelit bags. With the cold drizzle coming down it didn't look promising for a crowd but groups of people were still s...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] WAKEFIELD - Temperatures near 40 degrees brought steady traffic to the slopes at Big Snow Resort's Indianhead location on Sunday. The impending New Year's holiday attracted numerous folks from other states to enjoy the snow that apparently is in short supply elsewhere. The Daily Globe talked to people from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Missouri, North Dakota and Vermont. "The snow starts about Wausau and progressively gets better and better," said Thomas...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] WAKEFIELD - While discussing a draft of their pending master plan on Tuesday evening, Wakefield Township officials learned that the population of Gogebic County is projected to drop by 12.3% between 2020 and 2045. Jerry Wuorenmaa, executive director of the Western U.P. Planning and Development Region, presented the statistics from the state of Michigan Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives. Wuorenmaa stated in his report that the...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] WAKEFIELD - Snowmobile season in Gogebic County started on Sunday, and it is expected to start in Iron County on Thursday at 8 a.m. That means drivers of such machines have months of riding ahead until trails close in the spring. On Tuesday evening, however, members of the Wakefield Township Board of Trustees were reminded not everyone appreciates the noise associated with the operation of these vehicles. According to Township Supervisor John Cox, that's...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] HURLEY — Hurley K-12 School students have a head start on careers thanks to programs that allow for early college study and school-to-work opportunities. High school students can spend part of the day taking classes online, or attending classes at area colleges so that they can work afternoons with a partnering company in the community, said Kevin Genisot, school administrator. “These collaborations with area businesses present opportunities to pre...
ASHLAND, Wis. - James Lee O'Leary Sr. died unexpected at his home in Ashland on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019. He was 87. James "Jim" was born on Aug. 3, 1932, in Ironwood, Mich., to Philip and Hulda (Noreen) O'Leary. He graduated from St. Ambrose High School in Ironwood and completed his bachelor's degree at Marquette University in Milwaukee, and his master's degree at the University of Minnesota. Jim was a much-lauded life-long teacher, starting his teaching career at Northland College in the late...
By RICHARD JENKINS [email protected] ERWIN TOWNSHIP - This week's storms brought enough snow to the Gogebic Range that local winter sport enthusiasts were able to get out and enjoy some of the area's trails with two weeks of November still on the calendar. Roughly 18 inches of snow fell at ABR Trails in Erwin Township, according to co-owner Angela Santini, which was enough to open 43 kilometers of cross country ski trails on the property Wednesday. The open trails featured a mix of...
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is among 150 schools nationwide competing for a $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence. The announcement came from Aspen on Tuesday. Only 15% of community colleges nationwide have been invited to apply. The award is considered a signature recognition of high achievement and performance among community colleges. The criteria for the honor is based in part on strong and improving student outcomes in learning, completion rates, employment rates, earnings and equity. “Nation...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] RAMSAY — The Gogebic Range Water Authority Board on Thursday discussed the challenges of possibly absorbing replacement costs for residential lines if they are contaminated with lead from the municipal water system. In his report, Chuck Lawson of C2AE — the water authority’s engineering firm — said the Michigan Court of Claims on Thursday rejected a legal challenge to Michigan’s Lead and Copper Rule that requires cities and municipal water systems to remove lead or galvanized water lines, including...
CRYSTAL FALLS, Mich. - Donald L. Evenstad, 96, passed away peacefully on Sept. 9, 2019, in Crystal Falls, Mich.. Donald was born on Oct. 31, 1922, to the late Axel and Lillian Evenstad. He was a lifelong resident of Ironwood. In 1949, Donald married his wife, Jeanne Castle. Donald and Jeanne celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on Sept. 3, 2019. Donald graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in Ironwood in 1941 and enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1943. He served as a coxswain in the...
WASHBURN, Wis. - Jack Jeffrey Maccani, 36, of Washburn, entered eternal life Saturday, Aug. 3, 2019. He was born June 1, 1983, in Bessemer Township, Mich., a son of William L. and Diane Maccani. He was the youngest of five children. Jack attended elementary and junior high in Bessemer, Mich., and high school in Bessemer and Calumet, Mich., and Superior, as he traveled to pursue his passion of playing hockey. Jack graduated from Bessemer's A.D. Johnston High School in 2001, and also received a...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] WAKEFIELD — The 2019 Stock and Junior National Championships ended late Thursday morning just as a growing breeze began to be an issue on Wakefield’s Sunday Lake. “It was quite windy and rough,” said Jay Fox of Bay City, who was among final participants in a memorial race in honor of the late James “Jimmer” Hagerl of Cloquet, Minn., a former championship winner who died last year of cancer. Fox said his particular race felt “more like a marathon.” Wi...
WAKEFIELD, Mich. - Sarah "Smily" Smiljanich, 94, of Wakefield, died surrounded by her loving sons on Wednesday, July 10, 2019. The former Sarah Batinich was born on June 14, 1925, in Verona, a daughter of Bogdan and Anna (Dukich) Batinich. She was the youngest of seven children. Sarah attended Verona School and graduated in 1943 from Wakefield High School. After graduation, she moved to Milwaukee to work at a defense plant during World War II. On July 27, 1946, Sarah married the love of her...
By TOM LAVENTURE [email protected] RAMSAY — Recent disruption of garbage pickup to six municipalities has led to the dismissal of two drivers and hiring of their replacements, according to the supervisor’s report of the Bessemer Township Board on Monday. “We have two new hires,” said Jeffery Randall, supervisor of Bessemer Township. “They will be officially sanctioned at a special board meeting Thursday night.” The two former drivers were dismissed from the Gogebic Range Solid Waste Management Authority, the garbage pickup firm...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] WAKEFIELD - Recent low copper prices appear to be slowing progress toward the long-anticipated resurgence of copper mining in Wakefield and Ironwood townships, according to a report during Tuesday evening's Wakefield Township board meeting. As of the end of Tuesday afternoon, Wakefield Township supervisor John Cox said the price of copper was at $2.67 per pound. "They got to have $3.20 per pound to make money," he added. Area residents had renewed their...
PENCE, Wis. - Christopher Alan Thomas, 50, of Pence, passed away unexpectedly on May 26, 2019. He was born on April 6, 1969, in Portsmouth, Va. In 1980, he moved to Wisconsin with his family. He graduated from the Hurley High School in 1987, and from there he then went on to join the U.S. Navy. After four years in the service, he was honorably discharged with a rank of petty officer second class. Following his years in the Navy, he was employed at the White Pine Mine until they closed in 1995....
ASHLAND, Wis.– Sue Spencer, born Emilie Marie Spencer, 71, of Ashland, died on May 23, 2019. She was born on June 1, 1947, to Gerald and Emily Eifolla in Ironwood, Mich. She graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in Ironwood in 1965 and married James D. Spencer of Wakefield, Mich., on May 25, 1968. In 1975, she settled in Bayfield and became an active member of Betheseda Lutheran Church. During this time she changed her middle name from Marie to Sue and that was her commonly known a...
By BRYAN HELLIOS [email protected] WAKEFIELD - People hit the slopes at Indianhead Mountain on Saturday trying to squeeze in a few more runs before the ski resort closed for the season. B.J. Westfahl, from Fox Point, Wis., said he and his family traveled about five hours to ski the final weekend. "It's nice to get the last run in before winter ends," he said. Westfahl said the snowfall this week kind of "pushed" them "over the edge" which helped their decision to make the trek a...
By BRYAN HELLIOS [email protected] WAKEFIELD - Music lovers from the Midwest flocked for the annual Mountain Top Music Festival held at Indianhead and Blackjack Mountain Big Snow Resorts over the weekend. Festival coordinator Bob Weigandt said he hasn't checked the numbers yet, but believes about 400 people showed up. "When the roof starts vibrating a little bit, that's what I look for," he said as he looked up and watched the ceiling bounce to the beat. Starting as a small festival...
