Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties

Johnson raises funds, awareness for HOPE

WAKEFIELD - A crowd gathered at the beach at Eddy Park in Wakefield on Friday afternoon to celebrate Ardie Johnson's 72nd birthday.

For the event, Ardie decided to swim across Sunday Lake as a way to raise funds and awareness for the HOPE Animal Shelter in Ironwood.

Ardie's friends and family joined her for the event. Included in the crowd was Ardie's son, Randy, and daughter, Yvonne Johnson, who accompanied their mother in her swim across the lake.

A long-time resident of Hurley, Ardie likes to give back to her community when she can. She retired from her work as a full-time pastor in 200...