Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties

Ironwood prepares for Saturday Jack Frost parade

By RALPH ANSAMI

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Ironwood — Snow removal is planned downtown for Thursday and Friday, prior to Saturday evening’s Jack Frost parade.

While two feet of snow has fallen in Ironwood, much of it has either melted or condensed into ice along the sidewalks, so removing it will be more difficult than usual, the city commission learned Monday.

City Manager Scott Erickson noted it is the first year the parade will be on a Saturday, but downtown events are also scheduled for this week’s First Friday promotion. On “Ugly Sweate Day,” some stores will offer discounts for garish attire. There will also be caroling on the downtown street corners.

The parade, which kicks off winter and holiday events, begins at 6 p.m. Saturday. Parade participants must be at their line-up positions by 5 p.m. All parade staging areas will have section directors for assistance. Unregistered units will not be allowed to participate in the parade. 

Entries will be judged on the creative ways in which this year’s theme, “A Mechanical Christmas,” is portrayed through the float design and decorations. All entries must have lights.

The 2017 parade grand marshal is the Gogebic Range Robotics Team.

“This year’s theme celebrates not only the constructive creativity displayed by the Gogebic Range Robotics Team, but also the many, many types of mechanical Christmas toys and decorations that showcase a seasonal inventive spirit,” said Ironwood Chamber of Commerce Director Michael Meyer.

To spruce up the downtown, department of public works employees have hung Christmas wreaths and banners in advance of the parade.

On other matters, Erickson told the commission the city’s newsletter will be sent out with city tax bills on Friday.

He said the city is advertising for a water department employee.

Recent sales of drug-related forfeited vehicles have netted $19,000 for the special drug enforcement fund that supports the Gogebic-Iron Area Narcotics Enforcement Team, Erickson said.

Earlier in the meeting, commissioner Rick Semo had some good news regarding funding of the Historic Ironwood Theatre. Semo said Don Funk has pledged $25,000 to match any fundraising that HIT can raise up to that amount. Semo said the only stipulation in the generous gift is that the money be used for youth-related events at the theater.