Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties

Articles written by cortney ofstad


Sorted by date  Results 26 - 50 of 403

Page Up

  • Ironwood students learn dangers of meth

    Cortney Ofstad|Dec 19, 2014

    IRONWOOD - Students in Ted Sim's history and social studies classes listened to presentations by fellow students on the harmful effects of methamphetamines throughout the day on Thursday at Luther L. Wright School in Ironwood. Juniors Madison Ofstad and Scoti Tanula, along with school resource officer Adam Clemens, of the Ironwood Public Safety Department, discussed different aspects of meth in the community and the impact it has on the body. According to Ofstad, she and Tanula decided to do... Full story

  • Ironwood Township approves 2015 budget

    Cortney Ofstad|Dec 15, 2014

    IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP — The Ironwood Township Board of Trustees approved a 2015 proposed budget of $913,729 Dec. 8. The fund balance for 2015 is $398,371, down nearly $100,000 from 2014. The millage rate will remain at 4.2714 after residents approved a road millage during the November mid-term election. A millage rate is the amount of tax per $1,000 of property value, the road millage replaced an expiring fire truck millage. The millage is for 1 mill and will last from 2014 to 2018. The township began collecting the millage on Dec. 1 as part of t... Full story

  • Iron County committee approves aerial imaging

    Cortney Ofstad|Dec 12, 2014

    HURLEY - The Iron County Finance Committee Thursday approved moving forward with aerial imaging of the county in 2015. Zoning administrator Tom Bergman discussed imaging, saying it is part of a consortium effort in northern Wisconsin. The plan is a for a plane to fly over using orthophotography, which uses lasers to measure the exact contours of the surface below. A similar program was used a few years ago, with pictometry software. According to Bergman, the software is "great technology," and... Full story

  • GOISD presents 'Women In' series to female students

    Cortney Ofstad|Dec 11, 2014

    IRONWOOD - Forty local girls learned about Women in Welding on Tuesday and Wednesday through the career and technical education program through the Gogebic-Ontonagon Intermediate School District. Students from the Ontonagon, Ewen-Trout Creek, Ironwood, Bessemer and Wakefield-Marenisco school districts attended the event in Ontonagon and at Luther L. Wright School in Ironwood. According to Paulette Niemi, CTE program coordinator, the event is very popular with students, but has to be limited due... Full story

  • "Christmas for Kids" toy drive held

    Cortney Ofstad|Dec 10, 2014

    HURLEY - Hundreds of toys were dropped off at the Iron County Human Services Department on Tuesday afternoon, as part of the annual Christmas for Kids toy drive in Iron County. The drive is hosted by the Iron County Fire Association, and allows people to bring donations to their local fire halls. People can still donate items at the Mercer and Hurley sites of the Iron County Community Credit Union until Dec. 12. "We want to thank everyone who donated," association member Stacy Ofstad said. "A... Full story

  • Nearly 1,000 students attend show at Historic Ironwood Theatre

    Cortney Ofstad|Dec 10, 2014

    IRONWOOD - Nearly 1,000 local children from Iron, Gogebic and Ontonagon counties attended performances of "Once Upon A Wolf" at the Historic Ironwood Theatre on Tuesday. The show was performed by the Awkward Stage Youth Drama Club, and there was no fee for the kids to attend. "We did this same sort of thing last year, giving an opportunity for our first-timers to have an audience," club director Mary Hansen said. "We had 800 to 900 kids at that one performance last year, and some schools were... Full story

  • Ironwood Township discusses Carnegie Library funding letter

    Cortney Ofstad|Dec 9, 2014

    IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP — The Ironwood Township Board of Trustees discussed a letter sent to local residents regarding fundraising for the Ironwood Carnegie Library during a meeting Monday. Trustee Kevin Lyons asked resident Kit Malloy if she had received the letter from library director Elaine Erickson. Malloy attended the last meeting with a group of residents asking if it could help both the township and library in having contracted services again after the contract was voided earlier this year. A... Full story

  • Claudettes' end season with exciting show

    Cortney Ofstad|Dec 8, 2014

    IRONWOOD - After three performances in four days, "A Claudette Christmas Card" has wrapped for the holiday season. Hundreds of people attended the shows, watching performers sing, dance and laugh on the stage. On Sunday, however, the audience witnessed a performer injured after falling off the stage. A Von Drake dancer fell into the orchestra pit during the group's performance. The show took a brief intermission and theater volunteer Mark Silver announced to the audience to please remain in... Full story

  • Bessemer Library hosts gingerbread workshop

    Cortney Ofstad|Dec 8, 2014

    BESSEMER - With an assortment of treats and candies to choose from, local children decorated gingerbread houses during the annual workshop at the Bessemer Public Library on Saturday. This is the third year the workshop has taken place, and according to library director Melissa Rajala, the event gets more popular each year. "I had some new names registering this year, so that was nice to see," she said. Rajala said she always wanted to do the workshop, but when she was working at larger... Full story

  • Spirit shines bright

    Cortney Ofstad|Dec 5, 2014

    HURLEY - The Hurley PTO lit the first School Spirit Tree on Thursday night at the Hurley K-12 School. Despite chilly winds, about 40 people attended the event, listening to singing and waiting for the tree to shine. "On behalf of the Hurley School District, thank you all for being here," superintendent Chris Patritto said. "When the PTO first came to us with this, we thought it was a great idea." The PTO decided to do the tree as a way to celebrate students, alumni, staff and their... Full story

  • Santa visits Gurney 4-H gathering

    Cortney Ofstad|Dec 1, 2014

    GURNEY, Wis. - Santa Claus made an early visit Saturday to begin the Christmas season at the eighth annual Gurney Gopher 4-H Club's pie social in Gurney. About 20 children, ranging in ages for newborn babies to older kids, were able to sit on Santa's lap and tell him what they wanted this holiday. According to club leaders Jessie Bender and Amy Simonar, the event has become popular in Gurney. The event originally started as a way to "give back" to the people of Gurney, and grew from there.... Full story

  • 24th annual Tree of Love ceremony set for Tuesday

    Cortney Ofstad|Dec 1, 2014

    IRONWOOD - Aspirus Grand View Hospital will host its 24th annual Tree of Love ceremony on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. The annual event features two trees, highlighting passed loved ones and celebrations throughout the year. "The Tree of Love is usually in memory of loved ones who passed this year, or years before," David Sim, manager of marketing at AGV, said. "The celebration tree can be for a new baby, marriage, great accomplishment or just for a good year." Lights are purchased throughout the year,... Full story

  • Hurley PTO to light Spirit Tree

    Cortney Ofstad|Nov 28, 2014

    HURLEY - With Christmas soon upon us, the Hurley PTO decided to use a classic holiday tradition in a new way. Instead of lighting a tree just for the holidays, the PTO is lighting a "Spirit Tree" in celebration or in memory of students, staff, alumni and the community of the Hurley K-12 School. "My co-president, Krissy Colassaco, really likes the Tree of Love tradition," Jerri Sokol, PTO co-president, said. "In the spirit of that, we decided to do this, to celebrate the spirit of Hurley." Indivi... Full story

  • Hundreds feast on early Thanksgiving meal in Bessemer

    Cortney Ofstad|Nov 26, 2014

    BESSEMER - Hundreds of elementary students and their parents celebrated Thanksgiving a little early Tuesday with a Thanksgiving feast at Washington Elementary School in Bessemer. It was the first time the school held the feast. First grade teacher Emily Stafford had held similar meals at her old school in North Carolina. According to Stafford, the meals were held there for three years, and when she came to Washington Elementary, she decided to do it here, as well. "It was pretty popular there,"... Full story

  • Mobile food pantry serves Iron County

    Cortney Ofstad|Nov 25, 2014

    HURLEY - Over the last 13 months, Iron County residents have been able to receive free supplemental food through Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank, of Duluth, Minn., and the Iron County University of Wisconsin-Extension office. In October 2013, the mobile food pantry served 129 low-income individuals with protein, fruit, vegetables and grains. Fast-forward one year later, and the pantry served 534 people during a distribution in November. "It's really comforting to know people are eating... Full story

  • 'O Tannenbaum'

    Cortney Ofstad|Nov 20, 2014

    IRONWOOD - Local residents braved chilly winds and snowy conditions to kick off the holidays on Wednesday night, with a tree lighting at Depot Park in downtown Ironwood. The event was the start of the 20th annual Jack Frost Festival, and about 30 residents attended the event. "This was totally Ironwood dedication, with these people coming to this event," Mary Hampston, festival planning committee member, said. The audience listened to Christmas carols sung by the Select Children's Choir,... Full story

  • 20th annual Jack Frost Festival honors Marvin Tassava Sr.

    Cortney Ofstad|Nov 19, 2014

    IRONWOOD - To mark the 20th anniversary of the Jack Frost Festival, the planning committee decided to honor Santa in a special way. This year's theme is "Santa's Memories" in honor of the late Marvin Tassava Sr., who passed away in March. Marvin spent many years playing Santa for the Ironwood Chamber of Commerce during the parade, greeting children and helping to kick off the Christmas holiday. "We wanted to honor his dedication and involvement to this festival," committee member Mary Hitt... Full story

  • Mercer serves early Thanksgiving feast

    Cortney Ofstad|Nov 18, 2014

    MERCER, Wis. - More than 30 residents braved cold temperatures and snowy conditions to dine on an early Thanksgiving meal at the Mercer School on Monday. For the last five years, a Thanksgiving meal has been provided for local senior citizens for free to help them get into the holiday spirit. Nine students in Dee Rice's life skills class spent the morning on Monday roasting turkeys, baking ham and whipping up mashed potatoes to serve at the feast. "This is our fifth year doing this, and we... Full story

  • Holiday builders

    Cortney Ofstad|Nov 17, 2014

    IRONWOOD - Instead of bricks, cement and wood, area children used graham crackers, licorice and frosting to create structures fit for a gingerbread man, during the annual gingerbread house workshop at the Downtown Art Place on Saturday in Ironwood. More than 100 children attended the event, which gets "more and more popular" each year, according to event organizer Arlene Schneller. "We had 50 people waiting to get in when we first opened this morning," she said. The workshop allowed for kids to... Full story

  • Santa's Headquarters under way already

    Cortney Ofstad|Nov 14, 2014

    IRONWOOD - Volunteers are gearing up for the ninth annual Santa's Headquarters. Since 2006, a committee of local residents volunteers to help provide gifts for area children during Christmas. This year's event takes place Dec. 10, with a gift distribution from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Ironwood Memorial Building. According to event volunteer Jim Mildren, the committee "gets better at it every year," when it comes to helping hundreds of kids in the community. Last year, Santa's Headquarters... Full story

  • Luther L. Wright honors veterans

    Cortney Ofstad|Nov 13, 2014

    IRONWOOD — Students, faculty, staff and area residents attended the annual Veterans Day program at Luther L. Wright School in Ironwood on Wednesday. The program, originally scheduled for Tuesday, was delayed because of a snowstorm causing school to be canceled. Members of the JROTC program in Ironwood organized the event, which included a parade of organizations, recognition of guests, a roll call of comrades and pass-in review. Students in the high school band and choir performed p... Full story

  • Homemade goods big draw at craft fair at Memorial Building

    Cortney Ofstad|Nov 10, 2014

    HURLEY - Local residents braved cold temperatures to browse hundreds of homemade items during the second annual winter craft fair at the Iron County Memorial Building on Saturday. According to event organizer Kathy Koski, the Iron County Memorial Building Restoration Committee holds two craft fairs each year, one in the spring and one in the winter, to help with the costs of keeping the building open. A date for the upcoming spring craft fair has not yet been set. Because of the success of last... Full story

  • Ironwood Township looks to coming road repairs

    Cortney Ofstad|Nov 7, 2014

    IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP - After a millage renewal request was approved by Ironwood Township residents Tuesday, town officials are preparing to start road construction projects. In 2010, the Ironwood Township Board of Trustees approved a five-year road plan, listing roads needing updates. Since that time, Hannu and Nylund roads were worked on, but funding was limited, leaving other projects left undone. To help alleviate budget constraints, the board put a millage request on the ballot for Tuesday's el... Full story

  • Hurley Fun Frolic gets students in Halloween spirit

    Cortney Ofstad|Nov 1, 2014

    HURLEY - Students at the Hurley K-12 School got into the Halloween spirit Friday. Halloween capped off "Red Ribbon Week" at the school, highlighting anti-drinking, anti-bullying and anti-drugs. Students dressed up throughout the week in different themes to show their support of being drug- and alcohol-free and to stop bullying. On Friday, many students dressed in costumes, but another common theme was orange and black, in honor of the varsity football team's game at night against Spring Valley... Full story

  • Michigan Harvest Gathering campaign collects 6,000 pounds of food in Ironwood

    Cortney Ofstad|Oct 31, 2014

    WAKEFIELD - Three food pantries in Ironwood, Bessemer and Watersmeet, were given thousands of pounds of food during a recent food drive by the Michigan State Police Wakefield Post. The drive was Oct. 13-26, and was part of the statewide Michigan Harvest Gathering campaign. According to MSP 1st Lt. Donald Horn, the Wakefield post collected around 6,000 pounds of food during the posts "Stuff a Goose" campaign, aimed at filling a trooper's patrol vehicle, also called a goose. "The community really... Full story

Page Down