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  • Marine Corps celebrates 238th birthday

    Katie Perttunen|Nov 11, 2013

    HURLEY - Members of the Gogebic-Iron Detachment of the Marine Corps League celebrated the 238th birthday of the United States Marine Corps on Sunday. More than 30 Marines, former Marines, and their guests attended the event. This year is also the 70th anniversary of the 2nd Marine Division landing on Tarawa, the 45th anniversary of the Battle of Hue City, and the 10th anniversary of the "March Up" to Baghdad. Festivities began with a posting of the colors, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the singi...

  • Hospital hosts health care workshop

    Katie Perttunen|Nov 7, 2013

    IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP - Aspirus Grandview Hospital hosted two workshops on the new Health Insurance Marketplace on Wednesday, with another to follow at noon on Nov. 15. "We want to make sure the public knows what the hospital knows," Adrienne Chase, AGVH case manager said. With all of the glitches at the healthcare.gov website, AGVH is recommending consumers to use paper applications, Chase said. The paper applications are being processed in Kentucky, with an expected turnaround time of two weeks....

  • Bessemer millage proposal fails, Wakefield passes

    Katie Perttunen|Nov 6, 2013

    GOGEBIC COUNTY- Bessemer and Wakefield city councils face changes in composition after Tuesday's election, and Bessemer voters turned down a millage proposal with nearly three out of four voting 'no.' Bessemer Headlee Override Millage Proposal Voters in the city of Bessemer decided not to override the Headlee Amendment, which would have given council the option to raise millage up to 20 from 17.3564, or $20 from $17.3564 per $1,000 of taxable value. 268 'no' votes and 99 'yes' votes were cast....

  • Key club donates 77 coats to elementary school

    Katie Perttunen|Nov 2, 2013

    BESSEMER - A.D. Johnston's Key Club got the whole school inspired to gather coats for those in need with winter approaching. The students' first period classes competed against each other, with Tracy Rowe's class bringing in 40 of the 77 coats donated. The children's coats will be donated to Washington Elementary students in need, with the remainder going to St. Vincent de Paul, Barbara Waara, Key Club advisor, said. Principal Dan Vander Velden is congratulating the classes by bringing in donuts, Waara said. November is devoted to a canned...

  • Wanted: Community volunteers

    Katie Perttunen|Oct 28, 2013

    MERCER, Wis. — Local organizations gathered at the Mercer Community Center Saturday to seek volunteers for both the long term and for specific projects. The American Legion Post 424, serving Mercer and Manitowish Waters, is seeking volunteers to speak at Mercer School's Veteran's Day program. They are judging essays submitted by 14 students, "a daunting task, considering that this year's batch were all wonderful," said member Tom Leidenheimer. The legion is also seeking volunteers for its M...

  • Breast cancer survivors share stories at women's health event

    Katie Perttunen|Oct 22, 2013

    IRONWOOD — Monday night 98 local women gathered at Maplewood Steakhouse for “Information is Bliss,” a women's health event that raised $509 for the American Cancer Society, educated women about breast cancer, and honored the journeys of two survivors of breast cancer who shared their stories and hope. Breast cancer diagnoses are increasing in younger women, said Iron County Health Officer Zona Wick, which is why self-exams are so important; current guidelines suggest that many women do not n...

  • Historic Ironwood Theatre shows locally filmed movie

    Katie Perttunen|Oct 21, 2013

    IRONWOOD — “Finding Home,” an independent film shot in ten days just outside of Upson and released in 2012, was shown at the Historic Ironwood Theatre Saturday evening, with Chars Bonin, the film’s director, producer, and writer on hand, as well as two actors from the film, Brian John Evans and Bill Bonin, Chars’ father. Bonin became acquainted with the area through his wife, the former Sarah Hagstrom, a 1997 Luther L. Wright graduate. Her parents Pat and Chuck are partial owners of Camp Olym...

  • Moving art

    Katie Perttunen|Oct 17, 2013

    MERCER, Wis. — “Penokee: Explore the Iron Hills,” a traveling art exhibit featuring 18 artists inspired by the Penokee Hills opened at the Mercer Public Library on Wednesday night with a reception, music, and the addition of visual art and poetry by Mercer students. It will remain at the library until Dec. 1. The exhibit has been featured at the North Lakeland Discovery Center in Manitowish Waters, Lac Court Oreilles Community College in Reserve, and at the Milwaukee Urban Ecology Center over...

  • Library program hosts auditions for theater production despite funding cuts

    Katie Perttunen|Oct 16, 2013

    IRONWOOD — Despite Ironwood Township’s decision to cut nearly $14,200 in funding to Ironwood Carnegie Library Monday, youth programs continued on Tuesday, with the 25 members of the grade six-12 drama group formally auditioning for a production slated at the Historic Ironwood Theatre on Dec. 10. Mary Hansen and Gene Goss have been directing the group of budding thespians since mid-September, Goss said. They will perform “Crimson Parasol,” “Henny Penny,” and “Bremen Town Musicians.” ...

  • Historic Ironwood Theatre hosts HIT Idol talent show auditions

    Katie Perttunen|Oct 14, 2013

    IRONWOOD — Auditions for the third annual HIT Idol at the Historic Ironwood Theatre wrapped up Sunday afternoon, with results on finalists to be announced today. More than 50 auditioned, said Diana Hansen, one of the event’s coordinators. She expects that number will have to be whittled down to between 40 and 45. “It’s really nice that so many people showed up, especially with so much going on this weekend, with homecomings,” said theatre director Bruce Greenhill. More adults tried out this year...

  • MSU-Extension offers anti-bullying workshops

    Katie Perttunen|Oct 14, 2013

    BESSEMER — October is national Bullying Prevention Month, and the Michigan State University Extension is offering Be SAFE (Safe, Affirming and Fair Environments) workshops to parents and caregivers beginning Oct. 30. Each workshop will last from 6-8 p.m. “Bullying has been an issue from quite some time across the nation. It’s an ongoing problem,” Erin Ross, Gogebic County MSU Extension educator, said. “This is a brand new program, with the workshops in design over the past year.” According to the MSU Extension website, bullying can cause not o...

  • GCC hosts 18th annual Celebration of Achievements Banquet

    Katie Perttunen|Oct 11, 2013

    IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP — Gogebic Community College Foundation celebrated its 18th annual Celebration of Achievements Banquet Thursday evening at the David Lindquist Student Center on the GCC campus. Four were honored. David J. Lucas, PhD., and Marsha (Erickson) Lucas, Class of 1973, were named Distinguished Alumni. A husband and wife team, they “strive to create opportunities for others personally and professionally,” said GCC President James Lorenson. David Lucas quoted Isaac Newton in accep...

  • Animal shelter receives Michigan Pet Fund Alliance award

    Katie Perttunen|Oct 9, 2013

    IRONWOOD — HOPE Animal Shelter in Ironwood won the Michigan Pet Fund Alliance’s “Outstanding Open Admission Small Shelter” award for 2012 because it saved more than 94 percent of its pets. Half of animals that enter American animal shelters do not leave them alive. HOPE won the award in 2010 and 2011 as well, said director Randy Kirchoff, with Gogebic County earning recognition last year as one of the top 10 no-kill communities in Michigan. Fifty kittens and cats are currently housed at the shelter, with some in foster homes, said Kirchof...

  • Mary Street park construction continues

    Katie Perttunen|Oct 7, 2013

    BESSEMER — Construction was under way Friday at the site of the future Mary Street Regional Trailhead and Ethnic Commons in Bessemer, with workers from Ruotsala Concrete building a retaining wall. “I’m not sure of the exact completion date yet,” said foreman Terry Hannu. “A lot depends on if the weather holds out.” After the retaining wall is completed, natural gray and colored sidewalks will be put down, said Hannu, and then trees will be planted and landscaping can start. Seven flagpoles w...

  • Farewell, Father Ben

    Katie Perttunen|Oct 5, 2013

    BESSEMER — The Rev. Benjamin Hasse is leaving his post at the Roman Catholic churches of St. Sebastian in Bessemer, Immaculate Conception in Wakefield and St. Catherine in Marenisco, effective Nov. 12. Hasse will then begin service as parochial administrator at St. Albert the Great Campus Parish in Houghton and St. Anne Parish in Chassell. The Bessemer-Wakefield-Marenisco assignment was his first pastorate, which began about a year ago, according to the Diocese of Marquette. Hasse was o...

  • Committee sets work bee to improve park

    Katie Perttunen|Oct 4, 2013

    BESSEMER TOWNSHIP — On Saturday at 10 a.m., the Bessemer Township Place-Making Committee will gather at Bessemer Township Memorial Park for a work bee. Velda Sclafani, of the Gogebic-Ontonagon Community Action Agency Community Development Program, said volunteers are being sought. Plans include general clean-up, as well as removing some trees and brush, Sclafani said. Long-term goals include revitalizing the township and increasing signage. If Bessemer Township creates a five-year recreation p...

  • Group celebrates new ORV trail's opening

    Katie Perttunen|Oct 4, 2013

    To celebrate the successful opening of a new 70-mile Ottawa East Connector Trail, Michigan Trails and Recreation Alliance of Land and the Environment recently hosted an appreciation luncheon and tour. Officials from the Ottawa National Forest, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, JR Richardson, chairman of the Michigan Natural Resources Commission, and Ontonagon County Board Commissioner Dennis O’Brien attended, MI-TRALE communications coordinator Donna Wolf said. The trail opened on A...

  • Western Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Region Commission holds 45th annual meeting

    Katie Perttunen|Oct 1, 2013

    IRONWOOD — The Western Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Region Commission held its 45th annual meeting Monday night at Tacconelli’s in Ironwood, with speakers discussing Michigan’s wolf population, the Michigan Trails and Recreation Alliance of Land and the Environment, and the presentation of the Oreste Chiantello Award. J.R. Richardson, chairman of Michigan’s Natural Resource Commission, said the commission is spending a lot of time trying to decide how timber can be harvested sustain...

  • Pumpkin paradise

    Katie Perttunen|Sep 30, 2013

    BESSEMER — The 35th annual Pumpkinfest was held in Bessemer from Thursday to Sunday, beginning with spaghetti at the American Legion and ending with a roast beef and rotisserie chicken dinner at the VFW. Thousands of people attended this year’s event, event co-chair Donna Frello said. “It went very well despite the weather.” Saturday was jam-packed with activities for all ages, starting with a pumpkin pancake breakfast and including a craft fair, antique tractor display, children’s costume p...

  • Lake Superior focus of cleanup

    Katie Perttunen|Sep 23, 2013

    IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP — Seventeen volunteers collected over 36 pounds of garbage along the shoreline at Little Girl’s Point on Saturday morning, part of the Adopt a Beach efforts sustained on shorelines of the Great Lakes by the Alliance of the Great Lakes. Volunteers locally ranged in age from 4 to 70, said organizer Lisa Kinney. Last year the event drew only four volunteers, but this year she had more time to plan, Kinney said. Garbage found ranged from forgotten clothing and shoes to cans to cig...

  • Gogebic Community College hires 5 staff members

    Katie Perttunen|Sep 21, 2013

    IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP — Five new staff members are settling in at Gogebic Community College. Tara Tregembo, an Ironwood native, is enjoying her first school year as Trio Student Support Services program coordinator. “It’s been so far, so good,” Tregembo said. Tregembo studied at GCC before transferring to Northern Michigan University in Marquette, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology. “I think it’s beneficial to students that I am local and a former student here,” Treg...

  • Council receives final energy bill, spillway update

    Katie Perttunen|Sep 10, 2013

    WAKEFIELD — The Wakefield City Council heard Monday from electric/water department working foreman John Granato that a final Xcel Energy bill has been assessed for $18,055. Xcel’s earlier figures were based on estimates, and they had nine months for their accountants to prepare the final amount based on actual costs. The city took over electrical services from Xcel nine months ago. The increased cost to the average customer is about 2 cents per kilowatt hour, said Granato, and the Xcel cos...

  • Walkers raise money for children with life threatening illnesses

    Katie Perttunen|Sep 9, 2013

    WAKEFIELD — Rainbow Connection's second Walk for Kids was held Sunday at Sunday Lake in Wakefield. Event chair person Dianne Youngberg said that last year only Walmart associates participated, and together they were able to raise $5,839 to help Michigan children with life threatening illnesses see their wishes come true. This year the public was invited to participate, Youngberg said. The city of Wakefield donated use of the pavilion for the event, and several crafters were on hand, selling ever...

  • Flu season on horizon

    Katie Perttunen|Sep 7, 2013

    IRONWOOD — Flu season is just around the corner, typically lasting from October through May. The Iron County Health Department, Western Upper Peninsula Health Department, Gogebic Community College’s nursing program and Aspirus Grand View Hospital will host a flu vaccination clinic at GCC’s Lindquist Center gymnasium on Saturday, Sept. 21, from 9 to 11 a.m. Zona Wick, Iron County Health Department officer, said research shows the flu vaccine not only prevents the flu virus, but also benefits the immune system and fends off other infec...

  • 'Cash for Kids' program nets more than $11,000

    Katie Perttunen|Sep 7, 2013

    HURLEY — Midland Services recently presented the Hurley Education Foundation with its annual “Cash for Kids” patronage check of $11,076. The program has been running for five years, and Midland customers can choose to credit any of their purchases, whether for gas, propane or deer corn, to the program, said Joyce Nelmark, foundation member. “It’s a great way to help the kids,” Nelmark said. “All the money goes to the foundation, and we decide what to fund. We have to use all of it.” This yea...

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