Articles written by Tom Laventure
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Mercer voters approve PRAT
MERCER, Wis. - Mercer voters approved a half-cent consumer tax to help pay for roads and infrastructure costs in Tuesday's spring election. The voter approved the Premier Resort Area Tax (PRAT) with...
Mercer to decide on PRAT tax in Tuesday election
MERCER, Wisc. — Town of Mercer voters will decide whether or not to pass a half-cent consumer tax to pay for roads and infrastructure spending in an Election Day referendum on Tuesday. Voters may choose yes or no to the ballet question, “Should t...
'Seeds of Change' demo set for First Friday
IRONWOOD — The First Friday Committee is planning one more virtual event for the pandemic with a seeding demonstration from master gardeners to help residents with planting in their gardens. “Seeds of Change” will be a Facebook Live First...
Hurley School expands syrup program
HURLEY - Hurley K-12 School students have made maple syrup for years, but funding now makes it possible to expand into a larger and more comprehensive learning experience. High school science...
GRWA readies for Wakefield decision
RAMSAY — As the city of Wakefield prepares for a decision on assuming control of the Indianhead Water system, the board of the current operator, Gogebic Range Water Authority, sought to learn more about the option at its virtual meeting on March...
Specialists to pinpoint water break
IRONWOOD - Specialists have joined the city of Ironwood Public Works Department in pinpointing a water break on Ayer Street. On Wednesday morning crews were still looking for the precise location of...
Watercolor event set for First Friday
IRONWOOD — An area watercolor artist will provide a virtual demonstration event as part of March First Friday activities in Ironwood. The theme for this month is “An Artful Community.” Artist Peg Sandin will provide the demonstration from the...
County objects to vaccine diversion
BESSEMER — The Gogebic County Board of Commissioners will voice its objection to what they described as a diversion of COVID-19 vaccinations from rural to more populated areas of the state. The board Wednesday unanimously approved sending a letter...
Virtual Sisu Ski Fest set
IRONWOOD - The 12th Sisu Ski Fest will be a virtual event but organizers are excited about the prospect of the alternative event as they sent out registration packets on Monday. The 2021 Sisu...
Ironwood looks at water system grant options
IRONWOOD — An Ironwood City Commission workshop on Monday revealed the benefits and consequences that come from choosing which grants to apply for in order to build a proposed water treatment and filtration system with a new pump station. Jeff...
Ironwood to consider business industrial zone
IRONWOOD — An expansion in the city’s industrial zone could create a new business category to buffer non-industrial areas, according to reports at the Ironwood Planning Commission meeting on Thursday. In his report to the commission, Tom Bergma...
Absentee ballots mailed in Ironwoood
IRONWOOD - The city of Ironwood is showing a 237% increase in absentee ballot applications from the last presidential election and the requests are still coming in, according to city clerk Karen...
Theaters, bowling alleys study reopening order
IRONWOOD - A new executive order from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has theaters and bowling alleys preparing to open months before it was thought possible, along with more possibilities for outdoor events....
Mercer to consider blight officer
MERCER — The town of Mercer Board of Supervisors on Thursday discussed the possibility of hiring a part time blight officer while determining a course of action for repeated violations. A complaint from a neighbor brought an individual to the...
Officials mark 9/11 anniversary
IRONWOOD — The terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 continue to affect our lives, even as the event itself happened 19 years ago. Scott Erickson, the manager for the city of Ironwood, said the anniversary is a good time for people to reflect on the...
Public hearing set on county budget
BESSEMER - The Gogebic County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a public hearing on the topic of the county's 2020-21 operational budget for its next regular meeting. The board 7-0 approved...
Mercer looks to join health co-op
MERCER, Wis. — The Mercer Town Board of Supervisors on Thursday approved a change to health insurance coverage to a another agency for the duration of an application period to an insurance cooperative for municipalities known as Spectrum Employer G...
Civic center add-ons approved
IRONWOOD - The Ironwood City Commission approved expenditures for enhancements to the Pat O'Donnell Civic Center replacement building during a special meeting on Monday. The commission 5-0 approved...
Hurley School stays course with offering in-school, virtual options
HURLEY — The Hurley Board of Education will not make changes to its in-classroom with virtual option reopening plan, or the decision to go ahead with fall sports after taking no action at a special meeting on Tuesday. The school board approved its...
Mercer readies for school opening
MERCER, Wis. — Staff and faculty of the Mercer School District are working through in-service days to prepare for the start of fall semester on Tuesday, according to District Administrator Sheri Kopka in her report to the Board of Education on...
Health department requests increase
BESSEMER — The Gogebic County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday heard a request for an allocation increase from the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department. Kate Beer, the health officer for WUPHD, attended the county board meeting to discuss...
Gogebic-Iron County Airport open
IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP - The Gogebic-Iron County Airport officially opened again Saturday evening after more than a month of runway reconstruction. The runway rehabilitation and runway lighting...
Mercer town board discusses COVID issues
MERCER, Wis. — COVID-19 topics took up most of the Mercer Town Board of Supervisors meeting Thursday, including concerns about thousands of people attending the annual Loon Day event in August. In his COVID-19 update, Town Chairman John Sendra said...
Ironwood continues work on commercial marijuana ordinance
IRONWOOD — An Ironwood City Commission workshop fell short on time with a proposed adult-use marijuana manufacturing ordinance on Monday and will schedule another before considering the ordinance. The proposed ordinance failed three separate city...
