Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Sorted by date Results 26 - 50 of 77
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 classroom studio of Downtown Art Place at 6 p.m. Friday. The event will be broadcast on Facebook Live with links to the event from felivelife.org, travelironwood.com and DAP websites or Facebook pages. In his report to the Downtown Ironwood Development Authority on Feb. 25, Tim Erickson, city commu...
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 to the appropriate people within the offices of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Public Health and Human Services. The letter will state the county’s concern that a decision was made to divert vaccines to larger health systems in more densely populated areas of lower Michigan. The...
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 registration period runs through Jan. 3, 2021. The event will run from Jan. 4 through Jan. 17. The difference this year is that there will not be a one-day event with a Sisu course and racers throughout Ironwood. To avoid the congestion of skiers, volunteers, observers and weekend events around the Sisu,... Full story
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 Sjoquist of Coleman Engineering, said his firm is taking the lead on Michigan grant applications as the subcontractor to Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. SEH is the construction engineering firm that recommended a $9.7 million concrete, gravity filtered water treatment plant that would address manganese a...
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 Bergman, director of community development for the city of Ironwood, said zoning consultants are recommending that, if the city were to expand out of its current industrial zone, it include a business district area. The question for the planning commission and the city commission is to consider if Ironwood is...
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 Gullan. The absentee ballots were received at the city clerk's office late Thursday afternoon, Sept. 24, Gullan said. The mailing started last week on Friday with the third precinct, followed by the second precinct on Monday and the first precinct on Tuesday and Wednesday, she said. "I am already... Full story
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. Two executive orders signed on Sept. 25 will amend the MI Safe Start order to reopen theaters, cinemas and other performance venues starting Oct. 9. Other businesses in the statewide reopening orders include arcades, bingo halls, bowling centers, indoor climbing facilities and trampoline parks....
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 attention of the town board who had also had a 2019 motorhome violation that resulted in a permit purchase after several communications. The motorhome is back along with reported blight issues and the board discussed whether the township or Iron County should take action. Town attorney Fritz Schellgell r...
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 service of first responders in our community. Firefighters, law enforcement and medical first responders rose to the occasion on 9/11, and they continue to go into harm’s way every day to keep communities safe and healthy, he said. “I guess for me, this is a time to just remind people to reach out a...
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 a public hearing prior to the 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23 county board meeting at the request of Juliane Giackino, county administrator. The action followed a budget workshop prior to the regular meeting on Wednesday. The proposed budget was sent forward to the hearing without significant changes...
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 Group Co-op. The 4-0 vote, with board member Eric Snow not present, will switch coverage for eight of the town employees from the current insurer to a second insurer from October through Jan. 1, 2021. The action also designates Vic Ouimette, a town board supervisor who works in the insurance industry,... Full story
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 $123,303 of civic center funds to be invested that are not included with the insurance company's funds to replace the structure. There are also $50,000 in individual donations for the enhancements. "The city's insurance company only pays for what was there before," said Scott Erickson, city manager....
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 reopening plan 5-0 and fall sports schedule 3-2 at an Aug. 17 meeting. Three school board members requested a special meeting to revisit the decision, “due to the current health data change, and the importance of this decision,” as stated on the agenda. Leslie Kolesar, school board president, said the...
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 Monday. The school’s reopening plan was reviewed by the Iron County Department of Health and the day-to-day school operation details will be provided to families so they know what to expect, she said. Supply donations included a $469 cash donation to help kids with school supplies, along with a sep...
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 the fiscal year 2021 county allocation request and said the department is losing approximately $150,000 annually due mostly to a loss in Medicare reimbursements following federal adjustments and to the unfunded pension liability. “Right now we are paying over $800,000 annually, about 50% of the pay... Full story
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 reconstruction project required the airport closure on June 1. The $5.19 million project was to be completed on July 15, but weather and scheduling issues delayed the project until July 18. "We're going back to work," said Michael Harma, airport manager. There were engineers on the field who were overseeing... Full story
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 the Iron County Health Department will conduct a drive-thru COVID-19 testing event from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, July 24 at the Wisconsin DNR Mercer Ranger Station on U.S. 51. There are 400 tests that will be first-come, first-served. Sendra said he attended a recent Iron County meeting that include... Full story
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 commission votes at its March meeting and was directed back to the planning commission. The city commission had issues with buffer zones restricting marijuana establishments, micro-licenses regarding product testing and certification of edible marijuana products, and the number of retail growers and p...
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HURLEY — The Hurley City Council on Monday approved liquor and cigarette licenses in a special meeting. The council approved a class B beer license to Hurley Highlands Gas, LLC, at 510 2nd Ave. N., followed by approval of a cigarette license to the same business. The council then approved the purchase of 75 replacement banners for the decorative lighting poles on Silver Street. The cost is approximately $2,700. Robert Lanctoe, city alderman and member of the public works committee, said the current banners have been up since 2007 and are w...
HURLEY — The Hurley City Council on Monday unanimously approved a resolution for its wastewater treatment report that received a perfect score. The resolution accepted the compliance maintenance annual report for the city’s wastewater collection system and will accompany the results to be reviewed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the permitting entity, said Gary Laguna, city water manager. After a two month review the WDNR will respond to the report and the resolution. The city received a “Grade A” for both the financi...
IRONWOOD - Protests continue to be held in front of the Memorial Building in support of the Black Lives Matter movement and for an end to police brutality. Bill and Jodi Buergey said they have attended protests for more than 50 years for various issues. They came Sunday to support anti-racism and call for an end to systemic racism. They were compelled again by the state of the nation since the killing of George Floyd, an African-American man who died while handcuffed and laying on the ground wit...
IRONWOOD - Area community members who attended a Tuesday protest at the Memorial Building said they were compelled to add their voices to the worldwide outrage against racism and brutality in police departments. After watching the social media video of George Floyd, an African-American man who died while handcuffed and laying on the ground with the knee of a white Minneapolis police officer on his neck on May 25, Heidi Amsley said she was moved to attend the Ironwood event. "It was a really visc... Full story
IRONWOOD — Work has stalled but the idea continues to re-establish a county economic development office, according to a report at the Ironwood Economic Development Corporation meeting Wednesday. EDC member Gary Burnett asked for an update on the work to establish a regional EDC office. The cities of Ironwood and Bessemer are behind the effort to hire an emergency economic development coordinator who would implement the strategic plan process that was established by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, said Tom Bergman, director of c...
MERCER, Wis. — The town of Mercer Board of Supervisors will revisit the fireworks ordinance in June, following action at its regular meeting Thursday. The board 5-0 approved a request to create a town fireworks permit and moved discussion of the permitting criteria for sales, possession and use to the June board meeting. The permit would also exempt the local fire department or designated organization for the purpose of a public display fireworks. Local municipalities may pass ordinances that enhance the state statute governing fireworks u...
