Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
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By MEGAN HUGHES [email protected] IRONWOOD - The Ironwood Carnegie Library is planning for a new future after receiving a $750,000 grant from the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. The library had applied for a $2.5 million grant in 2023, according to library director Lynne Wiercinski, with plans to add approximately 5,000 square feet to the library. The state received far more applications than it had planned, said Wiercinski, resulting in more grants being distributed...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] IRONWOOD - A launch party for the fourth annual Emberlight Festival, which will run for eight weeks this summer, took place Saturday night at Theatre North in Ironwood. It was an opportunity for festival co-founders Miles Mykkanen and Cindy Franck - who are also the creative director and artistic producer, respectively - to announce the new season's lineup of entertainment while also kicking off a fundraising raffle. "It's a little insane to me that we...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] BESSEMER — Members of the Gogebic County Board of Commissioners voted April 10 to undertake discussions with Watersmeet and Marenisco townships regarding how PILT funds are distributed. The acronym PILT stands for “payment in lieu of taxes,” and representatives of the two townships approached commissioners with their related frustration in what they view as unfair allotments. According to the U.S. Department of the Interior, “Payments in Lieu of Taxes are federal payments that help local governm...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] BESSEMER — Members of the Downtown Development Authority continued a debate at an April 10 meeting as to whether to release a city lot to support a local business or to retain the land for possible future development. The discussion related to a letter of request from James Thull dated Nov. 16, 2023. Action on Thull’s request has been tabled since that time. Thull said in the letter that he now owns a building at 119 E. Sellar St. that he uses to rent apartments. His request was to purchase the adj...
By MEGAN HUGHES [email protected] IRONWOOD – The Pat O'Donnell Civic Center hosted a health fair on Tuesday where people gathered to learn about health resources in their community. A collaborative effort by the Western U.P. Health Department, Michigan State University-Extension and the Upper Peninsula Health Plan, more than 40 organizations were represented, bringing with them activities for the entire family. The event combined the health fair aspect with a family fun night, said MSU-Ext...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] HURLEY — Two new faces joined the Hurley City Council on Tuesday as members took their oath of office from Clerk/Treasurer Stacey Wiercinski in a reorganizational meeting. Logan Dahlbacka and Joseph Kasper were newly elected on April 2 when the following incumbents were also re-elected: Jamey Francis, Rita Franzoi, Robert Lanctoe and Stephanie Innes. Joanne Bruneau was also re-elected as mayor. Seven persons had run for the six at-large council seats. Former Councilman Joseph Pinardi lost his seat by g...
By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] BESSEMER — The Gogebic County Board of Commissioners voted last week to appoint Peter Tacconelli of Bessemer and Whitney Vernetti of Ironwood to 3-year terms on the Board of Directors of the county’s Community Mental Health Authority in Wakefield. The board also voted to reappoint three incumbents to the board: Joseph Bonovetz of Bessemer, who also is a county commissioner; Carrie Braspenick of Wakefield; and Patricia Crabtree of Ironwood. Bonovetz abstained on the otherwise unanimous vote. The act...
WAKEFIELD, Mich. - Mary Ann (Grivicich) Anderson, 99, of Wakefield, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, April 12, 2024, with her daughters at her bedside. Mary was born on March 27, 1925, in Ironwood, the youngest of seven children to Marco and Matilda (Smolich) Grivicich. She attended Luther L. Wright High School in Ironwood and graduated with the class of 1943. In 1946, Mary was united in marriage to Robert A. Anderson. They were blessed with three daughters, Diane, Paulette and Mary....
IRONWOOD, Mich. - Lee James Cummings, 57, of Ironwood, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family and close friends at his home on Thursday, April 11, 2024, after a long heroic battle with cancer. Lee was born on Sept. 6, 1966, in Ironwood, the son of the late Ernest and Janice (Brace) Cummings. On April 23, 1988, he was united in marriage to Gina Pedrin at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Ironwood Township. Lee grew up in Hammond, Indiana, and graduated from high school in 1985. Afte...
IRONWOOD, Mich. - Jean Teresa Forini, of Ironwood, passed away peacefully on March 13, 2024 in Chicago. She led a long and happy life filled with love. Jean was born in Ironwood on March 29, 1933, the daughter of John and Mary (Kapets) Wilcheck. There was a big snowstorm that day and she liked to say she blew into this world with it. She graduated from St. Ambrose High School. Following a year at Gogebic Community College, she worked at Bensen's Optical and Prudential Insurance in Ironwood....
ESCANABA, Mich. - Kenneth "Ken" Heino Jussila, 85, of Escanaba, passed away at home surrounded by family on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, following years of ongoing health issues. Ken was born in McMillan Township, and raised in Ironwood. He was the oldest of four children born to Heino and Donna (Cobb) Jussila. He graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in Ironwood in 1958. Ken married Debra (Debbie) Moran on Oct. 16, 1976, and together shared many wonderful life events as well as his health...
Email calendar items and community news to [email protected]. For more information, call 906-932-2211. Thursday, April 18 Bessemer St. Vincent de Paul, financial assistance, 9-10 a.m.; food pantry, 10 a.m. to noon. 906-663-4436. Gogebic-Ontonagon Community Action Agency food commodity distribution for seniors, Bergland, Lake Gogebic Senior Center, 9:25-9:40 a.m. EDT; White Pine, Carp Lake Township Hall, 10-10:15 a.m. EDT; Ontonagon, Holy Family Catholic Church, 11-11:30 a.m. EDT; Mass City Resource Center, 12:30-1 p.m. EDT. Ironwood St....
By JASON JUNO [email protected] MERCER, Wis. — The first two batters went out in the bottom of the first inning. Jenny Klopatek still drove in a run, herself, diving in just ahead of the throw for an inside-the-park home run. It was an exciting first run for Butternut-Mercer’s first game in Mercer since the co-op formed in the 2017 season. It set the tone for a 12-5 Pioneers’ win over Ironwood in a non-conference game Tuesday night. And it was pretty fitting how the first inning went. The two batters who went out were from Butte...
By LARRY HOLCOMBE [email protected] IRONWOOD - The Ironwood City Commission once again approved another Rural Development pay package for ongoing work on Phase 1 of the a new water treatment facility at its meeting Monday evening. City Manager Paul Anderson said the concrete wall pours are complete and contractor CD Smith Construction is now working on precast ceiling slabs. He said roofing will be going on in May and June and then interior plumbing and mechanical work will happen...
IRONWOOD — The Ironwood Area Schools is asking voters in the school district to renew its operating millage at a special election on May 7. Superintendent Travis Powell said the millage rate of 18 mills, or $18 per every $1,000 of taxable valuation, is a renewal of the millage that will expire this year. “The passing of the Operating Millage Renewal Proposal on May 7 will not affect or impact taxes on primary residences in the Ironwood Area School District,” Powell said in a release. “Therefore, your yearly taxes will be very close to 2024. T...
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By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] HURLEY — The start of Hurley’s U.S. 51 utility reconstruction project is now less than three weeks away as remaining snow quickly melts. “We should start the job on the 29th,” said Scott Santini, Hurley’s Public Works Director, at a Tuesday evening meeting of the Hurley City Council. He added that the city is already preparing for the work. “We’re figuring out some of the sewer issues,” said Santini. “We’re cameraing those, getting things set up so we don’t have any setbacks when they start later this...
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By JASON JUNO [email protected] MARQUETTE --- Ewen-Trout Creek's Bree Besonen joined a pretty exclusive club last week. The eighth grader was named to the All-U.P. Second Team at the 49th annual Upper Peninsula Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association girls basketball meeting last week. She's believed to be one of just three girls to ever be named to the All-U.P. team as an eighth grader. She knows the other two pretty well - they're her sisters. Elise Besonen made it in 2017 and...
By JASON JUNO [email protected] IRONWOOD --- Ironwood enjoyed success in its stay in Division 4, but their short run in the MHSAA's smallest division will end, at least for now. The MHSAA announced the classifications for next year's postseason tournaments Friday, and as expected, Ironwood moved up to Division 3 for basketball and volleyball. Their high school enrollment rose from 194 students for the 2023-24 school year to 219, putting them well above the sub-200 student cutoffs for...
IRONWOOD, Mich. - Daniel Adams, 79, of Ironwood, passed away at Meadowbrook Nursing Home in Oconto Falls, Wisconsin, on Wednesday, March 20, 2024. He went to his Lord and Savior and was reunited with the love of his life, Lynn, who passed on in 2020. He was born on the May 5, 1945, to Joseph and Roselle Adams. Dan attended St. Ambrose Catholic schools and graduated with the class of 1963. Dan served six years with the U.S. Army National Guard before enlisting in the U.S. Navy. After serving his...
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Marilyn M. Paulsen, aged 93, passed away in Scottsdale, Arizona, on March 22, 2024, surrounded by the love of her family. Marilyn was a long-time resident of Ironwood, Michigan. She spent the last 18 months living near her daughter, Michelle, in Scottsdale. She was born on February 18, 1931, the daughter of Roy and Clara Martin in Milltown, Wisconsin. After her education in Milltown, Marilyn contributed to the defense industry in the Twin Cities before marrying Alvin Paulsen...
ASHLAND, Wis. - Merlyn W. "Lindy" Sunie, age 88 of Ashland, passed away peacefully at his home on Wednesday, April 3, 2024. Merl was born on April 12, 1935, in Ironwood, Michigan, the son of Toivo S. and Sigrid M. (Warpula) Sunie. Merl was an avid reader and fan of the Milwaukee Brewers and Green Bay Packers. He enjoyed discussing current events, past adventures, and was quick to share his ever-witty banter and contagious smile. Merl was a proud U.S. Air Force veteran, having served for 21.5 yea...
IRONWOOD, Mich. — Shirley Ann Olson, 85, of Ironwood, passed away peacefully at her home on Thursday, March 28, 2024. Shirley was born on Feb. 3, 1939, in Ypsilanti, to Clifford and Cecilia (Spranger) Laflin. She was a graduate of Ypsilanti High School. On Feb. 28, 1970, Shirley was united in marriage with Phillip C. Olson at Zion Lutheran Church in Ironwood. She worked as a nurse for local nursing homes and then for hospice. Shirley enjoyed gardening and loved animals. Raising her family was her biggest pride and joy. Shirley is survived by h...
IRONWOOD, Mich. — Charlotte Irene Huhtala, age 87, of Ironwood, passed away on March 1, 2024, at the Aspirus Ironwood Hospital. No formal services are taking place for Charlotte. The family has chosen the McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home in Ironwood to honor Charlotte's legacy of life....
