Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 9953
By PAMELA JANSSON [email protected] HURLEY — Members of the Hurley City Council discussed on Tuesday evening the possibility of hiring a building inspector but agreed that they first should be clear on what they need. Mayor Joanne Bruneau suggested consulting first with Daniel Soine, who has helped the city with zoning and planning in past years. The mayor first suggested that building inspection needs perhaps could be handled by existing city staff, with emphasis on Scott Santini, director of Public Works. “If you’re asking my opini...
WAUPACA, Wis. — Officials of Waupaca Foundry Inc. announced in a Monday press release that they will cease operations and close their Ironwood plant in mid-February. According to the announcement, all employees have been offered relocation to iron foundry operations in Marinette or Waupaca, Wisconsin, or in Tell City, Indiana. The Ironwood plant — which opened in 2019 and currently employs 18 full-time workers — is a grinding and cleaning operation for castings produced at Plant 1, a gray iron foundry in Waupaca. The press release said the l...
By BRENDA MOSELEY [email protected] IRONWOOD — “Medals, hot chocolate and cookies for all.” That’s what the organizers of Sisu Ski Fest’s Depot Dash on Jan. 10 promised kids 10 and under, and it’s also what they delivered at the Historic Ironwood Depot Park. But even better than the treats and rewards for most kids was the chance to ski the dash — a loop trail created by Sisu volunteers. Although the Jan. 11 Sisu Ski Festival adult races were cancelled due to lack of sufficient sn...
By MEGAN HUGHES [email protected] BESSEMER — In a Jan. 8 reorganizational meeting, members of the Bessemer Board of Education voted to maintain the same positions. Hence, Jim Partanen will remain as president, and Brady Halverson will remain as vice president. Tara Graham and Beth Steiger also will continue as treasurer and secretary, respectively. In other reorganizational action, the board also: — Approved First National Bank, Gogebic Range Bank and the Michigan Liquid Asset Fund Plus as depositories for school funds. — Desig...
By BRENDA MOSELEY [email protected] IRONWOOD — The Ironwood Lumberjacks may have lost to the high-ranked Dryden Ice Dogs on Friday and Saturday nights, but the Tier II Junior A hockey team surely has won the support of its new town. On Jan. 10 and 11, the Pat O’Donnell Civic Center in Ironwood was filled with fans, with many wearing sweatshirts or hats bearing the Lumberjack logo. Announcer Trey Luce wore a suit and tie featuring wood rounds. Hoping for a chance to talk with the team or re...
By MEGAN HUGHES [email protected] IRONWOOD - The Gogebic County Fair Board met on Tuesday evening for its first meeting of 2025, welcoming several members and updating on the status of this year's fair. New members are Joe Cayer, Stephanie Matonich and Dan Wood, along with returning members Linda Nelson, Shelley Suckow, Holly Ramme and Melinda Kostak. As part of its annual reorganization, the board elected Nelson as chairperson and Suckow as vice chairperson. Nelson also presented the...
By MEGAN HUGHES [email protected] IRONWOOD — The Gogebic-Iron County Airport Board welcomed new member Peter Matonich at an annual reorganizational meeting on Monday. The board also re-elected Pat Hanson as chairperson, Dan Siirila as vice chairperson and Mario Loretti as recording secretary. James Lorenson continues to serve as a board member. Board members also voted to continue operating under Robert’s Rules and to continue scheduling regular meetings on the second Monday of the month at 5 p.m. in the airport office. The board hea...
By SARAH LAUZON Globe Student Intern [email protected] MERCER, Wis. — The MECCA Winterfest race team in Mercer has announced the cancellation of all live Winterfest events originally scheduled for Saturday. Virtual Winterfest events will remain available. “We are incredibly disappointed to have to cancel Winterfest’s live events for the second year in a row,” said race director Rodney Silvis in a Jan. 11 press release. He added, “Our volunteers have been working hard and were ready to host this exciting event, but unfortuna...
By PAMELA JANSSON [email protected] BESSEMER — Members of the Bessemer City Council on Monday approved an audit report prepared by Rukkila/Negro and Associates in Houghton. The focus was on the year ending June 30, 2024. Mayor Peter Tacconelli said the auditor gave a positive report. “She was very impressed with how the girls are handling the books and how up to date we are with the funds,” he said. Councilman Adam Zak said the final few pages of the audit report did indicate the need for “corrective measures” such as more budget am...
By BRENDA MOSELEY [email protected] IRONWOOD - In the late 19th Century, the only birds that many people wanted to count were dead ones. At that time, Christmas shooting contests were known as "side hunts," and all birds were targets. Captains would pick team members and hope for carnage. The Omaha World Herald reported the number of birds killed by just two of the members in a winning team in its Dec. 31, 1898, issue. Their count included 96 geese, 68 ducks and an abundance of "small fry...
By Megan Hughes [email protected] IRONWOOD — Due to lack of snow, the Sisu Ski Fest organizers have announced the cancellation of this year’s races and Sisu Expo. This marks the second year that poor ski conditions has resulted in races being cancelled, with the 2024 races also being cancelled due to lack of snow needed for racers to ski safely along the entire race route. The announcement was made via a press release by Race Director Jackie Powers on Friday. According to the release, the rain and warm temperatures from the week prior, pa...
By PAMELA JANSSON [email protected] BESSEMER - During a Jan. 3 reorganizational meeting, newly elected Gogebic County Clerk Erin Bunt swore in the seven members of the county Board of Commissioners, and there were four new faces among them. New members are Joseph Cayer (District 2), Daniel Wood (District 3), Peter Matonich (District 5) and Michael Yon (District 6). They were all elected on Nov. 5. Continuing members are Daniel Siirila (District 1), James Lorenson (District 4) and...
By SARAH LAUZON Globe Student Intern [email protected] BESSEMER - Sharon Lutheran Church in Bessemer has set up an informal clothing giveaway called "Sharon's Closet," which will work to provide free clothing for community members in need. "There's no charge," Lynn Ormes, a member of Sharon Lutheran Church, said. "Whatever we get in goes out, and it's free." "We accept donations," Ormes said. The Church is requesting gently used items, especially clothing that suits the current cold weathe...
MERCER, Wis. — The town of Mercer announced in a Jan. 1 press release that Mercer Area Ambulance and Rescue is ceasing all service to Mercer and surrounding communities, effective as of that day. “While we are disappointed with the short notice, and had hoped for a seamless transition, other arrangements have been made,” stated the press release signed by Eric Snow, town chairman. The announcement said that “our friends from our neighboring communities are going to help cover calls” until another service is ready. It also warned, “Please b...
By PAMELA JANSSON [email protected] IRONWOOD — The United States Baseball Congress has announced that the minor league baseball team planned for this area will be named the Ironwood Agates. The Ironwood City Commission first approved on Nov. 25 a proposal requesting the use of the city’s Randa Field — near the largely fiberglass “big Indian” — for local league games. Since then, city manager Paul Anderson said that an official agreement, reviewed by city attorney Timothy Dean, had been signed by the city. “We at the United States...
By BRENDA MOSELEY [email protected] KIMBALL - The cozy meeting room at Little Finland in Hurley was filled with the aroma of freshly-ground coffee and warm Finnish pulla, a buttery, sweet bread spiced with cardamom. And the subject of the Dec. 30 meeting was one all participants loved: coffee. Joseph Miller, community development educator at the Extension Iron County Office in Hurley, chose the subject of coffee as a prelude to eight entrepreneurial events he's offering in the next...
By BRENDA MOSELEY [email protected] IRONWOOD - Sweet treats, a crackling bonfire and a beautiful one-mile candlelit trail were the rewards that participants received at a Dec. 28 Candlelight Snowshoe and Ski by Friends of Miners Memorial Heritage Park. The all-volunteer organization offers the fundraising event annually in order to support trail grooming and maintenance and upkeep of related equipment. Snowshoes are provided for those needing them. Friends president Rick Semo said the park...
By PAMELA JANSSON [email protected] GOGEBIC COUNTY - On Wednesday, Jorge Cruz became Gogebic County's new sheriff, following in the footsteps of former Sheriff Ross Solberg, whose last day was Tuesday. Cruz was elected to the office on Nov. 5, 2024, after serving the last three years as undersheriff. He began working for the Sheriff's Office in 2007, working his way up to detective before becoming Solberg's righthand man. Solberg's own career at the Sheriff's Office began nearly 32...
By PAMELA JANSSON [email protected] BESSEMER — Members of the Bessemer City Council discussed at their Dec. 23 meeting the possibility of allowing the Parks and Recreation Commission to “roll over” any remaining funds from each year’s budget, rather than losing them. Members of the Parks and Recreation Commission made the request. Councilman Adam Zak, who represents the council on the Parks and Recreation Commission, said its members would like to save money for grant-matching, but added, “They can’t do that without rolling ove...
By BRENDA MOSELEY [email protected] WAKEFIELD - Photographer Josh Lopac of Wakefield has been chasing northern lights since he first saw an aurora in February 2011. His pursuits have taken him as far as Canada and Alaska, and he's now observed the phenomenon at least 300 times. Each experience is different and, for Lopac, that's part of the thrill. It's a thrill he'd like others to try, and at his "Lights in the Sky" presentation at Wakefield VFW Post 9084 on Dec. 21, he shared tips about...
