Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties

Wineburner approved as new A.D. Johnston principal

By IAN MINIELLY

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Bessemer - The board approved the hiring of Dave Wineburner as A. D. Johnston's high school and junior high principal at Monday night's school board meeting. Wineburner has spent the last three years as the 6-12 principal for the Walker-Hackensack-Akeley school district in Walker, Minn. Radovitch said, "(Wineburner) was the best candidate, with experience and enthusiasm for the job." The Wineburners have been looking at housing and are bringing two school-aged children with them on their move to Bessemer.

At the last school board meeting, the school board agreed to separate Tim France's contract, recognizing his duties in Food Service and as Athletic Director were in two separate fields and should be divided as such. Monday the school board announced an even further sub-division as they accepted France's resignation as athletic director and split the duties into an administrative AD and event supervising AD.

Mark Movrich is the new administrative AD and will take care of the scheduling and official contracts while tracking student grades and eligibility. Nic Heikkla was hired as the event supervisor and is in charge of managing the ticket sales, ensuring the facilities are prepared for games and practices while supervising the parents and kids at home games.

Annette Lillie, finance committee, said the committee is looking at replacing two of the roofs, which is going to cost about $50,000. They are planning on accepting bids and having the work done before the winter sets in.

Dick Matrella, building and grounds, updated the board on the progress of Massie Field. The stands are in the process of being replaced with new wood and the baseball field is going to get new clay to replace the current infield and pitching circle. Matrella said they need volunteers, with tools, especially drills, to come out on Friday and Saturday morning at 7:00 a.m., to help complete the repairs and paint the buildings. Radovich pointed out Massie Field was neglected for sometime, but he is thankful Matrella has taken the initiative to rejuvenate the field to its past glory.

The Bessemer Area School district will have many new faces in the class room next year and on the athletic fields, but is still missing a few positions for its athletic teams. The high school JV girls basketball coach and the junior high boys basketball coach positions are still unfilled, but the Gogebic Miner junior high boys football coaches are both secure now with Jim Kahila joining Jake Zielinski as coaches.