Trail authority raises funds for charity, honors late member

IRONWOOD — The Gogebic Range Trail Authority held a public guided ORV ride over the summer that honored a late member who was instrumental in the organization and raised funds for two thrift stores.

The trail authority held its annual Calvin Kangas Memorial Ride and fundraiser in August, according to Steve Hamilton, trail authority president. The ride brought in 44 machines to the trail authority’s groomer barn for a socially-distanced ride along famed Trail 160.

Kangas was the trail authority groomer operator trainer and a volunteer for all things that needed support, Hamilton said. Kangas was president of the local North Country Trail Chapter as well as an avid volunteer for the Ironwood Saint Vincent DePaul Thrift Stores along with his wife, Susan, who also serves as the trail authority treasurer.

“The ride had no cost but there was a suggested donation of $20 per vehicle, Hamilton said.

After all was said and done, Susan Kangas chipped in to bridge the small gap and GRTA donated $500 to Saint Vincent DePaul thrift stores in Ironwood and Bessemer in Calvin Kangas’s name. Jerry Nezworski, trail authority vice president, presented a $500 check to Karen Talkowski and Mike Czerneski of the Ironwood Saint Vincent DePaul store, and to Jennifer Morrison of the Bessemer store.

“The donation couldn’t have come at a better time as we are struggling to make it through COVID,” said Jennifer Morrison at the Saint Vincent DePaul Thrift Store in Bessemer.

The second annual event was held on the free ORV weekend, which allows users to ride the trails without trail permits, Hamilton said. With a significant increase in attendance the trail authority utilized several club members as guides to take different groups at different paces so everyone could enjoy the ride at the pace they desired.

“The club gained many new members and is thankful for the area and regional support,” Hamilton said. “We are already being asked for 2021 dates so guests from Illinois, Minnesota and Iowa can book their return trips.”

—Daily Globe staff