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Frustration with the state’s COVID-19 restrictions boiled over at last night’s Houghton County Board of Commissioners meeting. The fireworks began as commissioners considered endorsing a resolution that would have declared the county as a “sanctuary county” for businesses affected by the COVID-19 mandates, and that the sheriff and prosecutor would …

Indoor dining in Michigan restaurants could resume February 1st. The Michigan Licensed Beverage Association said yesterday that it expects Governor Gretchen Whitmer to confirm the date at a press conference today.  The announcement said the MLBA is disappointed that the indoor dining shutdown will remain in place for another half-month, …

The leadership of the CLK Board of Education will remain the same this year. At last night’s organizational meeting, Phyllis Locatelli was reelected president. Jason Wickstrom will continue as vice president, Melanie Parker as secretary, and Daniel Zubiena as treasurer.  At the regular meeting that followed, the board approved a …

Aspirus is expanding its footprint in northern Wisconsin. The non-profit health organization will take over seven hospitals, 21 physician clinics, and the air and ground medical transport services currently operated by Ascension. They include hospitals in Eagle River, Merrill, Woodruff, Stanley, Tomahawk, Rhinelander and Stevens Point. Ascension will continue to …

The Upper Peninsula Power Company will begin lowering the water levels of the reservoirs behind several dams. Officials say that the Victoria Dam, Bond Falls, Lake Gogebic, Silver Lake and Hoist reservoirs will be drawn down this month. The Prickett Dam reservoir will be reduced next month. UPPCO’s licenses require …

The leadership of the Houghton County Board of Commissioners will stay the same this year. At last night’s meeting, Al Koskela was reelected as chair, and Tom Tikkanen as vice-chair. Board members had a chance to talk with a representative from Dominion Election Systems, which provides voting equipment for Houghton …

High School Volleyball The Calumet High School volleyball team’s state tournament run ended last night with a 3-0 loss to Beaverton in the state quarterfinals. College Hockey There will be no Michigan Tech hockey again this weekend. The Huskies missed last weekend’s series at Minnesota State because of positive COVID-19 …

The calm at last night’s public Baraga County board meeting disguised a more controversial move that was being planned behind the scenes. Shortly after the meeting was adjourned, a letter was quietly posted on the Facebook site that Sheriff Joe Brogan had used during his recent election campaign. Entitled “Baraga …

Bill Roelof is the new chair of the Baraga County Board of Commissioners. Roelof takes over for longtime chair Mike Koskinen, who was defeated in his bid for reelection in November. Gale Eilola will serve as vice-chair.  At an otherwise quiet meeting last evening, the board welcomed new members Will …

Houghton County continues as the COVID-19 hot spot in the latest report from the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department.  Since their previous update was released late Thursday, 93 more positives have been confirmed in the five-county region. 68 of those are in Houghton County, with 20 in Gogebic County, three …