Local News

The Ontonagon County Recreation Plan is available for the public to review. The Western Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Region recently updated the five-Year plan and now there is a 30-day public review and comment period starting today. There will then be a public hearing for adoption of the plan …

To coincide with the Women’s March on Washington this Saturday, a local Sister March will be held on the Portage Lake Lift Bridge. The goal is to express solidarity with the marchers in Washington D.C. in support of women’s rights. Organizers are also focusing their message on incoming President Donald …

The new sheriff of Keweenaw County is already working on new things for the department. Sheriff Bill Luokkanen was elected in November to replace long-time sheriff Ron Lahti, who retired. Luokkanen has been in law enforcement since 1991 and has been working in the Keweenaw County Sheriff’s Department for over …

The Copper Country Intermediate School District is considering seeking a millage to support its Career and Technical Education programs. Superintendent George Stockero informed the board at their January meeting about this decision coming from the recently formed CTE Steering Committee. That committee is made up of over 30 community members …

One of the largest costs to any company is their energy use. The U.S. Department of Energy has launched a $70 million project to look for ways to reduce energy use and emissions. Michigan Tech is one of 85 entities to join the DOE’s REMADE Institute–Reducing Embodied-energy and Decreasing Emissions. …

Good news on city-wide recycling in Hancock. City Manager Glenn Anderson said the city is closing in on 40 to 50 percent participation from residents. The initial goal is to reach 50 percent. The estimated participation from small businesses within the downtown area is 20 to 25 percent. Hancock City …

The City of Hancock intends to repave White Street this year. Bids for the project will open up April 7th to work on the heavily traveled road, which often becomes pitted with pot holes during the spring. The project is estimated to cost around $250,000, helped out by a grant …

The Hancock City Council got their first look at their new fire truck Wednesday night. The cost of the pumper was about $360,000 and features a compressed air foam system in conjunction with water, providing better fire suppression. The hoses are also much lighter because of the system, making it …

The council is now complete. Ward III Councilman Paul LaBine was sworn in at Wednesday’s Hancock City Council meeting. LaBine was appointed last month by the council after their were no candidates on the November ballot. LaBine is a graduate of Michigan Tech with a Master’s Degree in Statistics and …

The books look good. Debbie Bradford of Rukkila, Negro & Associates presented the 2016 Audit Report to the Hancock City Council at their monthly meeting on Wednesday. The report was a clean, or unmodified, opinion. City Manager Glenn Anderson noted that this was the first time in several years that …