Local News

It’s Teacher Appreciation Week, and the Keweenaw still finds itself woefully short of people in that profession… Between the retirements and COVID, we’re facing an educator shortage, just like most of the work force, across our county and America. That’s Copper Country Intermediate School District Superintendent James Rautiola, who, despite …

Preparations continue for the return of Bridgefest on Father’s Day weekend. Registration for the parade is now open. Organizer David Crowley says it’s essential to know in advance who’ll be participating… When you have many, many different vehicles coming and going, it really helps to have everybody have some information …

New mothers in Michigan will be eligible for 12 months of Medicaid coverage under a plan approved recently by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The current postpartum coverage period had been limited to 60 days. The extension will include both medical and dental services. Governor Gretchen Whitmer …

Mark A. Totten has been named as the new U.S. Attorney for the U.S. District Court of Western Michigan. Totten’s background includes experience as a Special Assistant to the U.S. Attorney for Western District of Michigan from 2011 to 2013. Before then, he worked in Washington D.C., as a Law …

Work resumes today on the rebuild of College Avenue/US-41 in Houghton. The road from the west edge of the Michigan Tech campus to Franklin Square will be widened, and a center turn lane added. Water and sanitary sewer lines will be replaced, and storm drains will be upgraded along the …

More than 950 Michigan Tech students received bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees Saturday. The commencement ceremony at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena featured an address by student speaker Brooke Tienhaara of Calumet, who admitted the road to her degree hadn’t been a straight one… Last year, I was supposed …

Finlandia University handed out diplomas at its commencement ceremony in the Hirvonen Hall Auditorium Sunday. Student speaker Arty Puntus, a native of Belarus, also noted that the special challenges his class faced will have a silver lining… It’s really important to look at adversity and obstacles as a positive thing, …

Another of the three Copper Country residents arrested on child sex charges in mid-March has had his case bound over to Circuit Court. In District Court Friday morning, 34-year-old Jeffrey David Redd of Laurium waived his preliminary exam. He faces charges of Child Sexually Abusive Activity, Use of a Computer …

Houghton County named a new chairperson for the Board of Commissioners. In a special meeting called this morning Commissioner Gretchen Janssen nominated, Vice Chairman Tom Tikkanen, to the role of Chairman. Tikkanen takes on the role after the sudden passing of former Chairman Albert Koskela. Koskela passed away on this …

  Keweenaw Crane Service, LLC recently had some crane mats stolen from their property on US-41 sometime in the last couple of days. They are asking for whoever did take the pads, to please return them. 30 pads were taken, at a value of $500. Keweenaw Crane Service has stated …