Local News

Dan Weingarten from the Michigan Department of Transportation says this year is a good one to be vigilant when planning road trips throughout the region. Over $121 million has been budgeted for construction projects in the Upper Peninsula. Expect to see orange barrels popping up in Houghton County next week. …

A COVID-19 vaccine clinic initially scheduled for just Michigan Tech faculty and students has been opened to the general public. Shots are administered in the Student Development Complex’s Wood Gym today until 5 PM and Thursday beginning at 8 AM. Walk-ins are accepted, but not preferred. Upper Great Lakes Family …

Calumet’s Village Council met Tuesday evening at the Calumet Theatre Ballroom to give final authority on recodification. Over 100 ordinances are going to be culled from the books in one fell swoop. Manager Caleb Katz says that American Legal Publishing can do the leg work for the council, once it …

The Houghton Parking Deck Subcommittee met Tuesday, using a two-paged outline of the issue compiled by City Manager Eric Waara as a starting point. All four members agreed that Waara’s document was an accurate portrayal of the different alternatives in a broad sense. Chairman Tom Merz said his only reservation …

Margie Hale is moving from Baraga County Memorial Hospital to Aspirus Health, and changing job titles too. Hale wore many hats at her previous business, including chief executive officer, chief nursing officer, and chief operating officer. She is leaving a hole that will be difficult to replace. At Aspirus, Hale …

The Porcupine Mountains Music Festival is postponed again for 2021, with a preliminary return date set of August 26-28, 2022. The festival’s director, Sheryl Sundberg, says the primary planning concern is the state mandated capacity limit, currently set at 300 participants. With no word on if restrictions would ease, organizers …

Correction: Residential grass was used in a prior version. It should read residential only glass. HoughtonCountyTransfer2021FinalDownload Earth Day marks the start of Houghton County’s new single stream recycling effort. Administrator Ben Larson says Waste Management and the Copper Country Recycling Initiative will operate the site, with sorting taking place in …

Volunteer fire departments and first responders are eligible to apply for a new Portage Health Foundation grant due next month. Emergency personnel in Houghton, Baraga, Ontonagon, and Keweenaw Counties all have a shot at $50,000 in total awards. Each grant is capped at $5,000 and requires a 50 percent match …

The subcommittee devoted to Houghton’s parking deck project meets Tuesday at noon in the council chambers. There is also a chance to view it online through the city’s Facebook page. While the issue of overall downtown development will be addressed through a Pre-Charrette workshop, and perhaps a full process, City …

COVID activity fell in the Copper Country over the weekend, driven by a significant drop in Houghton County. The area’s largest county recorded only 18 cases over a four-day stretch. Downstate and even other larger municipalities in the Upper Peninsula, like Marquette and Escanaba, have seen an upswing in cases. …