Local News

The Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors is expanding. At Wednesday’s annual meeting, President Mary Myers introduced three new members. Betsy Smith is a relative fresh face to the area, having called the Keweenaw home for three years now. She owns Baby E’s BBQ with her husband while raising …

On Monday afternoon, Hancock Central High School principal Chris Salani sent a message to district families announcing that midterm exams were optional for this semester. To entice students to participate, the district has modified its policy so that grades cannot be harmed from sitting for the tests. On the flip …

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 …

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 …

Ice fishers will have better access to some Copper Country lakes this winter. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has organized a pilot program to keep boating access sites plowed. In all, 26 access sites across the Upper Peninsula will be kept open this winter.  Local sites include…• Vermilac Lake …

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 …