Local News

The unusually warm weather has prompted the Houghton County Sheriff’s office to advise snowmobile riders to stay off the Portage. Ice conditions are variable, and can be especially dangerous in areas affected by currents – notably near the Houghton-Hancock Bridge. Officials strongly recommend that the designated snowmobile trail across the …

Nominations are now open for the Keweenaw Community Spark Plug Awards. Keweenaw Peninsula Chamber of Commerce manager Tara Arens says there are lots of categories for people who provide exceptional service to the Copper Country… Reservations are being accepted for the Spark Plug Awards dinner. It will be held on …

Gasoline prices held steady again last week in the Copper Country. AAA Michigan’s survey puts the average cost of a gallon of unleaded regular at $2.54. That’s a penny lower than last week, 14 cents above the statewide average, and two cents above the national average. Keweenaw County remained at …

The Copper Country’s mid-winter celebration takes place this weekend. Heikinpäivä will feature traditional tori markets beginning tomorrow at 10:00 at the Finnish-American Heritage Center and First United Methodist Church in downtown Hancock. The parade will begin at 11:00 in front of the Scott Building. David Maki from the Finnish Theme …

There could be more cruise passengers visiting the Copper Country in the future. On the heels of news that Viking Cruise Line will include Houghton as a featured stop when it begins its Great Lakes cruises in 2022, City Manager Eric Waara told the council Wednesday night that Victory Cruise …

The Calumet Theatre will reveal its 2020 season at a performance by Copper Country native Erik Koskinen. The show will take place March 20th, which theatre executive director Marlin Lee says is historically significant… For the record, the first production at the theatre was a touring play called “The Highwaymen.” …

The City of Houghton will hold an open house to share information about the proposed Lakeshore Drive Development. At last night’s council meeting, City Manager Eric Waara proposed that it take place February 11th between 5:30 and 7:00 at the City Center…  The open house comes after the first substantive …

A plan that could help expand access to high-speed broadband service in rural areas has passed the state House of Representatives. The two bills would require electric cooperatives to make their poles and easements for power lines available to carry broadband lines as well. In our region, that could open …

It’s official – there will be no polar bear dive at this year’s Heikinpäivä celebration. The saga ended with an official announcement yesterday afternoon by the Finnish Theme Committee.  The dive began in the earliest years of Heikinpäivä as a small event at the waterfront at the Ramada Inn in …

Hancock has scheduled another round of pickup opportunities for its discount recycling bins. Thanks to a grant, residents and landlords can purchase the 35-gallon bins for $10.00. The normal retail cost would be more than $60.00. Bins can be picked up at the Department of Public Works on Tomasi Drive …