Local News

A political era ends today in Calumet Township. Paul Lehto will step down at noon as Township Supervisor, after nearly 47 years on the job. Paul Lehto Current trustee and assessor Tim Gasperich has been appointed by the board to take over the remainder of Lehto’s term, which runs through …

A group of local political conservatives is organizing a local affiliate of the Constitution Party. Organizer Mary Sears is a longtime Republican, who thinks a more fundamental approach to government is needed… Sears says the new party won’t immediately start to field local candidates. Rather, the goal is to… The …

The Village of L’Anse officially enters the solar power business today. L’Anse Electric Utility customers have the opportunity to purchase panels that have been installed in the Lambert Road Industrial Park. Village Manager Bob LaFave says the value of the power produced by those panels will be subtracted from the …

The City of Houghton has approved pay increases for members of its police force. At last night’s council meeting, three percent raises were okayed for patrol officers and the department’s lieutenant. Sergeants will get slightly more than three percent. City Manager Eric Waara also said that union leaders have agreed …

A mechanical malfunction led to a dramatic pickup truck fire on Quincy Hill this afternoon. A Hancock police officer at the scene said that the strap holding the truck’s gas tank apparently failed while it was headed north on US-41. The driver was able to guide the vehicle off the …

The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community has received a state grant to expand collection and recycling of electronic waste. Four-thousand dollars from the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy will be used to upgrade physical facilities at the KBIC Solid Waste Transfer Station. Ten-thousand dollars is on the way to …

State Representative Greg Markkanen has reiterated his support for removing the gray wolf from the Federal Endangered and Threatened Species List in Michigan. Markkanen testifies Markkanen testified before the House Natural Resources Committee yesterday. He noted that the initial goal when the wolves were given protection was to increase their …

Portage Township is consolidating its polling places. At its meeting on Monday, the Township Board completed the process of reducing the number of on-site voting locations from three to two. Supervisor Bruce Peterson explained that, as more people take advantage of easier absentee voting, fewer people are expected to show …

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Housing Service is making an additional 150-million dollars available to United States counties who suffered disaster losses last year. The good news is that the list includes Houghton, Gogebic and Menominee Counties, which experienced significant damage in the Father’s Day Flood. The bad news …

The CLK Board of Education ratified two proposed labor contracts at its meeting last evening. Tentative agreements between the district and the Michigan Education Support Personnel Association and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees were approved. The board also accepted the resignation of vice-president Dr. Michael Louma, …