News

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has reached a deal with the Straits Area Snowmobile Club to resume grooming trails in Mackinac and Chippewa Counties. The agreement covers over 100 miles of routes between Saint Ignace, Epoufette, and Trout Lake. Negotiations have been ongoing for weeks. The DNR had previously …

Just before Christmas in 1913, one of the greatest tragedies in Copper Country history occurred. The Calumet-Laurium-Keweenaw Rotary has been commemorating the Italian Hall disaster for decades, and will do so again beginning this afternoon. At 4:30 PM the village firehall siren will sound to mark when the first call …

Late Monday will represent the first time this season where snowmobilers can traverse the Portage Canal between Houghton and Hancock. The Keweenaw Snowmobile Club announced on Facebook yesterday that they will have access to the lower level of the lift bridge starting on Monday. Groomers work with local officials to …

What comes next after May’s Fifth Street Fire was the focus of Tuesday’s Calumet Village Council meeting. The group discussed fees attached to installing a block perimeter around the site. The quarry stones themselves were free, but a $4,000 charge was assessed to place them as a protective barrier. In …

Coming up on March 3rd [correction: Date was originally written as 3/5], the Keweenaw Chamber of Commerce, Keweenaw Young Professionals, the Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance, and the Portage Health Foundation are once again set to host the Sparkplug Awards. The honor is meant to recognize all community members, from individuals …

Contractors for the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will continue work requiring closures of the Portage Lake Lift Bridge between Houghton and Hancock Wednesday. The contractor anticipates restricting access to the span twice between 9 p.m. and midnight Wednesday. These closures will result in delays for vehicle, pedestrian, and bicycle …

The specter of omicron, already hitting hard across the Northeast and down the Atlantic seaboard to Florida, led senior Michigan officials to hold a press briefing Tuesday morning. Included was Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who spoke on the virus in an official capacity for the first time since June. Recently appointed …

Could the covid-19 pandemic be an opportunity? Michigan Tech University students are taking of advantage of an opportunity to learn. Kinesiology Professor and MTU Covid Town Hall host, Steven Elmer challenged students in that field to create a resource hub from trusted sources. The project benefited people on and off …

Lots of kids in Girl and Boy land across the Copper Country could be forgiven if they thought they had been transported to Toyland this past weekend. The Marine Corps League – Keweenaw Detachment made its annual gift distribution tied to the Toys for Tots program. Jim Mattson says this …

The United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development Program is investing millions in the area’s sewer infrastructure. Announced last Thursday, there are four projects across the Upper Peninsula, including in Houghton and Ontonagon County. Torch Lake Sewer Authority is receiving $3 million. Assistance for Carp Lake Sewer Authority totals about …