News

There’s a new way for students to communicate on the playground at Barkell Elementary School. A large CORE board was unveiled Friday. The CORE board features visual depictions of commonly used words and phrases. It’s a way for students and staff to communicate – especially students who have learning disabilities, …

Incumbents ruled the day at Saturday’s Keweenaw Bay Indian Community primary election. In the Baraga District, Tribal Council member Doreen Blaker led the field with 142 votes. Fellow council member Robert D. “R.D.” Curtis, Jr. had 74. They’ll be joined on the general election ballot by Sue Ellen “Suzie” Elmblad, …

It’s not just individual health that’s at risk, as the COVID-19 rate in the western Upper Peninsula continues to climb. While rates were low a few months ago, Mainstreet Calumet director Leah Polzien was happy to see brisk summer tourism business… “We did have lower numbers this summer with the …

Michigan’s COVID-19 rate continues to climb. The current seven-day rolling diagnoses average stands at 2,623 per day. One of every 11 tests given is producing a positive result. The increase is statewide, but the worst outbreak continues to be in the Upper Peninsula, particularly in counties near the Wisconsin border. …

Ontonagon County has recorded its first COVID-19-related death. The Western Upper Peninsula Health Department tells us the elderly victim was an in-patient at an Upper Peninsula hospital. It is the 26th death in the five-county region since the pandemic began.

The Baraga Area School District will move exclusively to online instruction beginning Monday. In a statement released Friday, Superintendent Richard Sarau said the move had been recommended by the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department. It has been brought about by the recent spike of Covid-19 cases in the community, along …

From the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department: Ontonagon County, MI – The Western Upper Peninsula Health Department (WUPHD) has identified the Citizens State Bank of Ontonagon, located at 501 E River Street, Ontonagon, MI, as a potential exposure site for COVID-19. Dates of possible exposure run October 16 through October …

Despite advice to the contrary from the Centers for Disease Control, trick-or-treating is expected to happen across the Copper Country tomorrow. While not endorsing the tradition this year, local governments have set their usual trick-or-treating hours for those who choose to participate. In alphabetical order… • Baraga: 4:00 until 7:00 • …

Gray wolves are no longer under federal endangered species protection. The Trump Administration delisted them yesterday. That turns wolf management over to state officials. Wolves nearly disappeared from Michigan, but federal protection helped them make a comeback over the past 30 years. The current population in the U.P. is estimated …

Four more western Upper Peninsula residents have died from COVID-19 and its complications. All four recent deaths occurred in Gogebic County. They are included in the Western U.P. Health Department’s most recent summary, which was released last evening. Since the previous report was released Monday night, 83 more confirmed positives …