IronwoodInfo News Magazine

Watering Down Profits

Ironwood - June 9, 2009 Peter Tacconelli owner of Tacconelli's Restaurant appeared before the city commissioners Monday night to speak out against the ever rising water rates in Ironwood. While he has been able to reduce his water usage over the years his bills from the Noren government keep going up. Last night all the misrepresentations about our water rates were once again re-stated by those who fail to have a grip on the facts. One has to wonder does Noren really believe that he can fool "all of the people, all of the time. Ironwood's water rate are outrageous we all know it why doesn't the city just admit it. Mr. Tacconelli is experiencing just what the rest of Ironwood's population is experiencing. Higher cost's with diminishing returns. No Blue Print Plan is going to do anything for downtown Ironwood if the city is going to keep putting businesses out of business. Downtown Ironwood along with the rest of the city needs a "Green Print Plan" more than a Blue Print plan. The Hovey company's vice president Tim Hunnincut wrote the city of Ironwood complaining that Ironwood's water rates were three times higher than the rates charged at any of his other projects. As the city did with Hovey, the water department will work with Tacconelli to help reduce his water costs. Here's a novel idea.... why not work to the same end on behalf of all of the city's residents and businesses, or "Is This as Good as it Gets!"? The sad fact is that because of the inept city council everyone's water costs are about to take another giant leap once Hurley and the Township turn on their own water supplies. Like the rest of us, the Township and Hurley found the Noren water rates intolerable. The city has raised the water rates 21% in the past few years and yet once again, the people in attendance were fed the myth that our water rates are so low that we can't get Rural Development Grant Money. Really? If that were remotely truthful it would mean that no community in the state or the the entire nation would be eligible for the grant money. The UP has the highest water rates in the state. Gogebic and Ontonagon are near or at the highest rates in the UP. In fact, Ontonagon has one of the highest water rates in the nation and the city isn't that far behind. The only thing Ironwood needs more than lower water rates is a new city council.

Community School Class of 2009

Story and photos by Ken Jacobson

Bessemer - June 9, 2009

"Family & friends gathered together on a beautiful spring evening May 29th at the St. Sebastian School gymnasium for the 2009 Graduation Ceremony of the Gogebic County Community Schools Alternative Education and GED program.

Eight students received their high school diplomas from Ironwood Area School Board President, Steve Thomas and Ironwood Area School District Superintendent, James Rayner. In addition twenty one students received their G.E.D. Certificates.

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Local Boy Scout
Attains Hallowed Rank

Story and photo by Bruce Jendrusina

Bessemer - June 6, 2009

Local Boy Scout attains hallowed rank

Bessemer, Michigan - Along the way to Eagle, most Boy Scouts get distracted by fumes says Scoutmaster Bruce Jendusina. "Perfumes and car fumes."

For a young man to make it to Eagle is quite an accomplishment, "he said".
In the end, only about 3 percent make it there. Now, Ryan Gustafson is one of them.
Ryan Gustafson 17, formally attained the rank during an Eagle Court of Honor earlier this year.

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Bessemer Gets New Car Wash

Bessemer - June 6, 2009

No more excuses for driving around in a dirty car. Within a few days local residents will have a more of choice as to where they can wash their cars. Todd Meinke has just completed a brand new car wash on Highway 2 in Bessemer. The car wash is scheduled to have a test run Saturday, June 6th, with an official opening soon afterwards.

The carwash was built on a lot owned by Meinke on the 200 block of Lead Street.

The "Floor Plans" floor covering store, is also located on the property and is operated by Dave Osier.

Todd Meinke is the owner of Meinke Construction, Wakefield, Located in Wakefield, Michigan, Meinke Construction, Inc. custom builds residential and recreational homes and is located at 100 Commercial La., Wakefield. 906-224-1157

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4 person teams - scramble format
PUBLIC WELCOME TO PARTICIPATE!
PROCEEDS FROM THIS TOURNAMENT ARE USED TO FUND SCHOLARSHIPS FOR AREA YOUTH ENTERING THE LAW ENFORCEMENT FIELD

DATE:	SATURDAY, JUNE 13, 2009
TIME:	8:00 AM SHOTGUN START
PLACE:	GOGEBIC COUNTRY CLUB
ENTRY FEE:	$35/PERSON (Number of carts needed:____________________

WHEN A SOLDIER COMES HOME

by Simone Zatirka, Ontonagon MI

When a soldier comes home, he finds it hard....

..to listen to his son whine about being bored.

....to keep a straight face when people complain about potholes.

...to be tolerant of people who complain about the hassle of getting ready for work.

...to be understanding when a co-worker complains about a bad night's sleep.

..to be silent when people pray to God for a new car

...to control his panic when his wife tells him he needs to drive slower.

..to be compassionate when a businessman expresses a fear of flying.

....to keep from laughing when anxious parents say they're afraid to send their kids off to summer camp.

....to keep from ridiculing someone who complains about hot weather.

....to control his frustration when a colleague gripes about his coffee being cold

....to remain calm when his daughter complains about having to walk the dog.

...to be civil to people who complain about their jobs.

....to just walk away when someone says they only get two weeks of vacation a year

... to be forgiving when someone says how hard it is to have a new baby in the house.

The only thing harder than being a Soldier..

Is loving one.

UPPCO Schedules Saturday Service Interruption for
200 Ishpeming Customers

Houghton, MI – Upper Peninsula Power Company will interrupt electric service to about 200 Ishpeming customers for approximately two hours early Saturday morning, June 13. Power will be out from around 6:00 AM until about 8:00 for customers on White Bear Road, North Basin Drive, and County Road 510.

"These are the same customers affected by Tuesday’s emergency outage," said UPPCO Communications Manager Janet Wolfe. "On Tuesday, we made temporary repairs at the Hoist Substation to get our customers back in service as soon as possible. On Saturday morning, we’re going back to make permanent improvements and will upgrade equipment in the substation at the same time."

UPPCO reminds those who rely on electric alarm clocks to arrange for an alternate wake-up method.

"We apologize for any inconvenience this outage may cause," Wolfe said, "but the work must be done and it can’t be done safely with the equipment energized."

For More Information, Contact:

* Media Hotline
800-977-2250

* UPPCO Customer Service
800-562-7680

Power Restored to 200
UPPCO Ishpeming Customers

Houghton MI – June 9, 2009

Power was restored at 6:10 PM Tuesday to approximately 200 of UPPCO’s Ishpeming customers on White Bear Road, North Basin Drive, and County Road 510 who had been without electricity since 3:30 in the afternoon.

"We discovered that a high-voltage component had failed in our Hoist Substation but had not yet tripped the circuit," said Janet Wolfe. "By acting quickly, we were able to confine the damage to the immediate area and limit the service interruption to about 200 customers."

UPPCO was unable to say what caused the equipment problem. However, crews were able to restore service at 6:10 PM, over an hour ahead of the initial estimate of 7:30 PM.

"We appreciate our customers’ understanding," said Wolfe. "We prefer not to interrupt service without sufficient notice, but if we had waited, we believe many more would have been without power - and for a longer time."

UPPCO, MDEQ Satisfied
with Dead River Recovery Settlement

Houghton, MI – June 5, 2009

Officials of Upper Peninsula Power Company (UPPCO) said today that the company is pleased to reach a settlement with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) regarding Dead River Recovery activities caused by the release of Silver Lake in 2003.

UPPCO and MDEQ worked together over a long period to determine the best course of action on the Dead River following the May 2003 event.

"It's been a long road to reach this agreement for both organizations," said Shawn Puzen, Environmental Consultant for UPPCO, "but it was necessary and rewarding. We had the same ultimate result held firmly as a goal – recovery of the Dead River to the greatest extent possible."

UPPCO has voluntarily completed many projects, including natural stream recovery projects, along the river and would have continued to do so, absent the settlement.

"However, deadlines for action were approaching and there is no way UPPCO could complete all the necessary work before then," Puzen said, "Therefore UPPCO and MDEQ needed to reach this agreement to resolve any outstanding issues."

The agreement, which is available as a matter of public record, delineates the remaining work to be completed by UPPCO. Although the majority of the work will be completed by end of 2010, monitoring activities could continue for up to 15 more years.

Scouts Take to the Sky

Story by Bruce Jendusina

Ironwood - June 4, 2009

This past weekend the Boy Scouts of Troop 337 of Ontonagon, Marinesco, Wakefield, Bessemer, and Ironwood along with their families were treated to a day at the Gogebic Iron County Airport.

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Polar Bear: I come in peace

Submitted by: Ken Jacobson, June 8, 2009

Norbert Rosing's striking images of a wild polar bear coming upon
tethered sled dogs in the wilds of Canada's Hudson Bay.

The photographer was sure that he was going to see the end of his dogs when the polar bear wandered in.

It's hard to believe that this polar bear only needed to hug someone!

The Polar Bear returned every night that week to play with the dogs.

May you
always have love to share,

Health to spare,

And friends that care

Iron County Michigan Public Notice

UPPCO Schedules Service Interruption for All Iron County Customers Upper Peninsula Power Company (UPPCO) will interrupt service to all UPPCO Iron County customers in the predawn hours of Thursday, June 11. Power will be off for about two hours, from approximately 2:00 AM until about 4:00 AM, while UPPCO completes an upgrade at the Lincoln Avenue Substation. “This is the second and final phase of the substation upgrade, which will significantly improve system reliability," said Scott Roehl, Customer Service Coordinator. "The work can't be done safely with the substation energized, so we timed the outage for the middle of the night in the hope of causing the least inconvenience to our customers.” UPPCO reminds customers who rely on electric alarm clocks to arrange for another wake-up method. "We realize that even scheduled outages are inconvenient, but this substation upgrade may prevent a longer, unexpected outage in the future," Roehl concluded.

Tribal gaming brings in $4.4B
in region that includes Wisconsin

Washington, D.C. - June 3, 2009

Tribal gaming generated $4.4 billion dollars in 2008 in the region that includes Wisconsin, the chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission said Wednesday.

Phil Hogencq, chairman of the regulatory agency that tracks tribal gaming, spoke at the annual conference of the North American Gaming Regulators Association in Washington D.C. that was broadcast by satellite to Green Bay.

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Pit Stop upsets Bank Club
in Jack-N-Jill Tourney

Norrie - June 1, 2009

The Bank Club was the odds on favorite in this year's OCF Relay For Life Jack-N-Jill softball tournament. Having won the same tournament three years running they were "the team" to beat. In what was definitely not a pitching duel the Bank Club slugged it out in a very close game with the Pit Stop at Jake Randa Memorial Field. This year the tourney would have a new champion the Pit Stop team. The final score Pit Stop 23-22 over the reigning champs the Bank Club. Dillon Smith was largely responsible for the upset with two homers. He also touched all three bases and home plate in another at bat.

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Smurfit-Stone Employees
Return to Work

Story and photo by Linda Graham

Ontonagon May 28, 2009

The parking lot at the Smurfit-Stone plant in Ontonagon is showing signs of life once again. The first of the 130 laid off workers returned to work Tuesday.The # 2 paper machine start-up will occur on June 5th, and the # 1 paper machine will start up on June 12th.

The 130 of the 200 mill employees were laid off at the Smurfit-Stone facility since last November.

The employee recall began just as unemployment benefits were to expire. It was a cautiously happy atmosphere in Ontonagon this week.

Township Firefighters Unveil Newest Acquisition

Ironwood Township - May 28, 2009 At Tuesday's township meeting Ironwood Township Firefighters unveiled their newest acquisition. Received as donation the volunteers have completely refurbished the '88 Chevy which will be used to fight field fires inaccessible to large firefighting equipment. The truck had its first real run last week when it was used to extinguish a fire on Vanderhagen Rd. Chief Jamie Peite announced at the meeting that the Ironwood Township Volunteer Firemen will be hosting a "Father's Day Steak Dinner" The fundraiser to be held on June 20th will raise money for the new SCBA's. (Self Contained Breathing Apparatus)

Joe Karius Globe employee asked to address the Township Board. We all thought that he was there to explain what's become of Eric Sharp. Instead, he explained his interpretation of the Open Meetings Act. Filephoto above Karius at D.I.D.A. meeting. Courtecy of the Superior Chronicle.