Local News

Hancock assessor Laura Erhart had a lot of positive news to share during the City Council meeting Wednesday night. Eighteen new building permits were issued in 2020 that were counted on the rolls in the most recent report leading to a little over $600,000 in additional taxable value. When taking …

A 35-acre wildfire broke out in Sands Township Tuesday, near Goose Lake. Overnight rain help officials get the “Gravel Pit Fire” contained, but the Keweenaw missed most of that precipitation. Only a half inch is expected in total between today and Sunday, not enough to offset the warm, windy conditions …

The fate of the Labor Day walk on the Mackinac Bridge is still up in the air. After the event was called off in 2020, the Bridge Authority is balancing uncertainty around what state guidelines will allow for the early September tradition against the high cost for planning and hosting …

The recent spell of dry weather provided the perfect opportunity for Career and Technical Education students to gain some valuable real-world experience. Armed with everything from jackhammers to wheelbarrows, a group from the Copper Country Intermediate School District was tasked with breaking up the deteriorating sidewalk in front of their …

At Tuesday’s parking deck subcommittee meeting, the group discussed what their final recommendation will look like. At previous gatherings there had been a hesitancy to be too comprehensive, and include cost analysis. The direction the panel is going now looks to be a more complete course of action, which would …

As Memorial Day inches closer, several area businesses are privately expressing worries about being able to find staffing for the busy summer season. Keweenaw Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Brad Barnett says the topic is not the first priority for companies in their conversations, but it is coming up. …

The various League of Women Voters chapters in the Upper Peninsula hosted attorney Mark Brewer last week to discuss county level redistricting. A special commission is formed consisting of the county treasurer, clerk, and prosecuting attorney, as well as the heads of the local Republican and Democratic Parties. Vice chairs …

The City of Houghton is taking applications for a new member of its Board of Review until 4:00 PM on June 2nd. The body plays an important role in settling disputes between the assessor and property owners. Clerk Ann Vollrath says most of the time commitment for the position occurs …

Classical music makes its return to the Western Upper Peninsula in June, including a stop on the 19th at the Rozsa Center on Michigan Tech’s campus. The Pine Mountain Music Festival will also host shows in Marquette and Crystal Falls at historic venues, before preparing a 30th anniversary concert to …

Monday evening’s Houghton-Portage Township Board of Education meeting dealt with several serious topics sandwiched around the return of the feel-good presentations of the CCASB Awards. Several parents and city residents made their voices heard on a local newspaper article detailing a group of recent graduates now pushing for Critical Race …