Local News

HANCOCK — The fraternity responsible for hosting the Polar Bear Dive during Heikinpäivä has opted to cancel the dive for this year. “We’ve decided that with the extreme cold weather that’s forecasted, along with the wind chill, that it’d be best if we didn’t have the dive this year,” said …

Calumet Township is the recipient of over $1 million in grant money to enhance infrastructure.  A total of 11 cities, towns, and villages statewide were granted funds from the Community Development Block Grant Program. “Many communities in the U.P. have been effected by the crippling weather conditions that have taken …

The Flood With Love initiative from the Portage Health Foundation is winding down after expending nearly $2 million in flood relief following last year’s flood over Father’s Day weekend. Executive Director Kevin Store said out of nearly 500 applications for help, they are down to only nine projects that carried …

If you want to have a reindeer herd in the Upper Peninsula, you need a reindeer expert. Antti Pätsi , a reindeer herder from Finland, is joining the folks from the Finnish Theme Committee this weekend for the annual Heikinpäivä celebration. He will be giving a presentation on Saturday called …

Fans coming to watch the Finlandia Lions men’s hockey team battle for a playoff spot Friday night at the Houghton County Arena have more reasons than just a great game to come out and cheer on the home team. It’s Fan Appreciation Night and Coach Joe Burcar says there will …

Heikki Lunta has arrived just in time to take part in tomorrow’s Heikinpäivä celebration.  The big day features a parade, a tori, and festivities on the Quincy Green. Temperatures will hover in the low single digits and the wind chill will make it feel like it’s minus 30.  Since this …

Michigan Technological University and the City of Negaunee, Michigan, are collaborating on a pilot study to determine if abandoned mines can be profitably converted into utility-scale batteries, storing “green” energy for consumers on the electrical grid. Researchers hope the study, funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, will demonstrate a …

Live reindeer will be returning to the Copper Country for this Saturday’s Heikinpäivä celebration after a multi-year hiatus. Dave Maki from the Finnish American Reporter says reindeer are a big deal at this year’s festival.  “We thought for it being the 20th anniversary of the festival, we’d try to do …

HANCOCK — The Heikinpäivä Hymn Sing, slated for 2 p.m. on Sunday, January 27 at Zion Lutheran Church in Hancock, will be a great way to stay warm both inside and out, as a cadre of talented performers has been assembled to provide a top-notch wrap up to the festival …

IRONWOOD —Gogebic Community College is working on creating a new five-year plan, what officials are calling a “Strategic Agenda,” which they hope will help guide the internal and external operations of the college.  They’re also looking for feedback from the community. A survey will ask respondents to first identify their …