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Degenaer gets backing of fair board for position in split vote

IRON MOUNTAIN — Part-time staffing to support Dickinson County Fair operations will be on the agenda for new county commissioners in 2025 after the fair board voted 6-5 Monday to recommend John Degenaer Jr. for a vacant secretary-office manager position. The fair board’s action came during a special meeting that was called after the current county board was unable to reach a decision Thursday on creating a fair manager position that would be in addition to the secretary’s post. With about 50 people in attendance, the fair board voted by secret ballot during a chaotic hour-long ...

Warning: Stay off the ice

HOUGHTON — The Bootjack Fire Department is cautioning the public to stay off the ice on Torch Lake, due to unseasonably warm weather and thin ice. Fire Chief Dan Sarazin that in many places, the ice is two inches in thickness or less, and in areas where currents flow beneath the ice, the ...

DNR has options for reusing Christmas trees

MARQUETTE — Each year, Michiganders purchase millions of live Christmas trees. When the holidays are over, though, many people wonder if there are beneficial uses for their trees rather than sending them to a landfill. The answer is yes — there are many ways that your old Christmas trees can keep on giving as habitat, but it’s important to think carefully about the best way to do so. Christmas trees for fish? People often ask the Michigan Department of Natural Resources whether their Christmas trees would make good habitat for fish. This is a great question, as many of ...

Dickinson budget up 5.3 percent for ‘25

By JIM ANDERSON Iron Mountain Daily News IRON MOUNTAIN — Health insurance rates are up 18% collectively for active employees and retirees as Dickinson County prepares to hold a public hearing on a 2025 general fund budget that is up 5.3% from 2024. In a budget memo, Controller Brian Bousley said general fund property tax revenues are also projected to be up 5.3%. The tax rate to support the budget remains at 6.1323 mills, or $6.13 per $1,000 of taxable value. The hearing is set for 6 p.m. today during the county board’s regular meeting in the circuit courtroom of the ...

Bay College receives large grant

ESCANABA — Bay College has announced that it has been awarded a $1 million College Success Go Big Grant by the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential. This funding will enable Bay College to enhance student completion rates, expand Credit for Prior Learning and Competency-Based Education (opportunities, strengthen career services, and advance Guided Pathways — an approach designed to help students navigate their educational journey with greater clarity and support The MiLEAP College Success Go Big Grant is part of Michigan’s Sixty by 30 statewide ...

Sale of Hancock bus garage on hold

HANCOCK — The Dec. 16 deadline set by Hancock Public Schools for accepting requests of purchasing its bus garage has been tabled temporarily at the request of the city of Hancock. The city had expressed interest in purchasing the parcel. Earlier this month, the city ...