PROGRESS 2011
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PROGRESS 2011
GOCAA Head Start
Serving Gogebic and Ontonagon Counties Services from Pregnancy to Age 5 Leading Provider of Early Care and Education in the Community GOCAA Head Start participated in a federal triennial review in March 2010 and was fully compliant with the Head Start Program Performance Standards, laws, regulations, and policy requirements. The on-site reviewers stated our ´FROODERUDWLRQV LQ DQ economically depressed rural community were a strength. The program operations were conducted through a relationship-based culture with two local school districts, health care providers, and community organizations.¾ Health Early identification of health problems is critical to the well-being of the child. We actively recruit children with disabilities and participate with local service providers that serve children with disabilities. All Head Start children and Early Head Start families have continuous, accessible dental and medical care.
THE DAILY GLOBE Locations: Gogebic County Head Start Ontonagon Area School 304 East Iron Street 701 Parker Avenue Bessemer, MI 49911 Ontonagon, MI 49953 906-663-4302 X10 906-884-4433 X124 Ewen-Trout Creek School 14312 Airport Road Ewen, MI 49925 906-988-2436 Mission Statement ~ Enhance lives through education and community partnerships Philosophy Statement ~ Nurture the child within the family and the family within the community Value Statement ~ Growing with helping hands
Assessment and Screening The Devereaux Early Childhood Assessment (DECA) is completed on every Head Start child. This enables us to accurately identify social and emotional issues and provide the necessary services and referrals as needed. Within 45 days of enrollment, all children participate in a developmental screening; the standardized screening tool, Developmental Indicators for the Assessment of Learning, third edition (DIAL 3), is used. If special services are needed, Head Start staff, parents and GOISD staff meet to write a formal Individualized Education Program. GOISD staff provides specialized services in Head Start classrooms when needed. Child Services Consultants A school psychologist and a private practitioner provide mental health services, as well as a PhD, RD who provides dietary consultations.
Education The early childhood field has changed dramatically. New research has improved our understanding of school readiness. In addition, almost every state now has early learning standards. The Creative Curriculum is used as our foundation to ensure school readiness. Our program is designed to meet the individual needs for developing self-confidence, feelings of self worth, curiosity and self-GLVFLSOLQH DQG WKXV ZLOO HQKDQFH WKH FKLOG¡V intellectual and physical development. &KLOGUHQ¡V learning is centered on 37 specific objectives and dimensions, which focus on the 11 domains of the Head Start Child Development and Early Learning Framework: Promoting Positive Outcomes in Early Childhood Programs Serving Children 3-5 Years Old: Physical Development & Health, Social & Emotional Development, Approaches to Learning, Language Development, Literacy Knowledge & Skills, Mathematics Knowledge & Skills, Science Knowledge & Skills, Creative Arts Expression, Logic & Reasoning, Social Studies Knowledge & Skills, and English Language Development. InforPDWLRQ RQ FKLOGUHQ¡V SURJUHVV LV obtained from multiple sources, including teacher observations, anal\VLV RI FKLOGUHQ¡V ZRUN VDPSOHV DQG performance, parent reports and direct assessment of children. We have established a memo of agreement with elementary schools and others to ensure smooth transitions.
Family Engagement Family Service Workers identify family needs based on a Strengths and Needs Assessment. Goals are set during the Individual Family Partnership Agreement process, with a focus on solving crisis situations. Arrangements are made for appropriate family support through trainings, parent meetings and by connecting families to appropriate community agencies. The parent activity fund provides parents the opportunity and experience in planning, developing and implementing their own projects. Parents are involved in active decision making through parent meetings and the Head Start Policy Council. Early Head Start For pregnant women and children age birth to three, Early Head Start is our home-based program. Home visitors conduct 48 home visits and 24 socializations during a 52-week period. Group activities or socializations offer meaningful experiences to strengthen the parent-child relationship. EHS offers a place for parents to share the complexities of parenting. Early Head Start children are screened using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) & DECA I/T, with a schedule that coincides with the state Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) guidelines. Partners for a Healthy Baby is the foundation for the Early Head Start Curriculum. By Jacalyn Delich GOCAA Head Start Director
PROGRESS 2011 G 3
THE DAILY GLOBE
Entrepreneurship grows in Marenisco By JON HAWLEY jhawley@yourdailyglobe.com
MARENISCO — The Wild River Cafe and Gifts building, at 318 Fair Ave. in Marenisco, packs a lot of entrepreneurship under one roof. The building is home to Donna Wilcox’s laundromat, currently open, and her restaurant, which she said is undergoing its last inspection and should be open in about a week. The restaurant will also include a gift shop. On top of Wilcox’s endeavors, the building also hosts the office of Zach Mahler and his newly opened Marenisco Drafting and Design, which offers residential and commercial architectural services. This eclectic collection of services follows a fire last May which greatly damaged Wilcox’s former Wild River Cafe building. Marenisco police chief Bruce Mahler, Zach’s father, said that building will be turned into a library. Now nestled in the slightly larger building across the street, Wilcox and her family, including her daughter, Emily Boyle, and her husband, Randy Boyle, have been working to get these disparate enterprises up and running. Wilcox said her husband had cut and installed the new wood paneling on the building, and her daughter has helped her with jobs large and small in getting
Jon Hawley/Daily Globe
Emily Boyle, left, laughs with co-workers as she finishes washing a window at Wild River Cafe in Marenisco. The daughter of Donna Wilcox, Boyle co-owns the restaurant, soon to open, with her mother and father. Wilcox and her family also own and operate a laundromat and will open a gift shop as well. They share the building with Zach Mahler, owner of the newly opened Marenisco Drafting and Design. the interior up and running. The now-open laundromat section features new triple-load washers, which Wilcox said conserve floor space while preserving capacity. She also hopes to soon offer dry cleaning services. For her gift shop, Wilcox is collecting an inventory of “all locally made, hand-
crafted things,” and hopes to hit the ground running with various Valentine’s Day-themed items. With her restaurant, she hopes to resume offering a menu including homemade ethnic foods and baked-fromscratch items, including desserts. “The plan is to go as we were last
Providing Gogebic County Safe, Friendly, On-Time Service For Over 30 Years.
year, seven days a week,” Wilcox said. Focusing on breakfast and lunch dishes, Wilcox said the restaurant will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. every day, except for Friday evenings, when Wild River will offer fried fish until 8 p.m. As Wilcox juggles her various businesses, she and Zach Mahler will help each other. Mahler, who received a degree in computer-aided design from Gogebic Community College, is opening his own business after having worked in Iron River, where he designed several houses that were built. While he said his focus will be on architectural design, he said he can also work on tool design. Mahler said he was looking forward to the opportunity, and challenge, of owning his own business. Having worked in restaurants, Mahler said he can help in Wild River’s kitchen if Wilcox became very busy or shortstaffed. Wilcox said she would help Mahler with organization and taking on all the little challenges of getting a business up and running. If all goes well, Wild River Cafe could soon be a one-stop shop for all one’s dining/handicraft/laundry/design needs.
Milltown Heritage Days set for July Special to The Daily Globe
The “Little Blue Bus” operates 6 wheel chair, lift equipped, radio dispatched, air-conditioned, diesel, 16 passenger buses. We are also a Full Service INDIAN TRAILS AGENCY and BUS STOP with Daily Routes
Go BLUE to SAVE GREEN GOGEBIC COUNTY TRANSIT 235 E. McLeod Ave., Ironwood
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MARENISCO — Plans for the second annual Marenisco Milltown Heritage Days are well under way, according to Heritage Days Chairman Bruce Mahler. “Last summer, our community decided to celebrate our logging and lumbering heritage,” said Mahler. He pointed out at one time Marenisco was the center of the lumber industry in Gogebic County. Bonifas Lumber Company and then the Kimberly-Clark Corporation employed hundreds of people from all across the Gogebic Range at their lumber and paper mills in the town of Marenisco. “Lumbering is still a vital part of the economy in our township,” said Mahler. “It’s who we were and who we are. It’s our identity,” he added. Last year’s celebration included heritage displays,
lumberjack competitions, Marenisco’s Strongest Man Contest, a flea market and farmers market, a street dance, classic car show, town picnic and pig roast, along with two concerts by the Stadtkapelle Wertingen Jugendorcherster, a world renown German youth orchestra. This year’s celebration is even more ambitious. Marenisco Milltown Heritage Days 2011 will run from Friday night, July 22, through Sunday night, July 24. Festivities kick off Friday night with a street dance from 8 p.m. until midnight in Donald McKenzie Memorial Park. Saturday morning will lead off with a township breakfast at the Marenisco Senior Center, provided by the Marenisco Senior Meals and Wild River Café. (See MARENISCO — Page 3)
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THE DAILY GLOBE
GRWA continues projects I USDA Rural Development grants, loans aid water line work By JON HAWLEY jhawley@yourdailyglobe.com
Jon Hawley/Daily Globe
Jean Verbos, administrator for the Gogebic Range Water Authority, stands in front of a map showing various infrastructure upgrades the GRWA has made throughout Gogebic County. The water system improvements represent millions of dollars invested in the county over the last decade. 2011 will build on the work with new water lines serving Ironwood and Bessemer townships. The projects are financed through a combination of U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development loans and grants.
BESSEMER — Further water system upgrades from the Gogebic Range Water Authority are in the pipeline this year for Ironwood and Bessemer townships. According to GRWA director Jean Verbos, the authority is building on prior years’ work with a project currently under review from the Michigan Department of Transportation and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment. This work would build new water mains which will connect 68 Ironwood Township customers still receiving water from the city of Ironwood to the GRWA system. These customers are on East Margaret Street, north of U.S. 2. The project would also replace water
MARENISCO (Continued from Page 4) A flea market and farmers market will run all day, on both Saturday and Sunday, in Donald McKenzie park. Lumbering and mill displays will continue all day. Lumberjack competitions will begin at noon, followed by the Marenisco Strongest Man Contest at 2 p.m. A Classic Car Show will run throughout the afternoon and a town picnic and pig roast will start at the town pavilion at 4 p.m. At 5 p.m., a new part of the weekend’s activities will debut, the Marenisco Music Festival. “We had such a great time last year with the kids from Germany, they were great kids and fantastic musicians. I’m still hearing from people who couldn’t believe how good they were and couldn’t believe that we got them to come to Marenisco,” said Mahler. “So we decided we were going to do it every year and build upon it every year.” According to Mahler, with this in mind, they have tentatively scheduled, through the “Blue Lake Fine Arts Center,” the “Jugendblasorchester” wind ensemble from Stassfurt,
Germany, another renowned German youth orchestra. The Jugendblasorchester is scheduled to play two concerts in the Donald McKenzie park, one on Saturday night and the other on Sunday night at the conclusion of the festival. It is only one of the highlights of the music festival, however. Organizers are planning on the following: —Performances by the Gogebic Range Band and possibly Marty’s Goldenaires prior to the Jugendblasorchester concert on Saturday night. —On Sunday, beginning at noon, a local high school band competition is planned. All high school bands within a 60mile radius of Marenisco are invited to come and compete for a cash prize. “We anticipate, over the next few months, on raising enough funds to provide for a $1,000 cash prize to be paid to the music program of the winning school,” said Mahler. “Depending on how much money we raise, we may be able to add a second and third place cash prize,” he added. Competition will be on Sunday afternoon in the park. Local dignitaries and music
professionals are being invited to act as judges — they will include the musical directors of the Jugendblasorchester. “We want to make Marenisco, and this festival, the premier summer event for classical and contemporary orchestral pieces by our local high school bands,” Mahler said. “We hope to see you the weekend of July 22-24 to join us in celebrating our heritage and for some of the best orchestral music you’ll hear all summer,” he said.
mains and build a new pump station at Indianhead Mountain in Wakefield. Verbos said the existing pipes, many of which are old, small and worn out, are a decades-old “hodge-podge” of water lines that aren’t up to state standards. The project’s overall cost is $8,658,000, which includes a U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development grant, provided through federal stimulus funds, for $3,552,000 and a loan for $5,106,000. This loan will also refinance a USDA loan of roughly $2.8 million that paid for work done in 2003. Until state review is completed, the bidding process cannot begin, nor can construction permits be issued. Another project, slated for later this year, is currently in
Caring For Your Family ...Like Our Family
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planning stages, Verbos said. This project would link Ironwood Township and the western portion of Bessemer Township to the city of Wakefield’s Chicago Mine well, allowing its residents access to cheaper water. Verbos said the work would require a new pump station for Chicago Mine and would install a new water line running through Bessemer. The work would also offer back-up water for the entire GRWA system, in case of emergencies, Verbos said. Total cost of the project is $11,405,000, also financed through stimulus funding from the USDA. It involves a $7,917,000 loan, which includes refinancing of various projects completed over the past several years. It also offers a $3,488,000 grant.
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E4946 Jackson Road Ironwood, MI 49938 www.gogebic.edu
PROGRESS 2011 G 5
THE DAILY GLOBE
County to improve Little Girl’s Point By RALPH ANSAMI ransami@yourdailyglobe.com
LITTLE GIRL’S POINT — Gogebic County officials are awaiting final recommendations on the future of the boat landing at Little Girl’s Point on Lake Superior, but for next summer, it appears not much will change. An open house by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment in August at Gogebic Community College was followed by a public hearing in Bessemer. At both meetings, there was strong support for keeping Oman’s Creek open to small boats with continued dredging. Gogebic County Forestry and Parks Director Jim Maki said on Jan. 31 that it appears as if it will be “business as usual” at Oman’s Creek. He said no additional meetings had been scheduled and he hadn’t been contacted about any planned changes at the creek. A study prepared for state of Michigan officials recommended the Oman’s Creek boating facility at Little Girl’s Point be closed to bigger boats and maintained as a carry-in site for canoes and small crafts only. The study was prepared for the state budget office and
Department of Natural Resources and Environment by the consulting firm of Northwest Design Group, of Petoskey. Boaters Jim disputed Maki parts of the study, mainly a few paragraphs that indicated the Oman’s Creek site north of Ironwood is being maintained for an average of only five boat users per weekday. They said that total is too low. Ironwood area fishermen who troll for trout and salmon from Oman’s Creek trailer their boats from home, as there are no permanent docking facilities at the Point. The creek must be dredged frequently, as the mouth often blows shut from storms and Lake Superior’s wave action. Of seven options outlined in the study, ending dredging would mean the DNRE would continue to maintain a smaller parking lot and toilet buildings for carry-in of canoes, kayaks and light boats only. That option would eliminate the need for dredging, and no
Ralph Ansami/Daily Globe
Then Gogebic County Sheriff Larry Sanders, left, was among a large crowd of people who attended a public hearing on the Oman’s Creek boat landing at Little Girl’s Point on Aug. 18. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment is studying options to keep the creek open to recreational boaters. heavy equipment would have to be stored next to the creek. The MDNRE has a permit from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to dredge the creek.
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According to the study, the MDNRE estimates the dredging takes two employees an average of 30 hours per week to keep the creek open in the summer. Another part of the study says that if the creek were to be maintained as it has been for the past several years, $34,500 would be needed for minor construction work. It also says dredging of about 11,260 cubic yards of sediments from the mouth of the creek would cost about $148,300 annually, figures that have been disputed by boaters. Including the cost of disposing of dredging material, the study estimates the cost of annual maintenance for keeping the creek open to boaters at $200,000. Other options considered in the study that were debated at the meeting with the MDNRE in Bessemer include maintaining existing conditions, building jetties and groins (shore protection structures) or constructing a shore-connected breakwater. Construction of a shore protection structure east of the mouth of the stream, along with a revetment on private property on the west side of the creek, would cost nearly $1 million, according to the study. Also, periodic dredging would still need to be continued, as
the stream mouth wouldn’t be protected from lake currents from the west. Constructing two jetties extending into the lake would cost an estimated $1,413,350. A shore-connected breakwater would carry a price-tag of around $1,647,500. It would also provide no protection from currents from the west. A jetty and shore-connected breakwater would cost more than $2 million and an option of moving the boat launch to the beach with a jetty and breakwater is pegged at $2,191,100, with dredging costs of $60,000 every five years.
WATER
GRANT OBTAINED
While options are being considered for keeping the Oman’s Creek boat landing open, the county has received a separate grant to develop a water source at the park at Little Girl’s Point. The $235,500 grant will come through the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund and it may be used to dig a well that would supply water for the park and nearby Extension camp. The county received official notification of the grant in December and the project at the Point will be handled by Maki. He has taken over from Richard Bolen, who retired at the end of 2010.
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THE DAILY GLOBE
Next Generation Initiative sees positives outcomes By WILL ANDRESEN Iron County UW-Extension Community Resource Development Agent
The Gogebic Range Next Generation Initiative’s efforts to attract and retain young people have resulted in several positive community development outcomes. The most visible project was the 2010 launching of a website entitled the “Beautiful Northwoods Adventure” at felivelife.com which is promoting the community as a great place to live and work. The website has received several thousand visits from across the country and has led to numerous employment and tourism inquiries. The site is being promoted to the target market of young people living outside of the area through the distribution of 6,000 “Fe” bumper stickers and through a very popular Facebook page. Another project was the development of a mapped plan for a regional trail connecting all five cities on the Gogebic Range, from Montreal to Wakefield. To date, every single municipality along the proposed route had adopted a resolution of support for the trail system, plus numerous other community groups. Efforts are currently under way to acquire the railroad grade that will be necessary to
make this p r o j e c t become a reality. A third project was offering service-learning opportunities and naturephotography Will classes to Andresen local high school and college students to help them better appreciate the many assets of the community to encourage them to stay in the community or return some day to raise their own families. Finally, a new social and networking group was formed to encourage young adults to stay in the community. The “Go-In Forward” group provides monthly social opportunities and seasonal events throughout the year. According to a survey conducted in 2010, 87 percent of program participants said they are more likely to stay in the community as a result of this networking group, 80 percent said they feel more “at home” and 60 percent said they met new friends. Over 100 community residents have been involved in the Gogebic Range Next Generation Initiative. The Next Generation Initiative is finding early success. Ninety-seven percent
of participants agree that the initiative has a positive impact on the community, 88 percent said they have a better understanding of how to create a community that is more attractive to young people and 79 percent said that their perceptions of the community have improved. According to participants of the Gogebic Range Next Generation Initiative: “I believe the more we concentrate on the positive assets of the area, the more we will convince our young people to stay,” “It is good to have facts to back up my assertion that we live in the best place on earth!” and, “There is much optimism and forward momentum streaming through our communities!” Editor’s note: For more information on the Gogebic Range Next Generation Initiative, contact Andresen, Community Resource Development Agent with Iron County UWExtension, at 715-561-2695.
GOISD/Paulette Niemi
Radiology technology student intern Samantha Pertile, a senior at Luther L. Wright High School, works in the radiology department at Aspirus Grand View Hospital as part of the contracting program coordinated by the Gogebic-Ontonagon Intermediate School District. Pertile spends part of her regular school day learning about radiology under the supervision of Andrea Touminen, radiology technician. Pertile has learned how to position patients for x-rays, run films and rotate and position the x-ray images in the computer for proper viewing. She has observed several ER trauma cases, a hip anthrogram, an abdominal CT scan, and has learned a lot about human anatomy and medical terminology. After graduation, Pertile plans to attend Northern Michigan University in Marquette to study in the radiology technician program.
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PROGRESS 2011 G 7
THE DAILY GLOBE
Copper Peak offers ‘awesome’ vista By CHARLES SUPERCYNSKI President, Copper Peak Inc.
The Copper Peak Adventure Ride is one of the most unique, iconic attractions in the Western Upper Peninsula and the Midwest. Last summer the Peak enjoyed its busiest season ever with a 26 percent increase in visitors to the hill. They came in record numbers throughout the season, but one Saturday during the fall color season some 275 persons came to experience the most awesome, inspiring vista in the Midwest. It was a record-setting day. But this is only part of the story. Nearly every day of the year, visitors come to Copper Peak to simply express their awe at the world’s largest ski jumping structure, the 26story steel ski slide. It stands tall atop the 360-foot hill, with Lake Superior and the Ottawa National Forest as backdrops. It is estimated over the course of a year, 16,000 visitors go out of their way 10 miles down Black River Road, a National Scenic Byway, to visit Copper Peak. The impact on the economy is profound. The 36-story chair-lift ride to the top of the hill and the 18-story elevator ride to the main observation deck atop the giant structure can be both a challenging and exhilarating experience. Some visitors like to take the eight-story stairwell hike to the very top, where one can see forever. On a clear day, this can be across 85 miles of Lake Superior to the North Shore of Minnesota and Canada. One word describes the journey: Awesome. The Adventure Ride opens for the season usually around mid-June. The facility is open
David Sim/Daily Globe
The view from the top of the Copper Peak ski flying hill is what athletes see, although no competition has taken place since 1994. A representative from the International Ski Federation inspected the hill and listed recommendations for necessary improvements before jumping can resume. five days a week, Wednesdays through Sundays, to Labor Day. After Labor Day, Copper Peak goes on a weekend schedule until all the leaves are down in the fall, usually about mid-October. Operating hours
are 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, call 906932-3500, or visit our website at copperpeak.org. The Copper Peak board is actively engaged in numerous projects to restore ski flying.
Some of the projects include constructing snow-making capability, building the safety fence along the landing slope and redesigning the start gate area. The projects to improve and
enhance this unique attraction are numerous. Anyone interested in helping to restore this important scenic and historic site is asked to contact any Copper Peak board member.
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THE DAILY GLOBE PROGRESS EDITION
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THE DAILY GLOBE PROGRESS EDITION
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EQUIPMENT & TRUCK SALES
DAN and DEANNA MAKI
Business 906-229-5063 Home 906-663-6281
2-1/2 Years...
17 Years...
MOTOR COACH TRAVEL
Open to the Public • Take Outs Available
221 East Arch St., Ironwood, MI
One Block South of U.S. 2 On Country Club Rd., Ironwood, MI
(906)932-5455
24 Years...
201 N. Douglas Blvd. Ironwood, Michigan 49938
400 South Lowell Street Ironwood, MI
E-Z Way Tours Years...
932-9902
5540 Airport Rd. (906)932-1497
20 Years... 205 Harrison Street Ironwood, MI 49938
906-932-4070
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FREE ESTIMATES Jim Impola, Owner
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Karen B. Mallum, DVM
Frame Straightening, Insurance Work, Body & Fender Repair, Expert Refinishing, Glass Replacement, Plastic Welding
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14 Years... Lake Road Veterinary Clinic
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300 E. Cloverland Dr. Ironwood, MI 49938 800-932-1202 or 906-932-1202 Email: info@cloverlandrentals.com Website: cloverlandrentals.com
Licensed in Michigan and Wisconsin
MOTEL
BODY
Motors & Rentals
Sales, Service, Parts, Rentals
Telephone (906) 932-4010 Fax (906) 932-1508 deanandpope@sbcglobal.net
t Auto Parts
0210
23 Years... Cloverland
Chris Lahti, owner
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Federico
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Family Restaurant • Homemade Specials Every Day • American & Italian Dishes • Homemade Hand-Dipped Fish Fry Friday • Homemade Pizza Food So good, you’ll think we stole your Mama! ~Take Outs Available~ 106 E. Cloverland Dr., Ironwood, MI
Phone 932-3742
CLOSED MONDAYS
906-932-0555
Easy to Find! Off US-2 127 Luxmore St. Ironwood, MI 932-2600 364-4680 Owner, Vicky Templer
*Full Service Grooming *Self Service Dog Wash *Nail Clipping *Pet ID Tags and More!
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Lake Gogebic: Four seasons of fun By MARGARET LEVRA mlevra@yourdailyglobe.com
LAKE GOGEBIC — “Come and enjoy all that Lake Gogebic has to offer. We’re looking forward to seeing you,” said Carolyn Maves, media secretary for the Lake Gogebic Area Chamber of Commerce. “Welcome to beautiful Lake Gogebic, a four-season vacation gem,” Maves said. “Winters in the Lake Gogebic area are wondrous, summers are spectacular, and the fall colors are fantastic.”
ATTRACTIONS Lake Gogebic lies in Ontonagon and Gogebic counties and is the largest inland lake in the Upper Peninsula and second largest in the state. Lake Gogebic offers over 13,000 acres of prime fishing for walleyes, smallmouth bass, jumbo perch and pike, with 36 miles of shoreline. The Lake Gogebic area has long been known for the wide variety of attractions and activities it has to offer, including snowmobiling, fishing, hunting, skiing, biking, hiking, sightseeing, historic sites and camping.
LODGING/EATING Lake Gogebic has something for everyone in the lodging department, everything from cabins to motels to private homes and campgrounds are available right on the lake. Visitors also have a choice of eating establishments — all are family friendly and casual. You can find boats for rent and there are fishing guides to take you out if you want to get really serious about catching some fish, Maves said.
FISHING TOURNAMENTS The Lake Gogebic Area Chamber of Commerce sponsors two catch-and-release walleye tournaments each year, one over the first weekend following the walleye opening on May 15 and another on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday following Labor Day, Maves said. Thousands of dollars in prizes are awarded during these two tournaments. The chamber has also added a new tournament over the past few years, aimed at promoting fishing as a family experience. The “Angler, Young Angler Tournament” has proven to be a big success already with lots of father/son/daughter teams entering not only for the grand
Submitted photo
Lake Gogebic lends itself well to snowmobiling. This unidentified snowmobiler enjoys maneuvering his sled around the lake. prize of a boat and motor, but also the chance to spend some quality time together by getting in some top-notch fishing. The next AYA tournament is scheduled for June 1. The chamber also sponsors a monthly “Rod & Reel Contest” from May 15 through Sept. 15. Each month, new rods and reels are presented to fishermen who have turned in the largest walleye, perch, bass or northern.
A LITTLE BIT
OF
HISTORY
Lake Gogebic was not always the great walleye fishery that it is today. In the late 1880s the lake was known as one of the best black bass lakes in the country. Anglers came from all the major population centers by rail to Gogebic Station, five miles south of the lake. There they boarded a stagecoach for the bumpy ride to the Gogebic Hotel and Cottages, now known as White City or The Whitehouse. The last stagecoach robbery east of the Mississippi River was in Gogebic County on the road from Gogebic Station on Aug. 26, 1889. The robber escaped but was captured five days later. This area is known today as “Stagecoach Road” which runs straight south of the lake to U.S. 2. Gogebic County, which covers the bottom half of the lake,
is Michigan’s western gateway, Maves said. There are 1,200 miles of rivers and streams, over 300 lakes, and acres of woods and wilderness. It offers thrills for anglers, fun for swimmers and boating enthusiasts, quiet adventures for canoeists, excitement for the hunter and enchanting scenery accented by over 50 waterfalls. The Ottawa National Forest covers a vast majority of Ontonagon County, which spans the northern half of Lake Gogebic. The Ottawa encompasses over 1 million acres, including three wilderness areas, in four counties. It is a multi-use forest, with most areas open to the public.
months, the Lake Gogebic area offers snowmobilers much. The trails vary from railroad grades to winding, wooded trails to spectacular vistas and challenging rides. “By making Lake Gogebic your hub, you can branch out in different directions every day and not use the same trails twice,” Maves said. Gogebic Area Grooming manages the trail system and is responsible for keeping the trails open and in excellent condition, Maves said. Three groomers run continuously through the winter months over approximately 150 miles of trails.
WILDLIFE SNOWMOBILING With up to 300 inches of snowfall during the winter
Wildlife can be spotted easily in the forests and around the lake.
“Different species are more visible at different times of the year, but if you are patient you will be richly rewarded,” Maves said. There are plenty of black bear, but they are usually shy. Whitetail deer sightings are very common, and there is an occasional moose in the area, she said. There are gray wolves, coyotes, fisher, bobcats and even a few cougars roaming the forests and hills. Otters can be seen playing and fishing around the shoreline or near the mouths of the rivers and streams. The east shore of Lake Gogebic has one of the oldest nesting areas for bald eagles. Game birds have been experiencing an upswing, as greater numbers of ruffed grouse and woodcock have been seen in recent years. Ducks of all kinds nest on the lake, as do loons, cranes and blue herons. In recent years, families of wild turkeys have become a more common sight in the area, Maves said. Lake Gogebic has much to offer bird watchers, with finch, jays, grosbeaks, chickadees, nuthatches, woodpeckers, sparrows, bluebirds, kingfishers, plenty of hummingbirds and many other species. For additional information about the area, visit the Lake Gogebic Area Chamber of Commerce’s website at LakeGogebicArea.com.
1 Mile West of Watersmeet, Michigan On U.S. Hwy.2
906-358-4766 Open Daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
CROSS COUNTRY SKI CENTER * 24 KM of “TIDD-TECH” GROOMED TRAILS FOR THE CLASSICAL SKIER
Modular & Manufactured Homes Larry Miskovich Cell 906-285-0950
Veronica Miskovich Cell 906-285-0953
Highway U.S. 2 • Bessemer, MI • Phone: 906-663-4415 Website: www.springcreekhomesmi.com
(3 Km of Skijoring Trails) Connects to an Additional 32K of Ungroomed Ski Trails In the Sylvania Wilderness 5 Km of Skijoring and Snowshoeing
* SKI SHOP & SKI RENTALS
Canoe Trips (1/2 day, full day and more)
Through the Sylvania Area and on the Ontonagon River Canoe and Kayak Rentals & Supplies Area and Lake Maps
SylvaniaOutfitters.com
PROGRESS 2011 G 11
THE DAILY GLOBE
Watersmeet Township tackles many infrastructure projects By JON HAWLEY jhawley@yourdailyglobe.com
WATERSMEET — Infrastructure upgrades highlighted last year in Watersmeet Township, and will likely highlight this year, as well. According to Watersmeet Township Supervisor Frank Kuchevar, a new water main and wastewater lift station were installed last October to improve and expand service for the Radcliff tribal subdivision. The project was funded through a U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development grant, with a local match from the Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians. This project followed other work completed in the summer. Kuchevar said a resurfacing of U.S. 45, from the state line to the border of Ontonagon County, was completed in August. Kuchevar said the project was financed through the U.S. Department of Transportation, and was a project funded through federal stimulus spending. Transportation of information was improved as well last year. Kuchevar said the U.P. Telephone Company laid fiberoptic cables throughout the county. For the coming year, Kuchevar said
Watersmeet can look forward to more than $600,000 in expansion of the Agonikak trail system. Mostly funded through the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Trust Fund, Kuchevar said the work, slated to begin around May, has drawn in all levels of government. “It’s a unique project because it’s the first time the state, township and U.S. government were involved in a recreation project,” Kuchevar said. He explained that the U.S. Forest Service, along with the non-profit group Wilderness Lake Trails, are planning the construction, which will be broken into three regional phases. The work will extend trails throughout the region, many in the Sylvania Wilderness portion of the Ottawa National Forest and stretching as far as Land o’ Lakes, Wis. In addition to this work, Kuchevar said Watersmeet residents can expect the Invasive Species Control Coalition of Watersmeet to tackle the water milfoil plant, which Kuchevar said threatens navigation in Bass Lake. Kuchevar said the coalition is seeking funding to study the plant.
GOCAA provides many services By CAROLYNNE CARLSON Gogebic-Ontonagon Community Action Agency
These are very trying times. There is no easy answer to solving our local, state and national budget problems. Gogebic-Ontonagon Community Action is first and foremost an agency that responds to the trials and tribulations of people needing help. Our commitment to do the best we can to help those in need does not come without a price-tag. GOCAA partners with many businesses and organizations to support our goal to alleviate the causes and conditions of poverty. Many people attach the word “poverty” to Third World nations. For some, it’s hard to imagine there is poverty in America. Even those who qualify as being labeled financially “poor” have a hard time equating to the word “poverty.” Those in America who manage to get out of “poverty” seldom look back. Nationwide, as an organization, we’ve been at it since 1965 and poverty is still alive. Unlike the nation’s budget, there is an endless supply of “replacement” parts to assure us that poverty will be a part of our nation long after we are gone, whether or not we as a nation think we should or should not help our fellow man.
GOCAA REACHES OUT
TO
HELP
In 2010, your Community Action served 1,406 unduplicated families who qualified for our programs that require a means test. This does not include our senior programs that do not require a means test where income does not have to be declared in order to receive a service. The most visible program in that category is our senior nutrition program where almost 1,900 individuals participated throughout our two county service area. Of those 1,406 families that did go through a means test, 991 of them lived with incomes below 130 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. This means if you were a family of four, your annual income was less than $28,665. Community Action knows that people who have limited means also have difficulty accessing help, especially if they live in outlying areas. For that reason the agency has over
20 access points or satellite sites throughout the two-county area. This could never be done without the myriad of agreements and cooperation we have with other organizations and businesses which allows us to use these access points or satellite sites, most at a nominal cost. Our volunteer component logs thousands of hours each year and the agency and communities are indebted to their generosity of time that so many contribute to our programs throughout the year.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES In all of the surveys we have conducted over the past decade, creating employment opportunities was without question the number one priority for those who responded. Following a final strategic planning session in February 2010, coupled with our own survey results and documents already in place concerning economic development, the Community Action Governing Board authorized the agency to move into a new area of responsibility: Community Development. To provide the seed funds the board authorized the submission of a discretionary application to begin our community development office. Matching funds were required and over a series of meetings the agency was successful in securing the necessary matching funds from several townships and cities to help this application move forward. In August 2010, the agency was awarded the $20,000 in discretionary funds and activities began to build this office. On Jan. 10, 2011, the agency filled the community development position. We have since formed a Charter Advisory Council comprised of township supervisors and city managers and county board members. Our goal is to look for new businesses to locate here and help existing businesses stay here and help to create employment opportunities for the Gogebic and Ontonagon county areas.
OUTREACH
STAFF KEY
Most people who access help from Community Action first meet with the agency’s gate(See GOCAA — Page 13)
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How to Identify the Signs and Symptoms of Substance Abuse Because a person doesn't have to drink or use drugs every day to have a problem, it's often difficult to recognize signs and symptoms of substance abuse. This checklist of common substance abuse signs can help you determine if a friend or family member is having a problem and if an intervention for rehab is needed. You may find it useful to share these signs of substance abuse with your congregation in your church bulletins and newsletters. Please remember that if a person shows any of the following signs or symptoms it does not necessarily mean that they have a substance abuse problem. The presence of some of these symptoms could relate to stress, depression or other problems.
Apostolic Lutheran Church Services Sunday Morning - Sunday School 9:30am Worship 10:45 am Wednesday Night - Bible Study 7:00pm Pastor Bruce Estola 932-3465
326 W. Aurora, Ironwood
Wesley United Methodist Church 500 East McLeod Ironwood, MI 49938 Ironwoodwesleyumc.org 932-3900 iwumc@charter.net
Welcomes You Sunday Service 11:00 a.m.
To find a local meeting please check the 8-day calendar in The Daily Globe or log on to any of the following websites: yourdailyglobe.com www.aa.org www.na.org
Welcoming people into the family of Jesus Christ: growing together in our faith journey, witnessing to God’s blessing, serving Christ and glorifying His name.
OUR LADY OF PEACE CATHOLIC CHURCH Father Darryl Pepin, Pastor
ALL SAINTS CATHOLIC ACADEMY Mrs. Betty Perkis & Teachers
Trinity Lutheran Church Precious Angels Child Care Trinity Lutheran Preschool “Bo” Baumeister, Pastor Corner of Lake Rd. & Margaret St., Ironwood Church ~ (906)932-3022 Child Care/Preschool ~ (906)932-3080 Join Us For Worship
• • • • • •
Personal Symptoms Deteriorating personal hygiene Multiple physical complaints Accidents Personality and behavioral changes Many prescriptions for self and family Frequent emotional crisis
Home and Family Signs • Behavior excused by family and friends • Drinking activities are a priority • Arguments/violent outbursts • Sexual problems • Extramarital affairs • Withdrawal from family • Neglect of children • Abnormal, anti-social actions of children • Separation or divorce • Unexplained absences from home Medical and Physical Symptoms • Observable decline in physical health • Weight changes • Pupils either dilated or constricted; face flushed/bloated • Emergency-room treatments such as overdose, unexplained injuries, migraine headaches, auto accidents • Claims of having been "mugged" but without witnesses • Inability to focus and track in a conversation • Shakiness, tremors of hands • Slurred speech • Unsteady gait • Constant runny nose • Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
• • • • • •
Signs Observed by Friends and Community Personal isolation Embarrassing behavior Driving while intoxicated Legal problems Neglect of social commitments Unpredictable behavior such as inappropriate spending
Episcopal Church of Transfiguration
First Presbyterian Church
336 E. Aurora Street•Ironwood, MI 49938
205 4th Ave. S. ~ Hurley, WI
10:00 am Sundays
Saxon-Gurney Community Church
Area 51 Youth Group Tuesdays - 7:00-9:00 p.m. Christian Kids Club Wednesdays - 3:30-5:00 p.m.
Physical and Behavioral Signs and Symptoms of Substance Abuse Checklist
St. Mary’s Catholic Church 404 Iron Street ~ Hurley, WI (715) 561-2606
The Range Community Bible Church 610 US Hwy 51 South, Hurley (715)561-4355 www.rangebible.org Pastor Dr. Neal Schroeter Sunday School 9:00 a.m. Worship 10:00 a.m.
Saxon, WI Donald L. Nickolson, Pastor 9:30 am- Hurley & 11:00 am Saxon Sunday School 9:30 am Hurley
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Pastor Bobby Oberg 11:00 am Sunday
309 2nd Ave. North, Hurley, WI 54534 At the Intersection of Poplar St. & Hwy 51
(715)561-3242 “Jesus’ sheep listen to his voice; He knows them, and they follow him.” John 10:27
Christ Lutheran Parish (906) 932-2538 • ST. JOHN LUTHERAN CHURCH • SALEM LUTHERAN CHURCH • ST. PAUL LUTHERAN CHURCH • ZION EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH
PROGRESS 2011 G 13
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GOCAA
(Continued from Page 11)
keepers: our Outreach staff.
LOW-INCOME FAMILY BENEFITS
GOISD/Paulette Niemi
Student intern Lynnea Laessig assists registered nurse Julie Orlich in cleaning the operating room after surgery as part of Laessig’s internship in the outpatient surgery department at Aspirus Grand View Hospital. A senior at Wakefield-Marenisco High School, Laessig is participating in the contracting program coordinated by the Gogebic-Ontonagon Intermediate School District. She is working and learning under the supervision of Amanda Pisco, Perioperative Services Manager. Laessig has learned the basic functions of organs and common diseases. She has observed numerous outpatient surgeries, including a colon resection, removal of gall bladder, cataract removal and lens transplant. She also has observed procedures such as colonoscopies and IV insertion. Laessig assists with preparing the pre-surgery bay for patients and helps patients in the recovery room after surgery. Laessig plans to attend Gogebic Community College next fall to study nursing. After earning her licensed practical nursing degree at GCC, she plans to transfer to the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay to pursue a bachelor’s degree in nursing.
Each year GOCAA employs one position to help low-income households do their federal and state taxes, along with federal and state tax credits. These credits can either reduce taxable income and lower taxes or provide a refund, even if no tax is owed. These credits provide significant financial resources to low-income families. The federal tax credits are the Earned Income Credit, Dependent Child Care Credit and the Child Tax Credit, among others, including the home heating and property tax credit. The Earned Income credit supplements the earned income of lower income individuals and families. The federal credit can be a maximum of $3,050 for a single worker raising one child, up to $5,666 for a married worker raising three or more children. Individual workers without children can qualify for a smaller amount. The credit phases out as income increases. GOCAA provides this service to low-income households free of charge. All taxes are efiled and the turn-around time to receive your tax returns or tax credit checks is eight to 15 days.
care and education and other essentials in life, the quality of their current lives would be in jeopardy and the foundation of their futures would be weaker.
HELPING
THE
HOMELESSNESS
Presently we have 52 active accounts in our homeless prevention program and we have provided financial and rapid rehousing to 30 homeless individuals/families. These services include short/mid-term leasing assistance, rental arrearages, security deposits and utility payments and arrearages. The HPRP program provides a mix of non-financial services and other financial subsidies.
HOUSING PROGRAMS The agency’s homebuyer program in Ironwood has been able to make home ownership a reality for citizens who have long only dreamed about the day. Our help with down payment and closing costs opens the door to something that seemed impossible. Not only does it accomplish that, but because there is also a housing rehabilitation component within this program, we can help the new homeowner address some of the problems that need correction to bring the house up to code and in many cases put a new face on it.
INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNTS HEAD START
AI MOUNT
RT N RESO
nate Skiers & Local, Passio Powderhorn! Big Boarders buy
REGULAR SEASON LIFT TICKET RATES (save money when buying two or more consecutive days)
DAILY TICKET TYPE ADULT (ages 18-64) JUNIOR (ages 10-17) CHILD (ages 7-9) SENIOR (ages 65+)
1-Day $47 $39 $33 $33
2-Day $88 $72 $60 $60
3-Day $130 $104 $88 $88
4-Day $172 $136 $116 $116
Please Note: One FREE Child (9 & under) ticket with the purchase of a regular priced Adult ticket all season long! (Available only at the time of the Adult ticket purchase.) All children 6 & under ski FREE every day at Big Powderhorn Mountain.
Voted Best Downhill Terrain in 2010 by OnTheSnow.com 2 years in a row!
ENHANCES LIVES
Children are our future. The care and investment a community makes in the early childhood developmental years helps to build each child’s individual foundation. There are 132 children in our Head Start/Early Head Start Program. The program’s philosophy is to nurture the child within the family and the family within the community. At least 90 percent of those children live under 130 percent of the poverty guideline mentioned above. Many of them actually live way under that guideline. If there were not subsidies and donations for food and shelter and health
Individual Development Accounts are classified as a motivational program that encourages low-income families with children under the age of 18 to save for either home ownership or higher education costs. This program motivates the family by providing a three-toone match for home ownership and two-to-one match for higher education. Funding for the program is supported by foundations and other outside sources.
HOME
WEATHERIZATION
Weatherization has been helping make homes more energy-efficient in Gogebic and
BUYING! ! ! ! PRE-1964 SILVER COINS paying 18.20 x face value 1935 & OLDER SILVER DOLLARS paying $19.00 & up Also buying gold-jewelry, coins, teeth, silver-jewelry, bars, flatware subject to market fluctuations
Bessemer, MI 49911
U.P. COIN & CARD
906-932-4838
101 E. Mary St., Bessemer, Bessemer, MI
www.bigpowderhorn.net
Please Call: 906-663-4030
Ontonagon Counties for over 35 years. GOCAA has received almost 500 applications from both counties to date and has weatherized 219 homes with these funds since April 1, 2009. Five workers benefited from new employment and training opportunities and the program was able to secure the latest testing equipment and tools to better serve clients.
TREASURED SENIORS Seniors are a main focus for Community Action. So many of our seniors struggle on lower, fixed incomes and services are designed to support their needs to help them stay independent and in their homes as long as possible. The generosity of the electorate in both Gogebic and Ontonagon counties with millage support has helped us expand our repertoire of services that can include seniors of all socio-economic levels. CAA concentrates on inhome paraprofessional services — those non-medical kinds of things that are essential to safe, comfortable independent living. Personal care, homemaking, respite care, annual spring and/or fall cleaning, snow shoveling, mowing, yard work and small repairs are all needs seniors have, especially when family support is not available, which is so true for so many who have seen their families leave the area for work. Our commitment to seniors extends to doing their tax credits, helping them select a Medicare Part D provider, advocacy in areas that require more complicated intervention, escorting them to a medical appointment outside the area, and helping with unexpected emergencies. Our home-delivered meals program offers nutritionally balanced meals to our most vulnerable seniors still at home and gives some relief to care givers. Our Mill Street garden has offered seniors a new kind of senior dining experience, insuring a nutritionally balanced meal at an affordable price in surroundings that are convenient and welcoming.
CONTACT
INFORMATION
GOCAA’s main office in Gogebic County is at 100 S. Mill St. in Bessemer and can be reached by calling 906-6670283. In Ontonagon, the office is t 429 River St.; 906-8842106. The Ewen office is in the Masonic Lodge Building on M28; 906-988-3751.
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HOPE Animal Shelter facilitates adoptions By LARRY HOLCOMBE lholcombe@yourdailyglobe.com
IRONWOOD — Help Orphaned Pets Everywhere is dedicated to preventing suffering and cruelty to animals. The HOPE Animal Shelter has been in business since 1992. Volunteers are key to HOPE’s operation that handles 500 animals a year, according to director Randy Kirchhoff. He’s been director for five years, but was a volunteer for several years before that after moving here from the Chicago area. “We had over 3,500 hours of volunteer and community support last year,” said Kirchhoff. “They’re crucial to our operation with dog walking, cat socialization, staffing fundraisers, serving on the board and other things.” The facility has grown over the years and has a capacity for 24 dogs and 35 cats. The facility is a “no-kill” shelter, according to Kirchhoff. He said they only put animals down if they are a threat to the public or are needlessly suffering. Kirchhoff and a staff of four parttimers tend to the animals and facilitate adoptions. The basic prices are $75 for dogs and $50 for cats, although they do have sales on kittens and senior animals from time to time. HOPE first opened on Aurora Street and then moved to a trailer just north of the current facility on Easy Street in the Ironwood Industrial Park in 1994. In 1998, the voters of Gogebic County approved a millage which allowed the county to hire an animal control officer through the sheriff’s department and helped support the current 2,800-square-foot facility at 590 Easy Street, nearly doubling the size of the former trailer. The Gogebic County millage was renewed in 2002, 2006 and 2010.
Larry Holcombe/Daily Globe
Lexy, left, is one of nearly three dozen cats up for adoption at the HOPE Animal Shelter in Ironwood. At right, HOPE director Randy Kirchhoff takes Peggy Sue out for a walk. HOPE also receives municipal funds from Iron County (Wis.) from dog licenses and other monies, according Kirchhoff. The municipal funds make up 40 percent of the shelter’s funding. Kirchhoff said HOPE works closely with all the local law enforcement agencies. The other 60 percent of HOPE’s income comes from fundraising and pet adoption fees. The current fundraiser is the eighth annual Valen-
tine’s Day raffle. “It’s our biggest fundraiser of the year,” said Kirchhoff. Continued fundraisers have allowed the shelter to expand the kennels, put a roof on, fence a 2,000square-foot dog park, and add air conditioning and other improvements. “The next thing we’d like to do is pave the parking lot,” said Kirchhoff. For more information about HOPE, visitmyhopeanimalshelter.org or call 906-932-1511.
MSU experimental station acquires a new moniker EAST LANSING — Michigan State University’s Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station has changed its name to MSU AgBioResearch. The decision was not made lightly, MSU AgBioResearch officials said. Since its creation in 1888, the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station has had a proud history of contributing significantly to the world of agriculture, as well as ensuring the wise use of natural and community resources and enhancing the quality of life in Michigan, the nation and the world. MSU serves Gogebic County and other Upper Peninsula counties through its Extension
educational programming. Bill Cook, U.P. Extension forester, has an office located at the MSU U.P. Tree Improvement Center near Escanaba. The center is the headquarters for three MSU Forestry properties in the U.P., with a combined area of about 8,000 acres. The new name for MSU’s ag station was selected following a year-long process that included discussions with both internal and external partners. “I am very pleased with the outcome of this naming process,” said AgBioResearch director Steve Pueppke. “Our new name, along with the tagline ‘leading innovation in
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715-561-5590
6400 Odanah Rd. Hurley, WI 54534
food, natural resources and energy,’ better conveys the breadth and relevance of the work we do, while remaining true to our land-grant mission in support of Michigan agriculture.” AgBioResearch is committed to turning new discoveries into practical, real-world solutions that generate economic prosperity, sustain natural resources and enhance the quality of life for all. There are nearly 400 scientists at MSU who are part of the AgBioResearch network. They work in six MSU colleges: Agriculture and Natural Resources, Communication Arts and Sciences, Engineering, Natural Science, Social Science
and Veterinary Medicine. In addition to agricultural production research, AgBioResearch scientists are investigating topics that range from alternative energy and biofuel production to childhood obesity, community development, environmental stewardship and food safety and security. AgBioResearch is vital to Michigan’s agriculture industry, according to Jeffrey Armstrong, dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. “MSU AgBioReseach provides essential research and development leadership for Michigan’s growing agriculture industry,” he said. “The new
Hurley Area Tax Service Serving the Upper Michigan & Iron County Areas
715-561-9969
www.hurleytax.com
• Pay for your taxes when you get your refund • Pick up & delivery or come to our office • Over 5500 returns prepared since 1993 • Get your refund as soon as 9 days
name better communicates the important purpose it serves for state employers, communities and residents.” For more information, visit agbioresearch.msu.edu.
CULLIGAN OF ASHLAND 915 SUM ROAD ASHLAND, WI 54806 715-682-6585 CULLIGAN OF ASHLAND.COM
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THE DAILY GLOBE
Year of milestones for Little Blue Bus By DAVID SIM dsim@yourdailyglobe.com
IRONWOOD — It’s a year of milestones for the Little Blue Bus. Founded in 1981, this year marks the 30th year of the operation of the Gogebic County Transit System. Not only that, at an average of 32,000 riders a year, Jim Mildren, manager of the GCTS, estimates that the millionth rider will soon get on board. “That’s pretty good for Gogebic County,” he said. The seven-bus fleet covers an impressive 100,000 miles and 10,000 gallons of gas a year — all of those miles and passengers with never having had an at-fault accident. “We’ve given all of these people a ride and been safe,” Mildren said. One of the biggest benefits of bus transit for a population that is getting older is the ability to keep people in their homes longer. “If you’re elderly and you live in Gogebic County in the wintertime, you have to have your sidewalk shoveled, you have to have driveways shoveled and it’s hard to get around,” he said. “We’ve been able to give people rides and help them go and do what they need to do.” He said they’ve had riders who have been taking the bus for 30 years. “As our community ages, we can help people live in their homes,” he said. “Even after that, we can help them
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Jim Mildren, manager of the Gogebic County Transit System, stands next to one of their buses on Monday morning on McLeod Avenue in Ironwood. have a fun life. “Our philosophy here is that we would rather work harder and give more service,” he said. “We do things that sometimes other people wouldn’t do, because we like the people in Gogebic County.” The system provides service to all of Gogebic County, with 14 routes every day traveling through Bessemer and around the area. Every Thursday and Friday, buses travel to Watersmeet and Marenisco, and bring riders there back to Ironwood to shop for a couple hours. On Friday, Ironwood riders are brought to
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Watersmeet, while the buses do local routes for riders who need to shop, pay their bills or go to the doctor’s office. An average ride for a student or senior costs $1.25 one way. “That’s pretty much something that anyone can afford,” said Mildren. The buses cost about $66,000 each, and Mildren says they have been successful at purchasing a new one every year. The buses are handicapaccessible, and have low steps and handrails to make is as easy as possible to get on and off. They also serve as aid for emergency assistance. When a situation occurs, the transit system is put on standby to help evacuate people through an 800mhZ radio system. “The state police, the county sheriff, the emergengy government people can call us directly and we can be there,” Mildren said. Mildren said when the gas line was severed on Lake Road in Ironwood last year, five buses were dispatched to Trinity Lutheran Day Care and within five minutes all of the children were evacuated.
Over the past year, the system has constructed new passenger shelters through federal stimulus funding. Shelters were constructed in Ironwood, Bessemer, Marenisco and Watersmeet. Mildren said that one was not constructed in Wakefield because “people love meeting us in the Holiday Gas Station. “The shelters are huge for us,” he said. “We have a passenger in one of those shelters every day protecting them from the wind, rain and snow. It’s another way for us to help the people.” Mildren said because of the rising cost of gasoline, the bus can help people save money. But even those who continue to drive help to give back. Mildren said that for every dollar spent by the transit system, 50 cents are taxes that come back to the area. “With the prices going up again, we give people an alternative to the automobile,” he said. “We want to take care of all the people, not just one segment of the population.” For more information about the Gogebic Country Transit System, call 906-932-2523.
DEAN & POPE, P.C. Attorneys at Law Woodlands Professional Building 204 North Harrison Street Ironwood, Michigan 49938-1798 Telephone (906) 932-4010 Fax (906) 932-1508 deanandpope@sbcglobal.net TIMOTHY M. DEAN
MICHAEL K. POPE
Licensed in Michigan and Wisconsin
DOVE offers shelter in community IRONWOOD — Domestic Violence Escape Inc. offers several services to those in need in the community, including emergency shelter, counseling and a 24-hour crisis line. In the 2009-10 fiscal year, DOVE provided 459 shelter nights to 336 women, 113 children and 10 men. The organization answered 685 crisis calls and facilitated 1,922 adult counseling hours. DOVE’s crisis line number is 800-711-6744 or 906-9320310. The National Network to End Domestic Violence recently released survey results about domestic violence services in all 50 states. In one 24-hour period, 2,737 victims of domestic violence and their children across Michigan received services from local domestic violence organizations. “We applaud the efforts of all of the organizations and advocates in Michigan,” said Mary Keefe, executive director of MCADSV. “In light of the increase in need and reductions in available funds and job opportunities for survivors, the importance of their daily efforts is immeasurable.” Though the economy does not cause domestic violence, factors associated with economic uncertainties can increase the severity and frequency of abuse. At the same time, options for survivors to escape can be more limited. More than 80 percent of local domestic violence programs reported an increased demand for their services while nearly the same number reported decreases in funding. Each year, NNEDV conducts a 24-hour survey of local domestic violence programs. On Sept. 15, 2010, domestic violence programs nationwide provided services to more than 70,000 adults and children in one day alone. Other national data include: •More than 929 crisis hotline calls answered every hour. •More than 9,500 requests for services went unmet, mostly due to funding shortfalls. •More than 30,000 individuals attended 1,240 training sessions provided by local domestic violence programs to help prevent violence and intervene early in cases of abuse.
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THE DAILY GLOBE
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