5/29/2025

ASHLAND COUNTY - A Mellen woman caught trying to smuggle drugs into the Ashland County Jail has entered into a plea agreement with the court. Nicole Schutte, 39, pleaded no contest to a charge of delivering drugs to an inmate, a Class I felony. She was also charged with possession with intent to deliver schedule five drugs, but that charge was dismissed and read into court records. Judge Stella sentenced Schutte to addiction assessment and treatment as part of her plea deal. With the deal, Schutte avoids a three-year prison sentence and 18-month post release supervision.

5/29/2025

IRONWOOD - Preparations for the Gogebic County Fair are underway, and since a carnival midway wasn’t available for this year’s festivities, other options have had to be considered. The Friends of the Fair have purchased an inflatable for the kids to play on. The cost of renting each year or owning one outright was about the same, so the board voted at its May 8th meeting to approve the purchase. The Friends is also planning to reach out to local event committees to inquire about borrowing their bounce houses. Other entertainment options being considered are bingo, a dunk tank, horseshoe and volleyball tournaments. The fair board also learned at that meeting that electrical line upgrades for the fairground are getting underway.

5/29/2025

IRONWOOD - The Tuesday meeting of the Ironwood City Commission had to be moved from council chambers to the auditorium of the Memorial Building, to accommodate the more than 75 people wanting to express their opinions.  During the meeting’s public comment session, most attendees expressed interest in either the city declaring June as Pride Diversity and Inclusivity Celebration Month and thereby authorizing the Rainbow Pride flag to be flown in the Downtown City Square throughout the month, which has been approved and allowed for about 6 years or on A belief that commissioners might declare Ironwood as a sanctuary city in relation to LGBTQ+ individuals and illegal immigrants which evolved from a meeting on May 12, during which a member of the community suggested that the commissioners look into and consider declaring Ironwood as a sanctuary city.  Public comments in favor of the Pride declaration outweighed those against it by nearly two to one.  Public comment relating to Ironwood becoming a sanctuary most in attendance, were against it, with some suggesting that sort of decision should be made by the voters not the city.  As of now, the city Commission members are saying they have no plans to declare Ironwood a sanctuary city.