5/19/2025

IRONWOOD - The state average for a gallon of regular unleaded gas jumped over the past week and are trending higher ahead of the upcoming Memorial Day weekend.  The state average is now at $3.18 per gallon according to AAA of Michigan’s latest report. That’s an increase of 12 cents from this time last week. Despite the increase, $3.18 is 38 cents less than this time last year, and the same as the current national average.  In Upper Michigan, the lowest average is in Houghton County at $2.96. The highest is in Ontonagon County at $3.27, Ironwood Prices at $3.13 a gallon as of this morning. 

5/19/2025

DEARBORN - AAA predicts nearly 1.3 million Michiganders will travel at least 50 miles from home over the Memorial Day period. That’s an increase of 37,000 compared to last year and the second highest on record.  Nationwide, AAA expects more than 45.1 million to travel between Thursday and Monday. That’s 1.4 million more domestic travelers than last year. It’ll also set a new Memorial Day weekend record, surpassing the previous record set back in 2005 with 44 million people. 

5/19/2025

VILAS COUNTY - Demolition of the former Killian Hospital/health care center on Highway 17 in Phelps has been underway, with site development to begin soon.

 Recommendations for the site include market-rate condominium/townhomes, retail space featuring grocery, hardware, and home goods, and a potential hotel. The recommendations, architectural renderings, and site plan need final approval from the Town of Phelps. Last month, the town of Phelps received a $24,900 grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation’s Thrive Rural Wisconsin Program to hire an architectural firm to develop renderings and a site plan for the site of the health care center, located on a 5.2 acre bluff overlooking North Twin Lake. The grant represents the second half of the $50,000 Thrive Rural Wisconsin Grant awarded to the Vilas County Economic Development Corporation for the project. Demolition is expected to be finished sometime in June.