5/8/2025

DULUTH - A Duluth man is in custody in connection with the search for an Oklahoma teenager.  The Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office in Oklahoma sought the public’s assistance as they searched for the 16-year-old girl who was last seen May 1 in a rural area in the state of Oklahoma.  They believed she was with a 33-year-old man in Duluth. Duluth police say she was located and taken to the hospital late Monday night.  The man is currently in the St. Louis County Jail in Duluth and is facing multiple pending charges, including kidnapping.  This is an active and ongoing investigation involving multiple agencies.

5/7/2025

WAKEFIELD TOWNSHIP - The Copperwood Mine Project is still waiting for funding to start a mine project in Gogebic County.  To help move the project forward Representative Greg Markkanen has sponsored a $50 million state grant request to develop infrastructure for the Copperwood Mine Project. The proposal is backed by Wakefield Township.  Back in December the House Appropriations Committee approved Highland Copper’s proposal for $50 million in state funding. Yet, the Canadian company’s submission still needs approval on the Senate side. However, Protect the Porkies Founder and township resident Tom Grotewohl claims the infrastructure would only benefit the mine, not the community and says County Road 519 is already an all-season road where people can visit the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park anytime. He adds that his organization will renew its efforts to educate lawmakers.  InvestUP CEO Marty Fittante says the money from the township’s proposal would be used to upgrade County Road 519 to a class A road which can sustain heavy mining traffic and will be used for energy and broadband upgrades. The Copperwood Project is fully permitted and has a projected life of about 11 years.

5/7/2025

VILAS COUNTY - The owner of Lakeland Disposal has applied and been granted a conditional use permit from Vilas County to build a solid waste transfer station in Arbor Vitae. Chad Metzger has planned for the facility of be on just over five acres on Justin Street, which is a private road that crosses Airport Road. During a meeting of the Vilas County Board, a public hearing was held on the matter and Metzger presented his plan for a 10,000 sq ft transfer area and 12,000 sq ft office, shop and tool bay. The new facility will have an area for residential dropoff, including trash recycling, electronic waste and there will be a special container for batteries. Metzer said waste will only remain at the transfer station for 24 hours and then will go on to a landfill. Opposition to the land fill was heard, and there were a number of those who said they were fine with a business like that. just not in the location its planned for. Those opposed, including the Towanda Lake Association have until the 31st to file an appeal.