6/03/2026

GOGEBIC COUNTY / U.P. - Opposition to a major forest clearing project in the Western U.P. including in the Eastern part of Gogebic County has been taken to the next level.  The Environmental Law & Policy Center (ELPC) has just joined with five partner organizations in a coalition to file an objection to the U.S. Forest Service’s Silver Branch Vegetation Management Project.  These partners are Environment Michigan, the Michigan Environmental Council, the Michigan League of Conservation Voters, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and the Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition. The project would clear-cut parts of a nearly 200-square-mile section of the Ottawa National Forest.  The USDA Forest Service says the project aims to increase the forest’s resilience to wildfire, insect outbreaks, and extreme weather to protect nearby communities and natural resources.  The plan includes forest thinning efforts spanning 58,000 acres. No lawsuits have been filed yet, however coalition members say they are ‘seriously considering legal action if changes to the plan are not made.

6/03/2026

IRONWOOD - GCC Construction Technology students have built a custom 280-square-foot tiny home as a capstone project and have put it up for auction. The home features a sleeping loft, full bathroom, modern kitchen, utility storage, and energy-efficient construction, including wired utilities, spray-foam insulation, a metal roof, and high-quality wood finishes throughout. The public can tour the tiny home during an open house on Thursday, the 4th, from 3–5 p.m. at the GCC Ironwood Campus. Sealed bids are due by June 29, 2026, with a minimum bid of $40,000. Interested buyers can submit bids to Gogebic Community College or contact GCC for more information.

6/03/2026

MANITOWISH WATERS - The Manitowish Waters Historical Society in Vilas County recently located and documented the original foundations of two fire watch towers, built in 1912 and the early 1930s. The towers once stood above the Northwoods to watch & warn communities of fire danger. Original maps helped pinpoint the towers’ locations near County Highways H and K in Boulder Junction. Historian Jim Bokern and his team measured and GPS-marked the sites to help protect them from damage in cooperation with state archaeologists and the DNR. The society hopes to preserve these sites for education and appreciation while discouraging artifact theft, which threatens the region’s history and heritage.