8/6/2024

GOGEBIC COUNTY / UP — Today Michigan voters head to the polls.  Voters will decide candidates on each side of the aisle that will face off in November for a highly competitive open Senate seat and several U.S. House seats. Democrat Elissa Slotkin and Republican Mike Rogers are the heavy favorites to secure their parties' nominations but each face underdog challengers. The candidates are vying for a seat left open by longtime Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow's retirement. Two U.S. House seats that were left open by the departures of their Democratic incumbents will also have primaries on Tuesday. Down-ballot races are holding primaries across the state on Tuesday. Control of the state House of Representatives will be at stake in November, with all 110 seats up for election.  Locally in the first congressional district Jack Bergman is being challenged by Josh Saul on the Republican ticket while Callie Barr and Bob Lorinser on running on the democrat side.  For the state Legislature 110th district Gregory Markkanen is being challenged by Kim Corcoran of Ironwood.  For Gogebic County Sheriff Jorge H. Cruz is running against Gabe Justinak.  Five millage proposals are on the ballot today.  The Proposal to renew the Senior Citizens Programs Millage, Emergency Medical Service Renewal/Restoration, 911 Operation Renewal Surcharge, The Gogebic County Transit Proposal, and the Pat O’Donnell Civic Center millage renewal all on the ballot.  Polls are open until 8:00 local time tonight. 

8/6/2024

ST. GERMAIN - The Vilas County Sheriff’s Office says a Lac du Flambeau man was killed in a crash on August 1.  Police say Travis Maki of Lac Du Flambeau was traveling east on Highway 70 near St. Germain when he went through an intersection at a high rate of speed, hit a large boulder causing his vehicle to roll several times. Maki was alone and was thrown out of the vehicle.  Maki was flown to Aspirus Hospital in Wausau where he was pronounced dead.

8/6/2024

N. WISCONSIN - The Wisconsin D.N.R. released their official forecast for the upcoming deer hunting season yesterday. D.N.R. deer program specialist Jeff Pritzl says with this past winter being an especially mild one, it looks like deer sightings will trend upwards.  He says the conditions for fawn production will be much more favorable this year than in 2023, which should lead to herd growth and more deer sightings overall.  A hot button topic after last year’s season was the impact that predators – such as bears and wolves – had on the harvest. Pritzl says the D.N.R. remains powerless to act until wolves are removed from the endangered species list by the federally run U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.  Iron and Ashland Counties will not be issuing any antlerless permits for this season. Pritzl noted that the consistent snowfall in both counties is mainly the reason why.