County road commissioners show off one of three new plow trucks that county crews will be using this winter. The first to arrive is this 2013 Peterbilt. The $238,000 truck features a Monroe Equipment radius dump spreader, underbody scraper front plow and patrol wing. Road Commission crews have been preparing for winter snow plowing duties. Road commissioners are, from left, Dan Germic, Joe Sabol, Charles Battan, Carl Sholander and Ernie Schmidt.
By Mark Lewis
IRON COUNTY—A Bates Township landowner will retain rights to access his family camp by crossing a neighbor’s property after an Iron County Road Commission decision Nov. 13.

CASPIAN— A new public works department building may be in the cards for the city of Caspian, after a move by the City Commission at its Nov. 7 meeting.
GEI Consultants’ Mark Stoor was given the go-ahead to look further into the concept and bring a proposal back to the board. Although there is no grant money available, there is a possibility of what City Manager John Stokoski called “an incredibly low interest rate” on a Rural Development loan.

A vehicle driven by 21-year-old Kenton man rolled over in icy conditions north of Amasa on U.S. 141 on Nov. 13. (Sheriff’s Department photo)
CRYSTAL FALLS--Deputies from the Iron County Sheriff’s Office investigated a single vehicle rollover accident on U.S. 141 near the Net River in Hematite Township.

IRON COUNTY—A former Alpha village clerk is free on bond and scheduled for a Nov. 26 Circuit Court pretrial hearing on eight felony charges.
Nicholas John Rickman, 34, of Alpha faces three counts of forgery, three counts of uttering and publishing and one count each of embezzlement by a public official and embezzlement by a public official of tax monies, according to court documents.

Peg James of NorthStar Health Systems serves West Iron County third graders snacks from their school garden during a Harvest Celebration at the hospital’s cafeteria. The program was a collaboration between the hospital and the WIC schools.
IRON RIVER—A group of West Iron County students enjoyed the fruits of their labor Nov. 5 when they returned to NorthStar Health Systems for the first Harvest Celebration.

CRYSTAL FALLS— Cuts and increased efficiency were key to eliminating Crystal Falls’ $400,000 deficit in less time than projected, according to a report from Mayor Janet Hendrickson.

CRYSTAL FALLS—A former Alpha village clerk is free on bond and is scheduled for arraignment Nov. 13 on felony embezzlement charges.

IRON COUNTY—A long-time county commissioner and a long-time township supervisor were both Election Day night casualties when Iron County voters went to their polling places on Nov. 6.
In District 3 (Caspian and the south half of Iron River), Ray Coates, running as an independent, handily defeated incumbent Rosalie King (Dem), getting 60 percent of the vote (555) to King’s 38 percent (357), a margin of 198 votes.

U.S. Army Major Gen. Leslie C. Smith awards Specialist Kevin W. Bucek the Military Order of the Purple Heart during a ceremony Oct. 12 at Fort Campbell, Ky. Looking on are wife, Beth, holding daughter, CaliAnna. Bucek is a Crystal Falls native and was wounded while on duty in Afghanistan.
CRYSTAL FALLS—A Crystal Falls native has received the Purple Heart after being wounded while on duty in Afghanistan.

IRON COUNTY—A state summer youth work program may end due to guideline changes.
“Right now it doesn’t look good,” County Board Chairman Wayne Wales said last week. “We just had a Michigan Works committee meeting in Houghton Monday.