IRON RIVER TOWNSHIP—After the start date was pushed back again, Iron River Township’s water line replacement project is expected to start the week of Aug. 20.
 GEI Consultants’ Jeff Bal updated board members at the Aug. 14 township meeting, explaining that Hebert Construction is ready to go, but it is waiting for directional boring to be completed by the sub contractor.

CRYSTAL FALLS—Crystal Falls Mayor Janet Hendrickson included several letters from residents and visitors complimenting the city and its employees in council members’ packets at the city’s Aug. 13 meeting.
 “It’s not often we receive good letters,” she said. “Usually, they’re the other kind.”

A little light rain didn’t dampen shoppers’ spirits at the annual Farmers Market in Iron River last week. The rain, which was desperately needed, just provided a natural wash for all the delicious fruits and vegetables on display. The Farmers Market is held Wednesdays from noon to about 3 or 4 p.m., said vendors, depending on the supply of vegetables. Most vendors accept the WIC Project Fresh and Senior Project Fresh coupons. Many vegetables, fruits as well as crafts, flowers and other miscellaneous items are available. The Farmers Market will be available until the end of October, note vendors.

IRON COUNTY—Two years ago, voters voted in Wayne Wales as District 1 county commissioner. Wales defeated incumbent George Brunswick by 18 votes in the Democratic primary.
 On Feb. 28, Wales easily survived a recall effort, with 62% of District 1 voting against an effort to remove him from office.

IRON COUNTY—Here is the roster of candidates for township offices in Iron County after the Aug. 7 primary election. Those marked with an asterisk are the incumbents.
 Bates Township

CASPIAN—Is it worth it to keep fixing Caspian’s old plow truck? That was the question for the City Commission at the Aug. 8 meeting.
 “Major repairs are needed,” said City Manager John Stokoski. Last year, he said, a wheel fell off the 1993 truck.
 “We put $3,400 into it last year, and $2,800 is needed to repair it now.

Between charging horses, Cody Gardner dives onto a speeding side of beef during the steer wrestling event at the U.P. Championship Rodeo that was held in Iron River on Aug. 3-4. Next year, the U.P. Championship Rodeo will be back at its old home on the summer calendar—the third weekend in July. Photo page in this week's Reporter.PUBLIC__

Ishaia Lustila of Marquette (left) was crowned Miss U.P. Rodeo Queen just prior to the final performance of the U.P. Championship Rodeo at the Iron County Fairgrounds Aug. 5. She is congratulated here by 2011 Rodeo Queen Amanda Freis of Daggett (center) and Beth Kujala, current Spooner (Wis.) Rodeo Queen. Lustila was first in the horsemanship, personality and public relations judging. Brooke Granquist was named the first runner-up. (Kujala is the granddaughter of the former Fay Pyykola, a 1934 grad of Iron River High School. She is 96 years old now and lives in Des Plaines, Ill. )

CRYSTAL FALLS—NorthStar Health Systems is in need of a new ambulance garage on the East Side, and it is looking to the county for some assistance.
 At the Board of Commissioners’ July 24 bi-monthly meeting, NorthStar CFO Glenn Dobson and Mark Tousignant, chairman of the hospital’s board of directors, made a presentation, describing their needs and reviewing the relationship the hospital has had with the county in the past.

CRYSTAL FALLS—Several parents of Forest Park Elementary School students brought concerns to the Board of Education at its July 23 meeting.
 Mary Toivinen told the board she was concerned about the size of her daughter’s second grade class.
 Last year, in first grade, she said, the class size was too large for meeting the needs of the students with varying learning levels. She worried whether the situation would be the same in the second grade.