CASPIAN—The Iron County Band will present a free concert at the Iron County Museum on Thursday, Aug.  9, at 7 p.m.
 A variety of marching and pop music will be played, according to Director Dawn Holt.

The word spread rather quickly on Friday, July 20… the American Pickers were in town and that generated a lot of speculation, not to mention several phone calls. Getting the lowdown on the popular crew from the History Channel’s “American Pickers” series, Wally Rankin (center), owner of the Pasty Corner, was contacted Thursday, July 19, by Pickers Frank Fritz (left) and Mike Wolfe if they could film at his business. So with the camera crew on hand, the Pickers filmed inside and outside the Pasty Corner and went away with a couple of those tasty pasties for the trip to the next stop. The pasties, said Rankin, were a new experience for the two stars, who remain as secretive about their opinion of pasties as they were about their appearance in Iron County. The two had been in Iron Mountain and came to Iron River to “pick” through some items from a couple of Iron River families. Rankin was told the show should air on the History Channel in about three months. (Rankin photo)

IRON COUNTY—The lineups for the November election will be set and finalized next Tuesday, Aug. 7, when Iron County voters take part in the Democratic and Republican primaries.
 Voters will only be able to vote in one party’s primary—you can’t split votes—but you don’t have to declare a party in advance.

IRON RIVER—Iron River Mayor Terry Tarsi welcomed new City Manager Perry Franzoi to his first regular meeting of the City Council July 18.
 Franzoi replaces retired City Manager John Archocosky. The former Breitung Township supervisor officially began July 2.

CASPIAN—The Caspian City Commission will move forward on seeking bids for the salt barn property adjacent to the former City Hall.
 At the council’s July 18 meeting, City Manager John Stokoski presented an appraisal of the property for the council’s approval. The city will seek a $3,000 minimum bid.

All miners in a row--Heigh Ho! The Pixie Dancers performed the first of several musical numbers at the Rum Rebellion Revue July 20. (Marko Brickman photo)

IRON RIVER—The Iron County Road Commission’s county-wide millage is up for renewal this year, and it approved ballot language for the November election at its July 17 meeting.
 The Road Commission will be seeking renewal of one-half mill for four years.

ESCANABA—To accommodate reconstruction of M-189 from Genesee Street to U.S. 2 as well as the U.S.-2/M-189 intersection, the detour routes in Iron River changed Monday and will remain in effect until mid- to late August.

CRYSTAL FALLS—Although the prisons in Michigan have seen an increase in inmate population, Iron County’s 50-bed jail is operating at about half capacity, and the county could see some revenue by housing state inmates in the vacant cells.
 The situation was explained to county commissioners by Sheriff Mark Valesano during the board’s regular bi-monthly meeting July 10.

Karen Bond (right) of Iron River and her sister, Carol Froeming of Bolingbrook, Ill., were among early shoppers at the Iron River Shopko Hometown store in the Riverside Plaza on Sunday, browsing the shelves in the health and beauty section. Phase 2 (hardware, housewares, sports, electronics and seasonal items) is expected to open within two weeks followed by Phase 3, the apparel section, by early August. A “cold” opening is set for Monday, Aug. 6, with the grand opening planned for Thursday, Aug. 9, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, gift card giveaways and door prizes planned.