Sunset Lake was picture perfect this autumn. After the rains, the colors peaked and Iron County is enjoying its traditionally beautiful season. After the fall, and that includes those zillions of leaves on the ground, Iron County will be arrayed in those stark colors of winter ... drab grays and browns with an occasional blast of Arctic white. (Bob McCarthy photo)

CRYSTAL FALLS—The Iron County Board of Commissioners voted to discontinue its agreement with Stambaugh Township allowing placement of a pay station and sign at the county-owned Chicaugon Lake boat launch following very vocal discussion at its Sept. 25 bi-monthly meeting.
 The township had received permission to put the pay station at the launch earlier this year, as a means to sell day-use lake permit stickers.

IRON RIVER—Iron River City Council members have not ruled yet on an amendment that would remove a stipulation in the city’s charter prohibiting council members from “holding appointive offices on or with any intergovernmental agency or authority involved in a contractual relationship with the city.”
 At its Sept. 19 meeting, the council sought an opinion from City Attorney Mark Tousignant, who said he had gone through files and research with the mayor and the city manager.

IRON RIVER—The West Iron County Board of Education received a positive mark for finances, following its annual audit report Sept. 17.
 CPA Dianne Rostagno noted the district ended the fiscal year with a fund balance of $1,358,248.
 This would provide approximately two months’ reserve, she said, which was good, but advised the board to try to increase it.
 “I would like to see three months,” she said.

Youth hunter Robbie Ivey was the first hunter to harvest a deer from the newly built Wildlife Unlimited of Iron County’s handicapped/disabled hunter trailer. (Dave Painter photo)
IRON COUNTY—Work was completed on the Wildlife Unlimited of Iron County’s handicapped/disabled hunter trailer just in time for the Michigan Youth Hunt weekend, Sept. 21-22.

IRON RIVER—The point at where a county road ends will determine the legality of a gate across Little Finland Road in Bates Township.
 At the Sept. 11 meeting of the Iron County Road Commissioner, landowner Glen Meine, representing several generations of his family, questioned whether or not a gate erected by another landowner with property along the Paint River was legal.

IRON RIVER TOWNSHIP—Jeff Bal, GEI Consultants’ engineer, updated the Iron River Township Board  regarding its many ongoing and proposed projects at the board’s Sept. 11 meeting.
Regarding the Rural Development water line replacement project, which was recently started, Bal said 4 percent of the project is done, with 2,500 feet of pipe put in the ground and 25 percent of the approximately 10,000 feet of underground boring completed
The first pay request for the project was approved for $115,000.

BATES TOWNSHIP—Pipe should start being laid for the Bates Township water project, reported Jim Koskiniemi of U.P. Engineers and Architects, at the Bates Township Board of Trustees’ Sept. 12 meeting.
 The first area of work will be on Fourth Street in the Rogers Location, he said, following pre-construction meetings with the contractor, Oberstar.

Officials of the County Board and the Iron County Medical Care Facility symbolically break ground Sept. 11 for a new addition to the complex on U.S. 2. Holding the shovels, from left, are County Commissioner Carl Lind, County Board Chairman Wayne Wales, County Commissioner Rosalie King, Human Services Board Chairman William Leonoff, HSB member Ben Smith, HSB Vice Chairman John Archocosky. In back: Sue Clisch, county administrator; Fran Wills, county commissioner; Randy Ranger, CM Contracting on-site manager; Terry Bachman, CM Contracting project manager; Mark Hires, CM Contracting president; Teresa Ollila, assistant to MCF administrator; Joan Luhtanen, county clerk; and Chester Pintarelli, MCF administrator. The $9.08 million project will increase the special needs (memory care) unit from 24 to 44 beds and create a short-term rehab area, with new beds tying into the rehab facilities. The project also includes in-house renovations of the 1976 portion of the facility. CM Contracting of Battle Creek is the construction manager, and Eckert Wordell of Kalamazoo is the architect.

CRYSTAL FALLS—With autumn nearing its peak colors, Iron County will be celebrating with the 12th annual Crystal Falls Harvest Fest this weekend.
 Activities get under way Friday, Sept. 21, with the Crystal Falls Business Association’s tailgate party prior to the Forest Park Trojan football game at 5:30 p.m. at the east entrance of Dick Mettlach Field.