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Coronavirus

Ontonagon School Board working through restrictions

As with school boards all over the western Upper Peninsula, the COVID-19 pandemic has an impact on the students, teachers, administration, and support staff. That was the topic of concern for the Ontonagon Area School District (OASD) Board in their most recent meeting. “OASD has approximately 25% of their student body choosing the hybrid option or remote learning option. However we have students that are returning for face-to-face instruction. We’re four weeks into it,” OASD Superintendent/Principal Jim Bobula said. After Bobula made that report, OASD Board President Nancy ...

MTU halts in-person instruction for two weeks

HANCOCK — Michigan Technological University became the latest educational institution to move to virtual learning for two weeks in response to rising COVID-19 rates and community spread in the area, which also included the second COVID-19 death in the Copper Country. The move to online learning for lecture-based classes will be no later than Wednesday, President Rick Koubek said in a letter to campus Sunday. Starting Monday, Tech will move to Level 4 of its Return to Campus plan, the second-most restrictive level. Level 4, like the previous Level 3, would normally still include a ...

MDHHS makes COVID-19 recommendations about Halloween trick-or-treating, celebrations

LANSING — To help ensure the only thing scary about Halloween is the costumes, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has issued guidance on how to safely celebrate the holiday during the COVID-19 pandemic. “The way we celebrate Halloween in Michigan will be different this year due to COVID-19,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health. “However, there are still many ways to celebrate safely. The guidance MDHHS issued today provides tips for trick-or-treaters and their parents along with homeowners who wish to hand out ...

Hancock Library moves to curbside services during school closures

The Hancock Library will be closed to public patrons and students beginning Monday, Sept. 28 and will instead offer curbside pickup of library materials. Curbside services will be offered during the library's regular open hours. The library will remain closed for the duration of the school's two-week closure. Here's how you patrons can participate in curbside services: - Place items on hold either on your library account online or by calling the library (906-487-5925 ext. 8005). - Call the library when you get here and we will bring the books to your vehicle. - If you have book ...

Houghton County Schools temporarily move to online classes

HOUGHTON COUNTY – The Western Upper Peninsula Health Department (WUPHD) is announcing that all Houghton County Schools will be going to on-line only classes beginning Monday, Sept. 28. On-line classes will continue for a two-week period with in-person sessions resuming Monday, Oct. 12. The move is necessary to help reduce the rate of COVID-19 spread within the community. WUPHD points to a sustained increase in positive cases since the end of August as the major reason for asking the schools to make the temporary suspension of in-person classes. “The capacity of our local ...

GCC Copper Country Center moves to distance delivery for two weeks

HOUGHTON — The Gogebic Community College Copper Country Center in Houghton, in cooperation with the Western Upper Peninsula Health Department, is taking actions of limiting access to facilities and virtualizing classrooms and work environments. “All GCC classes held at the Copper Country Center in Houghton will move to distance delivery beginning on Monday, Sept. 28 through Oct. 9, with the exception of several lab courses,” said Dr. George McNulty, GCC President. Classes will resume in person on Monday, Oct. 12. “While challenging, we are still able to maintain our primary ...