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Midwinter festival organizer named Hankookin Heikki 2023

Press release HANCOCK, Mich. — When she was a child, Mary (Aho) Brunet knew she had Finnish roots, but in her youth and among her family and friends, ethnic culture wasn’t readily celebrated. “We weren’t encouraged to be too much into the Finnish stuff,” she said. “We had a culture, but we really weren’t part of the culture.” That’s why joining the City of Hancock’s Finnish Theme Committee was so appealing; Brunet joined the group about a decade ago, and since then has been most recognized for her tireless work organizing and executing the Heikinpäivä festival ...

State Emergency Operations Center activated

LANSING, MICH. – Governor Gretchen Whitmer activated the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) at 1 p.m. today to respond to the hazardous weather conditions, resulting from the statewide winter storm. Prior to the activation, the State of Michigan had been coordinating with local communities to ensure full staffing of first responders, pre-deployment of utility repair crews, readiness for road crews and availability of warming shelters. The SEOC activation is the next step to make additional state resources available to support local communities, as necessary. As of 4 p.m., there ...

After-school program available for teens

Dial Help release Teen Outreach Program (also known as TOP Club) is an after-school program offered in a number of Copper Country schools. TOP Club was developed by the Wyman Center, and research has shown that it helps build resiliency and leadership skills, and lower rates of drug use in youth. It is completely free, with weekly meetings, community service learning, and lessons in topics like emotion management, problem solving, goal setting and adolescent health and wellness. TOP Club is offered through a collaboration between Dial Help and the Houghton/Keweenaw Communities That ...

Trinity Episcopal Church celebrates ordination of new pastor

On Saturday, December 10 at 11 a.m., the Rev. Sarah Diener-Schlitt will be ordained to the priesthood at Trinity Episcopal Church in Houghton. All members of the community are invited to witness and celebrate this sacred service. The Rev. Sarah has been serving as Deacon at Trinity since ...

Focus on being sustainable this holiday

Have a sustainable holiday! What is a sustainable holiday? A holiday season that keeps in mind the earth’s resources consumed and the waste produced, making thoughtful choices about entertaining, decorating, traveling, and gift giving. The Copper Country Recycling Initiative has some suggestions about celebrating with consciousness about consuming thoughtfully. Keep the three R’s in mind. Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Probably most people have boxes of ornaments and decorations that get unpacked every year for the tree, the mantle, and the table. Perhaps the tree is artificial ...

Crash victims ID’d; driver arraigned

HOUGHTON — The victims in a fatal crash in Chassell Township Friday have been identified. Jennifer Rajala, 35, of Covington and Lacey Rajala, 30, of Chassell were killed in the early morning crash. The crash occurred about 2:20 a.m. Friday at the intersection of the Chassell-Painesdale Road and U.S. 41. The vehicle was westbound when it was unable to stop at the intersection of U.S. 41, colliding with a wooded area before catching fire. The driver, Ryan Orzechowicz, 34, of Covington, was arraigned in 97th District Court Monday morning. He was charged with two counts of ...