9/18/2025

IRONWOOD -   Nurses in Ironwood rallied along US-2 between Ironwood and Bessemer near the hospital yesterday against the closure of Aspirus Hospital’s obstetrics unit and in support of a fair union contract.

The OB unit is scheduled to close December 31st, a decision critics say will force U-P families to drive nearly an hour, sometimes in harsh winter conditions, just to deliver a baby. Michigan already struggles with access to maternity care in nearly one in five counties. R-N Sarah Trudgeon heads the local nurses’ union and warns the closure could have lasting effects on the community.

                    :15  "They are making staff changes and staff cutting at Aspirus Iron River and now this, so it's just really frustrating. It's that all of our UP hospitals that will need to have the hospitals around because we're so rural, are just taking cut after cut."

Aspirus says the Ironwood closure reflects a new model of care and points to OB/GYN shortages, adding it will continue providing prenatal and postnatal services locally after labor and delivery ends at the end of December. The hospital's nurses have also been bargaining with Aspirus for a new contract since May 6th. Trudgeon says she’s concerned some nurses may leave altogether, adding to the staff shortage.

:13  "Everybody is able to work in a different department in the hospital. And there will be opportunities, I'm sure, for them to work in another department, if they choose to, but if they like OB there, you know, unfortunately, we might end up losing some nurses because of that."

The nurses contend Aspirus executives walked away from the table and are demanding concessions - and did not accept a 1.2-million-dollar state grant that had been allocated to support obstetric services. Yesterday’s protest did NOT result in a work stoppage at the Ironwood Hospital.

9/18/2025

IRONWOOD - The Ironwood Carnegie Library has reopened with events and story times.

Construction on the new whimsical forest-themed children’s library addition continues, with completion expected by early 2026. That new space will feature mobile shelves and shelving from the former Hurley K-12 school library. While construction continues, the existing library has a temporary wall installed, keeping the construction site from the main library. The library will soon host four author talks, Kay Oursler and Deb Hautala Wahlberg on October 6th, and Dirk Wierenga and Jim Anderson on November 8th.

9/18/2025

VILAS COUNTY - On Monday, the Arbor Vitae Planning Commission rejected a request for a potential gravel pit. Highpoint Sand and Gravel had sought a zoning change for that land-intensive use, sparking backlash and a 200-signature petition from residents, who voiced concerns at a town board meeting, which Highpoint chose not to attend, providing no transparency or information. Arbor Vitae resident Candace Lillen highlighted the community’s well-researched arguments against rezoning, noting it was important that the planning commission be aware that community was against another gravel pit near them.