When White  Turns To Green

The recent snow fall has provided for a very green holiday in Ontonagon County. Especially for motels, restaurants, food stores and gasoline stations. Snowmobile enthusiasts gathered in very large numbers in Bergland, White Pine and Silver City. This past week Motels like the Konteka have seen a very Green Christmas holiday week, which ended last night.

The restaurants at White Pine, Bergland and Silver City enjoyed a huge increase in business due to the arrival of the Snow Sleds. The Konteka has earned a very favorable reputation among the Snowmobile visitors. Their reputation is well deserved. They’re hospitality is genuine and the owner’s of the area business know the economic impact that the motorized sport has on the community.

Snowmobilers are well networked on the internet and quickly learn who appreciates their business and those who foolishly don’t appreciate their economic impact.

While it was thought that the sledders like the skiers would be gone by Sunday, that was not the case. In Ontonagon County the snowmobile visitors remained late into the evening.

At Antionio’s restaurant, business was so good that garbage had to be taken away early, days before the scheduled pickup. Both of the Antonio restaurants in Bergland and White Pine were very busy. AmericInn in Silver City enjoyed a big increase in both the motel room occupancy and in its restaurant business and all attributable to recreational tourists. Skiers and Snowmobilers alike.

Russ's First Annual
Ice Fishing Tournament

Temperatures hovering around zero and wind-chills of twenty below zero made a very challenging weekend for the eighty-three anglers who competed in the very first "Russ's Annual Ice Fishing Tournament." According to Russ Hewitt and his wife Nancy, the turn out was ok considering the cold weather. Russ and Nancy are the owners of Russ's Bait and Tackle Shop in Bergland. Located at 203 Elm Street,  across the road from the Gogebic Ontonagon Intermediate School District Office.

The warm fall slowed the icing over of the lake. However, the ice was in good shape for the event, and that was lucky indeed. Many fishing huts that sat on shore just a couple of weeks ago are now spread out on the lake.

While cold weather may have deterred some fisherman, there were still eighty three bold, avid fisherman who did enter the event sponsored by the Russ'.

One happy angler, Randy Anderson a Wakefield resident, is probably glad some fisherman decided to avoid the cold weather. Randy took both first and third prizes in the Walleye division. The first prize was $1,000 and the third place prize was $250. Randy's first place catch was 30" and weighed in at 9 pd.- 3.8 oz. How about that (?)!

The $500 prize for second place was won by Frank Leone.

The tournament had several cash prizes. In addition to the Walleye prize money, there was a $250 prize won by Chris Vandiver for the largest Perch and a $250 prize won by Glen Miller
for the largest Northern. No, not "the Glen Miller".

We hope Russ and Nancy have started a Fishing Tournament that will endure for many years to come. After all, what's more cool than ice fishing?

For further information contact: Russ's Bait & Tackle, 906-365-5505 or
E-mail: russellsbaitandtackle@yahoo.com
 

Carol Harvey and IronwoodInfo Ontonagon Editor, Linda Graham took time off Sunday afternoon to try the X-country ski trails at the Porcupine Mountain State Park in the great UP of Michigan.

Although the snow fell intermittently throughout the afternoon, there was no wind for the skiers to contend with.

As is also true of the downhill slopes, the scenery is outstanding!

The Porkies are considered the "Crown Jewel of Michigan's Park system.

Every Saturday night one can enjoy "lantern" cross-country skiing or snowshoeing.
 

Home Ice Advantage

On US 2 at Sunday Lake Drive, a group of young men have constructed a great ice rink. Just the place for a Sunday morning game of Ice Hockey. No Grants needed for this rink, just a little muscle power, a hose and a friendly bunch of volunteer firefighters.

The rink area was cleared and prepared by the group of young men seen skating in the above photos. They received water from a nearby hydrant with the help of Wakefield firefighters. The skaters scrape their own ice manually, without the aid of a Zamboni. The City of Wakefield has installed a great public restroom less than 1/4 of a mile from the ice rink. Outdoor Ice Fishing, outdoor hockey, Cross Country Skiing, Snowmobiling, all in 4 degree weather; what could be greater than that?

By the way the ice at the White Pine Ice Arena is also manually scraped.

Black Bear Bowling