IRON RIVER—The Iron River SAY Soccer registration has begun and parents are encouraged to register their children now.
    The season kicks off early this year with games beginning the week of May 22 and ending the week of June 19 for children born in 1998 through 2014.  Teams typically play one, sometimes two games per week night, Monday through Thursday, in Gaastra.
    Cost is $37 for the first child, $30 for the second and $75 maximum per family
    Registration and payment must be sent in no later than Friday, March 10. (There will be no refunds once draft is complete)
    Register at Stambaugh Elementary on Tuesday, March 7, from 3-4:30 p.m. or at the Windsor Center on Feb. 10, 17, 24 and March 3 from 6 to 6:30 p.m. Registration may also be completed by visiting www.ironriversoccer.com and printing off the registration form. Forms will need to be mailed along with payment no later than March 10. Forms may also be found in all Iron County School offices.  
    This year Iron River SAY is once again teaming up with Challenger Sports and offering a British Soccer Camp, the number one soccer camp in the U.S.  
    The camp is scheduled for the week of Aug. 14-18 at the fields in Gaastra.  Space is limited so sign up today at www.challengersports.com//800.878.2167.  Look for more information during soccer registration and in the school offices.   

IRON RIVER—Certainly the middle-school years of a student’s life can be challenging in any number of ways. Over the last three months, the Dickinson-Iron District Health Department has tried to help West Iron County sixth graders navigate some of the tricky waters they’ll experience as they transition through their teen years.
    DIHD health educator Kelly Rumpf guided the students through a program called “Botvin’s LifeSkills Training: Promoting Health and Personal Development.”    
    The curriculum was taught in health classes--at West Iron in Lisa Johns’ classes and as well as at Forest Park. The two county schools were the first that Rumpf taught the curriculum.
    “It came about because there is a substance abuse problem in the U.P.,” said Rumpf, who added that she will teach the unit at Kingsford beginning this week. “Student initiation rates are climbing.
    “We approached the two schools initially to see if they were interested. We received our initial grant through NorthCare to provide this program to these schools.”
    According to the Botvin LifeSkills Training website, lifeskillstraining.com, the program is a research-based substance abuse prevention program that is designed to reduce the risks of alcohol, tobacco, drug abuse and violence by targeting the major social and psychological factors that promote the initiation of substance use and other risky behaviors.
    The training program promotes healthy alternatives to risky behavior through activities designed to:
    • Teach students the necessary skills to resist social (peer) pressures to smoke, drink, and use drugs
    • Help students develop greater self-esteem and build self-confidence
    • Enable students to effectively cope with anxiety

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Kelly Cochran, on trial for murder in Iron County Circuit Court, consults with her attorney, Michael Scholke, during the first week of her trial. (from LawNewz.com video feed)
CRYSTAL FALLS—Minutes away from the end of the first week of the Kelly Cochran murder trial, police officer and lead case investigator Laura Frizzo sat on the witness stand and reached into what looked much like a grocery bag.
    It was not, however. It was an evidence bag.
    While wearing black evidence collection gloves, Frizzo carefully unsealed the bag and pulled out what prosecutor Melissa Powell had earlier called the only piece of evidence found that positively identifies that an actual person “existed and is now deceased.”
    It was the skull of Christopher Regan.
    While that moment was certainly the most vivid of the week, the complicated and winding 2 1/3-year course of the case of the People of the State of Michigan v. Kelly Marie Cochran began to be unveiled to a jury of 10 women and four men, several media outlets, a scattering of court observers and countless others through live streaming of the proceedings.
    Regan was killed on Oct. 14, 2014, at the home of Cochran and her husband, Jason, in Caspian. Kelly Cochran, 34, has been charged with homicide open murder in aiding and abetting Jason Cochran in the murder and dismemberment of Regan. She is also accused of larceny in a building, conspiracy to commit dead bodies– disinterment and mutilation, concealing the death of an individual, lying to a peace officer in a violent crime investigation and accessory after the fact to a felony.
    Cochran, who faces life in prison if convicted of the homicide charge, has been lodged on a $5 million cash bond in the Iron County Correctional Facility since May 2016. She has also been charged with the February 2016 murder of Jason Cochran in Indiana, a case that awaits resolution of the current trial.
    Judge Richard J. Cellelo, circuit judge of the 41st Circuit Court for Dickinson County, is presiding over the trial in place of Iron County Judge C. Joseph Schwedler, who is on medical leave. Attorney Michael Scholke of the Mouw & Cellelo P.C. of Iron Mountain is representing Cochran.
    None of the principals in the Regan case had a long history in Iron County. Regan, a 20-year Air Force veteran, moved to Iron River from

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CRYSTAL FALLS—Several members of the Iron County Economic Chamber Alliance (ICECA) were present at the February regular Iron County Board of Commissioners meeting, when the board moved to essentially dissolve the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and sign a new contract for economic development services with the Iron County Chamber.
    Although the board was short two members during the meeting due to excused medical absences, the three members present, Jim Brennan, Patti Peretto and Sharon Leonoff, voted in favor of the two agenda items regarding the EDC and ICECA. Due to
 Board Chair Tim Aho’s absence, the motion included having him sign the documents with the county clerk as witness.
    In order to dissolve the EDC, the board first has to amend the article of incorporation to state that the term of corporate existence will automatically expire on Feb. 28, 2017. The resolution went on to say that the EDC, developed by Iron County, has fulfilled its purpose and its services are no longer required, that it is in the best interest of the county to be dissolved and that the county will utilize other methods of economic development.
    The contract for services states that the chamber, through the alliance, will be responsible for providing a number of services including maintaining a public office location within the county that would allow an economic developer to foster, promote and maintain the growth of economic development and employment, maintain a location where contacts will be answered within one business day and to maintain an economic developer to timely promote the growth of economic development. It also states that the chamber, through the alliance, will remit all payments received on the economic development loans will be forwarded to the treasurer on a monthly basis.
    In exchange for the services listed above, the contract states that the county will disburse the annual contractual payment of $35,451 in quarterly installments for the calendar years 2017, 2018 and 2019 as well as the annual supplemental payment of $43,293, which will be payable the first month of the first quarter of each year. However, if the funding to the county is reduced or if the board of commissioners fails to appropriate funds to pay the amounts in the contract, then the annual amount will be reduced to the amount actually appropriated for the services rendered. The contract will expire on Dec. 31, 2019.

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CRYSTAL FALLS—A new mayor will represent the city of Crystal Falls after former Mayor Patrick Sommers resigned at the end of January.
    Sommers recently moved out of the city so he had to resign, per city charter. He was present at the recent February regular meeting and said that the board had known his resignation was coming.
    During the regular meeting, former Mayor Pro Tem David Sherby was sworn in as mayor for the remaining of Sommers’ unexpired term.
    With Sommers’ resignation and Sherby taking over as mayor, an open seat is available and needs to be filled within 30 days, according to City Manager Patrick Reagan. If the vacancy is not filled within that time, a special election must be held as per the charter.
    The board voted to schedule a special meeting on Monday, Feb. 27, at 5:30 p.m. to view applications and possibly appoint someone to fill the seat.
    According to Reagan’s report, a special election has not been budgeted; therefore he recommended that the board advertise immediately for a qualified voter who resides in the city.
    “I believe that it would be in the best interest of the city to advertise for this appointment immediately,” he said, “and to review and discuss all received applications at this special meeting. This will help us to avoid a costly special election.”

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CRYSTAL FALLS—On Sept, 14, 2002, Kelly Gaboyan and Jason Cochran got married. That night, the two made a pact, an agreement that may turn out to haunt her for the rest of her life.
    As the prosecution in her murder trial has argued, the Cochrans agreed that night that if either were to cheat on the other, the cheater would have to kill the lover or be killed themselves. Kelly Cochran now says that the pact was verbalized by her now-deceased husband and it was not meant to be taken seriously.
    “I thought it was a joke,” she said to defense attorney Michael Scholke, while testifying in her own defense Feb. 24, the final day of the second week of her trial.
    Nearly 14½ years after her wedding night, Cochran is facing a possible life sentence for aiding and abetting her husband in the 2014 murder and dismemberment of Christopher Regan, a man she had developed a romantic and sexual relationship with after the two had met while working at Oldenburg Group Inc. in Iron River.
    Cochran, who moved to Caspian with her husband in late January 2014, is also accused of larceny in a building, conspiracy to commit dead bodies–disinterment and mutilation, concealing the death of an individual, lying to a peace officer in a violent crime investigation and accessory after the fact to a felony.
    Cochran is also accused of killing her husband in February 2016 in Indiana, a case that awaits resolution of the current case.
    During her mostly stoic testimony that lasted about 4½ hours, Cochran painted her marriage as one that began to fray within its first year. She testified that her husband began to show “a second side to him,” that he became abusive and that by 2007 she asked for a divorce.
    “He said many times he’d kill me if I ever wanted a divorce,” Cochran stated.
    Cochran went on to describe how her husband became jealous and pointed a gun at her head “probably 20 times.” She said she was too prideful and embarrassed to ask for help and used drugs to cope with the tumult of her marriage.
    The Cochrans eventually decided to leave northwest Indiana and move to the Upper Peninsula. Kelly Cochran said her husband, who had back problems, wanted to move to Michigan because he wanted to grow and smoke marijuana (Jason Cochran possessed a medical marijuana card) and get a fresh start.
    The move didn’t solve their problems, Cochran testified, and she began to engage in extramarital affairs, including

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Investigator cites ‘misdirection’

CRYSTAL FALLS—The investigation into the death of Christopher Regan has been called a puzzle, a cat-and-mouse game and a moving target.
    But this much is clear: Only three people knew exactly what transpired the evening of Oct. 14, 2014, at 66 Lawrence St. in Caspian, and two of them are now dead. The other, Kelly Marie Cochran, is on trial, accused of six crimes, including homicide in Regan’s death.
    Cochran’s trial completed its second week Feb. 24, the day when the 34-year-old Merrillville, Ind., native took the stand in her own defense. The two days previous, Detective Jeremy Ogden of the Hobart (Ind.) Police Department testified for the prosecution in a marathon eight-hour session. During his testimony, Ogden offered a much different explanation of the events that led to the murder, dismemberment and disposal of Regan’s remains than Cochran did during her testimony later in the week.
    Though 23 witnesses testified during the second week, the complicated and convoluted case against Cochran essentially boiled down to the conflicting versions offered by the defendant and Ogden. Cochran, who moved to Caspian with her husband Jason in late January 2014, is accused of aiding and abetting her husband in the murder and dismemberment of Regan. She is also accused of larceny in a building, conspiracy to commit dead bodies– disinterment and mutilation, concealing the death of an individual, lying to a peace officer in a violent crime investigation and accessory after the fact to a felony.
    Cochran, who faces life in prison if convicted of the homicide charge, has been lodged on a $5 million cash bond in the Iron County Correctional Facility since May 2016. She has also been charged with the February 2016 murder of Jason Cochran in Indiana, a case that awaits resolution of the current trial.
    The basic outline of the case that investigators and Prosecuting Attorney Melissa Powell have laid out is this: On the night Regan was killed,

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CRYSTAL FALLS—After deliberating for about 2½ hours Tuesday, a jury of eight women and four men found Kelly Marie Cochran guilty of all charges, including first-degree murder in the 2014 death of Christopher Regan.
    Cochran, 34, faces life in prison on the murder of Regan, a co-worker with whom she developed a sexual relationship. She was also convicted of larceny in a building, conspiracy to commit dead bodies – disinterment and mutilation, concealing the death of an individual and lying to a police officer in a violent crime investigation.
    Sentencing has been tentatively set for May 10.
    Cochran, a Merrillville, Ind. native, was accused of aiding and abetting her now-deceased husband Jason Cochran in the murder of Regan. Investigators believed Kelly Cochran lured Regan to her residence, where her husband waited to shoot Regan.
    Kelly Cochran also faces a murder charge in Indiana in the Feb. 2016 death of her husband.
    The verdict was the culmination of a 12-day trial and that included testimony from more than 40 witnesses. After the verdict was read and Cochran was taken from the courtroom, Regan’s two sons and his ex-wife embraced lead investigator Laura Frizzo, Hobart (Ind.) Detective Jeremy Ogden and Prosecuting Attorney Melissa Powell with tears in their eyes.
    “I’m relieved for the family that they finally have justice and resolution to this case,” Powell said.
    “It was really important that she was charged with first-degree murder because that’s what she committed,” Frizzo said. “I knew Kelly Cochran was guilty and involved in Chris Regan’s death from the first day I interviewed her.”

IRON RIVER—Two men from the Madison, Wis., area were charged with possession of marijuana--second offense after they were arrested by the Iron River Police Department on Feb. 23.
    Corey Bryan Doskocil, 40, of Avoca, Wis., and Robert Charles Junceau III, 41, of Madison were arraigned Feb. 24 in Iron County Trial Court. Bond was set at $5,000 for each, and both men were allowed to leave the state if they posted bond and signed a waiver of extradition.
    The arrest was made during a traffic stop when Iron River police officers seized approximately one pound of marijuana and several drug items from the vehicle, the IRPD reported. Both subjects were lodged in the Iron County Correctional Facility after the arrest.

IRON RIVER—In a time of rising power costs for most U.P. residents, the West Iron County school district has saved about $42,000 since 2013 because it has been purchasing power at a locked-in rate from Integrys Energy Group.
    Expect those savings to continue for the next four years. During its Feb. 21 regular meeting, the School Board voted unanimously to approve a new four-year contract that locks in its current rates.
    West Iron County first started buying power from Integrys in 2013. “We save lots of money,” Business Manager Amber Laturi said. The savings of $42,000 are combined from both school buildings.
    Superintendent Chris Thomson said a company official recent contacted the district about extending its contract for four years—but it had to decide immediately.
    “Having dealt with her for the last four, five years,” said Thomson, “she hasn’t steered us wrong. So I’m comfortable signing up with her for another four years.”
    The company official has also changed rates in mid-contract when it helps the district, Thomson added, “so she’s had our best interests” in mind.
    Integrys was acquired by WEC Energy Group of Milwaukee in 2015. Last summer, WEC Energy Group announced plans to build new natural gas-fired power plants in Marquette County and Baraga County, with construction to start by early 2018 and operations to begin in 2019.
    After the new plants are in operation, the coal-powered Presque Isle power plant in Marquette will be shut down

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IRON RIVER—The conflict between the city of Iron River and its manager, David Thayer, and former police chief Laura Frizzo is not over. Not by a long shot.
    Frizzo, through her attorneys, Morgan & Meyers PLC of Dearborn, has filed a lawsuit against the city and Thayer on March 3 in Iron County Circuit Court. The 24-page compliant obtained by the Reporter charges the defendants with violations of the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, retaliation in violation of the Whistleblowers’ Protection Act and violation of the Open Meetings Act.
    Frizzo was fired on Dec. 9, 2016, by Thayer and the city. In a letter to Frizzo, Thayer, who was hired by the city in October 2015, said that issues he had with Frizzo’s “understanding of our organizational structure, our roles, and your behavior” have not improved since the issues began in December 2015.
    He went on to state that Frizzo’s management style and professional standards and practices would remain “irreconcilable differences.”
    The lawsuit alleges, in part, that the defendants:
    -Conducted themselves in a manner that manifested a sexually hostile work environment for the plaintiff, in violation of the Michigan Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act. Specifically that the defendants treated the plaintiff differently “than other similarly situated past and current employees”

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Kelly Cochran        Christopher Regan

CRYSTAL FALLS—Just after 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 28, Kelly Cochran was led back into the courtroom, this time with her hands shackled to a handcuff belt. Previously during her 12-day murder trial, Cochran wore civilian clothes and was uncuffed--a person accused of horrific crimes, but one still innocent until proven guilty.
    But minutes later, Cochran’s presumed innocence vanished. The jury of eight women and four men found the 34-year-old Merrillville Ind., native guilty of all charges, including first-degree murder in the October 2014 death of Christopher Regan. Sentencing has been set for May 10.
    Cochran had been charged with homicide open murder in aiding and abetting her now-deceased husband, Jason Cochran, of murdering the 53-year-old Regan, who had moved to Iron River from Suttons Bay in November 2013. She was also charged with larceny in a building, conspiracy to commit dead bodies – disinterment and mutilation, concealing the death of an individual and lying to a police officer in a violent crime investigation.
    Because the first count against Cochran was homicide open murder, the jury could have found her guilty of first-degree or premeditated murder, second degree murder or accessory after the fact to murder or found her not guilty of the murder charge at all.
    The jury was presented the case at 12:42 p.m. About 2½ hours later, the foreperson offered the first of five guilty verdicts against Cochran. Though she had just heard the one word that may send her to prison for the rest of her life without possibility of parole, Kelly Cochran remained as emotionless as she had during the trial. She briefly closed her eyes and then offered nothing.
    Given that Judge Richard J. Celello had cautioned the gathering against showing any physical or verbal reaction to the verdict, the atmosphere inside the courtroom was eerily calm. But after Cochran was whisked away, both Regan’s two sons and their mother, his ex-wife, openly wept.
    “That first guilty was really important because it was important that she was charged with first-degree murder because that’s what she committed,” said lead investigator Laura Frizzo, who also spoke for the Regan family. “This whole thing has been really hard for them. They sat in shock for months not understanding how something like this could happen to their father and their family.”
    Prosecuting Attorney Melissa Powell offered praise for

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IRON RIVER—Iron River City Manager David Thayer announced March 10 that the city has hired its new police chief.
    Curtis Bristol will replace interim chief Roy D’Antonio, who has been performing the chief duties since Jan. 5. Bristol, whose tentative start date is April 10, is currently an officer with the Charlotte (Mich.) Police Department.
    Thayer said Bristol has 26 years of experience with the Charlotte PD, including 12 as a managing sergeant. Thayer added that his new hire has a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice from Grand Valley State University.
    “In my opinion, we’re very lucky to get a person with this high level of skill and background,” Thayer said. “He’s well trained, experienced and prepared to be our new police chief. He’s got the demeanor that we need. He’s got that easy accommodation with a very, very firm backbone.”
    Charlotte is about 20 miles southwest of Lansing and has a population of about 9,000, according to the United States Census Bureau.
    Bristol will be introduced at the Iron River City Council meeting on Wednesday.
    Thayer said D’Antonio will continue as a part-time officer after Bristol assumes command.
    “Roy’s done a hell of a job,” Thayer said. “He’s delivered exactly what I had expected. I couldn’t have asked for more than what he gave.”

IRON RIVER—The lawsuit that former Iron River chief of police Laura Frizzo filed March 3 may list both the city and manager David Thayer as defendants, but to Thayer the filing is personal.
    “I’m the named party,” Thayer said in a March 10 interview with the Reporter. “I’m being sued. It’s Frizzo vs. Thayer. And I take that serious.”
    Make no mistake, the lines have been drawn in the sand.
    Frizzo, who was fired on Dec. 9, 2016, is suing the city and Thayer for violations of the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, retaliation in violation of the Whistleblowers’ Protection Act and violation of the Open Meetings Act. The lawsuit, filed by Morgan & Meyers PLC of Dearborn in Iron County Circuit Court, alleges, in part, that the defendants:

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IRON RIVER—A Iron River man was arrested on assault and weapons charges after an incident at Bigari Ace Hardware Store on March 9.
    Gregory Allen Maltry, 45, was charged with two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon (knife), two counts of carrying a concealed weapon and one count of carrying a dangerous weapon with unlawful intent.
    The charges, all felonies, carry a combined maximum sentence of 23 years in prison and/or a $11,500 fine.
    The Iron River Police Department stated in a press release that it was dispatched to the scene at 2:07 p.m. Officers responded, and the suspect was located leaving the scene. A traffic stop was initiated on the vehicle, and at that time, the suspect threw a knife from the vehicle, the IRPD said.
    The IRPD also said several guns were seized from the vehicle along with approximately 4,000 rounds of ammunition.
    The Caspian Police Department assisted the IRPD in the incident.
    A probable cause hearing has been set for March 20 at 3 p.m. A preliminary examination has been scheduled for March 23 at 11:15 a.m.

Fortunate skater: Fortune Tuchowski of Crystal Falls, taken March 7, Alina Soha skating on Fortune Lake.
Home for the birds: Kathy Holm of Iron River, taken Feb. 23, in Mineral Hills.
Early spring break up: Tammy Rumsey of Amasa, taken Feb. 23, the Paint River.

By Peter Nocerini
CRYSTAL FALLS—The Forest Park School District has agreed to pay back Hematite Township for some industrial facilities taxes that the township mistakenly turned over the district for seven years.
    The School Board approved a partial payment to the township during its Feb. 27 regular meeting.
    The tax money came from parcels owned by Ottawa Forest Products and White Water and covers the years from 2009 to 2015. The total taxes paid in those seven years is $52,756.
    “We don’t have a choice on that,” Superintendent Becky Waters told the board.
    “We are required to pay it back regardless,” added Kathy Stankewicz, business manager.
    The entire amount is not being repaid right away. Instead, the Feb. 27 motion calls for a payment of $19,864, covering the years from 2013 to 2015.
    As for payments for the other four years (2009 to 2012), Forest Park’s letter to the township said it plans to defer those payments until 2018 and 2019 “unless the state takes action to limit the number of years for which repayments are due.”
    The mistaken payments were discovered by the Michigan Department of Treasury, which directed the township to seek repayment.
    “We got the taxes because of an error on their part since 2009,” Waters said, “and they’re just catching it now.”    
    In her letter to the township, Waters said Forest Park spent the tax revenue after it was received “and does not currently have cash reserves sufficient” to repay the $52,756 in its entirety.
    “Forest Park School District,” it continues, “believes it inappropriate to seek the repayment of funds mistakenly paid to the district so long ago.”
    Waters wrote that the district hopes the Treasury Department or Legislature will limit requests “for repayments of mistakenly paid funds to a very few years.”
    In hopes that may happen, the repayments are being spread over three years, paying the three most recent tax years first.
    ● A series of presentations on student trips were heard and later approved by the School Board:

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CRYSTAL FALLS—A 19-year old Crystal Falls man was charged with two counts of killing/torturing animals and one count of discharging a firearm in or at a building at his arraignment Monday.
    Luke Wool was charged with the three felony counts, which in total could send him to prison for 18 years.
    The animal charges state that Wool did without just cause knowingly kill, or mutilate or maim or disfigure two draft horses, both four-year felonies.
    The Iron County Sheriff’s Office had reported that one of the animals was seen by a veterinarian and remained alive after an incident on March 16.
    The other horse was discovered dead on Feb. 24 after breaking its leg, severing a main artery. Evidence discovered in the March 16 incident has tied the suspect to the February incident, the Sheriff’s Office reported.
    The Sheriff Office received a call at approximately 12:50 p.m. on March 16 indicating that a horse had been shot in Crystal Falls Township, according to a press release from the Sheriff’s Office. Iron County Central Dispatch received another call that indicated that two bullets had entered a home near the same location.    
    Deputies for the Iron County Sheriff Office arrived on the scene, collected evidence and arrested the individual that was involved in the shooting. The investigation showed that a draft horse was shot in the neck and the hind quarter. Deputies also recovered two bullets that penetrated an occupied house located near horse barn.
    Wool will face a probable cause hearing on April 3 at 1 p.m. and a preliminary examination on April 10 at 2:30 p.m.

IRON RIVER—A 35-year-old Iron River man was arrested March 18 on two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of malicious destruction of property.
    Johan Dylan Harju was arrested by the Iron River Police Department after he allegedly attempted to assault two people with a 2005 Ford Pickup and damage a vehicle belonging to another victim before leaving the scene. The IRPD reported that Lac Vieux Desert Tribal Police located the suspect traveling west on U.S. 2 near Watersmeet, and his vehicle was stopped and the suspect detained. He was then brought back to the IRPD and later arrested.
    Michigan DNR officers also assisted in the incident.
    Harju posted a $1,000 cash bond and was released. He was arraigned on Monday and will have a probable cause hearing on April 3 at 1 p.m. and a pretrial examination on April 10 at 2:30 p.m.

Iron River City Manager David Thayer (right) presents new Police Chief Curtis Bristol with his badge prior to the City Council meeting on March 15. Bristol will begin his duties on April 10.

RON RIVER—Iron River city residents were introduced to their new police chief, Curtis Bristol of Charlotte, during the regular Iron River City Council meeting on March 15.
    In addition to being sworn in and receiving his badge, Bristol took the time to introduce himself.
    “I’m excited,” Bristol told those in attendance. “I look forward to bringing the skills I have gained to Iron River.”
    Before coming to Iron River, Bristol served on the Charlotte Police Department for 26 years with the current rank of sergeant.
    This was also a time for interim Police Chief Roy D’Antonio to thank the board and the community for allowing him to serve as police chief before Bristol was hired. He will help with the transition and then continue to serve the Iron River Police Department as a part-time officer.
    “Thank you for the opportunity,” he said. “I hope I did the city some good.”
    According to City Manager David Thayer, the IRPD will operate with Bristol as the new full-time police chief, three full-time officers, three part-time officers and one part-time administrative assistant.Bristol will begin his new role on April 10.
    The board also discussed the demolition of the former Wardo’s building during the meeting. Craig Richardson of GEI told the board that the lowest of four for the project was from Hebert Construction, which bid $107,000, roughly $23,000 less than the estimated cost.
    Each bidder was required to submit a detailed demolition plan. Richardson said Hebert’s was a plan he felt comfortable with and recommended that the board award the bid to Hebert.

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