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1. Business name and owners: BK Properties WI, LLC

William (Bill) Nantell and Kristin Calhoun

715-340-7447

2. What year did you start and why?

Bill and I purchased a condo at Haven North in 2021. We had eaten at Sharon's restaurant on several occasions and on a whim Bill asked Sharon if she would ever be interested in selling the building, which is located at 122 Silver Street. At that time she was kind of on the fence, but later decided it made sense for her to sell the building so we could partner together and she could focus more on her coffee shop and catering businesses. Bill and I officially purchased the building in May of 2025. It has worked out really well for all of us!

3. What is the main goal of your business?

The main goal of our business has been to provide comfortable, safe and clean affordable housing to the community members of the Hurley, WI area. We currently have 8 apartments above Sharon's that are all rented. Because of the demand we purchased our second building in May of 2026 at 105 S Suffolk Street in Ironwood. Once complete this building will house 4 apartments. On the main commercial level we will be creating an old-fashioned candy store on the right and in the spring/summer of 2027 on the left side of the main level we will be starting a women's boutique. We expect to add approximately 5-6 jobs to the community as well with these commercial business ventures.

4. What makes your business unique?

What makes BK Properties WI, LLC unique is that Bill and I do our best to always put our tenants (our customers!!) first. We make sure any concerns or issues are addressed within 24-48 hours, although usually we take care of issues within an hour or two. Without our renters we would not have a business, so we strive to provide strong and accessible communication channels as well as prompt feedback so the landlord/tenant relationship is professional, efficient, and respectful.

5. What is the hardest part of your job and how do you handle it?

The hardest part by far is the winter snow!! Sharon's son, Casey, has been instrumental in helping to keep the parking lot and the sidewalks clear when the snow appears. He will also be partnering with us to keep the parking area clear behind our new building in Ironwood. We also know that snow brings people to the community to enjoy all of the exciting and fun winter sports and hobbies that are available in this area. Even though it can be a struggle to keep up with the snow, we know the snow is much needed to keep the community thriving during the winter season.

6. How can people support you?

Bill and I are always looking for ways to utilize and partner with local businesses. Small communities thrive by staying positive and goal oriented, which we know at times may seem difficult or even impossible. If we all work together and support each other we can make the Hurley, WI area a successful place for people to live and work, but also make it a prime destination for travelers to enjoy all of the beauty and splendor it has to offer.

1. Business name:

Informally: UW-Extension Iron County

Formally: University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension, Iron County

2. What year did it start and why?

1921 with the arrival of Dan Shaffer, one of the first Extension Agents hired to serve a county role. Extension Iron County was established over a century ago to bring the research and expertise of the University of Wisconsin to every corner of the state. Cooperative Extension can be traced back to the Morrill Act of 1862, which established the Land Grant University System. Essentially, it created a legal framework that directed specific state colleges and universities to provide a direct link from institutional research to state residents. The original emphasis was on agriculture, and Shaffer’s first project in Iron County was to repurpose surplus WWI dynamite to clear stumps and boulders for farm use. In the 21st century, UW-Extension’s purpose is to solve local challenges, support youth development, and strengthen the local economy and environment.

3. What is the main goal of UW-Extension Iron County?

To extend university knowledge and resources to the people of Iron County. We aim to empower residents of all ages through educational programming in areas such as 4-H Youth Development and Community Development, while connecting our area to statewide expertise in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Health and Well-Being. Officially, “We teach, learn, lead and serve, connecting people with the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and engage with them in transforming lives and communities.”

4. What makes it unique?

We offer the "best of both worlds"—deep local roots combined with the vast resources of the Universities of Wisconsin. Because we live and work in our community, we understand the unique opportunities and challenges of the Northwoods. We don't offer one-size-fits-all solutions; instead, we build tailored programs alongside community partners to address what matters most right here at home using methods and expertise from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and other state Extension programs.

5. What is hardest part of the job and how do you handle it?

The Challenge: Serving a large, rural geographic area with diverse needs using limited staff and resources. Needs are often loosely defined and require programmatic solutions driven by collective community action.

How We Handle It: We prioritize strong partnerships and local connections. Extension’s role in this process is to identify needs using data collection and analysis, to present this data for community members to identify solutions, and by providing educational resources (classes, courses, workshops, etc.) for community-led action. By collaborating with Iron County schools, government offices, non-profits, and volunteers, we stretch our impact further and ensure programs reach every corner of the county.

6. How can people support UW-Extension Iron County?

Become a Volunteer: Do you have a skill that you would like to share with area youth? Get involved as a 4-H leader!

Participate & Spread the Word: Attend our workshops, webinars, and community meetings, and share event information with neighbors and friends.

Stay in the Know: Follow Extension Iron County and Iron County 4-H on social media and visit our website, iron.extension.wisc.edu for current info and a link to sign up for our monthly e-newsletter.

Share Your Input: Tell us what programs or resources Iron County needs most—community feedback guides our work.

Advocate for Extension: Voice support for Extension programs to local leadership and County Board members to help sustain funding and resources.