01/08/2019- Ice breaking operations on the Menominee River will take place this week in preparation for the next littoral combat ship launch at Fincantieri Marinette Marine. Ice breaking begins Thursday and will be conducted by private contractors on tug boats in order to allow the ship to launch safely and accommodate ship movements. The affected area spans from the US 41 bridge downriver to the Ogden Street Bridge and operations run through Sunday. During this time, ice conditions will be unstable, and people are urged not to walk on the ice. Additionally, due to unusually high water levels, launch spectators on the Menominee side of the river should exercise extreme caution Saturday as the resulting wave from the launch could sweep that side of the river bank. It’s LCS 23, the future USS Cooperstown, that will splash down at the shipyard Saturday.