Grand Portage woman injured at Rock Cut



A Grand Portage woman was taken to the Cook County North Shore Hospital July 17 after her vehicle veered off Highway 61 and crashed near the Rock Cut. The accident was reported to 911 at 4:14 p.m. by a driver who saw the vehicle behind his leave the road. The caller said the driver appeared to be unconscious at first, […]

County roads to get durable striping



Cook County will be getting a good deal on road striping and sealing this summer. Bill Parish of the Cook County Highway Department asked the county board Tuesday, July 21, 2009 to approve awarding a contract to AAA Striping of Rogers, Minnesota, which submitted the lower of two bids. Highway Engineer Shae Kosmalski’s estimate for the project was over $282,000, […]

In other news



» A 40-foot Ham radio tower will be put up on the garage behind the Cook County Law Enforcement Center with funds from a 2005 Homeland Security grant. The tower will improve coordination of countywide efforts during disasters and emergencies. Local volunteer Ham radio operators have traditionally assisted law enforcement agencies communicate in remote areas during times of greatest need. […]

Is this the postracial period?



 Just prior to the inauguration of President Obama I saw a young (twenty or thirty something) African American woman interviewed on PBS and she spoke of living in the "Post Racial" period in the US. Post Racial? I heard another interviewee allude to the election of Mr. Obama as "turning the page" on racism in this country. I guess I […]

Hospital board discusses its place in biomass possibilities



During the last year, Cook County North Shore Hospital has been the subject of numerous conversations regarding public buildings that could benefit from cheaper, cleaner sources of energy. At its Thursday, July 16, 2009 meeting, however, the hospital board questioned the role it wants to play in those discussions. Spearheading many of the community conversations is the Cook County Local […]

Superior National Forest welcomes new Deputy Supervisor



On July, Mark Hummel joined the leadership team on the Superior National Forest. As the Deputy Forest Supervisor, Hummel will assist with overall management of programs across the three-million acre Forest. During his career, Hummel has worked on various national forests. He began on the Toiyabe National Forest in Sparks, Nevada where his duties required travel across the Forest shooting […]

Tofte supports freedom in sign design



Just before the start of the monthly Tofte town board meeting Thursday, July 9, 2009, the Tofte Design Review Committee met to consider a request from the county’s Planning and Zoning Department. Dennis Rysdahl, owner of Bluefin Bay and Surfside, plans to change the face of an off-premise billboard, and the county sent a letter to the Tofte Design Review […]

North Shore Federal Credit Union approved as SBA lender



The U.S. Small Business Administration has announced that North Shore Federal Credit Union (Silver Bay, Lutsen and Grand Marais) has been approved as an SBA lender. Dale Klobuchar of the Grand Marais branch of the credit union is pleased to have another tool to assist customers. Mel Boser, lender relations specialist of Minnesota’s SBA district office, said, “We are delighted […]

Schroeder votes to withdraw from sanitary sewer tax district



Schroeder town supervisors Catherine Johnson and Ross Willson passed a motion Tuesday, July 14, 2009 to pursue withdrawal from the Tofte-Schroeder Sanitary Sewer District (TSSSD) and voted to consult an attorney to help them through the process. Supervisor Bill McKeever was not at the meeting. West End resident Tom Spence, an attorney himself, attended the meeting to help the board […]

Bakk receives ‘Legislator of Distinction’ Award



State Sen. Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook, was presented with the 2009 League of Minnesota Cities Legislator of Distinction Award. Bakk was recognized for his leadership in crafting the 2009 Omnibus Tax Bill that would have preserved the state-local fiscal partnership to meet the needs of rural, suburban, and urban main streets across Minnesota. Bakk was also the lead author of Leaguesupported […]