Royalty at Rendezvous



County rezoning case on its way to state Supreme Court



On August 4, 2009, the county lost a court of appeals case regarding a rezoning request, but on the recommendation of the Minnesota Counties Insurance Trust (MCIT) and attorneys consulted by Cook County, the county board voted August 11 to allow the case to go to the Minnesota Supreme Court. On September 11, 2001, as planes were flying into the […]

Housing program “not a shell game”



At the Tuesday, August 11, 2009 meeting of the Cook County – Grand Marais Economic Development Authority (EDA), the housing administrator hired by the authority expressed frustration at hearing that some local government officials had referred to the Cook – Lake County Housing Program as a “shell game.” Nancy Grabko, whose company, Community Fundraising Solutions (CFS), was hired in early […]

Lutsen debates cemetery, broadband



At the Tuesday, July 21 Lutsen Town Meeting, surveyor Jeff Brett gave a report on the work he had done regarding a potential expansion of the Lutsen Cemetery. His crew has surveyed and Cook County Soil & Water has visited the proposed expansion site and it has been determined that approximately 180 grave sites could be added. He noted that […]

County board discusses Caribou Lake water quality



Water sampling of Caribou Lake has been going on for years, and property owners around the lake may be paying for it to continue. Cook County Planning & Zoning Director Tim Nelson proposed that the county assess a fee through the subordinate service district (SSD) that covers Agnes, Ward, Bigsby, and Caribou lakes. A document by Bob Reid of the […]

Lower escrow approved for sprinkler vendors



On Tuesday, August 11, 2009, the county board approved a motion to reduce the amount approved wildfire sprinkler installers must set aside in escrow from $20,000 to $10,000. A sprinkler review board, overseeing a grant to help homeowners install outdoor wildfire sprinklers, recommended the change. On July 28, the county board failed—in a split vote—to pass the same motion. At […]

Couple charged with kidnapping, sexual assault



A charge of felony criminal sexual conduct in the second degree was added August 5, 2009 to five other charges against Kevin Thompson, 52, of Grand Marais. His wife, Susan Ann Thompson, 40, has now been charged with aiding and abetting her husband and is facing five of the same offenses against the alleged victim. The charge of felony criminal […]

Fishing Museum raffle winners announced



The North Shore Commercial Fishing Museum in Tofte has announced the winners of its Aug. 10 fundraising raffle: Commercial Fishing with Dale Tormondsen — Orville and Donna Lunke, Grand Marais; Charter Fishing with North Coast Charters — Nancy and Paul Millus, Bellerose Village, N.Y.; Lutsen Mountain Stay and Ski package — Doug Brace, Bloomington; two rounds of golf with cart […]

CORRECTION:



» In the August 1, 2009 Cook County News-Herald front-page article on the Grand Marais Park Board’s Master Plan, a statement about the park being a necessity for people who can’t afford to stay in a hotel when they come to town was attributed to park guest Al Brodie (p. A4). Brodie called the News-Herald office August 7 to say […]

Lutsen men rescue loon



On Tuesday morning, July 28, a loon was discovered on the side of the road at Peninsula Point Trail near the Caribou Trail in Lutsen. Pat Vaughan was riding his bike when he noticed the loon. He was able to contact the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Dave Ingebrigtsen of the DNR Wildlife Division provided advice and contacted another […]