Cook County advances to Section 7A Semifinals



The Cook County girls’ basketball team won its first two playoff games to advance in the Section 7A playoffs. In second-round play, the Vikings trampled the Lions of Lakeview Christian Academy, 77-16. Cook County then survived a quarterfinal scare by beating the Cherry Tigers, 48-46. The two playoff wins improve the Vikings’ overall season record to 23-4. On Thursday, March […]

Martinson leads Vikings past Two Harbors—

finish regular season 8-12

The Cook County boys’ basketball team finished its regular season with a 56-38 win over the Two Harbors’ Agates. The win brought the Vikings’ overall season record to 8-12. To start the game, the Vikings tried to run their “opening tip” play in which Mike Austin tips the ball forward to teammate Ryan Martinson. While the tip takes place, a […]

Exciting curling action at annual mixed bonspiel



The Cook County Curling Club held its annual mixed bonspiel over the weekend of February 26 – 28, 2010. A total of 12 teams participated in the international event, with six teams from Canada and six teams from the North Shore for hearty international competition. A Round Robin format was used for this event with the final outcome used to […]

Where are the fish biting?



Warm weather has brought the fishermen out in force and John at Buck’s Hardware said there have been reports of good walleye fishing on South Fowl Lake in 6 – 8 feet water using jig and minnow by the river. Fishermen stopping by Buck’s Hardware have been catching lake trout on Gunflint Lake in 25 feet of water, down 10 […]

Marching into spring



It was a beautiful weekend on the Gunflint Trail and the wife and I decided to celebrate her 30th birthday at the cabin. Saganaga was busy with anglers on both the Minnesota and Canadian sides. Fishing was much better than the week before and the girls actually laid out in the sun while trying to catch a trout. If you […]

Cook County Trail Conditions



Cook County Ridgeriders This week’s update from Sky Dan: “We rode all the trails on Sunday and the conditions varied a lot. Starting at Devil Track Lake it is recommended not to use the X trail up to Two Island Lake. There will be a lot of bare spots and dirt. From there the Expressway had some fair conditions up […]

New Arrivals



Keifer and Laurel Stratmoen of Boyd, Minn., announce the birth of a daughter, Claire Marie, at 6:15 a.m. Feb. 22, 2010, at Montivideo, Minn. Claire weighed 6 pounds, 10 ounces and was 19 ½ inches long. The new arrival was welcomed home by her 2-year-old brother Carson; grandparents Jennie and Pat Hennessy of Grand Marais, and Janet and Keith Stratmoen […]

Thomas J. Loney,



Thomas J. Loney, 63, of Saginaw, died March 6, 2010 at Cloquet Community Memorial Hospital. He was born July 31, 1946 in Roanoke, Va., to Robert and Mildred (Sagdalen) Loney. He attended school in Cook County. He married Sandra Fall on July 1, 1967. He was a U.S. Navy veteran, and a retired supervisor from Flemming Foods. He enjoyed bingo, […]

Brian J. Mathson,



Brian J. Mathson, 63, of Grand Marais, died February 8, 2010, in an automobile accident in Lake County. Brian was born Sept. 28, 1946 to Erma Estella Thomas and Melvin Ferninand Mathson in Shawano, Wis. He attended Irwin Elementary School in DePere, Wis., and graduated from DePere High School. He earned a bachelor of science degree in Recreation Administration from […]

Mary Jo Winchell,



Mary Jo Winchell, 87, of Richfield, passed away peacefully on Feb. 22, 2010. Mary Jo was born March 23, 1922 in Racine, Wis. She was preceded in death by her husband, William Harrison; mother, Amy Connolly; brother, James Connolly; and many dear friends and relatives. A former kindergarten teacher in Milwaukee and Minneapolis, she was joyously employed at Regina High […]