Two months into the collection of a 1% Cook County sales and use tax, county commissioners have started reporting on progress toward implementing several capital improvement projects earmarked for income from the tax. County Auditor-Treasurer Braidy Powers told the county board Tuesday, June 8, 2010 that about $37,000-38,000 was collected in April, the first month of the tax. The county […]
New lights for Honeymoon Tower
The cost of saving Honeymoon Tower residents from the “light pollution” caused by a beacon flashing through their curtains every night, especially torturous during the long, leafless, reflective-snowy nights of winter, will be $10,000. The Honeymoon Tower will be getting new lights sometime in July at the same time some old equipment is removed. County commissioners may escape vilification over […]
No emerald ash borer workshop in Cook County
To help Minnesota communities prepare for the invasion of the emerald ash borer (EAB), University of Minnesota Extension, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will offer several workshops around the state during the month of June. However, the workshop scheduled to be held in Grand Marais on June 14 has been cancelled due to low […]
Sandvik announces plan to retire from judicial career
Before sitting down for an interview with the Cook County News- Herald on Tuesday, June 8, Judge Kenneth Sandvik dealt with a probation issue in the Cook County courtroom. Noting that a defendant was familiar to him, Sandvik said he had watched the person “grow up here.” Sandvik quipped, “Another reason I’m getting too old to be sitting here.” Sandvik […]
Sentence-to-Serve program intact after state funding cut
The Sentence-to-Serve program is going to continue full swing despite the fact that the state will now fund only 25% of the cost instead of 50%. On Tuesday, May 18, 2010, the county board voted to approve an amendment to its two-year cost-sharing contract with the state. The county’s share this year will be $56,991, 75% of the program’s cost, […]
Arrowhead’s green building gets gold
Arrowhead Electric Cooperative, Inc. (AECI) held an open house to show off its newly remodeled and expanded Lutsen headquarters building in June 2008. When the $2.5 million project was complete, the electric cooperative thought it was days or weeks away from obtaining certification from the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. However, that was […]
PUC customers receive very surprising and disturbing water bill
Tim and Beth Kennedy had a very high water bill last month for a house they rent out in Grand Marais – about $1,800. Thewater meters both inside and outside the house agreed: During the last billing cycle, 120,000 gallons of water had seemingly run out a pipe inside the house and into the city sewer system. Veteran Public Utilities […]
Plan ahead for a blue ribbon fair
What do bingo, broccoli, bands, begonias, and a “Bounce House” have in common? All can be found at the upcoming 2010 Cook County Fair August 20 – 21 at the Community Center in Grand Marais. This year’s fair will feature the traditional exhibits, of course. The community loves to see the robust tomatoes, huge potatoes, and other offerings from the […]
Underwater Adventures Aquarium at Library
The Grand Marais Public Library is excited to offer a morning presentation by the Underwater Adventures Aquarium Tuesday, June 15 at 11:00 on the public library lawn. Come to handle live crabs, urchins, and sea stars and learn about why water and aquatic life is important! This friendly event is entirely free and open to the public and funded in […]