Real traditions at Class of 2011 commencement



Commencement exercises for the Cook County High School Class of 2011 began with the traditional playing of Pomp and Circumstance and the nervous and solemn entry of the graduates on Saturday, June 4. Principal Gwen Carman welcomed friends and family to the crowded high school gymnasium and then all stood as the Cook County High School Band played the National […]

Bicyclist hit by trailer on Gunflint Trail



On Friday, June 3, 2011, Cook County Law Enforcement received a call at 3:15 p.m., reporting that a bicyclist had been hit by a tow truck pulling a travel trailer that did not stop. According to witnesses—the passing motorcyclist who made the 911 call and two other bicyclists—Julie Elizabeth Hull, 39, Farmington, MN, was traveling north on the Gunflint Trail […]

Park board turns down Harbor Friends offer



The Grand Marais Park Board turned down an offer of thousands of dollars’ worth of educational materials offered to the park on June 7 by Harbor Friends, a nonprofit organization founded in 2005 to “preseve the harbor and surrounding area as a multi-use recreational, cultural, economic and environmental jewel.” Spokesperson Molly Hoffman told the park board the organization is “ramping […]

New judge for Grand Portage Tribal Court



The Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa has its own Tribal Court. On May 20, 2011, in the historic Old Log School gym/meeting room, Grand Portage Tribal Chairman Norman Deschampe swore in the new chief judge for Grand Portage Tribal Court. The new judge is Christina “Tina” Deschampe. Tina Deschampe is a member of the Grand Portage Band of […]

School consolidates and makes room for public library



With the Grand Marais Public Library moving into its temporary space in the Cook County Schools complex in less than a week, the ISD 166 school board engaged in a civil but hearty debate on June 7 over where the district office to be displaced by the library would move. In the face of declining enrollment, the board has started […]

Cartoon



Stop community center, start recall campaign



How far does this have to go? There have been people raising their voices from the West End to Hovland to the Gunflint Trail in opposition to the size and timing of the community center white elephant. Now there is a website and petition to sign against it. How far does this have to go? I move to go one […]

Tofte should look for another tower location



I feel compelled to write a few words to AT&TMobility, Tofte Town Board and the residents ofTofte. As I/we explained to the town board, weare not against cell towers but are adamant andfeel strongly that the tower does not belong in theconfines of the small historical cemetery.It was evident to me that the township wasmore interested in the monetary values […]

Tree-free trails appreciated



As a daily user of the Superior Hiking Trail, I’ve been so appreciative these past few weeks of the progress achieved by the Conservation Corps in their spring trail cleanup. A bunch of us walk the six-mile section from Bally Creek to the Cascade River bridge at least once a week all year. This past winter’s windfalls almost curtailed our […]

Field guides, workbooks, kiosk perfect fit for Park



To the Grand Marais city councilors: At the June 7, 2011 park board meeting, the park was offered the Outdoor Classroom Program for free, with no strings attached, along with a cash gift of over $6,000. The program, valued at more than $150,000, includes many hundreds of copies of nine field guides, three youth workbooks, and three family coloring books; […]