EDA housing program ups and downs



Cook County – Grand Marais Economic Development Authority (EDA) housing program coordinator Nancy Grabko shared some really good news with the EDA at its June 14 meeting, followed by some potentially bad news. The good news was that the long-awaited reply to the housing program’s request for funds for housing and commercial building rehabilitation has been received—the Lake-Cook County housing […]

Down Memory Lane



10 Years Ago · July 9, 2001 A small fire in the Sea Gull Lake area on July 3 was reported by a cabin owner at 2:30 a.m. and quickly contained by the Gunflint Trail Volunteer Fire Department and Forest Service crews. It is thought that a spark escaped a chimney and landed in a nearby lichen. The chimney was […]

Energy summits address challenges and possibilities



How much of the community’s mental energy and financial resources should be spent on reducing the use of fossil fuels to power and heat homes, government offices, and businesses? Should we be concerned about increasing energy efficiency and finding renewable sources of energy? These are questions being addressed by the Cook County Local Energy Project (CCLEP) and initiatives they have […]

Big ideas at Small Footprint Living Fair



The Small Footprint Living Fair June 24 and 25 delivered many innovative ideas to participants, with tours of energy efficient homes, a report on Silver Bay’s new eco-park, a guide to raising bees, and hands-on workshops on building greenhouses and rain barrels. The keynote speaker the first day was forest certification expert and Dovetail Partners Executive Director Katie Fernholz, talking […]

Work begins on Devil Track Road



Part of the busy summer of road repairs and construction in Cook County includes reconstruction of a section of County Road 8, the Devil Track Road. Work began on Wednesday, June 6, beginning from a half mile south of County Road 18, the South Shore Drive to the Airport Road. The contractor, KGM Contractors, Inc. of Angora, MN, will begin […]

Broadband commission adjusts direction



With the construction of broadband Internet infrastructure now in private hands, the Cook County Broadband Commission has been rethinking its role. Toward that end, at the June 28 county board meeting the group proposed changes to a 2009 ordinance establishing a county-run fiber optic network and a commission to oversee it. A memo to the county board from Information Systems […]

You can’t go back…or can you?



In large letters, the sign still advertises “Chinese Food— Szechwan Star,” but the building is deserted. No lights shine from within and the parking lot is overgrown with weeds. “I can’t believe it’s closed.” I am shocked. So is my husband. He turns off the ignition and we sit in the empty parking lot. Deflated and depressed. We had planned […]

Chris Silver to perform at Gunflint Tavern July 14



Chris Silver will perform at the Gunflint Tavern at 8 p.m. Thursday, July 14. Best known as an award-winning flatpick guitar and mandolin player, Silver is frequently heard at festivals, theaters, clubs and radio shows throughout the country. Formerly of the band Stoney Lonesome and the Kate Mackenzie Band, Silver has taken his roots and Americana music to new levels. […]

Photos



“Friends of Brad” Memorial Foundation announces musician’s fellowship



The Friends of Brad Memorial Foundation is pleased to announce a fellowship opportunity for young musicians in the Arrowhead region (St. Louis, Carlton, Lake or Cook counties) of Minnesota. The foundation has created the Bridge Fellowship program in order to assist young musicians in the transition period between formal training and the onset of a professional music career. The foundation […]