Perhaps we shouldn’t cross the bridge before we come to it



Being a new member of the North Shore community and subscriber to the Cook County News-Herald, I am reserving judgment on the merits of many of the projects being proposed for Cook County and Grand Marais but I am enjoying the vigorous debate of those projects in the pages of the News-Herald. However, somewhere along the line I must have […]

Concerned about wolves in “downtown” Hovland



The August 13 article Horse attacked, dog killed by wolves brings up a few questions. It states Cook County is in federal Wolf Management Zone 1 not allowing lethal wolf control or trapping. Also stated were “non-lethal methods” suggested by officials for technical assistance. Some suggestions were the use of lights, flagging and not allowing pets out at night or […]

Consent from members should have been sought for broadband project



Earlier this year we received a copy of The High Line, a publication of the Arrowhead Electric Cooperative. The page one feature was their vision of providing high speed broadband computer service “to every property in Cook County receiving electric service from AECI and the Grand Marais PUC.” The page one article thanks all who have supported Arrowhead in their […]

Note to Mr. Mayor, Mr. Bear



Lately local politics have not made much sense. I was hoping my science teacher could help. God knows we need a miracle — is it you? I’m quite sure no voter expected to see two Cook County community centers within the city of Grand Marais. Over $325,000 has been spent and no plan! Bedrock could have been drilled and removed […]

Mining companies experimenting on NE Minnesota



I attended Rep. Cravaack’s “Town Hall” held in Grand Portage on August 10. When he opened up the floor for questions, many people there pressed him on the issue of sulfide mining. I personally asked him to cite one example of a non-polluting copper nickel mine anywhere in the world. He was unable to give an example, because there aren’t […]

Popcorn and parenting




I don’t know how the subject came up, but I recently had a delightful discussion of parenting— and popcorn—with my younger son, Gideon. We discovered that we both greatly enjoy the all-too-few half-popped kernels in the bottom of the microwave popcorn bag after all the perfectly fluffy popcorn pieces are gone. I think those half-popped kernels— the ones that open […]

Cravaack holds town hall meeting in Grand Portage



After serving seven months in office as the Congressional Representative for the 8th Congressional District, Chip Cravaack said he doesn’t have all of the answers to the nation’s woes, but he does know one thing for sure, “We must cut out-of-control spending and rein in the federal deficit,” he told a crowd of about 30 people gathered at the Grand […]

Weekly Weather



Relax and enjoy A View of the Lake



A View of the Lake is a delightful book, sure to engage even those readers who don’t know Beryl Singleton-Bissell from the column she wrote for the Cook County News-Herald from 1998 to 2008. For those who know Beryl, the essays about her move to the North Shore may seem familiar—but it’s the familiarity of a dear old friend. This […]

End of summer scavenger hunt




August is here and that means the end of summer is near. It’s time to start thinking about going back to school. Make the transition easy and fun by turning it into a family scavenger hunt. On this list are both school and end of summer nature signs. Before you run to the store for all new school supplies, do […]