Property owners to the east of the Taconite Harbor Energy Center in Schroeder were startled on Thursday, August 25, when a mechanical problem at the power plant sent a cloud of fly ash out of the smokestacks— covering rooftops, decks, vehicles, trees and flowers— for about 1,000 feet along Lake Superior’s shoreline. Minnesota Power, which operates the Schroeder plant, has […]
Floatplane flips over on Devil Track Lake
A floatplane taking off from Devil Track Lake flipped over on the east end of the lake on Saturday, August 27, resulting in substantial damage to the plane, but no injuries to the pilot or three passengers. The plane, a 1960 Cessna 182 fixed wing single-engine owned by Dan Anderson of Grand Marais was piloted by Mike Raymond of Grand […]
Minnesota’s homestead tax credit gone
“In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” That’s what Benjamin Franklin wrote in 1789. Taxes are still as certain today, and they are about to get a little more painful in Minnesota. In the process of the legislature’s special session in July, when it hashed out budget arguments while non-essential state operations were […]
Problems with library addition found
County Commissioner Fritz Sobanja, a builder by trade, spent the weekend preceding the August 30 county board meeting measuring bolts, inspecting insulation, examining blueprints and engineering specs, making phone calls, and not sleeping. He had stopped at the site of the Grand Marais Public Library addition late in the week before and found some construction problems that needed to be […]
Keeping up with Chip Cravaack
I know there are a lot of people who don’t like U.S. Representative Chip Cravaack just because of his political leanings. I try not hold a person’s party affiliation against him. I’ve voted for Democrats, Republicans, and yes—I’ll admit it—I was one of the folks that voted for Independent candidate Jesse Ventura for governor. Sorry, it seemed like a good […]
Expense for commissioners’ desk lamps ludicrous
I for one am totally disgusted with the way the Cook County Board is spending our tax money. To spend over $3,200 on desk lights because one commissioner is afraid of compact fluorescent lights is ludicrous! Let’s not forget this foolishness next election! Fred DerwenkoGrand Marais
Dismissed from Farm and Craft Market
“Member owned and operated” – for all but three years of its existence, that has been the motto of the Cook County Farm and Craft Market. However, the way its board of directors run things, I think “Do as I say and not as I do” would be a much better fit. That edict might be useful when applied to […]
Double standard for Christians needs to be eliminated
I just couldn’t sit by as I read Geri Jensen’s letter in the August 20 Cook County News Herald. As Jeri so aptly put, “God didn’t do it. These were genuine acts of human kindness requiring human effort. Please give credit to whom the credit is due.” Geri was referring to a gathering near Harbor Park that has stirred up […]