For months, the public has been watching the construction activity at the Grand Marais Public Library, wondering when the library renovation would be complete and what expansion—from 4,300 square feet to 7,200—will look like. The wait to see the results of the $1,487,561.56 project is finally over. On Monday, December 5, 2011, the Grand Marais Library will once again open […]
Citizens question county spending in light of proposed tax levy
A group of 23 people, comprised of elected officials, county department heads and staff, and members of the public, gathered at the courthouse November 28, 2011 to discuss the proposed county budget and levy. One theme of the evening was how the county would deal with continued uncertainty over federal and state funding and how long local citizens could pick […]
County grants flexibility for small lot septics
On November 22, the county board voted to amend the county zoning ordinance to conform to new state standards. They made a bold move to deviate from statutory language, however, by leaving out two little words. The Cook County Planning Commission has spent several months coming up with a proposal for amending Article 9 of the zoning ordinance—on “non-nonconforming uses […]
Shopping for that special something
Is Christmas shopping getting you down? Do you have a long list of people to purchase presents for and no ideas what to get them? Are you frustrated because you finally found and ordered the perfect gift only to find that it is on backorder? Sorry, this column will be of no help to you. Although I share the frustration […]
Outdoor groups join Pow Wow Trail preservation effort
Expressing concerns over the possible closing of the Pow Wow hiking trail in Superior National Forest, representatives of nine hiking, outdoor and environmental groups have signed a letter to Superior National Forest supervisor Jim Sanders requesting to keep the 30-mile trail on the hiking trail list. Last October the Pagami Creek Fire burned down 145 square miles of the Boundary […]
Bible is not the place to look for role models
Why should one be more disgusted about the Penn State football sex tragedy than the abuses of the Catholic Church, Baptist Church, Boy Scouts, our military, or any organization which harbors leaders who prey on our children and young adults? Why did these people, men mostly, go wrong? Selfishness? Power and paternalism? Rae Piepho suggested in her letter of Nov […]
Where would we be without the love of God?
“For God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” This is a continuation of my letter of November 19 regarding the Penn State tragedy. Where would any of us be without the love of God? I would be lost and without hope. I come […]
