About 40 people turned out for the Tuesday, April 10 public input meeting on the proposed Cook County Community Center—less than 1 percent of the county’s 5,176 permanent residents. Whether or not such a small sampling of the population can provide an adequate representation of the county’s overall opinion of the community center project may be questioned. But there was […]
School board supports attaching community center to school on 3-2 vote
I.S.D. 166 school board members who were in attendance at the Cook County Community Center Steering Committee public input meeting on Tuesday, April 10 picked up the debate where it had been left off at a school board work session the next day. The discussion started with Steering Committee Chair Paul Sporn making an appeal to the school board to […]
Grand Portage election recount has same results for June ballot
A recount of ballots cast in the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa 2012 primary election showed a slightly different number of votes cast for the Reservation Tribal Council (RTC) committeeman seat, however, the difference was not enough to change the outcome of the election. Robert J. Hull and Marie Spry will go on to the general election on […]
Tee time for Superior National renovations
The Cook County/Grand Marais Economic Development Authority (EDA) made its first official request for reimbursement of Superior National at Lutsen golf course renovation costs at the April 10 county board meeting, but questions arose as to what exactly the renovation plan is. So far, four businesses have billed a total of $47,886.87 for pre-design and site evaluation work. Commissioner Sue […]
Grownup and waterproof
A couple of years ago, on Easter, my daughter-in-law Michele and the grandkids bought me a pair of mud boots. Not just any mud boots. These are a riotous, swirling, Easter Egg-patterned pair of mud boots. The kids thought I needed the boots because I was always complimenting them on their cool mud boots. I was always threatening to steal […]
Code of ethics of some kind is important
To save space I will use points: Using quotes without the context can go on forever and prove nothing. If you read the whole Smithsonian article mentioned by Geri you will find that Roger Williams wanted to protect religion from government, not the other way around. He, and later the founding fathers, recognized that for government to have an established […]
Grand Marais citizens must get involved
What will spark Grand Marais area citizens to get involved? West End citizens’ groups work on fire hall expansion, water pipeline, assisted living units, the road expansion past Papa Charlie’s to accommodate development, etc. Their accomplishments include restoration projects on the Poplar River and the controversial Superior National at Lutsen golf course (SNL). The golf course was built using lodging […]
Plan and prepare for severe weather
Minnesota saw its first tornado of 2012 on March 19. It traveled about seven miles near the town of Elysian, causing moderate damage. Tornadoes are not rare. In 2010, we faced 104 of these powerfully destructive storms. Every year, Minnesotans are injured and property is destroyed by the inevitable weather threats that come with spring and summer. The Minnesota Department […]