Tears and hugs at CCHS graduation



Commencement exercises for the Cook County High School Class of 2012 began and ended with tears and hugs on Saturday, June 2 in the high school gym. As the 27 graduates entered solemnly to Pomp and Circumstance by the CCHS band, many graduates held hands. Three friends broke tradition a little bit—Lauren Murray, Annika Stone, and Michaela Buchheit—entered together, arms […]

Marathon meetings for community center planners



Tuesday and Wednesday, June 5 and 6 were marathon meeting days for the members of the Cook County Community Center Steering Committee and the various governmental entities they represent, with a joint work session of the county commissioners, Grand Marais City Council and ISD 166 school board in the morning of June 5, a community input session on the evening […]

Grand Portage Tribal Council election is June 12



The Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa will hold its 2012 general election on Tuesday, June 12. Polls open at 8 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. at the Old Log Community Building. Two people are running for the Reservation Tribal Council (RTC) committeeman seat, Robert J. Hull and Marie Spry. The candidates are running for the seat currently […]

EDA housing program receives housing, commercial rehab funding



After months of gathering documentation on Cook County’s housing situation, Cook County – Grand Marais Economic Development Authority (EDA) Housing Coordinator Nancy Grabko was happy to share some good news this week. At the May EDA meeting, Grabko said she didn’t expect notification about a potential grant until late June, however on June 4, 2012, she sent out an e-mail […]

City rain garden agreement still under review



Kerrie Fabius of the Cook County Soil & Water District visited Grand Marais city councilors May 30 to present and review a grant agreement between the city and volunteer caretakers of two proposed rain gardens. Unfortunately, the document was deemed unacceptable and sent back to the city’s attorney for further revision and clarification. Fabius explained that council approved the contribution […]

Candidates file for county commissioner



When the Cook County Auditor’s office closed at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, June 5, the filing period to be on the ballot in the November 2012 election also closed. Fortunately, all of the county seats on the ballot have a candidate running. And in the case of the county commissioner seats—three candidates. Incumbent Fritz Sobanja currently holds the commissioner district […]

Cartoon



Grandparent pitch




I don’t know if our community had T-ball and Parent Pitch baseball when I was a kid. I don’t remember ever hearing about it. But I wasn’t a very athletic kid, so even if I had, I probably would not have wanted to join a team. I always enjoyed quiet and calm activities—walking in the woods, picking wildflowers, tossing a […]

City didn’t hold public meetings on supporting community center



I thought the News-Herald article City council votes to pursue swimming pool litigation was about the city’s problem with Burbach Aquatic Inc. The resolution passed on May 9, 2012 is titled: A Resolution Authorizing Legal Council To File An Action For Declaratory Judgment Against Burbach Aquatics, Inc. Most of us would not have guessed the resolution also “supports Cook County’s […]

North Shore service greatly appreciated



Our trip from Mankato to Grand Marais for an extended weekend hit a speed bump on Saturday, June 2. After a brief stop at Palisade Head to take in the view, the instrument panel of our Camry indicated that a rear tire was leaking air. Not such a big deal, except that our cell phones were not working and it […]