At the Cook County Whole Foods Co-op public meeting on August 21, a group of co-op members agreed to work to save the four season mural created by local elementary school students, teachers and volunteers. The mosaic was scheduled for removal as renovation of the co-op moved ahead, but an effort is under way to keep the mural intact during […]
Agreements on community center proceeding in fits and starts
With the city of Grand Marais now free of any contractual obligations to Burbach Aquatics regarding its participation in new pool projects, Mayor Bear Carlson and city councilors Tim Kennedy, Bill Lenz, and Jan Sivertson met with the county board and the ISD 166 school board on August 23 to talk about the community center project. “We would like to […]
City council lists items for community center discussion with county
Grand Marais city councilors drafted a list of items they want to see included in discussions with the county regarding city support of a new community center and swimming pool. Addressing the topic at their Aug. 29 meeting, councilors said they were eager to be involved in the planning process, especially since threatened litigation precluded city participation until July 25, […]
Fall brings fire concerns
As several fires burn across the state, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources cautioned forest visitors about the intensifying wildfire threat. Because of the current high fire danger, the DNR is expanding available support resources, including firefighting aircraft and heavy equipment. Fire conditions change quickly and fire restrictions are in place in some parts of the state. For more information […]
Energy Plan ready for implementation
About 20 people attended an August 23 presentation on the new Cook County Energy Plan adopted this summer by the Grand Marais City Council and the Cook County Board of Commissioners. “We have an energy plan,” said Cook County Local Energy Project (CCLEP) organizer George Wilkes. “So now what do we do?” Implementing the program will take community effort, he […]
Depth of debt for community center should be considered
I read with great amusement the community center steering committee’s recent concern that the new pool be deep enough to support a diving board, lest they be criticized in the future for not making the pool deep enough. Heaven forbid. How about the taxpaying public being concerned in five to 10 years about the depth of the local debt and […]
Michigan comments on Cook County biomass
I am a resident of Traverse City, Michigan and a lifelong advocate of preserving the beautiful environment of the north woods. I am also one of the founding members of a grassroots citizens group that was successful in defeating the construction of a proposed wood-burning biomass power plant in Traverse City. I am writing because I was alarmed to hear […]
Duped by dogma?
Responding to Nelda’s Sept 1, 2012 letter. Someone may have reminded you by now that it was Republican congressman Todd Akin of Missouri who claimed an egg tends to repel a rapist’s sperm, when actually the rates of fertilization for rape and consensual intercourse are the same. He also used the thoughtless term “legitimate rape” which even he regrets. Jake […]
Free money and crepes
This won’t be proof because I suspect those siding with my recent letter would be more inclined to tell me so than those not agreeing. That has by far been the case. However, it is also true I heard hardly any public support for the center beforehand. The sense I had before writing and now after doing so remains much […]