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Changing of the light



A chapter closed in the storied history of the Grand Marais lighthouse on Wednesday, September 5, 2012. The era of the Fresnel lens came to a close as the U.S. Coast Guard upgraded the beacon to a modern, solar-powered light. Fortunately for lighthouse fans and history buffs, the antique lens did not go far. With the help of a lampist, […]

Lutsen artist dies in fall



Lutsen First Responders and Cook County Ambulance were called to a home on Deeryard Lake in Lutsen at 11:32 a.m. on Thursday, September 6. Kara Dawn Pavelich, 44, had fallen approximately 20 feet from a second-story balcony. It is not known exactly when Pavelich fell. Her husband, Mark Pavelich, 54, told Cook County Sheriff’s Office Deputies that he had been […]

Eight local businesses losing seasonal resort tax status



A number of Cook County lodging establishments are going to be paying a lot more in property taxes next year than they have been paying in recent years. Eight properties will now be classified as commercial rather than seasonal resorts after a review by County Assessor/Land Commissioner Mary Black and Larry Austin, Cook County’s Minnesota Department of Revenue property tax […]

City seeks help from county on bond payments



With the county poised to set its maximum 2013 levy amount, Grand Marais City Administrator Mike Roth went before the county board on September 11, 2012 to request that they discuss with the city a plan for how future bond payments on Cedar Grove Business Park—owned by the Cook County/Grand Marais Economic Development Authority (EDA)—will be made. In a letter […]

Cartoon



Cooler weather— calmer traffic?




I’m glad that fall has arrived. I like cooler weather. If I didn’t have to work, I wouldn’t mind 80-degree temperatures. If I could spend hot afternoons on the cool beach rocks of Lake Superior, soaking my feet in the water, I wouldn’t mind summer’s heat. If I had enough free time to float around an inland lake in a […]

Good Samaritan on Centennial Trail



I want to thank the kind person who found my driver’s license on the Centennial Trail and promptly mailed it to me. Renee EthierSavage, MN

Voter ID laws will silence voters



I have a longstanding illness which prevents me from going to public places. I vote by mail. If you vote to pass the proposed voter ID laws, I can’t meet its requirement to appear in person at the polling place with my picture ID. My voice will be silenced. You will also silence the voices of so many others—like soldiers […]

Give the $9 million away



I suggest we give the proposed $9 million for the new Cook County community center to the contractors, suppliers of materials, construction workers, engineers, etc. They, in turn, would not construct anything, but we could collect taxes on what we paid them and the county would not be saddled with a facility that will, in the long run, lose many […]