County board approves 1 percent tax funding for biomass project



The possibility of a biomass-fueled heating plant for Grand Marais continues to move toward reality. On September 11, 2012, the county board approved a request from the Cook County Local Energy Project (CCLEP) for the use of up to $355,000 of 1 percent recreation and infrastructure sales tax revenue for pursuit of a biomass heating facility in Grand Marais. Funding […]

Gunflint Trail’s “cultural significance” precludes safety improvements



The Gunflint Trail is not a safe road, according to County Engineer David Betts, but making is safer is looking impossible. County State Aid Highway 12 has narrow lanes, a lack of shoulders, trees impeding visibility, a long season of ice and snow, and lots of people driving fast around blind corners. Part of the process of developing a better […]

An Apple A Day



When I was growing up the saying was “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” It was a good thing I liked apples because I was sick a lot. Imagine how sick I would have been had I not liked apples! I had allergies as a kid and I still do. Apples don’t do much for allergies. I even […]

Native American UMD professor speaks on hope



“I want to talk about hope.” That’s how author, historian, educator, and University of Minnesota-Duluth education professor Thomas Peacock began a guest lecture sponsored by the Grand Portage Education Department at Grand Portage Lodge & Casino on August 30. Earlier in the day he had led a training for ISD 166 teachers on minimizing challenges Native American students deal with […]

“I Feel Yucky All Over”




Now that school is back in session, chances are your kids will get sick every now and again. For those times when they are not so sick that they are flat in bed but need to still stay home and rest, here are a few quiet time activities that will keep your under-the-weather, lonely child amused. Buttons and/ or noodles […]

Dairy Queen celebrates a great season— and great customers



It started with larger serving sizes and cheaper prices. Next came a revamping and refurbishing of the interior and exterior, with additional outside seating installed. But would it be enough to regenerate a business that had slumped? Proof would have to come from the public throughout the spring and summer. Would it be thumbs up? Or thumbs down? When the […]

November election is topic of Sept. 20 lecture



Cook County Higher Education will feature Wyman Spano, who will present The November Election: Who’s Going to Win, Who’s Going to Lose, and Why at the September Guest Lecture Series event on Thursday, Sept. 20, from 7 – 8:30 p.m. at the North Shore Campus in Grand Marais. Spano is founder and co-director of the Masters in Advocacy and Political […]

Fall Business Networking Luncheons announced



Cook County Higher Education has announced the fall schedule for its popular Business Networking Luncheons. On Sept. 26, the topic will be Marketing to Millennials, aimed at those who came of age after 2000. Lisa Hiebert of the Better Business Bureau will headline the program from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Cascade Lodge restaurant. The Business Networking Luncheon on […]

Monroe Crossing featured at ACA event



Grand Marais Playhouse will hold a special event at 7 p.m. Sept. 22 at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts, welcoming Monroe Crossing, with Bump and Barbara Jean as opening act, to the stage. Advance tickets are available online at www.arrowheadcenterforthearts. tix.com. Advance tickets are $17 for adults, $7 for students. Tickets at the door are $20 for adults, $10 […]

What can you reap from REEP?



REEP is a residential energy efficiency program, a pilot program aimed at reducing energy consumption in existing Cook County homes. The program is designed to give homeowners the tools required to learn about their home and make sound economic decisions about where and how to spend funds to improve their building. The pilot program will upgrade up to 10 homes […]