What would it take to create a more active community? That was the question of the day at the Cook County Active Living Summit on November 14 at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts. The purpose of a community-wide active living initiative would be to improve health, promote a sense of community, and increase quality of life, according to Kristin […]
Two businesses to receive commercial rehab assistance
In October, the Cook County – Grand Marais Economic Development Authority (EDA) agreed not to seek funding for commercial rehab projects in 2013. Nancy Grabko of Community Fundraising Solutions (CFS), the EDA’s housing coordinator, explained that the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) wanted current commercial rehab projects to be at least 75 percent complete before another grant […]
Superior National gets county funding for improvements
The county board has puts its money where its mouth is in regard to funding improvements at Superior National Golf Course at Lutsen. On November 13, the board committed $3.1 million of the county’s 1 percent recreation and infrastructure sales tax revenue that it had previously agreed to reserve for the golf course. The project had been downsized from over […]
County approves community center contracts
The county’s new community center will be quite a collaborative effort. Coming to agreements with Cook County Schools, the Grand Marais City Council, and the Duluth YMCA was a rather complicated process, but on November 13 the county board approved contracts with all three entities. The school, the city, and the YMCA had all reviewed and made changes to contracts […]
Blaze orange needed not just for wolf season
This reply is to the short but to the point letter on the late season wolf and trapping season from Tim Suck. First off, that is just the way Tim is. But people must remember that even if there wasn’t a late season wolf hunt, small game hunting season is still going on. By law, to be afield and in […]
Time to move forward on marriage equality
To say I am overjoyed that Minnesota has made the choice not to ban marriage equality would be an understatement. As a recently married straight person, I hope that we are now one step closer to making it possible for all people, regardless of sexual orientation, to share in the responsibility, joy, and commitment that marriage means. Although this is […]
Proud of Minnesota’s marriage amendment no vote
I feel so proud of Minnesota for voting no on the marriage amendment. I supported voting no because I wanted to be an example for my children. I think that it is important to speak up for the rights of all people regardless of any personal consequences. In the years to come I believe we will look back on this […]
Uplifted by Ojibwe language
I want to commend everyone involved in the development of Ojibwemowin classes for both middle school and high school students. It is a terrific idea. And News-Herald writer Jane Howard did a great job in presenting this story to us in your most recent issue. I am almost ashamed to admit that for more than 60 years of home ownership […]
Government is only fooling itself
It’s easy to find the landmines in the YMCA pro-forma income statement where the Y predicts operating costs, revenue, and losses. The problems start in the revenue column with first year predictions at $172,763 climbing to $237,240 in year five. These figures are based on local use without tourists, which they predict will skyrocket. Current figures at the Rec. Park […]
EPA should halt use of pesticides that harm bees
The recent article by Jane Howard in the News-Herald about local beekeeper Mark Ditmanson brought home the problem of “Colony Collapse Disorder.” A related article in Solutions, a publication of the Minnesota College of Food, Agriculture and Natural Science (CFAN), by Becky Buyers is about Vera Krischik and her Department of Entomology lab. Killer in a Bottle explores how neonicotinoids, […]