At long last, Grand Portage is going to have cell phone service. On November 20, the county board approved contracts with Grand Portage and New Cingular Wireless for a county owned tower to be constructed on Grand Portage tribal land. New Cingular Wireless will pay for the construction of the tower and in exchange will pay no rent during a […]
Snow making more efficient with Lutsen Mountains’ new snow guns
The purchase of 32 new SMI Pole Cat snow guns has doubled Lutsen’s fleet of high-efficiency guns, which use less electricity and water, but make more snow. These snowmaking machines are each equipped with their own mini weather stations, which measure temperature and humidity to automatically adjust the optimum mixture of air and water flow. “Having twice as many high-efficiency […]
Community center demolition bids accepted
Bids for demolition, excavation, and the foundation of the new community center to be built onto the west wing of the Cook County Schools complex came in over budget, but Project Manager Mark Kragenbring of ORB Management expects savings in some areas to more than make up for the overage. The low bids were approved at the November 20 county […]
Solar panels installed at Gunflint Hills Golf Course
This fall, Brian Bennett of Outback Solar Electric completed the solar array installation of the largest Cook County Local Energy Project (CCLEP) renewable energy project to date. The project includes 39 solar photovoltaic panels assembled by Silicon Energy in Mt. Iron, Minnesota, rated at 190 watts each. The power generated by the array is grid tied, which means the electricity […]
Bakk looking forward to 2013 legislative session
I am honored to have been re-elected to represent Northern Minnesota in the state Senate. Minnesotans of all political stripes cast a record number of ballots on Election Day 2012, and I would like to thank everyone who participated in our state’s democratic process. Elected office is a tremendous and humbling responsibility, and I am grateful for the opportunity to […]
Think about dogs during trapping season
Trapping season is upon us again. Those of you who own dogs may be interested in this new organization: www.doglovers4safetrappingmn.org. They are promoting some pretty reasonable measures to make trapping safer for dogs. George Wilkes Grand Marais
Election is over, we are still divided
Now that the state and federal election is over, we have a state and a people divided on just about everything. We as a people have gained nothing. There was no slam-dunk on anything. The fighting in Washington will go on. The stand we have taken as a people in Minnesota on important issues will go on, we will stay […]
UN organized Territory
An end to ignorancePerhaps there are some in the community who would rather just forget that during the election season someone, under cover of darkness, snuck onto private property and using black spray paint scribbled KKK on a campaign sign. Not just once, but several times, driving several miles to spread this angry message. Part of me wants to forget it as well. […]