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Director tells city council North House is “thriving”



North House Folk School Director Greg Wright visited Grand Marais city councilors March 13 to present the school’s 2012 annual report. And as usual, the results were positive and upbeat. “In a word, things are thriving,” Wright said of the 16-year-old facility located on city property on the Lake Superior shore. “And thank you is the most important thing to […]

Assessor’s office to add new position



After several weeks of discussing Assessor Betty Schultz’s request to add a technical clerk position to her department, the county board voted on March 12, 2013 to create a 35-hour-a-week position that will be reviewed in five years and terminated within six years. With the help of her staff, Schultz is implementing a new computer system that will track property […]

Work continues to keep costs down on YMCA project



As the Cook County Family YMCA facility moves through the construction process, those involved in making it happen are trying to save money wherever possible and make good use of space. Recent decisions regarding locker rooms are going to affect programming at Cook County Schools and the county’s building fund. On March 11, Project Manager Mark Kragenbring of ORB Management […]

Accidental line cut causes power outage



Unexpectedly, at about 2:45 p.m. on March 19, 2013, the power went out in downtown Grand Marais. Crews with MSA Professional Services of Duluth, drilling boreholes for environmental soil sampling had cut a main circuit in the alley behind the Lake Superior Trading Post. Fortunately no one was injured, but the electricity in homes and businesses from Eighth Avenue to […]

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Snow beautiful snow



I sometimes think of column ideas at odd times—in the middle of a meeting, in the shower or driving down the road. This week my column idea struck as I was shoveling snow. I realized that I have not written a column yet this winter about how much I like snow. I love it when I’m snowmobiling along a trail […]

Good news for Turbo Tax users



Minnesota Revenue has announced that Turbo Tax problems have been fixed and Minnesota returns can now be processed, according to Cook County AARP tax aide Chuck Flickinger. Flickinger said he would also like people to know that Turbo Tax does not process property tax and rent refunds, but AARP tax aides will do these free at the Grand Marais Community […]

Use common sense for courthouse security



I was shocked at the price of keeping courthouse workers safe. I’m okay with panic buttons in offices, but the rest of it sounds like Big Brother. All the rest of us citizens take our chances at work and outside; if folks are afraid to work at the courthouse, they should get another job. The Public Health and Human Services […]