The investigation by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) into the circumstances surrounding Cook County Attorney Tim Scannell’s relationship with a 17-year-old has been completed. According to a Sixth Judicial District Court order issued March 25, Thomas B. Heffelfinger has been appointed to act in the place of the Cook County attorney, for purposes of reviewing the BCA documents […]
Planning commission OKs zip line variance, conditional use permit
Plans for construction of a zip line on the Gunflint Trail were green-lighted April 3, 2013 when the city’s planning commission unanimously approved the developer’s request for both a variance and conditional use permit. The requests will next go to Grand Marais City Council on April 10 for final approval. The proposals were presented to the planning commission by Matt […]
County debates hiring security personnel for courthouse
Balancing safety concerns with fiscal responsibility engendered several split votes by the county board on April 9, 2013. In March, the board approved the installation of security cameras, duress buttons, and an intercom system at all county buildings and a computerized keycard access system at the courthouse. At that meeting, the board postponed a decision on purchasing a walk-through metal […]
County attorney threatening county with lawsuit over courthouse shooting
The county may be facing a lawsuit from County Attorney Tim Scannell. On April 9, 2013, the county board spent about an hour and a half with its Minnesota Counties Intergovernmental Trust attorney, Dyan Ebert, to discuss the matter. Before the meeting was closed, Ebert made the following statement: “It is my recommendation that the board go into closed session […]
Just keep writing
In March, Cook County News-Herald Associate Editor Jane Howard and I had the pleasure of meeting with a group of fifth-grade writers. It was interesting to be interviewed by these enthusiastic young people. They asked some really tough questions and made me stop and think about why I wanted to be a writer, the path I took to get there […]
Religion and politics, good and evil
The prevalent debates, whether on Capitol Hill or in State Houses, are tainted with absolutist rhetoric by politicians promoting religion or religionists promoting politics. Both sides rely on a belief that we cannot be good without God (or gods) to tell us how to. This is the way it has been since mankind invented gods and demons as answers to […]
All children deserve a head start
Much has been written about the long-term benefits of high quality early education and all day kindergarten, especially for poor children. Research abounds to support investments in young learners as a critical way to close achievement gaps and improve student outcomes. Governor Dayton’s budget contains significant new investments for both early childhood education and all day kindergarten, and every sign […]
County facing potential litigation in community center project
JLG Architects, the Cook County Family YMCA construction project’s architectural and engineering firm, is considering litigation against the county related to reimbursement issues. Commissioner Bruce Martinson told the Cook County News-Herald that he and Commissioner Sue Hakes had been part of a meeting that included Dan Miller of JLG Architects before the county board meeting on April 9, but he […]