County Highway Department outlines five-year plan



County Engineer David Betts, Assistant Engineer Sam Muntean, and Maintenance Director Russell Klegstad presented a five-year road construction plan for the county’s roads at the May 14, 2013 county board meeting. The 2013-2017 Transportation Improvement Plan, which is separate from ongoing road maintenance, calls for rehabbing or reconstructing just over 25 miles of CSAH roads, which will be funded by […]

Historical Reflections

Life on Saganaga Lake

Milt Powell, who grew up at the end of the Gunflint Trail, has a lot of great stories about his family’s history in Cook County. On March 9, he shared some of these stories with the community at a storytelling event at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts. Powell showed a slide of himself as a baby with his parents […]

Down Memory Lane



10 YEARS AGO · MAY 16, 2003 The first of two small grass fires flared on the upper Gunflint Trail May 12. Then, the next day, a couple of yearling bear cubs walked into a lowhanging power line behind Cascade River State Park and started another grass fire. The fire burned only 1½ acres. There was also a possible arson […]

Slope of Tofte tennis court under discussion



The new Birch Grove Community Center tennis court is going to get coated this summer, but whether it will have a new slope first is unknown. Board Chair Paul James said at the May 9, 2013 township board meeting that some “high-quality tennis players” had tried out the court, which slopes away from the centerline on both sides, unlike courts […]

Tofte gearing up for another great 4th of July



The Tofte 4th of July fireworks are going to be back in local hands again. After a dazzling explosion several years ago, the township hired experts from out of town to handle the fireworks for several years. Kim Linnell of Grand Marais is obtaining certification to operate fireworks displays and will head up this year’s 4th of July fireworks in […]

Vikings score well at Eveleth track meet

Sunscreen instead of parkas

The Vikings headed over to Virginia again for the Golden Bear Invite, sponsored by Eveleth. Exactly the opposite of last week, the wind was out of the south, and it was sunny and 70 degrees. We joined 15 other teams in a big meet, as everyone is trying to squeeze something in before next weeks’ conference meets and Sub- Section […]

Cross River Heritage Center opens May 24 with Forest Fires on the Arrowhead exhibit



The Pagami Creek Fire reminded us again that with the right conditions, forest fires can spread rapidly and unpredictably. Even with roads into the wilderness, cell phones, water-dropping planes, and the services of the state and national forest services and sheriff ’s department, residents in and near the flaming forest experienced fear. Early news articles and oral histories describe the […]

“Art in the Garden” featured at Community Center



Join us for Art in the Garden at the Community Center on Saturday, June 1. The morning session from 8:15 a.m. until noon will include for $15: Garden Yoga, Garden Art for the Heart & Soul, and Landscape Art. Coffee, tea and refreshments will be available; lunch on your own from noon to 1 p.m. The afternoon session will be […]

Tuition discounts offered for Core of Craft courses at North House



North House Folk School in Grand Marais reminds residents that spaces remain in two Core of Craft courses yet this spring. Through Core of Craft, yearround Cook County residents can qualify for reduced tuition rates on specific courses focused on skills for self-sufficiency. If you or someone you know are interested, contact North House for more information. The next Core […]

Weather is topic of first Guest Lecture



Everyone has been talking about the weather, so how appropriate that Cook County Higher Education’s first Guest Lecture of the year should be about weather! Carol Christenson will present What will the Summer Bring for Weather? on Thursday, May 23, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Higher Ed’s North Shore Campus in Grand Marais. Christenson is a warning coordination meteorologist […]