Firefighters from eight fire districts in Cook County as well as from Finland and Silver Bay in Lake County were paged to assist at a fire at Bluefin Bay Resort in Tofte on Saturday, June 8. By the time the fire was extinguished and all departments were released, it was almost 10 p.m. and five condominium units at the popular […]
County attorney office operations questioned
The county board is not feeling comfortable in its relationship with the county attorney. On June 11, 2013, the commissioners discussed their surprise at finding out secondhand that County Attorney Tim Scannell had entered into a contract with attorney Vernon D. Swanum of Duluth for legal services while Assistant County Attorney Molly Hicken is out on parental leave. According to […]
Fire destroys two homes on Devil Track Lake
Cook County Law Enforcement received an emergency call from Devil Track Landing at 5:17 p.m. on Wednesday, June 12, 2013 reporting a house fire on Fireweed Lane. When Maple Hill and Grand Marais fire departments arrived on the scene at 5:34 p.m. and 5:39 p.m. the house was fully engulfed and flames were spreading to the soffit of the house […]
Asking for Trouble
For a few years now I have wanted to get a puppy. Our golden retriever Fearless is getting older and I thought it would be good for him to have a companion. And I thought it would be good for a puppy to have an older, well-trained dog to learn from. My husband Chuck, however, did not agree. He said […]
Happy to see affordable housing partnership
Hats off to Cook County – Grand Marais Economic Development Authority (EDA) members Abby Tofte, Heidi Doo-Kirk and Bob Spry for moving the affordable housing ball forward by adding the Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency as a potential housing partner here in Cook County. There’s no debate that affordable housing is needed; now with two quality partners working on this issue […]
Paint color of Co-op not appreciated
There are some colors that are suitable for one’s own bedroom closet, where the color selector is the only one who has to look at it, and then there’s the paint color on the exterior of the very public face of our Whole Foods Co-op building, which would have best been left in the closet. Or better yet, in the […]
Do the math on government spending
Is anyone else doing the math on the spending by both the county and the school? The following spending increases have been discussed: County: County administrator salary plus benefits: $150,000 Administrator secretary salary plus benefits: $40,000 Remodeling courthouse: $15,000 Locker room for school: $10,000 Sentence to Serve: $116,311 2 expanded jobs-PHHS salaries plus benefits $10,000 Total: $341,311 School: New principal […]
Gays should not stay in hiding
I have read many articles in the newspapers lately stating that gays are being accepted in the Boy Scouts. I am 77 years old and didn’t know that they weren’t allowed to be Scouts. There are lots of gays in this world and they deserve the same rights straight people have. They should not be bullied or ridiculed. If God […]
Wild beauty better than lawn
I’ve been lucky to spend a week on the Gunflint Trail, in a small cabin that happens to be for sale. While there, a real estate agent stopped by, and gazing toward the lake, made apologies for the swamp-like shore and made assurances that something could be done. I looked at the same landscape, admiring its perfection, and cringed at […]