Request for more YMCA contingency funds denied
Cook County Community YMCA Project Manager Wade Cole of ORB Management asked the county board on September 10 for $70,000 of as-yet-uncommitted funds from the county’s 1 percent recreation and infrastructure sales tax budget in order to finish the project. He cited unexpected costs due to a contract dispute with The Meyer Group and re-design fees paid to JLG Architects […]
Grumbles over rumble strips
East End residents are not happy about the new rumble strips recently installed by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) on Highway 61 between Grand Marais and the Canadian border. The county board supported their opposition with a letter to Minnesota Transportation Commissioner Charles Zelle written September 4, 2013. On September 10, citizens were on hand to speak to the […]
New school policies and procedures have school community talking
The ISD 166 superintendent’s facebook page was busy the first week of school. New policies and procedures were in place at Cook County High School. Some students and parents did not like them, while some parents defended them. Security at the Eagle doors Some of the facebook discussion regarded having to get buzzed into the inner set of Eagle doors […]
Fly the flag high
On Wednesday, September 11, 2013, I deviated from my usual route to work. I normally travel from my house on County Road 7 to First Avenue, turning down the street that takes me right to the News-Herald office. But for some reason I turned sooner, heading down Fifth Avenue—the old Gunflint Trail—and through town. I think I wanted the comfort […]
Do rumble strips really increase safety?
Here’s a few practical “rumble strip” points to ponder. Are they truly making our highway safer? How many vehicle accidents have occurred along Highway 61 between Grand Marais and Grand Portage within the last 10 – 15 years? What have been the main causes of these? Deer? Moose? Other wild elements? Driving under the influence? Potholes and bumps? Slippery and […]
Gym membership for school staff is unfair to taxpayers
I wish to clarify my position on the possible new per pupil tax and the school district paying part of their employees’ YMCA memberships. Based up on a cordial conversation between myself and Ms. Schwarz from the ISD 166, I am now aware that the law the state legislature passed will not allow ISD 166 to pass the new per […]
Boycott Obama Care
Obama Care: I hope everyone who cares has done their homework into this medical mess. As reported on the news web, doctors are leaving in droves. Some have been reported starting up a private system where people join a club-like system and it is cash—no government affiliation allowed. The breach into your personal and private lives in every way, shape […]