We are a community severely divided by our elected officials’ decisions that appear to be unpopular with the majority of citizens. I hear many points of view from many levels on our social and financial scales. While at a construction site, someone seemed to sew it all together, saying, “Being a liberal it was hard to move here in 1978 […]
“Save the Mural” project continues
Many community members rallied last August when it was learned that the reconstruction of the Cook County Whole Foods Co-op in Grand Marais meant the destruction of the four-seasons mural on the co-op’s exterior wall. The expense of saving the entire mural proved to be too much, despite valiant last-ditch efforts by an active group of citizens. However, pieces of […]
Tofte Township and Birch Grove reconsidering contract
The Tofte Town Board and members of the Birch Grove Foundation and Birch Grove Community School met on Thursday, October 3 to discuss changing the way the Birch Grove Community Center will be run in the near future. Under the current agreement with the township of Tofte, which owns the facility, the Foundation manages programs and businesses renting space at […]
God’s inverted logic
He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.” Mark 8: 29 I often wonder about how Jesus’ disciples remembered him in the three days following his death. Before the resurrection, as they gathered in shock and grief to mourn their friend, how did they want to remember him? Perhaps they […]
Arlene May Backlund Jurek
Arlene May Backlund Jurek ended her four-year battle with breast cancer on Sunday, October 6, 2013 after a brief stay in the North Shore Care Center. Arlene was born on May 25, 1932 to Jonas and Ellen Backlund in Colvill, Minnesota. She was a lifelong resident of Cook County. She knew many people in our community through her service at […]
Lorraine Duininck
Lorraine Duininck, 89, of Grand Marais died Tuesday, October 1, 2013 at the North Shore Care Center in Grand Marais.She was born April 18, 1924 in Franklin, Minnesota to Charles and Lula (Waters) Seaman. She was baptized at the Church of Christ in Redwood Falls. She grew up in the rural Hector area where she attended District 115 School and […]
County debates fairness of asking Council on Aging for audit
In response to concerns over the Cook County Council on Aging’s financial situation and accusations of lack of financial transparency, the county board drafted a letter to the council dated October 1, 2013 that suggested that the board might require an audit – but Board Chair Jan Hall refused to sign it. On October 8, the board discussed creating a […]
Gunflint Trail Search & Rescue division starting up
Sheriff Mark Falk is working on starting up a Gunflint Trail division of Cook County Search & Rescue. “A lot of our calls are up the Gunflint Trail,” he told the county board on October 8, 2013. A September 18 memo from the sheriff to the county board stated that Cook County Search & Rescue, which is made up of […]