EDA tackles budget challenges with golf course layoffs
Facing financial challenges, the Cook County – Grand Marais Economic Development Authority (EDA) took a hard look at its budget on Tuesday, December 10, 2013 and decided layoffs were in order for Superior National at Lutsen (SNL) over the winter months. The EDA also passed a motion not to renew the 2014 contract for Community Fundraising Solutions, its housing administrator. […]
The end of the road for the Grand Marais swimming pool
The Grand Marais Municipal Pool is planning a last hurrah sometime in December before closing its doors forever when the new YMCA opens in January. The party will include free admission, cake, and sharing of memories. On December 9, 2013, Head Lifeguard Charles Christiansen told the Grand Marais Park Board that people are using up old tickets before it’s too […]
Hospital comes to agreement with Blue Cross
After seven months of wrangling, Cook County North Shore Hospital and Care Center Administrator Kimber Wraalstad signed a letter of understanding that will continue the facility’s status as a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota provider through 2014. Earlier this year, Blue Cross informed critical access hospitals across the state that they were requiring a new billing system that would […]
Snow fort dangers on city streets
On December 5, 2013, Cook County Highway Department Maintenance Supervisor Russell Klegstad called the Cook County News-Herald to express a serious concern for the safety of the children in Grand Marais. The county has an agreement with the city of Grand Marais to plow and clear snow from the city streets above Highway 61. With the recent storm that dumped […]
Community chorus is a gift
It’s a time of year for reflecting on our gifts, our blessings, the good stuff in life. One thing I’m thankful for is the Borealis Chorale and Orchestra. As I looked around at all the faces at rehearsal the other night it occurred to me again what a wonderful thing we have here. We may not be the best musical […]
Why the Y?
There has been a lot of talk in the last year about the new YMCA building being constructed as a cooperative effort between county, city, school and the Duluth YMCA. The discussions have dealt with the financial burdens to the institutions involved but have also been concerned with the religious aspect of the YMCA and how it may impact the […]
Rejection of Smart Growth workshop was a smart move
Kudos to Commissioners Gamble, Hall and Martinson for voting to withdraw support for the Smart Growth America workshop “Complete Streets.” Also thanks to the Cook County News-Herald staff for its extensive coverage of this important issue. We did a little research on Smart Growth America. What they offer sounds very appealing, espousing goals that no one would possibly dispute. After […]
Rejection of complete streets workshop based on nonsense
I hope that county commissioners will look more skeptically and responsibly at sources they use to make decisions about initiatives in the county. The News-Herald reports that Commissioner Gamble recently based his rejection of county support for the “complete streets” workshop on the work of Ileana Johnson Paugh. Paugh is a right-wing conspiracy theorist, Obama-birther, and anti-science mythologist who denies […]
Moving Matters is alive and well
Several residents have contacted the Sawtooth Mountain Clinic with concerns over last week’s article, County Board withdraws support for “Complete Streets” workshop, and what this means for the future of the Moving Matters project. The fact is our efforts to promote and support safe and accessible streets throughout the county and Grand Portage Reservation are alive and well! We acknowledge […]