Pinwheels symbolize hope during Child Abuse Awareness Month
The Cook County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, March 25, 2014 was brightened a bit by an offering of colorful pinwheels. A team of child abuse prevention advocates brought the pinwheels, explaining that the uplifting symbol of childhood represents the community’s efforts to ensure safe and healthy development of children. Joni Kristenson of Cook County Public Health said it is important […]
Full ballot for Grand Portage elections April 1
Elections will be held in Grand Portage on Tuesday, April 1, 2014 and members of the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior have a full slate of candidates to choose from for the three seats on the ballot. Voters will be choosing who will serve as secretary/ treasurer, committeeperson 1 and committeeperson II. All of the terms are for four […]
Gypsy moth quarantine for Cook and Lake counties set to begin April 30
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) will impose Minnesota’s first-ever gypsy moth quarantine in Cook and Lake counties starting April 30, 2014. An invasive species brought to Massachusetts in 1869, gypsy moths have no natural enemies in the United States. The MDA has sprayed and trapped gypsy moths since 2006 in both counties, but the leaf eater’s population has steadily […]
Local Energy Project successful in second request for county funding
“I hope you’re giving out points today for persistence this morning,” said George Wilkes of the Cook County Local Energy Project (CCLEP) when it was his turn to speak to the Cook County commissioners on Tuesday, March 25, 2014. Wilkes was back to make a second appeal for funding to support a part-time coordinator for CCLEP. At the March 11 […]
Seeds of change
It always bothers me when I look through old issues of the Cook County News-Herald and find articles or photos about women’s activities. Even as recently as the 1970s, hard-working women—workers at the school or hospital or grocery store, members of chamber of commerce or the hospital auxiliary or some other important community organization— are not identified by name. In […]
Righter than right?
Note to Mr. Lloyd Geillinger, the default winner of last week’s letter to the editor snappy comeback contest: Your Sarah Palin “Righter Than Right” T-shirt is in the mail. Sadly your first choice, a glow-in-the-dark Washington Monument lawn ornament, was found to be back ordered due to an inexplicable local demand. Unfortunately the letter submitted by Nelda Westerlind, unlike the […]
YMCA could have been better
Now that the YMCA has been open for a few months, a little reflection is in order. As you may recall, there was quite a bit of opposition to this project led by a group with the less-than-respectful name of “Stop the Madness.” Those opposed to the Y project were certainly well-intentioned. However, by successfully lobbying the county board to […]
Taxpayers don’t benefit from Superior National’s use of 1 percent tax
On WTIP news, Commissioner Heidi Doo-Kirk informed us that Superior National at Lutsen Golf Course (SNL) is part of the county, not able to be sold or given away, and it is the county’s responsibility to fund its expansion. The news should be the truth. Planned in the ’90s, the hospital lost the 1 percent sales tax to Lutsen’s business […]