Normally when the Cook County Election Canvass Board meets to certify election results, it is a routine event. This year there will be a bit more excitement as the Canvass Board will also witness the draw to determine the winner in the District 1 county commissioner race—Kristin DeArruda Wharton or Frank Moe. The two District 1 candidates ended election evening […]
New sheriff and Grand Marais mayor
Athough the county commissioner races were close or tied, the other contests on the Cook County election ballot were more clear cut. In the countywide race for Sheriff, Deputy Patrick S. Eliasen earned 1,529 or 53.44 percent of the vote to defeat Interim Sheriff Leif Lunde with 1,324 votes, or 46.28 percent. Reached by phone the day after the election, […]
Municipal pool demolition cost set at $64,726
With an end-of-the-year deadline looming, Grand Marais city councilors awarded a bid Oct. 29 for demolition of the municipal swimming pool building, which closed in January when the facilities moved to the new YMCA at the school campus. City Administrator Mike Roth said only one bid was received for the demolition job, and that was from Edwin E. Thoreson Inc. […]
The power of one vote
I had a lot of fun on Election Night 2014 on air with Jay Andersen and Roger Linehan on WTIP Community Radio. I don’t know how I ended up being part of the WTIP election news team, but I have enjoyed taking part for a few years now. I hope listeners did too. We know at least one person was […]
EPA water regs could drown small business
Three quarters of the Earth’s surface is water and the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) seems intent on regulating every last drop of it. The agency is seeking to expand its authority under the Clean Water Act. The Clean Water Act, adopted by Congress more than 30 years ago, authorizes the EPA to regulate only navigable U.S. waterways. No administration, […]
Michigan vote important victory for anti-wolf hunt supporters
The International Wolf Center notes that Michigan voters defeated two largely symbolic referendums on the ballot yesterday to show opposition to wolf hunting in the state. As an educational-focused nonprofit organization, the Center frequently teaches about the complex role human attitudes and politics play in the survival of wolf populations. L. David Mech, biologist and International Wolf Center founder and […]
Renewing our commitment to those who served
With grateful hearts, Minnesotans gather across the state on Veterans Day to honor the brave Americans that have served in uniform to protect our freedom. This day also serves as an opportunity to renew our commitment to serve those who have served us. After all, that is our responsibility– to do right by those who have stood tall on the […]
Community considers Highway 61 corridor enhancements
After two public meetings and over 100 comments from community members, first concept designs for the Highway 61 corridor through Grand Marais were presented to a group of over 60 interested community members at Bethlehem Lutheran Church on Tuesday, Oct. 28. City Administrator Mike Roth welcomed attendees and introduced the design team that has been working with the city, Mike […]
Cook County fares well on climate change assessment
Using weather data stretching back 100 years, Minnesota is getting hotter and wetter, states a new report released by the state. The Minnesota Department of Health released its first county-bycounty Minnesota Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment on Monday, October 13. According to the document, some counties are more vulnerable to extreme heat, air pollution and flash flooding. Cook County ranks low […]
