Winter is on its way, and Minnesota Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) advises all residents to be prepared for the worst during Nov. 10-14, “Winter Hazard Awareness Week.” As part of Winter Hazard Awareness Week, HSEM offers the following winter driving tips: • Be able to be seen – clean frost and snow off all windows, mirrors, lights and […]
No injury in Lutsen vehicle rollover
Halloween 2014 blew in with cold weather, light snow and slick roads on Friday, October 31. A few vehicles encountered icy roads and one, driven by Joan Drury, 69, of Lutsen slid off the road and rolled over. Drury was driving her 2005 Honda Element eastbound on County Road 34 when it appears she lost control on a right curve, […]
Plan to honor Veterans Day Nov. 11
There are a number of events in honor of Cook County veterans on Tuesday, November 11. Grand Portage American Legion Post 2009 is holding its traditional Veterans Day commemoration at the Grand Portage American Legion at 8495 East Highway 61 at mile marker 146. The event will begin with a drum ceremony at 10:30 a.m. and flag raising at 11 […]
Willard Nelson—a determined spirit
Willard Nelson was born on November 11, 1914, the first child of Carl and Phoebe Nelson of Lutsen. He grew up on the family homestead, which still stands at the foot of the Caribou Trail in Lutsen. Growing up in Lutsen, Willard wanted something more. He didn’t like school much and he grew tired of rural life—milking cows, working at […]
Lucille Pettijohn—an adventurous nurse
Lucille “Lu” Pettijohn of Grand Marais was working as a nurse at Minneapolis General Hospital when she and her friend, Taina Walton, decided to join the Army Nurse Corps (ANC) on May 9, 1941. Lu (then Lucille Kasner) had graduated as a Registered Nurse from St. Mary’s Nursing School in Minneapolis in 1934 and already had some nursing experience, so […]
Mike Boomer retires from coaching football
For the past 21 years Cook County High School Assistant Football Coach Mike Boomer has been roaming the Vikings’ sidelines at games, extolling, urging and encouraging his players. His energy, enthusiasm, passion and persistence to play the game the right way was his gift to the kids who came through the program. But no more. Mike, or “Boomer,” as he […]
It’s never too late to say thank you
Today I mailed a thank you card that should have been given personally to a teacher in 1979. That teacher made a split second decision that changed the course of my life—he didn’t rat me out. It started as a plan on the school bus… one of those plans you make in the eighth grade and can’t wait to carry […]
Local artist creates awards for Lake Superior Binational Forum
The Lake Superior Binational Forum recently presented awards to seven American and Canadian recipients of the Environmental Stewardship Awards at a gathering in Superior, Wisconsin. This is the 11th year the Forum has recognized individuals and organizations who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to environmental stewardship through leadership in one of six categories: Youth, Individual Adult, Business or Industry, Municipality, […]
Playhouse supports—and is supported by—the community
Did you know that the Grand Marais Playhouse spends most of its production budget at local businesses? Did you know that the Grand Marais Playhouse attracts visitors to Grand Marais specifically to see its productions? Did you know most first-time audience members rank Playhouse productions as “excellent!” Did you know that including theater arts in students’ lives teaches many skills […]