County board denies Bautch gravel pit application



Cook County’s Planning and Zoning Administrator Bill Lane came before the county board on December 30 with 13 requests to renew conditional use permits (CUP) to operate gravel pits. The board approved 12 CUPs but withheld support for the Stan Bautch gravel pit. During a 2013 CUP review Lane said his office identified several problems regarding adherence to the original […]

More details released in Tofte drownings



Cook County Law Enforcement released new details this week on the tragic drowning of two men in Lake Superior near Tofte. There were questions surrounding how the two men, guests at Bluefin Bay Resort, ended up in the frigid waters of Lake Superior at 3:03 p.m. on Tuesday, December 23. In a water accident report issued by the Cook County […]

Vikings defeat Hilltopers in tournament



One would have thought the Cook County girls’ basketball team would have seen quite enough of the Two Harbors Agates, losing two games by close margins in eight days to their North Shore foe right before Christmas. However, the Vikings traveled to Two Harbors again on December 26 to play in the Agates’ Christmas tournament. The Vikings beat Duluth Marshall […]

Dear Santa



Thank you, thank you, thank you for the I Love Lucy Christopher Radko ornament you gave me this year! It is right up there with the bone china tea set you left for me in 1973 and the stereo with 8 track you sent in 1980! You always seem to know that special gift that will bring me joy all […]

Community Calendar



Care Partners’ Caregivers GroupJanuary 8, (every 2nd Wednesday), from 11 a.m. -12:30 p.m., Fireside Room, Congregational Church.Volunteers Vicki Biggs and Tyler Howell are thefacilitators. Contact Care Partners at 387-3788,carepartners@boreal.org or Vicki Biggs at 387-1913,vbiggs@boreal.org for more information. EMT course sponsored bythe Cook County AmbulanceThe Cook County Ambulance is sponsoring anEMT course to be taught in Grand Marais. Thefirst night, which […]

Gunflint Mail Run starts Saturday, January 3



As of December 30, 14 dogsled teams were signed up to take part in the two-day Gunflint Mail Run Sled Dog Race that will start Saturday, January 3 at 7 p.m. at Trail Center, said Race Co-Director Jack Stone of Stone Harbor Wilderness Supply. “We may get a few more late entries,” said Stone as he perused the sign up […]

Prep course for private pilot’s test offered by Community Ed



Cook County Community Education will offer a private pilot’s prep course beginning Jan. 14 at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts in Grand Marais. The 12-week course is designed to prepare students for the FAA private pilot written test, which is a requirement for a private pilot’s license and is valid for 24 months after the test is passed. (The […]

Dupre halfway up Mount Denali



Garrison Keillor isn’t climbing Mount Denali with Lonnie Dupre, but Dupre is channeling Minnesota’s famed humorist’s radio show A Prairie Home Companion, picking up Keillor’s wit and wisdom while he camps at 11,200 feet from his high tech cold weather radio. Exhausted from pulling a sled weighed down with more than 150 pounds of gear through waist-deep snow and battling […]

Conservation Corps Minnesota seeking applicants



Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa is accepting applications for 2015 AmeriCorps field crew member positions from individuals ages 18 to 25 who have an interest in working outdoors. Applications will be accepted until all positions are filled. These positions are for an AmeriCorps service term that runs Feb. 16 – Dec. 11. Corps field projects are completed on public land […]

B-Dub trout opener



January 1st marks the Boundary Waters Trout Opener for those of you grounded enough to behave on New Year’s Eve. Fishing for trout is a lot more fun if you aren’t nursing a hangover, at least that is my excuse for not going out to the bar anymore. I think Rachelle and I stayed up until 10:30 p.m. last year […]