When it came time to vote on the five essays submitted to the Grand Marais Public Utilities Commission (PUC) essay contest, the three members of the PUC, Karl Hansen, Tim Kennedy and George Wilkes, each had a different idea—and vote—about which essay was best. While all of the essays were well written, in the end the one crafted by Brenna […]
Grand Portage Customs seizes marijuana concealed in maple syrup cans
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Grand Portage port of entry seized .95 pounds (.429 kilograms) of marijuana on April 7. The seizure occurred when a CBP officer stopped a blue Mazda being driven by Maxime LaPalme, a 28-year-old Canadian citizen traveling from Banff, Alberta, Canada. During a detailed inspection of the vehicle, officers discovered 32 sealed aluminum […]
Grand Marais PUC talks solar and biomass
At the February meeting of the Grand Marais Public Utility Commission (PUC) Electrical Superintendent Mike Taylor said he recently attended a meeting with Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency (SMMPA). SMMPA, said Taylor, has a plan in place to help municipalities like Grand Marais build a 2-megawatt photovoltaic [solar power] project. “Would SMMPA buy the power?” asked Wilkes. “Yes,” said Taylor. […]
County maintenance department hiring—maybe
Brian Silence, the county’s maintenance director, received permission to advertise for a year-round part-time maintenance position. At the Tuesday, April 14 county board meeting, Silence said an extra person is needed because of the added duties at the Cook County Community YMCA. Janet Simonen, who is filling in as a part-time personnel director until a new county administrator is hired, […]
Viking softball has a tough week on the road
Down 9-2 after 5 innings, the Viking softball team put on a tremendous rally to take the lead 11-10 against the Silver Bay Mariners before falling 12-11. The game was played in Two Harbors on Saturday, April 11, and was the first of a double header for the Vikings who faced Two Harbors after the Silver Bay game. The Vikings […]
Falling Through Clouds details aftermath of 2003 plane crash
Author Damian Fowler, a former CBC reporter and now New York journalist, has created a compelling book about the 2003 small plane crash in Cook County, above Grand Marais. Piloting his own Beechcraft Baron was Charlie Erickson. The impact of the crash and the subsequent fire killed Erickson and his sister-in law Kathryn Pearson, leaving her two little girls Grace […]
The Road Trip from Hades
I knew this year’s drive to the Ozarks was not going to be fun, but I hoped it wouldn’t be too bad. That was wishful thinking, I told myself as Dick pulled our pickup onto an ice-covered Highway 61. The plan was to pull our RV trailer over a thousand miles to our favorite resort, and when our stay was […]
Technology Open House at library April 22
The Technology Open House continues this month at the Grand Marais Public Library on Wednesday, April 22 from 6 to 8 p.m. This is your opportunity to meet with local tech enthusiasts who will be available to talk to those who consider themselves “beginners or below” in knowledge of computers, broadband and electronic devices. If you feel you know nothing […]
Poetry Rocks! coming to Grand Marais library
Poetry Rocks! a workshop with Minnesota Book Award winner Laura Purdie Salas, will be the highlight of an April 29 event at the Grand Marais Public Library. The evening includes readings of the author’s works and an opportunity for creative writing as participants work together to write a few poems. Purdie Salas will also talk about her writing style and […]
Importance of lakes is topic of April 29 DECC program
Roughly two thirds of the planet’s available surface freshwater is contained in just 20 lakes. Scattered around the globe, and diverse in almost every measurable respect, these immense “dimples” in earth’s surface have shaped human society and history. Their value continues to grow as freshwater scarcity increases. A special talk highlighting these lakes and their importance will be held at […]