State orders increase in property values for 422 property owners
Although the Cook County Assessors Office attempted to hold off the increase, many Cook County residents will see a jump of 10 percent in the value of their property. The increase, explained Assistant County Assessor Alison Plummer, will impact property owners from the Cascade Beach Road area to the Canadian border, including Birch and Pike lakes and more. Plummer told […]
Groundbreaking for new gondola at Lutsen Mountains
Lutsen Mountains broke ground on Tuesday, June 23 on a new $7 million Doppelmayr gondola, which will be operational by opening day of the 2015-16 ski season. With red cars as a nod to the iconic original, the new eight-passenger gondola will multiply rider capacity to 1,000 visitors per hour. According to Lutsen Mountain owners, this project is part of […]
School District to ask voters for increased levy
The School District 166 school board adopted two resolutions at the June 18 board meeting regarding the school’s levy, which combined would increase the school district operating levy from $495,000 to $1,000,848. Superintendent Beth Schwarz explained that the school district actually has three operational levies, a voter approved levy, a board approved levy and a local option levy. Schwarz said […]
Hospital, Clinic boards hold joint meeting to clear the air
Saying he understood that the Sawtooth Mountain Clinic doctors, nurses and staff worked well with Cook County North Shore Hospital and Care Center staff, Hospital Board Member Tom Spence said he didn’t even know the names of most of the people on the Sawtooth Mountain Clinic board and he called for the two groups to meet twice a year so […]
Simple solution for hospital high bids
To the North Shore Hospital Board: Regarding the hospital/care center renovation bids higher than anticipated. Here’s a simple solution to the financial dilemma that you are facing: reduce the number of hospital rooms/beds to eight. Look at your recent data for the average inpatient census (four or less?) and tell us how 16 beds are needed. An average census of […]
TPP trade deal would kill U.S. jobs
How bad is this job-killing Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal? Now that we know some of what’s actually in this secret agreement negotiated by foreign governments and multinational corporations to benefit a few powerful businesses and their executives at the top of the economic ladder, the answer is–the TPP is as bad or worse than we had imagined. The TPP […]
Lifting embargo with Cuba helps Minnesota
Earlier this year, I visited Cuba to talk with agriculture and export officials about ways to open up new economic opportunities for businesses and farmers in Minnesota. More than anything else on the trip, I was struck by the enthusiasm of everyday Cubans for renewed ties with the United States. Everywhere I went I saw one date: December 17, 2014 […]
Finding Minnesota nice
As the tourism season kicks into high gear, my husband Chuck and I headed out of town for a few days to celebrate our anniversary. It is really fun to visit other communities to check out different restaurants, lodging and just to see how visitors are treated. I’m happy to say that in the towns we visited, customer service was […]
Representative Dill talks about legislation
For a minute Representative David Dill (DFL) had to stop talking while a plane took off from his Northwestern Ontario fly-in fishing business dock. When the roar of the engine faded, he resumed his conversation about the legislative sessions that wrapped up June 20. Although bruising at times, Dill said the special session had something for everyone and left all […]