Down Memory Lane



10 Years AgoJuly 22, 2005 Cook County schools will get the biggest boost in four years under the budget agreement approved by the Legislature last week. But it won’t solve all the money problems the school district faces, said Superintendent Chuck Futterer. “In general, it was a pretty good bill for education,” he said. “Our preliminary information from the regional […]

Three-car pileup in Lutsen



A three-car collision near the Clearview General Store in Lutsen resulted in one person being taken to North Shore Hospital on Tuesday, July 21. The accident occurred at 9:14 a.m. when Donald R. Magill, 68, of Belvidere, Illinois, attempted to make a right hand turn in his 2010 Chevrolet SUV. Magill was pulling a trailer. Magill’s vehicle was hit by […]

Optimizing attention



As a psychologist, I am often struck by the number of factors that make ADHD a complicated diagnosis to make. In fact, so many things can go wrong in the formation of an ability to attend to information that I have gradually changed the way I view attentional functioning. My view is based on the premise that children need multiple […]

Cook County Community YMCA gives financial update



As requested, representatives of the Cook County Community YMCA (CCCY) came to the Cook County commissioners’ meeting on Tuesday, July 21 to give an update on YMCA finances. According to CCCY Executive Director Emily Marshall, at this time the Y is ahead of its budget goals by $15,869. Marshall said that the CCCY memberships are on target. She said the […]

Break summer boredom with books



The traditional school calendar with several weeks of “summer vacation” has been in existence since the early days of public education. While there is a widely held belief that our school calendar was originally based on the “farmer’s calendar,” i.e., “farmers needed their children home in the summer to help on the farm,” that is actually more of a myth. […]

Schroeder hears report on township roads



A very lengthy Schroeder town meeting on Tuesday, July 14, 2015 covered everything from roads and bridges to floor wax and weeds. Road & Bridge Committee recommendations Rick Anderson, who is in charge of a citizen committee to examine Schroeder township roads, said he met with County Highway Engineer David Betts and Highway Maintenance Director Russell Klegstad and toured township […]

Tofte pushes senior housing back to 2016



Tofte Supervisor Jeanne Larson gave an update on the Tofte senior housing project at the board’s July 9 meeting. Because special legislation that would give the Tofte township housing authority to manage the project stalled and wasn’t passed in the special legislative session, Larson asked to suspend work until next year when the bill will be signed into law. The […]

ATVs and land exchange on county agenda



Two potentially contentious issues are on the county board’s July 28 meeting agenda—the proposed land exchange between Cook County and the U.S. Forest Service and possible changes to the county’s ATV ordinance. Both public hearings are scheduled for 10 a.m., so there may be some waiting in the commissioners’ room. The land exchange has been in the works for over […]

Records broken at annual Gunflint Canoe Races



There were lots of firsts at this year’s Gunflint Trail Canoe Races held on the Gunflint Lodge waterfront July 15, and not just among the 91 racers. Canoe Race Chair Chris Steele announced that record proceeds of over $20,000 will be given to the Gunflint Trail Volunteer Fire Department to continue their service to protect the 192 square miles of […]

Meandering About



If you hail from an urban area, Grand Marais’s summer traffic increase probably rolls off your back like water off a duck. City traffic with its construction snafus and long traffic jams is part of your life, and you’re accustomed to it. But I left city traffic many years ago and have become spoiled. I’m used to peaceful commutes, so […]