Mining issue heats up House District 3A race
Although many Cook County residents may have already sent in their mail ballots, the four Democratic Farm Labor (DFL) candidates—Rob Ecklund, Bill Hansen, Eric Johnson and Heidi Omerza— all appear to be working hard to get their message to voters before the Tuesday, September 29 primary. As the deadline to get ballots—mailed and otherwise—nears, the race for the Minnesota House […]
County sets maximum levy increase at 12 percent
The Cook County Board of Commissioners voted 3-2 to set a maximum levy increase of 12 percent for 2016. The vote came at the board’s September 22 meeting. Commissioners Heidi Doo-Kirk, Jan Sivertson, and Ginny Storlie voted for the levy increase while commissioners Garry Gamble and Frank Moe voted against the measure. “I understand the many needs in our county,” […]
School board approves administrative structure
Who needs a weatherman when you have a third-grader around? During the community comments portion of the September 17, 2015 meeting of the ISD 166 school board, third-grade teacher Lorelei Livingston shared a “magical moment” utilizing technology in her class. Anticipating rain on the way, she and her class pulled up a satellite map on the classroom smart board. She […]
Administrative restructuring and levy are separate issues
At the Cook County Schools-ISD 166 school board meeting held September 3, Superintendent Schwarz informed the school board, staff and community of her intention to not seek a renewal of her contract, which expires on June 30, 2016. The school board respects Superintendent Schwarz’s decision. This announcement, along with the recent resignation of a principal, gives the school board a […]
City departments are run frugally
Recently many News-Herald readers may have noticed that the city set its preliminary levy at a 12.21 percent increase, which could be a troubling number considering that the levy hasn’t been raised significantly for the past four or so years. I would like to take a second to go over the city’s process for setting a budget and thus a […]
Ecklund can get the job done
Once again political tensions and aspirations are running high in Northeastern Minnesota. Several candidates seeking the legislature have filed for the House District 3A Special Election on September 29 to fill the seat of my late father, David Dill. Of the long list of candidates seeking office only one truly stands out. Rob Ecklund-DFL of International Falls has the skills, […]
Hansen can’t be bought
Like a lot of Americans, I’m sick and tired of the effect big money is having on our political system. That’s why I’m voting for Bill Hansen for House seat 3A. We see how money is corrupting our democratic system every day. Every news story about elections is about fat cat donors and other special interests buying politicians with donations. […]
Omerza supports a sustainable economy
I would like to encourage the voters of District 3A to vote for Heidi Omerza on September 29. Heidi’s nine-year tenure on the Ely City Council, serving as Ely’s legislative liaison and all the time she has spent at the state capitol in that role and her presidency of the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities has well prepared her to […]