State seeks public input for bicycle system plan



The Minnesota Department of Transportation is seeking public comment on the statewide bicycle system plan. A draft of the plan is online for review at www.mndot.gov/bike/system plan/. Interested persons may email comments on the plan to bikeplan. DOT@state.mn.us through Nov. 16. The plan represents the agency’s vision and goal for bicycle transportation, implementation strategies and performance measures to evaluate progress […]

County looking ahead to next budget process



Although a preliminary levy of 12 percent has been set, the county board has stated it would work at lowering it, if possible, by December 31, the last day to set the final 2016 levy. Commissioner Frank Moe said the county board could “nickel and dime the budget to death,” but said unless services and employees were on the table […]

County creates task force to look at vacation rentals



The Cook County Board has approved a committee to look at unauthorized vacation rentals in the county. The request came from Planning & Zoning Director Tim Nelson. The committee—or task force as Nelson called it—will ask several questions. “We know it’s [unauthorized rentals] going on, but should we do anything about it? Are they a problem? If so, should they […]

Two wins launch Vikings to playoffs



The Cook County Vikings entered the playoffs fresh off a win against Northeast Range in a game played at home on October 9. Coming off a narrow loss to Silver Bay the week before, the 4-3 Vikings left nothing to chance as they took an early lead and pulled away to win 51-0 in their last regularly scheduled game of […]

A new face at the News-Herald



A hop in her step and rarely seen without a smile on her face, Abigayl “Abby” Fincel has been hired to sell advertising and to write for the Cook County News-Herald. Many people will recognize Abby from her previous work as a cashier at Gene’s Foods. A 2014 graduate of St. Catherine’s University in St. Paul, Abby graduated with a […]

A Swift Evening



I love living in remote Cook County, but sometimes it’s good to get out in the big world, so when my daughter invited me to join her and granddaughters at a Taylor Swift concert in St. Louis, I figured, why not? A new experience would be good. Besides, I hadn’t been to a concert since Peter Paul and Mary. It’d […]

Donation brings items “home” to Grand Portage



Although official action was taken by the Grand Portage Tribal Council to accept a donation to the Grand Portage Museum by the Wojtysiak and Lunke family on Friday, October 9, the gathering was anything but formal. Memories were brought to life by the many pieces of beadwork, birch bark baskets, carvings and more that have been collected by the family […]

Take the Walking School Bus on October 21



The Safe Routes to School Committee works year-round to make it safer and easier for children to walk and bike to and from school. Studies have found that physical activity, such as walking or biking to school, allows students to concentrate better during the school day. And while many students in our county do not live in Grand Marais, many […]

“Home School Day” returns to North House Oct. 21



North House Folk School will host its second annual “Home School Day” Oct. 21, featuring four hands-on kidsonly courses. Included are: . Sparks & Flames: Starting and Using Fire – 10 a.m. to noon. Participants will explore how humans have used one of our oldest tools – fire! Learn how to start a fire, keep a fire alive, and extinguish […]

“Physician of the Year” nominations sought



The Lake Superior Medical Society is seeking nominations for its “2015 Physician of the Year Award.” The community-nominated award is given to a physician the Lake Superior Medical Society recognizes who “consistently demonstrates qualities that patients and physicians recognize as defining excellence in medical care delivery.” Interested parties are encouraged to write a letter nominating a physician who practices in […]