County commissioners to hold line on their salaries
With an eye to keeping the budget in check, Cook County commissioners once again voted against giving themselves a raise for the New Year. The vote came at the county board’s December 15, 2015 meeting. Commissioners voted to hold the line on their pay, per diems for meetings, and travel. Board Chair Heidi Doo-Kirk said the last time commissioners voted […]
Time to think about running for township offices
Although township elections are not held until March, the time for citizens interested in running for a town board seat to file is coming soon. The filing period to run for clerk or supervisor for the townships of Lutsen or Schroeder and for clerk, supervisor and treasurer in Tofte begins Tuesday, December 29, 2015 and closes at 5 p.m. on […]
Tofte shooting suspect arraigned, plans to cite self-defense
Kirk Lee Bigby, 61, of Finland, Minnesota appeared before Judge Michael Cuzzo for arraignment in Cook County court on December 11 on a charge of 2nd degree murder. Bigby was arrested on December 9 for allegedly shooting and killing Marcus Lee Roberts, 35, from Bloomington, Minnesota at Bluefin Bay Resort in Tofte. County Attorney Molly Hicken asked that bail be […]
Every Student Succeeds Act is long overdue
Regarding the passage and signing of the new federal education bill that replaces No Child Left Behind: One of the most important things about the new Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is the bill’s focus on equity. It is a powerful affirmation of the importance of education as a true civil right, and it will fuel our own promising efforts […]
Seeking the snowy owl
Snowy owls have been much in the news these days. The front page photo of a snowy owl in a recent Cook County News- Herald and knowing these owls come south of the border for our munchies enlivened desire to see one for myself. As a newly certified Master Naturalist, I wanted to log a sighting myself. I wanted to […]
Every Student Succeeds Act long-awaited education reform
If we want a stronger nation tomorrow, we need to give our kids a world-class education today. That was the idea when Congress passed what you may know as No Child Left Behind (NCLB), a law that has governed our federal K-12 education policies for the last 13 years. The goal of NCLB was admirable: to ensure that every child […]
Seeking the light
This morning as I was getting ready for work I was halfway watching a morning news show. Halfway watching, because it was really just background noise as I made coffee, unloaded the dishwasher and fixed a bowl of cereal. When I sat down with my Oatmeal Squares and my cup of hazelnut coffee, I started watching in earnest and I […]
Light up a Life brightens the cold of winter
Despite it being a drizzly, dreary, dark day—or perhaps because it was a drizzly, dreary, dark day—there was a nice turnout for the annual Care Partners of Cook County “Light up a Life” ceremony in the Stone’s Throw Room at East Bay Suites in Grand Marais. Community members gathered to honor and remember loved ones lost. Kay Grindland of Care […]
