With a near-record number of school districts asking local voters to pass operating levy referendums this fall, it is clear Minnesota public schools are running short of dollars to fund their operations. Created in 1971 by the Minnesota Legislature as part of the “Minnesota Miracle” school districts were given the authority to levy, with voter approval, for additional funds to […]
Red Cliff Band continues investigation of munitions dumped into Lake Superior
Do more than 1,000 barrels of military waste dumped into Lake Superior more than 50 years ago pose a threat to fish, aquatic, plant, and human life? That’s the $10,000 question the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa is trying to answer regarding barrels of military waste that lie in waters ceded to the Tribe under treaties signed by […]
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to review comments on wild rice sulfate standards
More than 600 comments and letters were sent to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) concerning the state’s proposed changes to the way it protects wild rice lakes and streams from sulfates. The MPCA’s request for comments ended December 18, 2015. Sulfate, which is a by-product of hard rock mining, can be converted to sulfide by bacteria in the sediments […]
Monday Madness at Grand Marais campground
Twenty-seven people were lined up at the Grand Marais Recreation Park office door by 7 a.m. on Monday, January 4, all seeking to secure an RV or camping site for the weekend of the Grand Marais Lions Club Fisherman’s Picnic. It was a good thing they were early and in person, because Samantha “Sam” Wallner, the park’s office manager, said […]
County seeks help from state for trail cleanup
When it came time for the agenda item “Commissioner Concerns” at the Tuesday, January 5, 2016 county board meeting, West End Commissioner Ginny Storlie said she had a concern about the condition of area snowmobile and ski trails and its potential impact on the county’s economy. Storlie said she had been contacted by Sharon Platzer of the Lutsen Trailbreakers Snowmobile […]
City council holds final meeting of the year
Grand Marais City Council met briefly Dec. 30 to take care of some routine end-of-the-year business. Attending the last meeting of 2015 were Councilors Anton Moody and Tim Kennedy, and Mayor Jay Arrowsmith DeCoux. They moved quickly through an agenda that called for the payment of bills; approval of annual tobacco licenses for five businesses (Buck’s Hardware Hank, Gene’s Foods, […]
Vikings win 52-26 over Thunder Bay Timberwolves
With five minutes gone and the score tied at 3-3, the Vikings’ game against the Thunder Bay Timberwolves on Saturday, January 2 seemed destined to remain a defensive battle as each team found it hard to get good looks at the basket. And when either team managed to get a good shot, the rim seemed like a magnet, attracting and […]
Elfvin Bakery supplying delicious baked goods
Rain Elfvin, the newest owner of Lola’s Sweet Life Bakery, now Elfvin Bakery, has been in business just long enough to brave the latest of Cook County’s crazy tourist seasons. Despite the season’s frenetic tendencies, Elfvin said it was a good time to start because the higher demand on the bakery meant more financing. Prior to taking over, Elfvin had […]
The new and the old of 2015
. NEW: A smart phone. The worst thing I did was buy it immediately before traveling. With a bare understanding of its inner workings, I rushed through long airport walkways, praying my new phone wouldn’t ring. Where to stash it in my handbag? How to turn it on. How to turn it off. Was I going to drop it? It […]
Students learning the code
There were a lot of excited students building houses, shearing sheep, getting rid of scrap metal during the week of December 7-13. How were they doing all of this in one week? By writing code! Local students participated in a nationwide initiative by Computer Science Education Week (csedweek.org) and Code.org (code.org) called the “Hour of Code.” The initiative has gone […]