As press time approached on Wednesday, February 3, the final racer, a determined Beckie Hacker of McMillan, Michigan, was still making her way to the finish in the 2016 John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon, an event that was eventful from start to finish. Race Director Jason Rice, reached at the finish line, said the atmosphere was “jubilant.” Although Rice added […]
Dollar General drawing a lot of controversy
Located at 100 Mission Road, Goodlettsville, Tennessee, Dollar General’s apparent move to Grand Marais is generating quite a bit of conversation in the community, with some in favor, and many against the move of a large discount business into a small community. Speaking on behalf of the corporation on Feb. 3, Dan McDonald, who is in charge of the possible […]
Proposed zipline property back on the market
A developer had high hopes when the ground was broken for a commercial recreational project on the Sawtooth Mountain ridge overlooking Grand Marais in August 2013. Matt Geretschlaeger of Grand Marais expected his Superior Zipline Adventures project to be off the ground by spring of 2014. Construction, including excavation of the hillside got under way, however, funding fell through and […]
Land Use Guide Plan discussion, adoption
Planning and Zoning Director Tim Nelson brought the latest revision of the Cook County Land Use Guide Plan (LUGP) to the county board on January 26 with recommendation that commissioners adopt the plan that had been approved by the planning commission on December 30, 2015. Nelson gave a brief summary of the process to this point. He reminded the board […]
Phone lines and EMS trucks dominate Lutsen meeting
The chief topic of discussion at the beginning of the Lutsen town meeting on January 19, 2016 was issues that might come up with the township phone service in emergency situations. Judy Sivertson from the Cook County sheriff ’s office explained the problem. Both True North Broadband and CenturyLink serve telephone customers in the Lutsen township, however, Sivertson explained that […]
A dollar store in our town?
This is unbelievable… no way! I just came from the co-op and when this topic came up at the table, there was an explosion! Every one there was furious that some crappy outfit like this would even be considered as viable, or needed here. In fact, we all wanted to know why this is indeed being considered—and by whom? Jan […]
Free expression can be messy
I write to reject “hate speech” as valid or useful. The term is a conclusion, a judgment given without evidence. A free society leaves the individual to decide for themselves the merit or its lack in lively exchanges of opinion. Using “hate” to describe opinions a person doesn’t like is no more than them saying “I want you to hate […]
A carbuncle on the harbor’s nose
About every 10 years Grand Marais, like a lemming, considers doing something so suicidal that it jeopardizes the atmosphere that makes us unique among tourist destinations, namely, the feeling that Grand Marais is a window in time back to an earlier, safer, uncomplicated era. Tourists come to Grand Marais to get away from the madness of today’s city life and […]
Donkey Ball is animal abuse
As a student at our local Cook County High School, I support its fundraisers and needs in order to keep a sustainable school. However, Donkey Ball, a game played in the high school’s gym with actual donkeys, is one type of fundraiser. The article in the newspaper stated that it “makes for a hilarious competition!” It is a family-oriented time, […]