Hirings and almost firings at last meeting for Superintendent Schwarz
Superintendent Beth Schwarz had to leave her final school board meeting on Thursday, June 16 early to handle other matters. She cleared her materials from the table and incoming Superintendent Bill Crandall took her place. Before Schwarz left, acting Board Chair Sissy Lunde said she would like to acknowledge that this was Schwarz’s last meeting. “I’d like to thank her […]
YMCA pool “big leak” fixed
For the last month the Cook County Community YMCA swimming pool seemed to have a high tide and low tide, as water levels fluctuated. In reality, the water was leaking out of the pool and then being replaced automatically. From May 20 to June 20 the Cook County YMCA swimming pool lost more than one million gallons of water, said […]
June 19 storm causes injuries and a fatality in BWCAW
A brief, but severe storm passed through Cook County on Sunday, June 19, leaving downed trees and power lines in its wake. The storm also resulted in a fatality and injuries to campers at two different Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) sites. Cook County Law Enforcement received back-to-back emergency calls. At 10:25, Cook County Law Enforcement dispatchers received a […]
County disagrees on procedure for agenda items
The county board started on a sour note on Tuesday, June 21 as commissioners disagreed over what should—and should not—be acted upon at meetings. Each week, after the Pledge of Allegiance, there is time to make adjustments to the meeting agenda, at which time commissioners can request the addition— or removal—of items. When Board Chair Heidi Doo-Kirk asked for additions […]
Moose prefer aspen and birch
The article regarding consideration of putting moose on the endangered species list (June 18, 2016 issue) contained an incorrect statement. It correctly stated that “Moose prefer to browse in young, new growth areas,” but then added “preferring to eat cedar and fir trees.” Cedar and fir (as well as most other conifers) are very low preference foods for moose. Their […]
Hospital is top rate facility
I wish to express my gratitude to the entire staff of North Shore Health. My father, John Woerheide, has had numerous stays in the hospital over the past two years. His final stay ended on Father’s Day with his peaceful passing. The doctors, nurses and aides, lab tech, physical therapy and receptionist people were so understanding and helpful. They treated […]
Democratic disagreement is enlightening
I found the June 18 article Democrats agree to disagree most illuminating. Franken, Klobuchar, and Dayton apparently find Mr. Trump to be a “disgrace, a fraud and a disaster,” while content to support Hillary for president. The only logical explanation I can imagine is that they seek to have a pathological liar supersede a congenital one in that position. In […]
A very special July 4th fireworks celebration
This Fourth of July will be of special significance to me. I have chosen this day as my 10-year anniversary celebration of surviving Stage IV cancer—and also of turning 60. I had received the disturbing prognosis that my cancer had returned, and therefore, based on the “law of averages,” I had 180 days or so to live. Not encouraging—a tough […]
“E-government” is impressive
When a group of Cook County residents began looking into the possible benefits of broadband connectivity a decade ago, one of those benefits was creating a stronger, more efficient and more positive bond between government and governed via a concept called “E-government.” Well, it took a long time, a great deal of work by a dedicated information technology (IT) crew, […]