The James R. Barker delivered a load of coal and then departed from the loading dock at Taconite Harbor in Schroeder at 8:48 a.m. on Friday, August 5, 2016, the last ship to visit the Minnesota Power facility for the foreseeable future. This “last” event is one of a series of “lasts,” said Plant Manager David Rannetsberger this week. Rannetsberger […]
Sun shines on Fisherman’s Picnic 2016
Fisherman’s Picnic 2016 will almost certainly go down in the record books as one that had the best weather. There wasn’t a drop of precipitation and temperatures hovered in the upper 70s throughout the weekend. Instead of gathering under the big blue tent in Harbor Park for protection from rain, this year it was the coveted spot to get some […]
Cook County primary turnout higher than state
Although the ballot for Cook County residents had only one race, for a Minnesota Supreme Court Justice, voters submitted mail ballots or headed to the polls at a higher rate than the rest of the state. Cook County voters did follow the statewide trend and chose incumbent Associate Justice Natalie Hudson with 64.95 percent of the vote. Hudson defeated challengers […]
Air travelers pleased with improved runway at Cook County Airport
The Grand Marais/Cook County Airport runway reopened for air traffic on Friday, August 5, 2016 and Airport Manager Rod Roy said within 10 minutes several planes had arrived on the newly lengthened, widened and resurfaced runway. Mike Raymond of Sawtooth Aviation, who had been storing his plane in Silver Bay, was the first plane to arrive. Raymond said it is […]
Should Cook County establish a transportation tax?
Cook County commissioners will be on hand on Monday, August 15 at 6 p.m. in the commissioners’ room at the Cook County courthouse to hear community comments for or against the implementation of a half cent transportation tax. At a commissioner’s special work session in June, the county board discussed establishing a transportation tax that could generate about three quarters […]
County considers name change for Planning and Zoning
County Administrator Jeff Cadwell asked the board to consider— for the future—changing the name of the Planning and Zoning Department to the Land Services Department with Tim Nelson serving as Land Services Director. “This reflects the far that this office currently provides services beyond the scope of planning and zoning,” Cadwell said. “It also reflects an intentional shift away from […]
Stop talking and get it done
Okay, so after reading last week’s paper and the article about how the city of Grand Marais is revisiting the “affordable housing” problem, I am more than disgusted. How long are we going to talk about this issue like it is a new one? How long are the ideas going to be discussed and then forgotten or dropped? How long […]
Grand Portage opposed to adding moose to Endangered Species list
The Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa is strongly opposed to listing moose under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Although moose populations have declined in Minnesota. The ESA is reserved for species that need urgent protection to prevent impending extinction. Self-sustaining populations of moose are found in the Midwestern states petitioned for listing and populations are not at critical […]
Purple peace
As you might have guessed by my mention of the State Fair and its recipe giveaway recently, I get a lot of news releases from the Minnesota State Fair this time of year. I’ve received a few a week for the last month. They arrive more and more frequently as the fair opening date approaches, trying to tempt people to […]
