Cold weather rule sign-up starts in September



The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission Cold Weather Rule protects residential customers who will have difficulty paying their heating bills from October 15 through April 15 from having their service turned off. The Cold Weather Rule impacts all utility customers, of the Grand Marais Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and Arrowhead Electric Cooperative (AEC). Cold weather rule notices will be included in […]

Unsafe passing causes crash in Lutsen



A St. Paul man received a citation for unsafe passing after the vehicle he was driving collided with a turning vehicle in Lutsen last week. Leslie Ann Pilgrim, 56, of Mendota Heights, Minnesota, was traveling west on Highway 61 in a silver Honda Pilot with three other people at about 10:39 a.m. on August 14. Pilgrim slowed and signaled to […]

Single vehicle crash sends Grand Marais man to hospital



A single vehicle crash in Lutsen sent a Grand Marais man to the hospital on August 9. Terry Halvorson, 39, was driving east in a 2001 Kia Rio on Highway 61 in Lutsen at about 11:48 a.m. on August 9. Near 5175 West Highway 61, his vehicle drifted across the west lane, over a gravel driveway and into the ditch. […]

Township Association says no levy for Birch Grove Community School



Absent change in Minnesota statutes governing a township’s ability to donate levied funds to charter schools, Kent Sulem, Minnesota Association of Townships (MAT) general counsel and director of governmental relations has strongly advised Lutsen, Tofte and Schroeder to stop giving money to Birch Grove Community School. Sulem sent a letter to Tofte Supervisor Jeanne Larson on August 8 outlining his […]

Athletics on school board agenda



The School District 166 board reinstated the public comment period at the beginning of its meetings at the August 4 board meeting. With the reinstatement came a slight change, the school board is asking that anyone wishing to speak sign in at the start of the meeting. Speakers will then be heard in the order in which they signed up. […]

Gunflint Woods, Winds and Strings celebrates community



Mid Trail Fire Station No. 1 hosted the Woods, Winds and Strings Concert on Sunday, August 14, 2016. Starting at 4 p.m., music by talented North Shore artists and their guests provided a program that had feet tapping and moods swinging. David Coleman served as program director and started by acknowledging those who had been instrumental in making this fourth […]

Adventure and mishap in the Search for the Good Life



“I’ll always turn to the North” is Sue Leaf ’s mantra as she recounts her adventures in the sometimes wild, sometimes mild landscape of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and elsewhere in her book, Portage: A Family, a Canoe, and the Search for the Good Life. Even after experiences with strong wind, storms, and mishaps on rapids, Leaf continues to […]

Duck Drama



The summer’s warm weather has allowed me to spend many a night sitting on the deck at my small, high glass topped table, watching the evening light slowly sink to sunset. Occasionally the local loon floats by and often its lovely call echoes down the lake. One such recent evening, the quiet was interrupted by loud squawks. I looked up […]

Weather doesn’t dampen generosity at Mid-Trail Auction



Rain, Rain, Go Away. So said the determined and ambitious ladies of the Mid-Trail Quilters and Property Owners Association as they watched the skies on August 10. And it did! By noon, the Paul and Carol Schaap Community Center and adjoining cold storage building were buzzing with people, poring over flea market treasures, boutique items made with love and a […]

Foot care services continue at Birch Grove



Foot and nail care services will continue this summer and fall at Birch Grove Community Center. A Sawtooth Mountain Clinic nurse will be available on the third Wednesday of the month following Senior Lunch (Sept. 21 and Oct. 19) to provide foot and nail care. Sign-up is available with Brenda at Birch Grove Center. Bring a towel and basin to […]