Energy and emission savings with CCLEP



The Cook County Local Energy Project (CCLEP) would like to share some encouraging news. As part of our mission to develop a local response to climate change and the global transition away from fossil fuel-based energy sources, our focus has been on energy efficiency, which is the best and most cost effective way to reduce the use of fossil fuels […]

An abundance of unorganization




I heard an interesting tidbit at a meeting recently. The population of Cook County’s unorganized territory outnumbers the population of the so-called organized communities—Grand Marais and the townships of Lutsen, Tofte and Schroeder. That makes me smile. As regular readers know, I don’t just write Unorganized Territory; I live in unorganized territory. It’s been awhile since I thought about how […]

Priorities set for pursuit of IRRRB funds



The Cook County/Grand Marais Economic Development Authority (EDA) held a special meeting on Tuesday, August 30 to discuss the projects for which it is seeking funding from the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB). At the end of the meeting, the EDA has created a priority list of Cook County to be presented to the IRRRB. The reason for […]

Weekly Weather



Back to school



It’s back to school time. As a parent and educator I’ve been involved these last two weeks in preparing for the start of the 2016-17 school year. Buying school clothes, binders and notebooks, correlating curriculum to state standards and setting up a classroom. As a pastor I find myself looking at this annual rite from a different perspective. Our children […]

Virginia Rose (Massie) Killmer,



Virginia Rose (Massie) Killmer, age 95, of Grand Marais, Falcon Heights, Apple Valley, and Hopkins, passed away August 13, 2016. Virginia was born in the family home in Lutsen on October 20, 1920 to Homer Arthur and Rosa Clariette (Monker) Massie. She attended grade school in Lutsen, graduated in 1938 from Grand Marais (now Cook County) High School, and studied […]

Alura M. Smith

May 18, 1962-Aug. 29, 2016

She was born in Grand Marais, the youngest child of George “Bud,” “Buckskin” and Doreen (Sorensen) Smith. She spent the first few years of her life in Grand Marais, before her family moved to St. Peter, Minnesota when she was four. In 1980, she graduated from St. Peter High School and went to Mankato State University for a year. She […]

Fall fun at the Care Center



Many hands were on board on August 16 to help move many residents into their new, private rooms! It was a very busy day, but all was accomplished in one day and the residents were happy to be in their new homes. We want to thank the volunteers, friends, family, and staff who participated in this successful endeavor. We have […]

Historical Reflections



Down Memory Lane



10 YEARS AGO SEPT. 1, 2006 The U.S. Coast Guard is proposing to establish safety zones throughout the Great Lakes – zones intended to restrict vessels from portions of the waters during live fire gun exercises. One of the safety zones is off-shore of Grand Marais. The zones are deemed necessary “in order to protect the public from hazards associated […]