On Tuesday, October 25 the Cook County Board of Commissioners accepted a grant for $226,800 that will be used for residential owner rehabilitation of eight properties in Lutsen. Residential properties owned and occupied by low and moderate-income homeowners in Lutsen that qualify can receive $24,750 to rehab their houses. Cook County partnered with AEOA to administer the Minnesota Small Cities […]
Winter subordinate road contracts let
Based on submitted bids, Cook County Highway Engineer Dave Betts recommended the county to contract with several plow truck drivers to provide winter maintenance to the county’s subordinate roads. The Cook County Board of Commissioners approved the following contracts at their Tuesday, October 25 meeting. For the winter Mike Rose Excavating will maintain Evergreen Road, receiving $90 per plowing when […]
As temperatures fall, carbon monoxide dangers rise
With the start of the fall and winter heating season, the Minnesota Commerce Department urges Minnesotans to be aware of the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning. Each year about 500 people die in the United States from unintentional exposure to carbon monoxide (CO) – a silent, odorless, colorless gas formed by the incomplete combustion of fuels. Dangerous concentrations of CO […]
Minnesota DNR updates Wildlife Action Plan to address emerging conservation concerns
The Department of Natural Resources and numerous partners have updated the Minnesota Wildlife Action Plan to better reflect conservation of the state’s native wildlife species in a changing climate. “The plan addresses the primary causes of species population declines in Minnesota,” said the plan’s coordinator, Faith Balch. “Those causes include habitat loss and degradation, low reproduction and other biological issues, […]
Vikings win playoff opener
Andrew Miller ran for two touchdowns and threw for two more as the Vikings beat Mountain Iron-Buhl 28-12 to knock the Rangers out of Section 7 9-man playoffs in a game played last Tuesday night in Mountain Iron. Connor Somnis intercepted a MIB pass on the first series, giving the Vikings the ball on the Rangers’ 43-yard line. However, the […]
Casanova revisits the Prohibition era in her new novel, Ice-Out
Entangled in bootlegging schemes, the deaths of a friend, a sheriff, and a deputy, and his own jealousy putting him at odds with his girlfriend, Sadie Rose, 19-year-old Owen Jensen’s life seems to be spiraling out of control. Starting his own car dealership, even if it was with money from Mr. Pengler, who is a known bootlegger, was supposed to […]
Building trust: A Bird on my Hand
A little boy looks forward to his visit with Gramma, excited to learn how to earn the trust of her chickadees and feed them from his hand in Mary Bevis and Consie Powell’s children’s book, A Bird on my Hand. “Don’t scare my birds,” Gramma warns as she patiently teaches her grandson to hold his hand steady. “It took me […]
They ’re always there
I consider my life civilized. I use the Internet, text on my smart phone, and watch a flat screen television set. But. I live close to the Superior National Forest. Side-by-side with untamed animals, and every now and then, they remind me that “wild” is still part of wilderness. Several nights ago Dick and I decided to take a ride […]
Empty Bowls volunteers needed
At some time in each month, one in 10 Cook County residents struggles to put food on their table. Most are working people, people down on their luck, or individuals who suffer from some form of disability who can’t make ends meet. To help fill those bare cupboards, Empty Bowls was brought to Cook County in 2006. This year’s Empty […]