Election results offer some surprises, much relief



An exceedingly long year of nasty presidential politicking came to an end on the evening of Election Day when Donald Trump (GOP) was declared president elect over Hillary Clinton (DFL). While the total Electoral College vote wasn’t in by Wednesday morning (press time) Trump’s total was expected to exceed 300. Incumbent U.S. Representative Rick Nolan (DFL) edged Stewart Mills (GOP) […]

Search for missing man on Pine Lake continues



A weekend fishing trip went horribly wrong for a 59-year-old Duluth man who was fishing on Pine Lake in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. Michael Raymond Hickey left for Pine Lake on Friday, November 4 and was due back on Sunday. When he didn’t return to work or return calls, his colleagues reported him missing to the Cook County Sheriff […]

EDA looks at lending a hand to Tofte for its housing project



While the Tofte housing project sits in limbo, the Tofte town board has reached out to the Cook County/ Grand Marais Economic Development Authority (EDA) for assistance. The reason the township needs help is that it doesn’t have the authority to manage a housing project it began discussing more than five years ago. Two representatives of the EDA Board, Chair […]

School board reviews policies



The first order of business for the Cook County I.S.D. 166 school board on November 3 was to welcome head volleyball coach Pam Taylor and her highly successful volleyball squad to the meeting. “You’ve had a great season,” Superintendent Dr. William Crandall said to Taylor and her team of players. “I wish you the best to continue your season. Thank […]

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Paul James resigns supervisor seat in Tofte



After 17 years of serving on the Tofte town board, Paul James said enough was enough. The current township board chair announced his resignation two weeks ago from his position. Shockwaves went through the West End community when it was learned that James would no longer lead the township board. As a tireless leader who strongly advocated for his community, […]

Thanks for Your Consideration



Because a deadline is a deadline, this letter was written and submitted before the Tuesday, November 8th election day. While the results were still unknown at that time regarding the ISD 166 Bonding and Operating Levy measures, the Vote Yes Committee was certainly clear about something: Your communities care about their schools. Win or lose, this has been a valuable […]

Thanksgiving Poem



Let’s give thanks to Mother Naturewhose breasts we suckle when first we’re bornto whom we listen with attentive earon how to walk and talkwhose tight embrace we one day leaveto embrace the world all on our own She waves farewell with tear-marred facewhile we stand by unmovedconvince ourselves only up we’ll growwithout a Mother’s care Her love’s concern we’ll must […]

Nolan urges protection of Pell Grant program



U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan has joined his colleagues in calling on leadership in the Senate and House Committees on Appropriations and the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (LHHS) Subcommittee to ensure that all available resources in the Pell Grant program are used to improve college access and affordability for low-income students. “As a former teacher, I know there […]

Time for some changes



Without a crystal ball, and an early deadline, I don’t know who won the presidential election. Either way, the country needs to pull together. The fabric of the nation has been torn, not ripped apart, but seriously frayed. Neither major party candidate has done much to bring the nation together. Both candidates played their political base against the other. Trump […]