Just across the border 2,500 acres of pristine shoreland with towering cliffs, stretches of open bedrock, and the rugged cobbled beach will be free from development thanks to the cross-border collaboration of several environmental organizations. The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) recently purchased one of the last privately owned, undeveloped shorelines between Duluth, Minnesota and Thunder Bay, Ontario at the […]
Lake View Natural Dairy takes case to the Minnesota Supreme Court
Four years of legal wrangling between the state of Minnesota and a small dairy farm on Maple Hill may be coming to an end. The state contends it has the right to inspect Lake View Natural Dairy (LVND) because the dairy offers raw/unpasteurized milk products to customers who come to the farm to buy the goods. David and Heidi Berglund, […]
Commissioners discuss Otis Creek Crossing
Dave Betts and Minnesota Department of Transportation engineer (MnDOT) John McDonald came before the Cook County Board of Commissioners on March 28 to discuss the design of the Otis Creek Crossing, a subject much discussed in the previous decade. Betts said an analysis of the project (which included a hydraulics and hydrology study) of the Otis Creek watershed showed downstream […]
Community Center playground hopes to get new equipment
With the playground equipment at the Cook County Community Center (CCCC) old and wearing out from use, it’s time to replace much of it. Cook County Community Center Director Diane Booth informed commissioners through email that the average life for playground equipment is 12-17 years and much of the equipment at the CCCC is 22 years old. The cost to […]
Grand Portage replies to Draft Environmental Impact Statement on reintroduction of wolves to Isle Royale
Wait at least 10 years before introducing any new wolves to Isle Royale. That is the recommendation Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Tribe recently sent to Phyllis Green, superintendent of Isle Royale National Park. With only two wolves remaining on the island, the Park Service has touted a plan to introduce 20 to 30 wolves in part to […]
Go Cook County!
Thank you to the Go Team, the Cook County/Grand Marais EDA board, Pat Campanaro, the Cook County Chamber, Jim Boyd and One Roof Community Housing for “moving the ball into the red zone.” The good work you have done over the past several years has resulted in forward progress. Construction planning is ongoing for 20 units of Cook County workforce […]
It takes a village
We have all heard about how it takes a village to raise a child. Teaching our children, all of us would agree, is the most important thing we can do for them, for our families, for our community and our world. We have schools to help us with this delicate task. While in class a few months ago, my son […]
The Republican health care plan would hurt all of us
Republican leaders in Congress are racing to repeal the Affordable Care Act and gut the health care coverage that millions of Americans depend on. The new law would kick 24 million people off their insurance by 2026, send prices skyrocketing, gut Medicaid and make millions of working people pay a tax on their workplace health benefits, all while handing the […]
History of the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board
Given last week’s announcement in the News-Herald regarding the $350,000 grant from the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB) for the planned 16-unit Lutsen housing development, I thought the timing fitting to take a look at the history of the IRRRB, which stretches back more than three-quarters of a century. Tony Sertich, former IRRRB commissioner, speaking at a Feb. […]