Dave Asproth is known as one of the best fly tiers in the country and is a noted fisherman, trapper, and hunter, but Dave hasn’t hunted, fished or trapped for three years, an eternity for this venerable outdoorsman. His only companion is Hilda, a 12-year-old Manx cat. “She’s a champion mouser,” he said as he scratched Hilda’s ear. “She’s also […]
Public discusses racism with school board
Racism. Not here. Not in Cook County, right? And not in Cook County School District I.S.D. 166, right? But on September 21, the International Day of Peace as declared by the United Nations, the I.S.D. 166 school board met and was met head-on by a saddened public distraught over learning that two girls, sisters, had been the target of racist […]
McIntyre named new Public Health & Human Services director
The search to replace Josh Beck, former Cook County Public Health & Human Services director who resigned in July, is over. Commissioners approved Alison McIntyre to fill the position. McIntyre was recommended by the Hiring Committee, which was formed to help find a replacement for Beck. Employed by Cook County since 2012, as of late McIntyre has been working as […]
Lutsen Township attorney advises giving to Birch Grove
Because of the uncertainty about whether or not Lutsen Township could donate to Birch Grove Community School, a dilemma also facing Schroeder and Tofte townships, Lutsen hired Minneapolis attorney Kyle Hartnett to give them a legal opinion on the matter. On September 25 Hartnett emailed the township with his response. “After reviewing the information received from the Minnesota Office of […]
Avera emergency goes live at NSH
Welcome to the brave new world of telemedicine. Two nurses from Sioux Falls, South Dakota happily introduced the Avera emergency services to the press on Tuesday, September 26, and if they were 500 miles away, with just the push of a button, they were also right there in the emergency room at North Shore Health. With the use of a […]
Hypothetical Scenario
If you could only choose one song to listen to for the rest of your life, what would it be? I posed this question to friends and family a few years back. Leaving room for the possibility that your choice could likely change over the course of time, for me—as I thought about my response—I didn’t have to deliberate. If […]
Racism in school, county need to end
It looks like a family now living here with us is planning to move away after a series of racist incidents involving their young daughters at school. Why, and how did this happen? It’s hard to understand why finally, after so much history, we don’t have a public school for these girls where they can feel safe, valued, and welcomed […]
Cook County worth more than two cent investment
A recent column in the paper quoted Frank Herbert, a well-known fiction writer. “The people I distrust most are those who want to improve our lives but only have one course of action.” The electoral process is an interesting one. It is an opportunity for the public to let its opinions be turned into action be it on the national […]
Statue of Liberty is not dead
No, the Statue of Liberty is not dead but the conditions are! To settle this country we needed people to fill the space and special need. No longer, unless a person can fill a need here that cannot be met by citizens. We cannot absorb every needy (no matter how worthy) person in the world! Unless, as an individual, you […]
Homeowners property tax refund
Many people in Minnesota do not file for the property tax refund when they would qualify to receive it. If your property is classified as Homestead you can qualify. If your income is $108,660 or less you may qualify. There are two programs to get refunds. One gives you a refund if your taxes increase from the previous year by […]