Two young ladies were selected to wear the crown of St. Lucia at the annual Julefest celebration held at Bethlehem Lutheran Church on Saturday, December 9. Cecelia Chmelik and Amy Carpenter, were both picked for the honor this year. Carpenter wore the crown the next day at the church service. Julefest is Bethlehem Lutheran’s variation of the celebrations held across […]
Loved ones remembered at Light Up A Life
As people arose in the darkness and candles were lit one by one, individuals told their stories. Some were sweet soliloquies, prayers of thanks and remembrance. Some were sad. Some tinged with tenderness; anecdotes of loved ones lost by illness or accident. Goodbyes and hellos came in the same breath, shared with others who came to do the same. More […]
North House looking at purchasing Dockside
Wanting to end the rumors, North House Folk School Executive Director Greg Wright said yes, indeed, the school is looking at buying the Dockside restaurant property from Harley and Shele Tofte. “Last spring, Dockside Fish Market invited North House to sit down and discuss the possibility of a sale,” said Wright. “Since we are still in conversation and still working […]
Commissioners set 2018 levy
By a three to two vote, the Cook County commissioners set the 2018 property tax levy at 17.5 percent at the board’s Tuesday, December 12 meeting. Cook County Auditor/Treasurer Braidy Powers said a 17.5 percent levy would bring in $9,236,751, up from the $7,863,947 collections for 2017. Expenses for 2018 are expected to be $23,539,873. Voting for the tax hike […]
City council approves levy, contract with AFSCME
Grand Marais city councilors approved a property tax levy of three percent ($933,671.76) at the council’s Wednesday, Dec. 13 meeting, a decrease from the 8.2 percent proposed last fall. Council used $60,000 in revenues from the city’s RV/camping recreation park to slash the levy. During community comments, Bob Mattson, Joyce Heiskari, David Beckwith and Bob Glirbas each asked council members […]
Writer asks the “haves” to think about the “have nots”
Healthcare costs…insurance premiums, prescription drugs, physician fees…all have skyrocketed over the past few years. There appears to be little relief in sight as politicians haggle over solutions at a snail’s pace, with special interest healthcare industry lobbyists circumventing the process. A sizable portion of county property taxes funds healthcare premiums for county employees, with yet another increase as part of […]
Take a strong look at voting Liebling for governor
Tina Liebling for governor! There I’ve done it, there have been all sorts of articles and news stories about DFL candidates announcing for governor, so the chances of any one getting the headline or lead are slim, so there I’ve done it, not only the featured lead in my post, but the only candidate I will mention at all. I […]
Sex and Jerusalem
Both public and private discussion today is about the emotional, political, moral, religious and economic aspects of sex. Unfortunately, the discussion is never about sex in the context of true love. We also often hear from people in Congress that they feel they ought to be held to a higher moral level of conduct when it comes to sex – […]
Don’t Print That
Journalism at times is referred to as “the fourth estate,” a segment of society that wields an indirect but significant influence on society even though it is not formally recognized as part of the political system. It is seen by some as being imperative to the functioning of a healthy and just society. Thomas Jefferson, writing from Paris in 1787 […]
Office Outpost to close
It was a good try, but the Office Outpost, which is located in the former visitor information center space at Grand Marais City Hall, will close at the end of this year. The Office Outpost provided a workspace for residents and visitors who needed to use professional office space equipped with high-speed Internet, copiers, and a meeting room, for a […]