Cook County commissioner board chair Ginny Storlie recently attended the National Association of Counties (NACo) Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., where over 2,000 elected and appointed officials gathered to discuss federal policy issues that impact counties. Held March 3-7, NACo gives county representatives a chance to have their voices heard at a national level. Storlie said, “Cook County really needs […]
A sign from God
We were driving on the Interstate through Illinois on our way to Indianapolis when a highway sign caught my attention. It was not a particularly unusual sign, just another rectangle, two feet wide and probably three feet long fastened to two poles set in the ground. The sign was white with a ribbon of red about an inch in from […]
Catherine L. Borka
Catherine L. Borka, 87, of Two Harbors, Minn., formerly of Cologne, Minn., passed away on Friday, March 9, 2018 at Lakeview Hospital in Two Harbors. A private family graveside will be held. Cremation Society of Minnesota. Lynn Lauer, 61, of Duluth, and formerly of Grand Marais, passed away March 8, 2018 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in St. Paul. She will be […]
Erik William Babatz
April 25, 2001-January 22, 2018Erik, age 16, was taken from us on January 22, 2018. His young life was cut much too short following a tragic motor vehicle crash in which he was a passenger. Erik was caring, smart, creative, shy, and observant. He loved the outdoors, nature, fixing things – engines and boat motors – and was an avid fisherman. When Erik was […]
Some history of the Highway 61 project
For years, even decades, the Grand Marais City Council has been hearing community concerns about the unsafe crossings on Highway 61. Doing something about that serious challenge has consistently been placed on their list of priorities. Six years ago, the City of Grand Marais initiated a process to broadly engage the community and hear the community’s needs and interests around […]
Down Memory Lane
10 YEARS AGOMARCH 14, 2008 A decision on establishing a special taxing district for property owners in the Poplar River watershed was delayed indefinitely Tuesday when the county board voted to seek more public input in the process before moving forward. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to revise the amount of critical habitat designated under the Endangered […]
Man found deceased after fall in Grand Portage
The Cook County Sheriff ’s Office, Grand Portage Ambulance and First Responders and Cook County Ambulance responded to a residence in the Bay Estates area of Grand Portage around 5 a.m. on Sunday, March 11. The call came in to 911 Dispatch at 4:54 a.m Kevin Wilfred Morrisseau, 47, was found unconscious and later pronounced deceased after reportedly falling from […]
Workshop helps contractors secure work and mitigates fire risk
Cook County Firewise, along with other partners, is holding two workshops in northern Minnesota to help forestry contractors access contract work. “We have a number of fuels reduction projects over the next several years and there is a need for more contractors to participate,” said Todd Armbruster, Firewise coordinator. “This workshop will help existing and potential new contractors learn about […]