Down Memory Lane



10 YEARS AGOMARCH 21, 2008 In a unanimous vote, the ISD 166 school board voted to cut the budget by $335,000 at its regular meeting on Monday. The vote was passed with little discussion. Last week, the board meeting as a finance committee of the whole, came to a consensus decision about the cuts. Cuts will be made throughout the […]

Evaluating Success— how we use data to direct marketing initiatives



Spring has arrived in Cook County! While our spring is less about beach vacations and more about spring skiing and maple syruping, it is equally as sweet. In the marketing world of Visit Cook County, we are always at least a season ahead preparing our ad buys and content creation. We’re thinking “summer” while the grass is buried under two […]

Comment Period extended for Sawtooth Bluff Regional Park Master Plan



The Sawtooth Bluff Steering Committee’s comment period for their draft plan regarding Sawtooth Bluff in Grand Marais has been extended to March 31, 2018. It previously stated the comment period ended on March 23. The committee has developed a draft master plan for the 640-acre publicly-owned site, outlining their vision for the site as a park of regional significance and […]

Pike Lake Road design public information meeting



On March 27, the doors will open at 5 p.m. in the Cook County Commissioners’ Room at the courthouse to summarize what was heard during the first public meeting and share how feedback from the public was used through revised conceptual drawings. After sharing the revised design objectives, the public will be asked for comment and feedback. The presentation will […]

Sawtooth 5th grade makes trek to Wolf Ridge



One of the most highly anticipated traditions in Cook County is the annual Sawtooth Mountain Elementary 5th grade trip to Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center in Finland. This year, 29 fifth-graders, three staff members, and seven parent chaperones made the trip down the shore for a two-night, three-day adventure that won’t soon be forgotten. During their time at Wolf Ridge […]

Theater Sports a lot of fun



Once again the high school senior college literature class put on a fantastic Theater Sports show at the ACA on Friday, March 16, drawing a friendly crowd and raising a goodly sum of money for their class trip to the Twin Cities. Featuring fast-paced ad-lib skits and games led by high school language arts teacher Michael McHugh, the show was […]

A rose a day



I have a very good friend who I love and adore because she is such a light in my life. I think her parents must have recognized her positive future as they named her after a flower and the mother, Mary. I remember the day I met her more than 10 years ago. I was being trained to sell advertising […]

Siama Matuzungidi and Congo World Quartet coming to Arrowhead Center for the Arts



On April 7 at 7 p.m. the Arrowhead Center for the Arts (ACA) will be filled with the beautiful “sounds of happiness” music that originated from the Congo. A prolific composer and guitarist from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Siama Matuzungidi spent his early career performing with major African music stars, including Kanda Bongoman, Sam Mangwana, and Samba Mapangala. A […]

Community Choir gathers: Singing for joy



If you like music, if you like to sing and if you like to fellowship with others, then come to Bethlehem Lutheran Church on Sunday, March 25 at 4 p.m. This event will feature Cook County Church Choirs—and Friends. Each Choir will share several of their favorite songs; everyone can join in on hymns. Coffee and treats to follow the […]

Gene’s Foods sponsoring Easter coloring contest



Do you like to color? Do you have “crayons” on the brain? Do you like to win prizes? If you like to color and would also like the chance to win some nifty prizes, then hop, skip, jump or drive on over to Gene’s Foods in Grand Marais and pick up an entry to their Easter coloring contest. There will […]