Wooden Boat Show sails to new heights



In its 21st year, the annual North House Wooden Boat Show & Summer Solstice Festival has come to be a large draw for families and wooden boat aficionados. This year was no different. With a wide variety of events and craft demonstrations largely free to the public, there was simply something for (practically) everyone to enjoy. More than 2,000 people […]

Poplar River Management Board gets some good news



After a decade of extensive efforts to clean up the Poplar River, it looks like success has been achieved. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has recommended that the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) delist Poplar River. The Poplar River Management Board (PRMB) was formed a decade ago in response to the MPCA listing of the lower reach of the […]

Commissioners approve fueling station along Gunflint Trail



Visit Cook County Executive Director Linda Jurek and new employee Lily Nelson-Pederson came before the county board on Tuesday, June 26 with a report about projects funded by the one percent sales tax. Jurek said that in 2016 Visit Cook County promoted 15 events but at this time, “We are pushing around 50 events.” Next year Visit Cook County will […]

Sawtooth Mountain Clinic hosts 40th anniversary celebration



“We are here for you, together through life.” By one count 90 people attended the Sawtooth Mountain Clinic’s 40th anniversary celebration held on Monday, June 25 at the clinic. However, with all of the coming and going, there were at least a hundred people who came with good wishes, some staying briefly before moving on to the next event in […]

Isak Hansen and Sons, Inc. continues to grow



It’s been a busy year in the making, but the change over is all but complete, said Tom Dwyer, owner, and operator of Isak Hansen and Sons, Inc. in Lutsen. What Dwyer was referring to was the switch in cooperative partners to a new company that offers a wide array of products (more than 50,000 items), more than his former […]

Is the history of Grand Portage being taught in the local schools?



When I think back to my history classes in Cook County High School it amazes me that, with Grand Portage in our district, I do not remember many lessons we had about their history. I hope more is taught about that history now. Ralph JohnsonClear Lake, Minn.

What’s next? Bureau of Backroad Navigation?



I first must admit that I only recently heard about this border-to-border route being proposed for off road four-wheel vehicles and have a few questions and comments. First off, in my nearly seven decades as a Minnesotan, I have never once heard anyone say, “Wouldn’t it be great to drive some crappy back roads from Cook County to North Dakota.” […]

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The Friends of the Library Book Sale will be the last one ever unless someone steps up to help



The 40th Annual Friends of the Library Book Sale will be held August 2-4 at the Community Center in Grand Marais. Thursday night is for Library Friends members only between 5 and 7 p.m. Memberships will be sold at the Community Center one hour prior to the sale on Thursday afternoon. Friday the book sale hours are 8 a.m. to […]

Less Kool-Aid– More Coolidge



“Don’t drink the Kool-Aid,” an expression literally born of a nightmare–commonly referred to as “the Jonestown Massacre”– created a lasting legacy, a saying that has come to mean: ”Whatever they tell you, don’t believe it too strongly.” Sad to say, Cook County taxpayers are being asked by members of the present local governing body to drink some exotic concoction of […]