For three days last weekend (July 27-29) the Grand Marais Harbor Park was filled with a wide variety of family fun music. In its second year, the Stars of the North Music Festival is growing in popularity. It is organized and hosted by the Grand Marais Music Collaborative. Bands and solo troubadours played everything from pulsating rock to hot jazz, […]
No superintendent for Gunflint Hills golf course this year
Grand Marais City Council had a busy agenda on Wednesday, July 25, tackling several big topics during the meeting. When Mayor Jay Arrowsmith-Decoux asked if anyone wanted to address the council during the open forum when the public is invited to speak, several members of Boreal Corps Kids came forward. Boreal Corps Kids presented to the council about Tobacco 21. […]
Filing period opens for the city of Grand Marais
If you have two bucks to spare and a passion for serving the city of Grand Marais, you can opt to run for one of four city positions that are up for election this fall. Grand Marais Mayor Jay Arrowsmith-DeCoux was busy filing his papers for a third term on Wednesday, August 1. Two years ago Jay was camping and […]
Lighthouse mural joins other murals at Birchbark Books
From the first mural to the addition of the new mural of the Grand Marais harbor lighthouse placed on the north outside wall of Birchbark Books & Gifts on Sunday, July 29, the theme continues on about our place in nature. Plans are to build a mural every summer until the wall is eventually covered. Funding came from a $300 […]
Chutich stumps for Minnesota Supreme Court
“I’m not a politician,” said an apologetic Margaret Chutich last Friday, July 27. “But,” Chutich, added, “I really like my job. That’s why I am out campaigning to keep it.” A Minnesota Supreme Court Justice, Chutich has competition in the upcoming fall election. She was in Grand Marais, a place she has often visited, meeting the public when she took […]
Groundbreaking held for Lutsen housing project
After four and one-half years of planning, seeking permits, partners, grants and other types of financing, the workforce housing will be built in Lutsen, with a target completion date of November 1, 2018. On hand for a celebratory groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, July 31 were representatives from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), the Iron Range Resources […]
A Matter of Numbers
As one might expect, there is considerable disparity, among Minnesota’s 87 counties, in the burdens local governments impose on taxpayers– ranging from a minimum of 2.8 percent of personal income in Winona County to a high of 7.5 percent in Cook County (2014 figures, most recent figures available from the Minnesota Center for Fiscal Excellence; but, believe me…the more recent […]
I am not sure it is “The rest of the story”
I do not always read the entire weekly diatribe of Mr. Gamble in this newspaper, but do have to compliment him on the time he must spend and the quality of his writing, even recognizing his apparent selective and creative use at times of the “facts.” I am particularly interested in his singular focus on county tax rates and spending. […]
You don’t need a government program to ride the back road
The last few weeks I’ve read with interest the comments from Scott Benolken and others who are working toward the Borderto Border route. Scott and the others claim to have been mischaracterized by being depicted as “…uncultured motor-heads bent on eroding our culture and delicate ecology.” They claim to be very responsible people. I fully believe you Scott! BUT, and […]
Something about Sam
Knock, knock. It was 7 p.m. and I wasn’t ready. “Come in Sam,” I said as I hustled into my gym shorts and T-shirt. Sam walked into my dorm room with a basketball under his arm and a big smile. “Let’s get going,” he said. “Time to play some hoops.” And so we did. Every night at 7 p.m., unless […]