Oh, Say Can You See?


The Minnesota Orchestra concert in Soweto, South Africa, opened with the South African national anthem: “Nkosi Sikelelel’ iAfrica,”—“ God Bless Africa.” With different verses, voices shifted between official languages—Xhosa, Zulu, Sotho, Afrikaans, and English. Then a drum roll, and the orchestra started to play The Star Spangled Banner. Voices: “Oh, say can you see?” The words caught me. “Oh, say […]

Samuel Guy Parker

Samuel Guy Parker, age 74, died on August 30, 2018 at the University of Minnesota Fairview Hospital in Minneapolis due to complications during heart surgery. Sam is survived by his wife, Diane; his brother, James Parker; and his sister, Wendy Parker. He was preceded in death by his father, Clyde Parker; his mother, Dorothy Parker; and his brother, Daniel Parker. […]

John LaPointe

John LaPointe, 51, of Antioch, Illinois, died suddenly on Aug. 21, 2018 while coaching a high school cross country team practice. John is survived by his wife and two children, parents Don and Carla of Hovland, two sisters, a brother, three nephews, a niece and many family members. John will be remembered as a loving husband and father; living life […]

Virginia ‘Ginger’ Rowe

Virginia “Ginger” Rowe, 81, of Carlton died Sunday, September 2, 2018. She was born in Madison, Minn. to Adolph and Ethel Shelstad, where she lived until her family moved to Hovland, when she was a senior in high school. She later moved to Carlton where she worked at the Carlton Hardware Hank and then City National Bank until retirement. She […]

Historical Reflections

Grand Marais Art Colony establishes an Artistic Director position; Ruth Pszwaro chosen

The Grand Marais Art Colony recently announced that Ruth Pszwaro has been named the new Artistic Director and Interim Executive Director of the organization. Pszwaro has been the program director for the past 4½ years. During her tenure, the number of art classes, artist services, and community engagement events has increased substantially. She has brought many new teaching artists to […]

YMCA receives 2018 grant funding from USA Swimming Foundation


The Cook County YMCA was chosen as one of 151 Make a Splash Local Partner programs in the U.S. to receive grant funding from the USA Swimming Foundation in 2018. The awarded money will go toward the Y’s continued efforts to provide free or reduced cost swim lessons to underserved communities around the country. The USA Swimming Foundation awarded a […]

Down Memory Lane

10 YEARS AGOSEPT. 5, 2008 The Cook County Vikings got off to a good start with a 26-0 win in their first game of the season. Cook County’s defense was relentless as they only allowed 58 yards of total offense by the Ely Timberwolves. Junior wideout James Groth caught three touchdown passes that totaled 140 yards of offense. WTIP will […]

Mystery of the beautiful rose bushes


In 2014, for a mere $430, the city of Grand Marais got itself another park, and an organization to maintain it! Frankie Jarchow, president of the Grand Marais Garden Club was on a committee for the Great Place Project and recognized a need. Frankie approached Mike Roth, City Clerk, about the possibility of making the weed tangled strip alongside 1st […]

College News

Hay and Martinson named to dean’s list at Bethel Marin Hay, Grand Marais, a senior, was named to the spring 2018 dean’s list at Bethel University, St. Paul, Minnesota. Marin is the daughter of Mary and John Hay, Schroeder. Alyssa Martinson, Schroeder, a sophomore at Bethel University in St. Paul, was named to the spring 2018 dean’s list. Alyssa is […]