There was an impressive crowd of 655 music lovers who enjoyed a full day of pleasant weather and eclectic performances on Saturday, September 8 at Sweetheart’s Bluff in the Grand Marais Recreation Area. Kicking off on Friday evening with the North Shore Community Swing Band, and closing with the SplinterTones on late Sunday afternoon, overall attendance at this annual, three-day […]
September 11, 2001 remembered at Harbor Park
A moment of silence was held at 8:46 a.m. on Tuesday, September 11 at Bear Tree Park as members of the community and rescue/law enforcement gathered to remember the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and to honor those firefighters and police officers who came to help throughout the assault and the aftermath. During the 9-11 terrorist attacks […]
Public input sought on MPCA permit for Taconite Harbor Energy Center
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) commissioner has made a preliminary determination to reissue a permit for a term of approximately five years for the Minnesota Power Taconite Harbor Energy Center in Schroeder. The current permit was first issued December 22, 2005, and reissued on November 30, 2010. The public has until Sept. 26, 2018 to send comments to the […]
County board sets preliminary levy of 5.99 percent
On Tuesday, September 11 Cook County commissioners approved a motion to set the preliminary 2019 levy not to exceed 5.99 percent over the 2018 tax. The motion was made by commissioner Myron Bursheim and seconded by commissioner Jan Sivertson and approved 5-0 by the board. Commissioners will work with the budget committee, department heads and county staff to see if […]
Writers offer simple solution to Fall Creek bridge dilemma
This letter is in response to a letter written on behalf of the Gitchi-Gami Trail Association (GGTA) titled “Bridge across Fall Creek waterfall won’t impede view of waterfall”). The letter writers acknowledge that the “Fall River waterfall is unique and beautiful.” And, yes it is accessed by a simple portage path from Highway 61 that goes in keeping with the […]
Day of Peace to be celebrated
While September 21 has been designated as the International Day of Peace, the day is being celebrated in Cook County on Saturday, Sept. 22 with two events in Grand Marais, and an earlier event held September 19 in Hovland. This year there will be a rally in Harbor Park at noon on September 22. “We avoided Friday evening because of […]
Counties collect Payment in Lieu of Taxes for state-owned land not subject to property tax
Minnesota’s 87 counties are the beneficiaries of $35.7 million in aid that helps support public lands and provides a critical link in the state’s public recreation system, according to the Department of Natural Resources. Annual payments for Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT), a property tax relief program that offsets revenues not collected on public lands, recently were distributed by […]
Disengaged
Cook County officials recently concluded their series of Town Hall Meetings on the proposed 2019 budget. According to the press release, posted on the county’s website, County Administrator Jeff Cadwell, “encourage[d] residents to engage in the budget process as Cook County works toward setting the preliminary 2019 levy . . . an opportunity to ask questions and provide input to […]
One man Poplar River embankment cleanup effort
David Jansen of Grand Marais recently took on a big cleanup job single-handed. The day after a car was hoisted out of the Poplar River at the Highway 61 bridge, a local couple biking the Gitchi Gami Trail found David scrambling up the steep slope with a load of trash. Since the accident two months ago that sent the car […]
Input needed on developing pedestrian plan for Grand Marais
Future plans for many cities and towns include making them more walkable, and for Grand Marais, that future is upon us. With the help of the Arrowhead Regional Development Center and assistance from the community, the city will begin developing a pedestrian plan his fall. What is a pedestrian plan? Once done, the plan identifies the transportation needs of people […]