Giving thanks for Trinity


I ran across a story once about a farmer who was celebrated for growing award-winning sweet corn. Every August he entered his corn in the county fair, and every year it won a blue ribbon. One summer a newspaper reporter came to interview him. In their conversation, he discovered that each spring this farmer generously shared his seed corn with […]

Diane Marie (Drouillard) Johnson

Diane Marie (Drouillard) Johnson died peacefully in the early morning of November 2, 2018. Diane was born in Grand Marais on September 8, 1939 to Fred and Lola Drouillard. The youngest of seven children, she was a graduate of Cook County High School and lived for many years in Monticello, Minn. She earned a B.A. in criminology and worked in […]

Kathryn Anne Maurin Levitan

August 11, 1941 - November 15, 2018

Beloved daughter of Anne and George Maurin, she died in Hibbing, Minnesota of a rare blood disease. Kay is survived by best friend David Levitan; siblings Patrick (Elizabeth) of Wasilla, Alaska, Judy Brisky (John) of Lutsen; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her sister Margaret and parents. Kay was a veteran, serving in […]

Charles ‘Chuck’ Faust

We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Charles “Chuck” Faust, of St. Paul, Minn., on November 14, 2018, at the age of 89. Charles was born in Warren, Minnesota on September 12, 1929, to Eileen Herron and Frederick Faust. He grew up in Thief River Falls and Minneapolis eventually earning a BA in history at The College of […]

Historical Reflections

Down Memory Lane

10 YEARS AGONOV. 22, 2008 At the end of a full agenda on Nov. 17, the ISD 166 school board accepted with regrets the resignation of superintendent Chuck Futterer, effective June 30, 2009. Futterer returned to his alma mater as elementary principal 11 years ago and will have served six years as superintendent. A large boulder tumbled from the Highway […]

Helping hands for Cook County


We recently caught up with Mark Abrahamson to talk about the health career professional training that he and Cook County Higher Education provide. Mark began training nursing assistants for the Care Center in the 1990s, as he continued with the program that Skip Joynes and Joan Hall had started. Over time, in order for students to receive college credits for […]

Man found deceased at George Washington Pines

On Nov. 15 while on patrol, a Cook County sheriff ’s deputy noticed a vehicle, which had been parked in the parking area at the George Washington Pines Memorial Plantation. Upon approach of the vehicle, an unresponsive person was identified in the driver’s seat. Entry was made into the vehicle and a deceased body was recovered with what appeared to […]

County Assessor’s Office to change classification for short-term rentals


If you list your property as an Airbnb or as another form of short-term vacation rental, and it has been classified as a seasonal recreational, that’s about to change. In January, 2019 the Cook County’s Assessor’s Office will send out notifications to these property owners that their property has now been classified as Residential Non-Homestead. “It doesn’t mean they (owners) […]

Duclos places third in log rolling tournament


Allesandra (Allie) Duclos was the lone North Shore Roller entrant in the October 28 River Rat Roll, which was held in the La Crosse, Wisconsin YMCA. Duclos, an age group two-time world champion, placed third in the U13 girls’ competition. Suzie Priest of Minneapolis was the winner. For the year, Allie ended up third overall in the United States Log […]