Family hunts for a real Christmas tree


Few things are as refreshing as the smell of a freshly cut spruce tree, especially if you’ve gone out and cut it down yourself. Last weekend, Sarah Lakosky and her two boys, Ethan (10) and Ari (6), decided to drive up the Gunflint Trail in search of a suitable Christmas tree. Their packing list for the excursion was affordable and […]

Commissioners approve 5.99 percent levy


After getting an earful from more than half a dozen disgruntled speakers who asked commissioners to rein in county spending, the Cook County Board of Commissioners voted 4-1 to stick with the proposed 5.99 percent levy increase for 2019. Appearing during the public comment period at the commissioners Tuesday, December 11 meeting were Joyce Heiskari, Arvis Thompson, Pete Greszcyk, Ben […]

City council selects Schulte to fill open council seat


After weighing the merits of two strong candidates, Anna Hamilton and Craig Schulte, both of whom signed up to fill an open seat on the Grand Marais City Council, the councilors selected Craig Schulte, but it wasn’t easy. Schulte will fill the two-year term of newly elected councilor Pete Gresczyk who withdrew shortly after the election to avoid a potential […]

County adds ropes rescue to emergency response roster


Cook County is pleased to announce the addition of a High Angle/Swift Current Ropes Rescue Team to its emergency response capacity. An initiative of the Lutsen Fire Department, Cook County Emergency Management and Cook County Search & Rescue, eight inaugural members were trained over the course of two full weekends at the end of October. “We identified a gap in […]

Dragnet: Episode 2 Dum-da-dum-dum . . .


It was Tuesday, September 4th. I awoke at 6:24 a.m. to an ill wind blowing in from the northwest. I have often found an ill wind blows no good. I had a hunch it was an omen. I hadn’t slept well last night. My mind kept replaying yesterday’s conversation with the distraught woman outside the donut shop: “Cook County commissioners […]

Writer urges public to attend public board meetings

As I see it

I attended the yearly Truth in Taxation meeting this year and, to my dismay, nothing had changed from previous years. We, the public, are invited to voice our concerns before an expressionless and unresponsive panel of Cook County commissioners. In other words, we’re invited to “vent” for a strictly limited five minutes with the promise that our talking points will […]

Meet Linda Dobosenski


With deep roots to Cook County, it is easy to see why Linda Dobosenski moved here from the Twin Cities. Linda is the new program and volunteer coordinator for Care Partners, taking over for Kelly Holtzman. “I moved here from Columbia Heights, Minnesota,” said Linda. “I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) from the College of Visual Arts in […]

GM Rec Park Board sets 2019 rates


Campers and RV owners will pay a little more next year to stay at the Grand Marais Recreational Park. After discussing two options, the park board voted unanimously to go with option 2, which cleaned up the rate card and dropped the midweek rate. “Currently, we offer midweek rates that are $2 less each night than on Friday and Saturday […]

Weekly Weather

Clarification:

In an article printed two weeks ago about the Human Development Center it stated that HDC coordinates a 24/7-crisis response, to clarify, HDC coordinates the after-hours mobile crisis response in Cook County. Crisis information and services are available through the regional hotline at 218-623-1800 or 844-772- 4724. The 218-387-3620 phone number was incorrectly identified as a regional intake worker. 218-387-3620 […]