Down Memory Lane

10 YEARS AGOJUNE 20, 2009 All-terrain vehicle (ATV) enthusiasts from around the state, region, and nation gathered in Silver Bay on Saturday in an attempt to break the Guinness Book of World Records entry for “the world’s longest ATV parade.” The count has yet to be verified by officials, but organizers are confident that the June 13 count of 1,632 […]

Violet “Vi” Rindahl

Violet “Vi” Rindahl, 92, of Grand Marais died on Friday, June 14, 2019 at North Shore Health in Grand Marais. She was born on March 25, 1927 to Rudolph and Mary (Haas) Hansey in Cass Lake. Vi grew up and attended school in Cass Lake, Minnesota. After graduating Cass Lake High School, she attended Bemidji State Teachers College. On June […]

Jeanne Marie Spry

Jeanne passed away unexpectedly at North Shore Hospital after fighting like a true Ogichidaakwe for the past year. Jeanne was born on January 3, 1959 to Margaret and Elmer Spry. She spent her childhood in Grand Portage, and graduated from Mahnomen High School in 1977. In 1978 she then returned to Grand Portage where she made her home with the […]

Managing transportation funding challenges in Cook County


Understanding the county’s diverse roadway system can be a challenge. It comprises one state highway, 297 miles of county roads, and hundreds of miles of U.S. Forest Service, Department of Natural Resources, and private roadways. As funding sources become more limited and competitive, the Cook County Highway Department is working diligently to address the longterm construction and maintenance needs for […]

U.S. EPA reveals long-suppressed comments on Minnesota’s Polymet mine water pollution permit


On June 12, 2019, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finally released EPA comments highly critical of the water pollution permit prepared by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) for the controversial PolyMet project, which would be Minnesota’s first copper nickel mine. Minnesota environmental group WaterLegacy had sought these comments for more than a year, and had sued EPA under […]

Legion team loses to Proctor


With the high school baseball season over earlier than expected, it didn’t take long for the kids to get back to playing baseball, with the majority of the Vikings varsity team, along with several players from Silver Bay, playing American Legion ball. In their first game of the year, the Cook County Senior Legion team played the Proctor Rails at […]

Chip in for Youth Celebrity Charity Golf Scramble


Cook County Community Education and the YMCA invite you to be a part of our life-changing missions. By playing in or sponsoring the Chip in For Youth Celebrity Charity Golf Scramble, you are directly improving the lives of children in our community. Our fundraising goal for this event is $20,000, which will support the Cook County Child Care Center, Summer […]

Glorud Design

canoe paddles with a distinctive design

Josh Rude’s canoe paddles are amazing. They are things of beauty, poetry in wood, but made for the water. The one-time Gunflint Trail guide now lives in Duluth with his wife and three children. He took some time last week to answer some questions for the Cook County News- Herald. When did you start making canoe paddles, and what prompted […]

The trouble with thistles


The trouble with Canadian thistles is that they are beautiful. At first glance this noxious weed is pretty. I rescued one from the clutches of my husband’s line trimmer two years ago, and I’m still regretting it. “Don’t cut that down. It’s too pretty.” My husband was cutting weeds surrounding our cabin. “Look at it.” I pointed to the plant. […]

Come join the community for the third annual Grand Marais Pride weekend


There will be a potluck picnic at 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 29 in the parking lot of United Church of Christ (UCC) church as part of a weekend celebration of the LGBTQ community. Come with food to share or just for conversation, community and celebration. Bring signs, rainbows, whatever makes you happy. At 2 p.m. there will be a […]