2019-11-02 E-Edition

Howard Hedstrom retires after 30 years at the helm of Hedstrom Lumber

After 43 years of service, including 30 years as president, Howard Hedstrom announced his retirement from Hedstrom Lumber Company, Inc. as of September 30. A family-owned business since 1914, Hedstrom Lumber has been a cornerstone of the Grand Marais community and the upper Midwest wood products industry for over 100 years. Howard is the last of the third generation of […]

Farewell party for library director Steve Harsin

Grand Marais Public Library invites the community to attend a farewell party for library director Steve Harsin, who is resigning to accept a regional-level position in southeastern Minnesota. The party will be held in the library at noon on Tuesday, November 12, which is also his last workday. Harsin accepted his position with the library in 2014 and has lived […]

Commissioners approve funds to fix YMCA roof, some mechanicals


At the Cook County commissioners’ Tuesday, Oct. 22 meeting, Auditor/ Treasurer Braidy Powers appeared before the board with a request for funds that will be used to repair a hole in the YMCA roof and fix pressurization in the pool area. The current estimated cost is $15,400, but Powers said it would probably run higher, a thousand dollars or more, […]

Hospital board discusses insurance rates, Safe Care and financial future


Caroline Hanford, Imaging Director, presented an update about the North Shore Health mammography services to the hospital board at the board’s October meeting. Hanford highlighted the difference between 2D digital images and 3D digital images and the positive benefit of the new 3D mammogram machine obtained earlier this summer. The new 3D technology takes images in slices; very similar to […]

Straw for the 2020 John Beargrease sled dog race stolen


“Someone backed up into a Cook, Minnesota farmer’s field and made off with 200 bales of straw,” said Frank Moe, one of the board of directors (and a contestant) of the 2020 John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon. “The farmer was selling the straw to us at cost,” Frank said. Mushers put straw on the ground for bedding so their sled […]

Fall Back

Turn your clocks backat 2:00 a.m. onSunday, November 3

Women’s right to choose alive and well in Minnesota

Women are not losing any rights to abortions as claimed in Jeri Jensen’s letter to the editor. Almost 10,000 abortions were performed in 2018; women do have the right to control their bodies and family size in Minnesota. About 12,500 women received Woman’s Right to Know informed consent information, and after learning about the risks and alternatives, 2,500 women chose […]

An explanation about the recent hospital levy increase

I offer some insights to Mr. Peterson’s recent thoughts about the hospital levy increasing. Hospitals have revenue sources and expenses – and regulations – that make it much different from other businesses. By law the hospital must treat people regardless of the payer source or ability to pay. There aren’t many businesses that start with establishing the cost of doing […]

Street project could be just what Grand Marais needs

I recently purchased a home just east of Grand Marais and have watched with interest the rhetoric and commentary regarding the new Highway 61 rebuild. MnDOT calls this a Complete Streets Project. The community in which I came from just went through a Complete Streets Project. I am from Glenwood, Minnesota, which is the county seat for Pope County and […]