The State Climatology Office is looking for volunteer rainfall monitors for the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS). The network includes more than 20,000 volunteers nationwide who measure precipitation in their backyards using a standard 4-inch rain gauge. These rainfall monitoring activities are performed by individuals at home who submit their reports online. Volunteers should follow Minnesota Department […]
Recycling Center and Budget shop closed
On Thursday, March 26 Cook County announced that the Cook County Recycling Center and Budget Shop are closed to the public due to COVID-19. The decision to close was made after the release of Governor Tim Walz’s executive order directing Minnesotans to stay at home and limit movements outside of their homes beyond essential needs. The closure is currently scheduled […]
Census response is critical to representation and funding decisions
The Census happens just once a decade and serves to count every person living in the United States. It is used it to determine representation in communities across the nation and informs critical funding decisions. The 2020 census will require counting an increasingly diverse and growing population of around 330 million people in more than 140 million housing units. “One […]
Sven & Ole’s versus Heggies in a heavyweight battle to claim frozen pizza supremacy
The Minneapolis Star & Tribune’s Frozen Pizza Bracket contest doesn’t have the drama say of the Miracle on Ice game when the U.S. beat the Russians in the 1980 Olympics, but it’s still exciting and gives us folks up north something to cheer about. To start with, Sven & Ole’s frozen pizza was ranked 12th out of 16 frozen pizzas […]
Wondering Highway ’61
Upon moving to Grand Marais four years ago, I was delighted to discover the Gunflint Hills Golf Course was now city owned and improved from my play in the 1980’s. Then at a Drury Lane book talk, David Saari and I discovered each other and became golf partners, occasional writing partners, and regular testers of single malt scotches. All those […]
Facilities update COVID-19 mask template
Cook County’s healthcare facilities have updated the pattern recommended for COVID- 19 hand sewn protective masks. Cook County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Incident Co-Commander Grace Grinager said that the refinement request occurred during a briefing with local healthcare directors on Sunday. “Healthcare needs are being refined as the situation evolves,” Grinager stated. “The updated mask recommendation has been developed utilizing […]
Spring coaches hired for sports
On the chance there will be high school athletic events this spring, the I.S.D. 166 school board approved the following people to coach spring sports at CCHS for 2020. April Washlstrom will once again head up the boys and girls track and field teams. Her volunteer assistant coaches are Jay Arrowsmith-Decoux, Jeanne Monson and Jenn Schueler. Back again to lead […]
A time to gather maple syrup, a time to reminisce
April will fool us with more snow and more cold, but after the Ides of March, the sun climbs high in the blue sky and the warmer south winds come. Depending on the proximity to the big lake, maple syrup season may still have nearly insurmountable depths of impossible snow – crusted, slushy, or fresh – or the snow may […]
MnDOT postpones opening of seasonal rest areas
MnDOT has indefinitely postponed the opening of seasonal rest areas. Year-round rest areas will remain open. Northeast Minnesota seasonal rest areas include Knife River, McGregor, Big Sandy, Independence, Cut Face Creek and Cross River. These rest areas were scheduled to open this spring. These locations have limited resources, no running water and are primarily on recreational routes. They are not […]
Federal Court affirms the Department of Interior’s decision to renew Twin Metals’ leases
Last week, Judge Trevor McFadden of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia affirmed the Department of the Interior’s (DOI) decision to reconsider denying renewal of two Twin Metals Minnesota LLC (TMM) hardrock mineral leases in northeastern Minnesota, and to renew those leases. Judge McFadden ruled that, “Interior timely corrected an error that would have deprived Twin Metals […]