MnDOT began construction in downtown Grand Marais on Monday, May 18. Reconstruction work started on Highway 61 near Broadway Avenue. A local detour was put in place for regular traffic on 1st Avenue West and 2nd Street. All truck traffic will be detoured using County Highway 7 for the duration of the summer. Resurfacing and culvert work will take place […]
Isle Royale to further delay park opening; no visitor ferry service for summer 2020
Following guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the State of Michigan, Isle Royale National Park is delaying its seasonal opening until further notice. In addition, the Ranger III, Voyageur II, Sea Hunter III, and Isle Royale Queen IV will not provide visitor ferry transportation this summer. Rock Harbor Lodge, including overnight lodging, dining, […]
Event organizers reinvent what event participation looks like during the time of COVID-19
The Fisherman’s Picnic in Grand Marais, Minnesota, has been canceled this year. This is a special event which has been held annually the first weekend in August for over 90 years. The only other time Fisherman’s Picnic was canceled in its long history was during World War II. A marquee event weekend, visitors from around the country plan their trip […]
Park Board weighs the pros and cons of opening Rec Park for overnight recreational camping
Holding a special meeting May 19, the central question weighing heavily on the Grand Marais Park board was whether or not the park should open for overnight recreational camping this summer, assuming, that is, that recreational camping will be allowed by the state beginning June 1. The board met online via ZOOM. After quite a bit of discussion and several […]
Wondering ‘61 Yes, we Cant
Jim Ericson from Grand Marais Sell & Swap was the first to say, “write more columns” like this. He was disappointed we only teased him with Cant Road in East Duluth. My wonder past Cant Road wandered several directions. Was it a person? Was it some tool? Political cant being subtly ridiculed? You can’t say that? We can’t get where […]
Cook County High School Awards/Scholarships for 2020
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, there couldn’t be a big awards ceremony this year at Cook County High School. However, that doesn’t mean graduating seniors didn’t receive awards, they did, with many receiving multiple awards for their outstanding efforts in the classroom, after school activities and community engagement. Congratulations to all of the seniors and younger kids who received awards […]
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Due to the Coronavirus, check before you plan to go. Ruby’s Pantry Cook County Ruby’s Pantry, 2nd Tuesday of the month food distribution 5 – 6:30 p.m., $20 (cash only) Sponsored by Spirit of the Wilderness Church. You will be amazed at all the food you get at the Cook County Community Center. No financial or other qualifications—this is surplus […]
Early spring fever
I’d been complaining about the late spring this year. No marsh marigolds, No loons. And where were the peepers? Especially “peepers.” But like a good northerner, I accepted the cold, unfriendly spring season and settled back to wait for better times. However, one evening, I reached my breaking point. I settled in to watch the local news, relishing the peace […]
Seven-mile wind taking us where it would
However, I shared a temperament with my mother. Very sensitive; at any time close to an emotion; occasionally overwhelmed by the stuff of life. I had my father’s body and intellect, but my mother’s heart and psyche. Call the former ‘soul’; call the latter ‘spirit’, or lack thereof. I was not meant for school, at least in that form or […]
Summer youth baseball update
Cross your fingers, there is still a chance some local baseball will be played this summer. On Monday, May 18 I.S.D. 166 put out a statement that read, “Youth baseball, including T-Ball, Parent Pitch, and Little League, has been suspended until July 1st. An evaluation of the feasibility of having youth baseball in July will be conducted in the month […]