Grand Marais Lions Club will sell raffle tickets, fish burgers, and host music and fire works July 31 thru August 2


Okay, so we know there won’t be a four-day Fisherman’s Picnic this summer. Just one more of the many celebrations canceled by COVID-19. However, the Grand Marais Lions will host a 50-50 raffle and have a drawing on Sunday, August 2, at 5 p.m. And a prime staple of Fisherman’s Picnic, the fish burger stand, will be open from 11 […]

Great Awakening


I am canoeing down a lake, feeling great. I’ve been paddling lots this summer and I’m strong; after twenty-five years of paddling a canoe, this is easy! How could anyone think this is difficult or exhausting? Weaklings! And then I realize: I have a lovely following wind, pushing me along. Not a huge wind, just enough to give me that […]

Peaches for sale!


Lutsen Lutheran Church is offering crates of delicious Washington State peaches as a summer fundraiser for our parking lot repair project. The cost is $30 for a box of 38-40 peaches, which will be delivered fresh from the tree on August 15. To get a crate or two of this delicious fruit, send a check for $30 to Lutsen Lutheran […]

Preliminary plans for an assisted living facility in Grand Marais underway


In its initial stages, the Community Asset Development Group (CADG) is moving ahead with plans to develop an assisted living facility in Grand Marais. Hailing from Chaska, Minnesota, CADG is part of Community Asset Foundation, a Minnesota non-profit corporation. The Cook County Grand Marais EDA approved a motion to apply for an IRRR Development Infrastructure Grant on behalf of CADG […]

Historical Reflections

Draft horses at the Rainbow Camp on Barker Lake. This photo was part of a Fourth of July photo collage in the July 9, 1990, Cook County News Herald.

Cook County Community Center and Extension during the pandemic



The Cook County (CC) Community Center and Cook County Extension have always taken pride in having an open-door policy where people could stroll into our office, ask for and receive immediate service. This began when we opened our doors in 1993 and continued until the COVID-19 pandemic hit this spring. In order to minimize risk during the pandemic, we are […]

Down Memory Lane

20 YEARS AGOJULY 24, 2000 Three well-known residents of the county have filed for the District 4 commissioner’s seat held by Wes Hedstrom. Hedstrom, of Maple Hill, did not file for re-election this year. The filers are Dale Bockovich, Gene Erickson and Carol Gresczyk. Walt Mianowski, county board chairman, is the only candidate in District 2. 30 YEARS AGO JULY […]

Making a life-saving difference


This past week in Tofte on Monday afternoon, in Grand Marais on Tuesday, and Wednesday morning at Grand Portage, the Memorial Bloodmobile provided a clean, safe environment with masks and social distancing, so Cook County residents and visitors could help fill the void in our blood supply. Although many residents made appointments, a drop in donations was possible as well, […]

County board exploring forming Human Rights Commission


At the Cook County commissioners July 21 Meeting of the Whole, commissioners spent a good deal of time talking about the possibility of forming a Human Rights Commission (HRC) in the county. Cook County Attorney Molly Hicken presented a summary of what she learned after reviewing HRC materials given to her by commissioner Heidi Doo-Kirk. Doo-Kirk brought up the topic […]

“A Good Time For the Truth” selected as Minnesota’s next community read

Grand Marais Library Director Amanda St. John Grand Marais Public Library invites Cook County to join a statewide community read and book discussion of A Good Time for the Truth: Race in Minnesota. In the book, sixteen writers explore what it is like to live as a Native person or person of color in Minnesota. Virtual book discussions are in […]