Vikings play tough against South Ridge


On paper, this game looked like it would be a blowout. The South Ridge Panthers crushed Ely 48-6 and the next week Ely beat the Vikings 20-0, so this match-up seemed like a no-contest. But what’s the old adage? That’s why they play the game? The Vikings visited South Ridge on Friday, October 23 and the game was anything but […]

Lutsen Mountain getting set to open


With a November 14 opening date, early snow and cold are good news for downhill skiers who can’t wait to don their skis and traverse Lutsen Mountains’ 95 ski runs. But as with everything else this pandemic year, there will some changes in how the ski hill operates. Still, those changes shouldn’t get in the way of having some glorious […]

The woods is my temple


The Vietnamese practice the version of Buddhism often called Mahayana; literally “The Great Vehicle” (from the Sanskrit). That is, they worshiped – in addition to their Vietnamese ancestors – not just the Buddha as a God but many buddhas or bodhisattvas as deities, and did not simply or strictly follow the Buddha’s ways and words. Mahayana is Buddhism for the […]

Trout stocking via helicopter means more fish for anglers

Anglers will have the opportunity to catch trout on remote lakes in northeastern Minnesota following helicopter-based fish stocking efforts this fall. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources typically uses trucks to stock fish, but traditional methods can’t be used in some of the state’s difficult-to-reach lakes. In those waters, airplanes have been used for years to provide aerial stocking. But […]

Chickadee swarms and charms


The sun shines and the snow glistens in my backyard. Whoa! Did I say snow? It was only October when I wrote those words, and yes, I’m afraid it was snow. A week later, the snow covering my garden and lawn shows no sign of leaving. The only hope for a reprieve is a possible warm-up in November. However, the […]

Empty Bowls Cook County “Give Together” 2020


Empty Bowls 2020 will once again raise critical funds for our community’s hunger needs this November. In lieu of a soup meal get-together, Empty Bowls 2020 will be an online “give together” to raise the $30,000 necessary for Empty Bowls to continue its work in Cook County. All funds raised support the Cook County Food Shelf and other community organizations […]

Higher Ed offers Early Childhood Education degree opportunity

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity! Earn your Early Childhood Education Associate degree or Bachelor of Science degree through evening Zoom classes for FREE. The deadline to register for this program is November 13. Join a cohort of Minnesota students online this January 11, 2021, and work towards a career with the Head Start program. Worried about funding? […]

Injured hawk rescued

Rosie Tures and Steven Lucas often walk the pathway between their home in Schroeder and Tofte. This past week they came across an injured bird. The bird could walk slowly, but was unable to fly. “We contacted the Forest Service in Tofte.” Said Lucas. “Joshua Lagrada was most helpful and responsive. Within a very short time, the bird was captured […]

Save this column for next fall

Every year in these climes, Mother Nature gives us a spectacular color show, better and longer lasting than any fireworks display. People follow the peak color places told to us by the DNR and newspapers. They ride the gondola at Lutsen Mountain, all you can ride for a reasonable price, high over river canyon and mountain trees. Red maples, green […]

Safety precautions key to two duck hunters surviving falls into cold water


Two Minnesota duck hunters likely are alive today as a result of good choices they made before and after falling into cold water, and because rescue personnel worked quickly with the tools at hand to ensure a positive outcome. In both situations (one occurred in Crow Wing County on October 3, the other in Itasca County on October 11), hunters […]