American Legion Post 413 Commander Bob Mattson is inviting the public to Memorial Day services. “If the weather is good, we will hold a Memorial Day Service on the courthouse lawn at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 31,” he said. “If the weather is bad, we won’t be able to hold a service there. Instead, it will be moved to […]
Opportunities available to hunt elk in Minnesota
License applications are available now. Interested hunters have through Friday, June 11, to apply for one of 30 elk licenses offered this year by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Seasons will run from late August to mid-October. This year’s seasons are similar to last year’s seasons, which provided hunters with more opportunities to harvest antlerless elk. Hunters can choose […]
Girls perform well at Two Harbors track meet
Anna Hay won the 800-meter run at the Two Harbors Track meet held May 7. Anna ran 2:49.3 while Kylie Viren crossed the line in 3:27.3 to finish in sixth. Besides Cook County and the host team Two Harbors, teams came from Barnum, Silver Bay, Wrenshall, and McGregor. Olya Wright placed third in the 1600 meters, finishing with a time […]
Cross River Heritage Center, the gateway to Cook County
I’ve driven by the Cross River Heritage Center hundreds of times. I’ve never stopped once. I wasn’t brave enough. Maybe I was intimidated by the word ‘heritage,’ some nebulous mix of history and culture. Maybe ‘center’ was a place for other people to gather, like a community center. Maybe I was confused. How could a river have a heritage? Or […]
Pregnancy, Breastfeeding and the COVID-19 Vaccine
This article is the third in a series intended to give some local perspective on issues about COVID-19. They are also intended to help readers make an informed decision about the COVID-19 vaccines. We encourage suggestions for future topics and you can see how to do so at the end of the article. In my role as parent child health […]
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FAA Safety Team representative Allan Thilmany presents the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award to John Barton for 50-plus years of safe flying. John was a U.S. Air Force pilot and airline pilot/check airman for Sun Country Airlines. He’s currently the Chair of the Grand Marais/Cook County Airport Commission and manager of Sawtooth Aviation.
Great Lakes water levels continue seasonal rise
Great Lakes water levels are below last year’s record levels but will continue rising before peaking in the summer months. During the spring, water levels typically begin a seasonal rise due to increased precipitation and runoff. Drier conditions so far this spring limited seasonal rises on some lakes, however, there are still a few months left in the typical seasonal […]
The Grand Marais Playhouse is gearing up for a big summer!
The Playhouse ended the school year with a wonderful production of The Tempest and finished the run with the awarding of the annual Excellence in Theater Arts Award to graduating seniors that have contributed significantly to the life of the local theater. This year’s recipients are Sylvia Berka, Saira Smith, Izy Sparks and Abbey Stoddard. Congratulations and best wishes on […]
Spot a wildfire? Don’t run for water, call 911
Minnesota’s wildland fire management agencies report an increase in wildfire activity this spring, responding to nearly 900 wildland fires. With the entire state in high fire danger, the Minnesota Interagency Fire Center reminds the public to report escaped wildfires immediately. Not only do escape wildfires threaten property and damage timber and wildlife habitat too often, but they also result in […]
The Great Battle of Gunflint Lake
Before the white man arrived here in the fur trading era, the native American tribes came here in their last migration. They were led by the spirit of the sacred otter. I taped and recorded this story from an elder who lived on Gunflint Lake. He told me the story of “Otter Track” Lake; on the cliff are rocks where […]