Boys battle Ely Timberwolves, advance in the play-offs

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Gaining a four-run advantage in the fourth inning proved to be just enough for the Cook County boys’ baseball team to hold on and beat the Ely Timberwolves 6-5. With the win the Vikings advanced to the double elimination Section 7-A tournament while Ely’s season was finished. The game was played Tuesday, June 1, in Hibbing at Bennett Park. Ray […]

Viking girls bow out of playoffs

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Cook County managed one run in the first inning and then was held scoreless in their Section 7A playoff game against the South Ridge Panthers in a game played in Ely on Tuesday, June 1. The Panthers put up three runs in the first, six in the second and six more in the third and two more in the fourth […]

The difference between a house and home

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This was my inheritance, but there are many caveats in calling this my inheritance. It is not my inheritance alone, but ours, my brother’s and mine and the Gen- Xers in our family, who have all profited from the values and hard work and education of our grandparents and great-grandparents. The inheritance was not this shack really, but a thin […]

Pixie’s Health Club near The Lake

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Our best entertainment is a live cat video—Pixie skittering wherever she pleases, as fast as a speeding bullet–when she is not supine and as relaxed as we only hope to be. There is only one place in our home that she cannot get up to and routinely goes to all of them. One result is that there is no safe […]

Bass fishing, a highlight of spring

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The bass fishing catch-and-keep season opened Saturday, May 29, and spring is a great time to cast a line for these fun-to-catch fish. Largemouth and smallmouth bass can be easier to catch in spring and early summer when they spend more time in shallow water. Later, as water temperatures rise, bass move to deeper water in search of sunken points, […]

Near-critical fire weather and spring dip conditions contribute to spring wildfires

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Wildfire conditions throughout northern Minnesota continue to linger as many areas remain below average in precipitation. While recent rainfall brought some relief to the drought-stricken northwest, rain was spotty for many areas. Tuesday’s near-critical fire conditions are a good reminder that many areas remain in high fire danger despite the appearance of green-up conditions. “It’s not uncommon for wildfires to […]

Blood donors have a chance to win Twins tickets

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Amid the ongoing challenges of recruiting blood donors during the COVID- 19 pandemic, local nonprofit Memorial Blood Centers (MBC) is facing a shortage of blood and platelet donations. The need for blood is constant, but due to the pandemic, many drives have been canceled or postponed. To replenish supplies for Twin Cities’ hospitals, trauma centers, and air ambulance bases, more […]

Meet the Class of 2021

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Gala for the Grove

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The Gala for the Grove, the tenth annual auction/fundraiser to support Birch Grove is back, launching entirely online in a safety-first form from June 5-12. “It’s my favorite fundraising event,” says Director Diane Blanchette, Birch Grove Community School. “I always leave with a sense of community that renews my resolve to keep our small school going strong.” Proceeds from the […]

WISE presents check to Birch Grove Community School

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Birch Grove Community School received a grant of $586 from the WISE (Women’s Initiative for Service and Education) Lions Club to purchase paint by number kits for K-5th grade. Students worked on their pieces at home during distance learning and/or on site at school. Speaking about the gift, Birch Grove Community School Director Diane Blanchette said, “We hope that these […]