Cook County News Herald

Does anyone care when we shop locally?




The letter in the July 15 issue from Lee Hecimovich really touched upon a hot button issue with my husband and me. We, also, do not find many local businesses that welcoming or giving an appearance that they want your business.

We read articles in the Cook County News- Herald complaining about the difficulties of maintaining a business in the county. Yet, many times we have decided to go into town to run an errand and pick up a needed item only to find the business is closed. This happens on weekdays, daytime hours during peak summer tourist season. One would think that with much of the business in Cook County being tied to this season it would make sense to have hours to capture as much business as possible. There is the dead of winter to be closed.

Getting someone in the building trades to come out to the cabin to perform work seems to be another challenge. The same people who advertise in the paper, purportedly because they want work, do not respond to emails or voicemails. When you do receive a reply, there is a problem committing to a date. We have waited months and even until the next summer season for someone to actually perform the work. This has happened at least four times in the past two years so it is not one isolated incident.

It is understandable that much of the work in the building trades is dependent on weather and delays are to be expected but how about updates? We have had our cabin on Poplar Lake for almost 50 years now and with the exception of the late Bob Johnston and tradespeople he recommended we have not had great luck. About the only positive with our experiences is that the work has always been done well.

Lee Hecimovich mentions Amazon in his letter. We only wish there was such an alternative for hiring someone to do work on the cabin!

Nancy Wasik
Bemidji and Poplar Lake



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