Cook County News Herald

Down Memory Lane




10 Years Ago · Nov. 12, 2001

The numbers simply didn’t add up for Cook County schools last week. For a non-election year, a 65.5 percent turnout was decent. Yet, of 2,205 votes cast in the county’s 10 polling areas on Nov. 6, 1,253 voters said no new local school taxes. That overwhelmed the 952 yes votes. The upshot: District 166 is still in Statutory Operating Debt and will stay there well into the 2004-05 school year, and perhaps even longer.

Ken Pental, field organizer for the state’s Green Party, met with citizens at the Grand Portage Community Center Oct. 27. The Green Party is Minnesota’s newest major political party, achieving that status last November following the presidential and vice presidential campaign of Ralph Nader and Minnesota native Winona LaDuke. Over 10 percent of Cook County voters cast their ballot for the Green Party, nearly double the state’s average.

20 Years Ago · Nov. 11, 1991

For the first time in school history, a Cook County football team is going to the state tournament. The Vikings, unbeaten in 10 games, earned the right to represent northeastern Minnesota in Class C tournament play by pulverizing the Northland-Remer Eagles 52-0 last Tuesday at the Metrodome in Minneapolis. In their 10 victories, the Vikes have amassed 410 points while holding opponents to just 47.

A rate increase of 7 percent across the board for marina moorage fees at the Grand Marais Recreation Area harbor was approved by the park board. The board will consider increasing the rates at the swimming pool at its next meeting.

For once, the forecasters who predicted a winter storm were right. But even the meteorologists were caught short when the storm clung to the north country for two full days and nights. Depending where in Cook County you call home, there were 15 inches of snow and ice or up to 30 inches of snow alone. In many places, the result was somewhere in between. For once, the county that prides itself on its celebrity as a winter playground was not ready.

50 Years Ago · Nov. 9, 1961

Tonight, the local grade school will have an open house between the hours of 7 and 9. The first hour will find the teachers in their respective rooms and a display of the children’s work. At 8 o’clock, parents are requested to go to the gymnasium where an educational talk will be given by High School Principal Leonard Sobanja. Following his talk, refreshments will be served. The elementary faculty is hoping for a record turnout.

Mayor Clark A. McElevey was re-elected for his fourth term as mayor of Grand Marais in Tuesday’s village election. Alton Olsen, who had filed as village trustee for a three-year term, was also re-elected, receiving all but three of the total votes cast. Mayor McElevey completed the unexpired term of Homer Massie in 1956 and has served since. Massie followed Val Dalbec as mayor in 1955, Dalbec serving 17 years.

Don Lobdell and Rick Whitney of Rockwood Lodge are enjoying in particular the re-routing of the Gunflint Trail near their place. It was a little over a week ago that a moose lay comfortably beside one cabin. A mink took up residence under the front dock. It was the same evening that one of the guests heard the mournful howl of a wolf a short distance away. So although Rockwood Lodge has not officially advertised that they are open, they have already had a number of guests!

90 Years Ago · Nov. 17, 1921

J.A. Blackwell had his residence wired for electric lights this week.

Ragner Ojard of Duluth came in on the America last night to look after the raising of the gasoline boat Thor, which sank in the harbor the first of the week. The Thor struck a reef of rocks and sunk at the dock. The engineer failed to answer the signal bell until the boat hit. It is hoped she can be raised and sufficiently repaired to run her into Duluth.

Jake Mann of Todd County was arrested by Game Warden Savor for killing a cow moose back of Chicago Bay two days before the season opened. He was arraigned before Matt Johnson, justice of the peace, and expressed a desire to plead guilty.

The new residence being built by Louis Falk is nearing completion. It has a full basement and contains a lot of floor space.



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