Cook County News Herald

Down Memory Lane




10 Years Ago · Nov. 26, 2001

An historic Grand Marais building which has stood mostly empty and unkempt since the opening of the Arrowhead Center for the Arts is about to be infused with new life. The former Grand Marais Playhouse building — the old church and school — has been purchased from the Playhouse organization by local artist Betsy Bowen. The building has a long history in the Grand Marais art scene, as it served as the performance space for the Playhouse for more than 20 years. When the Playhouse organization left the building for the ACA, the space was closed and used for storage and occasional summer rehearsals. “My thought is to have it be a place for art to happen,” said Bowen.

In the wake of the failed referendum, the Cook County school board last week began the painful process of budget pruning that will continue for several more years. At their Nov. 19 meeting Superintendent Dale Tormondsen recommended that the cuts come in three areas: staff development ($20,000 to $30,000), late bus service ($11,000) and freezing new hires. The hiring freeze will be immediately felt in the high school office, where the recently vacated position of attendance secretary will be filled from within. The board approved the recommendation by a 4-1 vote.

20 Years Ago · Nov. 25, 1991

As of Monday, Nov. 18, with seven days yet to go in the 16-day deer season, the deer harvest was already 200 higher than for the entire 1990 season. And while the number of deer taken is considerably higher there also appeared to have been a number of bragging-size bucks harvested.

Three environmental groups have asked the Minnesota Court of Appeals to re-examine a permit granted LTV Steel Company to operate its steam generating plant at Taconite Harbor near Schroeder. They said an example of the plant’s inability to operate safely and meet the permit’s requirements was an Oct. 7 explosion that resulted in a blowout in one of the boilers and blanketed the area with asbestos used for insulation.

50 Years Ago · Nov. 23, 1961

The driver of one of Edwin Thoreson’s trucks miraculously escaped injury Monday. Working on the new road into the Eric Bergstrom place in the Sea Gull area, the truck went down a 15-foot embankment, a long pole went through the cab of the truck, but the driver was not hurt. A hunter planned to get his deer the easy way — by swiping it from a truck! Marvin Soderlund had shot his deer and brought it to his truck with his tag on it. Then he went back to the spot he had shot his deer to get his camera, which he had left there. When he returned his deer had been taken. He could see where the deer had been dragged away so he and his party gave chase and came upon the man. Mr. Soderlund “told him off” in no uncertain terms and the man released the deer without resistance. He had replaced Soderlund’s tag with his own. Later an effort was made to find the man, but he had left the area.

The school has acquired a new driver’s training car, much to the joy of the prospective drivers. It is a ’61 Falcon, dark blue, with a nice big “Student Driver” sign perched on top.

90 Years Ago · Dec. 1, 1921

A few high school boys met at Adolph Toftey’s house for the purpose of practicing some songs, but not much singing was accomplished — mostly talking.

Donald Dewar is about the first of the amateur trappers to catch a weasel this season.

Sleigh riding is fine on Broadway. You are invited to bring your sled and get in line.

Frank Johnson, a settler from up on the Alger Line in the west end, was in town the first part of the week with the pelts of four large timber wolves for which he collected the bounty from the county auditor.



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