Cook County News Herald

Down Memory Lane




10 Years Ago · Dec. 6, 2002

On the day before Thanksgiving, Viking quarterback Colly Norman got an early gift for which to be thankful. His coach, Dale Bockovich, called to tell Norman that he had been selected by the Minnesota Vikings for their All-State team. This is the first year the Minnesota Vikings have named such a team. Norman, along with 29 other state high school football players, was selected through nominations then chosen by a committee of veteran high school and college coaches. The players were honored by being introduced at halftime at the Metrodome in Minneapolis during the Vikings-Falcons game Dec. 1.

The incidence of mange in northern Minnesota wolves seems to have diminished this year, say field biologists who work closely with the species. Although mange is always present in the wolf population, the incidence of it in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan seems to spike after a series of mild winters.

20 Years Ago · Dec. 7, 1992

Families for Wilderness (FFW), a grass roots organization of people who camp in the Boundary waters Area, announced they are organizing a campaign to oppose the United States Forest Service’s recently proposed Wilderness Management Plan. Specifically, the group is against the proposed lowering of the maximum group size from the current level of 10 to a proposed maximum of six. “We believe the proposed rules are unfair and discriminatory against many groups, particularly against families,” said Todd Indehar, founder of FFW. “This is so unreasonable that two families with more than one child each won’t be able to go camping together in the BWCA.” Under the proposed rules, families of larger than six will be barred from entering the BWCA.

Members of the Grand Marais Garden Club were nearly buried in greenery and ribbons Dec. 1 as they worked their way past the halfway mark of 50 wreaths and headed for their 100-wreath goal. Club president Margaret Crowe worked with Margaret Yates, the newest and youngest member of the club, snipping and shaping the bushels of princess pine that Nancy Benson had gathered for the project. The members said they expect to make at least 100 wreaths and sell every one by advance order. That is the pattern of success they have maintained for many years.

50 Years Ago · Dec. 6, 1962

A 27-year-old nephew of a resident of this village was thrown from a tractor and crushed beneath its wheels last Sunday afternoon. He was working on a mink ranch in Illinois. Critically hurt, he died early Monday morning.

The Sawtooth Mountain Ski Area will be managed this winter by Leonard Sobanja and his two sons, Fritz and Hans. The area will be open during Christmas vacation (snow willing!) for recreational skiing and every weekend thereafter until spring. The small tow and lower warming house will be used, with skiing on Morgan Hill and Grinden Run.

The one-cent increase in first class and air mail postal rates will go into effect Jan. 7, Postmaster M.D. Quaife reminds Grand Marais residents. The increase raises postage on first class letters to 5 cents an ounce and air mail letters to 8 cents an ounce. A post card will cost 4 cents instead of 3, and an air mail card 6 cents instead of 5.

Operations have almost closed at Taconite Harbor for this season. No more ore trains squealing down the hill and no more boats going in and out of the harbor, especially at night with their Christmasy lights. Many of the men laid off yearn to go ice fishing, but the warm weather has foiled their fun.

100 Years Ago · Dec. 5, 1912

The hunting season closed last Saturday. On account of the continued dry weather and lack of snow this was not a successful season for hunters. Comparatively few deer were brought into Grand Marais, and considerably fewer moose than usual. The slaughter of moose, by visiting sportsmen especially, for the sole purpose of bringing home a head as a trophy of the hunt seems to be growing as a fad. The whole carcasses of approximately half the moose killed this season have not been taken in from the woods, the successful hunter being content to chop off the heads and leave the carcasses lying where they are fallen. And in some cases, only the horns are taken.

On Saturday, Dec. 7, I will give away a very neat 1913 calendar with every purchase. P.E. Alm

Oscar Olson returned Sunday evening from Duluth, bringing with him a fine team of draft horses.

The Dorcas Society will meet next Tuesday evening with Mrs. Champane.



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