Cook County News Herald

Down Memory Lane




10 Years Ago
Jan. 24, 2003

A pivotal component of the school district’s budget will probably avoid the ax in this session’s budget negotiations in the Legislature, but that’s no guarantee for the future. Sparsity aid, revenue that comes to Cook County because of its remote location and the logistics of getting its children to school, amounts to about $600,000 a year. “That’s a terrific amount of money,” said Superintendent Dale Tormondsen. “If we don’t continue to get this, it will hurt us.”

The first order of business at the Schroeder Township meeting on Jan. 14 was to replace newly elected Cook County Commissioner Bruce Martinson on the township board. Supervisor Bill McKeever moved that longtime Schroeder resident Floyd Johnson be appointed to serve the remainder of Martinson’s term. Johnson graciously accepted the appointment and took a seat at the meeting.

20 Years Ago
Jan. 25, 1993

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued a formal Notice of Violation to LTV Steel for LTV’s violation of its air quality permit. The alleged violations include emissions that exceeded permit limits and problems in LTV’s collection and reporting of data. The MPCA said that of particular concern is LTV’s inability to show that it is complying with permit limits for sulfur dioxide emissions. It failed a stack test, and both continuous monitoring of emissions and analysis of fuel samples have indicated that sulfur dioxide levels have been exceeded.

On Jan. 26, Grand Marais will again become a snowmobile racing hotbed for a day as the I-500 marathon comes to town. This year, the field will include five Russian racers from Siberia and 25 Canadians among the 225 expected entries. The race covers nearly 600 miles. It started two days ago in White Bear Lake and will end in Thunder Bay.

50 Years Ago
Jan. 24, 1963

The 70-year-old operator of a diner at Beaver Bay died when fire destroyed his business early Thursday morning in subzero weather. According to reports, Elmer Wilson attempted to rescue his two grandchildren from the burning Spruce Point Diner when he was overcome. His body was recovered from the ruins at 3:20 a.m. The children, ages 5 and 7, were pulled from the blazing structure by their aunt, who had entered the building in the rear. She was unaware that Elmer had re-entered the building to get the children out. A french fry unit was blamed for the fire.

NOTICE: Because of the problem caused by children who run at basketball games, all small children will be requested to sit with their parents. Children who are unaccompanied by parents will be sent home if they misbehave. This policy is being adopted to prevent possible injury.

Trouble developed in their furnace last Friday, so the Carl Hedstroms have been spending several days in town at the Seawall Motel.

Mrs. Orton Tofte is very proud of a long letter she received from the mayor of Duluth. She is proud of the fact that he took time out of his busy life to acknowledge the Christmas photo card they sent him of their children.

90 Years Ago
Jan. 25, 1923

E. Luick, the lighthouse tender here, turned out his light Wednesday.

George Mayhew had the misfortune to run a nail into his foot last Friday while working on his coal bin.

Grand Marais radio fans are hearing stations on the eastern and western coasts and as far south as Havana, Cuba.

The Edna A, a gasoline boat plying the waters of the North Shore, has been put on dry dock at Two Harbors and is getting a general overhauling.



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