Cook County News Herald

Down Memory Lane




10 YEARS AGO · JUNE 27, 2003

Great Expectations Charter School is expecting to sign a lease for a school building sometime next week. Negotiations are still ongoing for the site, which is somewhere in Grand Marais. The school will open Aug. 18

With the budget ax ready to fall on the University of Minnesota’s Extension services, Cook County director Bob Sopoci said he intends to retire in the near future. “It’s been an honor and a privilege to work with the Extension Service for the past 23 years, but it’s time for me to throw in the towel,” Sopoci told the county board. His announcement prefaced a grim update on what Sopoci called a “major restructuring” of the agency. Local cuts will impact the 4-H and the Master Gardeners programs the most, perhaps even causing their demise if the county does not commit funds to keep them going.

20 YEARS AGO · JUNE 28, 1993

Walleye fishing continues to improve. Numerous limit catches were reported during the week from Devil Track Lake to Saganaga, where Irv Benson said, “They’re hitting, and going home with lots of fish.”

Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency is looking at Cook County this summer to see if there is interest in a home-based Head Start program this fall. This is a federally funded program for kids ages 3-5, free for income-eligible families. It is conducted in the home, and is not a babysitting plan.

The U.S. Forest Service has explained all those large black and white X’s on the highway following numerous questions. They are part of a new mapping process that uses aerial photography and satellite data collection, plus a machine called a stereo plotter. The stereo plotter will correct locations to within 5 inches of the true location on land and produce detailed and accurate computer maps. How long will the X’s stay after the mapping is done? Until they wear off!

50 YEARS AGO · JUNE 27, 1963

Albert Almlie, head Customs officer at Pigeon River, warns that importation of fireworks across the border is unlawful. Possession and use of fireworks in this state has been unlawful for a number of years, but there was no control of importation at the border. Now there is.

A Fort William couple were severely injured in a motorcycle mishap at Grand Portage Monday evening. Evidently their cycle failed to make the sharp turn as they left the new highway to go up the hill leaving Portage. The machine landed on top of them and the husband was unconscious and face down in water. A deputy sheriff arrived on the scene about 15 minutes after the accident happened. Both were taken to the local hospital.

The Minnesota Highway Department is being plagued by a series of thefts and smashings of traffic recorders, the electro-mechanical devices for recording traffic on highways for research on Minnesota travel patterns. 1962 was the worst year, with 14 of these machines stolen or broken. The instruments cost from $50 to more than $1,000. Highway officials are at a loss to understand the reason for the vandalism. Is it a misconception on the part of some that the devices are checking the speed of cars?

90 YEARS AGO · JUNE 28, 1923

C.N. Ashford is digging a well at his residence north of Bally’s. Andrew Larson is helping him.

Be careful to drive to the right of the dummy policemen in turning corners in the village. Several complaints have been received about persons disregarding this rule. Avoid accidents as well as criticism by keeping to the right.

The Service Garage has taken out a couple of partitions, making considerably more room for the repair shop.

Swan Lindquist and a group of three others left here Monday for Poplar Lake, where they will build a shack on Mr. Lindquist’s homestead.

Do you have an old picture or a story from years gone by that you would like to share with the Cook County News-Herald readers? We’d love to hear your Historical Reflections Call (218) 387-9100; e-mail starnews@boreal.org; or stop by our office at 15 First Avenue West.



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