10 Years Ago
Dec. 26, 2003
Eighty-five acres in Grand Marais – essentially the entire business development area (BDA) – have been designated with special tax-exempt status under the new state development initiative known as JOBZ (Job Opportunity Building Zone). The “tax free” zones, created statewide, give new businesses locating in the zones a 12-year exemption from most state and local taxes. In all, 46 communities in northeast Minnesota have been awarded tax-free opportunity areas designed to attract manufacturing jobs.
Grand Marais city councilors heard an ambitious streetscape enhancement plan last week that will be done next year in conjunction with a major downtown sewer and water improvement project. The streetscape portion of the work will carry a $473,590 price tag, which will be paid through a combination of city tax levies and special assessments. At this point, however, it is not known how those assessments will be structured, or who will pay them.
20 Years Ago
Dec. 27, 1993
Regional Manager Jim Willford informed the Grand Portage Advisory Board by memo that development of facilities at Grand Portage State Park is under way. The route for the boardwalk has been selected and marked. Walks and overlooks will combine wood and concrete, and some materials have been ordered. Plans are expected to move quickly toward the construction of a new parking lot and entrance road, contingent on availability of funds.
For the second consecutive year, the Cook County bird count broke records. This year’s count, conducted Dec. 18, resulted in a total of 42 species, up from last year’s record of 40. Total numbers of 4,059 far exceeded last year’s record of 3,371.
Cook County commissioners voted themselves a 3 percent base salary increase for 1994. The raise takes each commissioner’s base pay from $11,788 to $12,142. A motion was also passed to pay the chairman an additional $125 per month, up from $118 monthly.
50 Years Ago
Dec. 26, 1963
Pastor Ed Viren of Grand Portage and a fellow worker made a forced landing on Rainy Lake last Monday afternoon after their plane developed engine trouble and ran into more trouble when their plane broke through rather thin ice. Pastor Viren and Pastor Wally Olson of Nett Lake were forced to spend the night on an island and then hike 15 miles next morning. “We really didn’t suffer any,” said Viren, who shrugged off the experience as all in a day’s work. “The worst was that we had no food except a couple of peanut butter sandwiches we got from a trapper we met.” It was 20 below that night. The men made a crude reflector lean-to and built a blazing fire in front of it. They said that kept them quite comfortable throughout the night.
Grand Marais’ new fire alarm system will go into operation with the start of dial service here on Sunday. The system is designed to use special equipment to alert the volunteer firemen by automatically linking the home or business telephones of 20 firemen with the party who is calling to report a fire.
Vandals drove their car over newly flooded ice at the Trailer Park rink Sunday night, causing considerable damage to the ice surface. When caretaker Lloyd Goble came to work Monday morning, he said he was disgusted and angry with what he saw.
90 Years Ago
Dec. 27, 1923
There was a pool tournament at A.P. Anderson’s billiard parlor last week which ended Friday night with Carl Holt first, L.P. Himmer second and Hartley Holte third. The prizes were $10, $4 and $2.
Notice! Anyone taking trees, regardless of size, from Lots 1-4, inclusive, Bramer Addition, will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Some trees already have been taken and parties are known.
Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Gilbertsen of Greenwood Lake are in the village visiting friends. They are preparing their lodge to care for a larger number of tourists than ever before.
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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