Cook County News Herald

Down Memory Lane




10 Years Ago
Feb. 20, 2004

Potential loss of funding for the county’s recycling and other waste management programs was a topic of discussion Tuesday as planning director Tim Nelson appeared before the county board to update the commissioners on the looming changes in state government. Nelson explained that state administrators have been discussing a merger of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance, but details have yet to emerge. Some dire consequences could be created for the county to programs such as recycling and hazardous waste.

Cook County resident Barry Shaw set a new state record for powerlifting in Hermantown recently when he deadlifted 580 pounds in a state meet of the United States Powerlifting Association. Shaw, 41, was competing in the Minnesota State Masters and Junior Powerlifting Championships at Hermantown High School. He was competing in the 198-pound Masters Division.

20 Years Ago
Feb. 21, 1994

Nine local artists are participating in their “first time” drawing and painting exhibit at the Grand Marais Public Library. Students of last winter’s Grand Marais Art Colony “Starting Art” beginning drawing and painting workshops, these Cook County residents are working in charcoal, watercolor, oils and acrylics.

The Cook County girls’ alpine ski team earned a repeat state tournament berth by finishing a close second to Duluth East in the regional meet.

For seven Cook County residents, it was the kind of flight that would want to make you take a bus, any kind of bus. It was a charter flight to Elko, Nevada that got off to a bad start, then went from bad to worse. Ultimately the seven, and 105 others, got to Elko and back home safely. The bad luck included a plane with bad brakes, then the engine exploded on the back-up plane. Witnesses said there were explosions back by the tail and the engine caught fire; the cabin filled with smoke and the plane went into a steep dive. Fortunately, the pilot pulled the plane out of it and brought the craft down safely.

50 Years Ago
Feb. 20, 1964

The Colvill Garden Club had a Valentine party last Thursday at Squirrel’s Nest on Big Bay. Almost everyone was able to attend.

Carlyle Campbell called the News-Herald from California Monday evening. He said the weather was fine and was glad to hear North Shoreites are enjoying the same here.

Crane Lake (near Ely) to Atikokan, Ontario by snowmobile is being planned for Feb. 29. Both Cook County and Ely Igloos are supervising this trip, which has been dubbed “Trail Ho!” It’s a 65-mile jaunt and should test the feasibility of such travel over rugged winter country.

Local music instructor Harold Ikola was in Minneapolis last Friday and Saturday to attend the Midwest Music Instructors clinic sponsored by the Minnesota Music Education Association.

90 Years Ago
Feb. 21, 1924

The graveling of the East Road to Brule has been going merrily on. The work is being done in a scientific way, a double shift being employed to keep the gravel at the steam shovel from freezing, which it would do if permitted by idle night hours. Thus over two months’ work will be done in half that time with the greatest possible economy.

Al Daniels made his regular weekly trip to town Tuesday with another nice bunch of furs.

Forty-one miners were smothered to death when water and mud burst through the walls of a small pond and flooded the Milford mine near Crosby. Giant pumps are sucking out 12,000 gallons of water and viscid mud per minute, but engineers described the task of emptying the flooded, mud-choked mine as almost hopeless. The county mine inspector said he believed most of the 41 bodies would never be retrieved from their grave, 200 feet below ground level.

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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