Cook County News Herald

Down Memory Lane




10 Years Ago
April 29, 2005

The county board renewed its Sentence To Serve contract with the state Department of Corrections Tuesday. And even though the cost of the program will go up about 2 percent for the two-year period that begins July 1, both state and local administrators said the investment was a good one. Under the terms of the contract, the county will owe the state $68,000 for participation in the STS program, payable in installments of $16,947.25.

Six tires on two vehicles used by the county’s Planning & Zoning Department were slashed sometime Monday night. The vehicles were parked in the county lot off the Gunflint Trail. It was surmised that the vandalism is the work of disgruntled residents who did not agree with one of the department’s decisions.

ISD 166 plans to install 28 digital surveillance cameras, both indoors and out, at the Grand Marais campus this summer to increase security for students, staff and district property. There will be no cameras in the classrooms, said Principal John Engelking. “We’re basically protecting high-traffic areas and making sure there’s no vandalism to the exterior of the building,” he said.

20 Years Ago
May 1, 1995

Cook County commissioners voted April 25 to notify the Minnesota Aeronautics Board that the county does not intend to support restoration and maintenance of the old abandoned airstrip at Tofte. The county board had previously tried to work with all three west end townships on a four-way equal split to fund rebuilding and maintaining a Tofte airstrip, but those efforts failed.

A new firm, Como Oil and Propane, will be formed from the combined Cobblestone Bulk Oil and Gas business and the Eagle Mountain Energy propane company.

The Cook County school board approved the purchase of a new school bus at a cost of $47,887 at its regular meeting April 24.

Homestead Housing Cooperative of Grand Marais is about to become a reality for as many as 22 owners who will purchase units in the moderately priced, privately funded congregate living site for people over the age of 55. Fifteen units have already been sold, one has a deal pending, and just six units are left for purchase.

50 Years Ago
April 29, 1965

Golden Eagle Lodge has been purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Jack Underwood of Chicago. Mrs. Lloyd Swaggert of Des Moines, Iowa operated the lodge with her late husband during the past four years.

John Ashmore, in charge of the local Coast Guard station, was on leave during the Easter holidays. He and his wife and son drove to Grand Rapids, Michigan, where they saw some of the awful aftermath of the Good Friday tornado.

John Twiest reports seeing a variety of migratory birds the past week. Among them were two grosbeaks, a blue heron, a crane, five mourning doves, two meadowlarks and two pileated woodpeckers.

90 Years Ago
May 7, 1925

Person who took oil pump out of barrel at the restaurant, please return as party is known.

The Gunflint Trail is a popular driveway for Grand Marais people as well as tourists. Dozens of village cars make the trip to lakes in the northern part of the county on the weekends.

Frank Hoffman came in to town Wednesday from Jock Mock.

John Lindahl purchased the S Curve Inn at the Pigeon River bridge, formerly owned by M.M. Arnold.

Charles Boostrom of the Clearwater Lake Lodge came to town Sunday. He drove a team of horses belonging to Olson Brothers which he had been using to plow and clean up around his lodge to get in readiness for the summer boarders which he is expecting soon. Mr. Boostrom and children have been visiting in town and on Maple Hill for the past week or so.

Alex Wishcop and his Overland took a double somersault Monday afternoon at Chippewa on the main road. He had with him Charles Howenstine and Paul Kadonce. The car was badly demolished and the occupants were badly shaken but are now walking around so we are to assume that they were not seriously injured. The car moved a boulder on the side of the road that weighed a thousand pounds or more and then broke off a telephone pole about eight inches thick.

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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