Cook County News Herald

Down Memory Lane




10 YEARS AGO

JULY 28, 2006

Two different float planes were forced to land in Lake Superior over the weekend, one near Lutsen, the other near Grand Marais. There were no injuries and both planes were successfully towed to shore by the U.S. Coast Guard.

More than 85 adults have taken out memberships in the Upper Shore Center for Athletics and Fitness, and the center has raised more than $74,000 in donations, pledges, member fees and grants. Nevertheless, a report on the center submitted to the ISD 166 school board in July said the Fitness Center currently has a deficit of about $25,049. Chuck Futterer, superintendent of schools, said the deficit at this point is understandable due to start-up costs, and the state-of-the-art equipment is not cheap.

A backhoe took a big bite out of the last building standing at the old Seawall Motel this week as the site along Highway 61 is prepped for construction of a vacation condominium. Earlier, community members were allowed to take what they wanted from the house, including window casings and flooring.

20 YEARS AGO
JULY 29, 1996

“I’m not going to change my vote on it,” said Cook County Commissioner Gene Erickson after casting the lone “nay” vote to go ahead in pursuing a maximum of $4,750,000 to build a new law enforcement center and improve the existing county courthouse. The vote, taken at the July 23 meeting of the county board, set the wheels in motion to finance the new building and improvements through a lease-purchase plan, thereby circumventing a public referendum to approve the projects.

50 YEARS AGO
JULY 28, 1966

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Johnson and Charles W. Johnson made a round trip to Isle Royale recently. This was their first visit to the island. There were over 50 on board the Wenonah that day, the motor vessel captained by Stanley Sivertsen.

Mrs. Russell Blankenburg found Mrs. R.H. Blum’s white cat. She refused their reward and the cat was returned well fed.

C.H. Quick will run as a write-in candidate for coroner, he announced last week.

Mr. and Mrs. Alvin O. Anderson are having new siding put on their house near the elementary school.

90 YEARS AGO
JULY 29, 1926

The most awful crime committed in the history of Cook County was perpetrated last Friday afternoon when John Westblade shot and killed two young men, ages 30 and 21. The matter of contention was that Westblade had a sign on the highway and orders were issued that it be taken down; that it was contrary to law that a sign be placed on the highway. Westblade insisted that the sign be allowed to remain and threatened to shoot anyone who disturbed it. To make this threat good he lay in ambush waiting for the trucks which were dragging the road to come, and before Sigurd Eide could hardly touch the sign he was shot dead. Alvin Tofte after first being shot tried to get away, and was found 150 feet from where Sigurd’s body lay. The assassin followed him, shooting him again, the second bullet lodging in the hip. The victims were working for the state highway department at the time of the incident.

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.



Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.