10 YEARS AGO
JAN. 3, 2009
The Independent School District 166 school board spent three hours on Monday with a member of the Minnesota School Boards Association getting educated on how to hire a superintendent. Also at the meeting were current superintendent Chuck Futterer, who will be retiring at the end of June 2009, and school principals John Engelking and Gwen Carman. The issue of how to use the skills of the two principals after Futterer is gone left the board at a standstill, however.
The North Shore Hospital Board discussed an option to reduce financial losses incurred at the Care Center at its Dec. 18 meeting: converting a portion of the facility into assisted living. An assisted living program was offered several years ago at Sawtooth Ridges apartments, but fewer people took advantage of the program than anticipated, and new laws requiring 24-hour nursing staff made the program too expensive to operate.
20 YEARS AGO
JAN. 4, 1999
After work sessions and some extreme number-crunching, the Grand Marais Public Utilities Commission passed a motion which will effectively increase combined water and sewer rates in Grand Marais by 5.4 percent over each of the next five years. The rate increases will help the water and sewer utilities become more financially stable. Currently both are operating at a significant loss.
The Cook County Board of Commissioners voted to allow the hiring of two new people at its regular meeting on Dec. 29. Tim Nelson was hired as the new planning director, replacing Tim Kennedy who recently resigned. The second hiring was Holly Schroeder as the chief deputy county recorder; she replaces Dusty Nelms, who was elected recorder in the recent election.
50 YEARS AGO
JAN. 2, 1969
As of Jan. 1, the administrative office for Grand Portage National Monument will be located in the newly remodeled quarters in the Hanson Building in Grand Marais. The National Park Service will share occupancy of this building with Sears Roebuck Company near the east city limits on Highway 61. It is expected that the move from the Leng Building will offer increased services to the public.
Henry “Pigskin” Peterson of Grand Portage has moved to Grand Marais for the winter. He is staying at the Mer-Jon Manor.
Due to present construction, the hospital emergency door is temporarily closed. Instead, use the front hospital entrance, until further notice.
90 YEARS AGO
JAN. 3, 1929
George H. Durfee, who was one of Cook County’s oldest citizens, passed away Dec. 30 at the Minnesota Soldiers’ Home. He was 90 years old. Mr. Durfee was born in New York and with his parents journeyed to Minnesota and settled in Winona County, where they remained until 1861. At that time Mr. Durfee and his brothers joined the Union Army. After the war he came back and was employed as a railroad clerk before serving for 23 years as judge of probate in this county.
We are informed that there are prospects of a new bakery opening up in Grand Marais. David Corbin of Red Lake Falls, who for the past 15 years has been established in the bakery business at that place, is seriously considering making Grand Marais his place of business.
Fenstad Brothers’ fish truck was in for a load of fish today.
Rev. Larson held services at the home of Mr. Sam Linnell.
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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