Cook County News Herald

Down Memory Lane


10 YEARS AGO
JAN. 31, 2009

A Canadian tour bus experienced mechanical problems and caught on fire near the Cook-Lake County border while traveling from Thunder Bay to Hinckley on Tuesday. Passersby and the bus driver were able to get the 53 elderly passengers as far from the fire as possible as they waited for emergency vehicles to arrive. Firefighters from Silver Bay and Schroeder were able to extinguish the fire, but not before the entire bus was engulfed.

American Legion officials met with community members Jan. 24 and signed a charter to create Grand Portage American Legion Post 2009. Grand Portage Tribal Veteran Services Officer Clarence Everson said it was an exciting first step, noting that the community has had a strong veteran’s group for many years in the Veteran’s Memorial Committee, which was formed in 2000.

20 YEARS AGO
FEB. 1, 1999

Sometime in the early morning hours of Jan. 25, the Bethlehem Lutheran Church was broken into. Criminals kicked in a window in Youth Family Minister Mike Carlson’s office to gain entry into the building, and then went on to ransack much of the building, breaking open doors and desks in what was apparently a search for money. What had initially looked like vandalism eventually showed a pattern, and it became clear that the perpetrators were searching for money.

Only a handful of interested citizens turned out last week to hear that five locations are targeted for the proposed county-owned garbage transfer station. Considering the timeline of selecting the site by Feb. 26, and to build and open by Aug. 1, more residents may wish they had taken a trip to the courthouse for the Monday night meeting. In less than two weeks one site will be recommended as the one the county should pursue.

50 YEARS AGO
JAN. 30, 1969

Dogs are again giving trouble to deer. Warden Earl Nelms found a fawn and doe in the snow, and returning a short time later, found the fawn ripped apart by dogs. He reminded dog owners that laws in the village and throughout the county place responsibility upon the owners, and they are liable for any damage by dogs. Dogs should be confined and under control of the owners at all times. “Otherwise,” he said, “some of these dogs just may get killed.”

During the year 1968 there were 28 applications for marriage licenses filed in the Cook County Clerk of Courts Office. There were 26 recorded the previous year.

David Seglem, Jim Netland and Ron Schlienz, who entered the Army recently, were all assigned to Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

90 YEARS AGO
FEB. 7, 1929

Carl Running, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Running of Croftville, narrowly escaped drowning when he broke through thin ice on which he was skating last Sunday. Carl was in company with Roy Croft, who came very near breaking through also. His speed, however, carried him across the dangerous spot. Seeing his friend plunge into the icy water, Roy immediately went to his rescue by grasping an idle sled and returning to the helpless boy. After a time, Carl was able to seize the sled that Roy shoved out to him and was finally brought out to the surface. Carl suffered no ill effects.

The fish house owned by Tormond Tormonson and Clarence Smith burned to the ground last Tuesday evening. The fire was first detected by the children on the school bus as they passed by and they immediately gave the alarm, but too late to save the structure or anything in it. The loss was considerable, most of the fishing rig including a Johnson motor being consumed.

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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