10 YEARS AGO
FEB. 7, 2009
The ISD 166 school board spent an hour in closed session Feb. 3 consulting by phone with their attorney about options regarding downsizing the district’s administrative team. The proposed changes are being discussed in the face of declining student enrollment and the departure of Superintendent Chuck Futterer this coming June.
Wayne Hensche, Cook County’s contracted surveyor, has finished his survey of the Irish Creek area, where significant discrepancies had been found between the federal government’s original surveys and personal property deeds. Some property owners have more than they thought, and others have less. “This is the keystone of getting the east end of the county back together,” Hensche told the county board Jan. 27. “I think this was a venture in good government.” The land in question involved DNR and U.S. Forestry land, as well as private property.
20 YEARS AGO
FEB. 8, 1999
“We had cooperation from everyone including Mother Nature,” said Matthew Brown, organizer of the first Grand Portage Passage Sled Dog Race. “It went as well as we could have ever expected.” The race, which was sponsored by the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, was run for the first time in late January. It boasted 31 mushers in the 300-mile marathon and 29 in the 100-mile short race, as well as over 500 area race volunteers.
The first budget proposal by Gov. Jesse Ventura, released last week, includes cuts in state funding for public broadcasting. In fact, the plan would completely eliminate state funding for public radio and television. The plan could have some potentially serious results in Cook County. Local citizen groups have been working with Minnesota Public Radio for months on a cooperative effort to not only bring public radio to the Arrowhead region, but also to build a new television tower to replace the condemned Grand Marais translator tower.
50 YEARS AGO
FEB. 6, 1969
Loggers in this area have felt the impact of deep snow to the extent that a number of operators have had to quit. Snow in the upper Gunflint Trail area varies from 2½ feet to 4 feet on the level, according to the U.S. Forest Service. District Ranger Donald Burge said that in the Finn Lake area, several of the operators are still trying to work in 2½ feet of snow; in the Lullaby Lake area where the Larsen Brothers are operating, the snow is at least 4 feet deep!
His coffee pals downtown have missed the company of Alfred Fenstad the past week or more. He’s at the North Shore Hospital with a heart condition. His friends hope he’ll soon be back for the routine coffee breaks.
90 YEARS AGO
FEB. 14, 1929
A fire which started at the home of Frank Kimball about 4 o’clock Tuesday morning destroyed three homes. Mr. and Mrs. William Carlson, who lived in the upstairs rooms of the Kimball house, were awakened by the smoke and flames, and were forced to flee from the residence without saving a thing. Efforts of the fire department to save the two nearby homes occupied by John Johnson and Jens Erickson were in vain.
John Anderson very nearly went through the thin ice on the lake the other day while attending his nets.
Jack Dewar is back from a trip into the back-woods. He says the timber wolves are plentiful.
Ed Brouillette had the misfortune of slipping on the ice and injuring himself quite badly.
Those who like thrillers and hair-raising stunts performed by the star of the photoplay, will enjoy Bob Steele in “Lightning Speed,” Saturday and Sunday at the Wigwam.
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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