10 Years Ago ·
May 1, 2000
• If his friends in Washington get what they want, Eagle Mountain, the highest point in Cook County and the state of Minnesota, will be renamed to honor retiring Congressman Bruce Vento.
A bill proposing the name change will be presented to the Congress by Eighth District Congressman James Oberstar, probably this week. Vento, who was recently diagnosed with a particularly deadly form of lung cancer, will retire this year after serving for 24 years in the U.S. House.
In 1978, he was a leader in the controversial expansion of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, which banned the use of most motors or motor vehicles there. The area surrounding Eagle Mountain was one of the areas added to the BWCAW at that time. • At the county board meeting of April 25, Commissioner Jan Hall read a letter in which the writer alleged that 23 dogs had been killed by timber wolves in Hovland this past winter. About a dozen families were said to have lost dogs to wolves in a 15-mile stretch between Hovland and Grand Portage. One family reportedly lost two dogs to a pack of four wolves.
The letter read by Hall ended with a warning that children might next become victims of marauding wolves.
Commissioner Jim Hall of the West End suggested making a call to the federal game trapper. “They’ll come and get things under control,” he said.
20 Years Ago ·
April 30, 1990
• A 45-year-old Grand Marais man was killed in an accident about 5 p.m. April 25 in a gravel pit on County Highway 48, three miles west of town.
He was working on a rock crusher when a pry bar with a pointed end punctured his chest. He was dead at the scene when the ambulance arrived. His son was working with him.
The death has been ruled accidental. • Grand Marais Mayor Walt Mianowski suggested Wednesday that the term of office for the elected mayor be increased from two to four years.
“It takes a year and a half for a new mayor to learn the ropes. Then it’s time to run again,” Mianowski said.
Mianowski said he didn’t want to extend his present term, but did hope to change the term before the election. Since the change would require an ordinance change, its passage would have to come 12 weeks before the 1990 election.
Council was caught by surprise by the proposal, but agreed to think it over. • Nearly 1,500 telephone customers who live in Grand Marais will wake up to new service on May 5. At that time, U.S. West Communications will replace electromechanical switching equipment with stateof the-art digital electronic equipment. Customers will be able to subscribe to optional services such as call waiting, call forwarding, 3-way calling and speed calling.
50 Years Ago ·
April 28, 1960
• County Engineer Donald Nelson said he expected work to commence this fall on the section of Gunflint Trail that has been under consideration for some time.
Nelson said there has been no objection raised in the final condemnation proceedings, and he believed the problem to be resolved. • One hundred girls will take part in the spring style show Tuesday evening, when the high school home economics students will model their garments in the auditorium as part of the PTA’s program.
The theme, Little Red Schoolhouse, has been chosen to show students wearing cotton skirts and dresses, tailored suits, and several formals. • A 39-year-old Cloquet man, brother of a village resident, was instantly killed Tuesday evening when his car swerved off Highway 61 near Scott’s Point. Officials are not sure what might have caused the accident, but they believe he simply lost control of the car and crossed over the highway into a rock embankment.
This was the first fatal car accident registered in the county this year.
90 Years Ago ·
April 28, 1920
• Five years ago it took three bushels of potatoes to pay for one year’s subscription to the News-Herald. This year one bushel pays for three years. • TheU.S. Lighthouse tender Amaranth arrived in the harbor Sunday with supplies for the local lighthouse, leaving Monday for Isle Royale. • Lawrence Hedstrom had the misfortune to have a leg broken last Friday while driving team on Maple Hill. The horses became mired, and one horse rolled over, pinning Lawrence underneath.
He was removed to his home, Dr. Hicks set the fracture, and it will be a few months before Lawrence will be able to work again. • Alma and Esther Isaacson, Hilda Lief and Sylvia Carlson spent the weekend at their homes in Colvill. Theygot very wet coming back in the rain.
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