Cook County News Herald

Down Memory Lane


10 YEARS AGO
OCT. 10, 2009

A 73-year-old Lutsen man has been arrested and charged with an armed robbery at the casino window of the Grand Portage Trading Post Oct. 1. The suspect wore a ski mask and rubber dishwashing gloves during the robbery, and carried a rifle with a silver scope. No shots were fired and no one was injured.

The year-long process to develop a long-range plan for the Grand Marais Recreation Park concluded Sept. 30 when city council approved the recommendation of the park board by a 3-2 vote. As approved, the plan includes an improved entrance and more pedestrian-friendly trails in the northeast corner; new and improved trails along the water’s edge featuring the wetland area and natural shoreline; reserved space for a motorized trail under the power line; improved public space at the former power plant site, including an events pavilion; and the removal of about 30 campsites east of the highway to allow more open space and accommodate a new park/marina office.

20 YEARS AGO
OCT. 11, 1999

A list of 44 properties within the Grand Marais city limits which are not hooked up to city water and/or sewer services was presented to the city’s Public Utilities Commission at its Sept. 29 meeting. The PUC asked that such a list be created so it could make some decisions about getting those properties hooked up to city services. The board said it realized that not all of the properties on the list could be served without extending some of the lines, and also that some of those on the list had no hook-ups because they had no bathrooms. “If it’s not available to them, there’s no way you can force them to hook up,” said Walt Annerer, wastewater treatment supervisor.

The Sept. 30 fundraising deadline for the purchase of the Gene Erickson property in downtown Grand Marais has come and gone, and the $170,000 goal was not reached. But members of the fundraising committee say all is not lost. The committee was saddled with the task of raising $225,000 in less than a year in order to make the purchase for the harbor front land to turn it into a park. As of Oct. 4, the fundraising efforts were only $87,709 short of that total.

50 YEARS AGO
OCT. 9, 1969

The Minneapolis Institute of Arts Artmobile completed its visit to Cook County communities yesterday with a total attendance of 1,239. The general reaction to the show was very favorable, according to Michael Oker, who is in charge of the Artmobile. He said the present show opened at Northfield, then continued to Isanti and Cambridge, then on to Pine City, Duluth and the North Shore. From here it goes to Babbitt.

The people of Tofte are recovering from that awful blast of thunder Monday night. The houses shook and windows rattled. Things fell off the shelves at the Olsen gift shop. Some thought it was an earthquake; some that it was anything from a missile dropped, or a bad blast, or even Judgment Day. Anyway, one like that in a lifetime is enough!

The Cook County High School band will present its annual football halftime show on Friday, Oct. 10 at the game against Gilbert. Also featured in the show will be the Vikettes, under head majorette Kris Sjoberg. The new Vikettes are Cheryl Gresczyk, Janie Goble, Becky Nelson, Judy Seglem, Connie Wilson and Jacque Bierbaum.

90 YEARS AGO
OCT. 10, 1929

Sammie Linnell is visiting at Mineral Center. This is the first time he has been there since he had the misfortune of losing two of his fingers.

Frank McDonald, truck driver for Sam Johnson Fish Company of Duluth, and Sanford Smith spent a couple of days vacationing in Port Arthur this week.

Nick Younk began as a fireman on the Hollis M last week. He was formerly employed as clerk at Ed Toftey’s store.

The Grand Marais High School has joined in a national school contest for the selection of a new national flower. The local school favors the wild rose as the selection.

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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