10 YEARS AGO
JAN. 23, 2010
Just after finalizing negotiations with the Cook County Teachers Association over its teachers’ contract, settled just in time to avoid a state-imposed penalty, ISD 166 superintendent Beth Schwarz has recommended cuts that would impact everyone from janitors to tenured teachers. For now, teacher salaries will undergo a “soft freeze,” giving those not already at the top of the salary scale step and lane increases but not cost of living raises.
Much-loved and well-respected former Cook County Sheriff John Lyght passed away on Jan. 15 at the age of 82. An icon in Minnesota law enforcement, Lyght was – and still is today – the only elected black sheriff in the state’s history. After being appointed sheriff in 1972, he won re-election in 1974 with 97.4 percent of the county’s vote. John Lyght served in the county’s sheriff department for almost 30 years.
20 YEARS AGO
JAN. 24, 2000
A senior at Cook County High School has been charged with 13 felony counts of burglary in connection with a series of break-ins at the Grand Marais Rec Park. According to the criminal complaint, the Sheriff ’s Department received reports of a number of break-ins, burglaries and attempted break-ins on Dec. 13. Upon investigation, deputies discovered that 13 camper trailers parked at the Rec Park had had their doors pried open and were ransacked and damaged. When he was questioned, the suspect admitted to using a crowbar to break into the summer residences.
Schroeder Township supervisors learned last week that construction of a road into a planned development may cost up to $54,000. Surveyor Jeff Brett said the estimate was at the top end of the price range, and would create a Class A road. The road in question will allow access into a 90-acre parcel off Cramer Road. The land was donated to the township by LTV Steel in 1998 with the understanding that the municipality subdivide it and sell the lots at an “affordable” price.
50 YEARS AGO
JAN. 22, 1970
Mrs. Alma Anderson, librarian, fell in her back yard and fractured her wrist. She was feeding the birds.
The John Eides of Schroeder accompanied their son, Vernon and family, on a vacation trip to Florida. “I saw more oranges, grapefruit and tangerines than I ever knew grew on this earth,” wrote Mr. Eide.
Of the 20 medals earned by Cook County skiers, the Benson and Nelson girls won 13 of them given at the CUSSA junior district ski meet at Mont du Lac last Saturday.
90 YEARS AGO
JAN. 23, 1930
The horse used for hauling school children to the Maple Hill school and owned by Hans Gilbertson, died today.
A gleaming new copper long distance line over which the voice can be heard as distinctly as over any line in the country and which connects Grand Marais directly with Duluth to the south and Fort William and Port Arthur to the north, was opened for business on January 20. The new service is economical as well as efficient. The charge for a day station-to-station call is only 45 cents for a three-minute conversation.
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 ccnh@boreal.org; or stop by our office at 15 First Avenue West.
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