20 YEARS AGO
MAY 15, 2000
A helicopter built to lift heavy machinery and buildings into war zones will be used to keep peace in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness this summer. The S-64 Skycrane helicopter, the largest lifting helicopter in the world, arrived in northeast Minnesota last Friday. The U.S. Forest Service has an “exclusive use” agreement that will keep it in the region for the next 120 days. This is the first time the Forest Service in Minnesota has done an exclusive use contract to keep this helicopter during fire season. It was something the agency felt was important on the heels of last year’s July 4th blowdown. The helicopter stands out for its size. It is 25 feet tall, 108 feet long with rotors 75 feet in diameter. The 25,000-pound helicopter can lift an additional 22,000 pounds with its twin 4,800 hp engines that can fly at 100 knots per hour.
30 YEARS AGO
MAY 14, 1990
The Cook County Board and Sheriff John Lyght held a spirited discussion regarding the $34,000 the sheriff recently received from the U.S. Customs as the local share of money from border drug seizures. Lyght told the board he is spending the money on departmental improvements such as modern telephone equipment and new body armor for deputies — items not included in the department’s budget. “There has to be ground rules for this situation,” Commissioner Gene Utecht said. Commissioner Wes Hedstrom observed, “You can’t have a $30,000 slush fund…you have to put those items in the budget.” Lyght replied that he did put the items in the budget and, “you cut them out.”
60 YEARS AGO
MAY 12, 1960
A blast of dynamite in Rosebush Creek by five Duluth and Grand Marais youths brought total fines of $525 to be paid by May 27 or serve 90 days in jail. Each was fined $100 plus costs. A passerby happened to see the erupting water, and jotted down the car license, then reported the incident to the game wardens. The youths brought one fish up to Midway to be entered in the Big Fish Contest. However, the game wardens were waiting for them. There have been one or two other dynamiting cases in stream mouths reported this spring, but no one had been caught. The youths spent a day in jail waiting for the judge to decide on the case.
Cook County has gained an impressive 455 population count in the last 10 years, according to figures released from the U.S. Census office in Duluth. The county figure for 1960 was 3355, compared to 2900 for 1950. The Village of Grand Marais was listed with 1294, an increase of 216.
100 YEARS AGO
MAY 12, 1920
Grand Marais Village Council proceedings: Upon motion it was decided that the sidewalk on the north side of Wisconsin Street between Broadway and Monroe streets be condemned for public traffic, as said sidewalk is considered dangerous to pedestrians. The clerk was ordered to notify the owners to that effect. It was on motion decided to remind the owners of horses, cattle, chickens and other animals of the existing herd laws, that the same shall be enforced and those who have any of the aforementioned animals are requested to keep them enclosed so as not to allow them to trespass on their neighbor’s premises.
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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