Cook County News Herald

Down Memory Lane


20 YEARS AGO
DECEMBER 11, 2000

LTV Steel Mining Company workers in Schroeder were called to a meeting last Wednesday and told the company would cease operations on February 24, 2001, five months earlier than planned. According to company officials, the mine can no longer provide LTV Steel with taconite pellets of competitive quality and cost. Between 70 and 80 people are employed at Taconite Harbor.

With a unanimous vote during its regular meeting on December 6, the Grand Marais Public Utilities Commission lowered the city’s rates on electricity. The total savings to residents and businesses in the city, according to Public Works Director Russell Good, should be about $200,000 in the next year. “I believe we are in a position right now where we can give everyone a Christmas present and lower the electric rates,” Good told the board. “Right now, we have more income than we need.”

30 YEARS AGO
DECEMBER 10, 1990

A Moose Valley home was destroyed by fire on December 3 at about 9 a.m. Pagers weren’t activated because a dispatcher dialed the wrong number. Firefighters were notified by telephone, and were on the scene within 15 to 20 minutes. By that time, the second floor was gone and the whole house was engulfed in flame. By 9:40 a.m., the house was gone.

The Viking girls’ basketball teams, just starting their first year and already troubled with injuries, got off to a tough start last week as they bowed to Silver Bay 68-15. Consider this: Silver Bay started three juniors, a senior and a sophomore. Cook County started four freshmen and an eighth-grader.

60 YEARS AGO
DECEMBER 8, 1960

This Saturday marks 20 years since Santa first attended the local Christmas movie party. The annual treat for the youngsters has been sponsored by Shore Theatre management; the schools each year see to it that out-of-town boys and girls have transportation. Santa will make an appearance at 2:20 p.m.

County Engineer Donald Nelson assured the Christmas Decorating Committee that a Christmas tree would be secured for the village triangle soon, and Iver Lindell, manager of the Public Utilities, said the light strings of 60 bulbs are in readiness for hanging when the tree is put up. Volunteers are still needed to help put up the lights.

Thor Carlson lost his fish house with everything in it in the recent storm. He was able to save his boat.

85 YEARS AGO
DECEMBER 12, 1935

F.C. Preine, Matt Johnson and Ed Toftey were appointed as a water commission at the last meeting of the village council with absolute control of the local water system. This commission will set rates, decide upon methods of collection, and problems of maintenance as they arise. As far as possible, the commission will be free from politics. Its members, once appointed, cannot be removed by council, neither can the commission be dissolved except by a special election on the matter.

About twelve mothers gathered at the Congregational Church basement Wednesday afternoon and formed a baby clinic. The next meeting of the group will be held at the home of Mrs. M.W. Griffith on the second Wednesday in January.

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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