10 Years Ago •
Oc t. 16, 2000
• Cook County’s rate of unemployment for July 2000 was 2.1 percent, down from last year’s rate of 2.4 percent. There were 3,205 people employed in July this year compared to 3,198 employed countywide a year ago. June saw an unemployment rate of 2.6 percent.
• Richard Swanson, attorney for the Joint Grand Marais/Cook County Economic Development Authority, distributed a memo and reviewed Robert’s Rules of Order with the board last week.
Swanson also led a discussion of the Open Meeting Law. He advised the board that when in doubt, to err on the side of sharing information and decision-making with the public.
The subject was prompted by an allegation last month that some board members conducted an unlawful meeting when they stayed after adjournment to eat pizza. Swanson said that, as far as he knows, there is no interest in pursuing those charges.
20 Years Ago •
Oc t. 15, 1990
• Economic growth in the Grand Portage community will lead to more children at the Grand Portage Elementary School within a few years, and the present school building will have to be enlarged to accommodate them, Billy Blackwell told the District 166 school board at their meeting last Monday. Blackwell is a spokesman for the Local Indian Education Committee.
“We need a five-year planning committee. We have 16 kids coming into the school system in the next two years. The reservation is planning to build 10 new homes next year,” he said. “We’re looking at large numbers of new kids. There is a good chance we will see 20 to 60 more kids in the next five years. Planning must be a priority.”
• At last week’s Economic Development Authority meeting, directors grappled with a legal fee of $11,390 submitted by attorney Arlin Waelti for work done in drawing up a management agreement for the new Lutsen Golf Course.
Board member Jim Sommerness, himself an attorney, said, “I think the bill is high and I’d like to see some kind of reduction. It’s just one of the growing pains that we’re facing.”
50 Years Ago •
Oc t. 13, 1960
• A Canadian woman was killed in a freak accident Monday on the new stretch of road between Grand Portage and Pigeon River. She was dragged to death under the rear wheel of the car when the driver stopped, and, not realizing they were on a downhill slope, did not set the brake and the car started rolling backwards. Someone cried out and the driver in his excitement put his foot on the accelerator instead of the brake.
Thevictim fell out when her door opened — either by accident or her attempt to get out of the car — and she became entangled and caught under the wheel.
Thecar slid about 150 feet down a deep ravine, but was not damaged in the least.
• When Mrs. Sigurd S. Nybakken at the North Queen Motel opened the back door Tuesday morning, a bear cub — cute as a pin cushion — was sitting on the door mat outside.
He soon took off for the woods, but his hosts enjoyed the visit immensely.
• Thewest end of the county has become aroused over a picture of a bow and arrow hunter who is reported to have killed three bears in the Tofte dump. One unsigned letter we received is a stinging rebuke against such action.
Being unsigned, it now reposes in our wastebasket.
90 Years Ago •
Oc t. 13, 1920
• James A. Kirkwood Jr., formerly of Grand Marais, died suddenly in Duluth Thursday, following an operation for tonsillitis.
Mr. Kirkwood was one of the organizers of the Grand Marais State Bank, and was an officer in that institution for some time.
• Minnesota is threatened with a fire on a 25-mile front along the Wisconsin state line. Thisseries of fires is being watched by a crew of men. There are numerous small fires in northern Minnesota which are being carefully watched by forest rangers.
• Clarence and Ellis Smith have been harvesting their potato crop at Schroeder this week. They will both attend an automobile school this winter.
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