10 Years Ago · Feb. 19, 2001
The Cook County/Grand Marais Economic Development Authority (EDA) met on Feb. 13 to discuss a number of important issues. Perhaps most important on the docket was the possible sale of the North Shore Business Incubator Building to the owners of Waters of Superior, the business currently housed in the building. The appraisal of the property, which included the addition of a $23,000 new roof which has not yet been put on the building, was $195,000. Waters of Superior has offered $170,000 for the building.
Recently, the DNR Division of Trails and Waterways drew a crowd that packed a large meeting room in Grand Marais and spilled out into the lobby. The North Shore folks were polite, but concerned. It is fair to say that not everyone in the community is enthralled with a proposed trail system for Off Highway Vehicles (OHVs). The meeting was intended to clear the air. “We believe managed is better than unmanaged,” a DNR official said.
20 Years Ago · Feb. 18, 1991
LTV Steel’s operation at Taconite Harbor is gearing up to restart its electrical generating plant. The three coal-fired turbine generators have been idle since June 1982, but have been carefully maintained in anticipation of the eventual start-up. Two of the three 75-megawatt steam turbines will have to be in operation before enough electricity can be generated to run the Hoyt Lakes plant. The start-up of the Taconite Harbor plant will create 50 jobs.
The Grand Portage casino was profiled on the Thunder Bay television station program “Spectrum.” The media crew came to Grand Portage Lodge and interviewed casino manager Mary Ann Gagnon, lodge manager Rick Anderson and Reservation Business Committee member Norman Deschampe. While they were filming in the casino a lady hit a royal flush on one of the machines. The clinking of the coins couldn’t have happened at a better time.
Over 100 persons attended an information meeting regarding the planned improvement and paving of the Sawbill Trail at the Schroeder Town Hall Feb. 7. West End County Commissioner Gene Utecht organized the meeting in response to requests from local residents concerned about the scope of the project. County Engineer Mike Tardy began the meeting with a presentation about the project and why the road must be built to certain standards to qualify for federal forest highway dollars. The Sawbill is a County State Aid Highway, which means it is part of an interconnected grid system funded through the state gasoline tax.
50 Years Ago · Feb. 16, 1961
The annual meeting of the Grand Marais Fire Department was held Feb. 8. Fire Chief John M. Blackwell suggested that guards be posted at the doors of a burning house to keep spectators from entering. He felt that curiosity seekers are not only often in the way for the firefighters, but they also do a lot of needless tracking in of dirt on rugs and floors. He was empowered to pick his men for these jobs. Also, Norman Toftey suggested identification stickers for firemen’s cars.
Government officials at the Canadian border crossing at Pigeon River Friday night apprehended and detained two Canadians suspected of raising Canadian postal money orders and cashing them in the United States. The men were held for U.S. postal inspectors. Officials here said their system was to buy money orders in small denominations, a dollar or two, treat them chemically in some way, then raise the amounts to higher sums.
A protest meeting held at Hermantown brought into the open what had thus far been rumor of a vast proposed development in the Grand Portage Reservation. The rumor is that Minneapolis, Chicago and some local interests were about to invest $21 million in a playground area, including a “fabulous” hotel, golf courses, ski hill, restaurants, motels and an airport. Supposedly, 63,000 acres of land would be leased from the Indian band. Opponents of the project claim it would make a “Coney Island” out of the area.
90 Years Ago · Feb. 17, 1921
A car came through from Port Arthur Sunday. The roads were not passable, however, it being necessary to have a team pull the car for 30 miles from the other side of Mineral Center.
Frank Bradley of Duluth, former U.S. marshal, was in town this week.
Some of the freshman boys last week had a desperate fight with the senior boys. The high-power snowballs almost gave one of the boys a black eye.
With the price of sodas dropping to 10 cents there is once more a balm in Gilead for the school girl.
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