Every year the Eastern spruce budworm kills multitudes of balsam fir and spruce in Minnesota, and the dead trees potentially become spectacular fuel for forest fires. The Forest Service points out that the “Eastern spruce budworm is a native caterpillar and is the most destructive pest of sprucefir forests in eastern North America.” In 2021 the Minnesota Department of Natural... READ MORE >
Several years ago, an effort was made to establish a disc golf course in the county. The main site looked at was the Gunflint Hills golf course—or, shall I say, the periphery of the Gunflint Hills Golf Course. After some thought, it was decided it wouldn’t work, and the idea was put on the shelf. However, a core group of... READ MORE >
North Shore Waste is growing its business. The company announced on April 8 through Facebook that it purchased Nelson Machine Products in Tofte. “We will be expanding our Roll-off, resident, commercial trash services to Lutsen, Tofte, Schroeder, Finland and surrounding areas. “We are thankful for the many years of hard work Rich and Kathy (Nelson) dedicated to servicing this area.... READ MORE >
After Jes Rodne pegged 14, all her partner Jeremy Wagner had to do was have any points in his hand to win the game and play one more game to see who would be crowned champions of the Bob Pratt Scholarship Cribbage tournament. Sadly, Jeremy came up empty—which is almost unheard of—in his hand, and the father and son team... READ MORE >
Should the newly formed Cook County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) be dissolved with all its duties and assets transferred to the Cook County/Grand Marais Economic Development Authority (EDA)? That will be the central question Cook County commissioners will want the public to weigh in on at the May 9 commissioners meeting. The public forum will be held at 8:45... READ MORE >
The Cook County Commissioners met on Tuesday, April 25, for a lengthy meeting. The big ticket on the agenda was the lengthy annual report from the Cook County Highway Department. That will be featured in next week’s paper. In further business: • LaBoda Grading, Inc. was awarded the summer maintenance Subordinate Governmental Service District (SGSD) contracts for the following SGSD... READ MORE >
A man is homeless after his house burned on April 24, 2023. The Maple Hill Fire Department, Grand Marais Fire Department, Cook County Ambulance, and Cook County Sheriff ’s Deputy Christopher Schrupp responded to the fire. Harlon Schwab told Deputy Schrupp that he had cleaned the ash from his fireplace and placed the ash inside a bin on his porch.... READ MORE >
It’s early season for the Viking boys and girls track team but the kids are starting to show some nice results despite training through the late snow. The team recently traveled to Moose Lake and while no team scores were kept, the individual times, throws and jumps were recorded. Boys’ 100 meters: Ryan Christiansen ran 11:36; MaCoy Fairbanks (8th grade)... READ MORE >
Grand Marais City Counselors listened to a presentation about the proposed merger of the Cook County/Grand Marais Economic Development Authority (EDA) and the Cook County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) at the council’s April 12 meeting. Coming before the council to present the concept was Steve Surbaugh, President of the EDA board and Mary Somnis, President of the HRA board.... READ MORE >
The Grand Marais Planning Commission will hold a meeting at 5:15 p.m. on Wednesday, May 3, City Hall, to contemplate three zoning requests. The first will be to consider Dave Walter’s request for a variance to build a new home on property within the 25-foot rear yard setback. The property is on 5th Street East. Next, the planning commission will... READ MORE >
