When the votes were tallied after the November 5 general election the challenger, Ely Mayor Roger Skraba (R), led incumbent Rob Ecklund (DFL) by 15 votes in the race for the Minnesota House 3A seat. At that time, Skraba was credited with 10,868 votes, while Ecklund had 10,853. Because of the close count, the state mandates a publicly funded recount.... READ MORE >
It’s been a long time since pay raises have been granted to Grand Marais firefighters. With that impetus, Grand Marais Fire Chief Ben Silence brought an unfinished budget issue to the council. Firefighters currently get $10 per call. Grand Marais City Administrator Mike Roth suggested paying $20 per call. Roth also recommended bumping up the pay for the three officers—the... READ MORE >
Cook County Commissioners voted unanimously to accept amendments to the three-year-old Vacation Rental Ordinance proposed by the Vacation Rental Committee at the board’s November 22 meeting. The amended ordinance will go into effect on January 1, 2023. Commissioners also entered into an updated agreement with Granicus (Host Compliance), which has a web-based platform used to administer and enforce the Vacation... READ MORE >
Visit Cook County named the winners of the 2022 Holiday Parade held on Friday, November 25. With approximately 750-1,000 people lining the streets on a warm night, the parade, led by the American Legion Post 413 Honor Guard, was a small but highly successful holiday event. Once the marchers, vehicles and floats went around the block twice, the Christmas tree... READ MORE >
Sometimes the best gifts aren’t the ones you get; they are the ones you give. Operation Family Christmas allows you to donate anonymously to a child or children who might not find anything under the Christmas tree on Christmas morning. Even a small gift means a lot to someone who would get no gift at all, said Jes Rodne, in... READ MORE >
With rivers, lakes, ponds and small streams crisscrossing our county, we shouldn’t have to worry about ground water. However, that isn’t true for other places around the Great Lakes. A recent study indicates that some aquifers are in trouble and the regulations around groundwater in general is a patchwork of rules at best. Below is a synopsis of that report... READ MORE >
A judge ruled that the gate blocking access to a snowmobile trail in Lutsen must come down, at least for now. The gate was placed across the trail by the landowners Richard and Natalie Feddie. The snowmobile route is a spur that allows riders who want to go to a store or refuel in downtown Lutsen to access those businesses.... READ MORE >
Following City Administrator Mike Roth’s recommendations, the Grand Marais PUC voted to increase the water, sewer and electric budgets by three percent for 2023. The PUC voted for the rate increases at their November 16 meeting. In discussing the Water Fund budget, Roth said the increase would cover system repairs and improvements and position the water fund to contribute to... READ MORE >
Following a request made over a year ago, on Friday, November 18, the State of Minnesota formally returned a small two-acre parcel of land east of Grand Marais to the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa in a ceremony held at the Grand Portage Lodge & Casino event center. The Stonebridge Singers’ drums and the dramatic entrance of the... READ MORE >
Just in time for the holidays, three sisters will move into a beautiful new home in Creechville. The 1,200-square-foot three-bedroom house has excellent window views of Lake Superior and sits on a large lot. The sisters plan to put a garage on the property at some point, but not now. “This is the biggest house we have built to date,”... READ MORE >
