The ISD 166 school board approved a levy of $1,063,844 for 2014, the amount of the levy limit, at its last meeting of the year on December 19. This reflects a 1.55 percent increase—$16,243.15—over the 2013 levy and amounts to about 15 percent of the school’s revenue. The school’s share of the taconite credit increased by $13,785.45 to $302,405.90. Total... READ MORE >
The Cook County Community YMCA swimming pool has water in it and a punch list of final tasks for the new facility is being addressed, Wade Cole of ORB Management reported to the county board on December 18, 2013. He anticipated receiving a certificate of occupancy from the state no later than December 30. “This is a very busy week.... READ MORE >
On December 18, 2013, the county board set its 2014 budget and levy. They were able to decrease the levy by $4,213 from 2013, coming at $6,104,890 with $513,241 to be taken out of the county’s fund balance. The board had worked with department heads throughout the fall to keep the budget down as much as possible. Starting in 2014,... READ MORE >
Two weeks after the county board turned down an opportunity to apply for funding for a Complete Streets community planning workshop offered by Smart Growth America, fueling an explosion of debate throughout the county, Kristin DeArruda Wharton, R.N., of the Sawtooth Mountain Clinic spoke with commissioners on December 17, 2013 about the active living initiatives the clinic has been promoting.... READ MORE >
What may be a minor problem could turn out to be an expensive but necessary fix for the Grand Marais Public Utilities Commission (PUC). A leak was detected near the radiator in one of the city’s electrical plant generators, and getting to the leak will require special rigging to move things out of the way. The leak could be coming... READ MORE >
The Grand Marais Municipal Pool is planning a last hurrah sometime in December before closing its doors forever when the new YMCA opens in January. The party will include free admission, cake, and sharing of memories. On December 9, 2013, Head Lifeguard Charles Christiansen told the Grand Marais Park Board that people are using up old tickets before it’s too... READ MORE >
Anyone who has ever wondered what it would be like to grow up in a Northwoods resort family now has a chance to find out. Timothy McDonnell, the third of Pat and Bette McDonnell’s six children, has written a memoir about growing up at Gateway Lodge called The Whole Forest for a Backyard: A Gunflint Trail Wilderness Memoir. “All of... READ MORE >
Are you remodeling? Planning to build a house or cabin? Repurposing a room and need to figure out how to light it better? Expert help will be on the way if you call local lighting consultant Jim Miller. “The single most important part in any new construction or remodeling project is lighting, and it’s almost always one of the last... READ MORE >
On December 5, 2013, Cook County Highway Department Maintenance Supervisor Russell Klegstad called the Cook County News-Herald to express a serious concern for the safety of the children in Grand Marais. The county has an agreement with the city of Grand Marais to plow and clear snow from the city streets above Highway 61. With the recent storm that dumped... READ MORE >
After seven months of wrangling, Cook County North Shore Hospital and Care Center Administrator Kimber Wraalstad signed a letter of understanding that will continue the facility’s status as a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota provider through 2014. Earlier this year, Blue Cross informed critical access hospitals across the state that they were requiring a new billing system that would... READ MORE >
