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For the first time in Blueberry/Art Festival history, event pins are available at the Ely Chamber of Commerce and at the chamber's booth at the festival.

Blueberry/Art Festival to be held July 29-31

ELY – Following a severe storm that altered the 2021 Blueberry/Art Festival, planning for this year’s edition of the Ely community’s major summer festival began back in January and … more

Keith Vandervort | 7/20/22

Longest-running rodeo prepares for 67th year

EFFIE- Like most summer activities this year, higher prices for everything from gas to food have affected the rodeo circuit, but the chance to compete in the 67th Annual North Star Stampede in Effie … more

David Colburn | 7/20/22

Fixing mental health

We can do something about America’s mental health crisis. The only question is whether there’s the political will to act. We know that resources matter, because resources can translate … more

7/20/22 | 1 comment

"Konst” Marttila behind the counter of his confectionary and variety store in 1945. The shop was a popular place in Tower when it sold candy, milk shakes, comic books, and other delights.

It was everyone’s favorite hangout

TOWER- While everyone who has lived in Tower for any length of time has stories about Marttila Drug, over 60 area residents got the chance to learn more about the Marttila family’s long ties to … more

Jodi Summit | 7/20/22

Chorus King Ian Lah sings “I Don’t Mean to be Mean."

The Quiltmaker's Gift plays to packed houses in Ely

Timberjay photographer Keith Vandervort was on hand for some pictures at a recent performance of The Quiltmaker's Gift in Ely. more

Keith Vandervort | 7/20/22

Chaz Wagner sings and plays the drum at a Nett Lake pow wow in March.

Wagner wins grant for drumming and singing outreach

REGIONAL- Thanks to the ongoing efforts of a Bois Forte Band musician and a grant from the Northland Foundation, youth in multiple area communities have the opportunity this summer to learn … more

David Colburn | 7/20/22

Chisholm man nailed in highway drug bust

REGIONAL- Law enforcement officials seized more than a pound of what was believed to be the dangerous synthetic opioid fentanyl in a highway drug bust Monday morning in central St. Louis County.The … more

David Colburn | 7/20/22

Greenwood debates merits of state fire fighter training

GREENWOOD TWP- The Greenwood Town Board has yet to approve a monthly treasurer’s report since the resignations of both the elected treasurer and clerk. “We’ve been working on the … more

Jodi Summit | 7/20/22

ISD 696 considers active-shooter training for school staff

ELY – As school shootings continue to increase across the country, the risk of such a tragedy has not been lost on ISD 696 officials, and discussions have ramped up on conducting active shooter … more

Keith Vandervort | 7/20/22

Football coach named at Vermilion

ELY – A change in leadership is coming this fall for the Minnesota North College, Vermilion Campus football program, as Richard Brooks was recently named head coach. Coach Brooks returns to … more

7/20/22

Scholarship programs would slash cost of attending Minnesota North College

HIBBING - We have heard it all too often, finances and time are the two biggest impediments to students enrolling and being successful in college. In addition, the North Country is in the midst of a … more

7/20/22

Obituaries: July 22, 2022

Lon E. Lamppa Lon Ernest Lamppa, 73, of Virginia, and formerly of Tower, Lake Vermilion and Embarrass, left this life after ‘the long goodbye’ on Saturday, July 16, 2022. A celebration of … more

7/20/22

A sunset in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

BWCAW protection bill advances in House

REGIONAL— Legislation that would significantly expand the mining protection zone around the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness was referred to the full U.S. House by a party linecommittee … more

Marshall Helmberger | 7/14/22 | 1 comment

An artist’s drawing of the planned trailhead building, set for construction on Ely’s west end thanks to additional federal funding announced this week.

Federal funds rescue Ely trailhead building

ELY – A $1.5 million federal grant has cleared the way for the city of Ely to build a new regional trailhead facility on the city’s west end. The U.S. Commerce Department’s Economic … more

Keith Vandervort | 7/13/22 | 1 comment

Families with kids were busy shopping at Legacy Toys on Saturday during the store’s grand re-opening.

Toy story: An Ely original reopens for business after extended closure

ELY – The Legacy Toys store here reopened recently and a celebration was held last Saturday. Founded here in 2012, the company says it’s “devoted to helping kids and their families … more

Keith Vandervort | 7/13/22

Three people vying for county sheriff position

REGIONAL— Among the candidates who will appear on the Aug. 9 primary ballot are the three men vying to replace longtime St. Louis County Sheriff Ross Litman. While it’s officially a … more

Marshall Helmberger | 7/13/22

Morgan Sauls with the puppet featured in the “Quiltmaker’s Gift” at Ely’s Historic State Theater this weekend.

‘Quiltmaker’s Gift’ returns to Ely

ELY –The “Quiltmaker’s Gift” opens Friday, July 15, with a 7 p.m. performance at Ely’s Historic State Theater. The show continues Saturday, July 16 at 7p.m. and closes … more

Keith Vandervort | 7/13/22

Regional EMS service study moves forward

GREENWOOD TWP- Greenwood Township is putting itself in the driver’s seat as it approved spending approximately $55,000 for a study on options for the feasibility of developing a region-wide … more

Jodi Summit | 7/13/22

Area favorite Steve Solkela will perform at the picnic.

Old Settlers Picnic this Saturday, July 16

BREITUNG TWP- This might be the most delicious $10 you have ever spent. If you are a present or former resident of the Vermilion Iron Range, the annual Old Settlers Reunion and Picnic features the … more

7/13/22

Electric rate hike subject to public scrutiny

REGIONAL- Minnesota Power’s quest for a proposed 18 percent overall electricity rate hike will be subjected to public scrutiny next week as customers will have the chance to voice their … more

David Colburn | 7/13/22

Mixed Precipitation bringing family-friendly opera and puppet fun to the area in August

REGIONAL-Mixed Precipitation presents “Pickup Truck Opera Volume Two: The Magic Flute” which is the second installment of their traveling operatic adventure. Performances run in this area … more

7/13/22

Becky Rom displays the hundreds of pages included in the recent draft EA on the proposed mineral withdrawal affecting a portion of the Superior National Forest.

Rom offers updates and introductions

ELY – Members of the Tuesday group received an update this week on efforts to head off copper-nickel mining near the Boundary Waters and met the next generation of potential advocates for … more

Keith Vandervort | 7/13/22 | 1 comment

A snowberry clearwing, a species of sphinx moth, hovers over an orange hawkweed.

It’s a bee? It’s a hummingbird?

One of the North Country’s coolest family of insects is the one whose members are most likely to be mistaken for a bird. They’re called sphinx moths or hawk moths (family Sphingidae), … more

Marshall Helmberger | 7/13/22

Feds to tour flood area as cleanup efforts intensify

REGIONAL- The great Rainy River Basin flood is now a thing of the past for folks on Crane Lake and Lake Kabetogama, as lake levels there are within the normal rule curve. Even so, recovery efforts … more

David Colburn | 7/13/22

Gardening on “The Rock”

When I affectionately say that I live on “the rock,” I don’t think people realize that I seriously mean that there is an abundance of well, rock, and a real lack of soil. Anything … more

April Wamhoff | 7/13/22