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An architect's rendering of the design of the Trailhead facility.

ELY – With $3 million nearly in hand and after years of planning, city officials here are looking forward to beginning construction of the Ely Regional Trailhead facility at the west entrance … more

Keith Vandervort | 8/3/22 | 1 comment

Should St. Louis County Planning enforce its ordinance when it comes to building new schools?

5/21/10 | 1 comment

Breitung Board hears from Eagles Nest trail group

SOUDAN- Members of the Eagles Nest Trail Advocacy Group came to talk to Breitung Town Board board on Dec. 20 about proposed ATV trails that would run between Ely and Breitung, passing through Eagles … more

Stephanie Ukkola | 12/28/22 | 1 comment

Heated House hearing weighs BWCAW protection

REGIONAL— A U.S. House committee held an at-times contentious hearing on Tuesday over proposed legislation that would expand the mining protection area surrounding the Boundary Waters by … more

Marshall Helmberger | 5/25/22 | 1 comment

Firefighters in open revolt

GREENWOOD TWP- The Greenwood Fire Department is facing an apparent revolt from members unhappy about changes in the department’s leadership made by the town board late last year. Ten members of … more

Jodi Summit | 1/11/23 | 1 comment

A trail camera documents one of countless interactions between wolves and the recently installed fence encircling the Wes Johnson ranch north of Orr.

RANCH RESOLUTION?

SHEEP RANCH ROAD— For years, cattle rancher Wes Johnson has lost several head of cattle every year to wolves. His 1,500-acre operation, located about 15 miles north of Orr, is a rarity here at … more

Marshall Helmberger | 5/31/23 | 1 comment

The planned processing facility for the New Range copper-nickel proposal formerly PolyMet.

Army Corps revokes NorthMet wetlands permit

REGIONAL— The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has dealt a major blow to the prospects for the NorthMet copper-nickel venture proposed by NewRange Copper, formerly known as PolyMet Mining. On … more

Marshall Helmberger | 6/6/23 | 1 comment

Phony GOP finger-pointing

The Walz administration, and by extension DFL candidates around the state, have taken heat in the wake of the scandal over Feeding Our Future. Republican candidates have raised the issue time and … more

10/19/22 | 1 comment

Do you believe there is really a ghost in the Ely Bowling Alley?

3/28/10 | 1 comment

The original concept drawings at the Tower Harbor, show a highly walkable mix of commercial fronts and upper- level residential. With the shelving of the town home proposal, a new plan could come closer to the original vision.

Sky high building costs kills town home plans

TOWER— The long-planned town home project slated for construction at the Tower Harbor appears dead, nearly six years after city officials pushed for the development project. The Tower Economic … more

Jodi Summit | 8/10/22 | 1 comment

Performer Jaidynn Diore Fierce does her impression of the video game character Mario.

Struttin’ their stuff

ELY - Heads were turning here last Saturday as the little town at the end of the road hosted an event that probably caught many people by surprise. Ely may never be the same after a parade of drag … more

Keith Vandervort | 8/10/22 | 1 comment

North Woods archers score well at Mt. Iron

MT. IRON- North Woods archers competed in a dual meet last Saturday in Mt. Iron, and once again the Grizzlies sharpshooters took home a host of medals, with many posting their highest scores of the … more

David Colburn | 3/22/23 | 1 comment

GOP and climate change

Democracy won’t be the only existential issue on the presidential ballot come next year. It is clear from last week’s GOP debate that the future of a livable planet is very much at stake. … more

8/30/23 | 1 comment

Legislature fails to meet deadline, leaving billions in limbo

REGIONAL- Over $10 billion of surplus cash will stay in the bank for now, as last-minute haggling between Republican and DFL state legislators late Sunday night failed to produce any spending bills … more

David Colburn | 5/25/22 | 1 comment

Outgoing Tower Area Food Shelf leader Marge McPeak (at left), with new leaders Hugh and Frannie Wood.

New leaders take helm at the Tower Food Shelf

TOWER- Starting in November, Tower residents Hugh and Frannie Wood will be taking over the leadership role at the Tower Area Food Shelf from long-time volunteer Marge McPeak.McPeak took on a … more

Jodi Summit | 10/21/22 | 1 comment

North Woods archers claim overall titles

REGIONAL- The North Woods archery season got underway last weekend with a Jan. 7 competition at Greenway, and Grizzlies archers came home with a slew of medals.The stars of the day for North Woods … more

David Colburn | 1/11/23 | 1 comment

IMPROVE YOUR ODDS

REGIONAL— With a still-depleted whitetailed deer population across northern St. Louis and Lake counties, hunters will want to take steps to give themselves the advantage when the regular … more

Marshall Helmberger | 11/2/23 | 1 comment

Groomed ski trails are generally in good shape now after clean up in wake of storms.

Area trails still feeling effects of last month’s storms

REGIONAL— Plentiful snow and winter recreation typically go hand-in-hand, but the region is still feeling the effects of two December snowstorms which left area ski and snowmobile trails a … more

Marshall Helmberger | 1/11/23 | 1 comment

Fishing guide Matt Snyder with a 54-inch musky he caught on Vermilion nearly ten years ago. He’s concerned about changes he’s seen in the number and behavior of muskies on the lake.

Different perspectives on Vermilion’s musky outlook

LAKE VERMILION— It’s been good times for musky anglers here this summer, but could trouble be on the horizon? Matt Snyder, a longtime fishing guide who specializes in Lake Vermilion … more

Marshall Helmberger | 8/10/22 | 1 comment

Ely man charged for running down deer

ELY— A 20-year-old college student here is facing an $1,800 fine after he used his pickup to run down three deer along Ely’s Central Av., leaving them partially paralyzed and struggling … more

Marshall Helmberger | 3/29/23 | 1 comment

Looking east from the corner of Dorothy Easterday’s driveway, the narrowing of the road from the junk car “fence” along the property line is evident compared to the fully maintained, full-width road in the background.

ROAD ROW RANKLES OWENS

OWENS TWP— Dorothy Easterday’s official property address is 9175 Derusha Rd. in Owens Township. But whether it is Derusha Rd. or not is a question that has mired this small township … more

David Colburn | 11/9/23 | 1 comment

How are you faring in the current economic downturn?

8/27/09 | 1 comment

Survey: Gas prices, inflation impact summer travel decisions

REGIONAL— More than two years into the pandemic, Americans report that gas prices and inflation will impact their summer travel decisions more than concerns about COVID-19, according to … more

Marshall Helmberger | 6/1/22 | 1 comment

Choosing freedom

In Arkansas, Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders recently signed into a law a measure making it easier for businesses to employ children as young as 14. In Florida, school libraries have been … more

3/29/23 | 1 comment

Inaction on guns

“Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”George Santayana For Americans in the 21st Century, it can seem at times that we are stuck in an endless loop of tragedy, … more

6/1/22 | 1 comment