News - The Timberjay

Greenwood to consult attorney on payment for McGrath study

GREENWOOD TWP- The Greenwood Town Board, on Tuesday, approved the recommendations of the township’s ambulance committee, which the board formed last year to review and advise on the results of … more

Jodi Summit | 2/15/23

Film crew drops plan to change movie name

The producers of a motion picture currently being filmed in Ely have changed their minds about the film’s title following pushback from local residents. Recently, the movie’s producer, … more

Catie Clark | 5/3/23

Loam is a new game created by Max Helmberger to introduce players to the world of soil ecology.

Loam game now available at the Timberjay

TOWER- Did you know there are more living things in a spoonful of soil that there are people on this planet? Soil biologist Max Helmberger, of Tower, has been fascinated by the tiny creatures that … more

Jodi Summit | 12/13/23

CDC to loosen COVID isolation rules

REGIONAL- The Centers for Disease Control is reportedly considering changing its COVID isolation guidelines so that infected people would no longer need to stay home if they’ve been fever free … more

David Colburn | 2/28/24

Finalists Rebecca Buck, left, and Rachel Betterley, center, celebrate with Washburn High Minneapolis teacher Tracy Byrd moments after he was named the 2024 Minnesota Teacher of the Year on Sunday

Betterley feted at teacher of the year ceremony in St. Paul

REGIONAL- From her successful pageantry exploits, North Woods art teacher Rachel Betterley is certainly accustomed to large crowds, but on Sunday the setting was a bit different. Hundreds of … more

David Colburn | 5/9/24

Obituaries: July 1, 2022

Nancy A. Yapel Nancy Ann Yapel, 76, of Tower, passed away on Monday, June 20, 2022. At her request, no funeral is planned. Instead, the immediate family will attend a private burial service in Tower … more

6/29/22

Town board to downsize McKinley Park improvements

SOUDAN- Only $18,000 of a $30,000 Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB) funding request was granted to Breitung Township for improvements to McKinley Park and Stuntz Bay. This means … more

Stephanie Ukkola | 5/4/23

Just who was Charlemagne Tower?

TOWER- Amateur historian Mary Palcich Keyes has plenty to say about Tower’s namesake, Charlemagne Tower, whose name lives on even though he never visited the area. During a talk presented at … more

Jodi Summit | 9/29/23

Feeding the Timberjays [Video]

Marcus White | 11/5/18

Carol Carlson (right) hands over keys to the Comet to Ryan and Stephanie Horner.

New owners at Comet Theater in Cook

COOK- It’s the end of one era and the beginning of another in the storied history of the Comet Theater in Cook, as owner Carol Carlson announced this week that she has sold the business to … more

David Colburn | 5/3/23

Storm damage in Soudan being assessed; costs still being tallied

SOUDAN – Recent storm damage was the main topic of conversation at the Breitung Township regular board meeting held on Thursday, June 23. Maintenance Supervisor Tom Gorsma reported that in … more

Rachel Brophy | 6/29/22

Bois Forte Native Names Map to be unveiled Nov. 30

TOWER—Mesaba, Biwabik, Kawishiwi, Saganaga—these northern Minnesota place names are among many easily recognized as having native origins associated with the region’s indigenous … more

11/23/22

Obituaries: December 15, 2023

Rodney E. Loe Rodney “Rod” Eugene Loe, 88, iconic Elyite and beloved and respected son, brother, soldier, businessman, husband, uncle, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend, … more

12/13/23

A map of possible plowed and staked ice roads on Kabetogama Lake under the revised frozen lake use plan proposal.

VNP issues revised frozen lake use proposal

REGIONAL- Voyageurs National Park officials on Monday released a revised version of their proposed Frozen Lake Surface Use Plan, a measure that generated intense blowback from the public when the … more

David Colburn | 5/15/24

Minnesota announces first case of monkeypox

REGIONAL- Minnesota joined the world in another health scare this week, announcing on Monday the state’s first case of monkeypox.As of Tuesday, 4,769 cases of monkeypox have been reported in 49 … more

David Colburn | 6/29/22

Breitung considers fire department cooperation

SOUDAN – With the retirement of Eagles Nest Fire Chief Larry McCray, Eagles Nest Township is looking at alternatives, and one possibility could be some type of collaboration with Breitung … more

Rachel Brophy | 11/23/22

Obituaries: July 21, 2023

Lucille B. Svatos Lucille Betty Svatos, 94, of Ely, passed away on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, at Ely Bloomenson Community Hospital. Services will be held at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Ely … more

7/19/23

A recent production of “Songs for a New World” was among many offerings available this past summer thanks to the efforts of the Northern Lakes Arts Association.

Ely’s arts scene poised for growth

ELY- When Ian Lah took the helm as executive artistic director of the Northern Lakes Arts Association in May of last year, he said he saw opportunity for growth. The 2012 graduate of Ely Memorial … more

Jodi Summit | 10/4/23

ECR reports funding cuts to board

ELY- The nonprofit Ely Community Resource shared unhappy news with the Ely School Board on Monday evening. The group, which runs several tutoring, mentoring, afterschool, and summer programs for … more

Catie Clark | 5/15/24

Northern Lights Clubhouse needs new home and help

ELY- Northern Lights Clubhouse (Clubhouse) hopes to find a new place to call home within the coming ten months and is calling on the Ely community for some help. The Clubhouse, which is a program of … more

9/16/22

Obituaries: November 25, 2022

Grace L. IsaacsonGrace L. Nukala Isaacson, 70, of Angora, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022, at Solvay Hospice House in Duluth. Funeral services were held on Monday, Nov. 21 at St. … more

11/23/22

Fatal Ely accident

ELY- An Ely man died on Monday, July 17, in a single-vehicle collision on the 2100 block of Grant McMahan Blvd./County Rd. 88, in Morse Township. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office, assisted … more

Catie Clark | 7/19/23

Bois Forte’s Pam Hughes, left, and Toni Wakemup, right, stand by the Public Health Vending Machine at the Nett Lake C Store. The machine at the C Store and Fortune Bay will be filled up and ready to go for the official deployment on Friday, Oct. 6.

New health care vending machines go live Friday

TOWER—An innovation in public health is coming this Friday, Oct. 6, to the Bois Forte Reservation. That’s when the Bois Forte will become the first tribe in Minnesota, and possibly the … more

Brian K. Anderson | 10/4/23

An angler uses his bare hands to land a modest Lake Vermilion walleye on opening day.

Fish stories aplenty

REGIONAL- Another successful fishing opener weekend is in the books, with hoards of eager anglers flocking to Lake Vermilion and other area lakes in search of the often elusive walleye. Reports … more

David Colburn | 5/15/24

Unhappy hour at Northern Grounds on Sept. 20

ELY- For more than 25 years, Equal Pay Day has helped draw attention to gender-based pay disparities by highlighting how far into a new year a woman must work, on average, to earn what a man did in … more

9/15/22