News - The Timberjay

Lost hunter spends night in woods north of Orr

ORR- An International Falls man and his dog spent last Friday night lost in the woods north of Orr after becoming disoriented while hunting. St. Louis County Sheriff’s deputies and the St. … more

David Colburn | 10/4/23

Cook hires ambulance co-directors

COOK- In a move intended to strengthen the overall operation of the Cook Ambulance Service, current crew members Amy Luecken and Will Fischer will take on leadership of the service by sharing its … more

David Colburn | 12/20/23

Cost-free airport upgrades reviewed by Orr council

ORR- Approval of bids for the pavement crack sealing project at the Orr Airport was on the Orr Council’s agenda on Monday, but they ended up getting a full update on airport improvements from … more

David Colburn | 5/15/24

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

School district looks at lobbyist to boost revenue

REGIONAL— The St. Louis County Schools, ISD 2142, may enlist the services of a well-known lobbying firm to try to woo concessions from the Minnesota Legislature to address funding concerns … more

David Colburn | 2/22/23

Obituaries: October 6, 2023

Peter J. Johnson Peter Jon Johnson, 87, of Lake Vermilion-Tower, passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023, at Essentia-Virginia. A Funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 6 at St. … more

10/4/23

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

Will pickelball and ice skating mix? Cook may try

COOK- At last Thursday’s regular Cook City Council meeting, councilors and members of the Friends of the Parks (FOTP) batted around the idea of turning the ice skating rink at the community … more

David Colburn | 10/4/23

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

Township still seeking broadband project grants

GREENWOOD TWP- For the first time since the resignation of the elected clerk and treasurer, the Greenwood Town Board at their Sept. 13 meeting was able to approve their treasurer’s report, … more

Jodi Summit | 9/21/22

Obituaries: September 23, 2022

Janice M. Strub Janice M. Strub, 69, of Orr, passed away on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022, surrounded by her loving family. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1 at Holy Cross … more

9/21/22

Moratorium set on sale of cannabinoids

ELY - The Ely City Council voted at their Dec. 6 meeting to approve a moratorium on new permits for the sale of cannabinoid products derived from hemp until March 7, 2023, or until the city passes an … more

Catie Clark | 12/7/22

ISD 696 looking for another superintendent

ELY – Just weeks after the top administrator at ISD 696 agreed to a contract extension, John Klarich announced Monday night that he is leaving his superintendent post after his contract expires … more

Keith Vandervort | 7/13/22

Orr Ambulance Service gets brand-new rig

ORR- There’s an age-old proverb that goes, “Too many cooks spoil the broth,” but a good look at the sharp looking new vehicle in the Orr Ambulance Service garage suggests this … more

David Colburn | 9/21/22

Fae Laakkonen-Gaylord listens as Santa asks if she's been good during his weekend stopover in Orr for the Snow City Christmas celebration.

Sights and sounds

'Tis the season for holiday events in the North Country, and Timberjay photographer showed up at a couple of them this past week to snap some pics. more

12/7/22

The walls and roof are up on the new county garage now under construction in Kugler Township.

New public works garage taking shape

KUGLER TWP— The pre-cast walls and roof are up and the new St. Louis County public works garage here will soon be fully enclosed so crews can begin interior work perhaps ahead of the new year. … more

Marshall Helmberger | 12/7/22

he former LTV processing facility, currently owned by PolyMet Mining, was intended to be a processing facility for the NorthMet mine. The future of the mine, however, appears increasingly in doubt.

Court overturns another critical NorthMet permit

REGIONAL— The proposed NorthMet copper-nickel mine near Hoyt Lakes has suffered another body blow, this time delivered by the state’s Supreme Court, which has reversed the proposed … more

Marshall Helmberger | 8/2/23

Council awards bid for RV park infrastructure

TOWER—Infrastructure work for the new Vermilion RV Park should get underway soon following city council action here on Monday. The council voted unanimously to award the work to Jola and Sopp … more

Marshall Helmberger | 7/13/22

Council okays new ambulance purchase

TOWER— The city council here gave a unanimous green light at a special meeting on Monday to the purchase of a new ambulance before the end of the year. The council took the action at the … more

Marshall Helmberger | 12/7/22

RAMS board hires new executive director

REGIONAL- The Range Association of Municipalities and Schools (RAMS) has reached into the education ranks to name Fosston School District high school band and choir director Paul Peltier as its new … more

5/10/23

New housing study predicts hot rental demand in Ely

ELY- A new housing study predicts that a planned workforce housing project here would be 50 percent pre-leased before completion and fully leased within six months after the doors open on the new … more

Catie Clark | 8/2/23

Twin Metals makes moves at Birch Lake

REGIONAL— With its federal mineral leases canceled and a 20-year moratorium on new mineral leasing now in place over a large portion of the Superior National Forest, Twin Metals is looking to … more

Marshall Helmberger | 10/11/23

An artist’s depiction of the conversion of the former LTV mine site into a green energy hub.

Group offers new vision for former LTV site

REGIONAL— An environmental group that has fought the proposed PolyMet copper-nickel mine near Hoyt Lakes for years, is proposing to convert the former LTV site, including the processing plant … more

Marshall Helmberger | 12/9/22

Chuck Cusano works to repair a collapsing doorway inside Tower’s Old Fire Hall.

Labor of love

TOWER— To most people, the work that’s been underway for weeks at the former city and fire hall on Main Street here appears painstaking at best. Masons have been working brick-by-brick on … more

Jodi Summit | 8/2/23

Episcopal priest Mary Groeninger kneels to bless Maya, a German Shepherd belonging to one of her congregants.

IN THE SPIRIT OF SAINT FRANCIS

ELY- The Sunday, Oct. 1, church service at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Ely was not your typical call to worship, and the pews were filled with a far more diverse crowd than on a regular … more

Jen Shuster-Dahlin | 10/11/23