Top Stories - The Timberjay

An artist's rendering of the proposed townhome project in Tower.

THS intends to proceed with townhome project

TOWER— Barring something unexpected, it appears ground could be broken on the long-delayed townhome project at the Tower harbor as early as next month. That’s the word in a letter of … more

Marshall Helmberger | 6/1/22

Primary for Ely mayor set for Aug. 10

ELY – City of Ely residents will go to the polls on Tuesday, Aug. 10 to vote in a primary election for the mayoral seat. A two-week filing period for the city of Ely mayor and three city … more

Keith Vandervort | 6/1/22

Gain a different perspective of the impact of rising flood waters in the Rainy River Basin through shots taken by Timberjay photographers last week from a float plane by checking the gallery at the end of this article.

Flood waters near peak

REGIONAL- The last thing the flood-weary people of Kabetogama and Crane Lake wanted to see this past week was more rain, but Sunday and Monday thunderstorms over the Rainy River Basin may have been … more

David Colburn | 6/1/22

Former Ely Chamber of Commerce leader Linda Fryer's impact on the community will be recognized with a street to be named after her.

Street to be renamed in honor of Linda Fryer

ELY – At the request of the Ely Tourism Bureau, the city council here will honor a longtime Chamber of Commerce executive director by renaming a portion of Seventh Avenue, adjacent to Whiteside … more

Keith Vandervort | 5/25/22

School board, teachers ink new contract

VIRGINIA - ISD 2142 teachers will work the final days of the school year with a new contract after school board members, without comment, voted unanimously on Tuesday to approve an agreement … more

David Colburn | 5/25/22

The rising waters of Crane Lake threaten a cabin last week. Continued rise is now expected to last into early June.

Historic flooding

REGIONAL- Lakefront property owners at Crane Lake and Kabetogama continue battling the still-rising flood waters of the Rainy River Basin, flooding that immediately threatens to eclipse the highest … more

David Colburn | 5/25/22

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

Flood waters that have already exceeded 2014 levels, like these at Crane Lake, are expected to continue rising at least through next Wednesday, in some places approaching all-time record highs.

Walz sending National Guard to assist with flood relief

REGIONAL- Minnesota National Guard members will be joining the battle against continually rising lake levels in the region this weekend after Gov. Tim Walz authorized their deployment on Thursday. … more

David Colburn | 5/20/22

Does WELY-FM radio station have a future?

ELY – According to Brett Ross, longtime program director and general manager at WELY, the “End of the Road” radio station, this community’s on-air presence still has a future. … more

Keith Vandervort | 5/18/22

Helen and Brian Tome, owners of Ely’s Boathouse Brewpub and Restaurant, are nearly ready to open the upstairs dining room and bar, doubling the seating capacity.

Ely brewpub and restaurant ready to double in size

ELY – Despite numerous roadblocks, including supply shortages and construction delays, the expansion project at the Boathouse Brewpub and Restaurant here is nearing completion.While largely … more

Keith Vandervort | 5/18/22

A wall of tarps and sandbags protects outbuildings and gas pumps at Voyagaire Lodge from Crane Lake’s rising waters on Saturday.

Flooding hits record levels

REGIONAL- The mounting crisis for regional lakeshore property owners and resorts entered a record-breaking phase late last week when water levels at Crane Lake and Lake Kabetogama blew past the … more

David Colburn | 5/18/22

Ely area veterans gathered to pay respects to former board members of Veterans on the Lake during the recent raising of a Holiday Flag at the facility on Fall Lake.

Raising the colors

ELY – Several of this community’s military veterans gathered at the flag pole at Veteran’s on the Lake Resort near here last Friday morning for a special flag raising.A … more

Keith Vandervort | 5/12/22

A burning experience

ELY – With the snow just recently melted, fire season is up and running in northern Minnesota. About 20 students in the Wildland Fire Control and Management class at Vermilion Community College … more

Keith Vandervort | 5/12/22

Preschool program proposed

ELY –ISD 696 will likely implement a new three-year-old preschool program for the 2022-23 school year.According to Interim Superintendent John Klarich, K-5 Principal Anne Oelke introduced the … more

Keith Vandervort | 5/11/22

Highs winds Monday blew ice slabs on shore at Lake Vermilion’s Birch Point, damaging docks.

Wind and ice wreak havoc

REGIONAL— Intense straight-line winds blew down trees across the region on Monday, knocking out power to nearly 2,000 Lake Country Power customers for a time. Few places were harder hit than … more

Marshall Helmberger | 5/11/22

Greenwood clerk leaves meeting

GREENWOOD TWP- The Greenwood Town Board had a united front on one major topic at their May 10 meeting– their refusal to grant the demand from elected clerk Debby Spicer for additional pay.The … more

Jodi Summit | 5/11/22

Do you think the Iron Range needs an influx of new ideas and leadership?

2/18/15 | 3 comments

McFadden schooled in Iron Range politics

REGIONAL— Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mike McFadden received a crash course in Iron Range politics this past week over comments he made Aug. 6, at a FarmFest debate with Sen. Al Franken. … more

Marshall Helmberger | 8/21/14 | 2 comments

What's your view of President Obama heading into the mid-terms?

10/22/10 | 1 comment

Do you support or oppose a cell phone tower on the edge of the BWCAW?

6/25/10 | 13 comments

Do you support a feasibility study for a division of ISD 2142?

2/13/10 | 10 comments

Should President Obama change strategy in Afghanistan?

10/16/09

Do you think the nation’s political rhetoric has gotten too extreme?

10/2/09

What's your prediction for the economy one year from now?

9/26/09

What steps should the government take to rein in Wall Street abuses?

9/17/09