Stories,photos,specialsections,printissues,packages,magazines,maps

Ely population continues to decrease as city grapples with rising costs

ELY- The population of this small community at the end of the road continues to decrease despite a robust real estate market that continues to see just about everything selling. Meanwhile, city … more

Keith Vandervort | 6/8/22

Ely junior Joey Bianco rips a hit during Tuesday’s contest with Chisholm.

Back-to-back wins send Ely to finals

AURORA— It was do-or-die for the Timberwolves as they headed into the semi-final round of the Section 7A baseball tournament, played here on Tuesday. Having lost the prior Thursday to Cherry, … more

Marshall Helmberger | 6/8/22

Like most female aspen in our area this year, this big-toothed aspen has put its energy in the production of seed catkins, which are contributing to the abundance of aspen fluff this spring.

When it snows in June

If you’ve noticed more of that white fluff in the air in recent days, you’re not alone. It’s the fluff that female aspen trees produce in order to disperse their seeds and … more

Marshall Helmberger | 6/8/22 | 1 comment

Haley Bogdan and Viterbo University bowling coach Jim Socha are all smiles after she recently committed to bowl for the Wisconsin university.

Bogdan commits to bowl for Viterbo U

FIELD TWP- As a young kid, recent North Woods School graduate Haley Bogdan discovered bowling.“I started when I was in third grade,” she said. “I have a fond memory of bringing home … more

David Colburn | 6/8/22

Mosquitoes and black flies have emerged in large numbers already this spring, testing the willpower of area residents. The deer flies should be emerging soon, and will add further to the hordes of biting insects.

Is an insect apocalypse just ahead?

REGIONAL— Are we headed for a mosquito apocalypse here in the North Country? Perhaps a black fly bonanza? Or a deer fly debacle? Maybe all of the above?In fact, the circumstances appear to have … more

Marshall Helmberger | 6/8/22 | 1 comment

VCS eighth-grader Libbie Schaffer, was among about two-dozen students from the Tower-based charter school to receive wilderness skills instruction recently in Ely.

Learning in the outdoors

ELY- About two dozen students from the Vermilion Country School in Tower received a hands-on chance to learn outdoor skills from experienced guides here in Ely recently. Friends of the Boundary … more

6/8/22

Being a teacher in a challenging time

Last week, National Public Radio featured a poem created by Kwame Alexander, NPR’s 2022 poet-in- residence that that included submissions from listeners entitled “Who Will Clean Out The … more

Kathleen McQuillan | 6/8/22 | 1 comment

Using lies to divide

Do we really need to add to the division and distrust that already exists in our region over the issue of protecting the Boundary Waters from mining pollution? It’s a question worth asking … more

6/8/22 | 3 comments

Obituaries: June 10, 2022

Virgil McCueVirgil “Squeek” McCue, 85, of Cook, passed away peacefully at home on Monday, June 6, 2022. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 11 at Trinity Lutheran Church in … more

6/8/22

Margie Grahek, later Margie Johnson, poses with her track coach Carol Alstrom back in 1972, when she qualified for the first-ever Minnesota State Girls Track Meet.

A half century of girls running fast

TOWER- “We didn’t have track shoes,” said Margie (Grahek) Johnson, “we just had little white tenners.”But those little white tenners were enough to get this Tower-Soudan … more

Jodi Summit | 6/2/22

Six North Woods golfers will be competing in the Class A state tournament in Becker on June 14-15 after turning in qualifying performances at the Section 7A tourament in Virginia. Members of the qualifying first-place girls team include, from left, Abbigail Shuster, Morgan Burnett, Haley Bogdan, Madison Dantes, and Tori Olson. Davis Kleppe qualified for the boys.

Grizzlies girls golf team headed to state

VIRGINIA- The North Woods girls’ golf team is headed to the state Class A tournament after claiming the Section 7A championship last week on May 25-26 in Virginia.North Woods sophomore Tori … more

David Colburn | 6/1/22

Wolves stun Barnum with seventh inning tourney rally

AURORA— A dramatic seventh-inning rally over Barnum here on Tuesday, left the Timberwolves flying high during the first two games of double elimination in the Section 7A tournament. Ely made it … more

Marshall Helmberger | 6/1/22

Grizzlies out of playoffs on a double dose of Silver Bay

CLOQUET- Silver Bay was a double dose of trouble for the North Woods softball team in the 7A sectional tournament, as the Mariners bumped the Grizzlies out of the event with a 9-1 win in their … more

David Colburn | 6/1/22

Ely sophomore pitcher Andrew Marolt winds to deliver during last Thursday’s home contest against Chisholm.

Ely wraps up regular season with a win

DEER RIVER— Freshman Cade Chittum rapped a two-run single in the top of the sixth and notched a save from the mound in the bottom of the seventh as he helped lead Ely to a 7-5 come-from-behind … more

Marshall Helmberger | 6/1/22

Timberwolves make quick exit from playoffs

GRAND RAPIDS – The Timberwolves suffered a quick exit from the Section 7A girls softball tournament played here last Thursday, falling first to Cherry and then North Woods in the consolation … more

Keith Vandervort | 6/1/22

WELY has a new three-month lease on life after Bois Forte officials chose to delay the station's planned closing until Sept. 1 to facilitate a possible sale of the station should a viable buyer become available.

WELY will remain on the air until September

ELY- The fate of radio station WELY took another twist this past week as Bois Forte tribal officials set aside an earlier decision to close the station for good on Wednesday, extending its life for … more

David Colburn | 6/1/22

Oliver Weidemann, 5, of Ely, helps place 1,120 American flags at the Ely Cemetery for Memorial Day.

The North Country marks Memorial Day

Many North Country communities paused on Monday to honor the sacrifices of area military personnel who died in the line of service with Memorial Day observances. more

Timberjay staff | 6/1/22

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

Current COVID-19 wave is slowly losing steam

REGIONAL- The latest statewide numbers indicate the most recent COVID-19 surge has leveled out and is losing steam, but case levels in St. Louis County are still at levels comparable to mid-February … more

David Colburn | 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

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

The two new pups at the International Wolf Center take a siesta. They’ll be available for public viewing beginning Friday, June 3.

New wolf pups now ready for prime time

ELY - The International Wolf Center’s two new pups here are available for public viewing starting today, Friday, June 3.One way for Ely Wolf Center visitors to see the pups is through an … more

Keith Vandervort | 6/1/22

USFS pauses all prescribed burns for the summer

REGIONAL - The Superior National Forest did not go forward with the Kangas 6 and 7 Prescribed Fire units, located south of Ely, last week as scheduled, and will not start fires anytime this spring … more

Keith Vandervort | 6/1/22

Breitung Township preparing for summer road projects

SOUDAN- The good news from Breitung Township Maintenance Supervisor Tom Gorsma is that the township is almost caught up on spring road maintenance. In April, Gorsma had told the board that they were … more

Jodi Summit | 6/1/22