News - The Timberjay

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

Township elections set for Tuesday, March 12

REGIONAL- The township election season has been quiet except for Greenwood Township, where all three incumbents filed for reelection, but all three will be facing challengers. Township elections are … more

3/6/24

District failed to get the word out on board vacancy

TOWER— The late June death of Troy Swanson left both a vacancy and a controversy over his replacement on the St. Louis County School Board. Swanson, who had served as the representative from … more

Marshall Helmberger | 9/28/22

MIDCO fiber internet goes live in Ely

ELY - MIDCO, the newest fiber internet provider operating in Ely, announced the start of fiber hookups on Monday. The firm, one of two fiber providers in the city, recently completed a two-year … more

Catie Clark | 12/7/22

Council okays new cannabinoid rules

ELY- The Ely City Council approved the first reading of a new cannabinoid products ordinance at its Aug. 1 meeting. The proposed ordinance forbids the use of cannabis and cannabinoid products in … more

Catie Clark | 8/2/23

Drinking water plant bid comes in sky high

TOWER-SOUDAN— It’s likely back to the drawing board for the Tower-Breitung Wastewater Board after a lone bid for their planned drinking water treatment plant came in nearly $4 million … more

Marshall Helmberger | 10/11/23

House passes school resource officer fix

REGIONAL- The Minnesota House took the first step toward returning school resources officers, or SROs, to schools on Monday by passing legislation to exempt them from a law prohibiting school workers … more

David Colburn | 3/7/24

New state budget surplus projection tops $17 billion

REGIONAL- A state budget surplus once pegged at $7.7 billion has soared to a historic record of $17.6 billion for the upcoming biennium starting in 2023, giving the DFL-controlled Minnesota … more

David Colburn | 12/7/22

Two teens injured in Cook car crash

COOK- Excessive speed and alcohol are suspected to have contributed to a one-vehicle injury accident early Sunday morning in Cook, according to a report by the St. Louis County Sheriff’s … more

David Colburn | 8/2/23

Obituaries: December 22, 2023

Robert C. Wilson Robert “Bob” Clinton Wilson, 89, of Lake Vermilion, loving husband, father and grandfather, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023. Funeral … more

12/20/23

Obituaries: March 8, 2024

Michael D. Swor With gratefulness for a life well-lived, we announce the peaceful passing of Michael David Swor, 74, of St. Paul, Minn., and Naples, Fla., on Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024. In the spirit of … more

3/6/24

Maus tapped as interim fire chief

GREENWOOD TWP- At a special meeting that lasted just over 10 minutes, the Greenwood Town Board appointed fire department member Jeff Maus as interim chief. The vote was 3-0, and Supervisors Mike … more

Jodi Summit | 9/28/22

Posing with the new Ojibwe place names map at its Bois Forte Heritage Center unveiling are, from left, Bois Forte Band member and Ely Folk School board member Rick Anderson, center visitor services manager Kyle Littlewolf, center director Jaylen Strong, and EFS board member Paul Schurke.

Ojibwe map unveiling draws huge crowd

VERMILION RESERVATION- “Bazhidebii” is a word in Anishinaabemowin that means “it overflows,” according to The Ojibwe People’s Dictionary, and it’s an apt … more

David Colburn | 12/7/22

Cook City Council debates weed

COOK— The legalization of marijuana for adult recreational use in Minnesota prompted extended discussion at the city council meeting here last Thursday. The meeting, held July 27, was just days … more

Marshall Helmberger | 8/2/23

Businesses pinched for liquor sales to minors

REGIONAL- Four North Country businesses have been fined and will have their liquor licenses suspended for a day for serving alcohol to minors. The St. Louis County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday … more

David Colburn | 10/11/23

County board awards $1.5 million to assist school project

ELY— Just days ago, the school board here had few good answers for covering $550,000 in cost overruns on the district’s facilities project.Yet salvation arrived on Tuesday morning as the … more

Rachel Brophy | 9/28/22

A sample of Wednesday’s NCRFC river forecast for the Vermilion River.

Flood forecasts for three Rainy River Basin waterways go live

REGIONAL- Under development since last year’s flooding, the National Weather Service and North Central River Forecast Center (NCRFC) on Monday unveiled three new forecast points within the … more

David Colburn | 5/10/23

Council hears of short-term rental nightmare

TOWER— Short-term rental horror stories are hardly unusual, but they had been relatively uncommon in Tower—that is until now. At Monday’s council meeting, residents from North Star … more

Marshall Helmberger | 10/11/23

A large pack of half marathon runners made their way along Pioneer Road on Saturday.

No hitches on race day

ELY- While turnout for the Ely Marathon and the Boundary Waters Bank Half Marathon was a bit lighter than normal, 548 runners plunked down the registration fees to compete in friendly weather … more

David Colburn | 9/28/22