News - The Timberjay

Scholarship programs would slash cost of attending Minnesota North College

HIBBING - We have heard it all too often, finances and time are the two biggest impediments to students enrolling and being successful in college. In addition, the North Country is in the midst of a … more

7/20/22

Obituaries: July 22, 2022

Lon E. Lamppa Lon Ernest Lamppa, 73, of Virginia, and formerly of Tower, Lake Vermilion and Embarrass, left this life after ‘the long goodbye’ on Saturday, July 16, 2022. A celebration of … more

7/20/22

A sunset in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

BWCAW protection bill advances in House

REGIONAL— Legislation that would significantly expand the mining protection zone around the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness was referred to the full U.S. House by a party linecommittee … more

Marshall Helmberger | 7/14/22 | 1 comment

An artist’s drawing of the planned trailhead building, set for construction on Ely’s west end thanks to additional federal funding announced this week.

Federal funds rescue Ely trailhead building

ELY – A $1.5 million federal grant has cleared the way for the city of Ely to build a new regional trailhead facility on the city’s west end. The U.S. Commerce Department’s Economic … more

Keith Vandervort | 7/13/22 | 1 comment

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

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

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

Electric rate hike subject to public scrutiny

REGIONAL- Minnesota Power’s quest for a proposed 18 percent overall electricity rate hike will be subjected to public scrutiny next week as customers will have the chance to voice their … more

David Colburn | 7/13/22

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

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

Chris Verhel is the new owner of the Subway in Cook, completing the purchase last week just in time to roll out the chain's new menu.

Patience brings a match made in Subway

COOK- It’s been 20 years since Lisa Ojanen opened up the now familiar Subway restaurant in Cook, these days if you see her in there, it’s as a consultant or a satisfied … more

David Colburn | 7/13/22

Numerous political signs were posted along Highway 169 outside of Ely last weekend.

Political signs not permitted on state highway rights of way

REGIONAL – Political season in the North Country means another season of visual distractions on roadways as candidates and their supporters look to gain the best possible advantage for exposure … more

Keith Vandervort | 7/13/22 | 1 comment

Obituaries: July 15, 2022

Timothy WarpulaTimothy A. Warpula passed away on July 9, 2022. Tim was born in Aitkin in 1961 and graduated from John F. Kennedy High School in Babbitt in 1980. In Tim’s honor, a Celebration of … more

7/13/22

Troy Zupancich, at just seven weeks old, mostly napped through the Tower Fourth of July parade on Monday

Patriotism on display

Images of Independence Day celebrations in Ely, Tower, and Orr. See more pictures in the North Country section photo story "A Red, White, and Blue Celebration." more

Timberjay staff | 7/6/22

ISD 696 board adopts budget

ELY – School board members here last week unanimously approved a balanced budget for 2022-23 that calls for $8.2 million in revenues and expenditures.Despite a noticeable drop in enrollment and … more

Keith Vandervort | 7/6/22

Rise of B.5 creates more uncertainty

REGIONAL- Don’t look now, but community transmission of COVID-19 has reached a high level once again in St. Louis County, and the rate of spread is forecasted to remain high through much of the … more

David Colburn | 7/6/22 | 3 comments

Eagles Nest town supervisors voted to oppose any ATV trail development in the township at a special meeting held last week.

Township votes to oppose ATV trail

EAGLES NEST TWP— A simmering clash between township residents and advocates of increased ATV traffic came to a head at a special town board meeting here last week, as town supervisors voted 3-2 … more

Marshall Helmberger | 7/6/22 | 3 comments

A customer shows the products she bought from Nothing But Hemp in St. Paul. Some of the products contain THC, which became legal under 5 milligrams per serving in Minnesota on Friday.

THC edibles and beverages now legal in state

REGIONAL- You can’t smoke it, but you don’t need to in order to get a marijuana-like buzz from edibles and beverages laced with hemp-derived Delta-9 THC, which became legal to sell in … more

David Colburn | 7/6/22

A car that plowed into the Island Lake Inn last week left a lot of debris and damage, but the Duluth-area restaurant and bar reopened in time for the holiday weekend.

Tower man plows car into Island Lake eatery

REGIONAL- A popular Island Lake restaurant and bar celebrated Independence Day and a bit more on Monday, reopening for the holiday weekend after a vehicle driven by a Tower man crashed into the … more

David Colburn | 7/6/22

Council commits to ambulance service improvements

ELY – City council members here unanimously agreed to commit taxpayer dollars and work with other area governments and the Ely Area Ambulance Joint Powers Board to purchase a vacant building in … more

Keith Vandervort | 7/6/22

Tower Ambulance Commission to look at ways to move forward

TOWER- The Tower Area Ambulance Commission intends to move forward, albeit slowly, and look at a different business models to oversee the area’s ambulance service.Rural ambulance services … more

Jodi Summit | 7/6/22

Another group of ‘heroes’ to get state bonus

REGIONAL- Applications for “Hero Pay” for frontline COVID pandemic workers continue to exceed expectations with still a month to go before applications close. But another group of … more

David Colburn | 7/6/22

Obituaries: July 8, 2022

Marguerite Eyre Marguerite Eyre, 95, of Cook, passed away on Wednesday, June 29, 2022, at the Cook Care Center. A private interment will be held at a later date. Memorials can be directed to the Cook … more

7/6/22

COVID shots for youngest kids rolling out slowly

REGIONAL- Parents of children under five years of age who have been trying to shield their kids from the effects of a coronavirus infection got the news they’ve long been waiting for recently … more

David Colburn | 7/6/22

Federal EA released on mineral withdrawal

REGIONAL—The U.S. Forest Service is now seeking public comment on an environmental analysis of its proposed 20-year withdrawal of approximately 225,000 acres within the Superior National Forest … more

Marshall Helmberger | 7/2/22 | 2 comments