News - The Timberjay

Tower city council approves bond for new dump truck

TOWER — The city council here gave the greenlight to issue a $100,000 general obligation bond to cover the bulk of the purchase of a new city dump truck. The approval was given through … more

Marshall Helmberger | 11/6/25

Ely woman seriously injured in car crash near Tower

TOWER — An Ely woman suffered life-threatening injuries in a two-vehicle crash at the Y-Store corner on Highway 169 Monday afternoon. According to the Minnesota State Patrol, a 2016 Ford Escape … more

11/6/25

Fraud sinks state housing assistance program

REGIONAL— Thousands of Minnesotans who depended on state assistance to find or keep a place to live are facing new uncertainty after the state Department of Human Services shut down the Housing … more

David Colburn | 11/6/25

High school students to perform ‘Cinderella’ musical

REGIONAL—When director Crystal Poppler chose Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “Cinderella” for this year’s school production, she was coming full circle. … more

Robert Monteith | 11/6/25

Wagoner Trails Club readies for busy upcoming year

TOWER — The Howard Wagoner Trails Club is gearing up for a busy year. The club held its fall meeting earlier this fall. The main focus of the meeting was a discussion of the upcoming trail … more

Jodi Summit | 11/6/25

Obituaries: November 7, 2025

Austin Wagner Austin Wagner, 25, of Montana, formerly of Tower, was born on Jan. 12, 2000, in Kearney, Neb. His life was tragically cut short on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025, by an accident at his home, … more

11/6/25

Places like Crooked Lake in the BWCAW, pictured here, could be opened to roads, border installations, and motorized traffic if a bill backed by Rep. Pete Stauber is approved.

A border wall through the Boundary Waters?

REGIONAL— A bill introduced in the U.S. Senate calls for the dismantling of key elements of the Wilderness Act ostensibly in the name of conservation. The measure, known as the Border Lands … more

Marshall Helmberger | 11/6/25

Oversight issues cited in audit report

REGIONAL — A new report released Tuesday by the Office of the Legislative Auditor says the Office of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor continues to struggle with basic financial oversight, … more

David Colburn | 11/6/25

Ely home damaged in Monday blaze

ELY — An Ely home was damaged by fire early Monday morning. The fire department responded to the structure fire at 1033 E. Harvey St.and the fire “was quickly extinguished and additional … more

Robert Monteith | 11/6/25

Former park superintendent Bob DeGross is representative of the challenges both Voyageurs National Park and the National Park Service have operating with a severe deficit of historic expertise due to the position vacancies created by this year's budget cuts and the current shutdown.

Shutdown compounds strain at Voyageurs National Park

REGIONAL — Voyageurs National Park is weathering the federal government shutdown during a quieter stretch of the year, with boat tours finished for the season and visitation already reduced. … more

David Colburn | 11/6/25

Ely’s traffic lights are likely to be removed in the near future. What will replace them has yet to be decided.

Four-way stop test planned at Ely traffic signals

ELY — Minnesota Department of Transportation officials announced plans to test four-way stops at two downtown Ely intersections this winter, as the city’s aging traffic signals could fail … more

Robert Monteith | 11/6/25

Longtime facilitator Steve Schon gives a talk about the history of the Tuesday Group. After living in Ely for many years, he and his wife, Ann, are moving to California.

Tuesday group bids farewell to longtime facilitator

ELY — The room at the Grand Ely Lodge was packed on Tuesday, but rather than the usual program of guest speakers and thoughtful discussion, people came for something more bittersweet: a … more

Robert Monteith | 10/31/25

Live burn training leaves Greenwood engine damaged

GREENWOOD TWP — Two Greenwood firefighters got a little more training than expected on Oct. 25, when a planned fire at a vacant house in Angora, used as part of firefighter training overseen by … more

Jodi Summit | 10/30/25

Trial date set for Boshey hit-and-run death case

REGIONAL — A federal jury trial date has been set for March 16 in the case involving the December 2024 hit-and-run that killed 38-year-old Amanda Boshey near Fortune Bay Resort Casino. Eric … more

David Colburn | 10/30/25

City finalizing process for hiring new clerk-treasurer

TOWER- The city council here was set to hold a special meeting on Oct. 30, in part to establish a hiring committee to select the city’s new clerk-treasurer. Current clerk-treasurer Michael … more

Jodi Summit | 10/30/25

Township explores options for campground management

SOUDAN — With the retirement of longtime campground managers Susie and Jerry Chiabotti, the Breitung Town Board has been studying the McKinley Park campground management contract and deciding … more

Stephanie Ukkola | 10/30/25

Hart hired as Hub manager

ELY — The Ely Area Community Foundation has hired Melissa Hart as its new event and property manager, the organization announced Friday. Hart, who began her part-time position Sept. 2, will … more

Robert Monteith | 10/30/25

Obituaries: October 31, 2025

Judith E. Salo Judith “Judy” Elinor Salo passed away on Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025, with her daughter and granddaughter by her side. A luncheon will be held at 12:30 p.m., followed by a church … more

10/30/25

Sen. Grant Hauschild, Rep. Roger Skraba, and lobbyist Jeff Anderson listen in to a recent Ely School Board meeting.

Board to lawmakers: No more unfunded mandates

ELY—ISD 696 Board President Rochelle Sjoberg has sat across the negotiating table from teachers, support staff, and other school employees a lot this year. “I cannot tell you how much I … more

Robert Monteith | 10/30/25

MNsure users facing serious sticker shock

REGIONAL — For the nearly 170,000 Minnesotans who currently buy their health insurance through the MNsure marketplace established by the Affordable Care Act, the beginning of the 2026 … more

Marshall Helmberger | 10/30/25

Area food pantries bracing for rising need

REGIONAL — As federal food assistance programs face their first funding gap in decades, local food shelves are preparing for an influx of families who may suddenly find themselves without … more

Robert Monteith | 10/30/25

Aly and Mason Dahlke were dressed as scarecrows while handing out candy during last weekend’s Trunk-or-Treat event in Embarrass.

A scary good time

EMBARRASS- If you were looking for something scary just in time for Halloween, the Klatt family in Embarrass was ready to help. Tom and Morgan Klatt host a travelling petting zoo, sell their … more

Jodi Summit | 10/30/25

Goggleye tops Bois Forte special election

NETT LAKE — Bois Forte band members handed a landslide victory to Jeneal Goggleye in Tuesday’s special election to fill the District 1 tribal council seat vacated in August by former … more

David Colburn | 10/30/25

Changing the story on aging, one community at a time

REGIONAL — You’ve probably seen or heard them, a dismissive joke, a knowing smirk, a subtle nudge to step aside. Ageism shows up in small ways and systemic ones, shaping how older adults … more

David Colburn | 10/23/25

Buyck Chief Kathy Weiand, left, stands next to Sen. Grant Hauschild at Tuesday's groundbreaking ceremony for a new fire hall. Among the many people tossing dirt, those pictured with shovels include, from left, Gail Daniels, Jeanne Sorensen, and fire department founder Bill Rutchasky, and in back, Jeff Ralston and Nikki Johnson.

Buyck breaks ground for new fire hall

BUYCK- After more than two decades of dreaming and planning, the Buyck Volunteer Fire Department broke ground Tuesday on a new fire and EMS facility that will give its volunteers the space and … more

David Colburn | 10/23/25