Stories - The Timberjay

Eva Larson shows off some of her illustrations.

Tower teen about to become published illustrator

TOWER- Desirae Larson knows that her 13-year-old daughter Eva is a talented young artist. But when she posted some artwork that Eva had done for her online school’s art competition, it started … more

Jodi Summit | 4/26/23

An abstract merging of purples and greens at the apex of the sky above Lost Lake.

Night Dancers: The Aurora Borealis

Pamela Wettering captured these photos of a very active display of the northern lights recently. more

4/26/23

Erin Mae Miller is in Ely filming a new independent production

Producer talks indie filmmaking in Ely area

ELY-—The Timberjay recently sat down with movie producer Erin Mae Miller to talk about the business of making movies and how her film landed in Ely. The working title of the film is … more

Catie Clark | 4/26/23

Snow and wet ground is still plaguing area ball fields, like American Legion Memorial Field in Soudan. Lingering winter conditions have delayed the start of the spring sports season by nearly three weeks.

Snow delays frustrating for area teams

REGIONAL—If you’ve been missing reports on spring sports action around the area in the Timberjay lately, you can blame Mother Nature. Local high school athletes are used to postponements … more

Marshall Helmberger | 4/26/23

On Monday, DNR fisheries workers were busy installing the netting and sorting platform at the hatchery this week in preparation for the upcoming egg harvest.

Another late start at the Pike River Hatchery

PIKE RIVER— It’s been another late start for operations at the Pike River Hatchery, as late April snows and continued chilly weather have slowed the spring walleye run. Despite the … more

Marshall Helmberger | 4/26/23

Study finds link between deer, spread of earthworms

REGIONAL— A newly-published study from the University of Minnesota has found a link between invasive earthworm populations, white-tailed deer and tree harvesting in northern forests.The … more

4/26/23 | 2 comments

Deer can cause plenty of damage to our ornamental flowers and vegetable gardens. But you can fight back.

Keeping deer from wreaking havoc in the garden

REGIONAL— It’s that quintessential sign of spring, after a long winter. Those tulips that you carefully planted and fertilized last fall are finally up and ready to open in their pink, … more

Marshall Helmberger | 4/26/23

Park users sound off on ice road plan

REGIONAL- A draft proposal for a Frozen Lake Surface Access and Use Plan at Voyageurs National Park got a chilly reception from area park patrons in three public meetings last week, with the … more

David Colburn | 4/26/23

Leaving the earth a better place

Three young men work in silence excavating the place where their grandmother’s body will be buried — free of harsh embalming chemicals or the effects of a fiery furnace. No concrete vault … more

Kathleen McQuillan | 4/26/23

Park superintendent arrested

REGIONAL- Voyageurs National Park Superintendent Robert “Bob” DeGross was booked into the Koochiching County Jail on Saturday on a fourth-degree misdemeanor charge of driving while … more

David Colburn | 4/26/23

Significant damage from fire at former dairy

PIKE TWP— More than 20 firefighters from five area departments spent more than eight hours on a stubborn, smoldering blaze at the former Aysta Dairy building on Hill Road on Saturday, April 22. … more

4/26/23

Fox News and its lies

Fox News lies to its viewers for money. That’s among the many revelations that emerged in the lead-up to what many expected would be a blockbuster trial between Dominion Voting Systems and Fox … more

4/26/23 | 1 comment

Jasper Strasser, whose family operates Fat Chicken Farm in Embarrass, brought one of his favorite chickens, Snowshoe, to Earth Fest this year. Snowshoe enjoyed walking around the venue and meeting all the visitors.

New venue gives this years Earth Fest room to grow

VIRGINIA- A new venue and increased interest from exhibitors and vendors helped contribute to what was possibly the Iron Range’s largest Earth Fest event yet. The free event, sponsored by the … more

Jodi Summit | 4/26/23

Top 10 things to remember about recycling in North St. Louis County

Top 10 things to remember about recycling in North St. Louis County1. Plastic recycling is limited to #1 and #2 items, look for the number inside a triangular-shaped logo on the bottom of a … more

4/26/23

Obituaries: April 28, 2023

Eugene L. Coyer Eugene Lester Coyer, 95, of Orr, passed away peacefully during the night of Sunday, April 16, 2023, in his “Palace in the Poplar”. An evening visitation will be held … more

4/26/23

Tower-Breitung Wastewater Plant manager Matt Tuchel shows work being done back in 2021 on the forced sewer main line, which runs along the Mesabi Trail in Tower. This project is still only partially completed. This manhole was replaced early because water levels were low, making it easier to work in the swampy area.

Tower-Breitung waste water capacity improving

TOWER-SOUDAN— It appears that recent work in these two communities to repair and replace old sewage lines and manholes is helping to reduce inflow and infiltration of ground and surface water … more

Marshall Helmberger | 4/20/23

The FBI executed a search warrant at this home along Hwy. 23, east of Orr last Wednesday, April 12. So far no charges or allegations have been made against the homeowner.

FBI raids house east of Orr

ORR- Forty-two-year-old Josh Armbrust works in the cloud, the vast network of computer servers that provides internet-accessed storage, databases, software, analytics and intelligence to companies … more

David Colburn | 4/19/23

Dark money group assails Hauschild

REGIONAL— An expensive pressure campaign launched by a new and shadowy organization is publishing ads and occupying billboards across the state in hopes of derailing an effort by DFLers in the … more

Marshall Helmberger | 4/19/23

Aubriana Olson and Serah Ross are impressed with Sophie the Llama.

Close encounters of the llama kind

TOWER- Tower-Soudan second-grade teacher Charissa Dahl had been teaching her students about llamas, when she saw that Cook’s Country Connection, a petting zoo in Cook, had a … more

Jodi Summit | 4/19/23

The packed house at last year’s drag show at the Grand Ely Lodge enjoyed a highly- entertaining event.

Protest expected during Saturday drag show in Ely

ELY- A source requesting anonymity told the Timberjay that a group opposed to drag shows will protest the “Disney Drag Brunch” at the Grand Ely Lodge on Saturday, April 22. Ely Police … more

Catie Clark | 4/19/23 | 1 comment

Several area roadways, including this one in Embarrass, were closed in recent days due to high water from spring snowmelt.

High water a minor nuisance, so far

REGIONAL- Mother Nature crammed three seasons into the space of a few days this past week, with the resulting snowmelt from summerlike temperatures, springlike rain, and another wintery blast of snow … more

David Colburn | 4/19/23

The restored photographic version of the mural now on display at the college in Ely.

Beloved Carl Gawboy mural re-created for posterity

ELY– The 1960 mural painted on the walls of the Ely Community Center has been re-created through the efforts of photographer Curt Laine and original artist Carl Gawboy. Gawboy originally … more

Marshall Helmberger | 4/19/23

Joining Kinsey onstage as she signs her letter of intent are, from left, her grandmother, Brenda Flack, mother, Sarah Flack, Grizzlies Head Coach Liz Cheney, and assistant coach Becca Bundy.

North Woods' Kinsey signs with St. Scholastica

North Woods senior basketball standout Hannah Kinsey signed a national letter of intent Monday to play hoops next year for NCAA Div. III College of St. Scholastica. Kinsey had a breakout senior … more

4/19/23

orth Woods’ outfielder Nevadah Gauthier cocks her arm to return the ball to the infield against Mesabi East.

North Woods girls lose in tight 5-4 opener

AURORA- The North Woods softball team didn’t pack shoulder pads for their first outing of the season last Thursday, but their game against Mesabi East was played on a makeshift diamond on the … more

David Colburn | 4/19/23

North Woods pitcher Ben Kruse winds for a delivery during last week’s opener, against Chisholm.

North Woods drops opener in Aurora

AURORA- The North Woods baseball team has a new skipper at the helm this season, but he’s certainly no stranger to Grizzlies’ hardball.R.J. Kruse served as an assistant for six years … more

David Colburn | 4/19/23