Stories - The Timberjay

Ely chamber event director Ellen Cashman hands the baton (or in this case measuring sticks) to Jess Stott who will take Cashman’s place as Ely Chamber of Commerce Event Director following this year’s event.

ELY—It was a bittersweet morning early on Tuesday as Ely Chamber of Commerce Event Director Ellen Cashman was the first to arrive to “mark the park” for this weekend’s Harvest … more

Rachel Brophy | 9/7/22

Council hikes 2023 levy by 7.06 percent

ELY— Taxpayers here may need to dig a little deeper next year after the city council, minus the absent Paul Kess, unanimously approved a preliminary 2023 levy of $2.117 million, a 7.06 percent … more

Marshall Helmberger | 9/7/22

Most DFL candidates enjoying big leads in fundraising

REGIONAL— DFL candidates from across the region and the state are crushing their Republican opponents in the race for campaign cash, and that could give them a distinct advantage as the … more

Marshall Helmberger | 9/7/22 | 1 comment

Ivy Russell, Zaija Schroeder, and Cecilia Majerle hold hands on the first day of school.

Old friends, new friends, school friends

Area students returned to their classrooms on Tuesday. Timberjay photographers were out and about to capture a few of the happy, excited faces. more

Timberjay staff | 9/7/22

Senior Audrey Thomas goes up high for a kill during Tuesday’s contest with Littlefork-Big Falls.

Wolves rout L-BF

ELY— A faster-paced offense worked like a charm for the Timberwolves here on Tuesday as they routed Littlefork-Big Falls in straight sets, 25-11, 25-15, and 25-6. The win left Ely, which has … more

Marshall Helmberger | 9/7/22

Grizzlies muzzle Huskies in 3-0 road victory

BIGFORK- The North Woods volleyball team took its first road trip of the season on Tuesday and came home with a convincing 3-0 decision over the host Bigfork Huskies.The Grizzlies got on an early … more

David Colburn | 9/7/22

The Grizzlies’ Jared Chiabotti puts his head down as he tries to plow through a sea of green Rock Ridge defenders.

Rock Ridge stymies Grizz

EVELETH- North Woods opened the new football season last week with a formidable foe in 7AAA Rock Ridge, and the Wolverines hammered the visiting Grizzlies right from the outset, scoring 22 points in … more

David Colburn | 9/7/22

Molly Brophy (l) and Zoe Devine were the top finishers on the girls side for Ely at last week’s Rock Ridge meet.

Strong season debut for Ely runners

VIRGINIA— Ely runners put up strong numbers late last week at the Rock Ridge Invitational to kick off the 2022 cross-country season. On a course at the Virginia Golf Course, Ely boys took … more

Marshall Helmberger | 9/7/22 | 1 comment

NERE swimmers dominate in freestyle events

INTERNATIONAL FALLS— Varsity swimmers from Northeast Range and Ely (NERE) took first in several events here late last week, even as the Broncos narrowly edged them on overall points 92-86. … more

Marshall Helmberger | 9/7/22

Thick rice lined both sides of the Vermilion River last Sunday. A good crop on the river is largely an exception as the crop in most places is poor.

Rice crop generally poor in most parts of the region

REGIONAL— The quest for wild rice has been more challenging this year than most, but ricers have found a very harvestable crop along the Vermilion River, north of the Gold Mine Camp. As … more

9/7/22

Six Ely area students had the chance to canoe in the Boundary Waters recently, thanks to a grant from the Friends of the Boundary Waters.

Ely students experience the wilderness in their backyard

THE BOUNDARY WATERS— While all kids who grow up in Ely live on the edge of America’s most popular wilderness area, it doesn’t mean they all get to experience the wilderness … more

9/7/22 | 1 comment

Man jailed for fire-related death of infant charged with felony assault

REGIONAL- A man convicted of second-degree manslaughter in the 2017 fire-related death of a Tower infant is now facing charges in the assault of an elderly Culver couple while participating in a … more

David Colburn | 9/7/22

Some thoughts I have as we turn with the seasons

As I write on my small deck, surrounded by flowers, on this Labor Day morning, I enjoy the chill that requires a sweater. For as long as I can remember, this shift from summer to autumn has been a … more

Betty Firth | 9/7/22

Spectators walked the docks and talked to the owners of some of the nearly two dozen antique and classic boats on display this past weekend at The Landing on Lake Vermilion. Pictured is "Sadie,” a 1928 Hacker Craft in almost perfect original condition. It’s one of only three such craft known to be in existence and it’s owned by Jeff Stebbins.

Boat show winner is a 94-year-old original

LAKE VERMILION- Sunny skies and moderate temperatures were perfect conditions for Sunday’s 30th Annual Antique and Classic Boat Show, with 23 skippers piloting their boats to The Landing on the … more

David Colburn | 9/7/22

A dystopian future?

The signs of catastrophic climate change are increasingly undeniable all across the globe. While it’s been a relatively cool and wet summer here in northern Minnesota, don’t think … more

9/7/22 | 2 comments

New COVID boosters should be available later this month

REGIONAL- New COVID-19 boosters targeting the currently prevalent Omicron variants BA.5 and BA.4 were approved for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease … more

David Colburn | 9/7/22 | 1 comment

Drum circle members perform a traditional song to open the event.

Powwow practices explored during event at Nett Lake

NETT LAKE- Nearly 40 Bois Forte Band members from infants to elders descended on the government center in Nett Lake on Aug. 29 for an event that could easily have been titled “Powwow … more

David Colburn | 9/7/22

Bois Forte awarded over $10 million for transportation projects

NETT LAKE- Public transportation for the Bois Forte Band recently got a huge boost of over $10 million in federal funds that will transform the future of bus transportation on and off the … more

9/7/22

Obituaries: September 9, 2022

Allison M. Thompson Allison M. LaKoskey Thompson, 43, of Hoyt Lakes, passed away on Monday, Aug. 29, 2022, at Essentia Health St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth. A Celebration of Life was held … more

9/7/22

Inlaid burl bowl by Mike Denny of Good Wolf Bowls.

29th Annual Harvest Moon Festival set for September 9-11 in Ely's Whiteside Park

ELY - The 29th Harvest Moon Festival is set to go for September 9-11 in Ely’s Whiteside Park. Friday and Saturday hours are from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Enjoy … more

9/2/22

Radio station WELY will remain open for at least another three months as the Bois Forte Band works to finalize a purchase agreement.

No dead air yet—WELY to remain open

ELY- The Bois Forte Tribal Council voted Wednesday to continue operating and programming WELY—The End of the Road Radio Station for an additional three months while the business is moving … more

Brian K. Anderson | 9/2/22

Crowds gather to check out the antique and classic boats at The Landing during the 2019 boat show.

Annual classic boat show set for Sunday

LAKE VERMILION- Vintage boat lovers will have the opportunity to indulge their interests to the extreme this weekend with the return of the 30th Annual Antique and Classic Boat Show on Sunday, Sept. … more

9/1/22

Ely quarterback Gunnar Hart looks for his man downfield.

Ely Football practices amidst ongoing construction

ELY - The ongoing construction has also made it difficult for the football team, under the direction of second-year head coach Louie Gerzin.Part of the Wolves’ practice field is not usable … more

Keith Vandervort | 9/1/22

David Elg, of Eveleth, cozies up with Eldy, a horse owned by Shyla Martin, that David has been riding in horse shows this year.

Summer's Last Blast

The annual Embarrass Region Fair this past weekend had almost everything one could want in a traditional rural small-town fair, all done up in uniquely Embarrass style. Timbejay photographer Jodi … more

Jodi Summit | 8/31/22

“I Like That Academy” has fall openings

REGIONAL— Are you someone with what you think just might be the next big idea? Would you like to start your own business or nonprofit, but don’t really know where to start? Do you have a … more

Marshall Helmberger | 8/31/22