Stories - The Timberjay

Ely posts strong times at Grand Rapids meet

GRAND RAPIDS— Ely runners finished in third place among nine teams at the Sept. 19 Paul Bauer Invitational here. Freshman Molly Brophy led the way for Ely with a 13th-place finish in a field of … more

Marshall Helmberger | 9/28/23

Joe Froehlingsdorf helps his children Agnes and Joey hold his 911 Lifesaver Award as his wife Ida holds their daughter Amelia. Presenting the award was Sheriff Gordon Ramsay, left, with commissioners Mike Jugovich, Paul McDonald, and Annie Harala looking on.

Cook man recognized for saving infant child's life

COOK- Joe Froehlingsdorf, of Cook, got the only reward he so desperately wanted when he saved the life of his infant daughter Amelia last September, but the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office … more

David Colburn | 9/28/23

School district tax levy goes up 4.69 percent

REGIONAL- ISD 2142 school board members meeting at South Ridge School on Tuesday approved an increase in the 2024 pay levy without the aid of customary line-item review by district finance director … more

David Colburn | 9/28/23

Student Resource Officers

Did some of the state’s top law enforcement officials jump the gun in opting to pull student resource officers, or SROs, from schools in the wake of a new state law that limits prone restraints … more

9/27/23

Half marathon competitor Allie Aufderheide comes into the finish with her dog. Aufderheide finished in 77th place, but her companion was the first dog across the finish line on Saturday.

MARATHON MANIA

ELY- The Ely Marathon completed its eighth year on a day that started grey and overcast and finished with light rain. But the weather didn’t keep spectators from turning out to cheer on the … more

Catie Clark | 9/27/23

County grants CUP for “man cave” proposal

VERMILION LAKE TWP— High-end man caves may be coming soon to Vermilion Lake Township. The St. Louis County Planning Commission, on a 7-1 vote, has given the green light to a proposed facility … more

Marshall Helmberger | 9/27/23

New EMS center slated for Morcom

MORCOM TWP- After decades of serving the first response medical needs of a nine-township rural response area covering portions of St. Louis, Itasca, and Koochiching counties, the Northeast Itasca … more

David Colburn | 9/27/23

Jennalee Porter watches over Lauren Miigizikwe Bajan as she practices stirring wild rice in a parching pot.

TRADITIONAL TEACHINGS

NETT LAKE- The woods east of Nett Lake School were alive last week with the hoops and hollers of school children gleefully engaged while learning about an Ojibwe tradition, the processing of wild … more

David Colburn | 9/27/23

The Grizzlies’ Isabel Pascuzzi leaps high for a spike during weekend competition at Rock Ridge.

Grizzlies now at 11-2

FIELD TWP- The North Woods Grizzlies volleyball team ran its season record to 11-2 this week with a road win over Cook County, a home victory over Littlefork-Big Falls, and a 3-1 match record at the … more

David Colburn | 9/27/23

Legislation proposes tax relief for rural volunteer drivers

WASHINGTON, D.C.- When a change in federal tax law in 2017 meant that the mileage reimbursements over $600 per year received by volunteer drivers were taxed like regular employment income, the … more

Jodi Summit | 9/27/23

The Wolves' Audrey Kallberg goes up for a kill.

Wolves challenged in weekend tournament

BURNSVILLE— The Timberwolves put their perfect season record to the ultimate test here this past weekend when they faced off against a bevy of the toughest volleyball squads in the state— … more

Marshall Helmberger | 9/27/23

Offensive struggles continue for Ely

CHISHOLM— The Timberwolves forced four Chisholm turnovers here last Friday but couldn’t take advantage in another defense-dominated contest that allowed the Bluestreaks to claim their … more

Marshall Helmberger | 9/27/23

A colorful shoreline along the Pike River Flowage is reflected on still morning water.

Colors of the season

9/27/23

Grizzlies quarterback Trajen Barto finds himself on the receiving end of a pass during last Friday’s contest with Littlefork-Big Falls.

Vikings conquer Grizzlies 68-6

FIELD TWP- The North Woods football team could have used a few more trick plays and a few less miscues against Littlefork-Big Falls last Friday, as the Grizzlies got thumped at home 68-6 by the … more

David Colburn | 9/27/23

NER-Ely swimmers post win and narrow loss

BABBITT— The Northeast Range-Ely swim team notched a 90-77 win here, on Sept. 14, against Duluth Denfeld on the strength of eight first-place finishes. Anna Larson, Tuuli Koivisto, and Via … more

Marshall Helmberger | 9/27/23

Students exploring the Ancient Cedar Trail in Tower.

Tower area trails feature four seasons of fun

TOWER- The Tower-Soudan area is home to a remarkably wide variety of trails, and Wagoner Trail Club volunteer Mary Shedd gave a brief overview of all the them at the first Tower-Soudan Civic Club … more

Jodi Summit | 9/27/23

An overlook on the North Country National Scenic Trail in northeastern Minnesota. The 4,800-mile trail will pass through Ely and Tower-Soudan.

North Country Trail chapter organized in Ely

ELY- The North Country National Scenic Trail is coming to Ely and you can help make it happen. Area hiking enthusiasts have formed a new local chapter of the North Country Trail Association and held … more

Catie Clark | 9/27/23

Bear harvest could be lowest in decades

REGIONAL— Abundant natural foods and continued warm temperatures appear to have given bears the edge during the 2023 bear season, with registrations off 25 percent from last year. With just … more

Marshall Helmberger | 9/27/23

We are supposed to do what?

“We have little time, so we must move very slowly.” Many years ago, when I was serving on the Friends for a Non-violent World (FNVW) board, the director, a lovely Quaker man named John … more

Betty Firth | 9/27/23

The original RV hook-ups at the campground at 1759 N. Pioneer Rd. in Ely. The new property owner applied for a conditional use permit from the City of Ely to re-open and expand the facility.

Campground hearing is not “Minnesota Nice”

ELY- The unpleasant specter of NIMBY (“not in my backyard”) visited an Ely Board of Adjustment public hearing on a proposed campground on Pioneer Rd. on Wednesday, Sept. 20. In a scenario … more

Catie Clark | 9/27/23

Ely area resident Hudson Kingston outstretches his arms in triumph as he crosses the finish line to take first in last Saturday’s Ely Marathon

Ely man disappointed in second marathon win

ELY— Hudson Kingston was hoping for second place in this past weekend’s Ely Marathon— he had to settle for first. Kingston, a wiry redhead who lives outside Ely in Fall Lake … more

Marshall Helmberger | 9/27/23

County board OKs 2.93 percent levy boost for 2024

REGIONAL - The St. Louis County Board of Commissioners gave approval to a proposed 2.93 percent property tax hike at its meeting on Tuesday, an increase that will be offset somewhat by growth in the … more

David Colburn | 9/27/23

Ely man injured in knife attack

ELY- Tate Jordan Cly, age 20, is facing two felony counts here in the wake of an alleged knife attack early Saturday morning, Sept. 23, against Richard Joshua Petrizilka. An officer from the Ely … more

Catie Clark | 9/27/23

COVID booster rolls out as virus persists

REGIONAL- As COVID indicators continue to tick upward, the new boosters from Moderna and Pfizer recently authorized by the Centers for Disease Control for anyone over the age of six months have … more

David Colburn | 9/27/23

Obituaries: September 29, 2023

Judy B. Stapleton Judy B. Stapleton, 82, of Mt. Iron, formerly of Tower, passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023, at Essentia Health - St. Mary’s Medical Center Hospice Unit in Duluth. The … more

9/27/23