Stories - The Timberjay

Japanese knotweed is a shrub-like, semi-woody perennial with bamboo-like stems, and broad, oval-shaped leaves.

Patch of invasive Japanese Knotweed found on Everett Bay Rd.

GREENWOOD TWP- There is a new “neighbor” living near the Everett Point public boat landing, and it is an unwelcome guest. A large patch of Japanese Knotweed, an invasive species, was … more

Jodi Summit | 9/14/23

Wolves make solid showing at Titan Invitational

COLERAINE—Ely cross country runners made a solid impression at last Thursday’s Titan Invitational at the Eagle Ridge golf course. The Ely girls finished in fifth place among 11 mostly … more

Marshall Helmberger | 9/14/23

Planning and Zoning denies variance request for tiny home

TOWER- A request from Daniel Eveleth to build a home smaller than allowed by the city’s current zoning ordinance was denied for failing to meet the standards set in statute for the granting of … more

Jodi Summit | 9/14/23 | 1 comment

NER/Ely swimmers post firsts in home meet with Rock Ridge

BABBITT—Northeast Range/Ely swimmers posted a couple first-place varsity finishes in their meet with Rock Ridge on Tuesday. The NER/Ely 400 freestyle relay team of Tuuli Koivisto, Sabrah Hart, … more

Marshall Helmberger | 9/14/23

Playing the long game

The conservative movement’s battle for power has descended on the nation’s classrooms and Minnesota isn’t immune, despite the DFL’s current dominance in state government. … more

9/13/23 | 3 comments

Boise State University researcher and drone pilot Thomas Van Der Weide with his drone-mounted LIDAR equipment.

Study to gauge carbon losses losses

REGIONAL- “Nobody has done this before,” Randy Kolka told the Timberjay. Kolka is a soil scientist with the U.S. Forest Service and he was talking about a unique study to calculate how … more

Catie Clark | 9/13/23

The Gillson residence located at 45 E. Boundary St. in Ely.

Domestic rift leads to fire, high- speed chase

ELY- An alleged domestic altercation in Ely led to a fire and a police pursuit involving a significant law enforcement response around 11 a.m. on Wednesday, as the Timberjay prepared to go to … more

Catie Clark | 9/13/23

The “radium girls” finally visit a doctor not employed by their company, and hear they all have cancer.

LIGHTING UP A DARK HISTORY

TOWER- The Lake Vermilion Cultural Center hosted three performances of “These Shining Lives” last weekend, transforming the small stage in the front of the former St. Mary’s … more

Jodi Summit | 9/13/23

Judge dismisses Twin Metals lawsuit seeking lease reinstatement

REGIONAL— A federal district judge in Washington, D.C. has dismissed a lawsuit filed by Twin Metals and Franconia Minerals that had sought to reverse the cancellation of mineral leases critical … more

Marshall Helmberger | 9/13/23

Council approves rate increase at Hoodoo Point

TOWER— The city council here, on Monday, approved a ten-percent increase in the seasonal rate for RV campers at the Hoodoo Point Campground, but not before hearing from several of those … more

Marshall Helmberger | 9/13/23

North Woods’ Addy Hartway goes up high for a block during their clash with Deer River on Monday.

First loss for Grizzlies

FIELD TWP – The North Woods volleyball team won five consecutive matches to open the season, but they couldn’t make it six on Tuesday at home against South Ridge, with the Panthers coming … more

David Colburn | 9/13/23

Wolves on a roll

GREENWAY— Last season, the Timberwolves notched a perfect 25-0 regular season record on the volleyball court. This year, it looks as though the team has its eyes on a repeat. The Wolves looked … more

Marshall Helmberger | 9/13/23

North Woods’ Rogelio Noyes sets up to block a Mustangs defender.

Grizzlies fall hard to Mustangs

KELLIHER- The North Woods Grizzlies came out flat and fell behind early Friday against Kelliher-Northome, falling 28-0 on the road for their first loss of the season. North Woods received the opening … more

David Colburn | 9/13/23

Burckhardt tops at Titan

COLERAINE- North Woods/South Ridge cross country runner Alex Burckhardt nabbed his first big win of the season on Thursday, Sept. 7 at the GNK Titan Invitational in Coleraine. Racing in a field of 83 … more

David Colburn | 9/13/23

Near misses plague Ely in 16-0 loss

SANDSTONE—Defense and a big rushing performance by senior Deegan Richards were the bright spots for Ely as the Timberwolves kept East Central solidly in check for much of their contest at Bruce … more

Marshall Helmberger | 9/13/23

Ben Burns, age 16, and his father Steve pose with the nice bear shot by Ben earlier this month as clients of the Udovich Guide Service.

Bear registrations down significantly

REGIONAL—Bear registrations through the first 11 days of the season were down 30 percent this year, as hunters were hampered by plentiful natural bear foods and the record heat that settled in … more

Marshall Helmberger | 9/13/23 | 1 comment

With good numbers of drumming grouse this spring and a warm and dry June, the fall ruffed grouse outlook appears strong.

“It should be a phenomenal season”

REGIONAL— The 2023 ruffed grouse season looks to be one of the best in northern Minnesota in years, thanks to what appears to be outstanding reproduction thanks to a warm, dry month of June. … more

Marshall Helmberger | 9/13/23 | 1 comment

Butternut squash are ripe when their skin is tan without the mottling apparent in unripe squash. The rind in a mature squash is also hard to dent with a fingernail.

When to pick your cucurbits

REGIONAL—As the North Country’s growing season winds down, local gardeners may be wondering when the time is right to harvest some of the cucurbits, like squash or melons, that … more

Marshall Helmberger | 9/13/23

Look a little closer at fast fashion brands

Until recently, online retailers Wish and Alibaba were two of the most popular spaces to find ultra-cheap household goods, clothing, makeup, and last-minute Christmas and birthday gifts. These … more

Jen Shuster-Dahlin | 9/13/23

Late summer adventures and road trips

It’s 6 p.m. on a Monday evening and I’ve been sitting on the couch following a dinner of barbecued country ribs with green beans and red potatoes that I fixed in my Ninja Foodi. I always … more

Scarlet Stone | 9/13/23

New COVID boosters available; area seeing uptick in cases

REGIONAL- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave its approval to newly formulated COVID booster shots on Monday, clearing the way for distribution at a time when COVID rates around the country … more

David Colburn | 9/13/23

Search continuing for missing Gheen man

GHEEN— The search for Glenn Stevenson, a Willow Valley Township man with Parkinson’s disease who went missing Sept. 2 near Gheen, has been fruitless as of Tuesday, but authorities … more

David Colburn | 9/13/23

A concept plan given a preliminary okay by the TEDA board calls for a hotel and additional mixed commercial/residential space at the harbor, with most residential development slated to take place on the north side of Hwy. 169 on the former Mesojedec property.

TEDA green lights harbor concept plan that includes hotel

TOWER— The Tower Economic Development Authority has given a unanimous green light to a concept plan that would bring a hotel, an adjacent commercial space, and a handful of second-floor … more

Jodi Summit | 9/13/23

Ely high school gym floor should be back in action soon

ELY- The new gymnasium floor at Ely Memorial High School should be ready for use next month, reported Facilities Director Tim Leeson at the Sept. 11 meeting of the Ely School Board. The floor was … more

Catie Clark | 9/13/23

Scammers are posting fake links on area school Facebook pages and then asking for credit card information.

Fans should be wary of game day streaming scammers

FIELD TWP- Avid North Woods Grizzlies football fans who didn’t make the two-hour trip to Kelliher on Friday for the game are just the sort of fans online scammers are trolling for. As the … more

David Colburn | 9/13/23