Stories - The Timberjay

ngrid Lyons (left) and Becky Rom presented an overview of the Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness strategy for protecting the Boundary Waters at the July 25 Tuesday Group meeting at the Grand Ely Lodge.

NMW lays out strategy for BWCAW protection

ELY- While the U.S. Department of the Interior has banned mineral leases for 20 years on 225,000 acres within the Rainy River watershed on the Superior National Forest, Ely-based Northeastern … more

Catie Clark | 7/26/23

Greenwood rep on the hot seat at ambulance meeting

TOWER- Greenwood Township Board Chair John Bassing spent time on the hot seat during a Tower Ambulance Commission meeting that started late and ended early as a result of ambulance calls requiring … more

Jodi Summit | 7/26/23

Gary Smith cuts one of 600 Kiwanis Club pies.

Pie and much more at Blueberry/Art festival

ELY— The annual celebration of the North Country’s most popular wild berry gets underway Friday morning at Whiteside Park and runs through Sunday. This year’s Blueberry Art/Festival … more

7/26/23

Watch for road construction

REGIONAL— The annual pilgrimage from across the region to Ely’s Blueberry/Art Festival, set for July 28-30, could take a bit longer than in some recent years for folks planning to travel … more

Marshall Helmberger | 7/26/23

Ben Pawlak of Rusty Nail Woodcraft, shown here with his immigrant grandfather’s chest of woodworking hand tools from Sweden.

Third-generation woodworker continues tradition of his Swedish grandfather

ELY- Ben Pawlak inherited his love of woodworking from his Swedish grandfather, who brought his tools with him when he came to America. Pawlak also inherited his grandfather’s tools, which he … more

Catie Clark | 7/26/23

Blueberry/Art Festival: three days of fun

ELY- Over 200 art, craft, and food vendors will assemble in Ely’s Whiteside Park this weekend for the Blueberry/Art Festival (BAF). The festival begins on Friday, July 28 at 9 a.m., and ends on … more

Catie Clark | 7/26/23

Street closures, reroutes, and new app set for festival weekend

ELY- The city of Ely is implementing changes to traffic flow and parking around Whiteside Park for the Blueberry/Art Festival. The Ely Police Department has set up a messaging service for the … more

7/26/23

he procession of police, fire, and EMS vehicles in honor of William Fearn entering Ely.

Deceased local firefighter honored

ELY- Morse-Fall Lake firefighter William Orion Lloyd Fearn of Ely. passed away Monday, July 17, due to a car accident on County Road 88 north of Ely. Fearn’s body returned to Ely on Wednesday … more

7/26/23

An incomplete history of the Arrowhead Garage and the Peyla Family: A journey through time

TOWER- The Tower-Soudan Historical Society has scheduled a fun presentation showcasing the story of the Arrowhead Garage and the Peyla Family, a part of Tower’s history on Tuesday, Aug. 8 at 4 … more

7/26/23

P&Z OKs amendments to new chicken ordinance

TOWER— The city’s planning and zoning commission adopted a handful of revisions to the proposed new chicken ordinance during a regular meeting held Tuesday. The new language would … more

Marshall Helmberger | 7/26/23

What the Florida Black history standards miss

There was little chance that approval of new standards for Black history education in Florida would slip by without igniting some sort of protest, given the state’s recent track record when it … more

David Colburn | 7/26/23

Chimpy Tuominen poses with grandchildren Saija, Silas, and Sadie Snyder, along with co-workers during his final day on July 12.

A 47-year career at Zup’s Grocery in Tower

TOWER- Ever since he was a junior in high school, James “Chimpy” Tuominen has been working at Tower’s only grocery store. Nearly half a century later, he’s ready to retire. … more

Jodi Summit | 7/26/23

Enforcement effort to focus on impaired driving

REGIONAL- On Tuesday, just one week before recreational marijuana becomes legal in Minnesota, state law enforcement officials gathered in St. Paul to send a strong message to would-be users that … more

David Colburn | 7/26/23

Tower harbor

For all of two decades, hopes for development at the Tower harbor have met with frustration as the dreams of city officials—to convert the city’s link to Lake Vermilion into an economic … more

7/26/23

Cyclists in The Wolf bikepacking race camping out on Friday, July 21, at Semer’s Beach

Wolf bikepacking race overnights in Ely

ELY- Ely’s Semer’s Park became the overnight camping spot for The Wolf bikepacking event sponsored by Heck of the North Productions. Over 60 cyclists participated in the three-day event, … more

Jen Shuster-Dahlin | 7/26/23

Hauschild campaign fined for finance violation

REGIONAL— The campaign committee for Sen. Grant Hauschild has agreed to pay a civil penalty of $3,853.62 for overspending on Hauschild’s 2022 campaign. After a review, staff members of … more

Marshall Helmberger | 7/26/23

Obituaries: July 28, 2023

William M. Wyman William M. “Morrie” Wyman, 83, of Orr, passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 22, 2023, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Duluth. A celebration of life will be held from … more

7/26/23

Vermilion Dam Lodge owner Ed Tausk received a Friends of EMS Award on July 11 for developing and procuring a Landing Zone for Emergency Services to use when an Air Medical Helicopter is requested for the transport of ill or injured patients in the Vermilion Dam Lodge area. On hand to present the award were, from right to left, Dylan Ferguson, Executive Director and Charles Soucheray, Specialist, Minnesota Emergency Medical Service Regulatory Board, Ed Tausk, award recipient, Tyler Wiegman, Partner Engagement Manager LLIII, Adam Shadiow, Executive Director, Arrowhead EMS Association-Duluth, and Roland Shoen, Director, Cook Ambulance.

Tausk receives EMS award for helicopter landing zone

LAKE VERMILION- A Lake Vermilion lodge owner was recognized recently for his efforts to make emergency medical helicopter flights more accessible by creating a dedicated landing zone on his property. … more

7/20/23

A sign posted this week advises motorists of pending road construction on Hwy. 169.

Hwy. 169 resurfacing project to start Monday

REGIONAL— Travelers along Hwy. 169 south of Tower will want to plan for extra time starting Monday, as work is set to begin on a mill and overlay project to repair the crumbling road surface … more

Marshall Helmberger | 7/19/23

Ely area residents hold signs suggesting other local businesses the mayor could have honored.

Mayoral proclamation once again divides Ely over mining

ELY- A proclamation honoring Twin Metals packed the city council chambers here on Tuesday, as area residents turned out to voice both support and opposition to the statement, issued by Mayor Heidi … more

Catie Clark | 7/19/23 | 2 comments

A plethora of heavy equipment is deployed near the site of this week’s derailment along the CN track near Gheen.

Another CN derailment near Gheen

COOK- Ten cars of a Canadian National train, two containing hazardous materials, derailed approximately six miles north of Cook on Monday, the second such incident in the past year along the remote … more

David Colburn | 7/19/23

Bob and Jen McDonough are the new owners of the Tower Café.

New life for old cafè

TOWER—More than three years after it closed its doors in April 2020 at the start of the COVID pandemic, the Tower Café will soon be back in business. And probably no one is more … more

Marshall Helmberger | 7/19/23

Jen Flermoen and Michelle Timmins are best friends and now business partners. They hope to have their new coffee shop and bakery open early next month.

Delectables and more

ELY— Those who miss being served by their favorite baristas from the Front Porch will be glad to know that the duo is going into business together. Jen Flermoen and Michelle Timmins will be … more

Jen Shuster-Dahlin | 7/19/23

Northshore workers vote to unionize USteelworkers

REGIONAL— Facing uncertainty over the future of their mine and processing facility, workers at Northshore Mining have voted to join the United Steelworkers (USW). It was the sixth time that the … more

Marshall Helmberger | 7/19/23

Several participants in the recent program, mostly from Ely, took a break.

LEARNING TO LIVE WITH FIRE

VERMILION LAKE TWP- Living with and managing the risk of wildfire was the focus of an event held here earlier this month. “I’ve learned that there is risk here,” said Gloria … more

Jodi Summit | 7/19/23