Stories - The Timberjay

Pine Island summer resident to talk about summers at the lake on July 27

TOWER-The Tower-Soudan Historical Society is excited to announce their popular “History Talks on Main Street” series, featuring a captivating story about the cherished summers spent on … more

7/19/23

Blueberries, of varying ripeness, glisten after a recent rain shower.

BERRY ABUNDANT

For the second year in a row, the wild fruit crops around the area are bordering on abundant to exceptional, at least in many places. And this year, June’s early heat has left most berry crops … more

Marshall Helmberger | 7/19/23

The drought map issued July 13 by the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Dry conditions continue to worsen

REGIONAL— Drought conditions continue to build across Minnesota, including here in the North Country, despite some recent rains. That’s according to the National Weather Service Office in … more

Marshall Helmberger | 7/19/23 | 1 comment

April’s black lab Nibs looks ahead as they prepare to enter their boathouse on Stuntz Bay, one of nearly 150 historic boathouses located there.

My Stuntz Bay boathouse

Living on an island takes a great deal of planning and consideration. I certainly wish I had done that and not gone on the seat of my pants method. Still, four years later, I’m still here and … more

April Wamhoff | 7/19/23

Chickens in town

When it comes to ordinances, few communities seek to reinvent the wheel. Most adopt ordinances based on the work done by others, with only minor modifications. That could be how Tower’s … more

7/19/23

Glencore a step closer to full ownership of PolyMet

REGIONAL— The international commodities trader Glencore may soon assume full ownership of PolyMet Mining, for about $73 million in cash. The massive Swiss-based company, which has faced a raft … more

Marshall Helmberger | 7/19/23

Are we ready to quit whistling past the graveyard?

Remember back a few weeks when we were living under gloomy skies for days in a row with itchy eyes, a runny nose, even some shortness of breath? If you had asthma or another lung condition, you might … more

Kathleen McQuillan | 7/19/23 | 1 comment

Fatal Ely accident

ELY- An Ely man died on Monday, July 17, in a single-vehicle collision on the 2100 block of Grant McMahan Blvd./County Rd. 88, in Morse Township. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office, assisted … more

Catie Clark | 7/19/23

Greenwood to return Isle of Pines bridge fund to road association

GREENWOOD TWP- The Greenwood Town Board, at their July 11 meeting, voted to close out the Isle of Pines Bridge Fund, and return the $31,166 to the Isle of Pines Road Association, a nonprofit that … more

Jodi Summit | 7/19/23

The areas in pink will benefit from a $5.5 million state broadband grant received by Paul Bunyan Communications.

State grant to bring broadband to parts of rural Cook

REGIONAL- Paul Bunyan Communications has been awarded a $5.5 million Minnesota Border-to-Border Broadband low-density pilot grant to expand its all fiber-optic GigaZone network into areas of Angora, … more

David Colburn | 7/19/23

The Broadway in the Boundary Waters theater troupe rehearsing at the Vermilion Fine Arts Theater.

“Songs for a New World” opens in Ely

ELY- The latest musical offering of the Northern Lakes Arts Association (NLAA), “Songs for a New World,” opened Thursday, July 20. The musical was the first work of the then-young Jason … more

Catie Clark | 7/19/23

Obituaries: July 21, 2023

Lucille B. Svatos Lucille Betty Svatos, 94, of Ely, passed away on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, at Ely Bloomenson Community Hospital. Services will be held at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Ely … more

7/19/23

Cathy Cerra-Harvieux took questions from Soudan residents last Sunday at the Vermilion Park Inn. She is hoping to convert the facility to adult addiction treatment and sober housing.

Proposed sober house still faces pushback

SOUDAN- Over two dozen Soudan residents attended a question-and-answer session with Cathy Cerra-Harvieux, who is hoping to convert the Vermilion Park Inn to a sober housing and outpatient treatment … more

Jodi Summit | 7/12/23 | 1 comment

Worshippers line up to enter the St. James Presbyterian Chapel for the final sermon. Founded in 1884, the church was a center of spiritual life for many residents of Tower-Soudan for nearly 140 years.

Last Call to Pray

TOWER- The sight of a long line of people streaming into St. James Presbyterian Church on Sunday was something not seen for a very long time. But those entering the church building, built at the … more

Jodi Summit | 7/12/23 | 1 comment

Council talks signs and signs of the times

ELY—Signage and signs of the times occupied considerable discussion at the city council meeting here on Tuesday. Ely residents Frederica Musgrave and Lynn Evenson addressed the council about … more

Catie Clark | 7/12/23

A lawsuit filed against the EPA by Minnnesota and nine other states may clarify the regulatory playing field for wood-burning residential furnaces, something which has implications for Tower-based Lamppa Manufacturing.

Ten states sue EPA over wood furnace testing

REGIONAL— Attorneys generals from ten states, including Minnesota, have filed a notice of intent to sue the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over its failure to adequately manage an … more

Marshall Helmberger | 7/12/23

The lustrous woodwork in the Lake Vermilion Cultural Center provided exceptional acoustics for performances under the auspices of the Northern Lights Music Festival, held Sunday in Tower.

Classical music, classic venue

TOWER- The Northern Lights Music Festival hosted an afternoon concert of chamber music at the Lake Vermilion Cultural Center in Tower. Concert performers included young musicans attending the … more

Jodi Summit | 7/12/23

Runners look fresh and eager as they take off from the starting line during the 5K portion of the Vermilion Run held July 4.

Over 250 took part in the 40th Annual Vermilion Run

TOWER- The weather cooperated, and the runners showed up for the 40th running of the Vermilion 10K and 5K run. There were 170 signed up for the 5K, and 50 signed up for the 10K race this year. Over … more

Jodi Summit | 7/12/23

Ely’s 4 on the 4th top finishers

Four mile race Ages 0-12 Boys: 1. Charles Fuenffinger, age 12 2. Melvin Geffre, age 10 3. Vincent Howe, age 10 Girls: 1. Eloisa Gomez, age 12 2. Eila Fuenffinger, age 10 3. Cecelia Fuenffinger, age … more

7/12/23

Tower-Soudan Fourth of July children’s races winners

TOWER- There was possibly a record turnout for the children’s races on the afternoon of July 4 in Tower. The following is the list of winners, who received cash prizes. Please note that the … more

7/12/23

Caesar’s wife and Ely’s ambulance service

The perception of a conflict of interest in government is a slippery slope. The Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital (EBCH) sent a letter to the Ely Area Ambulance Service listing several concerns it … more

Catie Clark | 7/12/23

Life has ups, life has dips...

Mid-July has arrived and as you look into the ditches along the roadsides, you see tall, spiky clusters of pink and purple wildflowers adding vibrance to the landscape. Fireweed is in season again … more

Scarlet Stone | 7/12/23

Five weeks after hatching, the white Cornish Crosses appear almost full grown. The other chicks are barely one-third their size.

After years of indecision, I finally took the plunge

My gradual transition from gardener to small-scale farmer took another step forward recently when the U.S. Post Office in Tower called early one morning just over a month ago to tell me that my … more

Marshall Helmberger | 7/12/23

A rider winds his way along a narrow trail at Hidden Valley.

DOWN IN THE VALLEY

HIDDEN VALLEY— Ely has debuted the latest contribution to the growing number of top-notch mountain bike trails in northeastern Minnesota— just be sure you’re paying attention if you … more

Marshall Helmberger | 7/12/23

Council appears ready to green light chickens in town

TOWER— There was good news and bad news in the city audit this year, which was released Monday by Walker-Giroux and Hahne. The audit cites continued deficit spending in several accounts, … more

Marshall Helmberger | 7/12/23 | 1 comment