Stories - The Timberjay

The FBI executed a search warrant at this home along Hwy. 23, east of Orr last Wednesday, April 12. So far no charges or allegations have been made against the homeowner.

ORR- Forty-two-year-old Josh Armbrust works in the cloud, the vast network of computer servers that provides internet-accessed storage, databases, software, analytics and intelligence to companies … more

David Colburn | 4/19/23

Dark money group assails Hauschild

REGIONAL— An expensive pressure campaign launched by a new and shadowy organization is publishing ads and occupying billboards across the state in hopes of derailing an effort by DFLers in the … more

Marshall Helmberger | 4/19/23

Aubriana Olson and Serah Ross are impressed with Sophie the Llama.

Close encounters of the llama kind

TOWER- Tower-Soudan second-grade teacher Charissa Dahl had been teaching her students about llamas, when she saw that Cook’s Country Connection, a petting zoo in Cook, had a … more

Jodi Summit | 4/19/23

The packed house at last year’s drag show at the Grand Ely Lodge enjoyed a highly- entertaining event.

Protest expected during Saturday drag show in Ely

ELY- A source requesting anonymity told the Timberjay that a group opposed to drag shows will protest the “Disney Drag Brunch” at the Grand Ely Lodge on Saturday, April 22. Ely Police … more

Catie Clark | 4/19/23 | 1 comment

Several area roadways, including this one in Embarrass, were closed in recent days due to high water from spring snowmelt.

High water a minor nuisance, so far

REGIONAL- Mother Nature crammed three seasons into the space of a few days this past week, with the resulting snowmelt from summerlike temperatures, springlike rain, and another wintery blast of snow … more

David Colburn | 4/19/23

The restored photographic version of the mural now on display at the college in Ely.

Beloved Carl Gawboy mural re-created for posterity

ELY– The 1960 mural painted on the walls of the Ely Community Center has been re-created through the efforts of photographer Curt Laine and original artist Carl Gawboy. Gawboy originally … more

Marshall Helmberger | 4/19/23

Joining Kinsey onstage as she signs her letter of intent are, from left, her grandmother, Brenda Flack, mother, Sarah Flack, Grizzlies Head Coach Liz Cheney, and assistant coach Becca Bundy.

North Woods' Kinsey signs with St. Scholastica

North Woods senior basketball standout Hannah Kinsey signed a national letter of intent Monday to play hoops next year for NCAA Div. III College of St. Scholastica. Kinsey had a breakout senior … more

4/19/23

orth Woods’ outfielder Nevadah Gauthier cocks her arm to return the ball to the infield against Mesabi East.

North Woods girls lose in tight 5-4 opener

AURORA- The North Woods softball team didn’t pack shoulder pads for their first outing of the season last Thursday, but their game against Mesabi East was played on a makeshift diamond on the … more

David Colburn | 4/19/23

North Woods pitcher Ben Kruse winds for a delivery during last week’s opener, against Chisholm.

North Woods drops opener in Aurora

AURORA- The North Woods baseball team has a new skipper at the helm this season, but he’s certainly no stranger to Grizzlies’ hardball.R.J. Kruse served as an assistant for six years … more

David Colburn | 4/19/23

An unforgettable Easter in Sri Lanka

When I inherited a small amount of money when my mother passed in 2018, one of the things I determined to do was to travel abroad for the first time in my life. Social media helped to determine my … more

David Colburn | 4/19/23

A trumpeter swan, with a couple Canada geese in the background, enjoyed spring-like warmth last Friday on the Pelican River just south of Orr.

Weather whiplash

April is so often the cruelest month in Minnesota, as those first hints of spring are quickly slapped down by the return of winter’s cold and snow. This year’s mid-month tease, which … more

4/19/23

The first Earth Day was an awakening for many

I still remember the first Earth Day, back on April 22, 1970. Like most kids in Bloomington, then a still new and rapidly growing Twin Cities suburb, I walked to my school, the aptly named Oak Grove … more

Marshall Helmberger | 4/19/23

Fire department controversies continue to linger

GREENWOOD TWP- Reverberations from the dismissal of seven fire department members here in February continued to dominate the agenda during the town board’s regular April 11 meeting. The … more

Jodi Summit | 4/19/23

Mesabi Trail closing in on completion

REGIONAL— Oh, so close. That’s the word on the Mesabi Trail, which is within just a handful of miles of bridging the two final gaps in this 150 mile long paved bike trail stretching from … more

Marshall Helmberger | 4/19/23

It’s called corruption

The revelations centered around Justice Clarence Thomas and his involvement with right-wing billionaire Harlan Crow went from bad to worse in recent days, as ProPublica reported that Crow had … more

4/19/23 | 5 comments

Fire chief reports rash of carbon monoxide calls

ELY- Three standout items were aired at the April 18 meeting of the Ely City Council: a disturbing trend in fire calls by the Ely Fire Department, Ely spring clean-up days, and water testing.Ely … more

Catie Clark | 4/19/23

New COVID booster OK’d for seniors

REGIONAL- In a move increasingly clamored for by vulnerable seniors, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday approved people 65 and older to receive an additional COVID booster of either the … more

David Colburn | 4/19/23

Lawmakers have a host of big issues remaining

REGIONAL- Minnesota’s 2023 legislative session began with the state flush with $17.5 billion of extra cash and the DFL in control of the Senate, the House, and the governorship, a recipe ripe … more

David Colburn | 4/19/23

Ely Community Health Center gets $10k grant

ELY- The Ely Community Health Center (ECHC) has announced a partnership with Essentia Health to support the expansion of the ECHC dental program. The ECHC provides free basic medical and dental … more

4/19/23

Obituaries: April 21, 2023

Karen A. Brandt Karen Ann Pulver Brandt, 83, passed away on Wednesday, April 5, 2023, at her home in Tower, surrounded by her family. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, … more

4/19/23

Board gives McGrath study a lukewarm okay

GREENWOOD TWP- Town board members, on Tuesday, reluctantly agreed to accept the McGrath Ambulance Study report, but still voiced several complaints about what they view as missing or misleading … more

Jodi Summit | 4/13/23

Council OKs move toward ambulance joint powers

TOWER— The city council here voted unanimously to pursue a possible joint powers agreement with neighboring townships to operate the city’s ambulance service. The action came following … more

Marshall Helmberger | 4/12/23

Gov. Tim Walz, a former school teacher, clearly relished the time he spent with Ely students during an April 6 visit to Ely and Tower.

Education the focus in Ely

REGIONAL— Gov. Tim Walz used the occasion of his birthday last Thursday for a quick tour of the Vermilion Range, with stops in both Ely and Tower. The governor flew into the Ely airport with … more

Catie Clark | 4/12/23

Gov. Tim Walz talks to Todd Petersen, of Lake Vermilion, one of the workers at Lamppa Manufacturing, along with Garrett Lamppa, who has recently taken the reins at the family business.

Walz tours wood stove plant in Tower

TOWER— Garrett Lamppa had little warning that Gov. Tim Walz would be making a stop at the family business at which he’s recently taken the reins from his father Daryl. “It all … more

Marshall Helmberger | 4/12/23

Committee report calls for joint powers, taxing district

REGIONAL- An ad hoc committee established by the Tower Ambulance Commission is recommending the formation of a joint powers board and a taxing district to provide long-term oversight and financial … more

Jodi Summit | 4/12/23