Stories - The Timberjay

Clean and affordable energy is in our future

Clean, affordable, reliable and safe is a good way to describe what renewable energy offers our families and communities. A recent NY Times article detailed the amazing change that is happening in … more

6/19/24

When words don’t convey one’s intent

Across the many years I spent working in the realm of academe, nothing gave me more pleasure and affirmation than donning my academic regalia to celebrate graduation. When I earned my master’s … more

David Colburn | 6/19/24

A male yellow-bellied sapsucker peeks around the trunk of my prized bur oak, which I grew from an acorn from a tree in the yard where I grew up.

The bird that won’t leave my oak alone

I have a love/hate relationship with a yellow-bellied sapsucker. It’s complicated, I know, and it has a long history. For years, a sapsucker has been attracted to the two most coveted trees in … more

Marshall Helmberger | 6/19/24

Forest Service still assessing damage to BWCAW

Officials with the Superior National Forest are still assessing the impacts from torrential rains that hit the area on Tuesday. Several inches of rain fell in a matter of hours, sending area rivers … more

Seth Roeser | 6/19/24

A clump of lady ferns surround the base of balsam poplar.

The verdant ferns

This spring’s abundant rainfall has been a boon for more than just mosquitoes. Few of our native plants appreciate plentiful moisture more than the roughly 90 species of ferns that make their … more

Marshall Helmberger | 6/19/24

John Jamnick of JPJ Engineering of Hibbing gave a presentation on the project to replace the city’s aging water supply line at Tuesday’s Ely City Council Meeting.

Ely doesn’t want to lose its traffic lights

ELY- Will a roundabout replace the traffic light at the intersection of Third Ave. and Sheridan St. in Ely sometime soon? Not if city officials have anything to say about it. Council members reacted … more

Catie Clark | 6/19/24

Kayakers explore Lost Lake SNA during a previous outing.

Reserve your spot for a kayak tour of Lost Lake SNA

REGIONAL— If you’d like to explore the Lost Lake Peatland Scientific and Natural Area but don’t know where to start, you’ll want to take advantage of a planned kayak tour of … more

6/19/24

YMCA Camp Northern Lights lost its Orion Building to fire early Sunday morning. The structure housed the camp’s kitchen and several bedrooms. The building was found burned to the ground.

YMCA camp in Babbitt loses kitchen-bunkhouse to fire

BABBITT- The YMCA Camp Northern Lights lost its kitchen and bunkhouse building Sunday to fire. The 2,000 square foot Orion building caught fire sometime before dawn. According to a Babbitt Police … more

Catie Clark | 6/19/24

A targeted prosecution

The recent conviction of Hunter Biden for lying on a federal instant background check form for a gun purchase in 2018 prompted the Timberjay to research the laws surrounding drug use and guns in the … more

6/19/24

Lawsuit seeking permission to sell homegrown cannabis

REGIONAL— Five Minnesota plaintiffs are seeking a declaratory judgment in a Ramsey County Court that could clear the way for individuals who grow cannabis at home to sell their product to the … more

Marshall Helmberger | 6/19/24

Stauber amendment would give defense review on mining

REGIONAL—An amendment approved in the U.S. House Rules Committee last week would require consultation with the Secretary of Defense as part of the environmental review of mining proposals, or … more

Marshall Helmberger | 6/19/24

Obituaries: June 21, 2024

Greta Mae Lindquist Stefanich Greta Mae Lindquist Stefanich, age 91, passed away on June 11, 2024, in Silver Bay, Minn. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the 11 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial on … more

6/19/24

Ely Schools on homestretch to approving budget

ELY- In an uneventful meeting here on Monday, the Ely School Board approved holding a special meeting on June 24 to approve the school district’s 2024-25 budget, which state law requires be … more

Catie Clark | 6/14/24

New regulations pending

We’ve been reporting for the past few years about the ongoing challenges faced by area ambulance services, challenges due in part to regulatory changes that have increased the costs of … more

6/13/24

Volunteer firefighters from Vermilion Lake fight a cabin blaze. Small volunteer departments could be impacted by proposed new regulations.

Proposed OSHA regs worrying many fire officials

REGIONAL— A proposal to adopt a new regulatory framework for fire departments across the country, could have a significant impact on smaller, volunteer services, like many of those here in … more

Marshall Helmberger | 6/13/24

Chavers re-elected

NETT LAKE- Bois Forte tribal chair Cathy Chavers won a third consecutive term in Tuesday’s tribal election, according to official results. Chavers edged Hannah Lehti-Chosa by just six votes, … more

David Colburn | 6/13/24

Mike Hanson drives a team of Haflinger horses as they pull the Cook Farmers Market float in Sunday's Timber Days parade.

COOK’S SUMMER BLAST

Cook/Orr Editor David Colburn was out and about at Cook's Annual Timber Days festival this past weekend. Organizers and participants alike reported particularly high turnout for Saturday's events. … more

6/13/24

Workers have spent the past week replacing gravel on Trygg Road.

The fix is in for troubled Trygg Road

EAGLES NEST TWP— With a little creativity, St. Louis County public works officials were able to address the unusual issue that has plagued users of Trygg Road here for the past year— and … more

Marshall Helmberger | 6/13/24

Muriel Deegan (l) and Tawny Savage highlighted the need to bring more resources to Indian Country to address human trafficking.

Events held to raise awareness of human trafficking

VERMILION RESERVATION- About two dozen youth and adults walked here recently to raise awareness of the issues of human trafficking and missing and murdered Indigenous relatives. A companion event was … more

Jodi Summit | 6/13/24

A reminder about our letters to the editor policies

As we edge increasingly into what is likely to be a hard-fought campaign for the future of America, we want to explain how we handle letters to the editor. We accept letters and will typically … more

Marshall Helmberger | 6/13/24

A biased case against Trump

Michael Shellenberger, a leading investigative journalist, founder and president of Environmental Progress, Time Magazine “Hero of the Environment,” and Green Book … more

6/13/24

Please take another look

In last week’s Timberjay, letter writer Robert Tisovich encouraged readers to take a close look at professional athlete Royce White, the candidate for Senate who won the party endorsement at … more

6/13/24

People must make the effort to inform themselves

Many are choosing to follow a leader, who still believes he won the last election and continues embarrassing, unimpressive behavior. Those who are influenced must find such appealing. Say what you … more

6/13/24

A dancer spreads her brightly colored shawl at the Sah Gii Bah Gah powwow at Nett Lake on Saturday.

Dramatic dancers

Timberjay photographer David Colburn was on hand to capture these images at the annual Sah Gii Bah Gah powwow at Nett Lake on Saturday. NOTE: A caption accompanying these pictures in the print … more

6/13/24

Question me an answer...or the art of asking good questions

In a previous column I suggested that if people everywhere would improve their listening skills, salted with a bit of compassion, that one change could enhance peace and understanding around the … more

Betty Firth | 6/13/24