Stories - The Timberjay

Thick rice lined both sides of the Vermilion River last Sunday. A good crop on the river is largely an exception as the crop in most places is poor.

Rice crop generally poor in most parts of the region

REGIONAL— The quest for wild rice has been more challenging this year than most, but ricers have found a very harvestable crop along the Vermilion River, north of the Gold Mine Camp. As … more

9/7/22

Six Ely area students had the chance to canoe in the Boundary Waters recently, thanks to a grant from the Friends of the Boundary Waters.

Ely students experience the wilderness in their backyard

THE BOUNDARY WATERS— While all kids who grow up in Ely live on the edge of America’s most popular wilderness area, it doesn’t mean they all get to experience the wilderness … more

9/7/22 | 1 comment

Man jailed for fire-related death of infant charged with felony assault

REGIONAL- A man convicted of second-degree manslaughter in the 2017 fire-related death of a Tower infant is now facing charges in the assault of an elderly Culver couple while participating in a … more

David Colburn | 9/7/22

Some thoughts I have as we turn with the seasons

As I write on my small deck, surrounded by flowers, on this Labor Day morning, I enjoy the chill that requires a sweater. For as long as I can remember, this shift from summer to autumn has been a … more

Betty Firth | 9/7/22

Spectators walked the docks and talked to the owners of some of the nearly two dozen antique and classic boats on display this past weekend at The Landing on Lake Vermilion. Pictured is "Sadie,” a 1928 Hacker Craft in almost perfect original condition. It’s one of only three such craft known to be in existence and it’s owned by Jeff Stebbins.

Boat show winner is a 94-year-old original

LAKE VERMILION- Sunny skies and moderate temperatures were perfect conditions for Sunday’s 30th Annual Antique and Classic Boat Show, with 23 skippers piloting their boats to The Landing on the … more

David Colburn | 9/7/22

A dystopian future?

The signs of catastrophic climate change are increasingly undeniable all across the globe. While it’s been a relatively cool and wet summer here in northern Minnesota, don’t think … more

9/7/22 | 2 comments

New COVID boosters should be available later this month

REGIONAL- New COVID-19 boosters targeting the currently prevalent Omicron variants BA.5 and BA.4 were approved for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease … more

David Colburn | 9/7/22 | 1 comment

Drum circle members perform a traditional song to open the event.

Powwow practices explored during event at Nett Lake

NETT LAKE- Nearly 40 Bois Forte Band members from infants to elders descended on the government center in Nett Lake on Aug. 29 for an event that could easily have been titled “Powwow … more

David Colburn | 9/7/22

Bois Forte awarded over $10 million for transportation projects

NETT LAKE- Public transportation for the Bois Forte Band recently got a huge boost of over $10 million in federal funds that will transform the future of bus transportation on and off the … more

9/7/22

Obituaries: September 9, 2022

Allison M. Thompson Allison M. LaKoskey Thompson, 43, of Hoyt Lakes, passed away on Monday, Aug. 29, 2022, at Essentia Health St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth. A Celebration of Life was held … more

9/7/22

Inlaid burl bowl by Mike Denny of Good Wolf Bowls.

29th Annual Harvest Moon Festival set for September 9-11 in Ely's Whiteside Park

ELY - The 29th Harvest Moon Festival is set to go for September 9-11 in Ely’s Whiteside Park. Friday and Saturday hours are from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Enjoy … more

9/2/22

Radio station WELY will remain open for at least another three months as the Bois Forte Band works to finalize a purchase agreement.

No dead air yet—WELY to remain open

ELY- The Bois Forte Tribal Council voted Wednesday to continue operating and programming WELY—The End of the Road Radio Station for an additional three months while the business is moving … more

Brian K. Anderson | 9/2/22

Crowds gather to check out the antique and classic boats at The Landing during the 2019 boat show.

Annual classic boat show set for Sunday

LAKE VERMILION- Vintage boat lovers will have the opportunity to indulge their interests to the extreme this weekend with the return of the 30th Annual Antique and Classic Boat Show on Sunday, Sept. … more

9/1/22

Ely quarterback Gunnar Hart looks for his man downfield.

Ely Football practices amidst ongoing construction

ELY - The ongoing construction has also made it difficult for the football team, under the direction of second-year head coach Louie Gerzin.Part of the Wolves’ practice field is not usable … more

Keith Vandervort | 9/1/22

David Elg, of Eveleth, cozies up with Eldy, a horse owned by Shyla Martin, that David has been riding in horse shows this year.

Summer's Last Blast

The annual Embarrass Region Fair this past weekend had almost everything one could want in a traditional rural small-town fair, all done up in uniquely Embarrass style. Timbejay photographer Jodi … more

Jodi Summit | 8/31/22

“I Like That Academy” has fall openings

REGIONAL— Are you someone with what you think just might be the next big idea? Would you like to start your own business or nonprofit, but don’t really know where to start? Do you have a … more

Marshall Helmberger | 8/31/22

Timberjay’s Ely editor dies unexpectedly

ELY— The Timberjay’s longtime Ely editor, Keith Vandervort, died suddenly at his home this past Friday, Aug. 26. The cause of death is unknown but was ruled due to natural causes. … more

8/31/22 | 1 comment

Cook broadband on track for fall completion

REGIONAL- Deployment of the city of Cook’s new fiber optic high-speed broadband network is on track to be operational before winter sets in, and new projects proposed for multiple North Country … more

David Colburn | 8/31/22

Ely junior Hannah Penke goes up high for a kill attempt Tuesday night in Babbitt.

Ely tops ‘Hawks in three

BABBITT— There were few surprises in Tuesday night’s volleyball season opener here. The Timberwolves, who finished as the top-seed in the section last year, dominated play in a straight … more

Marshall Helmberger | 8/31/22

The Grizzlies’ Skyler Yernatich pounds a hard hit from the wing.

Grizzlies romp in season debut

FIELD TWP- The North Woods volleyball team opened the season with a convincing 3-0 shellacking of Mt. Iron-Buhl at home on Monday. It was a performance that has Head Coach Kandi Olson excited about … more

David Colburn | 8/31/22

Pam Frazee works on rounding up the calves.

Embarrass Team Penning and Ranch Sorting results

EMBARRASS- Team Penning and Ranch Sorting was held at the Embarrass Horse Arena on Aug. 19-21. The weather cooperated even though the calves were a bit ornery (lots of runs with no calves recorded). … more

8/31/22

Fall baseball events set for Ely this year

ELY— The recent military veterans salute by the Ely Baseball Association would normally have marked the end of the baseball season in Ely. The salute was presented late last month during the … more

Keith Vandervort | 8/31/22

Elli Borovsky displays the 50-inch muskie, caught on Lake Vermilion, that vaulted her and teammate Carter Graff to the high school state tourney championship.

High school anglers show how its done

LAKE VERMILION- A pair of Twin Cities high school anglers won the 2022 Minnesota High School Muskie State Championship held Aug. 12 on Lake Vermilion.Runners-up in last year’s tourney, Elli … more

David Colburn | 8/31/22

The undersides of a nice haul of golden chanterelles.

A fungi fantasy

Here in the North Country, a wet summer typically means two things: happy frogs and happy fungi. Since I don’t eat frogs, it’s the fungi that have been getting most of my attention. And … more

Marshall Helmberger | 8/31/22

Wild rice crop running behind schedule

REGIONAL— The wild rice season has officially been open for nearly three weeks, but the rice harvest has been slowed by the later-than-usual ripening of the wild grain. While the season opens … more

Marshall Helmberger | 8/31/22