Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota
Top stories
Home heating costs likely to reach records
REGIONAL— The heating season regularly strains budgets for many North Country families, but this year’s season is likely to be among the most painful in memory, as the cost of fuel oil is hitting …
1854 bands seek GEIS on new mining projects and other extractive activities
REGIONAL— The Bois Forte and Grand Portage Chippewa bands announced Sept. 23 that they will formally request the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board to order a comprehensive study of the …
Free feast, music, and more at solar commons event
TOWER- The Vermilion Country School and the Tower Economic Development Authority have reached an agreement to create the state’s first-ever Solar Commons, a method of converting financial savings …
MPCA’s draft Minntac permit at issue at information session
VIRGINIA— Officials from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, or MPCA, heard concerns and skepticism here on Tuesday during an informational meeting to answer questions on its controversial new …
Hauschild-Zupancich rematch draws nearly $1.3 million
REGIONAL- A race for a single state Senate seat in northeastern Minnesota has become a nearly $1.3 million political battle, fueled largely by outside groups pouring money into efforts to defeat DFL …
Study: Gas price surge hitting Eighth District hard
REGIONAL- North Country families appear to be taking one of Minnesota’s hardest hits from gasoline prices driven higher by the war in Iran, with households in the Eighth Congressional District …
Survey finds strong support for nature assets, small town feel
TOWER-SOUDAN- The community survey conducted this past month as part of Tower-Breitung’s new joint comprehensive planning process showed strong support (about two-thirds of those responding) for …
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Fall Fire
Sunny days with seasonally cool overnight temperatures in the past couple weeks pushed most maples in the North Country to peak color this past weekend. Watch for the maple color to fade by this …
Forest Service: No records of illegal crossings thru BWCAW
REGIONAL— A response by the U.S. Forest Service to a Freedom of Information Act, or FOIA, request raises questions about the value of a proposed amendment to the 1964 Wilderness Act that would …
Drought status eases to moderate REGIONAL— Mid-September rains helped ease drought conditions in northern St. Louis and Lake counties, but an extended forecast that points to warmer and dryer …
As I’ve learned over the past three years, raising chickens comes with more drama than one might expect. It’s like an ongoing soap opera, with a cast of noisy ladies, each with her own particular …
Timberjay Editorial
A candidate embarrassed
Most of us up here have a complaint or two about Minnesota. We grumble about the weather, the mosquitoes, or summer road construction. But there is a difference between grumbling about the place you …
Trump’s phony dividend
We’ve all heard the old saying… Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. But by the time the foolery gets to the third, fourth, or fifth go-round, you would hope voters finally get …
Columnists
New steel plant: Viable venture or political smoke and mirrors?
There was big news in the steel industry this week, with the White House announcement that Mesabi Metallics was going to build the country’s largest steel plant ever somewhere in southeastern Iowa, …
Fall: the season of perennials, porch lady, and propane
A large, vibrant red leaf just went swirling by my head while I bask in the sun on my deck....the rich-toned Corinthian Bell wind chimes resonating a short distance away. I’ve been keeping busy …
It’s not a lie...united we stand, divided we fall
We’re living in a time plagued by deep divisions. But I think most of us would agree, we’re in for some huge challenges ahead. Trouble is, there doesn’t appear any clear path forward. One that …
What the woods know: the dark parts
I recently attended an Ojibwe jiisakaan or shake tent ceremony. There are parts of ceremony that are not mine to share, so I won’t. But I can share something I found myself thinking about …
Letters to the Editor
Let’s offer thanks to judges who defend our democracy
I send out a dozen postcards every week to our federal judges who insist on doing their jobs and protecting our constitution, and I would like to encourage your readers to do this as well. When you …
Heating costs are skyrocketing this season
The cold weather heating season is just about upon us. Many people do not know of the increase in home heating oil that has occurred in the last couple months. Currently in Ely, the cost for 100 to …
Minnesotans would regret putting the GOP in charge
Let’s fast forward to the day after the 2026 midterm elections here in Minnesota. The Republicans have gained control of not only the governor’s seat, but all statewide offices along with control …
Editorial was off base regarding causes of 9/11
I was in New York City on the day the two planes hit the twin towers, saw the smoke, smelled burning flesh, and comforted a neighbor who narrowly escaped one of the towers, guided by brave …
More money for Ely schools, without raising local taxes
The Ely Public School District has a unique opportunity before it this November, one that could strengthen our schools by bringing additional state funding back to our community without increasing …
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Ely win streak ends at eight in Chisholm heartbreaker
ELY- In a busy week of volleyball action, the Ely girls ran their season-opening win streak to eight with five match wins before suffering their first loss of the season on Monday at Chisholm. The …
Wolves upset bid falls short vs. Broncos
ELY- The Ely High School football stadium could rightly be renamed the Ely Heartbreak Hotel after the Wolves came up short in a rain-delayed thriller against International Falls on Friday, 21-8. The …
Grizzlies go 4-3 in busy week
FIELD TWP- The North Woods volleyball team logged plenty of road miles during a busy six-day stretch, playing seven matches at four locations and coming away with four wins and three losses. The …
Nighthawks notch first win
BABBITT- A young Northeast Range volleyball squad is showing signs of growth, picking up their first win of the season on Saturday at the Greenway tournament in Coleraine. The Nighthawks opened the …
Grizzlies blanked again in loss to Bigfork
FIELD TWP- Playing without several players from their opening 28-0 loss to McGregor, the North Woods game at home against Bigfork last Thursday was an adventure in lackluster improvisation, as the …
Thomas M. Andrick
Thomas “Tom” Michael Andrick, 78, of Duluth, formerly of Lake Vermilion, passed peacefully into Heaven on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, while quietly reading a book. A celebration of life will be …
Don K. Plerchee
Don Keath Plerchee, 74, died in his home on Pelican Lake-Orr on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026, after a year’s long battle with cancer. There will be a private interment at a later date. Arrangements are …
Eileen R. Aune
Eileen Renay Vezina Kennedy Aune, 61, of Gheen, passed away on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, surrounded by loved ones. A memorial gathering will be held on Saturday, Sept. 26 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at …
Jean J. Stueland
Jean Joanne Mantel Stueland, 81, formerly of White Iron Lake-Ely, died on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, in Duluth. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 5 at St. Anthony’s Catholic …
Nett Lake hosts fall Miigwech Manoomin Powwow
NETT LAKE- Roxanne Goggleye took top honors in the wild rice (manoomin) recipe contest at the Miigwech Manoomin powwow last weekend with her puffed rice blueberry crisp. There were seven entries this …
Bois Forte writer blends traditional stories with supernatural horror
NETT LAKE—When Shane Drift gets up around 5 a.m. each morning, he puts on coffee and starts to write. Then he writes, and writes some more. “I served on our tribal council for eight years, and …
Memorial project explores the lives of fallen Soudan miners
TOWER- They came to remember 143 men whose deaths had once been recorded largely as names on a list. By the time members of the Soudan Mine Miners Memorial Committee finished their presentation …
From barn to yarn
COOK- While most people who visit Cook’s Country Connection petting farm go to visit with the wide variety of farm animals who make their home there, others have a more practical, and creative, …
North Pole adventurers returning to Ely for 40th
ELY —In celebration of the 40th anniversary of their voyage to the North Pole, explorers Will Steger, Paul Schurke, Ann Bancroft, Richard Weber, Geoff Carroll, and Bob Mantell, six members of the …
(BPT) - It's that time of year again: Temperatures are dropping, kids are heading back to school — and cold and flu season isn't far behind. To help you and your family stay healthier this fall …
Rocket Lawyer reports that small business owners often sacrifice time and income for flexibility and control, but these sacrifices can become permanent if not reassessed.
GoodRx reports nine reasons a pharmacist may not fill a prescription, including missing information, drug shortages, and insurance issues, along with solutions to prevent delays.
(BPT) - For decades, hosting a football game meant the same thing: buffalo wings, a bowl of dip and a cooler of canned beer. But as the sport has evolved over the past 30 years, your Sunday spreads …
(NewsUSA) - Analysis of more than 44 billion emails and 83 million text messages uncovers surprising patterns in when holiday shoppers buy, and what brings them backBlack Friday and Cyber Monday …