News - The Timberjay

Edwin Swanson, Dot Swanson, Ellie Jankowski and Logan Jankowski enjoy the view in this barrel sauna made by Nordic Legend Products of Cloquet.

Sauna Day a celebration of Finnish traditions

EMBARRASS- The Finns of Embarrass, along with their friends, neighbors and visitors from afar, gathered Sunday to celebrate tradition, heritage and community at Sauna Day. The annual celebration of … more

Stephanie Ukkola | 6/13/25

Ely School Board to manage more of its tech work in-house

ELY- The Ely School Board, Monday, continued with cost-saving measures as it works to reduce a potential deficit. On this month’s agenda, that included dissolving a 2019 agreement for IT … more

Jodi Summit | 6/13/25

The former El-Roy Supper Club was destroyed in an early morning fire last Friday

Former El-Roy Supper Club destroyed in early morning fire

BRITT— The former El-Roy Supper Club here was destroyed by fire last Friday, June 6, and a family that had recently purchased the former restaurant property is lucky to have survived the early … more

6/12/25

Timber Days starts Friday in Cook, runs through June 15

COOK— Whether you come for the music, the parade, the pancakes, or the petting zoo, Timber Days in Cook is serving up all the familiar favorites—with a few fresh additions to keep things … more

David Colburn | 6/12/25

Hibbing Fire Chief Erik Jankila presented the new fire department policies to the board.

New fire department policies adopted; now taking applications for chief

GREENWOOD TWP- The Greenwood Town Board, Tuesday, approved a set of new policies and job descriptions for the township fire department. The policies also set up written hiring policies and … more

Jodi Summit | 6/12/25

Lawmakers finish state budget in one-day special session

REGIONAL- It took a single marathon day, a raft of last-minute deals, and more than a few hoarse floor speeches, but Minnesota lawmakers wrapped up their budget work during a special session on … more

David Colburn | 6/12/25

Pulitzer-winning musical “Next to Normal” on stage in Ely June 18–29

ELY- Northern Lakes Arts Association continues to raise the bar for regional theater with its newest production: “Next to Normal,” a bold and groundbreaking musical exploring mental … more

6/12/25

Obituaries: June 13, 2025

Susan R. Miller Susan R. “Sue” Miller, 82, of Ely, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 23, 2025, surrounded by family. In the week preceding her death, her home was filled with most … more

6/12/25

Roger Skraba, Tom Bakk, Grant Hauschild, and Interim VNP Superintendent Brian Harmon look on as Gretchen Janssen and retired park superintendent Bob DeGross cut the ribbon, officially opening the new Crane Lake Visitor’s Center.

Crane Lake celebrates

CRANE LAKE- In the heart of Minnesota’s northern wilderness, the long-held dream of a community became reality on Friday as Crane Lake cut the ribbon on its new visitor center for Voyageurs … more

David Colburn | 6/12/25

A photo circa 1910s at Goodwill’s Summer Home, the first resort built on Vermilion’s west end.

Goodwill Township an homage to Vermilion’s past

LAKE VERMILION- For the first time in St. Louis County since the formal organization of Kabetogama Township in 2001, a newly organized township held its first official meeting on Tuesday at the Lake … more

David Colburn | 6/12/25

Council weighs Hoodoo Point improvements

TOWER— Replacing the Hoodoo Point Campground’s outdated electrical system was a major topic for the city council here on Monday as electrical engineer Joe Peterson outlined the steps … more

Marshall Helmberger | 6/12/25

Fighting wildfire with knowledge

ELY- As recent times have demonstrated, climate change is here, noted Barb Jones as she introduced a series of speakers on emergency management to more than 70 people who gathered at the Ely Senior … more

Stephanie Ukkola | 6/12/25

Deputies investigate suspicious incident near Orr

ORR— Authorities are investigating a suspicious encounter reported Sunday night outside the Dam Supper Club, along Hwy. 53 just south of Orr. According to the St. Louis County Sheriff’s … more

David Colburn | 6/12/25

Jeannie Taylor is being honored as grand marshal of the Cook Annual Timber Days parade for her work with Cook Friends of the Parks.

Jeannie Taylor chosen as Timber Days Grand Marshal

COOK- The Cook Annual Timber Days committee in recent years has chosen grand marshals for Sunday’s parade who have been involved in many different volunteer and philanthropic groups. This … more

David Colburn | 6/5/25

Testing shows high copper levels in some Tower water

TOWER- Recent testing of the public water supply in selected homes in Tower showed elevated levels of copper, with three of ten locations sampled having levels above the Safe Drinking Water Act … more

Jodi Summit | 6/5/25

Mealeys Gift and Sauna Shop is among area retailers trying to adjust to the new tariffs on imported products.

Effects of tariffs vary widely with area retailers

REGIONAL— While the fate of President Trump’s tariffs are currently stuck in legal limbo for now, it remains to be seen how those assessments will impact retailers here in the North … more

Marshall Helmberger | 6/5/25

Lawmakers rush to finish state budget

REGIONAL- With just weeks left to avoid a state government shutdown, Minnesota lawmakers are still trying to wrap up work on a new two-year budget that was supposed to be done weeks ago. The regular … more

David Colburn | 6/5/25

Annie Humphrey sews a printed patch onto a shirt.

Arts, music, science, and the environment

TOWER- Vermilion Country School’s environmental education focus this year is on water quality, and while students in science class have been exploring the science of water and the environmental … more

Jodi Summit | 6/5/25

Obituaries: June 6, 2025

Carol J. McCue Carol J. Aune McCue, 85, of Cook, passed away at the home of her son and daughter-in-law in North Carolina on Sunday, May 25, 2025. A celebration of life will be held at 1 … more

6/5/25

North Woods sixth grader Eero Ruuska was honored recently for his role in bringing a concerning bus incident to a positive conclusion. Pictured with Ruuska are, from left, transportation director Kay Cornelius, bus driver Peter Mock, and North Woods Principal Kelly Engman.

Sixth grader steps up when bus driver suffers stroke

FIELD TWP- For most kids, an ordinary bus ride home is just that – ordinary. But for North Woods sixth grader Eero Ruuska, one recent afternoon turned into a lesson in calm, clear-headed … more

David Colburn | 6/5/25

IRRR board greenlights millions in new funding

REGIONAL- A major infrastructure project in Tower and a workforce housing initiative in Ely headlined nearly $39 million in funding actions approved by the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation … more

David Colburn | 6/5/25

Suspect arrested in local spree of burglaries

REGIONAL— The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office has announced an arrest in a series of burglaries and thefts from homes and businesses in the Tower area in recent weeks. Jeffery Allen … more

Marshall Helmberger | 6/5/25

Water main break tops council agenda

ELY- “There’s a pretty cool waterfall coming down the road.” Ely Clerk-Treasurer Harold Langowski said that was the probably his favorite firsthand report on the city water main … more

Stephanie Ukkola | 6/5/25

North Woods Class President Talen Jarshaw points to what it’s all about shortly after receiving his diploma.

From students to graduates

Graduation ceremonies were held throughout the area last week, marking a major milestone for the many local graduates. more

Timberjay staff | 6/5/25

Broadband expansion coming to Breitung area

SOUDAN- At their meeting on May 20, the Breitung Town Board approved the permits allowing CTC to begin laying fiber optic cable to bring high-speed broadband internet to parts of the township. … more

Stephanie Ukkola | 5/30/25