News - The Timberjay

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

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

Council hears both sides in short-term rental debate

TOWER— The city council here heard from very different perspectives as they continue to grapple with a new ordinance to regulate short-term rentals in the city. After a number of incidents at … more

Marshall Helmberger | 6/13/24

Pulsar’s flow rate test shows major helium discovery

BABBITT- Pulsar Helium reported the preliminary results of their May flow tests from their helium gas well this week, documenting remarkable concentrations of the gas. On June 6, Pulsar reported that … more

Catie Clark | 6/13/24

Supervisor Rick Stoehr sparred with other town board members several times during the meeting. From left: Stoehr, Craig Gilbert, and Lois Roskoski.

Greenwood meetings now livestreamed on Facebook

GREENWOOD TWP- Greenwood Town Board meetings have long drawn a crowd, but now that includes spectators who can watch the blow-by-blow from the comfort of their own home. Township officials have hired … more

Jodi Summit | 6/13/24

Pickleball project needs additional funding

COOK- The Cook City Council heard a progress report on the pickleball court project being pursued by Friends of the Parks at its May 30 meeting, but a subsequent error in another newspaper report of … more

David Colburn | 6/13/24

The“Bright Star” ensemble going through the music and choreography of the first act, when Alice relives her flash backs from the time she lost her baby. From left-to-right: Ian Francis Lah, Debbie Prutsman (Alice’s mother), Jacob Haen, Mallory Wintz (Alice), Noah Warner, and Brian Fischer (Alice’s father).

Award-winning musical “Bright Star” opens Thursday

REGIONAL- As the northbound No. 4 St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway train crossed the bridge over the Big River on Aug. 14, 1902, someone threw a newborn baby in a suitcase into the … more

Catie Clark | 6/13/24

Obituaries: June 14, 2024

Theresa M. Berg Theresa Marie Berg, 94, of Rockford, Ill., passed away on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, at home surrounded by family. The family would like to give a special thank you to OSF Hospice … more

6/13/24

A wooden structure holds a camera and microphone that provides a live stream of the loon nest located in the lower left quarter of the photo.

Loon cam sees growing following

LAKE VERMILION— Interest is growing in the drama surrounding a pair of nesting loons here, who have faced rising water and a mink attack as they’ve attempted to bring the next generation … more

Marshall Helmberger | 6/6/24

Regional ambulance study to be aired June 13

ELY- The results of the long-anticipated study on ambulance service in the region are finally available. SafeTech Solutions, of Isanti, the consultants hired by Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital, … more

Catie Clark | 6/6/24

Addy Hartway with her diploma from North Woods.

A MILESTONE ACHIEVED

Last Friday was an eventful one for graduates around the area, who said goodbye to their high school careers and began their new lives as adults ready to take on the world. Timberjay photographers … more

6/6/24

Two St. Louis County Rescue Squad volunteers rendezvous with a float plane at the lower end drop off point on Iron Lake for a flight away from the search area. Rick and Jake will go out on this flight along with a huge portion of gear. North Pete and Smiley Mike are on deck for the next sortie. All volunteers were evacuated prior to the area being hit by bad weather.

Both bodies recovered at Curtain Falls

REGIONAL- A 16-day search for the bodies of two canoeists who went over Curtain Falls last month came to an end this week with the recovery of the second body on Monday. The St. Louis Sheriff’s … more

Marshall Helmberger | 6/6/24

City OKs bonds for public works purchase

TOWER— The city council here approved the funding package that will enable the city to acquire the St. Louis County public works facility on Marina Drive, for $260,000. Dan Tienter, of Ehlers … more

Marshall Helmberger | 6/6/24

Cook fire chief is chief dignitary for Timber Days

COOK- If there’s one thing the organizing committee for Cook’s Annual Timber Days celebration prides itself on more than anything else, it would likely be the care and consideration they … more

David Colburn | 6/5/24

Bob and Jen McDonough (left and middle) with Tim from Los Angeles, who was their first Airbnb customer recently. Tim came to experience the Boundary Waters and said he found the area to be amazing.

Tower Café now offering Airbnb rooms for rent

TOWER- The McDonough family recently reached another milestone in their ongoing adventure to bring the former small “hotel,” that once operated on the second floor of the Tower … more

Jodi Summit | 6/5/24

Moving on and up to the world of adults

TOWER- It was a full house at Vermilion Country School as 13 graduates received their diplomas in front of family and friends. There was a bit of last minute scrambling as school staff rounded up … more

Jodi Summit | 6/5/24

Center closing accentuates child care gap

COOK- Last week’s closure of Little Beginnings Preschool in Cook leaves a big hole in the community when it comes to child care options for families with children, at a time when the childcare … more

David Colburn | 6/5/24

Ore car to be added at Pioneer Mine

ELY- The Pioneer Mine at the Ely Arts and Heritage Center is getting an ore car. Canadian Pacific is donating an ore jennie to the city-owned museum, which museum volunteer Seraphine Rolando promises … more

Catie Clark | 6/5/24