News - The Timberjay

Paul McDonald’s referee team at his last basketball game, the Section 7A semi-final game between Carlton/Wrenshall and Mt. Iron-Buhl. Left-to-right: Frank Ivancich, Paul McDonald, Dave Clement

ELY— When Paul McDonald walked off the basketball court for the last time at the Section 7A semifinal last month, he capped a 35-year career of officiating high school sports in Minnesota. … more

Catie Clark | 4/17/24

Too wide, too tall, and too close to the water

VIRGINA- A “dream home” proposed to be built on Plotnik’s Point on Lake Vermilion won’t be as close to the lakeshore as originally planned after the St. Louis County Board of … more

David Colburn | 4/17/24

Council okays use of city site for apartment project

ELY- Continuing Ely’s growing cascade of actions to build new workforce apartments, the city council approved a resolution to commit the old city garage site on W. Pattison, to the project. … more

Catie Clark | 4/17/24

HS volunteers at the History Happy Hour last summer. Pictured are Nancy Larson (left) and Louise Gately

TSHS debuts new website, summer programs

TOWER- The Tower-Soudan Historical Society debuted a new website this year, www.towersoudanhistory.com, which highlights the history of the area, along with many resources for both visitors and … more

Jodi Summit | 4/17/24

Chamber in process of rebuilding, new website now online

TOWER-SOUDAN- After more than a year of work, the next generation of chamber leaders are getting a new Lake Vermilion Chamber website up and running, as well as restarting a chamber presence on … more

Jodi Summit | 4/17/24

Obituaries: April 19, 2024

Charles W. Bystrom Charles “Chuck” William Bystrom, 69, of Tower, respected businessman and adored husband, father, grandfather, and friend was called home to God and reunited with family … more

4/17/24

County debuts online fire evacuation map

REGIONAL- St. Louis County has launched a new online mapping tool designed to expedite safe evacuations in the event of a wildfire, and the system was introduced in a press conference last week that … more

David Colburn | 4/11/24

The drill rig in February at Pulsar Helium’s exploratory borehole site southeast of Babbitt.

Testing of Pulsar helium deposit near Babbitt continues

BABBITT- Those who missed the tours of the helium exploration southeast of Babbitt in February now have a chance to see the drill site on video. The Reuters news syndicate published a short … more

Catie Clark | 4/11/24

The concept plan approved by the TEDA board last week, which includes a 44-unit hotel and related commercial buildings.

TEDA OKs harbor concept plan

TOWER— The Tower Economic Development Authority gave its approval last week to a concept plan for the city’s harbor that calls for a 44-unit hotel along with other associated commercial … more

Jodi Summit | 4/10/24

Ely’s HRA commits cold cash for new housing

ELY- Talk is cheap. Ely’s Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) went from talk to commitment on Tuesday when it moved $350,000 from its levy account to the city’s housing trust fund. … more

Catie Clark | 4/10/24

District facing SOD by next fiscal year

REGIONAL- The harsh reality of declining enrollment on ISD 2142’s financial status was made clear Tuesday when Finance Director Kim Johnson revealed her projection that the district will fall … more

David Colburn | 4/10/24

Ayva Anderson and classmates stand in the drizzle with their eclipse glasses

You can’t eclipse a teachable moment

TOWER- Eclipse day in northern Minnesota featured a heavy overcast and showers, but the wet weather didn’t dampen the astronomy lessons at Tower-Soudan Elementary. Students did trek out to the … more

Jodi Summit | 4/10/24

New board backs funding for Tower Ambulance

GREENWOOD TWP- The change in leadership on the Greenwood Town Board has brought a reversal on one of the most contentious issues in the township in recent years. After three years of refusal to … more

Jodi Summit | 4/10/24

The existing water treatment facility is out-of-date and unable to deal with the issue of chlorination by-product contamination.

Tower gives go-ahead to water plant project

TOWER— The city council here took a leap on Monday and approved the bid from Lakehead Constructors to build a new drinking water treatment plant to serve Tower and Soudan despite a remaining … more

Marshall Helmberger | 4/10/24

Area businesses urge state to assert jurisdiction

REGIONAL- A concerned group of business owners who depend on providing services to visitors to Voyageurs National Park are mounting a concerted effort against proposed changes in park policies that … more

David Colburn | 4/10/24

An artist’s rendition of the timberwolf mascot head on the outside of school offices at the Ely Public Schools.

Donation to fund new murals and signage on new addition

ELY- The ISD 696 school board accepted $30,000 in donations from the Ely Educational Foundation at its regular monthly meeting on Monday. Two-thirds of the money is for murals and signage for the … more

Catie Clark | 4/10/24

Funds sought to replace Morcom community center

BEAR RIVER- A crumbling area educational landmark could be on its way to the dustbin of history if the Legislature approves a $2.923 million bonding request to fund a new community center for Morcom … more

David Colburn | 4/10/24

Tower woman injured in crash

KUGLER TWP- A Tower woman was transported to the Virginia hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after her vehicle struck a front end loader on Hwy. 135 south of Tower on March 27. Tina … more

4/10/24

Obituaries: April 12, 2024

James W. Gawboy James Walter “Jim” Gawboy, “Waasagiizhik” “Animikii Aanakwad”, 87, died at home in his wife’s arms on Thursday, April 4, 2024. A Traditional … more

4/10/24

Ambulance study delay adds fuel to suspicions

REGIONAL- Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital (EBCH) CEO Patti Banks accepted some of the responsibility this week for the delay in the completion of the long-promised regional ambulance study … more

Catie Clark | 4/3/24

Motorists can expect some delays this summer from highway projects planned to major corridors, like Hwy. 169, shown above.

Road construction ahead

REGIONAL— Spring is coming and that means road construction can’t be far behind. This week, the Minnesota Department of Transportation announced its line-up of nearly 200 road … more

Marshall Helmberger | 4/3/24

Legislative efforts to control chronic wasting disease in wild deer populations by heavily regulating white tail deer farmers has the state of Minnesota facing a federal lawsuit.

Federal suit filed over deer farm regulations

REGIONAL- Has Minnesota gone too far in imposing regulations on cervid farms intended to prevent the spread of chronic wasting disease? A lawsuit filed with the Minnesota federal district court in … more

David Colburn | 4/3/24

Gordy Adams Jr. a victim of house fire

NETT LAKE- A house fire here on Sunday, March 24 claimed the life of the home’s resident, 66-year-old Gordon Adams Jr., marking a significant loss for the Nett Lake community. Adams was … more

David Colburn | 4/3/24

You’ll want to use special eclipse glasses to see Monday’s partial eclipse in Minnesota.

Partial solar eclipse to be visible in area April 8

REGIONAL- The North Country will experience a partial solar eclipse this coming Monday, as the sun will be partially blocked by the moon as it passes between the sun and Earth. The partial solar … more

Catie Clark | 4/3/24

Chavers, Drift top Bois Forte primary election results

BOIS FORTE RESERVATION- Incumbent Bois Forte Band Chair Cathy Chavers outdueled three competitors in the Bois Forte Band’s primary election on Tuesday but will still face a challenge in the … more

David Colburn | 4/3/24