News - The Timberjay

Minnesota enacts landmark right-to-repair law

REGIONAL- Most everyone knows a tinkerer, someone who for the sheer challenge or pursuit of savings loves diving into broken things to try to repair them. And when it comes to a wide array of … more

David Colburn | 6/14/23

Range Mental Health Center (RMHC) Outpatient Therapists Jared Sabin, right, and Duane Dale discuss new processes and procedures as a result of the recent change in status for RMHC to a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic at the Gov. Rudy Perpich Building in Hibbing.

Range Mental Health Center ups its game

REGIONAL- Range Mental Health Center (RMHC), a nonprofit that has been serving the region for over sixty years, recently gained recognition as a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) … more

6/14/23

Free summer meals for kids offered in Cook

COOK- A well-utilized free summer food program for children is back again at the Cook Public Library and in a dozen other Iron Range communities, but a change in how the meals are distributed has … more

David Colburn | 6/14/23

Obituaries: June 16, 2023

James F. Charles James Frederick “Jim” Charles, 100, formerly of Tower, passed away on Monday, June 5, 2023, at Lake Minnetonka Shores Assisted Living in Spring Park. A funeral service … more

6/14/23

In an undated photograph, Martin Gundersen fillets fish on an area dock while one of his grandchildren watches with interest. Gundersen, along with his wife Elizabeth, were major property owners in the area in the early 1900s. They later donated much of that land to the city of Tower, some of which formed the basis for the Gundersen Trust.

Gundersen Trust changes finally approved by court

TOWER- After years of effort, the city of Tower’s Gundersen Trust Fund has received court approval for the transfer of its assets to the Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation (DSACF). … more

Jodi Summit | 6/8/23

One of the new bear enclosures at the North American Bear Center, featuring special bear-friendly and visitor-friendly zoo fencing and new natural dens.

New digs for residents at North American Bear Center

ELY- At the North American Bear Center, the old bear enclosures with their wooden shelters have lasted many years; however, with wear and bear, it was obvious they wouldn’t last fur-ever. … more

6/8/23

Brinker is pick for Timber Days grand marshal

COOK – There are certain constants about Danny Brinker, this year’s Grand Marshal for the Cook Timber Days parade. One is his volunteerism in the community, the primary reason he’s … more

David Colburn | 6/7/23

Ely High School graduates take part in the rite of graduation, tossing mortarboards to the sky.

Ready for anything

Area high schools held graduation ceremonies for the Class of 2023 last week. Here are a few images captured by Timberjay photographers. more

Timberjay staff | 6/7/23

The two-story boathouse at Aronson Boat Works is no more. The 80-year-old building came down this week to make room for new docking.

Major changes at one of the area’s oldest businesses

LAKE VERMILION- As one of the oldest, continuously operating businesses on Lake Vermilion, Aronson Boat Works is getting a major facelift in an effort to better serve its growing customer base. The … more

Jodi Summit | 6/7/23

Sah-Gii-Bah-Gah Powwow at Nett Lake

Timberjay photographer David Colburn captured images of the color and pagentry of Native regalia at the annual Sah-Gii-Bah-Gah powwow this past weekend at Nett Lake. Unseasonably warm temperatures … more

6/7/23

Aaron Kania of the National Forest Service spoke to the Ely City Council on June 6 about regional fire danger.

First license for cannabinoid sales goes to movie theater

ELY- The Ely City Council approved its first license application for the retailing of “on sale” cannabinoids, to Ely’s Historic State Theater. An “on sale” license … more

Catie Clark | 6/7/23

Elevated lead levels found in some Ely water samples

ELY- The City of Ely tested twenty homes in August of 2022 for lead and found elevated levels of lead in drinking water in some homes and buildings. The City of Ely has been working closely with the … more

6/7/23

Dianna Goodsky-Hertig, left, Tom Spears and Lela Goodsky Correa unveil the portrait and plaque honoring their father, the late Bois Forte elder and spiritual advisor Gene Goodsky.

Band dedicates community room to Goodsky

NETT LAKE- Of all the voices heard at a dedication ceremony at the Bois Forte Government Center at Nett Lake last week, the late Bois Forte elder and spiritual adviser Gene Goodsky surely would have … more

David Colburn | 6/7/23

State mining rules mostly protective, says DNR

REGIONAL— The Department of Natural Resources has determined that the state’s non-ferrous mine siting rule is largely protective of the environment, but needs updating to better address … more

Marshall Helmberger | 6/7/23

VCS graduates ready for their next steps towards adulthood

TOWER- “I know I haven’t been at this school very long,” said senior Ashton Cook, “but I feel like every one of you is family. Before I came to this school, I didn’t … more

Jodi Summit | 6/7/23

Obituaries: June 9, 2023

Marius S. Petersen Marius Stenfeldt “Hank” Petersen, 95, of Hilliard, Ohio, passed away on Tuesday, May 23, 2023, due to complications from surgery. Hank did not want a funeral service … more

6/7/23

The planned processing facility for the New Range copper-nickel proposal formerly PolyMet.

Army Corps revokes NorthMet wetlands permit

REGIONAL— The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has dealt a major blow to the prospects for the NorthMet copper-nickel venture proposed by NewRange Copper, formerly known as PolyMet Mining. On … more

Marshall Helmberger | 6/6/23 | 1 comment

Tradition links area’s past to the present

TOWER- While the Herb Lamppa Civic Center was not as full as in recent years, many took time out of their holiday weekend to honor and remember those who both gave their lives while in service to our … more

Jodi Summit | 6/1/23

A Boeing Chinook CH-47D helicopter drops its 2,500 gallons of water on a wildfire that started just west of the Ely Golf Course on Saturday, May 27.

Blaze scorches 20 acres near Ely

ELY- With red flag fire weather warnings posted across northern Minnesota, Ely had its first brush with a wildfire on the afternoon of Saturday, May 27. The fire was reported before 5 p.m. … more

Catie Clark | 5/31/23

Retired pastor still preaching of peace and joy

SOUDAN- H. Arthur (Art) Dale has served as a Lutheran pastor in our area for decades, and now in his retirement, and at 93 years of age, he is continuing to pass on his vision through his second … more

Jodi Summit | 5/31/23

Jim Taylor with the Cook VFW displays the colors during a Memorial Day event in Cook on Monday.

Honor and Respect

As area communities honored the nation's fallen military personnel on Monday, Memorial Day, Timberjay staff members were out capturing images of remembrance. more

Timberjay staff | 5/31/23

Sen. Grant Hauschild (l) and Rep. Roger Skraba (r) talk with BWCC director Adam Masloski about the recently completed legislative session.

Progress, but more to do for nursing homes

ELY— In the wake of the recently completed legislative session, area lawmakers met here with officials from the Boundary Waters Care Center to talk about how the session helped address the … more

Marshall Helmberger | 5/31/23

Preventable deaths by suicide rose again in 2021-22

REGIONAL- After a brief dip during the pandemic in 2020, a 20-year trend of increasing suicides in Minnesota resumed in 2021 and 2022, according to data released by the Minnesota Department of … more

David Colburn | 5/31/23

Cook Timber Days promises new plus the favorites

COOK- As the annual Cook Timber Days celebration has evolved in recent years, revelers have come to expect a host of favorite activities, this year scheduled for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday June 9, … more

David Colburn | 5/31/23

isheries staff work quickly to remove sturgeon eggs from a Rainy River sturgeon for recovery stocking within the Red River basin.

DNR now leading egg collection for sturgeon recovery

REGIONAL— Sturgeon eggs from the Minnesota side of the Rainy River will soon be continuing in the effort to restore lake sturgeon populations in the Red River basin in western Minnesota and … more

5/31/23