News - The Timberjay

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

Stuntz Bay's parking woes

SOUDAN- Stuntz Bay Association president Dan Wiirre updated the Breitung town board about the association’s upcoming projects and other news at their May 25 meeting. “We had two generous … more

Stephanie Ukkola | 5/31/23

Impact of new unemployment benefits unclear

REGIONAL- Minnesota is now the first state in the country to offer unemployment benefits to hourly school workers who are typically laid off at the end of the regular school year. School bus drivers, … more

David Colburn | 5/31/23

Personnel and drug policy top light board agenda

BABBITT- The ISD 2142 school board held its regular meeting at Northeast Range school in Babbitt on Tuesday, approving a drug overdose medication policy and numerous personnel actions. Board members … more

David Colburn | 5/25/23

Towing the Wilderness Watch lawsuit into July

REGIONAL- The U.S. Forest Service has filed a 41-page motion to dismiss, for lack of jurisdiction, a longstanding lawsuit by Wilderness Watch that accuses the federal agency of allowing towboat use … more

5/25/23 | 1 comment

As one of the many who donated to the Boundary Waters Care Center, 100 Ely Women Who Care donated $6,870 recently. Front row, (l-r) Barbara Kollar, 101-year-old resident of BWCC and Adam Masloski. Back row: Emily Brown, Cindy Gardner, and Mary Zimmerman.

New funding, donations save Ely nursing home, for now

ELY- After the drought of funding for skilled nursing homes following the 2022 legislative session, the announcement that Ely’s Boundary Waters Care Center (BWCC) would receive $750,000 for … more

Catie Clark | 5/24/23

New gun restrictions approved

REGIONAL- Gov. Tim Walz has signed landmark gun control legislation expanding background checks for firearms and enacting a “red flag” provision enabling authorities to intervene when … more

David Colburn | 5/24/23 | 1 comment

Area residents gather regularly at the Embarrass Timber Hall for a wide range of activities. The facility will receive $1.5 million to fund improvements and repairs.

Lawmakers deliver for the North Country

ST. PAUL— A late session deal that added $1.5 billion in state bonding to a capital projects improvement bill is expected to inject $2.6 billion into the state’s economy over the … more

Marshall Helmberger | 5/24/23

Ely writer, illustrator team up on new childrens’ book

ELY- A new book published by the Minnesota Historical Society Press will give area families a new tradition to celebrate with their children. The book is now available at area bookstores and online. … more

Jodi Summit | 5/24/23

ISD 696 fumbles communications twice in a row

ELY- For the second time in a row, the Ely School Board faced a room overflowing with teachers and parents at their May 22 meeting, this time over concerns about the schedule for the 2023-24 school … more

Catie Clark | 5/24/23

Tower and Soudan water supplies both meet safe drinking water standards

REGIONAL- A new drinking water report from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) shows that while some areas of the state face challenges including quantity, quality and aging infrastructure, the … more

Jodi Summit | 5/24/23

Ebel VNP tasing video making splash on YouTube

REGIONAL- Outside of the Timberjay’s ongoing coverage since last summer, regional media outlets have shown little interest in the tasing of Ash River houseboat owner Justin Ebel by Voyageurs … more

David Colburn | 5/24/23

Controversial nurse staffing bill crumbles

REGIONAL- In a stunning last day reversal of fortunes, Minnesota legislators killed a controversial proposal that would have left hospital staffing decisions to committees, shifting the bill’s … more

David Colburn | 5/24/23

United Way of NE MN partners with Essentia to promote volunteering

REGIONAL - United Way of Northeastern Minnesota (UWNEMN) has announced a partnership with Essentia Health to promote volunteering across the Iron Range. Thanks in part to a grant from Essentia … more

5/24/23

Obituaries: May 26, 2023

Jon D. Folz Jr. Please note change in service date Jon David Folz Jr., 63, of Ely, died on Sunday, April 30, 2023, with his family at his side at St. Mary’s Hospital in Duluth. A Mass of … more

5/24/23