News - The Timberjay

Billy Monteith of Tower was all smiles as he played on the new model Beaver floatplane at Ely’s new Puddle Jumper pocket park.

Model Beaver floatplane highlight of Ely’s new pocket park

ELY—The first pocket park built here is now officially open. Puddle Jumper Park was dedicated this past Friday, and a few dozen people came out to enjoy music, hot dogs, and more at the former … more

7/2/25

The Manick boys had a blast playing pickleball at Greenwood Community Recreation Association's first recreation day and potluck picnic.

Pavilion is packed for first annual recreation day and potluck

GREENWOOD TWP- The Greenwood Community Recreation Board’s first annual recreation day and potluck picnic brought as many as 200 area residents and visitors to the recreation areas at the town … more

7/2/25

Obituaries: July 4, 2025

Elaine M. Villebrun Elaine Marilee Villebrun, 78, of Orr, passed away on Sunday, June 29, 2025. The Traditional Wake will be held on Monday, July 7 starting at 5 p.m. The Traditional Service will be … more

7/2/25

AMERICA’S BIRTHDAY!

Orr packs a lot into July 3rd ORR- Orr’s biggest community event of the year is back, and the town is pulling out all the stops for the annual Third of July Fun Day. From early-morning pancakes … more

7/2/25

Robert and Erin Monteith with their son Billy.

Timberjay taps Robert Monteith as new managing editor

TOWER—Robert Monteith has become the new managing editor of the Timberjay. Originally from southern California, Monteith has worked as a journalist for over 15 years. His career started as a … more

7/2/25

The northern peninsula of Rough-N-It campground on Lake Vermilion’s Black Bay.

Campground dispute drags on through legal twists

LAKE VERMILION — A long-running battle over a proposed Lake Vermilion campground meant to serve disabled veterans has seen court filings, environmental review fights, zoning denials, and yet, … more

David Colburn | 7/2/25

Developments coming soon for NewRange

REGIONAL— Officials with NewRange Copper Nickel say they expect to publicly share more details of their plans to revive the NorthMet copper-nickel project near Babbitt by September. … more

Marshall Helmberger | 7/2/25

Max Helmberger and Eva Felix-Monteith take a breath from paddling along a narrow stretch of Boga Lake in the BWCAW. The forest on both sides is recovering from the 2011 Pagami Creek burn.

Supreme Court denies U.S. Steel’s request for review of sulfate ruling

REGIONAL — The state’s Supreme Court has denied a request by U.S. Steel to review a lower court ruling issued in April. That ruling had affirmed the decision by the Minnesota Pollution … more

Marshall Helmberger | 7/2/25

Hernandez edges Morrison by three votes in Bois Forte tribal chair election

BOIS FORTE — In a tightly contested special general election on Tuesday, June 17, Carlos A. Hernandez narrowly defeated Travis Morrison to become the new tribal chair for the Bois Forte Band of … more

David Colburn | 6/26/25

Mayor reflects on shootings of Minnesota lawmakers

ELY — The city council here began its June 17 meeting with a moment of silence for Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, who were fatally shot last Saturday at their home … more

Stephanie Ukkola | 6/26/25

Minnesota U.S. Sen. Tina Smith speaks out at a recent press conference.

Boelter’s hit list chills Minnesota abortion providers and activists

REGIONAL – Suspected assassin Vance Boelter listed names of abortion providers and activists in a series of notebooks found at his home and threats to doctors and clinics are on the upswing. … more

Ana Radelat - MinnPost | 6/26/25

More testing underway at helium mining site in Babbitt

Pulsar Helium announced that well clean-up and flow testing operations will commence in mid-July at its Topaz Project near Babbitt, with completion expected by early August. The testing program … more

Robert Monteith | 6/26/25

State’s rural health providers gather as programs are threatened

REGIONAL — The 25th annual Minnesota Rural Health Conference opened in Duluth on June 9-10 with an unmistakable sense of uncertainty hanging over the roughly 450 attendees from Minnesota and … more

David Colburn | 6/26/25

DNR Regional Parks and Trails Director Scott Kelling talks with affected lake residents and business owners.

Skeptics turn out at DNR open house

TOWER — The Department of Natural Resources’ plan for a $3.2 million renovation of Lake Vermilion’s Moccasin Point public access faced plenty of criticism here this past Wednesday … more

Marshall Helmberger | 6/26/25

Obituaries: June 27, 2025

Marsha D. Banovetz Marsha D. Banovetz, 85, of Ely, passed away on Friday, May 30, 2025, at M Hospital Fairview Southdale in Edina. Celebrations of life will occur in both St. Paul and Ely. A memorial … more

6/26/25

ISD 2142 headed for statutory operating debt?

VIRGINIA — At its meeting Tuesday, the ISD 2142 School Board got a sobering dose of fiscal reality: The district is projecting a $2.5 million general fund deficit for the 2025–26 school … more

David Colburn | 6/26/25

Vermilion man faces new theft charges

TOWER — A Lake Vermilion man is facing additional theft charges stemming from a May 20 shoplifting spree at the Northwoods True Value hardware store in Tower. Jeffery Allen Bingham, 42, who is … more

Marshall Helmberger | 6/26/25

Board OKs budget with small deficit

ELY — The school district here will run a deficit for the second straight fiscal year after the board approved a budget that reduces the general fund by $64,282. That will leave a projected … more

Robert Monteith | 6/26/25

The crowd at the health care forum in Cook included a number of attendees from other towns across northeastern Minnesota, all concerned about the future of their local health care services.

Cook leaders sound health care alarm

COOK — A draconian federal plan to slash nearly $800 billion from Medicaid has rural health care providers across the country sounding the alarm, not just about the dollars, but about the lives … more

David Colburn | 6/26/25

Green dots indicate areas that are in the broadband plan, and red dots indicate areas that have been removed due to increasing project costs.

Large areas of the township no longer included in broadband project

GREENWOOD TWP- During a meeting that stretched over two-and-a-half hours, the Greenwood Town Board dealt with a long list of issues in addition to the fire department policies detailed in last … more

Jodi Summit | 6/18/25

Scammer solicits phony donations from Tower businesses

TOWER- When a man purporting to be collecting donations for the scholarship fund for the VFW in Cook came to the Tower Café last week, owner Jen McDonough’s spidey-sense awakened. … more

Jodi Summit | 6/18/25

Survey shows mixed feelings towards communities, county

REGIONAL- A new countywide survey shows that most St. Louis County residents are generally satisfied with life in their communities, but that optimism doesn’t always extend to how they feel … more

David Colburn | 6/18/25

Small changes in your yard can improve your local water quality

ELY- Every piece of land is connected to each other, to waterways, and wild lands. To keep our watersheds in good health it’s important that landowners be aware of the choices they make and how … more

Stephanie Ukkola | 6/18/25

State agency warns of fake traffic ticket threat

REGIONAL- State officials are warning Minnesotans to steer clear of scam text messages pretending to be from the Department of Public Safety or the state’s motor vehicle division. The texts … more

David Colburn | 6/18/25

Obituaries: June 20, 2025

Danielle A. Pieratos It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Danielle Alys Pieratos, 36, of Lake Vermilion-Tower, beloved mother, daughter, sister, auntie, niece, cousin and friend, who … more

6/18/25