News - The Timberjay

Mining's potential impact on the economy and environment was a bit topic at the town hall meeting.

Huge turnout for Hauschild’s Ely town hall

ELY- It was standing room only at Vermilion Fine Arts Theater here on Tuesday as Sen. Grant Hauschild hosted his fifth town hall event, this time accompanied by Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy. … more

Catie Clark | 4/17/25

Jen McDonough was the evening’s keynote speaker.

Ely Chamber hosts annual awards night

ELY- Pirates, scavenger hunts, rubber duckies, and “Iron Jen” McDonough combined for a memorable evening here as the Ely Chamber of Commerce held its annual Celebrate Ely dinner and … more

Catie Clark | 4/10/25

Sen. Smith bill would prohibit sulfide mining upstream of BWCAW

REGIONAL— U.S. Sen. Tina Smith has introduced a measure in the U.S. Senate that would make permanent the current prohibition on mineral leasing on 225,000 acres of the Superior National Forest, … more

Marshall Helmberger | 4/10/25

Hauschild and Skraba advance bill to provide aid to rural fire, EMS districts

REGIONAL- A bill moving through the Minnesota Legislature could bring long-term relief to rural fire and emergency services by sending state aid to special taxing districts created to support them. … more

David Colburn | 4/10/25

Real ID deadline takes flight May 7

REGIONAL- If you have a domestic flight booked for any time after May 6, you’ll be turned away from airport security if you don’t have a Real ID or another acceptable form of … more

David Colburn | 4/10/25

Orr repeat offender back in court; charged with driving without a license

REGIONAL- Tate Jordan Cly, 21, of Orr, was scheduled to be arraigned in St. Louis County District Court on Friday on a charge of driving while his license was revoked, the third such offense in a … more

David Colburn | 4/10/25

Obituaries: April 11, 2025

Robert Tekautz Robert “Bob” Tekautz, 78, of Virginia, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 28, 2025, at home, with his wife and family by his side, after a lengthy illness with several … more

4/10/25

Protesters gather with signs along Sheridan Street, garnering mostly positive responses from passersby.

Nationwide outpouring

ELY— More than 200 area residents brought a wide range of concerns over the Trump administration’s recent actions to Whiteside Park on Saturday, part of a national day of protest … more

Catie Clark | 4/10/25

Acclaimed photographer Jim Brandenburg dies at age 79

REGIONAL—Jim Brandenburg, one of the world’s most celebrated nature photographers, has died at the age of 79. That shocking news was shared by members of his family, who were with him … more

Marshall Helmberger | 4/10/25

Low income heating aid may be lost

REGIONAL- The abrupt termination of the entire national staff overseeing a $4.1 billion federal energy assistance program last week left more than 10,000 Minnesota households uncertain about whether … more

David Colburn | 4/10/25

Lawmakers focusing on healthy aging

REGIONAL- At a time when there are more Minnesotans aged 65 or older than there are school-aged children, lawmakers in St. Paul are taking a serious look at how to position state government to best … more

David Colburn | 4/10/25

Printing facilities at the Cook News-Herald office in Cook will be upgraded in order to print several papers now owned by Cherry Road Media in northeastern Minnesota.

New Jersey-based Cherry Road Media buys Albertson newspapers

REGIONAL— A New Jersey-based media company has acquired two more northeastern Minnesota newspapers. Cherry Road Media, which now owns 94 newspapers across 18 states, has purchased the Cook … more

Marshall Helmberger | 4/10/25

The Ely City Council’s April 1 proposal to build the International Mosquito Center was featured on statewide and national news programs.

Mosquitos “bug” the Ely City Council

ELY- The Ely City Council meeting on Tuesday evening got off to a raucous start when Mayor Heidi Omerza commented that Ely had once again made the news with an elaborate April Fools prank that was … more

Catie Clark | 4/3/25

District responds to Indian Education concerns, promises progress

VIRGINIA- After a local advisory group of American Indian parents flagged a long list of concerns about how the ISD 2142 St. Louis County School district handles Indian Education, school officials … more

David Colburn | 4/3/25

Huge turnout for People’s Town Hall event

DULUTH— Nearly 900 people jammed into the Duluth East Auditorium here last Saturday to air their concerns about the ongoing threats to democracy, the economy, and the environment posed by the … more

Marshall Helmberger | 4/3/25

Cook teen arrested for alleged car theft, domestic assault

OWENS TWP- A Cook teenager is facing felony charges after allegedly taking a vehicle without permission from a home in Owens Township on the morning of Saturday, March 22. According to a criminal … more

David Colburn | 4/3/25

Flambeau Mine offers arguments for both sides in mining debate

LADYSMITH, Wis.— Since the Flambeau Mine, located just outside this small northwestern Wisconsin community, closed in 1997, it has served as a kind of Rorschach test for both supporters and … more

Marshall Helmberger | 4/3/25

Obituaries: April 4, 2025

Scott A. Larson Scott Alan Larson, 57, of Cambridge, Md., passed away peacefully on Friday, March 21, 2025, in Baltimore, Md. Scott will be greatly missed by his many friends and family. A … more

4/3/25

Ely firefighters at the scene of a house fire on N. Fifth Ave. E. that started late Tuesday evening.

Ely woman dies in late-night fire

ELY- The fire siren here went off for five minutes just after 11 p.m. Tuesday night for a structure fire which claimed the life of a woman and two dogs. The fire caused extensive damage to the … more

Catie Clark | 4/3/25

A panoramic view from the sky of Voyageurs National Park, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

State’s only national park marks 50th anniversary

VOYAGEURS NAT’L PARK- Minnesota’s only national park is turning 50 this year, and the celebration kicks off next Tuesday, April 8, with events honoring the park’s half-century … more

David Colburn | 4/3/25

Impact of auto tariffs will be wide-ranging

REGIONAL- Few, if any, Minnesotans will likely be celebrating President Donald Trump’s self-declared “Liberation Day” on Wednesday, as tariffs he imposed in a bid to bolster … more

David Colburn | 4/3/25

Nathan Thompson and Krystal Rynders smile at the dedication of Krystal’s new home in Tower. Also pictured is Judy Johnson looking on.

Building strong families

TOWER- The legacy of the St. James Presbyterian Church and its generous congregation was further cemented here recently as the former parsonage became the new home of the Rynders family. Krystal … more

Jodi Summit | 4/3/25

One of the counterfeit bills found in the area.

Counterfeit $100 bills circulating locally

TOWER- The Breitung Police Department has received reports of numerous fake $100 bills being circulated and used in various locations in the Tower/Soudan area. “Please be vigilant, the bills do … more

Jodi Summit | 4/3/25

Tim Tomsich’s granddaughter, Tori, made a surprise appearance at the Breitung meeting. Family members brought cake to share after Tim’s final board meeting.

Breitung Community Center to be renamed to honor Tim Tomsich

SOUDAN- After 45 years serving on the town board, most of that as chairman, Tim Tomsich may not be spending as much time in the Breitung Community Center as he once did, but his service to the … more

Jodi Summit | 3/27/25

Another budget gap ahead for ISD 696

ELY- For the second year in a row, ISD 696 is facing a shortfall of almost a half million dollars, which is not small change for a school district with a $9 million budget. Last year, ISD 696 had a … more

Catie Clark | 3/27/25