Opinion - The Timberjay

Tuesday’s results

Several things became clear in the wake of Tuesday’s Democratic sweep across the country. Mike Johnson’s days as Speaker of the House are numbered, and Donald Trump is going to face an … more

11/6/25

There’s a madman in the White House

Our nation is at a crossroads. Political concerns grow with each passing day. We are witnessing what many analysts call a massive attack on the American Experiment. Never have I experienced as … more

Kathleen McQuillan | 11/6/25

We need your help to keep the Timberjay strong

For the past 36 years, the Timberjay has proudly served our region with in-depth, accurate reporting and commentary — the kind of journalism that has become increasingly rare among weekly … more

Marshall Helmberger | 11/6/25

It’s time to clean the House

As I write, we are in day 27 of the federal government shutdown. Meanwhile, at our house, we received the bad news that our health insurance premiums will skyrocket 30 percent, with substantial … more

10/30/25

Nature provides the answers for us

A more beautiful society is possible! We need not accept what the rich and powerful peddle as the “natural order.” Hierarchy, inequality, supremacy, and class privilege are made possible … more

10/30/25

Protesters got what they wanted

‘No Kings Day’ on Oct. 18 was a success now that there are no kings running the country. Great job Democrats! You get a participation trophy! My video walkthrough of the protest is posted … more

10/30/25

Emmer misleads public

Minnesota’s Sixth District congressman Tom Emmer may have hoped to discredit the “No Kings” protests held across the state and country on Oct. 18. In the end, however, it was his … more

10/30/25

We are the leaders we’ve been waiting for

Some people asked, “Do we really need another organization in Ely?” Clearly, we felt we did. What had been happening in our country since Trump took office again was so unimaginable that … more

Betty Firth | 10/30/25

In Brazil, the sentiment is ‘we are all mixed here’

No one groomed this empty beach. It’s not soft and easy. Ahead, the ocean stretches to Africa. We’re on an island off the coast of Brazil in late June, mid-winter. It’s warm enough … more

Jean Gendreau | 10/30/25

Banovetz letter bordered on call for violence

I’m surprised, and not pleasantly so, with the lack of editorial license used in last week’s letter from Mike Banovetz. His letter disparaged Democrats, as usual, with a lot of one-sided … more

10/23/25

Most Americans still prefer democracy

Last Saturday, Bev and I joined the 7 million+ Americans who gathered at their “No Kings” rallies. We assumed that our rally along Silver Lake in Virginia would be genuinely friendly, and … more

10/23/25

Untreated PTSD and its consequences

My father served as a radio man (age 17, having to get his parents’ permission to enlist) on a destroyer escort during WW2. Like many men of that era, he didn’t talk much about what … more

10/23/25

Ukraine continues the fight, even without our help

The war between Russia and Ukraine has been in existence for four years. Trump claimed that he could broker a cease fire within a day. According to the New York Times, “Putin has invested hours … more

10/23/25

Outside funding makes living in Ely possible

Thanks to IRRR Commissioner Ida Rukavina, Ely Clerk-Treasurer Harold Langowski, to our community outdoor clubs, EEDA consultant John Fedo, Ely School Superintendent Anne Oelke, and others for their … more

10/23/25

Can you even afford to wake up anymore?

I didn’t think I needed a defibrillator when I stopped at the grocery store on Monday, but when I strolled into the coffee aisle, having one would’ve been handy. A 20.7-ounce container of … more

David Colburn | 10/23/25

Trump and Nobel

Donald Trump will not win the Nobel Peace Prize. Not this year, or any year. And all one needs to do is read the criteria for the prize to understand why not. The late Alfred Nobel, the founder of … more

10/23/25

Hunters and deer

With the regular firearms deer season fast approaching, we can expect to hear more grousing from hunters about the disappointing deer numbers in our area. And, naturally, many fingers will point to … more

10/16/25

May new revelations never cease

In late September, I scooped the last batch of chinking material from my wheelbarrow and plopped it onto my aluminum hawk. After weeks of practice, I’d mastered the art of mixing sand, mortar, … more

Kathleen McQuillan | 10/16/25

Government shutdown

As the partial federal government shutdown continued this week, one thing is certain. For the first time since President Trump took the oath of office, the Democrats have gained some level of … more

10/9/25

When the furniture flew out of the back of the trailer

Since my last column, there have been quite a few exciting changes to my house in Soudan, including that fresh paint job I was anguishing about. The house went from a boring grayish green to fresh … more

Scarlet Stone | 10/9/25

Minnesota elections

Minnesotans have exceptional confidence in the fairness, accuracy, and integrity of our election procedures, and that confidence is seen year after year in the highest voter turnout in the country. … more

10/2/25

Trump-RFK claims on Tylenol make a mockery of science

As someone trained as a scientist and who teaches science at Michigan State University, watching the Sept. 22 press conference in which President Trump and DHS Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. alleged a … more

Dr. Maxwell Helmberger | 10/2/25

Trump’s white whale and what we stand to lose

The news on Monday from the Wall Street Journal that the Trump administration is moving to bar Harvard University from receiving federal funds may sound like one more salvo in the president’s … more

David Colburn | 10/2/25

Spiking food prices

Inflation at the grocery store is spiking, and most agriculture and food economists believe it’s only going to get worse. But unlike the inflation we experienced in the wake of the COVID-19 … more

9/25/25

The benefits of living in, or visiting, our quiet places

Matt Mikkelsen spoke at the Ely Tuesday group last week on a topic that is dear to my heart and nervous system: the importance of quiet. Matt is a sound recordist, audio engineer, and documentary … more

Betty Firth | 9/25/25