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ELY- The Ely City Council approved the first reading of a new cannabinoid products ordinance at its Aug. 1 meeting. The proposed ordinance forbids the use of cannabis and cannabinoid products in … more

Catie Clark | 8/2/23

Sunday's opening ceremonies with the parade of flags, cowboys and cowgirls.

THE COWBOY WAY

For 68 years the North Star Stampede has been staged on the last full weekend in July by the Pitzen family of Effie, and this year's edition was one of the best in recent memory. The arena was packed … more

8/2/23

rynn Chosa drives against a British Columbia player in the North American Indigenous Games bronze medal game.

Chosa takes part in international competition

NETT LAKE- Last winter, freshman Brynn Chosa was a spark plug for the North Woods Grizzlies girls basketball team, coming off the bench to drain key three-pointers, push the ball up the court, and … more

David Colburn | 8/2/23

"Astro Bob" King points out an emerging star to a youngster at the 2022 VNP Star Party at the Kabetogama Visitor Center.

Voyageurs to host Star Party Aug. 10-12

VOYAGEURS NATIONAL PARK- A three-day extravaganza highlighting the wonders of the heavens above is coming to Voyageurs National Park Aug. 10-12 with the third annual summer Star Party, sponsored by … more

David Colburn | 8/2/23

Mustafa Ali at the 2022 edition of the Festival of Skalds.

Festival of Skalds coming Aug. 12-13

ANGORA- It’s time to polish your crowns and daggers, dust off your capes and wings. The Festival of Skalds is coming Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 12-13 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Festival of … more

Stephanie Ukkola | 8/2/23

A stand of quaking aspen, likely all stems from the same clone.

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

What’s in a name? When it comes to the common name, “popple,” it can mean one of three distinct tree species in northern Minnesota. My parents grew up in northwestern Minnesota so … more

Marshall Helmberger | 8/2/23

A mid-summer buck with a nice rack still developing. Hunters in most of the region will need to see antlers to take a deer this fall.

Fewer doe permits in NE this fall

REGIONAL—More hunters in northeastern Minnesota will be limited to bucks-only this year than at any time in the past several years. Last winter’s tough conditions, with extended deep and … more

Marshall Helmberger | 8/2/23 | 1 comment

Man’s best friend...and woman’s too

Melissa Fay Greene, an Atlanta-based journalist, is a new favorite author of mine. She has written a number of books on disparate subjects, which have in common her ability to write about complex … more

Betty Firth | 8/2/23

Take A Kid Fishing participant Cass Nelson hoists the 30-inch walleye he caught after braving the showers that kept most other participants back on shore.

Thirty-inch walleye a hefty highlight of kids fishing event

LAKE VERMILION— With rain steadily pelting the lakeside tent at Fortune Bay Resort Casino on a recent Wednesday morning, Phil Bakken announced to the 40-plus kids in attendance that the 2023 … more

8/2/23

Transfer mileage fee

Several area townships are looking for ways they can better support the Tower Area Ambulance Service, which has been struggling financially for a combination of reasons. The TAAS is certainly not … more

8/2/23 | 1 comment

Cook City Council debates weed

COOK— The legalization of marijuana for adult recreational use in Minnesota prompted extended discussion at the city council meeting here last Thursday. The meeting, held July 27, was just days … more

Marshall Helmberger | 8/2/23

Two teens injured in Cook car crash

COOK- Excessive speed and alcohol are suspected to have contributed to a one-vehicle injury accident early Sunday morning in Cook, according to a report by the St. Louis County Sheriff’s … more

David Colburn | 8/2/23

Soudan inn has needed permit USteelworkers

SOUDAN- The Breitung Town Board is asking St. Louis County planning officials whether the Vermilion Park Inn has a conditional use permit, as appears to be required by current zoning regulations. The … more

Stephanie Ukkola | 8/2/23

ISD 2142 board gets ready for the new school year

VIRGINIA- The ISD 2142 school board took care of a number of personnel and operational items at their July 25 regular business meeting in preparation for the upcoming 2023-24 school year. The … more

David Colburn | 8/2/23

Babbitt rollover

BABBITT- According to a statement from the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office, a 22-year-old Babbitt woman suffered a single-vehicle crash on Monday around 9 a.m. just north of Babbitt in … more

8/2/23

Obituaries: August 4, 2023

James A. Planton James Anthony “Jim” Planton, 76, of Soudan, died on Saturday, July 22, 2023, in his home surrounded by his family. A Memorial Mass was held on Wednesday, Aug. 2 at St. … more

8/2/23

Tower’s harbor could soon be the site for major development after years of false starts and delay.

Major players seek to join harbor development

TOWER— After decades of public investment, false starts, and dashed hopes, major development at Tower’s harbor and adjacent riverfront may finally be coming soon. At a special July 20 … more

Jodi Summit | 7/26/23

ngrid Lyons (left) and Becky Rom presented an overview of the Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness strategy for protecting the Boundary Waters at the July 25 Tuesday Group meeting at the Grand Ely Lodge.

NMW lays out strategy for BWCAW protection

ELY- While the U.S. Department of the Interior has banned mineral leases for 20 years on 225,000 acres within the Rainy River watershed on the Superior National Forest, Ely-based Northeastern … more

Catie Clark | 7/26/23

Greenwood rep on the hot seat at ambulance meeting

TOWER- Greenwood Township Board Chair John Bassing spent time on the hot seat during a Tower Ambulance Commission meeting that started late and ended early as a result of ambulance calls requiring … more

Jodi Summit | 7/26/23

Gary Smith cuts one of 600 Kiwanis Club pies.

Pie and much more at Blueberry/Art festival

ELY— The annual celebration of the North Country’s most popular wild berry gets underway Friday morning at Whiteside Park and runs through Sunday. This year’s Blueberry Art/Festival … more

7/26/23

Watch for road construction

REGIONAL— The annual pilgrimage from across the region to Ely’s Blueberry/Art Festival, set for July 28-30, could take a bit longer than in some recent years for folks planning to travel … more

Marshall Helmberger | 7/26/23

Ben Pawlak of Rusty Nail Woodcraft, shown here with his immigrant grandfather’s chest of woodworking hand tools from Sweden.

Third-generation woodworker continues tradition of his Swedish grandfather

ELY- Ben Pawlak inherited his love of woodworking from his Swedish grandfather, who brought his tools with him when he came to America. Pawlak also inherited his grandfather’s tools, which he … more

Catie Clark | 7/26/23

Blueberry/Art Festival: three days of fun

ELY- Over 200 art, craft, and food vendors will assemble in Ely’s Whiteside Park this weekend for the Blueberry/Art Festival (BAF). The festival begins on Friday, July 28 at 9 a.m., and ends on … more

Catie Clark | 7/26/23

Street closures, reroutes, and new app set for festival weekend

ELY- The city of Ely is implementing changes to traffic flow and parking around Whiteside Park for the Blueberry/Art Festival. The Ely Police Department has set up a messaging service for the … more

7/26/23

he procession of police, fire, and EMS vehicles in honor of William Fearn entering Ely.

Deceased local firefighter honored

ELY- Morse-Fall Lake firefighter William Orion Lloyd Fearn of Ely. passed away Monday, July 17, due to a car accident on County Road 88 north of Ely. Fearn’s body returned to Ely on Wednesday … more

7/26/23