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Aaron Kania of the National Forest Service spoke to the Ely City Council on June 6 about regional fire danger.

First license for cannabinoid sales goes to movie theater

ELY- The Ely City Council approved its first license application for the retailing of “on sale” cannabinoids, to Ely’s Historic State Theater. An “on sale” license … more

Catie Clark | 6/7/23

Spreading intolerance

This is a disturbing moment in American society as emerging forces seem intent on taking us down a dangerous path toward intolerance. It’s a destination we must avoid. We know that feelings of … more

6/7/23

Elevated lead levels found in some Ely water samples

ELY- The City of Ely tested twenty homes in August of 2022 for lead and found elevated levels of lead in drinking water in some homes and buildings. The City of Ely has been working closely with the … more

6/7/23

Dianna Goodsky-Hertig, left, Tom Spears and Lela Goodsky Correa unveil the portrait and plaque honoring their father, the late Bois Forte elder and spiritual advisor Gene Goodsky.

Band dedicates community room to Goodsky

NETT LAKE- Of all the voices heard at a dedication ceremony at the Bois Forte Government Center at Nett Lake last week, the late Bois Forte elder and spiritual adviser Gene Goodsky surely would have … more

David Colburn | 6/7/23

State mining rules mostly protective, says DNR

REGIONAL— The Department of Natural Resources has determined that the state’s non-ferrous mine siting rule is largely protective of the environment, but needs updating to better address … more

Marshall Helmberger | 6/7/23

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

North Woods golfers Eli Smith and Tori Olson.

Smith, Olson heading to state tourney

FIELD TWP- North Woods golfers Tori Olson and Eli Smith are headed to the state tournament after turning in strong performances at the 7A sectional tournament in Virginia last week. Junior Olson was … more

David Colburn | 5/31/23

Ely first baseman Erron Anderson waits for the throw on a first base pick-off of a Carlton runner on Tuesday.

WOLVES ADVANCE

ELY— A slow start didn’t keep the fourth-seeded Timberwolves from notching back-to-back wins here on Tuesday to advance in the Section 7A baseball tournament. “It took a while to … more

Marshall Helmberger | 5/31/23

Talen Jarshaw dives safely back to first base on a pickoff play.

Grizzlies ousted from playoffs on 8-2 loss

CHERRY- The North Woods baseball team had the higher seed, but Cook County had the upper hand in Tuesday’s opening round game of the Section 7A tournament, bouncing the Grizzlies out of the … more

David Colburn | 5/31/23

North Woods drops two, bows out of playoffs

REGIONAL- After picking up an opening round 3-1 home win against Cromwell-Wright in the Section 7A softball tournament last week, the eighth-seeded North Woods Grizzlies faced off last Thursday … more

David Colburn | 5/31/23

A trail camera documents one of countless interactions between wolves and the recently installed fence encircling the Wes Johnson ranch north of Orr.

RANCH RESOLUTION?

SHEEP RANCH ROAD— For years, cattle rancher Wes Johnson has lost several head of cattle every year to wolves. His 1,500-acre operation, located about 15 miles north of Orr, is a rarity here at … more

Marshall Helmberger | 5/31/23 | 1 comment

While fire conditions vary from day-to-day, the sign at the Tower Area DNR office on Tuesday reflected recent dry conditions.

Spring fire season may linger well into June

REGIONAL— A June fire season? In Minnesota? While June is typically down time for firefighters in northern Minnesota, that may not be the case this year with temperatures running well above … more

Marshall Helmberger | 5/31/23

Walz signs ban on commercial turtle harvesting

REGIONAL—Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has signed into law a ban on commercial collection of wild turtles in the state. Each year, for-profit trappers have collected thousands of turtles … more

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

Immigration policy should serve America’s interests

All eyes have been on the U.S.-Mexico border in recent weeks as politicians and pundits assess the impact of changing rules for who can enter the United States. But the fixation on the border can … more

Lee Hamilton | 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

An accomplished session

Historic. That’s an apt description for the just-completed legislative session here in Minnesota that blew away previous guideposts for productivity. While Minnesotans will no doubt disagree on … more

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