News - The Timberjay

Aubriana Olson and Serah Ross are impressed with Sophie the Llama.

TOWER- Tower-Soudan second-grade teacher Charissa Dahl had been teaching her students about llamas, when she saw that Cook’s Country Connection, a petting zoo in Cook, had a … more

Jodi Summit | 4/19/23

The packed house at last year’s drag show at the Grand Ely Lodge enjoyed a highly- entertaining event.

Protest expected during Saturday drag show in Ely

ELY- A source requesting anonymity told the Timberjay that a group opposed to drag shows will protest the “Disney Drag Brunch” at the Grand Ely Lodge on Saturday, April 22. Ely Police … more

Catie Clark | 4/19/23 | 1 comment

Fire department controversies continue to linger

GREENWOOD TWP- Reverberations from the dismissal of seven fire department members here in February continued to dominate the agenda during the town board’s regular April 11 meeting. The … more

Jodi Summit | 4/19/23

Fire chief reports rash of carbon monoxide calls

ELY- Three standout items were aired at the April 18 meeting of the Ely City Council: a disturbing trend in fire calls by the Ely Fire Department, Ely spring clean-up days, and water testing.Ely … more

Catie Clark | 4/19/23

New COVID booster OK’d for seniors

REGIONAL- In a move increasingly clamored for by vulnerable seniors, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday approved people 65 and older to receive an additional COVID booster of either the … more

David Colburn | 4/19/23

Lawmakers have a host of big issues remaining

REGIONAL- Minnesota’s 2023 legislative session began with the state flush with $17.5 billion of extra cash and the DFL in control of the Senate, the House, and the governorship, a recipe ripe … more

David Colburn | 4/19/23

Ely Community Health Center gets $10k grant

ELY- The Ely Community Health Center (ECHC) has announced a partnership with Essentia Health to support the expansion of the ECHC dental program. The ECHC provides free basic medical and dental … more

4/19/23

Obituaries: April 21, 2023

Karen A. Brandt Karen Ann Pulver Brandt, 83, passed away on Wednesday, April 5, 2023, at her home in Tower, surrounded by her family. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, … more

4/19/23

Board gives McGrath study a lukewarm okay

GREENWOOD TWP- Town board members, on Tuesday, reluctantly agreed to accept the McGrath Ambulance Study report, but still voiced several complaints about what they view as missing or misleading … more

Jodi Summit | 4/13/23

Council OKs move toward ambulance joint powers

TOWER— The city council here voted unanimously to pursue a possible joint powers agreement with neighboring townships to operate the city’s ambulance service. The action came following … more

Marshall Helmberger | 4/12/23

Gov. Tim Walz, a former school teacher, clearly relished the time he spent with Ely students during an April 6 visit to Ely and Tower.

Education the focus in Ely

REGIONAL— Gov. Tim Walz used the occasion of his birthday last Thursday for a quick tour of the Vermilion Range, with stops in both Ely and Tower. The governor flew into the Ely airport with … more

Catie Clark | 4/12/23

Gov. Tim Walz talks to Todd Petersen, of Lake Vermilion, one of the workers at Lamppa Manufacturing, along with Garrett Lamppa, who has recently taken the reins at the family business.

Walz tours wood stove plant in Tower

TOWER— Garrett Lamppa had little warning that Gov. Tim Walz would be making a stop at the family business at which he’s recently taken the reins from his father Daryl. “It all … more

Marshall Helmberger | 4/12/23

Committee report calls for joint powers, taxing district

REGIONAL- An ad hoc committee established by the Tower Ambulance Commission is recommending the formation of a joint powers board and a taxing district to provide long-term oversight and financial … more

Jodi Summit | 4/12/23

The floor of the Ely Memorial High School gymnasium where the top layer of water-damaged maple floorboards had already been removed. The floor was damaged by water from a pipe leak on March 17.

Ely School Board floored by gym water damage

ELY- The Ely School Board addressed two notable agenda items during their April 10 session— the gifted and talented program and damage to the high school gymnasium floor from the recent water … more

Catie Clark | 4/12/23

Lawmakers find pot legalization a heavy lift

REGIONAL- The legislative path to approving recreational marijuana for Minnesota has been a long and winding road, as companion bills in the House and the Senate have snaked their way through more … more

David Colburn | 4/12/23

2142 board develops response to Native parent committee

VIRGINA- It was apparent at Tuesday’s ISD 2142 board working session that communication and understanding between the district and its American Indian Parent Advisory Committee is still a work … more

David Colburn | 4/12/23

The Frandsen Bank & Trust branch in Tower.

Frandsen Bank & Trust recognized by Standard & Poor’s

REGIONAL— Frandsen Bank and Trust, which maintains offices in Ely, Tower, and Virginia, and numerous other communities in the Upper Midwest, has been named among the top community banks in the … more

Catie Clark | 4/12/23

Minnesota Power exceeds conservation goals

REGIONAL— Minnesota Power continues to lead the way among the state’s utilities for energy conservation. In 2022, for the 13th year in a row, the Duluth-based electric utility has … more

4/12/23

Obituaries: April 14, 2023

Patricia Mason Patricia Griffis Waisanen Mason made her final boarding call and “slipped the surly bonds of earth” on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023. She died at home in Albany, Ore., with her … more

4/12/23

Mid-Range Honor Guard gets van upgrade thanks to retrofit by Lamppa Manufacturing

TOWER- Lamppa Manufacturing, in Tower, is still building on the tradition of founders Herb and Daryl Lamppa.“We believe in being good local citizens,” said Lamppa plant manager Dale … more

Jodi Summit | 4/6/23

Black Bay campground back on county agenda

LAKE VERMILION— The prospective developer of a rustic campground near the mouth of Lake Vermilion’s Black Bay plans to appear before the St. Louis County Planning Commission next … more

Marshall Helmberger | 4/5/23

Ely finally passes new cannibinoid ordinance

ELY— After four months of moratoriums and failed first readings, the Ely City Council passed ordinance 367 on Tuesday, to license and regulate edible cannabinoid product dealers within city … more

Catie Clark | 4/5/23

Meadows won’t face additional charges, at least for now

ELY— A 20-year-old Ely man won’t face additional charges after he intentionally ran down three deer with his pickup truck last month, but he may face a stiffer penalty than it initially … more

Marshall Helmberger | 4/5/23

River Carter, Lailana Stellmach, and Sri Stellmach finished their projects.

Cupcake smiles

Tower-Soudan Community Education sponsored a cupcake decorating class, just in time for the Easter holiday. Students piped, sprinkled, and used candy to decorate pre-made cupcaked, and Timberjay … more

Jodi Summit | 4/5/23

Floodwaters pour over the Kettle Falls dam last May. Water level regulators will be allowing more discharge in the coming weeks to try to head off similar flooding this year.

Rainy River basin lake level targets lowered

REGIONAL— The International Rainy-Lake of the Woods Watershed Board (IRLWWB)’s Water Levels Committee (WLC), the group responsible for recommending lake levels for Rainy and Namakan … more

David Colburn | 4/5/23