Top Stories - The Timberjay

Gain a different perspective of the impact of rising flood waters in the Rainy River Basin through shots taken by Timberjay photographers last week from a float plane by checking the gallery at the end of this article.

REGIONAL- The last thing the flood-weary people of Kabetogama and Crane Lake wanted to see this past week was more rain, but Sunday and Monday thunderstorms over the Rainy River Basin may have been … more

David Colburn | 6/1/22

Ambulance study offers little hope for regionalization

GREENWOOD TWP- An updated, and substantially modified, version of the McGrath Consulting Group study commissioned by Greenwood Township was released to the town board last week. While the revised … more

Jodi Summit | 3/29/23

Primary for Ely mayor set for Aug. 10

ELY – City of Ely residents will go to the polls on Tuesday, Aug. 10 to vote in a primary election for the mayoral seat. A two-week filing period for the city of Ely mayor and three city … more

Keith Vandervort | 6/1/22

John and Heather Chaulklin say demand is high for the THC products they’re selling from their Cook store.

Local entrepreneurs tap THC market

COOK- John and Heather Chaulklin, of Cook, already had a thriving e-commerce business selling natural health supplements and other items when they purchased the former propane gas building at the … more

David Colburn | 10/26/22

Old friends embrace next to a photo of the late Carol Alstrom, a much loved and respected former teacher at Tower-Soudan.

Celebrating a life well spent

TOWER- Carol Alstrom was a force of nature. She was a large person and had a voice to match. She was strong and a competitive athlete. She was a teacher, a coach, and a leader. She knew how to get … more

Jodi Summit | 3/29/23

Winter park access to remain the same this year

VOYAGEURS NATIONAL PARK- Winter users of frozen lake surfaces here won’t have to cope with a new set of rules this season, as implementation of a new Frozen Lake Surface Access and Use Plan … more

David Colburn | 11/9/23

An artist's rendering of the proposed townhome project in Tower.

THS intends to proceed with townhome project

TOWER— Barring something unexpected, it appears ground could be broken on the long-delayed townhome project at the Tower harbor as early as next month. That’s the word in a letter of … more

Marshall Helmberger | 6/1/22

Ely board OKs more sharing with NE Range

ELY – In a unanimous vote on Monday night the ISD 696 school board approved pursuing a cooperative agreement with Northeast Range for girls’ basketball for the upcoming season.The … more

Rachel Brophy | 10/26/22

Contractors work to excavate mucky soils near the East Two River last fall. The soft soils led to an enormous cost overrun on the city’s trailhead and kayak launch project.

Overrun a holdover of a troubled time

TOWER— The recent revelation of a nearly quarter million dollar cost overrun on the city of Tower’s so-called trailhead project adjacent to the East Two River is, once again, highlighting … more

1/18/23

Ely RV park battle continues

ELY- The battle continues next week over the proposed reopening and expansion of the former Miners Lake RV Park and Campground. The new owners of the property, Dean and Lee Ann Peterson of AOK … more

Catie Clark | 11/9/23

Oliver Weidemann, 5, of Ely, helps place 1,120 American flags at the Ely Cemetery for Memorial Day.

The North Country marks Memorial Day

Many North Country communities paused on Monday to honor the sacrifices of area military personnel who died in the line of service with Memorial Day observances. more

Timberjay staff | 6/1/22

This rock arch dam in Pine County that replaced a failed dam is similar in concept to what Bois Forte official have decided to use on the Nett River.

New Nett River dam planned

NETT LAKE- An aging, ailing concrete dam controlling the waters of Nett Lake is about to be demolished and replaced with a new design that will have ecological benefit for the lake and the Nett … more

David Colburn | 10/26/22

High EMS payroll costs are contributing to the financial troubles of many area ambulance services, like Ely’s.

Higher ambulance payrolls contribute to financial woes

REGIONAL— As ambulance services across rural Minnesota struggle financially, there’s one factor that has contributed more than any to the flow of red ink for most services: the … more

Marshall Helmberger | 2/1/24

Jeffrey Hanson of Babbitt, holds up a small glass of the water he’s treating in his basement laboratory to eliminate sulfate. He’s already patented one of two steps in the process and has a patent pending on the final steps in the process.

Babbitt engineer patenting a low cost solution to sulfate pollution

BABBITT— In a makeshift basement laboratory here, Jeffrey Hanson is fine-tuning a process that could turn a cost-effective fix for one of the Iron Range’s biggest environmental problems … more

Marshall Helmberger | 10/26/22

Sah-Gii-Bah-Gah Powwow at Nett Lake

Timberjay photographer David Colburn captured images of the color and pagentry of Native regalia at the annual Sah-Gii-Bah-Gah powwow this past weekend at Nett Lake. Unseasonably warm temperatures … more

6/7/23

High court hears arguments on Trump’s access to the ballot

ST. PAUL— A case heard last Thursday before the state Supreme Court is expected to decide whether former President Donald Trump is qualified to appear on primary ballots in Minnesota this … more

Marshall Helmberger | 11/9/23

Costly fix on tap for failing school wastewater systems

VIRGINIA- The inadequate wastewater treatment system at South Ridge School will get a million-dollar fix this summer after the ISD 2142 school board voted Tuesday to proceed with the work. The school … more

David Colburn | 2/1/24

Cost is over $47,000 to demolish blighted properties

ELY- The Ely City Council continued its war on blight at its Nov. 7 meeting by approving the demolition of two derelict residential structures and deciding to wait for a report on a third. The city … more

Catie Clark | 11/9/23

Artist Nancy Scheibe was busy this past weekend working on the festival’s traditional welcome sculpture at the corner of Central and Sheridan.

It’s party time in Ely

ELY- It’s one of Ely’s longest-running annual events, but it never gets old. The Ely Winter Festival is finally here, kicking off on Thursday, Feb. 1, when the snow sculptors start their … more

Catie Clark | 2/1/24

Sen. David Tomassoni, seated left, looks on as Gov. Tim Walz signs his bill providing $20 million for ALS research and another $5 million to assist caregivers for ALS patients.

Chisholm legislator David Tomassoni dies after battle with ALS

REGIONAL- Longtime Iron Range legislator David Tomassoni, who championed a bill this spring to bring new hope to people affected by the degenerative disease ALS, died from that disease Thursday … more

David Colburn | 8/12/22

Life-long Elyite Linda Williams (l) and her granddaughter, BWCC CNA Alicia Cole.

Care center seeks donations

Every business owner knows that it doesn’t matter how many debts or assets you have. You must have cash on hand to meet expenses and pay the staff every month - or you shut your doors and go … more

Catie Clark | 1/18/23

Slow and no delivery hurting customers

TOWER- For newspapers that mail thousands of copies each week, it’s not unusual that one or two occasionally gets lost along the way. But what was once an occasional errant newspaper has become … more

Jodi Summit | 2/1/24

CBD sales top Ely council agenda, with retailer in waiting

The topic of businesses potentially selling CBD and other legalized cannabinoid product lit up the Ely City Council chambers on Tuesday for the second time less than two months. In mid-December, the … more

Catie Clark | 1/18/23

WELY has a new three-month lease on life after Bois Forte officials chose to delay the station's planned closing until Sept. 1 to facilitate a possible sale of the station should a viable buyer become available.

WELY will remain on the air until September

ELY- The fate of radio station WELY took another twist this past week as Bois Forte tribal officials set aside an earlier decision to close the station for good on Wednesday, extending its life for … more

David Colburn | 6/1/22

An artist's rendering of the Crane Lake Visitor Center.

Crane Lake OKs bid for new park visitors center

CRANE LAKE- With contractors in place, the long-held dream of a Voyageurs National Park visitor center and campground for Crane Lake is well down the path toward becoming reality. The Crane Lake … more

David Colburn | 6/14/23