Top Stories - The Timberjay

Bois Forte’s Pam Hughes, left, and Toni Wakemup, right, stand by the Public Health Vending Machine at the Nett Lake C Store. The machine at the C Store and Fortune Bay will be filled up and ready to go for the official deployment on Friday, Oct. 6.

New health care vending machines go live Friday

TOWER—An innovation in public health is coming this Friday, Oct. 6, to the Bois Forte Reservation. That’s when the Bois Forte will become the first tribe in Minnesota, and possibly the … more

Brian K. Anderson | 10/4/23

Dom Elioff, the original sponsor for the club in 1973, gets tips about the buffet from Elizabeth Storm.

In Cook, the Lions ROAR!

COOK- Over the past five decades, there are few things in Cook that haven’t been touched by the caring hearts and hands of the Cook Lions Club, and members and invited guests gathered on … more

David Colburn | 10/4/23

ISD 696 board adopts budget

ELY – School board members here last week unanimously approved a balanced budget for 2022-23 that calls for $8.2 million in revenues and expenditures.Despite a noticeable drop in enrollment and … more

Keith Vandervort | 7/6/22

WELY Radio station has sold, but will operate out of a new studio when it comes back on the air after the FCC approves the sale and license transfer.

WELY sold to Wisconsin-based radio group

ELY— It’s not the end of the road for WELY Radio after all, as the Bois Forte Band announced Tuesday that they have found a buyer for the iconic “End of the Road Radio,” … more

12/1/22

Purchases during the Dollars for Doggies online auction go to help cover expenses of operating the WolfTrack Classic sled dog races, set for next Feb. 24-25 in Ely.

Dollars for Doggies online auction starts Sunday

ELY- Three things are needed to hold a sled dog race: snow, sled dog teams, and money. Yes, money. The entry fees for Ely’s WolfTrack Classic Sled Dog Race don’t cover the full cost of … more

Catie Clark | 10/4/23

Lawmakers seek extended UI for N’Shore mine workers

REGIONAL- Prolonged layoffs and the end of unemployment benefits for idled Northshore Mining workers in Babbitt and Silver Bay signal an uncertain future as two area legislators vow to press forward … more

David Colburn | 12/1/22

What steps should the government take to rein in Wall Street abuses?

9/17/09

Timberjay’s new Ely editor now on the job

ELY— The Timberjay’s new Ely editor will be on the job starting Friday, beginning her full-time coverage of news and events in the Ely area. Catherine “Catie” Helm-Clark and … more

12/1/22

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

Township to enact short-term rental moratorium

EAGLES NEST TWP- Short-term vacation rentals are coming under new scrutiny and are likely to face at least a temporary moratorium based on town board action here on Tuesday. The town board will vote … more

Jodi Summit | 9/21/22

Student Kai Contreras-Pieratos shows off the last remaining bite or two of his piece of pie.

Eats to be thankful for

TOWER- Thanksgiving came a few days early at Vermilion Country School. The meal was traditional: turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, cheesy potatoes, green beans, rolls, cranberries, and plenty … more

Jodi Summit | 12/1/22

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

High court hears arguments in PolyMet case

REGIONAL— Minnesota’s highest court heard arguments Wednesday that may or may not send a key permit for the proposed PolyMet mine back to square one. While the state’s nine top … more

Marshall Helmberger | 12/1/22

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

Left: Last year’s canoe portage marathon winner was looking good as he came across the finish line in Whiteside Park amidst a large crowd of cheering fans. It all kicks off again on Saturday with the seventh running of the Ely Marathon.

A little sweat, a lot of fun

ELY – This weekend nearly 600 athletes will arrive in Ely to run… and run. Roughly 400 of them will take part in the 13.1 mile-long Boundary Waters Bank half-marathon, while close to 200 … more

Rachel Brophy | 9/21/22

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

Rep. Dave Lislegard in his “Freezin in Embarrass” sweatshirt slaps meteorologist Dave Anderson on the shoulder during the Sisu Heritage annual meeting held Feb. 25.

Speaking of the weather...

EMBARRASS- The ever-affable meteorologist and local historian Dave Anderson turned his talk on weather and his family’s area history into an impromptu news session during the Sisu Heritage … more

Jodi Summit | 3/6/24

‘Tis the season, for candidate debates

Editor's Note: An original version of this story stated that the Eighth District congressional debate in Brainerd was set to be held on Sept. 24. It is actually scheduled for Oct. 24. The Timberjay regrets the error. REGIONAL— With the Nov. 8 general election just over six weeks from now, and early voting already underway, the candidate forum season is upon us and voters in the North Country will have … more

Marshall Helmberger | 9/21/22

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

Biden and Trump top primary day in Minnesota

REGIONAL—A rematch between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump appeared all the more likely after both candidates swept most primary contests on Super Tuesday, including the … more

Marshall Helmberger | 3/6/24

Pulsar helium strike may be richest ever

BABBITT- An exploratory borehole made history last week with potentially the richest helium discovery on earth. Pulsar Helium Inc. announced Feb. 28, that its Jetstream #1 borehole reached a total … more

Catie Clark | 3/6/24

Randy Santel mugs for the camera before devouring a Bamboozler at the Vermilion Club.

Big guy, big eats, big fun

TOWER- Randy Santel travels the country eating, and he makes good money doing it. It’s all thanks to YouTube and the following he’s attracted over the years as he eats portions at … more

Jodi Summit | 3/6/24

The school board had a full house on May 8 when they voted to approve Anne Oelke as the new school superintendent. Seated at the school board table from left-to-right, Tony Colarich, Tom Omerza, Hollee Coombe, and Rochelle Sjoberg.

Board taps Oelke as new superintendent

ELY- The Ely School Board voted 4-1-0 to hire Anne Oelke, Washington Elementary School principal, as the new superintendent for ISD 696. School board member Tom Omerza voted in opposition and board … more

Catie Clark | 5/10/23

U.S. Steel’s giant Minntac taconite plant looms high over the city of Virginia on a frosty winter day.

U.S. Steel announces sale to Japan-based Nippon

REGIONAL— U.S. Steel, which has played a pivotal role in the development of northeastern Minnesota’s iron resources for more than a century, is being sold to Japan-based Nippon Steel. … more

Marshall Helmberger | 12/20/23

DNR won’t require EIS for Northshore tailings basin project

LAKE COUNTY— The Department of Natural Resources has announced that it won’t require Northshore Mining to conduct an environmental impact statement, or EIS, for its proposal to extend two … more

Marshall Helmberger | 3/6/24