Top Stories - The Timberjay

Dante Tomassoni, the son of the late Sen. David Tomassoni is flanked by Sens. Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar in front of a plaque dedicating the new Heliene expansion to his father. Also pictured are Heliene CEO Martin Pochtaruk, Sen. Tom Bakk, and IRRR Commissioner Mark Phillips.

MT. IRON— More than 100 people, including both of Minnesota’s U.S. Senators turned out here to pay homage to the past and highlight the future of green energy employment on the Iron Range … more

Marshall Helmberger | 11/2/22 | 1 comment

Ecklund says ‘overzealous’ law enforcement could impact VNP tourism

REGIONAL- Complaints from surrounding communities and business owners about what they see as overzealous law enforcement by Voyageurs National Park rangers have reached the ears of a local state … more

David Colburn | 8/24/22 | 1 comment

Potato Island, located in the middle of Lake Vermilion’s Big Bay is home to hundreds of herring gulls and double- crested cormorants.

Fireworks display could run afoul of federal law

LAKE VERMILION— It appears that a July 5 fireworks display, sponsored by the Lake Vermilion Resort and Tourism Association, is going forward despite the potential impact to hundreds of … more

Marshall Helmberger | 6/21/23 | 1 comment

Jankila: Greenwood should get back to the table

GREENWOOD TWP- Hibbing Fire Chief Erik Jankila had a consistent and perhaps unwelcome message for the Greenwood Town Board, Monday, as he presented his take on the township’s recently completed … more

Jodi Summit | 2/1/23 | 1 comment

Timberjay’s Ely editor dies unexpectedly

ELY— The Timberjay’s longtime Ely editor, Keith Vandervort, died suddenly at his home this past Friday, Aug. 26. The cause of death is unknown but was ruled due to natural causes. … more

8/31/22 | 1 comment

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

Residents along Trygg Rd. in Eagles Nest Township have experienced dozens of flat tires as a result of sharp gravel recently added there.

Sharp gravel leaves Eagles Nest drivers flat

EAGLES NEST— Township officials are raising the alarm over an issue that St. Louis County public works officials say they’ve never encountered before. Residents along both Trygg and Mud … more

David Colburn | 9/20/23 | 1 comment

What's your view of President Obama heading into the mid-terms?

10/22/10 | 1 comment

Eagles Nest residents turned out to oppose a proposed ATV that would run through the heart of the township's residential area.

Residents say no to ATV trail

EAGLES NEST— Residents here had a clear message for the town board on Tuesday: A high traffic ATV corridor through their township will permanently impact a way of life focused on peace, … more

Marshall Helmberger | 6/22/22 | 1 comment

Most DFL candidates enjoying big leads in fundraising

REGIONAL— DFL candidates from across the region and the state are crushing their Republican opponents in the race for campaign cash, and that could give them a distinct advantage as the … more

Marshall Helmberger | 9/7/22 | 1 comment

Cathy Cerra-Harvieux took questions from Soudan residents last Sunday at the Vermilion Park Inn. She is hoping to convert the facility to adult addiction treatment and sober housing.

Proposed sober house still faces pushback

SOUDAN- Over two dozen Soudan residents attended a question-and-answer session with Cathy Cerra-Harvieux, who is hoping to convert the Vermilion Park Inn to a sober housing and outpatient treatment … more

Jodi Summit | 7/12/23 | 1 comment

Bakk to lobby for tobacco industry

ST. PAUL— Public health advocates are facing a new and unexpected adversary in their efforts to prevent young people from smoking— former state Sen. Tom Bakk.Bakk, who represented … more

Marshall Helmberger | 2/8/23 | 1 comment

Worshippers line up to enter the St. James Presbyterian Chapel for the final sermon. Founded in 1884, the church was a center of spiritual life for many residents of Tower-Soudan for nearly 140 years.

Last Call to Pray

TOWER- The sight of a long line of people streaming into St. James Presbyterian Church on Sunday was something not seen for a very long time. But those entering the church building, built at the … more

Jodi Summit | 7/12/23 | 1 comment

A map recently produced by the Campaign to Save the Boundary Waters highlights the many challenges faced by the current mine plan produced by Twin Metals.

Does Twin Metals really have a viable plan?

REGIONAL— In legal filings and in public statements, representatives of Twin Metals have argued in recent months that they have a viable and environmentally-safe mine plan of operations, or … more

Marshall Helmberger | 9/14/22 | 1 comment

Larry Lozar, a volunteer driver with Northwoods Partners, picks up Ely senior Jim Orcutt to help run an errand.

Keeping seniors at home

ELY- The needs of elderly still living at home can at times seem immense. Northwoods Partners started in Ely in 2001, working to support clients and their caregivers to help them remain living … more

Jodi Summit | 11/23/22 | 1 comment

Developer faces hurdles on cartway request

TOWER— Developer Dave Rose is facing pushback for his latest request to the city— this time for approval of a cartway that would provide road access to land he owns along Pike Bay on the … more

Marshall Helmberger | 11/23/22 | 1 comment

Stauber seeks veto of mineral withdrawal

REGIONAL— Eighth District Congressman Pete Stauber is continuing his efforts to bring sulfide-based copper-nickel mining to the headwaters of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. On Tuesday, he … more

Marshall Helmberger | 5/3/23 | 1 comment

This Hwy. 53 billboard in Cotton has generated plenty of comment over a claim that does not appear to be well substantiated.

Billboard’s claim ignites social media controversy

REGIONAL— It’s been a tough few years for northeastern Minnesota deer hunters and that has put the state’s most prominent predator in the cross hairs of a prominent billboard that … more

Marshall Helmberger | 10/4/23 | 1 comment

Is the pandemic really over?

“The pandemic is over,” or so said President Biden last Sunday on 60 Minutes, but that doesn’t mean the COVID-19 virus has disappeared in St. Louis County or elsewhere in the … more

David Colburn | 9/21/22 | 1 comment

Skraba’s 3A win confirmed by recount

REGIONAL– Republican Roger Skraba, of Ely, is headed to the Minnesota House as the District 3A representative after recounts confirmed his razor-thin victory over incumbent DFLer Rob Ecklund.A … more

David Colburn | 12/7/22 | 1 comment

A new smoke shop at Fortune Bay Resort Casino is currently offering low-potency cannabis edibles but may have smokeable forms of marijuana available, if the Band actively pursues cultivation and sales of recreational marijuana.

Bois Forte to explore sale of marijuana

VERMILION RESERVATION- When recreational marijuana became legal on Tuesday, hoards of eager buyers descended upon the state’s only marijuana dispensary, Red Lake Nation’s NativeCare … more

David Colburn | 8/2/23 | 1 comment

An artist’s drawing of the planned trailhead building, set for construction on Ely’s west end thanks to additional federal funding announced this week.

Federal funds rescue Ely trailhead building

ELY – A $1.5 million federal grant has cleared the way for the city of Ely to build a new regional trailhead facility on the city’s west end. The U.S. Commerce Department’s Economic … more

Keith Vandervort | 7/13/22 | 1 comment

A typical cabin produced by Tinde Hytter, which currently operates only in Scandinavia. The company has been in talks for months about entering the U.S. market with a plant in Tower. While turf roofs are common in Norway, the homes also come with shingled or metal roofs.

Small home plant may come to Tower

TOWER— Tower Vision 2025 principal Orlyn Kringstad and his Norwegian business partners appear close to finalizing an agreement that would establish a high-quality cabin and small home … more

Marshall Helmberger | 10/11/23 | 1 comment

County officials held the weekly county board meeting at the Beatty Town Hall on Tuesday.

County board works full agenda in Beatty

BEATTY TWP- The St. Louis County Board of Commissioners came to Beatty Town Hall on Tuesday to conduct its regular business meeting, with a number of items on the agenda focused on North Country … more

David Colburn | 10/11/23 | 1 comment

One of the ambassador wolves at the International Wolf Center in Ely.

Woman’s bequest to benefit Int’l Wolf Center

ELY- The International Wolf Center is one of three recipients of a $2.45 million bequest aimed to further wolf education and research. In one of the largest donations made in support of wolves, … more

Catie Clark | 3/13/24