Stories,photos,specialsections,printissues,packages,magazines,maps,feeds

Lamppa Manufacturing CEO Garrett Lamppa poses in one of the test saunas at the company’s headquarters in Tower.

Tower manufacturer named SBA’s Family Business of the Year

TOWER— A prominent local business has been named the Minnesota Family-Owned Business of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration, or SBA. The SBA made the announcement this week, … more

Marshall Helmberger | 4/10/24

New board backs funding for Tower Ambulance

GREENWOOD TWP- The change in leadership on the Greenwood Town Board has brought a reversal on one of the most contentious issues in the township in recent years. After three years of refusal to … more

Jodi Summit | 4/10/24

Justin Lamppa was present in Soudan last June when his father Lon’s coaching jersey was officially retired. Justin has carried on in his father’s footsteps and has created his own legacy as a college baseball coach.

Lamppa recognized for 700th baseball win

REGIONAL— When Justin Lamppa was named head baseball coach for Itasca Community College in Grand Rapids in 1997, he was just a young Itasca graduate, fresh off the field, armed with a love for … more

Marshall Helmberger | 4/10/24

Flanked by his mother, Jenny, and father, Tom, North Woods senior Jonah Burnett signs a letter of intent to play basketball for the University of Northwestern-St. Paul Eagles next year.

Grizzlies’ Burnett signs with University of Northwestern

FIELD TWP- Many North Woods boys basketball fans might swear that senior Jonah Burnett soars like an eagle when he floats down the lane for a shot, and an Eagle is what he will be for the next four … more

David Colburn | 4/10/24

A male (r) and female red crossbill stop by for sunflower seeds.

Crossbills come and go

I’d been jealous most of the winter as I regularly heard reports of red crossbills at area feeders. Everyone seemed to have a visit from these colorful finches. Even the old, beat-up feeder at … more

Marshall Helmberger | 4/10/24

he new plan calls for four parallel courts, adjacent to the pavilion and bocce court area.

Pickleball project expands, set to begin later this spring

GREENWOOD TWP- Plans for new pickleball courts in Greenwood Township took a big step forward, Tuesday, as the Greenwood Town Board approved a $25,000 donation to the project, as well as an updated … more

Jodi Summit | 4/10/24

Gym teacher Scott Chiabotti gets elementary students ready to play a game in the gym.

Tower-Soudan Elementary gets $85,000 grant

TOWER- An $85,000 grant from Lake Country Power (LCP) will fund the majority of an estimated $91,000 project to update the gym at Tower-Soudan Elementary. The district will be contributing the … more

Jodi Summit | 4/10/24

Camping at Lake Vermilion Soudan Underground Mine State Park.

Plan now for the upcoming camping season

REGIONAL— With the late March snowfall all but faded, North Country residents are increasingly thinking ahead to spring— and for many that will include a camping trip to one of the … more

4/10/24

DNR: Low water could impact lake/river access

REGIONAL— Minnesotams could find that launching a boat this spring is more difficult than usual due to low water levels on many lakes and rivers. The lack of snow this winter and persistent dry … more

4/10/24

It must be a sign...our favorite travel game

Some people collect seashells or coins. Others collect art or Hummel figurines. In my household, we collect signs. To be accurate, we drive around and take photographs of signs. The long-suffering … more

Catie Clark | 4/10/24

The existing water treatment facility is out-of-date and unable to deal with the issue of chlorination by-product contamination.

Tower gives go-ahead to water plant project

TOWER— The city council here took a leap on Monday and approved the bid from Lakehead Constructors to build a new drinking water treatment plant to serve Tower and Soudan despite a remaining … more

Marshall Helmberger | 4/10/24

Area businesses urge state to assert jurisdiction

REGIONAL- A concerned group of business owners who depend on providing services to visitors to Voyageurs National Park are mounting a concerted effort against proposed changes in park policies that … more

David Colburn | 4/10/24

An artist’s rendition of the timberwolf mascot head on the outside of school offices at the Ely Public Schools.

Donation to fund new murals and signage on new addition

ELY- The ISD 696 school board accepted $30,000 in donations from the Ely Educational Foundation at its regular monthly meeting on Monday. Two-thirds of the money is for murals and signage for the … more

Catie Clark | 4/10/24

Funds sought to replace Morcom community center

BEAR RIVER- A crumbling area educational landmark could be on its way to the dustbin of history if the Legislature approves a $2.923 million bonding request to fund a new community center for Morcom … more

David Colburn | 4/10/24

Tower woman injured in crash

KUGLER TWP- A Tower woman was transported to the Virginia hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after her vehicle struck a front end loader on Hwy. 135 south of Tower on March 27. Tina … more

4/10/24

Obituaries: April 12, 2024

James W. Gawboy James Walter “Jim” Gawboy, “Waasagiizhik” “Animikii Aanakwad”, 87, died at home in his wife’s arms on Thursday, April 4, 2024. A Traditional … more

4/10/24

Ambulance study delay adds fuel to suspicions

REGIONAL- Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital (EBCH) CEO Patti Banks accepted some of the responsibility this week for the delay in the completion of the long-promised regional ambulance study … more

Catie Clark | 4/3/24

Motorists can expect some delays this summer from highway projects planned to major corridors, like Hwy. 169, shown above.

Road construction ahead

REGIONAL— Spring is coming and that means road construction can’t be far behind. This week, the Minnesota Department of Transportation announced its line-up of nearly 200 road … more

Marshall Helmberger | 4/3/24

Legislative efforts to control chronic wasting disease in wild deer populations by heavily regulating white tail deer farmers has the state of Minnesota facing a federal lawsuit.

Federal suit filed over deer farm regulations

REGIONAL- Has Minnesota gone too far in imposing regulations on cervid farms intended to prevent the spread of chronic wasting disease? A lawsuit filed with the Minnesota federal district court in … more

David Colburn | 4/3/24

Gordy Adams Jr. a victim of house fire

NETT LAKE- A house fire here on Sunday, March 24 claimed the life of the home’s resident, 66-year-old Gordon Adams Jr., marking a significant loss for the Nett Lake community. Adams was … more

David Colburn | 4/3/24

You’ll want to use special eclipse glasses to see Monday’s partial eclipse in Minnesota.

Partial solar eclipse to be visible in area April 8

REGIONAL- The North Country will experience a partial solar eclipse this coming Monday, as the sun will be partially blocked by the moon as it passes between the sun and Earth. The partial solar … more

Catie Clark | 4/3/24

Inspecting the mine shaft prior to filling it in.

The big iron strike that wasn’t

PINE ISLAND- An abandoned mine shaft identified in 2019 on Lake Vermilion’s Pine Island that was once touted as having the potential to be “one of the largest mines on the range” … more

David Colburn | 4/3/24

The county board presented a Public Health Achievement Award to Teri Morrison, the Community Health Program Manager at Bois Forte Health and Human Services on Tuesday. She is shown (center) with commissioner Patrick Boyle and St. Louis County Public Health Division Director Amy Westbrook.

Morrison receives county public health award

REGIONAL- Bois Forte Community Health Program Manager Teri Morrison received a St. Louis County Public Health Achievement Award on Tuesday for her work with the band’s Health and Human Services … more

David Colburn | 4/3/24

Forecasters predict expanding drought in region

REGIONAL— Last week’s major snowstorm helped but didn’t alleviate the ongoing drought conditions now in place over virtually all of northeastern Minnesota, and forecasters say they … more

Marshall Helmberger | 4/3/24

United Way launches Operation: Soldier Story oral history project

REGIONAL – When United Way of Northeastern Minnesota (UWNEMN)’s United for Veterans initiative brought The Wall That Heals traveling Vietnam Veterans Memorial to Chisholm in 2022, UWNEMN … more

4/3/24