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Grizzlies romp at Wrenshall

WRENSHALL- The North Woods girls’ basketball team made the most of a long road trip to Wrenshall on Monday, thumping the home Wrens by a score of 73-28.This game gave Head Coach Liz Cheney her … more

David Colburn | 12/21/22

Ely edges Bluestreaks

ELY- The Timberwolves girls basketball team squeaked out a tough win in a high-intensity game on home hardwood Monday, edging the Bluestreaks 61-57.“It was a fun playoff-type game,” … more

Catie Clark | 12/21/22

DNR: New wolf plan strengthens conservation

REGIONAL— The Department of Natural Resources has released an update to its wolf management plan that continues the state’s commitment to wolf conservation. The new plan, which … more

Marshall Helmberger | 12/21/22 | 4 comments

Outgoing Mayor Roger Skraba receives the key to the city as Mayor-elect Heidi Omerza looks on.

Ely Ambulance Service may receive $1.3 million in federal funding

ELY- The highlight of the Dec. 20 Ely City Council meeting wasn’t even on the agenda. Rather, Ely’s mayor and clerk-treasurer shared some intelligence on federal funding that may be … more

Catie Clark | 12/21/22

Holiday humor, aggravation, and all that glitter

I was curled up on my sofa a couple weeks ago, listening to some instrumental Christmas music and appreciating my tree lights and my cats, thinking ahead to having a relaxing Christmas holiday to be … more

Scarlet Stone | 12/21/22

Cook native is repeat finalist for Grammy educator award

COOK- It was a special moment for Cook native Trevor Nicholas last year when he was named as one of only ten national finalists for the 2022 Music Educator Award presented by The Recording Academy, … more

David Colburn | 12/21/22

Ice candles bring community together in Embarrass

EMBARRASS- It took a little while to explain the tradition of ice candles to my 87-year-old mother-in-law, who recently moved to the area. But as soon as we pulled up the narrow lane to the Embarrass … more

Jodi Summit | 12/21/22

Peace on earth

Peace on Earth, goodwill towards everyone.That’s long been the unofficial greeting of the Christmas season, and it’s worth considering at this time each year how well we actually live up … more

12/21/22

Dafne Caruso (left) and Sara Skelton (right) at the Northern Lakes Arts Association reception at the State Theater in Ely.

Dafne Caruso art show at State Theater

ELY- Dafne Caruso is a local Ely artist whose career shows that it’s never too late to start pursuing the arts. The Northern Lakes Arts Association in collaboration with Ely’s State … more

Catie Clark | 12/21/22

Triple disease threat fills hospitals

REGIONAL- As Minnesota was experiencing a post-Thanksgiving rise in coronavirus cases, state Health Commissioner Jan Malcom and state Epidemiologist Ruth Lynfield appeared together last week for the … more

David Colburn | 12/21/22 | 2 comments

Obituaries: December 23, 2022

Ronald R. Hujanen Ronald R. Hujanen, 80, of Cook, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022. A celebration of life will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 30 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Tower. … more

12/21/22

A map of one the three areas to be served by the new broadband funding awarded recently to Paul Bunyan Communications. Residences in the area should soon see internet access speeds of up to 10 gigabytes per second.

Paul Bunyan awarded grant for expanded broadband

REGIONAL- Only one North Country broadband proposal was funded by the Minnesota Dept. of Employment and Economic Development in the latest round of Border-to-Border grant awards released last … more

David Colburn | 12/15/22

Council OKs three-percent levy hike for next year

TOWER— For the first time in three years, the city council here has voted to increase the city’s tax levy, by three percent over the 2022 levy of $394,761. That will push the city’s … more

Marshall Helmberger | 12/15/22

North Woods, NER to swap principals

REGIONAL- A new year will bring new leadership to two area schools, as North Woods Principal John Vukmanich and Northeast Range Principal Kelly Engman will swap roles beginning Jan. 1.North Woods … more

David Colburn | 12/15/22

A MnDOT snowplow was out working Hwy. 169 in heavy snow on Wednesday.

Winter wallop

REGIONAL— The area’s first major winter storm of the season struck with a vengeance on Wednesday with heavy, dense snow and considerable wind as a Colorado low moved across the Plains and … more

Marshall Helmberger | 12/15/22

Ely senior Erron Anderson tries to get a shot off under intense pressure by a trio of Broncos’ defenders.

Mixed week for Wolves

TWO HARBORS—A tough Agates’ defense in the paint and ice-cold outside shooting put the Timberwolves behind the eight ball here on Saturday as they suffered their first loss of the young … more

Marshall Helmberger | 12/15/22

North Woods tops Spartans, improve to 3-1

NASHWAUK- The North Woods boys basketball team moved to 3-1 on the season early this week, bouncing back from a 70-60 loss at Moose Lake on Monday with a convincing 99-70 win over Nashwauk-Keewatin … more

David Colburn | 12/15/22

North Woods junior River Cheney tangles for the ball with a Two Harbors player during their Friday night hoops contest played at North Woods. The Agates went on to win 83-67.

Slow start sinks Grizzlies

FIELD TWP- The North Woods girls basketball team couldn’t overcome a slow start against Two Harbors on Dec. 9, falling to the Agates 83-67 at North Woods.Despite some early turnovers, the … more

David Colburn | 12/15/22

Wolves nip the Broncos in border battle

INTERNATIONAL FALLS—The Timberwolves snowed the Broncos 57-42 here on Friday, Dec. 9. “We played a little sloppy until about eight minutes to go and then we buried them,” said Head … more

Catie Clark | 12/15/22

A pair of rambunctious fisher kits find a nest box a fun place to play, but researchers found no evidence that adult females used the boxes for nesting with young.

Study sends fisher biologists back to the drawing board

REGIONAL— Three years ago, biologist Michael Joyce installed over 100 “nest” boxes designed to meet the specific needs of the fisher, Minnesota’s largest member of the weasel … more

Marshall Helmberger | 12/15/22 | 1 comment

Christmas bird counts set across the North Country

REGIONAL— Birders around the area will be pulling out their binoculars and warm winter gear over the next couple weeks to take part in the 123rd annual Christmas Bird Count, sponsored and … more

Marshall Helmberger | 12/15/22

Diversionary feeding proves an effective strategy for jays

xIf you enjoy feeding birds this time of year but don’t like to see dozens of aggressive blue jays keep other birds from getting their share, consider this rather simple solution. When it comes … more

Marshall Helmberger | 12/15/22

A quick detour in life, to discover wonder

Four years ago, on the night of Dec. 13 and on into the wee hours before dawn on Dec. 14, I was in northwest New Mexico at one of my favorite spots in the world, Chaco Culture National Historical … more

David Colburn | 12/15/22

Fire department again on the agenda in Greenwood

GREENWOOD TWP- The state of the Greenwood Fire Department was again the focus of the township’s regular monthly meeting.Long-time fire department members Mike Indihar and Tom Mortaloni spoke … more

Jodi Summit | 12/15/22

Hopes aired for new legislative session at board meeting

ELY- The prospects for the upcoming legislative session highlighted Monday night’s meeting of the ISD 696 school board here. The meeting proceeded with a quorum of four as members Chad Davis … more

Catie Clark | 12/15/22