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Ely goes 1-1 on the week

MT. IRON— The Ely boys hoops squad kept it close throughout the first half here on Tuesday, but the Rangers used a smothering defense to keep the Wolves under wraps in the second half. The … more

2/24/23

A catch from a Kabetogama Lake dock last year.

DNR fisheries staff offers tips on potential opener hot spots

REGIONAL— While most anglers in the area are likely headed to Lake Vermilion this weekend in their quest for walleye, there are plenty of other excellent locations and other species to pursue … more

5/10/23

Two teens injured in Cook car crash

COOK- Excessive speed and alcohol are suspected to have contributed to a one-vehicle injury accident early Sunday morning in Cook, according to a report by the St. Louis County Sheriff’s … more

David Colburn | 8/2/23

Obituaries: December 22, 2023

Robert C. Wilson Robert “Bob” Clinton Wilson, 89, of Lake Vermilion, loving husband, father and grandfather, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023. Funeral … more

12/20/23

Obituaries: March 8, 2024

Michael D. Swor With gratefulness for a life well-lived, we announce the peaceful passing of Michael David Swor, 74, of St. Paul, Minn., and Naples, Fla., on Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024. In the spirit of … more

3/6/24

August 31, 2018 e-edition

8/29/18

Families with kids were busy shopping at Legacy Toys on Saturday during the store’s grand re-opening.

Toy story: An Ely original reopens for business after extended closure

ELY – The Legacy Toys store here reopened recently and a celebration was held last Saturday. Founded here in 2012, the company says it’s “devoted to helping kids and their families … more

Keith Vandervort | 7/13/22

Maus tapped as interim fire chief

GREENWOOD TWP- At a special meeting that lasted just over 10 minutes, the Greenwood Town Board appointed fire department member Jeff Maus as interim chief. The vote was 3-0, and Supervisors Mike … more

Jodi Summit | 9/28/22

Posing with the new Ojibwe place names map at its Bois Forte Heritage Center unveiling are, from left, Bois Forte Band member and Ely Folk School board member Rick Anderson, center visitor services manager Kyle Littlewolf, center director Jaylen Strong, and EFS board member Paul Schurke.

Ojibwe map unveiling draws huge crowd

VERMILION RESERVATION- “Bazhidebii” is a word in Anishinaabemowin that means “it overflows,” according to The Ojibwe People’s Dictionary, and it’s an apt … more

David Colburn | 12/7/22

Supporting a fish properly during release.

Tips for successful catch and release

REGIONAL—Anglers who intend to release any of the fish they catch can boost the chances those fish will survive by following best practices for catch and release: • Plan fishing trips … more

5/10/23

Cook City Council debates weed

COOK— The legalization of marijuana for adult recreational use in Minnesota prompted extended discussion at the city council meeting here last Thursday. The meeting, held July 27, was just days … more

Marshall Helmberger | 8/2/23

Businesses pinched for liquor sales to minors

REGIONAL- Four North Country businesses have been fined and will have their liquor licenses suspended for a day for serving alcohol to minors. The St. Louis County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday … more

David Colburn | 10/11/23

Feds to tour flood area as cleanup efforts intensify

REGIONAL- The great Rainy River Basin flood is now a thing of the past for folks on Crane Lake and Lake Kabetogama, as lake levels there are within the normal rule curve. Even so, recovery efforts … more

David Colburn | 7/13/22

County board awards $1.5 million to assist school project

ELY— Just days ago, the school board here had few good answers for covering $550,000 in cost overruns on the district’s facilities project.Yet salvation arrived on Tuesday morning as the … more

Rachel Brophy | 9/28/22

A sample of Wednesday’s NCRFC river forecast for the Vermilion River.

Flood forecasts for three Rainy River Basin waterways go live

REGIONAL- Under development since last year’s flooding, the National Weather Service and North Central River Forecast Center (NCRFC) on Monday unveiled three new forecast points within the … more

David Colburn | 5/10/23

Council hears of short-term rental nightmare

TOWER— Short-term rental horror stories are hardly unusual, but they had been relatively uncommon in Tower—that is until now. At Monday’s council meeting, residents from North Star … more

Marshall Helmberger | 10/11/23

December 29, 2023 e-edition

12/27/23

March 15, 2024 Puzzle Book

3/13/24

December 18, 2020 e-edition

12/16/20

A snowberry clearwing, a species of sphinx moth, hovers over an orange hawkweed.

It’s a bee? It’s a hummingbird?

One of the North Country’s coolest family of insects is the one whose members are most likely to be mistaken for a bird. They’re called sphinx moths or hawk moths (family Sphingidae), … more

Marshall Helmberger | 7/13/22

A large pack of half marathon runners made their way along Pioneer Road on Saturday.

No hitches on race day

ELY- While turnout for the Ely Marathon and the Boundary Waters Bank Half Marathon was a bit lighter than normal, 548 runners plunked down the registration fees to compete in friendly weather … more

David Colburn | 9/28/22

We are stardust; protecting our dark skies

Since the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) was founded in 1988 to educate and advocate about light pollution, awareness and concern has spread globally. Earth’s artificially lit surface … more

Betty Firth | 12/7/22

Obituaries: February 24, 2023

Randy J. ZupancichRandy James Zupancich, 60, of Britt, died of natural causes on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023. A private service will take place for family, followed by a celebration of life on Sunday, Feb. … more

2/22/23

Man’s best friend...and woman’s too

Melissa Fay Greene, an Atlanta-based journalist, is a new favorite author of mine. She has written a number of books on disparate subjects, which have in common her ability to write about complex … more

Betty Firth | 8/2/23

Pickleball fans form group to work on new Greenwood courts

GREENWOOD TWP- While the Greenwood Town Board appeared to throw cold water on the idea of building new pickleball courts at the town hall at their meeting in August, the large group of pickleball … more

Jodi Summit | 10/11/23