News - The Timberjay

City of Ely could acquire WELY radio station for free

ELY – For the past two weeks this community has been in desperation, almost panic, over the impending shut down of WELY-FM radio on June 1. Ely Mayor Roger Skraba talked informally with the … more

Keith Vandervort | 5/18/22

Ely-area pro-choice advocates joined thousands of marchers in hundreds of cities across the United States last Saturday for a “Bans Off Our Bodies” rally.

Pro-choice advocates rally in Ely

ELY- Nearly 100 pro-choice advocates here joined thousands of marchers in hundreds of cities across the nation for a “Bans Off Our Bodies” rally expressing concern and even outrage that … more

Keith Vandervort | 5/18/22

Buley sentenced in Ely sex-trafficking case

ELY – Daisy Joy Buley, 37, of Ely, was sentenced last week to nearly eight years in prison for trafficking a young girl in exchange for drugs and money. She received the 94-month sentence from … more

Keith Vandervort | 5/18/22

Northland grant could aid Main Street projects

REGIONAL– The Northland Foundation has received a $4.28 million grant as part of the Mainstreet Revitalization program through the state Department of Employment and Economic Development … more

Marshall Helmberger | 5/18/22

Volunteers scramble to fill sandbags in Kabetogama on Saturday afternoon to try to keep ahead of rising lake levels.

Kabetogama Township seeks volunteers to help with sandbagging

KABETOGAMA- Kabetogama Township is asking for volunteers to help with sandbagging to protect properties from the rising floodwaters in the Namakan Basin. Kabetogama is a small community … more

5/15/22

Council approves subsidy for ambulance service

TOWER— The city council here, on Monday, approved tapping other city accounts to help finance the Tower Area Ambulance Service, which has been struggling financially as a result of a spike in … more

Marshall Helmberger | 5/12/22

Prospective North Country broadband supplier under fire

REGIONAL- In a move that could have major implications for the expansion of broadband internet services in the North Country, prospective developer LTD Broadband has come under fire again from two … more

David Colburn | 5/12/22

Ely area veterans gathered to pay respects to former board members of Veterans on the Lake during the recent raising of a Holiday Flag at the facility on Fall Lake.

Raising the colors

ELY – Several of this community’s military veterans gathered at the flag pole at Veteran’s on the Lake Resort near here last Friday morning for a special flag raising.A … more

Keith Vandervort | 5/12/22

A burning experience

ELY – With the snow just recently melted, fire season is up and running in northern Minnesota. About 20 students in the Wildland Fire Control and Management class at Vermilion Community College … more

Keith Vandervort | 5/12/22

Preschool program proposed

ELY –ISD 696 will likely implement a new three-year-old preschool program for the 2022-23 school year.According to Interim Superintendent John Klarich, K-5 Principal Anne Oelke introduced the … more

Keith Vandervort | 5/11/22

Highs winds Monday blew ice slabs on shore at Lake Vermilion’s Birch Point, damaging docks.

Wind and ice wreak havoc

REGIONAL— Intense straight-line winds blew down trees across the region on Monday, knocking out power to nearly 2,000 Lake Country Power customers for a time. Few places were harder hit than … more

Marshall Helmberger | 5/11/22

Greenwood clerk leaves meeting

GREENWOOD TWP- The Greenwood Town Board had a united front on one major topic at their May 10 meeting– their refusal to grant the demand from elected clerk Debby Spicer for additional pay.The … more

Jodi Summit | 5/11/22

Board considers request to allow smudging in district schools

VIRGINIA- A traditional Ojibwe cleansing and purification ritual known as smudging may become available to Native American students in ISD 2142 during the school day after a request made at … more

David Colburn | 5/11/22

New water treatment system removed all traces of arsenic

GREENWOOD TWP- The Greenwood Town Board, Tuesday, got good news about the township water supply. The newly-installed filtration system has eliminated all traces of arsenic in the township’s … more

Jodi Summit | 5/11/22

VCC students walk out for women’s rights

ELY- More than two dozen Vermilion Community College students and faculty participated in a walk-out on Friday to protest the anticipated U.S. Supreme Court ruling that could overturn the Roe v. Wade … more

Keith Vandervort | 5/11/22

Wanted: Ely police officers, but experience preferred

ELY – Wanted: Experienced patrol officers to join the Ely Police Department. The Ely city council Tuesday night, on a recommendation from the Employee Relations Committee, approved a request … more

Keith Vandervort | 5/4/22 | 1 comment

Steven Sopoci as Peter Pan tests his ability to fly high to avoid Captain Hook's swinging sword in the North Woods/Prairie Fire Children's Theater production of "Peter Pan."

"Peter Pan" soars in North Woods performance

FIELD TWP- Prairie Fire Children's Theater returned to North Woods School last week to engage around 40 students in the production of "Peter Pan," a version PFCT specially tailors for young … more

David Colburn | 5/4/22

Ely radio station WELY will sign off next month after the Bois Forte Band decided it could no longer continue carrying the station's financial losses.

End of the road for Ely radio station?

ELY- “End of the Road Radio” has apparently reached the literal end of the road, toppling into a financial abyss with no emergency rescue to be had.WELY FM 94.5 and AM 1450, the local Ely … more

David Colburn | 5/4/22 | 1 comment

These Mayo Clinic COVID hotspot maps show the projected spread and increase of COVID-19 cases through May 14.

COVID cases on the rise as latest Omicron subvariant takes hold

REGIONAL- With less than half of Minnesotans up to date on their COVID vaccinations and recommended boosters, cases are slowly but steadily on the rise as a new and still more transmissible Omicron … more

David Colburn | 5/4/22

Concerns about North Woods aired

COOK- A student cornered and bullied as others recorded the attack on cell phones. Vaping in bathrooms. Openly disrespectful comments toward staff.What’s going on at North Woods School?These … more

David Colburn | 5/4/22

Minnesota’s frontline workers to be eligible for bonus checks

REGIONAL- Frontline workers in the COVID-19 pandemic will be getting $750 HERO checks and Minnesota employers will avoid a significant increase in unemployment insurance taxes after Gov. Tim Walz … more

David Colburn | 5/4/22

Ely 4th-5th graders present ‘Summer Camp’ musical next Friday

ELY – The halls of Washington Elementary School are usually quiet when the school day ends at 3 p.m., but in the Washington Auditorium, nearly 40 energetic fourth and fifth graders are just … more

Keith Vandervort | 5/4/22

Fix for state’s unemployment account finally inked

REGIONAL— After months of political wrangling, the Legislature finally agreed last week on a measure that will provide $2.73 billion to replenish the state’s unemployment insurance (UI) … more

Marshall Helmberger | 5/4/22

EPA: Don’t reinstate PolyMet wetlands permit

REGIONAL— The federal Environmental Protection Agency has dealt PolyMet’s proposed NorthMet mine a potentially crippling blow. In a 47-page opinion issued to the U.S. Army Corps of … more

Marshall Helmberger | 5/4/22 | 1 comment

McFadden schooled in Iron Range politics

REGIONAL— Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mike McFadden received a crash course in Iron Range politics this past week over comments he made Aug. 6, at a FarmFest debate with Sen. Al Franken. … more

Marshall Helmberger | 8/21/14 | 2 comments