News - The Timberjay

Obituaries: September 22, 2023

Glenn W. Myers Glenn “Mike” Wayne Myers, 86, of Babbitt, passed away on Friday, Sept. 1, 2023. A celebration of life is planned for 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 23 at his home, Myers Manor, … more

9/20/23

State Sen. Sandy Pappas (second from left) visited with local officials including Tim Tomsich, Matt Tuchel, and Michael Schultz.

State Reps hear about need for new water filtration system

SOUDAN- Senate Capital Investment Committee Chair Sen. Sandy Pappas (DFL-St. Paul) and members of the Capital Investment Committee visited Soudan on Sept. 6, as part of a tour of more than 20 … more

Jodi Summit | 9/15/23

Japanese knotweed is a shrub-like, semi-woody perennial with bamboo-like stems, and broad, oval-shaped leaves.

Patch of invasive Japanese Knotweed found on Everett Bay Rd.

GREENWOOD TWP- There is a new “neighbor” living near the Everett Point public boat landing, and it is an unwelcome guest. A large patch of Japanese Knotweed, an invasive species, was … more

Jodi Summit | 9/14/23

Planning and Zoning denies variance request for tiny home

TOWER- A request from Daniel Eveleth to build a home smaller than allowed by the city’s current zoning ordinance was denied for failing to meet the standards set in statute for the granting of … more

Jodi Summit | 9/14/23 | 1 comment

Boise State University researcher and drone pilot Thomas Van Der Weide with his drone-mounted LIDAR equipment.

Study to gauge carbon losses losses

REGIONAL- “Nobody has done this before,” Randy Kolka told the Timberjay. Kolka is a soil scientist with the U.S. Forest Service and he was talking about a unique study to calculate how … more

Catie Clark | 9/13/23

The Gillson residence located at 45 E. Boundary St. in Ely.

Domestic rift leads to fire, high- speed chase

ELY- An alleged domestic altercation in Ely led to a fire and a police pursuit involving a significant law enforcement response around 11 a.m. on Wednesday, as the Timberjay prepared to go to … more

Catie Clark | 9/13/23

Judge dismisses Twin Metals lawsuit seeking lease reinstatement

REGIONAL— A federal district judge in Washington, D.C. has dismissed a lawsuit filed by Twin Metals and Franconia Minerals that had sought to reverse the cancellation of mineral leases critical … more

Marshall Helmberger | 9/13/23

Council approves rate increase at Hoodoo Point

TOWER— The city council here, on Monday, approved a ten-percent increase in the seasonal rate for RV campers at the Hoodoo Point Campground, but not before hearing from several of those … more

Marshall Helmberger | 9/13/23

New COVID boosters available; area seeing uptick in cases

REGIONAL- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave its approval to newly formulated COVID booster shots on Monday, clearing the way for distribution at a time when COVID rates around the country … more

David Colburn | 9/13/23

Search continuing for missing Gheen man

GHEEN— The search for Glenn Stevenson, a Willow Valley Township man with Parkinson’s disease who went missing Sept. 2 near Gheen, has been fruitless as of Tuesday, but authorities … more

David Colburn | 9/13/23

A concept plan given a preliminary okay by the TEDA board calls for a hotel and additional mixed commercial/residential space at the harbor, with most residential development slated to take place on the north side of Hwy. 169 on the former Mesojedec property.

TEDA green lights harbor concept plan that includes hotel

TOWER— The Tower Economic Development Authority has given a unanimous green light to a concept plan that would bring a hotel, an adjacent commercial space, and a handful of second-floor … more

Jodi Summit | 9/13/23

Ely high school gym floor should be back in action soon

ELY- The new gymnasium floor at Ely Memorial High School should be ready for use next month, reported Facilities Director Tim Leeson at the Sept. 11 meeting of the Ely School Board. The floor was … more

Catie Clark | 9/13/23

Obituaries: September 15, 2023

James D. Keranen James Donald “Jim” Keranen, 94, of Grand Rapids, passed away surrounded by family in the early morning hours of Sunday, Sept. 3, 2023, at Majestic Pines Senior Living in … more

9/13/23

The most unusual boat at the show was “Petertoon,” a combo Peterbilt truck cab and pontoon boat.

Eye-catching big rig is boat show standout

LAKE VERMILION- When people go to the Lake Vermilion Antique and Classic Boat show, they’re most often likely to find vintage vessels by time-honored makers like Chris-Craft, Stanley Boat … more

David Colburn | 9/7/23

The Twin Metals office in Ely, once busy, has seen limited activity in recent years.

Federal judge dismisses Twin Metals lawsuit

REGIONAL— A federal district judge in Washington, D.C. has dismissed a lawsuit filed by Twin Metals and Franconia Minerals that had sought to reverse the cancellation of mineral leases critical … more

Marshall Helmberger | 9/7/23

The view from a dock in Canfield Bay on Lake Vermilion. Swirls of dense blue-green algae have been apparent there in recent days.

Blue, green, and stinky

REGIONAL— “The water’s stinky!” That was the assessment of a group of young visitors to Lake Vermilion Soudan Underground Mine State Park last week as a pronounced bloom of … more

Marshall Helmberger | 9/6/23

Senior center backers fill the council chambers

ELY— Supporters of the Ely Senior Center filled every seat at the city council meeting here on Tuesday as they pressed the council for some financial help to address the nonprofit’s … more

Catie Clark | 9/6/23

Students in the hallway of the newly-renovated school.

Building renovations, new staff make for exciting start at Vermilion Country School

TOWER- Vermilion Country School was all set to welcome their students on Sept. 5, with new staff and a newly renovated school building. Gone are the high ceilings and open nature of the former … more

Jodi Summit | 9/6/23

tudents in Ely appear a bit hesitant as they get off the school bus for the first day of classes.

Back to school

Timberjay staff members had cameras ready on Tuesday to capture a few images of children returning to school in Ely, at Tower-Soudan Elementary, and North Woods School. more

Timberjay staff | 9/6/23

Larry Ricker in front of a display of his work at The Cabin gift shop at 120 E. Sheridan in Ely.

Photographer captures the wonders of the Ely area

ELY- Larry Ricker draws much of his inspiration from the boreal forest landscape, which makes his recent move from Rochester to Ely especially convenient. Ricker, who lived in the southern Minnesota … more

Catie Clark | 9/6/23 | 1 comment

Search continues for missing Gheen man

GHEEN- The search for a Willow Valley Township man with Parkinson’s disease who went missing this past weekend was ongoing as of Tuesday, with the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office and … more

David Colburn | 9/6/23

Board seeks bids for drinking water plant

TOWER-SOUDAN—Pressed by a recommendation from the Minnesota Department of Health, the Tower-Breitung Waste Water Board has approved seeking bids for the construction of a drinking water … more

Marshall Helmberger | 9/6/23

District formally suspends SRO program

VIRGINIA- In a special meeting on Tuesday, the ISD 2142 school board formalized the suspension of the school resource officer program with the St. Louis County Sheriff’s office. Softening the … more

David Colburn | 9/6/23

Three juveniles injured in holiday ATV accidents

REGIONAL- A pair of Labor Day weekend ATV accidents sent two juveniles to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries and a third home with minor bruises. On Saturday afternoon at about 4 p.m. … more

9/6/23

Walz taps Hudson as new chief justice

REGIONAL— Justice Natalie Hudson will rise to the role of Minnesota Supreme Court chief, becoming the first chief justice of color and the first Democratic-appointed judicial branch leader in … more

Brian Bakst, MPR News | 9/6/23