News - The Timberjay

Two arrested in Embarrass greenhouse burglary

EMBARRASS- An Aurora woman and a homeless man are facing multiple criminal charges in connection with a break-in at an Embarrass greenhouse last week.St. Louis County Sheriff’s deputies and … more

David Colburn | 10/5/22

New area lawmakers get hefty to-do list

ELY— Two northeastern Minnesota legislators-elect were offered a lengthy to-do list at the Community Economic Development Joint Powers Board’s annual meeting held here on Monday. … more

Catie Clark | 12/15/22

Lamppa honored with Distinction Award from Entrepreneur Fund

REGIONAL— Tower native Garrett Lamppa is the recipient of a 2023 Distinction Award from the Entrepreneur Fund, one of ten business owners across northern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin to … more

Marshall Helmberger | 10/18/23

Dodd Technologies stage tech at the Ely Memorial High School production of Disney's Frozen

ELY PREPS FOR BIG PRODUCTION

ELY- One of the biggest stars in the Ely Memorial High School production of “Disney’s Frozen – The Broadway Musical” has no lines and sings no songs, but has a part in every … more

Catie Clark | 1/10/24

ISD 696 considers active-shooter training for school staff

ELY – As school shootings continue to increase across the country, the risk of such a tragedy has not been lost on ISD 696 officials, and discussions have ramped up on conducting active shooter … more

Keith Vandervort | 7/20/22

The City of Ely has approved $62,500 for its share of underwriting an Ely Ambulance Service operating loss.

Council OKs ambulance bailout

ELY— The city of Ely will contribute $62,500 to the Ely Ambulance Service before the end of the year to help cover a flood of red ink that’s threatening to sink the service. The city … more

Marshall Helmberger | 10/5/22

Judge rejects Twin Metals plea to hear lease case

REGIONAL— A Twin Metals legal gambit proved a dry hole this past week with the ruling by a federal judge rejecting the company’s plea that he hear their case challenging the Biden … more

Marshall Helmberger | 12/15/22

Cook council edges closer on new blight ordinance

COOK- Residents of Cook who are concerned about blighted conditions in their neighborhoods are on the verge of having a new tool in their toolbox to combat the problem.After months of review and … more

David Colburn | 3/1/23

De-icer helps road quality in summertime

REGIONAL- Summertime is not the time one would expect St. Louis County to be applying de-icer to many of its roads, but it turns out that liquid calcium chloride is also an effective agent for … more

David Colburn | 8/10/23

Ely changes its name to Arendelle

ELY- Heidi Omerza, the Mayor of Ely, issued a proclamation at the beginning of the first city council meeting of the year, changing the name of the city to Arendelle as the council members looked on … more

Catie Clark | 1/10/24

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

Students from Tower-Soudan and Northeast Range were all smiles as they learned to canoe last Friday on Lake Vermilion.

Canoemobile brings outdoor classroom to town

VERMILION RESERVATION- The lawn behind the Vermilion Social Center was buzzing last Friday. Not with bees, but with busy elementary students from Tower-Soudan and Northeast Range.The sun was shining, … more

Jodi Summit | 10/5/22

County levy to increase 4.39 percent for next year

REGIONAL— St. Louis County will levy $163.4 million next year, a 4.39-percent increase over 2022. How that will impact taxpayer’s property assessments will vary depending on changes on … more

Marshall Helmberger | 12/15/22

Obituaries: March 3, 2023

Joel M. Hasz Joel M. Hasz, 60, of Arbor Vitae, Wis., formerly of Ely, passed away at his home on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. A funeral service was held on Thursday, March 2 at Nimsgern Funeral and … more

3/1/23

Trygg Road offers a scenic drive through pine woods. But sharp rocks along the road are leaving drivers flat.

Is there a fix for the flats?

EAGLES NEST TWP— What to do about Trygg Road? That’s the quandary facing St. Louis County public works officials as last year’s rash of flat tires on this several mile-long stretch … more

Marshall Helmberger | 3/20/24

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

Jacob White smiles during the most recent Ely Film Festival, which attracted huge crowds.

New leadership at Ely theater

ELY- It’s been nearly four years since Ely’s Historic State Theater reopened its doors for the first time. And it set another milestone this past week when the board of directors that … more

Catie Clark | 3/20/24

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

Walz promotes new climate change plan

REGIONAL- Gov. Tim Walz has unveiled a comprehensive framework for Minnesota to address climate change now and in the years to come, targeting transportation, clean energy, land management, health, … more

David Colburn | 10/6/22

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

Six-year-old injured in mower accident

COOK- A six-year-old Cook girl, whose identity has not been released, suffered serious injuries last Friday when she was run over by a brush mower. The child was a passenger on an ATV pulling an … more

David Colburn | 8/9/23

Gardner Trust awards $8,000 to local artists and groups

ELY- The board of the Donald G. Gardner Humanities Trust voted to award $8,000 to local artists, art organizations, and fine arts events at its Oct. 11 board meeting. “The Gardner Humanities … more

10/18/23

Should Tower buy the county public works facility?

TOWER— Should the city of Tower agree to purchase the county public works facility, now being vacated by St. Louis County? That’s the question that the council has talked about for more … more

Marshall Helmberger | 1/10/24

Board works on response to AIPAC complaints

REGIONAL- For a fourth consecutive year, the ISD 2142 St. Louis County Schools American Indian Parent Advisory Council (AIPAC) had found the district to be noncompliant with state Indian Education … more

David Colburn | 3/20/24

St. James Presbyterian Church celebrated their 125th anniversary in style!

Fourth of July in Tower [Photo gallery]

I shot over 500 pics on the Fourth. Here are some of my favorites... more

Jodi Summit | 7/23/09