News - The Timberjay

“The pandemic is over,” or so said President Biden last Sunday on 60 Minutes, but that doesn’t mean the COVID-19 virus has disappeared in St. Louis County or elsewhere in the … more

David Colburn | 9/21/22 | 1 comment

Left: Last year’s canoe portage marathon winner was looking good as he came across the finish line in Whiteside Park amidst a large crowd of cheering fans. It all kicks off again on Saturday with the seventh running of the Ely Marathon.

A little sweat, a lot of fun

ELY – This weekend nearly 600 athletes will arrive in Ely to run… and run. Roughly 400 of them will take part in the 13.1 mile-long Boundary Waters Bank half-marathon, while close to 200 … more

Rachel Brophy | 9/21/22

‘Tis the season, for candidate debates

Editor's Note: An original version of this story stated that the Eighth District congressional debate in Brainerd was set to be held on Sept. 24. It is actually scheduled for Oct. 24. The Timberjay regrets the error. REGIONAL— With the Nov. 8 general election just over six weeks from now, and early voting already underway, the candidate forum season is upon us and voters in the North Country will have … more

Marshall Helmberger | 9/21/22

Police chief urges patience during weekend’s marathon

ELY— Police Chief Chad Houde urged Ely residents to be patient this weekend due to a number of detours and road closures in advance of the Ely Marathon, set to be held on Saturday. “There … more

Marshall Helmberger | 9/21/22

Township still seeking broadband project grants

GREENWOOD TWP- For the first time since the resignation of the elected clerk and treasurer, the Greenwood Town Board at their Sept. 13 meeting was able to approve their treasurer’s report, … more

Jodi Summit | 9/21/22

Orr Ambulance Service gets brand-new rig

ORR- There’s an age-old proverb that goes, “Too many cooks spoil the broth,” but a good look at the sharp looking new vehicle in the Orr Ambulance Service garage suggests this … more

David Colburn | 9/21/22

New cell tower north of Echo Trail offers first responders more reliability with communications.

New FirstNet cell tower north of Ely now operational

ECHO TRAIL— A new FirstNet cell site located north of Ely is now operational, providing a much-needed boost to emergency communications for first responders working in nearby portions of the … more

Marshall Helmberger | 9/21/22

Session to teach employers about J1 visa program

ELY—Are you seeking workforce solutions? You are invited to attend a special Workforce Solutions session hosted by The Ely Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, Sept. 29 at 4:30 p.m. The … more

9/21/22

Obituaries: September 23, 2022

Janice M. Strub Janice M. Strub, 69, of Orr, passed away on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022, surrounded by her loving family. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1 at Holy Cross … more

9/21/22

Northern Lights Clubhouse needs new home and help

ELY- Northern Lights Clubhouse (Clubhouse) hopes to find a new place to call home within the coming ten months and is calling on the Ely community for some help. The Clubhouse, which is a program of … more

9/16/22

Unhappy hour at Northern Grounds on Sept. 20

ELY- For more than 25 years, Equal Pay Day has helped draw attention to gender-based pay disparities by highlighting how far into a new year a woman must work, on average, to earn what a man did in … more

9/15/22

Regional tax pool trims distributions to area cities

REGIONAL- Property owners across the North Country and St. Louis County could wind up with an unpleasant surprise when they receive their property tax statement this year, courtesy of a little known … more

David Colburn | 9/15/22

Billie and Mike Rouse brought a bucket of ice to the surprise announcement that Ely Memorial has won the rights to put on the Broadway musical version of Disney’s Frozen.

EHS wins national contest to put on Frozen: The Broadway Musical

ELY- “What are the chances?” is a question that has never bothered Mike Rouse. He’s beaten the odds in life, after getting a terminal cancer diagnosis as a teenager. He went on to … more

Jodi Summit | 9/14/22

Friends enjoy time together at the Harvest Moon Festival in Ely.

Arts, eats, & a touch of fall

The Timberjay's Jodi Summit dropped in on Ely's Harvest Moon Festival last weekend and came home with these photos and ... well, Jodi's been mum about that 'and' part.. Enjoy the pictures, and if you see … more

Jodi Summit | 9/14/22

A map recently produced by the Campaign to Save the Boundary Waters highlights the many challenges faced by the current mine plan produced by Twin Metals.

Does Twin Metals really have a viable plan?

REGIONAL— In legal filings and in public statements, representatives of Twin Metals have argued in recent months that they have a viable and environmentally-safe mine plan of operations, or … more

Marshall Helmberger | 9/14/22 | 1 comment

Mayor: State of city is good and getting better

TOWER— Mayor Dave Setterberg offered an upbeat assessment of the city’s status as part of a “state of the city” report he made to the city council here on Monday. Setterberg … more

Marshall Helmberger | 9/14/22

Greenwood fire department officers (l-r) Mike Indihar, David Fazio, and Rick Worringer were dismissed as officers by board action Tuesday night.

Board dismisses top fire department officers

GREENWOOD TWP— In a surprise decision at the end of their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, the Greenwood Town Board voted 3-2 to dismiss Fire Chief David Fazio and Assistant Chief Mike … more

Jodi Summit | 9/14/22

Orr man dies while ricing on Vermilion River

CRANE LAKE- A day of harvesting wild rice on the Vermilion River turned to tragedy for a 43-year-old Orr man who died after his canoe apparently capsized on Saturday, Sept. 10.The search for Keith … more

David Colburn | 9/14/22

ISD 2142 board reviews plans to address bullying

VIRGINIA- With the new school year now in session, the ISD 2142 school board turned its attention Tuesday to what its schools are doing to address an issue of increasing concern toward the end of … more

David Colburn | 9/14/22

Gordon Smith poses with Mom and Dad, Edie Renner and Michael Smith for yet another picture before he heads off to start third grade.

Admin reports a smooth first day and enrollment up for ISD 696

ELY – Monday night’s meeting of the Ely School board began with Ray Marsnik pointing out the obvious absence of longtime Timberjay Ely editor Keith Vandervort at the meeting. Marsnik … more

Rachel Brophy | 9/14/22

SBA offers disaster loan help in International Falls

REGIONAL- Homeowners, renters, business owners, nonprofits, and faith-based organizations impacted by summer flooding now have a temporary option in International Falls to consult in person with a … more

9/14/22

Obituaries: September 16, 2022

Leroy Anderson Leroy “Putsy” Anderson, 77, of Lake Vermilion-Tower, crossed over to his lake house in the sky on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022, after many days of being surrounded by family and … more

9/14/22

Vermilion Design Company owner Cade Gornick.

Vermilion Design Company buys Tower embroidery business

TOWER- Sherri Anderson’s Northern Pine Embroidery has been embroidering and printing t-shirts, clothing, caps and more for area businesses for 20 years. Originally located at her home in … more

Jodi Summit | 9/8/22

Ely chamber event director Ellen Cashman hands the baton (or in this case measuring sticks) to Jess Stott who will take Cashman’s place as Ely Chamber of Commerce Event Director following this year’s event.

Marking the park and passing the baton

ELY—It was a bittersweet morning early on Tuesday as Ely Chamber of Commerce Event Director Ellen Cashman was the first to arrive to “mark the park” for this weekend’s Harvest … more

Rachel Brophy | 9/7/22

Council hikes 2023 levy by 7.06 percent

ELY— Taxpayers here may need to dig a little deeper next year after the city council, minus the absent Paul Kess, unanimously approved a preliminary 2023 levy of $2.117 million, a 7.06 percent … more

Marshall Helmberger | 9/7/22