News - The Timberjay

Printing facilities at the Cook News-Herald office in Cook will be upgraded in order to print several papers now owned by Cherry Road Media in northeastern Minnesota.

New Jersey-based Cherry Road Media buys Albertson newspapers

REGIONAL— A New Jersey-based media company has acquired two more northeastern Minnesota newspapers. Cherry Road Media, which now owns 94 newspapers across 18 states, has purchased the Cook … more

Marshall Helmberger | 4/10/25

The Ely City Council’s April 1 proposal to build the International Mosquito Center was featured on statewide and national news programs.

Mosquitos “bug” the Ely City Council

ELY- The Ely City Council meeting on Tuesday evening got off to a raucous start when Mayor Heidi Omerza commented that Ely had once again made the news with an elaborate April Fools prank that was … more

Catie Clark | 4/3/25

District responds to Indian Education concerns, promises progress

VIRGINIA- After a local advisory group of American Indian parents flagged a long list of concerns about how the ISD 2142 St. Louis County School district handles Indian Education, school officials … more

David Colburn | 4/3/25

Huge turnout for People’s Town Hall event

DULUTH— Nearly 900 people jammed into the Duluth East Auditorium here last Saturday to air their concerns about the ongoing threats to democracy, the economy, and the environment posed by the … more

Marshall Helmberger | 4/3/25

Cook teen arrested for alleged car theft, domestic assault

OWENS TWP- A Cook teenager is facing felony charges after allegedly taking a vehicle without permission from a home in Owens Township on the morning of Saturday, March 22. According to a criminal … more

David Colburn | 4/3/25

Flambeau Mine offers arguments for both sides in mining debate

LADYSMITH, Wis.— Since the Flambeau Mine, located just outside this small northwestern Wisconsin community, closed in 1997, it has served as a kind of Rorschach test for both supporters and … more

Marshall Helmberger | 4/3/25

Obituaries: April 4, 2025

Scott A. Larson Scott Alan Larson, 57, of Cambridge, Md., passed away peacefully on Friday, March 21, 2025, in Baltimore, Md. Scott will be greatly missed by his many friends and family. A … more

4/3/25

Ely firefighters at the scene of a house fire on N. Fifth Ave. E. that started late Tuesday evening.

Ely woman dies in late-night fire

ELY- The fire siren here went off for five minutes just after 11 p.m. Tuesday night for a structure fire which claimed the life of a woman and two dogs. The fire caused extensive damage to the … more

Catie Clark | 4/3/25

A panoramic view from the sky of Voyageurs National Park, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

State’s only national park marks 50th anniversary

VOYAGEURS NAT’L PARK- Minnesota’s only national park is turning 50 this year, and the celebration kicks off next Tuesday, April 8, with events honoring the park’s half-century … more

David Colburn | 4/3/25

Impact of auto tariffs will be wide-ranging

REGIONAL- Few, if any, Minnesotans will likely be celebrating President Donald Trump’s self-declared “Liberation Day” on Wednesday, as tariffs he imposed in a bid to bolster … more

David Colburn | 4/3/25

Nathan Thompson and Krystal Rynders smile at the dedication of Krystal’s new home in Tower. Also pictured is Judy Johnson looking on.

Building strong families

TOWER- The legacy of the St. James Presbyterian Church and its generous congregation was further cemented here recently as the former parsonage became the new home of the Rynders family. Krystal … more

Jodi Summit | 4/3/25

One of the counterfeit bills found in the area.

Counterfeit $100 bills circulating locally

TOWER- The Breitung Police Department has received reports of numerous fake $100 bills being circulated and used in various locations in the Tower/Soudan area. “Please be vigilant, the bills do … more

Jodi Summit | 4/3/25

Tim Tomsich’s granddaughter, Tori, made a surprise appearance at the Breitung meeting. Family members brought cake to share after Tim’s final board meeting.

Breitung Community Center to be renamed to honor Tim Tomsich

SOUDAN- After 45 years serving on the town board, most of that as chairman, Tim Tomsich may not be spending as much time in the Breitung Community Center as he once did, but his service to the … more

Jodi Summit | 3/27/25

Another budget gap ahead for ISD 696

ELY- For the second year in a row, ISD 696 is facing a shortfall of almost a half million dollars, which is not small change for a school district with a $9 million budget. Last year, ISD 696 had a … more

Catie Clark | 3/27/25

ISD 2142 will shift to four-day school week

REGIONAL- After a thorough recap of last week’s public hearings at district schools, the ISD 2142 School Board voted 4-3 on Tuesday to switch to a four-day school week for next year. Those … more

David Colburn | 3/27/25

Greenwood set to hire treasurer, applications due April 8

GREENWOOD TWP- The Greenwood Town Board convened their annual reorganization meeting without a treasurer at the table, but quickly addressed that issue by appointing Tammy Mortaloni to the position … more

Jodi Summit | 3/27/25

A haul truck makes its way out of the pit at the Minntac mine near Virginia.

Order puts mining as top priority for federal lands

REGIONAL— A March 20 executive order signed by President Donald Trump establishes mining of minerals as the highest priority use of federal lands, and that could eventually lead to mining … more

Marshall Helmberger | 3/27/25

A group of Tower-Soudan first graders take their usual morning walk around the school, with teachers pulling up the rear.

School closure ‘not on the table’

REGIONAL— As St. Louis County School District officials work to address the district’s estimated $1.5 million budget shortfall for next school year, they’ve made one thing … more

Marshall Helmberger | 3/27/25

Stakeholders oppose sale of Minnesota Power parent company

REGIONAL— The proposed acquisition of Minnesota Power parent company ALLETE by two massive private venture capital entities is facing stiff opposition from an unusual coalition of stakeholders, … more

Marshall Helmberger | 3/27/25

County seeks to arrest Ely man on domestic violence charges

ELY- The district court in Virginia has issued two warrants for an Ely man after an investigation of a domestic altercation on Jan. 4. That’s when Ely Police Sergeant Brad Roy responded to an … more

Catie Clark | 3/27/25

Feds take control of Eichorn child solicitation case

REGIONAL- Former GOP state Senator Justin Eichorn, of Grand Rapids, was in federal custody early this week following new allegations that he attempted to obstruct justice after his March 17 arrest in … more

David Colburn | 3/27/25

Silver Rapids developer sells shares to another project partner

FALL LAKE- The developers whose plan to remake the Silver Rapids Resort hit troubled waters late last year have sold their interest in the property to one of their partners in the project, the Storie … more

Catie Clark | 3/27/25

Cliffs announces layoff of 600 mine workers

REGIONAL— Cleveland Cliffs plans to lay off approximately 600 mine workers on the Iron Range due to slower than expected sales. That’s according to a press statement issued Thursday by … more

Marshall Helmberger | 3/20/25

Breitung residents vote to raise 2026 levy to $773,000

SOUDAN- At the Breitung annual meeting, residents approved a 2026 levy of $773,000, a $33,000, or 4.46 percent, increase over last year. The town board recommended the levy increase to pay for higher … more

Stephanie Ukkola | 3/20/25

Ely City council fills gaps in its zoning map

ELY—The Ely City Council approved the first reading of a new ordinance that assigns zoning to 14 unzoned parcels within city limits and scheduled a public hearing on the new zoning assignments … more

Catie Clark | 3/20/25