News - The Timberjay

Longtime lawmaker Doug Johnson dies at 80

REGIONAL— An Iron Range political legend died Monday at the Cook Hospital after a brief illness. Doug “Dougie” Johnson had been ailing for the past two years, according to his wife … more

Marshall Helmberger | 11/9/22

A voter makes his way into the Herbert R. Lamppa Civic Center in Tower on Tuesday, one of thousands who turned out across the region for the 2022 mid-term general election.

No red wave in Minnesota

REGIONAL— The 2022 mid-terms were supposed to feature the comeback of the GOP, but that’s not how the voting played out in Minnesota and many other parts of the country on … more

Marshall Helmberger | 11/9/22

Ramsay wins sheriff’s race comfortably

REGIONAL- Former Duluth Police Chief Gordon Ramsay won the St. Louis County Sheriff’s race on Tuesday by handily winning Duluth and narrowly edging current undersheriff Jason Lukovsky in the … more

David Colburn | 11/9/22

Skraba wins House District 3A race by 15 votes

REGIONAL- Veteran DFL state legislator Rob Ecklund’s electoral fate likely hangs on the results of a probable recount, as Republican Roger Skraba of Ely edged the incumbent District 3A House … more

David Colburn | 11/9/22

Omerza tops Kess in Ely mayor’s contest

ELY- Heidi Omerza cruised to an easy victory, outpolling Paul Kess 962-623 in the race for the open Mayor’s seat. Both were currently serving on the Ely City Council. The mayor’s seat … more

Jodi Summit | 11/9/22

Zika tops Suihkonen in only contest race for Tower council

TOWER- In the lone contested race for the Tower City Council, political newcomer Josh Zika bested Tom Suihkonen 111 to 76, to claim an open two-year seat on the council. Suihkonen had been appointed … more

Jodi Summit | 11/9/22

Bixby, Brunner returned in Cook; Antikainen will be Orr’s new mayor

REGIONAL—Incumbent Cook City Council members Jody Bixby and Kim Brunner won re-election to new four-year terms, fending off a challenge from political newcomer Ivette Reing. In the three-way … more

David Colburn | 11/9/22

Voters opt for experience in Ely school board race

ELY – In a school board race that included more than twice as many candidates as the 2020 election, experience mattered to voters as incumbents Rochelle Sjoberg and Tony Colarich landed two of … more

Rachel Brophy | 11/9/22

Briggs, Marinaro win ISD 2142 seats in Cook and Tower areas

REGIONAL- Nathan Briggs won the open school board seat for the North Woods attendance area. Briggs received 92.7-percent of the votes, 889, with write-ins garnering 7.3-percent. Briggs is a newcomer … more

11/9/22

Obituaries: November 11, 2022

LeRoy C. HolmesLeRoy Cecil Holmes, 88, of Soudan, died on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, at the Cardigan Ridge Senior Living in Little Canada. A memorial celebration of life service will be held at 11 a.m. … more

11/9/22

Four seats on the ballot for the Tower City Council

TOWER- There are four open seats on the Tower City Council for Tuesday’s election, but only one seat, the open two-year term, has more than one candidate running.Current Mayor Dave Setterberg, … more

Jodi Summit | 11/3/22

Six candidates for three seats on Cook Council

COOK- In some election years, the number of candidates for Cook City Council have only equalled the number of seats available. But this year, six candidates are vying for three council positions.The … more

David Colburn | 11/3/22

Council OKs acquisition of Revenue Building for new community complex

ELY— The city council here gave the green light to the acquisition of the state Department of Revenue building on Miner’s Drive, marking a major step forward toward a new childcare center … more

Marshall Helmberger | 11/3/22

The Minnesota Department of Revenue building on Miner’s Drive could possibly serve as the long anticipated rec center.

Revenue center vacancy offers chance to revive community complex

ELY— Longstanding plans for a recreational and wellness center here took a hit from the COVID-19 pandemic. But one of the side effects of shutdowns sparked by the initial arrival of the disease … more

Marshall Helmberger | 11/3/22

Cade Gornick and daughter Ada were out on the streets of Tower for after-school trick-or-treating on Monday.

Lizards, wizards & unicorns

Halloween is always fun, but an extra boost in temperatures on Monday made it possible for trick-or-treaters to show off their costumes at their finest. Timberjay photgraphers were in Ely, Tower, and … more

Timberjay staff | 11/2/22

Tuesday’s ballot offers lots of choices for voters

REGIONAL— North Country voters will head to the polls on Tuesday to cast ballots in a number of closely contested races at both state and local levels.Nearly 550,000 Minnesotans have requested … more

David Colburn | 11/2/22

Dante Tomassoni, the son of the late Sen. David Tomassoni is flanked by Sens. Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar in front of a plaque dedicating the new Heliene expansion to his father. Also pictured are Heliene CEO Martin Pochtaruk, Sen. Tom Bakk, and IRRR Commissioner Mark Phillips.

Mt. Iron solar panel plant expands

MT. IRON— More than 100 people, including both of Minnesota’s U.S. Senators turned out here to pay homage to the past and highlight the future of green energy employment on the Iron Range … more

Marshall Helmberger | 11/2/22 | 1 comment

Plenty of sharp elbows in Eighth District forum

REGIONAL— The two leading candidates in Minnesota’s Eighth District congressional race held a spirited debate in Hibbing last Friday, sponsored by the Hibbing Area Chamber of … more

Marshall Helmberger | 11/2/22 | 2 comments

Omerza and Kess share views in Ely mayoral race

ELY – The primaries held back in August narrowed the field to two well-known Ely names vying to be named the next mayor of Ely in next Tuesday’s election. Both Heidi Omerza and Paul Kess … more

Rachel Brophy | 11/2/22

Cook bypassed again for LP Solutions siding plant expansion

COOK- Manufactured wood products company LP Solutions announced plans for continued expansion at an investors meeting Monday, but once again the company’s Cook facility wasn’t in their … more

David Colburn | 11/2/22

Breitung discusses OHV route through township

SOUDAN- DNR Area Supervisor Joe Majerus met with the Breitung Town Board on Oct. 27 to discuss options for a new Off-Road Vehicle (OHV) trail spur connecting the planned OHV Campground in the Lake … more

Jodi Summit | 11/2/22

Tower City Clerk-Treasurer Michael Schultz discusses four alternatives developed as part of a recreational plan being developed for the area between the civic center and the harbor.

City recreation plans get a public review

TOWER— About 15 people came to the civic center here on Thursday night to weigh-in on different options for walking connections and potential recreational improvements around the city’s … more

Marshall Helmberger | 11/2/22

Minnesota is offering free CNA training through February By David Colburn

REGIONAL- The Minnesota Next Generation Nursing Assistant initiative, a program which provides free training, books, uniforms, and exams for aspiring Certified Nurse Assistants, will continue to be … more

David Colburn | 11/2/22

Obituaries: November 4, 2022

Franklin G. Gornick Franklin Guy Gornick, 73, longtime resident of Soudan, died peacefully on Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022, in his home with family at his side. A family-directed celebration of life was … more

11/2/22

Free PulsePoint app creates a faster CPR response

REGIONAL- Lifesaving help for someone suffering a cardiac arrest could be closer than ever now that the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office has joined the PulsePoint network.PulsePoint Respond is … more

David Colburn | 10/28/22