Sports - The Timberjay

For the first time in Blueberry/Art Festival history, event pins are available at the Ely Chamber of Commerce and at the chamber's booth at the festival.

Blueberry/Art Festival to be held July 29-31

ELY – Following a severe storm that altered the 2021 Blueberry/Art Festival, planning for this year’s edition of the Ely community’s major summer festival began back in January and … more

Keith Vandervort | 7/20/22

Longest-running rodeo prepares for 67th year

EFFIE- Like most summer activities this year, higher prices for everything from gas to food have affected the rodeo circuit, but the chance to compete in the 67th Annual North Star Stampede in Effie … more

David Colburn | 7/20/22

"Konst” Marttila behind the counter of his confectionary and variety store in 1945. The shop was a popular place in Tower when it sold candy, milk shakes, comic books, and other delights.

It was everyone’s favorite hangout

TOWER- While everyone who has lived in Tower for any length of time has stories about Marttila Drug, over 60 area residents got the chance to learn more about the Marttila family’s long ties to … more

Jodi Summit | 7/20/22

Chorus King Ian Lah sings “I Don’t Mean to be Mean."

The Quiltmaker's Gift plays to packed houses in Ely

Timberjay photographer Keith Vandervort was on hand for some pictures at a recent performance of The Quiltmaker's Gift in Ely. more

Keith Vandervort | 7/20/22

Chaz Wagner sings and plays the drum at a Nett Lake pow wow in March.

Wagner wins grant for drumming and singing outreach

REGIONAL- Thanks to the ongoing efforts of a Bois Forte Band musician and a grant from the Northland Foundation, youth in multiple area communities have the opportunity this summer to learn … more

David Colburn | 7/20/22

Families with kids were busy shopping at Legacy Toys on Saturday during the store’s grand re-opening.

Toy story: An Ely original reopens for business after extended closure

ELY – The Legacy Toys store here reopened recently and a celebration was held last Saturday. Founded here in 2012, the company says it’s “devoted to helping kids and their families … more

Keith Vandervort | 7/13/22

Area favorite Steve Solkela will perform at the picnic.

Old Settlers Picnic this Saturday, July 16

BREITUNG TWP- This might be the most delicious $10 you have ever spent. If you are a present or former resident of the Vermilion Iron Range, the annual Old Settlers Reunion and Picnic features the … more

7/13/22

Mixed Precipitation bringing family-friendly opera and puppet fun to the area in August

REGIONAL-Mixed Precipitation presents “Pickup Truck Opera Volume Two: The Magic Flute” which is the second installment of their traveling operatic adventure. Performances run in this area … more

7/13/22

Becky Rom displays the hundreds of pages included in the recent draft EA on the proposed mineral withdrawal affecting a portion of the Superior National Forest.

Rom offers updates and introductions

ELY – Members of the Tuesday group received an update this week on efforts to head off copper-nickel mining near the Boundary Waters and met the next generation of potential advocates for … more

Keith Vandervort | 7/13/22 | 1 comment

Members of the Northeast Range marching band honored Troy Swanson during the Tower parade. Swanson, who died June 30, was the longtime school board representative for the Tower-Soudan area.

A red, white, and blue celebration

Timberjay photographers were out and about to capture images from Independence Day celebrations on Sunday and Monday. more

Timberjay photographers | 7/6/22

Ely follows the yellow brick road to the Land of Oz

ELY – The Yellow Brick Road led to Ely last weekend as the Prairie Fire Children’s Theater, with the help of the Northern Lakes Arts Association and Lake Country Power, presented … more

Keith Vandervort | 7/6/22

Ann Gawboy dances in the rain at the Lake Vermilion Traditional Pow Wow last weekend.

Rainy Day Dancers - picture story

Weekend showers didn’t dampen spirits at the Lake Vermilion Traditional Powwow last weekend, and Timberjay photographer Jodi Summit was on hand to capture some of the grace, beauty, and … more

Jodi Summit | 6/29/22

A black bear playfully chews on bark from a tree at the Vince Shute Sanctuary. While the sanctuary staff wrestle with HR issues, it’s business as usual for the bears.

Bear sanctuary working through staffing crisis

ORR- Former Vince Shute Wildlife Sanctuary Executive Director Steph Horner said ‘so long’ to the popular black bear attraction at the end of last year’s season, but she never could … more

David Colburn | 6/29/22

Randy and Carol Semo were on hand for last week’s customer appreciation day at Good Ol’ Days. The couple has owned the popular bar and restaurant in Tower for 20 years, with Randy handling much of the day-to-day operations. Ownership was to formally change hands to Dan and Greta Burandt, on July 1.

Goodbye to a ‘good ol’ guy

TOWER- Twenty years ago Randy and Carol Semo opened a 1950s-themed bar and grill with a décor that echoed both their love of that era and a healthy dose of Green Bay Packers fandom. Good … more

Jodi Summit | 6/29/22

Linda Fryer’s sisters, Suzanne Fryer and Gloria Marion remove the cover from the new street sign, highlighting Linda Fryer Way, in Ely.

Linda Fryer Way dedicated in Ely

ELY – A new street name, Linda Fryer Way, was dedicated last week for the longtime Chamber of Commerce leader whose efforts went a long way to put this community on the map.Family, friends, Ely … more

Keith Vandervort | 6/29/22

Jack Roddy talks to members of the Tower-Soudan Little League about baseball and what a talent scout might look for in a promising player.

Coaching tips from a pro

SOUDAN- A World Series ring was a nice capstone to a long career in baseball for Jack Roddy, and it offered a bit of inspiration this past week to local Little Leaguers.Roddy, a long-time talent … more

Jodi Summit | 6/23/22

Hollace Fenske and other Ely-area youth gather on Wednesdays and Saturdays at the Ely Little League Field for T-Ball action.

Focus is aim of young t-ballers

Ely editor and photographer Keith Vandervort dropped by the Ely Little League field recently to capture the intensity and joy of youngsters jumping headlong into America's pasttime. more

K. Vandervort | 6/22/22

The new owners of Gruben’s Marina and Resort on the steps outside the business’s general store. Pictured are Fred Brett, Chessica Reichert, and their son Jace.

New owners take the reins at Grubens

GREENWOOD TWP- Even though Gruben’s Marina and Resort is under new ownership, the name of this longtime Lake Vermilion institution will live on. The marina and resort, started by the Gruben … more

Rachel Brophy | 6/22/22

Ely Folk School’s canoe project resumes

ELY – Work is underway once again on the birch bark canoe project at the Ely Folk School, offering participants handcrafting skills and more as they learn, in traditional detail, the many … more

Keith Vandervort | 6/22/22

Softball honors for two Ely players

ELY – Two Ely High School softball players, senior Charly Flom and junior Kate Coughlin, earned All-Arrowhead Conference honors following the 2022 season.They were key contributors to a … more

Keith Vandervort | 6/22/22

Kaelyn Puzel gets ready to catch some fish.

Fishin’ fun on Fall Lake at the Ely Chamber Fishing Derby

WINTON - The Northwoods Kids Fishing Derby at Veterans on the Lake Resort last weekend not only included dozens of area youth trying their luck fishing for prizes off the piers, it also included … more

Keith Vandervort | 6/16/22 | 1 comment

Newly- named wolf pups Blackstone and Caz were playful during a recent public showing of the new members of the wolf center’s ambassador pack.

Meet Blackstone and Caz

ELY – The International Wolf Center has two new residents, and now they have names. The two male wolf pups were named “Blackstone” and “Caz” in an online contest, the … more

Keith Vandervort | 6/15/22

A group of Vermilion Country School students discuss their project on plastic pollution with evaluator Patricia Helmberger, of Tower.

Expo gives VCS students a chance to shine

TOWER- As students from Vermilion Country School enjoy the summer, they’ll do so with a mindful eye toward the environment, being watchful for evidence of something they once might have taken … more

David Colburn | 6/15/22

Ely junior Erron Anderson races to first but not in in time for the final out of the game.

Ely’s season ends in section final

AURORA— It’s said all good things must come to an end, and that was the case here last Thursday for an exceptional Ely high school baseball season as the Wolves fell 3-2 to South Ridge in … more

Marshall Helmberger | 6/15/22 | 1 comment

Ely junior Joey Bianco rips a hit during Tuesday’s contest with Chisholm.

Back-to-back wins send Ely to finals

AURORA— It was do-or-die for the Timberwolves as they headed into the semi-final round of the Section 7A baseball tournament, played here on Tuesday. Having lost the prior Thursday to Cherry, … more

Marshall Helmberger | 6/8/22