Sports - The Timberjay

Cow-handling fun at team penning and ranch sorting

EMBARRASS- Yearling calves kept wannabe cowpokes busy as the annual team penning and ranch sorting competition got underway in Embarrass last weekend. The event drew riders from across the area who … more

Jodi Summit | 8/22/24

History Talk to focus on the Vermilion Lake Indian School

TOWER- Linda LeGarde Grover, professor emeritus of American Indian studies at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, will be the featured speaker at the Tower-Soudan Historical Society annual dinner on … more

8/22/24

Ely climate speaker talks impact of Chevron decision

ELY- One of the lawyers who worked on the case that became known as the foundation for the so-called “Chevron doctrine” spoke in Ely last week about its recent demise at the hands of the … more

Catie Clark | 8/22/24

The barn in a 2005 photo, left, showing the extensive roof damage and also the basketball hoop used by local youths for pickup games. Right: The restored loft has cedar panels on the ceiling and white pine flooring with railing balusters handmade in Yemen.

Metamorphosis

COOK- A stunning remodel that has converted a near-century-old Sears kit-barn into a showplace residence with distinctive Middle Eastern accents is now nearing completion amidst the forest and old … more

David Colburn | 8/15/24

See all the variety of exhibits at the fair.

Lots of new events at this year’s Embarrass Region Fair

EMBARRASS- While the Embarrass Fair officially kicks off on Friday, Aug. 23, the fairground horse arena will be full of action starting Friday, Aug. 16, when the 16th Annual Danny Theel Memorial Team … more

8/15/24

Mesabi Trail facing many challenges finding route to Tower

TOWER—For years, city officials and local volunteers invested significantly in the creation of a welcoming service and information hub near the train depot in anticipation of the eventual … more

Marshall Helmberger | 8/15/24

Jeff Hislop of Evergreen Geophysical walking in front of the 62,000-pound NodalSeismic vibroseis truck hired by Pulsar Helium to conduct a seismic survey along the Dunka River Road

More testing underway at Pulsar Helium site

BABBITT- Pulsar Helium continues its exploration of the helium in the Precambrian Duluth Complex rocks southeast of Babbitt, seeking to extend its understanding of the resource. The firm started a … more

Catie Clark | 8/15/24

Some of the Eagles Nest ENCEP, ENFD and SLC EM that helped out Saturday. Standing: Alex Jaye (St. Louis County EM), Dick Flesvig, Eric Jokela, Terry Mattson, Josh Brinkman (St. Louis County EM Director), JoAnn Bird, Lisa Hutchinson, Mary Beth Monte, Matt Olson (St. Louis County EM), John Kappenman, Sarah Willis (Morse-Fall Lake FD), Ria Leonard, Austin VanScoy, Mark Pratt.  Kneeling:  Steve Voiles, Cliff Koski, Mike Ostlund (Eagles Nest EM Director), Anna Krueger (Morse-Fall Lake FD), Keely Drange.

Eagles Nest Township wants to be ready in case of a wildfire

EAGLES NEST TWP- Eagles Nest Township once again held an evacuation drill, this time on Saturday, Aug. 10. The drills, which have become an annual event in Eagles Nest, provide training to facilitate … more

8/15/24

Members of the public turned out by the hundreds last Wednesday to check out the new Community Hub, which held a ribbon cutting, party, and shakedown cruise for the new multi- service center located in the former Revenue Department building in Ely.

Celebrating “The Hub”

ELY- The Ely Area Community Foundation celebrated the opening of its 16,000-square-foot Community Hub last week, with free food and live music. Hundreds came to tour the new facility at 760 Miners … more

Catie Clark | 8/8/24

Mustafa Ali will be making a return appearance at this year's festival.

Festival of Skalds set for this weekend

ANGORA- As the fifth-annual Festival of Skalds approaches this coming Saturday and Sunday, the homegrown event is now an established part of the North Country festival scene— but that … more

David Colburn | 8/8/24

New mystery sets murder on Lake Vermilion

LAKE VERMILION- Cary Griffith’s first trip to Lake Vermilion was in 1969, when his friend’s family bought a cabin on Pine Island and brought Griffith along on a visit. “I’m … more

Jodi Summit | 8/8/24

Bralyn Lislegard, of Embarrass, breaks out of the chute on a bull during Friday night’s opening session. Lislegard won the bull riding competition with a score of 73, taking home a trophy buckle and $1,260 for his effort.

Kickin’ up dust

The 69th annual North Star Stampede in Effie played to capcity crowds this past weekend who saw seasoned performers and some of the best up-and-comer in rodeo strut their stuff on a warm and windy … more

David Colburn | 8/1/24

Shoppers check out the wares on display by hundreds of artists and crafters.

Ely’s biggest party draws a crowd

ELY- Despite heat, humidity, some stiff wind, and the threat of thunderstorms, the 2024 Blueberry/Art Festival proved a success. “Our vendors are telling us that sales are as good as last year, … more

Catie Clark | 8/1/24

Tasty Tuesday program leader Kathleen Miller (left) and award-winning Minneapolis TV chef Stephanie Hansen (right) at the July Tasty Tuesday cooking class in Ely.

TV chef cooks for Ely’s Tasty Tuesday program

ELY- Award-winning TV personality Stephanie Hansen was the guest at the Northwoods Partners’ Tasty Tuesday program on Tuesday, July 16. Hansen packed the west room at the Ely Folk School for … more

Catie Clark | 8/1/24

FEMA expands flood funding to individuals

REGIONAL- The Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, has approved individual disaster assistance for residents in 19 Minnesota counties, including St. Louis, Itasca, Lake, and Cook, that were … more

David Colburn | 8/1/24

Blueberry/Art Festival artist Cindy Bina, shown here in her studio. Bina creates silver jewelry using a precious metal clay developed in Japan.

Jewelry maker takes inspiration from the natural world around her

ELY- The North Country’s natural environment has long fueled Cindy Bina’s artistic creativity and she’s used that inspiration in the designs that she’ll be featuring at this … more

Catie Clark | 7/24/24

Blueberry/Art Festival: three days of fun

ELY- The area’s biggest summer event officially kicks off at 9 a.m. this Friday at Whiteside Park, marking three days of music and food, along with hundreds of artists and crafters displaying … more

Catie Clark | 7/24/24

Old Settlers Reunion brings families together

SOUDAN— Over 200 “old settlers” and friends showed up to picnic and enjoy music, booyah, and fun at the 110th annual Old Settlers picnic held here last Saturday. McKinley Park was … more

Jodi Summit | 7/24/24

Happy Days staff member Desiree Smith in one of the daycare facility’s classrooms.

Open house set for Ely’s new Community Hub

ELY- A dream many years in the making is about to come true for the Ely Area Community Foundation. On Aug. 1, the EACF will officially open the Community Hub, a 16,000-square-foot facility at 760 … more

C. Clark | 7/24/24

Outgoing food shelf co-director Hugh Wood (l) is handing over the reins to the food shelf to Kate Smith, of Angora, where she and her husband Tj operate Valhalla Ridge Farms. Tj also restores bikes for kids, which will now be available for free during days the food shelf is distributing.

Food shelf now open in new home

TOWER- It was opening day for the new Tower Food Shelf, Tuesday, and the public was invited to tour the new facility before the formal food shelf hours began. The food shelf, which had been in the … more

Jodi Summit | 7/24/24

Twenty years behind the bar

TOWER- Twenty years ago, when Mickey (Bristol) Ferguson first slid a drink across the bar at the newly-opened Good Ol’ Days Bar and Grill, smoking was still permitted and the local cops were … more

Jodi Summit | 7/18/24

United Way has funds to help flood victims

CHISHOLM - As communities across the state continue to clean up and repair from June’s flooding, United Way of Northeastern Minnesota (UWNEMN) is offering financial support to households in its … more

7/18/24

Ely to be featured on PBS North’s “Great Gardening”

ELY- Ely has some new television personalities, but they aren’t talking. Given that they’re a bunch of vegetables, they didn’t have much to say when the Timberjay dropped by for an … more

Catie Clark | 7/18/24

Tower 4th of July race results

Children's races TOWER- There was a great turnout this year for the sawdust scramble and children’s races after the Fourth of July parade. Winners listed in order, first, second, third. … more

7/18/24

At the Tower parade, a young parade spectator smiles big as she waves the flag.

Waving the flag

Timberjay staff photographers were out in force for the various Independence Day festivities throught the North Country. Enjoy a healthy dose of red, white, and blue and a whole lot of fun seeing … more

Timberjay staff | 7/11/24