Stories - The Timberjay

REGIONAL— The annual pilgrimage from across the region to Ely’s Blueberry/Art Festival, set for July 28-30, could take a bit longer than in some recent years for folks planning to travel … more

Marshall Helmberger | 7/26/23

Grizzlies rout Cass Lake 56-14

CASS LAKE- The North Woods football team was on the road last Friday to face Cass Lake-Bena in a homecoming matchup, and the young Grizzlies showed they could take a punch and come back with a roar, … more

David Colburn | 10/4/23

Biden and Trump top primary day in Minnesota

REGIONAL—A rematch between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump appeared all the more likely after both candidates swept most primary contests on Super Tuesday, including the … more

Marshall Helmberger | 3/6/24

A customer shows the products she bought from Nothing But Hemp in St. Paul. Some of the products contain THC, which became legal under 5 milligrams per serving in Minnesota on Friday.

THC edibles and beverages now legal in state

REGIONAL- You can’t smoke it, but you don’t need to in order to get a marijuana-like buzz from edibles and beverages laced with hemp-derived Delta-9 THC, which became legal to sell in … more

David Colburn | 7/6/22

County board approves 4.39 percent preliminary levy hike

REGIONAL- Inflation is putting the pinch on St. Louis County government, and the proposed 2023 maximum tax levy is going up by over four percent in part to compensate, but significant growth in the … more

David Colburn | 9/22/22

Help is available for Minnesotans struggling to pay for insulin

ST. PAUL - A recent study found that more than 1.3 million Americans with diabetes rationed their insulin because of cost concerns by skipping doses, taking less insulin than needed, or delaying … more

12/1/22

Street closures, reroutes, and new app set for festival weekend

ELY- The city of Ely is implementing changes to traffic flow and parking around Whiteside Park for the Blueberry/Art Festival. The Ely Police Department has set up a messaging service for the … more

7/26/23

The Grizzlies’ Lauren Burnett goes up high for a smash attempt as Ely’s Lilli Rechichi and Charlotte Hegman defend.

Ely tops Grizzlies in three

ELY- The Ely Timberwolves volleyball squad wasn’t about to let anyone spoil their homecoming for the first match of the season on Memorial High School’s new gym floor on Tuesday, least of … more

David Colburn | 10/4/23

Pulsar helium strike may be richest ever

BABBITT- An exploratory borehole made history last week with potentially the richest helium discovery on earth. Pulsar Helium Inc. announced Feb. 28, that its Jetstream #1 borehole reached a total … more

Catie Clark | 3/6/24

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

P&Z OKs amendments to new chicken ordinance

TOWER— The city’s planning and zoning commission adopted a handful of revisions to the proposed new chicken ordinance during a regular meeting held Tuesday. The new language would … more

Marshall Helmberger | 7/26/23

Ely’s Brophy takes fifth at Hibbing Rotary Invitational

HIBBING— Ely freshman Molly Brophy took fifth in a field of 146 cross country runners here last Thursday as the Ely girls team finished sixth overall against 19 other competitors at the Hibbing … more

Marshall Helmberger | 10/4/23

Randy Santel mugs for the camera before devouring a Bamboozler at the Vermilion Club.

Big guy, big eats, big fun

TOWER- Randy Santel travels the country eating, and he makes good money doing it. It’s all thanks to YouTube and the following he’s attracted over the years as he eats portions at … more

Jodi Summit | 3/6/24

Four travel lessons worth every penny

In the latest edition of National Geographic, the story of Jessica Nabongo, the first black woman to visit all of the world’s 195 countries and 10 territories triggered memories of the handful … more

Kathleen McQuillan | 7/6/22

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

Ely School Board considers preserving the past for future students

ELY – The future of a series a historic murals was a question before the school board here on Monday night. Ely Winton Historical Society (EWHS) president Pam Turnbull addressed the status of … more

Rachel Brophy | 12/1/22

The school board had a full house on May 8 when they voted to approve Anne Oelke as the new school superintendent. Seated at the school board table from left-to-right, Tony Colarich, Tom Omerza, Hollee Coombe, and Rochelle Sjoberg.

Board taps Oelke as new superintendent

ELY- The Ely School Board voted 4-1-0 to hire Anne Oelke, Washington Elementary School principal, as the new superintendent for ISD 696. School board member Tom Omerza voted in opposition and board … more

Catie Clark | 5/10/23

Enforcement effort to focus on impaired driving

REGIONAL- On Tuesday, just one week before recreational marijuana becomes legal in Minnesota, state law enforcement officials gathered in St. Paul to send a strong message to would-be users that … more

David Colburn | 7/26/23

Talise Goodsky makes a backwards set at the net against Northeast Range.

Goodsky posts 1,000th assist

FIELD TWP- Last Thursday was a good night for the North Woods volleyball team and senior setter Talise Goodsky, who collected her 1,000th career set assist in the Grizzzlies’ 3-0 win over … more

David Colburn | 10/4/23

U.S. Steel’s giant Minntac taconite plant looms high over the city of Virginia on a frosty winter day.

U.S. Steel announces sale to Japan-based Nippon

REGIONAL— U.S. Steel, which has played a pivotal role in the development of northeastern Minnesota’s iron resources for more than a century, is being sold to Japan-based Nippon Steel. … more

Marshall Helmberger | 12/20/23

DNR won’t require EIS for Northshore tailings basin project

LAKE COUNTY— The Department of Natural Resources has announced that it won’t require Northshore Mining to conduct an environmental impact statement, or EIS, for its proposal to extend two … more

Marshall Helmberger | 3/6/24

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

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

Snowmobilers have been out in force in recent weeks and that’s been a boon to the local economy. Abundant snow this winter has made for good riding.

Mining the “white gold”

REGIONAL—When it comes to the winter economy in the North Country, those who cater to outdoor enthusiasts have a common refrain: “Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.”It’s … more

Marshall Helmberger | 2/24/23

Board rejects participation in ambulance joint powers

GREENWOOD TWP- “We are asking you to join an organization, to come to the table, and be part of the solution,” Tower city council member Kevin Norby told the Greenwood Town Board on … more

Jodi Summit | 5/10/23