Stories - The Timberjay

Hauschild campaign fined for finance violation

REGIONAL— The campaign committee for Sen. Grant Hauschild has agreed to pay a civil penalty of $3,853.62 for overspending on Hauschild’s 2022 campaign. After a review, staff members of … more

Marshall Helmberger | 7/26/23

Timberwolves top Northeast Range in straight sets

BABBITT— The Timberwolves topped the Nighthawks here in straight sets on Monday, but Northeast Range Head Coach Misty Roseth said she liked what she saw. “We’ve improved so much … more

Marshall Helmberger | 10/5/23

Grant Hauschild, a member of the task force talks about the challenges to rural ambulance service;

Legislators hear similar message on EMS funding needs

MT IRON— Members of the Legislature’s Emergency Medical Services Task Force heard a consistent message during a packed Dec. 13 field hearing here, called to take input from ambulance … more

Marshall Helmberger | 12/20/23

A pair of wolf pups wrestle outside their den located near Voyageurs National Park. The pups were filmed as part of the new natural history series, “America the Beautiful,” now available on Disney+.

Voyageurs wolf pups to debut in new Disney series

VOYAGEURS NATIONAL PARK— A media-savvy research project here is about to garner even more coverage of their ongoing wolf research thanks to an upcoming appearance on the Disney+ channel.Disney, … more

Marshall Helmberger | 7/6/22

Standing up for the right to read

The story began with a young girl who grew up in Watts, a south side neighborhood of Los Angeles, worlds away from her rural Louisiana home. Her family was part of the Great Migration that began in … more

Kathleen McQuillan | 12/1/22

Northshore to recall workers but questions still remain

REGIONAL- As area and state politicians joyfully shared the news Monday that laid off Northshore Mining workers were being recalled for an April re-start of operations in Babbitt and Silver Bay, … more

David Colburn | 2/22/23

New co-owner Paula Dundas and now-former owner Joe Kruchowski behind the minnow tanks at Northwoods Bait and Tackle in Cook.

New blood at old bait shop

COOK – It’s been a fishing opener tradition for over three decades for some anglers who’ve counted on the Northwoods Bait and Tackle in Cook to fill their bait buckets on their way … more

David Colburn | 5/10/23

Obituaries: July 28, 2023

William M. Wyman William M. “Morrie” Wyman, 83, of Orr, passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 22, 2023, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Duluth. A celebration of life will be held from … more

7/26/23

NER/Ely scores top five finishes in Range wide meet

ROCK RIDGE— Competing against a bevy of larger schools, the NER/Ely swimmers finished fifth among six teams here on Tuesday, with top five finishes in three contests. Rock Ridge and Mesabi East … more

Marshall Helmberger | 10/6/23

NewRange Copper nets a legal win over air permit

REGIONAL— After a string of legal defeats, NewRange Copper, formerly PolyMet Mining, and the state’s Pollution Control Agency, chalked up a win in a challenge to its air emissions permit. … more

Marshall Helmberger | 12/20/23

State projects $3.7 billion budget surplus

REGIONAL – Minnesota legislators have an even larger budget surplus than anticipated to work with this session. The Minnesota Department of Management and Budget (MMB) released its February … more

David Colburn | 3/6/24

Scattered red pine, rock formations, and views of Lake Vermilion are among the highlights of the new Pine Ridges Trail, which is now marked on the hill on the city’s north side.

Newest Tower trail now marked

TOWER—The spectacular pine-covered ridges on the north side of Tower have long been known to many local residents even though navigating the area has long been challenging. That’s a … more

Marshall Helmberger | 7/6/22

Adult summer school has just ended

I am back from one of my periodic writing breaks. My last column was in the June 3 edition, and now it is three months later. Time does fly and in many ways I feel like I just completed summer … more

Scarlet Stone | 9/21/22

freshman guard Brynn Chosa drives the ball downcourt.

‘Streaks stump Grizzlies

FIELD TWP- A season full of promise got off to a rocky start Monday when the North Woods girls dropped their basketball season opener to Chisholm 66-43.The Grizzlies return a host of starters from … more

David Colburn | 12/1/22

With tongues hanging out, sled dogs make their way toward the finish line during last year’s running of the WolfTrack Classic.

Ely goes to the dogs

ELY- It is impossible to think of this city at the end of the road without noting its history of sled dog racing— and the WolfTrack Classic has become the latest iteration of that longstanding … more

Catie Clark | 2/22/23

Large segments of this former railroad bridge are falling into the East Two River. A total collapse could inundate Tower-Soudan’s drinking water wells and pump station.

Crumbling bridge risks T-S water supply

BREITUNG TWP— The recent rapid deterioration of a bridge along a former rail grade here is raising concerns about a possible threat to the drinking water source for both Tower and Soudan. The … more

Marshall Helmberger | 5/10/23

Chimpy Tuominen poses with grandchildren Saija, Silas, and Sadie Snyder, along with co-workers during his final day on July 12.

A 47-year career at Zup’s Grocery in Tower

TOWER- Ever since he was a junior in high school, James “Chimpy” Tuominen has been working at Tower’s only grocery store. Nearly half a century later, he’s ready to retire. … more

Jodi Summit | 7/26/23

North Woods’ Burckhardt places second at Duluth East meet

DULUTH- North Woods’ junior Alex Burckhardt continued his assault on the cross-country leaderboards in the region on Saturday with a second-place finish in the Duluth East invitational. Running … more

David Colburn | 10/5/23

Kindergarteners perform during the school’s winter concert last week.

Signs of the Season

Signs of holiday spirits can be found in the most festive and solemn of places in the North Country. Timberjay photographers recently captured these images of the season. more

Timberjay staff | 12/20/23

With nearly bare ground, spring flood risk is historically low

REGIONAL- It’s likely that no one in the North Country was caught off guard by last week’s spring flood forecast issued by the National Weather Service office in Duluth, which concluded … more

David Colburn | 3/7/24

A very large male bear rests after a meal at the Vince Shute sanctuary. The organization that operates the sanctuary is asking for donations to help fund the bear-feeding. Visitor fees normally help pay for a large portion of the cost, but staff shortages have forced the sanctuary to sharply limit its hours of operation

Shute sanctuary may close to public in August due to staff shortage

ORR- Limited public weekend viewing of the black bears at the Vince Shute Wildlife Sanctuary will continue through July, but August sessions may disappear completely if volunteers aren’t found … more

David Colburn | 7/6/22

Ely senior runningback Jason Kerntz makes his way around a downed Bigfork defender. Kerntz rushed for 157 yards and Ely’s only touchdown.

Wolves still looking for answers

ELY— It was another case of missed opportunity for the Timberwolves as they dropped their second game of the season Friday, falling 14-6 to Bigfork. Ely’s defense did its part, holding … more

Marshall Helmberger | 9/21/22

Board renews Engebritsen through 2026

FIELD TWP- The ISD 2142 school board expressed its confidence in the leadership of Superintendent Reggie Engebritson at its Nov. 22 meeting at North Woods School by unanimously approving a new … more

David Colburn | 12/1/22

Area ambulances recognized

REGIONAL— While some area ambulance services may be small, they’re getting the job done and then some, according to a recent certification from the state’s Emergency Medical … more

Marshall Helmberger | 2/22/23

Tower harbor

For all of two decades, hopes for development at the Tower harbor have met with frustration as the dreams of city officials—to convert the city’s link to Lake Vermilion into an economic … more

7/26/23