Stories - The Timberjay

Raiders rock Wolves 4-1

GREENWAY— The Raiders outshot the Timberwolves 43 to 27 as they broke the Timberwolves winning streak with a 4-1 victory on home ice here on last Thursday. The loss drops Ely’s record to … more

Marshall Helmberger | 12/27/23

Joe Heller's Year in Review

Joe Heller | 12/27/23

Budget pains grow as student numbers fall

REGIONAL- While last spring’s $19 billion state budget surplus provided room for some additional aid for education, it wasn’t enough to relieve many school districts of financial … more

David Colburn | 12/27/23

Encouraging helium exploration results near Babbitt

STONY RIVER TWP- A 2011 discovery southeast of Babbitt may lead to production of one of the highest-demand natural commodities in the world: helium. While helium is the second-most abundant element … more

Catie Clark | 12/27/23

Kawishiwi District Ranger Aaron Kania with a pile of cut and cleared understory fire fuels.

Superior National Forest to reduce Fernberg corridor fire risk

ELY- One the last day of November, the Superior National Forest (SNF) filed an official notice that it was initiating what it calls the Fernberg Corridor Landscape Management Project (FCLMP), named … more

Catie Clark | 12/27/23

County sheriff recognizes six new deputies

REGIONAL— Six new St. Louis County deputies were recognized earlier this month during a ceremonial pinning of badges held at the county’s Public Safety Building in Duluth. Sheriff Gordon … more

12/27/23

David Hicks grabs a cookie from Mollie Johnson’s cookie table at KJ’s True Value Hardware, where Johnson works. This is the fifth year she has made and given away free Christmas cookies to any and all who want them.

Mollie, the Christmas cookie lady

ELY- For the last five years, Mollie Johnson has baked Christmas cookies and given them away free to all comers at the store where she works, just because it’s a nice thing to do. This year, … more

Catie Clark | 12/27/23

Senior forward Deegan Richards skates up the ice with the puck during last Friday’s game with the Burnett Blizzard. Richards notched a hat trick in the game.

Wolves melt Blizzard, improve to 7-2

ELY— The Timberwolves dominated the ice here last Friday as they improved to 7-2 on the season with an 8-2 victory over the Burnett, Wis. Blizzard. Ely senior forward Deegan Richards notched a … more

Marshall Helmberger | 12/21/23

The ambulance crisis

It appears that state lawmakers are hearing the message about the need to fix the broken funding system for the state’s ambulance services, particularly those serving rural areas. The message … more

12/20/23

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

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

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

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

New COVID strain fueling major rise in cases

REGIONAL- The entire northeast Arrowhead region of Minnesota has been upgraded from low to medium COVID activity status by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control this week, based on increased numbers … more

David Colburn | 12/20/23

North Woods’ Jonah Burnett, seen here shooting a baseline jumper against Moose Lake, was the state’s leading scorer after Monday night’s action.

Grizz win a pair heading into break

CARLTON- The North Woods boys knocked the Carlton-Wrenshall Raptors from the ranks of the unbeatens on Monday with a second-half haymaker and an 81-66 road win. The Raptors led most of the first … more

David Colburn | 12/20/23

Savor the light and the dark

Here in the midst of the holidays at the darkest time of the year, it feels right to explore the layers of light and dark that we experience in many ways in our lives. Author Susan Caine, through her … more

Betty Firth | 12/20/23

Grizzlies post OT win at Moose Lake

MOOSE LAKE- The North Woods girls scored a big overtime win on the road against 7AA Moose Lake/Willow River last Thursday, making the winning push with two of their senior leaders out of the game. … more

David Colburn | 12/20/23

Senior Grace LaTourell concentrates as she brings the ball up court. LaTourell scored 28 points in Monday’s contest.

Ely dumps ‘Streaks

ELY— Solid defense and a big second half by senior Grace LaTourell made the difference for the Timberwolves here on Monday as they easily handled the Bluestreaks 64-36. “We played really … more

Marshall Helmberger | 12/20/23

Ely Ambulance needs bailout to make payroll

ELY- The financial woes of the Ely Area Ambulance Service, or EAAS, prompted a special city council meeting here last Wednesday evening to approve another emergency funding allotment to allow the … more

Catie Clark | 12/20/23

Ely freshman Wyatt Tedrick eyes the bucket as he goes in for a jumper.

Wolves edge Cook County 56-53

COOK COUNTY—The long bus ride to Grand Marais didn’t discourage the Timberwolves Tuesday night as they edged the Vikings 56-53 in a hard-fought game that came down to the wire. “I … more

Marshall Helmberger | 12/20/23

Pickleball moving ahead without township funding

GREENWOOD TWP— Planning and fundraising for a set of dedicated pickleball courts at Greenwood Town Hall will move forward as a result of town board action on Dec. 12. The board approved siting … more

Jodi Summit | 12/20/23

Wolves notch competitive times in opening meets

GRAND RAPIDS— Skiing a short track on manmade snow, the Ely Nordic ski team notched some competitive times in their first two meets of the season even as Duluth East appears set to run away … more

Marshall Helmberger | 12/20/23

Cook hires ambulance co-directors

COOK- In a move intended to strengthen the overall operation of the Cook Ambulance Service, current crew members Amy Luecken and Will Fischer will take on leadership of the service by sharing its … more

David Colburn | 12/20/23

Fall Lake annexation back up for board discussion

ELY- The long-discussed subject of the possible annexation of Fall Lake Township to the Ely School District was back on the ISD 696 board agenda on Monday. It’s long been a sore point as the … more

Catie Clark | 12/20/23

Mayor Heidi Omerza (far right) read a proclamation to the Ely Memorial High School girls volleyball team at the Dec. 19 city council meeting, awarding the team the key to the city for their achievements over the last two years.

Volleyball team gets the key to the city

ELY- The final Ely City Council meeting of 2023 began with some special recognition for Ely’s high school girls volleyball team. Mayor Heidi Omerza read a proclamation from herself and the city … more

Catie Clark | 12/20/23