Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota
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County board approves Goodwill annexation
GILBERT- “This is a difficult, difficult decision,” said St. Louis County Commissioner Paul McDonald. “When it comes to a decision like this, my father told me one thing that has stuck with me. …
Development costs yield cash crunch in Tower
TOWER— The bills are piling up and the city’s cash flow isn’t keeping pace, and some of the reasons for that were the subject of intense discussion when the city council met here on Monday. The …
Skraba edges Kania for third term
REGIONAL- Republican Roger Skraba held off DFL challenger Aaron Kania to win a third term representing House District 3A Tuesday, surviving a much tighter contest as voters across Minnesota handed …
Flanagan defeats Tafoya by wide margin
REGIONAL- Minnesota Democrat Peggy Flanagan made history Tuesday as the first Native American woman elected to the U.S. Senate, defeating Republican Michele Tafoya to win the seat being vacated by …
ISD 2142 referenda rejected by voters
REGIONAL — Voters rejected both of ISD 2142’s proposed school funding measures Tuesday, denying the district additional operating revenue and a capital projects levy. Both ballot questions failed …
General Election Returns
Vote totals for selected precincts for national, state, and regional races. Click on chart to enlarge image.
Omerza reelected as Ely Mayor, other incumbents retain council seats
ELY — Mayor Heidi Omerza won reelection Tuesday, defeating challenger Emily Roose and preserving her position for another two-year term. On the city council, incumbents Albert Forsman and Angela …
Read our E-edition
Discovery had me looking back
While recently working to reduce the years of clutter that have accumulated in our log home, we uncovered the six years-worth of phenological records I started keeping when Jodi and I first moved to …
Buck harvest up sharply across the region
REGIONAL—A string of mild winters has apparently helped put the North Country’s deer herd on the road to recovery, at least based on the sizable jump in deer registrations in the area from the …
REGIONAL— Drought? What drought? It took three days of steady rain, but last week’s soaker sent the drought packing across much of the Arrowhead, except for those areas closest to Lake Superior, …
REGIONAL— As the holidays approach, consider a trip to find and cut your own Christmas tree within the Superior National Forest. It’s a great memory maker for kids, or kids at heart, and is also …
Timberjay Editorial
St. Louis County Schools
The resounding “no” to the St. Louis County School District’s two levy referenda reflects a laundry list of problems that the district needs to address if it has any chance of unwinding its …
Election fraud disproven
The provocateur James O’Keefe set out to prove Minnesota’s elections are wide open to fraud. He may instead have produced the most convincing evidence yet that they aren’t. It’s a worthwhile …
Columnists
Masks, money, and mayhem: A tale of two seasons
We have just lived through the frenzy of two cultural phenomena, both lasting way too long: the seasons of Halloween and midterm elections. In the olden days of my youth, Halloween was a day, not a …
A 90th birthday gala for Mary Batinich and the cultural center
Turning 90 is an accomplishment most people fail to achieve but doing it with a little pizzazz is even better! My friend, Mary Batinich of Soudan, just celebrated her 90th birthday…but why settle …
Vote! It’s the best thing we can do for American and the world
Another election cycle is about to end. Tuesday Nov. 3 is the final chance we’ll have to cast our ballots. Polling results are pouring in from all across the country. It looks like Democrats have a …
What the woods know: What remains
There’s a certain kind of silence that comes when someone dies. Not the peaceful kind you find beside a lake at sunrise, or standing among the trees after a fresh snowfall. It’s a different …
Letters to the Editor
Wolves come up just short in sectional final
REGIONAL- The Ely Timberwolves had another trip to the state tournament within their reach on Wednesday, until they didn’t, as the Chisholm Bluestreaks rallied from five points down to win the …
Wolves head to title showdown
REGIONAL- With the opening set slipping away and Barnum threatening to turn Friday’s Section 7A semifinal into a much longer night, the Ely Timberwolves found another gear. Ely erased three set …
Grizzlies out on loss to Bluestreaks
CHISHOLM- The North Woods volleyball squad found the going tough last week at Chisholm, where the top-seeded and ninth-ranked Bluestreaks bounced the Grizzlies out of the Section 7A tourney with a …
Wolves miss state berth by a single point
ELY- One point separated the Ely boys cross country team from a trip to state at the Section 7A Championships last Thursday at Eagle Ridge Golf Course in Coleraine, bringing a strong season to an …
Grizzlies fall to Bigfork in overtime
REGIONAL- A stout defensive effort and 253 yards on the ground put North Woods within reach of a playoff road win at Bigfork on Tuesday, Oct. 27, but missed scoring opportunities came back to haunt …
Sylvia A. Makela
Sylvia A. Makela, 88, passed away on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, and left behind a legacy defined by a passion for teaching and a deep love of her family and country. Whether she was in a classroom, …
Timothy M. Dyhr
Timothy Moran Dyhr, 75, formerly of Ely, passed away peacefully in Tucson, Ariz., on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, surrounded by loved ones. In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation in his name may be made …
Charlotte J. Wood
Charlotte “Shirley” Jean Wood, 89, of Ely, passed away peacefully at Boundary Waters Care Center in Ely on Friday, Oct. 16, 2026. The family wishes to acknowledge Shirley’s Boundary Waters Care …
Philip B. Stevenson
Philip B. Stevenson, 74, recently passed away due to complications from a stroke and cardiac arrest. There is no memorial planned at this time. Please reach out to his family with any …
Shirley M. Lundgren
Shirley Mae Olson Lundgren, 91, of Babbitt, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026, at Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital. A memorial service was held on Thursday, Nov. 5 at the Evangelical …
Dominic and Josephine Elioff
Dominic J. Elioff, 95, of Virginia, died on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026. Josephine Lunka Elioff, 95, of Virginia, died on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. Originally from Ely, and high school sweethearts, they had …
Duane M. Solberg
Duane M. Solberg, 67, of Babbitt, died on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026, at CentraCare-St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud. Funeral arrangements are pending with Landmark Funeral Home in Virginia.
Diedre K. Powell
Diedre Kay Omerza Powell, 74, of Mt. Iron, originally of Ely, passed away on Monday, Oct. 19, 2026. Services will be private. She will be greatly missed by her children, grandchildren, and loved …
Lillian J. Filius
Lillian J. Sample Filius, 85, of Tower, died on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, at Vermilion Senior Living in Tower. Funeral services were held on Thursday, Nov. 5 at Legacy Church East Range in Aurora. …
Rachel A. Thomatz
Rachel Ann Empting Mager Thomatz, 86, formerly of Babbitt, has died. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 9 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Clear Lake and at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. …
Trick or treat?
Overcast skies and occasional drizzle only added to the eerie ambiance of Saturday's Halloween festivities, and Timberjay photographers were out and about to capture images on some of the …
Ely High School fall theater production ‘Ranked, A Musical’
Krystal Poppler, the director of the Ely High School musical recently discussed the upcoming production of “Ranked, A Musical.” “It’s a psychological drama exploring academic pressure and …
TSHS hosting open houses at the historic fire hall
TOWER- The Tower-Soudan Historical Society’s new executive director, Kelsey Cooke, was at the open house on Monday, to greet community members and show off the newly-restored historic building. …
Cook City Council tackles range of issues old and new
COOK—The Cook City Council discussed progress on infrastructure improvements, historical preservation efforts, blight concerns, and winter recreation hours during a regular meeting Oct. 28.
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Bourbonais to take Cook administrator-clerk/treasurer position
COOK—Jenny Bourbonais has accepted the administrator-clerk/treasurer position for the city of Cook. Bourbonais is leaving her position as Virginia’s community development director. Bourbonais …
Ally Financial reports tips for holiday travel budgeting: create an agenda, budget your stay, shop early for gifts, travel off-peak, go with a group, and consider travel insurance.
SBD reports on five Thanksgiving NFL statistical anomalies, highlighting remarkable performances, odd trends, and historical records from Turkey Day games.
SBD reports on five Thanksgiving NFL statistical anomalies, highlighting remarkable performances, odd trends, and historical records from Turkey Day games.
Quizlet reports that research shows self-testing improves memory retention more than rereading materials, despite students feeling more confident when rereading.
Intuit TurboTax reports energy-saving tips for winter after Daylight Saving Time, including bundling up, using space heaters, and sealing drafts.