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 …
DNR faces appeal over NewRange decision
REGIONAL - New tailings facilities, deeper mine pits, and changes in wastewater handling have made NewRange Copper Nickel’s proposal a different project from the one the state reviewed a decade …
A write-in council race is decided by chance
ORR- The ballots had been counted, but Orr still had one more piece of election equipment to put to work Monday: a coin. With two city council seats on the ballot and incumbent Bruce Black the only …
Ely advances storage container rules
ELY- The Ely City Council moved proposed rules for shipping containers another step forward Tuesday, approving a first reading that would spell out where the containers can be placed and allow their …
Ely School Board reviews construction progress and winter hires
ELY — The Ely School Board addressed athletic facility construction updates, personnel changes, and election results during its Monday meeting. Jason Chopp, from Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc., …
Bois Forte public works director dies while driving in Cook
COOK- Brian Lee Whiteman Sr., 51, of Nett Lake, longtime public works director for the Bois Forte Tribal Government, died Friday morning after apparently suffering a medical emergency while driving …
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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 …
Three-day soaker ends drought status in region
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 …
Hunters should have more opportunities to target a buck in permit areas in northern St. Louis and Lake counties when they head to their deer stands beginning a half hour before sunrise on Saturday. …
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
An election night message we shouldn’t ignore
There were many victory speeches by Democratic candidates on Nov. 3, but few of them better encapsulated the problems that have plagued our politics and the path forward to repair this country than …
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 …
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 …
Edgar F. Petrell
Edgar F. Petrell, 91, a lifelong resident of Embarrass, died peacefully on Friday, Oct. 30, 2026. His passing is not only a loss for his friends but also marks the loss of a family whose history is …
Shirley A. Nicholas
We celebrate the life and faith of Shirley Ann Nicholas, 72, of Cook, who went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026. A celebration of life service will take place at 11 a.m. …
Cameron C. Nicholas
Cameron Charles Nicholas, 42, of Cook, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. A celebration of life service will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 21 at Trinity …
Donald and Beverly A. Reed
Donald William Reed, 90, born June 6, 1936, died on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026. Beverly Ann Reed, 87, born on April 29, 1939, died on Friday, Oct. 30, 2026. Visitation will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, …
Lewis J. Cole
Lewis John Cole, 72, of New London, died on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026, at Sunrise Village in Willmar, following a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. A celebration of life will be held at 12 p.m. on …
David Anderson
David Anderson, 65, of Ely, our dear friend and neighbor, passed quietly in his sleep on Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, a beautiful fall day. If he could leave us with a few final words, perhaps they would …
Brian L. Whiteman Sr.
Brian Lee Whiteman Sr., 51, of Orr, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, Nov. 6, 2026. A Traditional Wake was held on Thursday, Nov. 12 at Bois Forte Government and Services Center. The Traditional …
Bernard A. Zollar
Bernard Anton “Bernie” Zollar, 65, of Soudan, passed away on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026, at home. The family wishes to extend its gratitude to East Range Hospice for its immaculate care and attention …
Iron to Iron offers custom beef and pork processing in rural Tower
TOWER- While it might surprise his childhood self, Jacob Doble is following in his grandfather’s footsteps. “My grandfather owned a meat market in Lonsdale, in southern Minnesota,” he said. …
It’s not too early to begin shopping for Operation Santa
TOWER- Donations have started to come in for this year’s Operation Santa toy drive, but we still have a long way to go to reach our goal. The Tower Food Shelf is seeing increased need this fall, so …
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. …
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.