Week of October 25, 2024
Week of October 25, 2024
Three of Carlton County's rural school districts were rocked by unexpected developments Monday. Members of the Barnum and Carlton school boards learned their administrators were proposing consolidation talks, while Wrenshall officials were surprised to find their partner in ongoing consolidation talks - Carlton - seemed to be abandoning them for another district. The news sparked anger, dismay and curiosity, along with a healthy dose of skepticism. Carlton school board member Ryan Leonzal was...
Work is ongoing at the Hotel Solem building downtown Cloquet as part of an extensive renovation that will remake the historic hotel — and former Mexico Lindo restaurant — into market rate apartments over the next 12-18 months. A crane was used earlier this month to replace roofing, while general demolition of the interior is continuing. Asbestos abatement is completed both inside and outside, according to developers C&C Holdings of Cloquet. Want more history on this project?...
A 51-year-old woman who was reported missing Oct. 13, was found deceased just after 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, by the St. Louis County Rescue Squad members during search efforts. Nori Pribble was located in a wooded area off of a logging road south of the 8800 block of McCamus Road in Brookston. The incident remains under investigation by the Fond du Lac Police Department and the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office. Cause of death is pending medical examiners findings. At this point in the investigation, Pribble’s death is not believed to...
Veterans, military members and descendants take note. The Pine Knot News will again publish a special section recognizing local veterans and military personnel on Friday, Nov. 8. But we need your help to do it with a deadline of noon Monday, Oct. 28. Please send or drop off photos of your veterans and military personnel along with their name, branch of service, rank, years and dates of service if available, and conflicts they participated in. Extra details, memories or stories from their years of service are encouraged.Mail to or drop by the...
Come the Nov. 5 general election, voters in Wrenshall will be saying hello to three new school board members. Barring a successful write-in campaign, the new faces will be the three candidates on the ballot - Jon Beck, Ashley Laveau and Erin Riley. The trio has gotten to know one another, and agreed to put all of their names onto one campaign sign. "Three open seats for three people," Riley said, "we figured we'd save resources." "We've all kind of talked and feel like we can work well...
This is a list of candidates that area voters can expect on their ballot now until Election Day, Nov. 5. State Representative District 11A (elect 1) Jeff A. Dotseth, Republican Pete Radosevich, DFL Judge Sixth District (elect 1) Gunnar B. Johnson Shawn Reed County Commissioner District 1 (elect 1) Sarah Buhs Caleb Dunlap District 3 (elect 1) Tom Proulx District 5 (elect 1) Alex French Dan Reed Soil and Water Superivisor District 1 (elect 1) Michelle Boyechko Barbara Dahl District 4 (elect 1) Gary Peterson District 5 (elect 1) Bruce Heikes...
This fall, Minnesotans will vote on whether to renew a proposal earmarking some money from the state lottery to fund environmental programs, including parks projects, conservation and clean water efforts. Back in 1988, voters approved a Minnesota constitutional amendment dedicating a portion of lottery proceeds to the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund. Since then, voters have thrice renewed the proposal. Like earlier measures, this one would continue directing 40 percent of the net proceeds generated to the Minnesota Lottery to the...
It was déjà vu all over again for the Cloquet/Carlton girls' soccer team at the Class AA state quarterfinal Wednesday night. After winning the Section 7AA tournament last week in a shoot-out, the Lumberjacks ended up in the exact same situation against Orono in the first game of the state tournament. The game ended tied at 1 through regulation and through overtime before Orono scored four goals to the Lumberjacks' three in the shootout to win. "I thought that after we got behind early and we...
Playoff football began Tuesday as a number of area teams tried to punch their ticket into the second round of sections. Class AAAA Cloquet made a valiant comeback against Duluth Denfeld in Duluth, falling short 28-20 on Tuesday. Denfeld came in as the No. 3 seed with a record of 5-3, while the Lumberjacks were the No. 6 seed with a record of 2-6. The two teams met in early October with the Hunters coming away with a 16-point win. Against Denfeld, the 'Jacks had the tall task of trying to slow...
A slow first-half start led to a second-half surge for the Lumberjacks that was too little, too late on Wednesday. Ultimately, the Cloquet-Esko-Carlton boys soccer team fell 4-2 to Blake School during a Class AA quarterfinal game in White Bear Lake. "It took us a while to obviously settle in and once we started beating them to the ball and got into the rhythm, we were able to flip that field but it just took too long," Sundquist said. "Man, if we had started that way, I think it would have...
It’s section playoff time for local volleyball teams and things are about to get awfully interesting. What follows is a breakdown of local teams and who and when they will be playing. Look for more information on volleyball playoffs in next week’s Pine Knot News. Section 7A Four local teams will all be vying for a place in the Section 7A championship game, but all of those teams will have a tough road ahead. No. 8 seeded Fond du Lac Ojibwe gets the tough job of opening up against No. 1...
Wednesday, Oct. 16 Football Moose Lake/Willow River 40 Greenway/N-K 0 North Branch 68 Cloquet 6 Esko 13 Pine City 9 Barnum 55 South Ridge 7 Cromwell-Wright 54 Carlton/Wrenshall 0 Thursday, Oct. 17 Volleyball Bemidji 3 Esko 1 Tuesday, Oct. 22 Football 7AAAA Denfeld 28 Cloquet 20 7AAA Esko 22 Hibbing 6 7AA Barnum 45 Hinckley-Finlayson 14 Moose Lake/Willow River 48 Greenway/N-K 28 7A Chisholm 14 South Ridge 12 Section 5 nine-player Cromwell-Wright 48 McGregor 8 Nevis 52 Carlton/Wrenshall 8...
With the surprise entry of Barnum into the Carlton School Board consolidation talks this week and the uproar that followed, it would seem that consolidation really is on the ballot in Carlton on Nov. 5. While there is no formal question for voters, there is a clear choice between the five candidates for Carlton School Board in terms of whether or not they support continuing consolidation talks with Wrenshall. Board members pretty much staked out their positions during Monday’s Carlton School Board meeting. Chairwoman and candidate Julianne...
My campaign sign was stolen last week. I had driven into Duluth to get the sign and I had to use my pick up as it was a fairly large sign. I placed it in a spot that was out of the way but in a spot where people could see it. It was not improperly placed on the road right-of-way. It was my land and my sign so I thought that I should be able to express my preference for the candidate of my choice without any concerns. Somebody else presumably with a difference of opinion from mine thought something other than I did. I wonder what that person...
I would like to endorse and recommend Ben Nilsen, Ryan Leonzal and Dan Solarz for Carlton school board. Our current board has done a good job of brainstorming, thinking outside the box and implementing new ideas in an attempt to increase enrollment. There are great things happening at the high school and elementary, but we need students to increase revenue. I feel consolidation with Wrenshall is the best option and the current board members have been unable to make any progress with this. The fact that the four-day school week was passed in...
I want to share why my husband, Jeff Dotseth, is the best choice to continue as our state representative. Jeff is a hardworking, dedicated man who truly cares about our community and the people he serves. His passion for helping others is what drove him to enter politics, and he puts his heart into it every day. Jeff is committed to making Minnesota safer, more affordable, and a great place to raise a family. Despite Democratic control, he has helped secure millions of dollars for our area by working across the aisle and thinking outside the...
Two years ago Pete Radosevich and Jeff Dotseth participated in a debate. Pete gave a quality response providing background information and then explaining his answer. Dotseth didn’t seem to match such quality. Now it appears that Rep. Dotseth has chosen to not debate in Moose Lake, the only Carlton County candidate forum where the candidates would have sat in the same room. I wonder why. Does he not want to defend his performance in the state legislature? This might suggest it’s time for a change. If you have read Pete Radosevich’s...
The most recent census has created an upheaval in election boundaries, leaving many of us scrambling to learn basic information on candidates in our newly aligned districts. To those who find themselves in Congressional District 8, where U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber is being challenged by Jen Schultz, I would like to share important information as a constituent who has been in the district for years. Stauber has been the congressman for Grand Rapids and Iron Range cities for the past six years. His performance in office has been so dismal that the...
“Use your words” is what my daughter would say to her infant son when he would act out. Good advice for politicians. We know them by their words and their deeds, private and public. Generally we don’t know the skinny on their deeds — the details of their votes or of their personal lives. They give us words about those. Or not. If the words are few or vague, they’re not leveling with us. I think it’s a mistake to consider politics a team sport, where you vote for your team, whether it’s right or wrong on the issues. But to vote...
During one of my law enforcement ride-alongs, I heard an officer advise driver that “if you don’t want to give the State of Minnesota any more money, slow down.” This comment resonated with me. I surmise that most folks who speed and disregard other traffic controls are the “Law and Order” type. Yes, this includes local elected officials and legislators, who have blown right through controlled intersections. Since I became a school bus driver and returned to being an active first responder, my attention to driver behavior has...
My husband and I have known Caleb Dunlap since he was in the eighth grade. It has been amazing to see him grow throughout the years to become the accomplished young man he is today. We support him in his quest to become a Carlton County commissioner from District 1 because we believe his education and experience will serve him uniquely for this position. Caleb graduated from Cloquet High School and then went on to study at the University of California Los Angeles. After finishing college, he was hired by a successful West Coast company. At a...
In regard to the interview of Carlton mayoral candidate Ann Gustafson, as the clerk for Twin Lakes Township, I would like to correct some misinformation contained in the Oct. 18 election guide. Gustafson stated that “Carlton has been great at maintaining infrastructure and collaborating with the county to get a new waterline to the Highway 210 corridor.” The corridor Gustafson is referring to is in Twin Lakes Township, and the infrastructure was designed by the township and funding for the infrastructure was due to the efforts of the Twin...
In my opinion, Jeff Dotseth has been a poor representative for Minnesota House District 11A. In the midst of the recent flurry of news and debate around his domestic abuse history, I feel that his failures as a legislator are getting lost. As we head to vote, remember that Rep. Dotseth dropped the ball on legislation that was critical to funding for the Carlton County Justice Center. It is only the quick actions of county commissioners with help from Sen. Jason Rarick that salvaged that funding. I want a representative who understands how to...
endorse Sarah Plante Buhs for Carlton County commissioner. As the current president of the board for United Way of Carlton and Pine County Areas, I have had the pleasure of working closely with Sarah as executive director. Her dedication, commitment, and leadership in our community have continually impressed me. During her tenure at the United Way, Sarah has brought new programs to our area, such as the homeless youth program, addressing a critical need in our community. She has also worked tirelessly to enhance and improve existing programs,...
Although a notice about the public accuracy test of voting equipment is published in the legal notices of the paper, I doubt that most people notice it. As a former election judge, I have done the testing myself in our township and I have had to ask people to come because rarely does anyone show up. For those who doubt the validity of an election, they should attend this testing and see for themselves how hard it would be to rig an election. It may be too late for this election since some of...
Help. We’re looking for U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber from Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District, last seen heading to Washington D.C. on the road he calls “our way of life.” Unfortunately, Pete Stauber has lost his direction representing the people of his district. Bringing important benefits to his district has been pretty hard for him because he likes to vote “no” to important legislation for his constituents. “No” to the Honoring Our PACT Act, the largest healthcare expansion bill in decades for veterans suffering from toxic...
U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber sure knows how to vote “no.” In the last six years Pete has been in Congress, he has consistently voted “no” on legislation most Minnesotans care deeply about: affordable healthcare, lowering the cost of insulin, protecting Americans with pre-existing health conditions, preserving Social Security and Medicare, calling out fuel price gouging, expanding healthcare to veterans who were exposed to burn pits and other toxins during military service. When Pete votes yes, it is equally disastrous for Minnesotans. He...
I wholeheartedly endorse Sarah Plante Buhs for Carlton County commissioner. As a retired state representative for District 11A, I have had the opportunity to witness Sarah’s dedication to public safety and remarkable leadership qualities. Sarah is a capable leader, diligent advocate, and trusted voice in our community, always putting the greater purpose above popular opinions. Her extensive career in public safety, healthcare, and community service exemplifies her unwavering dedication to our community’s well-being. Sarah’s proven track...
I encourage you to vote for Michelle Boyechko and Gary Peterson for Carlton County Soil & Water Conservation District supervisors. Gary Peterson, of Barnum, has served as school teacher, coach and county commissioner. He is a long time SWCD supporter and cooperator and has worked with the district to improve forest health and wildlife habitat on his lands. He intends to continue working on watershed and environmental issues at the local level. He will do his best to support and encourage rural, sustainable family farms. Michelle Boyechko, of...
I send this letter of support for Shawn Reed’s District Court Judge candidacy. I’ve practiced law with and against Shawn for almost 30 years, mostly as trial attorneys in the courtroom, which is where good judges learn their craft. I’ve tried cases against him and practiced law with him. His courtroom skills will translate superbly to a term on the bench. He has always been well-informed, well-advised, ethical and professional, which are all necessary qualities for an effective judge. I support his candidacy and, as indicated by the...
I would like to lend my support to Sarah Plante-Buhs as she runs for Carlton County commissioner. In my capacity as executive director of the Cloquet Educational Foundation, I have found Sarah to be a great listener, open to collaboration and ready to tackle some of the most ambitious projects of the foundation. Sarah is a strategic thinker and strives to make a meaningful difference in the lives of her community, especially in the area of education. Make a plan to vote by Tuesday, Nov. 5 and consider Sarah Buhs as your candidate of choice...
Eight local news outlets across Minnesota are among 205 grant recipients in a historic funding round from Press Forward, a nationwide campaign to strengthen communities by reinvigorating local news. The Pine Knot News is one of two traditional newspapers among those grantees. Editor Jana Peterson said staff at the small local newspaper - which turned six years old this month - is ecstatic. Over the next two years, the Pine Knot will receive $50,000 a year in grant funds, along with access to...
Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College welcomed runners and walkers back to the beautiful FDLTCC campus for the 19th annual Pumpkin Run & Walk 5K Saturday, Oct. 19. A total of 201 runners and walkers finished the Pumpkin Run and Walk 5K and 36 finishers completed the Ring Road Fun Run. Overall winner Scott Behling of Duluth finished with a time of 15:38.6. Joe Johnson finished second in 19:33.8 and Jackson Wichtendahl was third with a time of 19:38.0. The first finisher of the women's...
Fall is here and with it comes chill winds, scuttling leaves and so many things to do. It's not sugar plum fairies that dance through my head, but dreams of corn mazes, pumpkin carving, walks through the woods and creative ways to spend those chilly days together. Each year our family makes a trip out to the Ru-Ridge Corn Maze between Carlton and Wrenshall for an afternoon of delights. Though we have yet to brave the late-night activities such as the Flash Light Fridays, we make sure to take...
On a visit to the Cloquet Public Library Saturday, Oct. 19, Emma and Bruce Corrie stand with "The Circles of Belonging" canvas, an artwork which was colored or messages drawn by hundreds of people over the 12 days of Minnesota State Fair. "The richness of our human experience from all walks of life, of our diverse faith traditions, of our home towns or countries of origin, of our friendships and insights from life - all of them made this canvas a kaleidoscope with beautiful views of the human...
Friday, Oct. 25 Cromwell Chilloween for children in sixth grade and under, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Dance for grades 7-12 from 8-9:30 p.m., Cromwell Park Pavilion. Free event with games, dancing, photo station, snacks, goodie bag and more. Sinne Eeg concert and dinner, 7-10 p.m., Friday and Saturday, at Oldenburg House, Carlton. Danish songstress and three-piece band perform. Dinner from Room at the Table. Tickets: $100. Saturday, Oct. 26 Carlton downtown trick-or-treat and scarecrow contest, 1-3 p.m. Nursing Club hosts Trunk-or-Treat, 1:30-4:30 p.m....
Arrowhead Senior Nutrition menu Friday, Oct. 25 Spaghetti & meatballs, green beans, gelatin Sat.-Sun., Oct. 26-27 Frozen meals available Monday, Oct. 28 Chicken sandwich, orange slices, chocolate pudding Tuesday, Oct. 29 Tater tot hotdish, tossed salad, Scotcharoo bar Wednesday, Oct. 30 Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes & gravy, green beans, gelatin Thursday, Oct. 31 Ham (for alternative, call 24 hours ahead: 879-5870), butter & parsley potatoes, carrots, banana Friday, Nov. 1 Polish on a bun, tossed salad, cantaloupe, gingersnap cookie Call...
