A hometown newspaper with a local office, local owners & lots of local news
A hometown newspaper with a local office, local owners & lots of local news
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At the end of 2020 - a year that many would like to forget - Cloquet will lose a long-standing and beloved business when Pete & Sons service station closes. It's been the best year in recent memory for the 52-year-old business, said John Fink, standing inside the garage at the full-service gas and repair station on the eastern end of Cloquet Avenue. John and Jerry Fink are the "sons" on the sign. The brothers have been working at the service station since they were youngsters. Jerry's been there... Full story
The Carlton school board this week firmed up its position when it comes to the current standoff with the Wrenshall board and possible consolidation between the two neighboring districts. On Monday, the Carlton board agreed in a committee of the whole discussion that it would vote at its regular meeting Monday on the question of debt sharing should a consolidation take place. Should the board vote to not share debt among all taxpayers in a new district, consolidation could be off the table. At least half of the six-member board indicated Monday...
How did Alcohol Road in Wrenshall get its name? That's this week's History Mystery question. Alcohol Road is still used as an address for residents and businesses although the road is officially called County State Aid Highway 51 today. (But not according to Google Maps, as seen in the photograph here.) We called City Hall, which sits on the road in question. City clerk Alieca Johnson said there are plenty of tales about how the road acquired its unique name. "Depends on who you ask," she said....
Minnesota lawmakers passed new Covid-19 assistance legislation for Minnesota workers and businesses Monday night in a special session, and Governor Tim Walz signed the package into law on Wednesday. The small business relief package includes a 13-week extension of unemployment benefits for workers and grants for businesses most impacted by the pandemic. "The Covid-19 pandemic has caused unthinkable economic pain for our small businesses and the workers who staff bars, restaurants, and so many... Full story
Along with the surge in Covid-19 numbers, comes another surge in local giving. For a second time, an anonymous donor has given $4,000 to the Family Tradition restaurant in Cloquet, with the idea of helping both the restaurant and the community. Kenny Heehn, who helps his father-in-law run, John Johnson, run the family owned business, said the donor really liked how the restaurant used the money to feed everyone from first providers to Outreach Center clients last April and May, so they decided to donate another $4,000. “This time we asked peopl... Full story
Cloquet’s local ice skating and hockey rinks are being prepped at Pine Valley, Pinehurst Park, Athletic Park, Sunnyside and the skating ribbon on Dunlap Island. The rink at Pine Valley is ready to go already, after volunteers from the Cloquet Area Hockey Association redid the rink this summer. “Our staff started flooding the other rinks Monday,” said Caleb Peterson, public works director for the city of Cloquet, explaining that the other rinks are a work in progress and will likely be ready for skating by Monday. “It typically takes about a...
MPR News With COVID-19 cases moderating — but still high — across the state, and the first doses of a vaccine slowly rolling out, Gov. Tim Walz announced Wednesday he’s extending some of the restrictions on businesses and social gathering announced in November, while lifting or softening others. Most notably, the current month-long ban on indoor bar and restaurant service will extend through the typically busy holiday season, until Jan. 10 — but limited outdoor dining will now be allowed. Rules restricting social gatherings have been loosene... Full story
A Cloquet police officer was sentenced in Carlton County Court Monday after admitting he crashed his vehicle and fled the scene this summer, while under the influence of alcohol. Andrew Michael Murry, 34, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of driving while impaired, with an alcohol concentration .08 within two hours. He was placed on one year of supervised probation Monday by Carlton County Sixth District Judge Rebekka Stumme, who stayed a 90-day jail sentence and imposed a $1,000 highway patrol fine in the case. Murray represented...
A suggestion to move the only Cloquet polling location on the Fond du Lac Reservation got shut down quickly during Tuesday night’s Cloquet City Council meeting. Reservation Business Committee (RBC) Chairman Kevin Dupuis, Jr. spoke out against the possible closure during the public comments portion of the meeting, and again when the council began discussing staff proposals for polling places in 2021. On the table was a change of polling place for Ward 2 from the Garfield School gymnasium to the Cloquet Public Library addition — which passed — an... Full story
Native American women and girls are far more likely than other Minnesota residents to be victims of homicide, go missing or experience others forms of violence, according to a task force established last year to address the crisis. American Indian women and girls make up less than 1 percent of the state’s population, yet they accounted for 8 percent of all women and girls slain in Minnesota from 2010 through 2018, according to state data included in the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Task Force report. The report released Tuesday n...
It’s the time of year when local governments are approving budgets for the coming year, and tax levies to go with them. Here’s a roundup of levies passed in the past week: Cloquet School District The Cloquet School Board members approved a 2.15-percent levy increase for taxes paid in 2021 following the truth-in-taxation hearing held Monday, Dec. 14. The increase brings the total local tax levy to $7,136,281, an increase of $149,993 over last year. That’s a smaller increase than most recent years, said district finance director Candace Nelis...
Governor Tim Walz said elementary schools could return to in-person classes on Jan. 18, regardless of county Covid case rates, as long as they adopt a number of strategies to contain the spread of the coronavirus, including a testing program for all staff who interact with students. But it’s still up to individual school districts to decide if the conditions are right, bearing in mind the greater need for younger children to have in-person instruction. On Monday Cloquet superintendent Michael C...
News that Sunnyside, Inter-Faith and other senior care centers are struggling with Covid-19 outbreaks makes us question not their procedures, but this: Why are so many people unwilling to take the most basic step and wear masks in public? We wish they would. It’s community spread that’s bringing Covid into the homes of the most vulnerable. Most people seem to have gotten on board with social distancing recommendations and we are grateful most of our neighbors are taking this pandemic seriously and are wearing masks. We know that health exp...
In a way, I actually enjoy seeing people's continued protests over the 2020 elections. Such a demonstration of civic pride and patriotism is central to the American way. Now, I certainly think they are wrong, and I don't agree with the conspiracy theories and accusations made without evidence, as those types of statements are damaging to our society. But if they want to get together and let each other know how they feel, I'm fine with it. Have you ever been to the White House? There's was a...
Excitement is mounting as approval and distribution of Covid-19 vaccines are here. We know these vaccines are effective at preventing people from getting sick, but we don't have enough data yet to indicate whether someone who gets vaccinated could still spread the disease to others. This means that throughout the duration of the vaccination efforts, please keep masking, staying 6 feet apart, washing your hands, and following other public health recommendations even if you get vaccinated. Here's what we know about vaccination efforts as of Dec.... Full story
Finally, the lakes froze three or more inches deep. So deep that, with temperatures in the teens or lower, snow did not stick to the surface. It seems magical to me that water I swam and paddled in months ago can serve up a platform for outdoor aerobic exercise in the depths of winter. I skated as a child, as a mother and, even after my son left home, on the lakes wherever I lived. In New Jersey, we used skate sails, holding them to windward, speeding along the lake surface and peeking through...
It’s Christmas and holiday time again and that means the annual ritual of finding presents for family and friends is well underway. Usually I am a last-minute shopper, and by last minute I’m talking about no sooner than a couple of days before Christmas Day. For me the easiest part is having a complete and utter knowledge of the person I am giving the present to. That and the fact that normally my wife does most of the shopping and all I have to do is give her a little nod and say “nice job....
Alice Arlene Harju, 80, of Esko passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020, at Essentia Health St. Mary's Medical Center in Duluth. She was born Dec. 29, 1939, in Kettle River to Evert and Delphie Luomanen. She graduated from Barnum High School in 1957. After high school she worked at Northwest Paper until 1959, when she went to work at Diamond Match. She married Linze Broady on Sept. 19, 1959. He died on March 7, 1978. From 1971 until 1984 Alice worked at Conwed. On July 10, 1982, Alice married... Full story
Victoria Catherine Permealia Schwartz, 97, a resident of Alborn for more than 95 years, passed away peacefully Dec. 9, 2020, in her home with her family by her side. She was born on Jan. 1, 1923, to Herbert and Agnes (Bertrand) Miller in Duluth. This woman was simply amazing. She was hardworking and selfless her entire life. Victoria touched many lives, was dearly loved and will be greatly missed. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband of nearly 60 years, Stanley J.; daughters... Full story
Beloved wife and mother Linda Shank, 69, passed away Dec. 5, 2020. Linda was born on Oct. 30, 1951, near International Falls. She called many places home, including South St. Paul, Two Harbors, Bassett Lake, Castle Danger and Barnum. In 1986 she married Gene Shank. Together they enjoyed buying and selling antiques and vintage wares. Linda was always artistic in nature, decorating her homes and stores with great care and creativity. In recent years she found painting pictures to be fun. She... Full story
James Steven Demenge, 70, of Cloquet passed away unexpectedly on Dec. 11, 2020, in his home. A service was scheduled for 1 p.m. Thursday at the Atkins Northland Funeral Home in Cloquet. A video recording of the service will be placed on the funeral home website. William Ira Dale, 77, of Cloquet passed away Dec. 8, 2020, at Chris Jensen Health and Rehabilitation Center in Duluth. A family-only service will be held at 11 a.m. Dec. 28 at the Atkins Northland Funeral Home, 801 14th St., Cloquet. From the funeral home parking lot, family and... Full story
The holidays are fast approaching and gift buying is in full swing, but don't forget your local businesses as you search for that perfect gift for someone on your list. There is a wealth of unique gifts available right in this area, as well as friendly familiar faces in the businesses who are eager to help you make a selection. During this year of pandemic, it is doubly important to support local businesses and organizations, especially during the holiday shopping season. They are having a... Full story
There are more ways than Amazon and huge national chains to do your Christmas shopping online. The Pine Knot News is offering a free online "Shop Locally" service to all area businesses and shoppers. Just head to www.pineknotnews.com and click on the Shop Locally button to see what local businesses have to offer. A wide range of businesses are participating: each one has its own page, complete with photos, shopping and contact information, and a map to help customers find them. Offerings...
When the most recent surge of Covid-19 infections hit Carlton County in a big way, the staff at Community Memorial Hospital in Cloquet had to handle their own surge in patients. CMH CEO Rick Breuer said staff are exhausted. "I've heard people describe it as a mass casualty event that just keeps happening," Breuer said. "I mean, we prepare for those kind of things as sudden, acute things, not as an ongoing event. We've turned a lot of corners and seen a lot of ebb and flow, but it's straining a... Full story
A pandemic Christmas means that many shows typically being put on in the region and statewide are now online affairs. From the Pine Knot News and Minnesota Public Radio News, here is a list of seasonal shows you can catch online this year. The ghost story • In Cloquet, County Seat Theater has a performance of "A Christmas Carol," available via on-demand video Dec. 23-25. The "ticket" price is $9.99 for single view, $14.99 for family view, and the link is good for 24 hours. To book a viewing, g...
