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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Walter S. Trader, 91, of Cloquet, Minn. passed away Monday, March 4, 2019 at New Perspective Senior Living. He was born Aug. 3, 1927 in Duluth to Peter and Katherine (Kujawa) Trader. Walter worked as a nursing assistant for Nopeming Nursing Home for many years. Walter was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Jessie Trader; 18 brothers and sisters; one granddaughter, Nichole Feyder; and one great-grandson, Benjamin Anderson. He is survived by his children, Cindy (Dick) Feyder, Norman (Rose) Trader, Bonnie (Tom) Graham, Walt (Robin)...
The same attorney hired to investigate allegations against former Cloquet police chief Steve Stracek nearly two years ago has been hired by the city to conduct an inquiry into current complaints against city administrator Aaron Reeves and human resources director James Barclay. Neither Reeves nor Barclay is being suspended while the investigation is ongoing. Reeves said Michelle Soldo, of Soldo Consulting Group, will conduct the investigations. Cloquet mayor Roger Maki confirmed that it was his...
The annual Robert Rodd Memorial hockey game Saturday presented plenty of challenges for the players - like trying to play when you're laughing at the sight of a ketchup and mustard bottle chasing a penguin around the ice. "It's hilarious," said organizer Leola Rodd. "Especially for the audience, because you don't know whose team is whose because they're all in costume. But they know." The hockey game starts out just like any other hockey game for the first period, with players dressed in either...
There was good news about the BNSF Railway derailment this week, according to a statement from the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. First, as of Wednesday, Feb. 27, approximately 85 percent of the coal spilled on land by the derailment of 40 train cars Feb. 16 had been recovered. And, BNSF is working closely with Fond du Lac staff and government to coordinate the cleanup, something FDL chairman Kevin Dupuis said wasn’t happening at a Feb. 19 press conference when he threatened to s...
A new art exhibit featuring watercolor paintings by Lloyd Backus is coming to The Knot art gallery next week. Backus said he started painting after he retired from medical practice. It was his wife's idea. She suggested he sign up for a watercolor class. "At first I had no interest, but Jan persisted and I finally agreed, and painted for the first time since kindergarten," he said. "It is now more than 25 years and the excitement has continued to this day." While Backus primarily paints...
The Feb. 22 news article “With districts locked in, consolidation is out” about consolidation talks between Carlton and Wrenshall school districts contained some inaccuracies in the final paragraph which we would like to clarify. Which community has historically been most opposed to consolidation is really a matter of opinion, as school board members in both districts have voted against it at different times for different reasons. While both districts have failed to pass a building referendum over the past couple years — twice for Wrenshall, on...
On Saturday, March 2 Salem’s Mahtowa Hall will light up with energy, hearkening to days of old, when Salem Lutheran Church hosts a community folk dance with chili dinner 4-7 p.m. Music and calling will be provided by Northeast Minnesota’s Tamarack Dance Association (www.tamarackdance.com), which features local favorite Terrence Smith (often seen at the Cloquet Labor Day festivities). A kids’ dance will take place 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The chili dinner, served up by the ladies of Salem Lutheran Church, will be offered for just $5. A freew...
Epilepsy doesn’t discriminate. The seizure disorder affects children and adults, men and women, and people of all races, religions, ethnic backgrounds and social classes. However, as with most challenges that life throws at us, it is easier to handle with help and support from people who understand the disorder or who are facing the same challenges. The Epilepsy Foundation is holding a free educational open house 5-7 p.m. Monday, March 4 for professionals, family members and individuals impacted by epilepsy at the Cloquet Public Library. S...
Thomson Township residents, now is your chance to step up and get involved in your growing community. There are currently vacancies on the Planning and Zoning Commission, as well as the Board of Adjustment and Appeals. The Planning and Zoning Commission is an advisory commission to the Township Board concerning comprehensive planning, zoning, platting, changes in streets, and other matters of a general planning nature. The Board of Adjustment and Appeals holds hearings upon request by the Town of Thomson Zoning Official for variances from the...
The first-ever free Carlton County Local Food Fair is scheduled for 1-3 p.m. Saturday, March 2 at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College. Carlton County Extension, the Carlton County Food & Nutrition Network and the United Way are collaborating to host this new kid-friendly event to showcase local food producers. Come and meet the wide range of local vendors including CSAs (community supported agriculture farms), berry farms, and producers of beef, pork, honey, wild rice and more. Talk to community garden and farmers market representatives...
The Unconditional Tour makes a stop with singers TRU-SERVA and Cara Rgnonti at the Common Ground Coffee Bar & Deli Saturday, March 2. Marcus Montana, known as TRU-SERVA to his music audience, will bring his unique brand of Christian hip-hop, rap and pop music to the coffee shop and music venue in the historic Chief Theater building at the corner of Broadway and Avenue C in Cloquet’s West End. Doors open at 6:30, and the show is 7-9 p.m. Goodwill donations accepted....
Hardy northern folk are encouraged to participate in the Frozen Forester Winter Triathlon on Saturday, March 2 at Pine Valley Recreation Area in Cloquet. Explore the Pine Valley trails with a 6.8-mile ski, 4.6-mile pedal, and a 3.1-mile no-shoe/snowshoe run. The event consists of two laps on the Pine Valley ski trail, two laps on the new mountain bike trail, and it starts at 9 a.m. The Frozen Forester 5K race starts at 11 a.m. and follows the Frozen Forester’s ribbon line through the woods off- and on-trail. There is a relay option for those w...
What do you get when you play softball in the snow? Snoftball! The first annual KBM Snoftball Tournament is scheduled for Saturday, March 2, starting at 9 a.m. at Cloquet’s Pinehurst Park. Registration is closed, but spectators are welcome. Organizer Bruce Matuszak said anyone who wanted to play but couldn’t get a team together should show up at 8:30 a.m. and they might be able to join a registered team. Players and spectators can enjoy the normal goodies including hot drinks, brats and more at the park and all are invited to end the day wit...
It's a wonder what Ruthie Breuer might get up to with two good legs. She was infectious enough Monday morning, despite wearing a walking boot on her left leg, to get nearly a dozen toddlers jamming to music. Breuer was leading the last of demonstration classes for a new music program at Cloquet Memorial Hospital called "Music Together." It's designed for babies and those older up to age 5. A 10-week schedule of classes begins in early April. "I'm just a guide," Breuer told parents and their...
Minnesota has a history of progressive politics. Think Hubert Humphrey and his groundbreaking civil rights work, and Paul Wellstone with his pro-labor work as well as his major impact on mental health issues and domestic abuse issues. And by a vote of the people, Minnesota was the first state to reject a constitutional amendment proposing to ban same-sex marriage. But it’s not necessarily “progressive” to legalize marijuana. There is a lot of support out there for legal recreational use. A rec...
The Wrenshall Board’s first choice for communications with other school districts is not the press, and we fear that a public airing of grievances is not a recipe for positive cooperation. However, it seems that a response to Carlton Superintendent Gwen Carman’s recent commentary in this paper is important. The Carlton and Wrenshall School Boards went through two extensive rounds of consolidation talks in 2015 and 2016. These discussions took place with the help of facilitators. It is ultimately up to us as engaged citizens to create the pos...
Now, the City of Cloquet is investigating a sitting city councilor. It’s investigating the city administrator and the human resources director. It’s investigating a police officer, and maybe more. All this is related to complaints filed by a former police chief, who has alleged unfair, unethical, and maybe illegal conduct by city officials, including the police. The former police chief waited to file his complaints until now, because he did not believe the former city council would treat the issues fairly. In the past election, four new cit...
Here’s a predicament that touches most of us at one time or another: What happens when you’re too sick to go to work? Or a family member is so sick that they need your care? Among industrialized nations, only the U.S., Canada and Japan do not mandate universal access to paid sick leave. Some employers in these countries voluntarily offer it as a fringe benefit. In the U.S., according to economists’ studies, about 65 percent of employers provide it voluntarily to full-time workers. But less than...
My family tells stories of our immigration to the United States: they were said to be from the town where the very popular musical "Fiddler on the Roof" is set (although I have not been able to verify this claim). An arduous journey ... to look for a life they could rebuild. Make no mistake, my ancestors never wanted to leave their home but were given little choice. My family's boat was the last to arrive in the United States before the rest were diverted to Cuba, seeking asylum for their own...
Recently back from a trip to the Grammys, where they were nominated for "Best Bluegrass Album of the Year," Special Consensus will perform at the Encore Performing Arts Center in Cloquet Saturday, March 2, at 7 p.m. Formed in the Chicago area in 1975, Special Consensus is a four-person acoustic bluegrass band with a repertoire that features traditional bluegrass standards, original compositions by band members and professional songwriters, and songs from other musical genres performed in the...
Keith Charles Goranson, 62, of Wright, Minn. passed away Friday, Feb. 22, 2019 in Duluth. A gathering of family and friends was scheduled for Feb. 28 at Atkins Northland Funeral Home in Cloquet. ________________________ Ailie Elizabeth Koivisto, 96, of Cloquet, Minn. passed away Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019 in Inter-Faith Care Center in Carlton. Visitation: Noon until the 1 p.m. funeral service Saturday, March 2 at Atkins Northland Funeral Home in Cloquet. Refreshments will follow in the Fireside Room of the funeral home. Entombment will be in...
Donald Roy Millen, 81, of Floodwood, Minn. passed away Feb. 14, 2019 in his home. He was born Feb. 5, 1938 in Cloquet Minn. He loved hunting, fishing, living a secluded life and was an avid teacher of surviving in the outdoors. He was preceded in death by his mother Florence (Ehrman) Millen, father William (Vivian) Millen, and beloved wife Jadene (Hecklund) Millen. Donald is survived by his sister Judy (Marvin) Ketola; children Patrick (Jolayne) Parchem, Terrie (Corky) Roe, Susan Parchem Sloan, Steven (Laura) Millen and Roy Don. A celebration...
Henry Joseph “Skip” Parchem, 77, of Knoxville, Tenn. passed away Feb. 12, 2019 in his home surrounded by family. He was born April 17, 1941 in Duluth, Minn. to Henry and Marcella Parchem. Prior to moving to Tennessee, he co-owned Cloquet Implement. He was a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve. In 1964 he married the love of his life, Karen (Du Long) Parchem. He was preceded in death by his father Henry Parchem, mother Marcella (Sternal) Cool and sister Barbara (William) Kortie. He is survived by his loving wife of 54 years; children Pat...
Jeffery Allen Rick, 54, of Cromwell, Minn. and formerly of West Bend, Wis. died at his home due to illness Jan. 30, 2019. He was born Aug. 14, 1964 in Milwaukee to James and Dorothy (Ewert) Rick. While living in West Bend, he attended St. John's Lutheran School. Jeff moved to Floodwood in 1978 and attended grade school and graduated from Floodwood High School in 1983. He worked in construction for more than 20 years. Jeff enjoyed hunting, fishing and spending time outdoors in his free time....
The U.S. Postal Service depends on you to meet postal requirements regarding delivery and collection of mail to curbside boxes. With all the snow we have had lately, Marsha Peterson has asked me to ask rural route mailbox owners to please try to make it easier for her (and any other rural route mail deliverers) to get up to the mailboxes. She suggests that you clear at least a 30-foot arc of snow so the approach and exit can be made without her having to exit her car and putting the mail into...
