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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When Gail Van Guilder made her first face mask, she was thinking of the potential danger the coronavirus posed to her family and herself. Now, more than a thousand masks later, her effort to supply masks to anyone in need has become a story of service, sacrifice and friendship. When pandemic restrictions hit in mid-March, Van Guilder got out her sewing machine and cleaned the dust off. She figures she hadn't used it in five years. "I was just gonna make some for the grandkids and (husband... Full story
Not every sports event has been canceled. At 9 a.m. Saturday, July 18, the Frozen Forester Pine Valley Bike and Run is still on at Pine Valley Recreation Area in Cloquet. The event is a fundraiser to help extend the single-track bike trail to 5 miles. The bike-and-run duathlon is 18.8K, the bike-only is 13.3K, the run-only is 5.5K, while the Family Run is 1.2K, said event director Tim Krohn. As it is a small event, Krohn said he feels they can run it safely despite the fact that the coronavirus... Full story
We couldn’t help but notice that the garbage can at the local skatepark is often overflowing and litter is scattered around the area. At first we feared that the kids using the skatepark were not taking care of the space they (and their skateboard elders) fought for so long to build. Then we noticed that other garbage bins were overflowing at other local parks. Cloquet parks staff has noticed, too, that garbage in the parks has increased significantly since the pandemic started. In response, they’ve emptied the garbage cans more frequently and...
As a child, Kevin Schroeder used to tag along with his dad as he headed to the Scanlon fire hall to work as a volunteer firefighter. Schroeder became a firefighter himself, first as a volunteer in Scanlon when he was 17 years old, then in Cloquet, where he rose through the ranks to captain, battalion chief and finally to fire chief of the state's first fire district. Next week will be Schroeder's last one as chief of the Cloquet Area Fire District - an entity he helped shepherd since he was... Full story
Historic Minnesota events with anniversaries this week. June 19 1852 Congress passes a resolution changing the name of St. Peter’s River to a form of its original Dakota name, Mni Sota, or Minnesota. It is translated as “waters that reflect the sky,” “sky-colored waters,” or “muddy water.” The river had been known to the French as “St. Pierre” (and to Anglophone Europeans as “St. Peter”) for 150 years, with increasing use of “Minnesota,” since the days of the explorer Pierre Charles Le Sueur. June 20 1887 William A. Hazel, an African America...
Local photographer and retired doctor Dan Malkovich shared this enhanced photo of the swinging bridge at Jay Cooke State Park with the Milky Way shining overhead, explaining that he had read about the Milky Way, but because of city lights, had never seen it until camping with college friends in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. "I was amazed at the depth and darkness of the night sky, and at the number of stars I could see," he said. "That was 50 years ago, and ever since then the Milky...
There will be no horse races, no midway rides, no cows or goats or pigs or chickens in the barns at the Carlton County Fairgrounds come August, as the county fair is yet another victim of the coronavirus pandemic. The Carlton County Agriculture Society board of directors announced on Facebook last week that it decided to cancel the 2020 fair in Barnum. The decision came after many "difficult discussions with fair and community representatives," the board stated. "We reviewed guidelines put forth...
The Cloquet Public Library opened to the public this week. It will remain open 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday with limited services. Users will be able to browse the collections and check out materials, use library computers by appointment, and make copies and print. Curbside pickup will still be available during regular hours. The Cloquet Public Library is not offering in-person programs or use of its meeting spaces. To ensure safety, users should limit their time in the library, maintain 6 feet of social distancing, wear masks...
Nearly three months after shutting down, Black Bear Casino reopened to the public Monday. It was a wonderful feeling, said general manager Dan LaPrairie. "The vast majority of our Players Club members are local people. We know them," said LaPrairie. "We consider this community our family, so we had some of our team members up on the second-floor balcony, cheering and welcoming everybody." Signs proclaiming "Welcome Back Friends!" decorate the front doors of the Black Bear Casino Resort, along... Full story
When vandals blew up a firework in the Jadeke family's free Book Barn earlier this month, Sarah Jadeke took to Facebook to express her disappointment. The explosion ruined all of the children's books on the bottom, and blew out the seams of the metal box, making it vulnerable to the weather and useless as a receptacle of free books in the future. "To whoever did this, just remember, your mom liked stopping here for books. Your aunt, your uncle, your brother, your sister, your cousins, your...
Community Memorial Hospital and CMH Raiter Family Clinic are open and back to operating at nearly 100 percent, while following all necessary guidelines to ensure the safety of patients and staff, officials said this week. Patients are strongly encouraged to schedule appointments for procedures and office visits that were put on hold during the past few months. Officials said it is especially critical for anyone who may be experiencing symptoms of potentially serious health conditions, such as heart problems or stroke. It is also very important...
The Minnesota Department of Transportation will have closures on Interstate 35 southbound at Minnesota State Highway 45 near Scanlon for drain cleaning, guard rail repair and bridge deck work on Monday and Tuesday, June 22-23. The I-35 southbound right lane at the Highway 45 bridge will be closed. The southbound entrance ramp to I-35 from Highway 45 will also be closed. A detour will direct drivers to Minnesota State Highway 210....
The United States Department of Agriculture has payment details of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program that will help agricultural producers recoup partial losses due to the economic repercussions of COVID-19. Commodities covered include specialty crops, corn, soybeans, hard red spring wheat, dairy, hogs, beef, wool, and other commodities experiencing a 5-percent price decline due to coronavirus. For the Carlton County area, the primary commodities covered in this financial assistance program are beef, dairy and hogs. The USDA is accepting... Full story
The two districts attempting to pull off a consolidation in the next year showed strikingly different anticipated budgets for the next year. The Carlton and Wrenshall school boards met in regular monthly sessions Monday night via online platforms. Carlton continues to bleed money. Board members passed a budget showing that revenues in the 2020-2021 school year won’t keep up with expenses by about $457,000. It’s a continuing pattern for the district that is slowly eating away at its budget reserves as enrollment continues to dwindle. Out...
The dehumidification system in the city’s Northwoods hockey arena — considered too small for the facility for years — is finally being replaced. Cloquet city councilors unanimously approved a bid for $275,080 to replace the existing dehumidification system with an appropriately sized unit this summer, paid for with funds from the half-cent sales tax. The bid came in almost $75,000 below the engineer’s estimate. The council did not approve a second bid to construct stairs and safety rails t...
I have to admit, I really rolled my eyes when people started chanting “defund the police” following the events surrounding George Floyd’s death at the hands of law enforcement. It just sounds crazy. Sure, we get emotional over police brutality and misconduct, so it’s tempting to think eliminating the police department would solve the problem. But who would keep the peace? Who would track criminals and arrest lawbreakers? Who would do what we need police to do? Then I started to think about i...
I want to offer my sincere congratulations to our community’s high school seniors graduating this year. Unquestionably, COVID-19 has reshaped every aspect of our society, and education has been among those impacted the greatest. I recognize that when starting this school year, none of you imagined your final months in high school would conclude in this fashion. Senior year is normally filled with celebrations with classmates, teachers, coaches, and family. That this pandemic robbed you of these is deeply unfortunate. I can only hope that in t...
Clayton A. Kittel followed his guardian angel home June 11, 2020, at the age of 97. He was born May 13, 1923, in Nickerson, the son of Bernard and Martha (Thieling) Kittel. Clayton served his country with honor in the U.S. Army during World War II. He worked at the Conoco refinery in Wrenshall and as superintendent at Maple Grove Cemetery for many years. Clayton was a member of Bethel Lutheran Church in Scanlon and served in the Scanlon volunteer fire department for many years. Clayton had many... Full story
David Bruce Westberg, 70, passed away at home from natural causes on June 13, 2020. He was born on Feb. 2, 1950, in Duluth to Otto and Ardele Westberg. Dave was a 1968 graduate of Falls High School in International Falls. He then went on to graduate from Staples Vocational Technical School as a machinist in 1970. Dave enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1971, serving aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise. He was very proud to serve his country and to be a veteran. While serving in the Navy, he... Full story
Andrew A. Korkala, 90, of Cloquet passed away March 18, 2020 at Augustana Care in Moose Lake. He was born Oct. 4, 1929 in Revonlahti, Finland to Eino and Selma Korkala. Andrew served as a sergeant in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He worked as a welder in construction and other industries. Andrew loved the outdoors, hunting, fishing and taking walks. Andrew was preceded in death by his parents, and sisters Emma and Ellen. He is survived by his children, Lee Korkala, Mitchell Korkala, Warre... Full story
Phyllis Eileen Pajari, 79, of Cloquet passed away April 7, 2020, in her home. She was born on May 18, 1940 in Duluth. Phyllis graduated from Cloquet High School in 1958. She was employed at Conwed for 10 years and then sold pull tabs for 19 years in the Cloquet area. Phyllis enjoyed spending time with her significant other, Bernie Grindle, camping and fishing. She especially loved spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Phyllis was preceded in death by her grandparents;... Full story
Roland Ferdinand Kunze, 96, of Cloquet died June 8, 2020, while under hospice care. He was born July 25, 1923 in Cloquet to Carl and Rose (Roy) Kunze. Roland attended school at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart and Cloquet High School, graduating in 1941. He joined the U.S. Army Air Corps and served stateside during the war as a mechanic. After his discharge in 1945, he joined his brother Sylvester “Ted” in opening a supper club in Wadena. It was there that he met his wife, Iris Laugen. They married in 1947, and together they had four children. The... Full story
Walfred “Bud” Esala, 93 and Jennie Esala, 94 of Cloquet passed away April 29, 2019, and October 28, 2019 respectively. A graveside service will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday, July 2, 2020, at Maple Grove Cemetery in Cloquet. Military honors will be accorded by the Cloquet Combined Honor Guard. Arrangements entrusted to Atkins Northland Funeral Home, Cloquet. Lori Lynn Geving, 55, of Cloquet passed away unexpectedly June 13, 2020, in St. Luke’s Hospital in Duluth. A gathering of family and friends will be held at a later date. Letters and cards of... Full story
BARNUM The Chickadee Coffeehouse & Deli 3691 Alan Syverson Drive, Barnum 218-389-4444 Curbside pickup, takeout, delivery for Barnum residents Indoor & outdoor dining, first-come, first-serve Lazy Bear Grill 3696 Main Street, Barnum 218-389-6991 Curbside pickup Indoor dining Rustic Diner 3729 Front Street, Barnum 218-389-6084 Indoor & outdoor dining CLOQUET & SCANLON Arby’s 704 Hwy 33 South, Cloquet 218-879-6260 Drive-thru Bearaboo Coffee 1005 Stanley Avenue, Cloquet 218-879-5051 Drive-thru, takeout Indoor & outdoor dining Casino Pizza & Sub S... Full story
Artists were back this month and sent us their renderings of their fathers after we asked for them last week. If you still want to send in your artwork, take a picture and email it to [email protected]. All entrants recieve a gift certificate from Dairy Queen....
