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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Kent Syverson’s mind was blown when Mount St. Helens blew its top in 1980. The famous eruption of the long-dormant volcano in Washington scratched a geology itch in the Barnum student’s brain. “I was always interested in rocks and the outdoors,” he said this month. The historic event led to a 4-H project on volcanoes, which eventually won ribbons at the local Carlton County Fair and then the Minnesota State Fair. Today, Syverson is a well-traveled geology professor at the University of Wisconsin...
TJ's Country Corner is the hub of the Mahtowa community and a business that's hard to pigeonhole. Owners Renee and Glenn Gaffney love the support they receive from the community and they like to help out whenever and however they can. TJ's always offers delicious food, great conversation, and a rich history in Mahtowa. They have a little bit of everything. Their Facebook page lists them as a convenience store, but they're much more than that. Known for their slogan - "Our Wurst is Best!" - TJ's...
Voters will go to the polls Tuesday to decide who will advance to the Nov. 5 General Election in a number of races. Voters in Carlton County’s District 5 (which includes a swath of western Carlton County including Moose Lake, Kettle River, Cromwell and surrounding areas) will choose two of six candidates to advance in the county commissioner’s race for that district. Voters in the county will also weigh in on the Sixth District judge’s race. Find candidate profiles for the District 5 county commissioner’s race on Page 4 and the judge’s...
Frequent photo contributor Will Stenberg found a black-capped chickadee hanging out for some food Saturday near his home. According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, insects, especially caterpillars, make up most of a chickadee's diet in the summer. In winter, they consume seeds and berries. This one may have been collecting for a wintertime store....
For 40 years, the city of Kettle River has celebrated Ma & Pa Kettle Days, designating a new "Ma & Pa" couple each year. Longtime community volunteers John Karulak and Kathy Siegle get the rocking chairs of honor this year. John has been on the family farm in Split Rock Township all his life. His great-grandfather settled the homestead in 1888 and was also named John Karulak. An immigrant from Poland, John's great-grandfather built a farm on the land while harvesting timber to make a living....
The Wood City Worship Festival returns to Veterans Park on Saturday. Presented by Kingdom Builders Ministries, the day runs from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and includes worship, various Christian music acts, a kids' fun zone with bounce houses, face painting and games, and numerous food trucks. The lineup Saturday is KBM Worship at 11 a.m.; Here and Now Worship at 12:30 p.m.; Brendan Brooks at 1:45 p.m.; Aaron Dahl at 3 p.m.; Go Fish at 4:15 p.m.; Justin Rizzo at 6 p.m. and headliner Sean Feucht at 8...
Saturday is the grand finale of the annual Esko Fun Days celebration. The day begins with the Kristin Burkholder 5K at 7 a.m. at the athletic complex. Next comes the parade down Canosia Road at 11 a.m. There will be games and a barbecue at Northridge Park 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. following the parade, with a spike ball tournament starting at 2 p.m. Esko Sports Alliance will hold its Hall of Fame induction at 3 p.m. at Buffalo House, with a reception at 5 p.m. Events wrap up Saturday night with a 21-plus street dance at the park from 8 p.m. to...
Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Cloquet is hosting an event later this month called “Respectful Conversations” that it says will focus “not on changing minds, but on softening hearts while discussing politics.” The Respectful Conversations Project is a program of the Minnesota Council of Churches designed to strengthen civic life in Minnesota. “Congregations throughout Minnesota have hosted conversations that explore issues through the lens of deeply held convictions while maintaining, even enhancing, relationships among those who disagree,...
In the only Carlton County board primary to be decided during Tuesday's primary election, six candidates will vie for two spots in the Nov. 5 general election for District 5 commissioner. The position was left open earlier this year after Gary Peterson announced the end of his three-term run in the seat. Peterson is seeking to keep involved by running unopposed to become a soil and water supervisor. District 5 spans the western half of Carlton County, including Cromwell, Wright, Kettle River and...
The final step in becoming an Eagle Scout - the highest rank for Scouts - is to do a project that will make a difference in the community. Bryce Sweere came up with a unique idea for his final project this summer: A skinny bike course in Cloquet's Pine Valley Recreation Area. Mountain bikers call wooden features on a trail "skinnies," but the Esko senior-to-be built a criss-crossing course of four different features. His efforts will give people something completely new in the popular biking...
At Monday night’s Carlton school board retreat, board members had a freewheeling discussion about the major challenges to be faced in the coming school year. A large amount of discussion centered around the four-day school week which starts this September. Board members were supportive, but expressed doubts. Board member Ryan Leonzal was direct. “I’ve had anywhere from 10 to 15 families tell me that they’re leaving, and they’re not particularly ones that I would have assumed [would] go,” he said, and went on to warn the board about the gamble...
A Carlton County man died in a single-car accident on Minnesota Highway 210 on the morning of Thursday, Aug. 1. According to the State Patrol incident report, Rodney William Metso of Sawyer was traveling eastbound just before 9 a.m. on Highway 210 near the cross street of County Road 5 in a Ford Escape. The vehicle crossed into the westbound lane and entered the north ditch, hitting an embankment. The airbag deployed but Metso apparently died at the scene. Road conditions were wet at the time. Fond du Lac Police, Carlton County Sheriff’s O...
The $75 million Carlton County Justice Center opens this month with a public grand opening celebration at noon, Aug. 22, at the new facility along County Road 61 in Carlton, on the new Justice Drive. Public tours are scheduled for 2 p.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Aug. 22, and for 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., and 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Aug. 27. The public grand opening ceremony will include cake, refreshments, a ribbon cutting and media tours. The Justice Center combines a new county jail with a new Sixth...
Road construction begins Monday, Aug. 19, at the intersection of Highway 2 and Munger Shaw Road in Solway Township. As a result, both roads will be closed at that intersection for approximately six weeks. Detour signs will be posted, directing traffic on Munger Shaw Road to use Hermantown Road, Jeffrey Road, and Maple Grove Road. Meanwhile, Highway 2 traffic will be directed to use Canosia Road, Maple Grove Road, and Midway Road. Access to the Solway Town Hall will be from the north only during...
For the first time in anyone's memory, Wrenshall school will head into the new school year with multiple sections of multiple elementary grades as enrollment continues to rise during the summer offseason. A kindergarten split was approved in July as the class hit 25 prospective students. Last week, the board agreed to split fourth grade, as it approached 30 students. The board will vote at its Aug. 12 business meeting to post a job opening for a second fourth-grade teacher at the school. "This...
Voters across the Sixth Judicial District have a rare opportunity to select a new district judge, with no incumbent in the race after Judge Dale Harris decided to step down at the end of his term. It is the first time without an incumbent since 2010, and the first for a judge at the Duluth courthouse since 1998. The Sixth District includes Carlton, St. Louis, Lake and Cook counties. The top two vote-getters will advance to the general election in November. John B. Schulte Age: 52 Residence:...
I’m jazzed about an event coming to a Cloquet church this month. It’s just what we need in these fractured political times. Our Savior’s Lutheran Church will be the venue for a “Respectful Conversation” about this political season, sponsored by the Minnesota Council of Churches, at 6 p.m. on Aug. 28. It’s designed to allow space for people to explore their feelings about candidates and issues minus the “my way or the highway” responses. A church is a good place to hold such a conversation. People tend to drop their defenses, and perhaps most ve...
The Encore Performing Arts Center has been a space of nonstop action this summer, from theater camps, performances and musical events to a building project and hosting a statewide theater festival. The County Seat Theater Company just wrapped up its final week of summer children's theater camp. "Registration for all of our camps filled up by March," said Joel Soukkala, director and general manager for the theater company. "We couldn't be more pleased to offer this opportunity for our youth in...
Ma & Pa Kettle Days is this Friday and Saturday, Aug. 9 and 10. The steak fry is at 5 p.m. Friday at the Kettle River Senior Center. Takeout is available. Saturday events at the Kettle River Senior Center start with a pancake breakfast at 8 a.m., followed by the pie social from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and bingo 3-4 p.m. The midway with food vendors and other vendors is along Minnesota Highway 73. The mud bog will begin at 1 p.m. at the mud bog pit. The bookmobile visits Kettle River, on Main Street, 1:30-2:15 p.m. Monday, Aug. 26 and Sept. 16. When...
The setting sun shimmering across Lac La Belle on Tuesday evening at the Historic Scott House created a perfect backdrop for the Summer Sparkler event presented by the Lyric Opera of the North. The annual event is essentially a casual garden party with food, beverages, conversation, and an outdoor concert performance on the lawn near the shore of the lake in Twin Lakes Township south of Carlton. About 125 people attended the 2024 Summer Sparkler. "It's always great to host Lyric Opera of the...
Annette Jane Wise, 100, went to her heavenly home on July 25, 2024, at the Inter-Faith Care Center in Carlton. She was born Aug. 21, 1923, on a farm nestled on the Cook side of Lake Vermilion to August and Catherine Nelson. She grew up impoverished, a product of the Great Depression, and was born without the services of a midwife, as her family was unable to afford one. Her father delivered her himself. Her sister Doris often joked that they were “so poor, even the poor people thought they w...
Wannisa Lynn Aho, 42, of Wright passed away peacefully at home on July 19, 2024. She was born July 23, 1982, to Michael and Dianna (Rose) Couture. She was the second of two children. Wannisa grew up on a farm in Brookston. She was an animal lover and had many pets throughout her life. She attended AlBrook schools. She met the love of her life, Scott Aho, in 2018, and they married June 12, 2021. Wannisa is survived by Scott and their children, Michael and Montgomery; stepchildren, MiLyssa Aho,...
Betty Gayle Carlson, 89, of Mahtowa died peacefully on July 29, 2024, in Moose Lake Village. She was born on April 11, 1935, in Duluth to Barney and Audrey Petersen. Betty grew up in Duluth and graduated from Central High School. On May 21, 1955, Betty married James Carlson in Duluth; they lived in Mahtowa. Betty was a sales consultant for Avon and Princess House, and also worked at Diamond Tool and Horseshoe in Duluth until the company closed. Betty farmed, raised goats, enjoyed time with...
Rodney William "Rocky" Metso, 69, of Sawyer, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. He was born April 5, 1955, in Cloquet to William and Tyyne (Mannila) Metso. Rocky grew up in Sawyer and graduated from Carlton High School in 1973. He enjoyed a long career with the Potlatch paper mill in Cloquet. Rocky and his brother Les were twins of sorts. They had the same birthday, 17 years apart. If there was something that needed fixing, Rocky was there to help - whether it was a neighbor's...
Lori Ann Lightner, 70, of Esko passed away peacefully with her family by her side on June 27, 2024, at Barnes Care Assisted Living in Esko. Celebration of Life: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17 at Mont du Lac Trophy Lodge, 3125 South Mont du Lac Road, Superior. Arrangements by Nelson Funeral Care, Cloquet. Bonnie Mae Edin, 83, of Spokane, Washington, formerly of Cloquet, passed away on Jan. 9, 2024. Memorial service: 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24 at Atkins-Northland Funeral Home, Cloquet. Family and friends will meet after the service at the...
