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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After being canceled last year due to Covid-19, the Carlton County fair is back, running Thursday through Sunday, Aug. 19-22. There are many different activities and sights for locals to enjoy, including the various animal shows, different types of auto racing, horseracing, live performances and so much more. The gate fee is $8, ages 6-11 get in for $3, and children age 5 and under enter for free. Saturday is military day. Any military veteran and spouse get in for free. "It's exciting to have... Full story
Catherine Ann (Shinn) Liptak, 90, passed away Aug. 7, 2021 with family at her side at the Sunnyside Health Care Center in Cloquet. She was born Dec. 29, 1930, in Hart, Michigan to Eleanor (Osborn) and Hyman Hubert Shinn. She graduated as valedictorian from Hart High School in 1948 and with honors from the University of Michigan in 1952, with a degree in English and speech, followed by a master's in library science. Catherine taught at a number of schools in Michigan and Minnesota until meeting... Full story
The annual Christian music festival made its comeback after missing 2020 due to Covid and had a good day, according to organizers, although attendance was down somewhat. Like many things after the pandemic, the Christian music festival was changed. No. 1, it was renamed the Wood City Worship Festival. Lee Harris, who helps lead the Kingdom Builders Ministry that puts on the annual festival, said they hit the reset button during the pandemic, both for the Common Ground Coffee Bar & Deli in... Full story
It happened so quickly, Nicole Krisak didn’t even have a chance to react. While the official record will show that the Wrenshall school board voted unanimously to appoint a new person to its board Monday, Krisak could legitimately be considered a nonvote. She didn’t have a chance to say “yea” or “nay” as she swivelled her head in what looked to be astonishment. Superintendent Kim Belcastro had barely finished offering her suggestions to the board on how to proceed with the appointment before Alice Kloepfer blurted out a motion to appoint Bil... Full story
Cloquet’s Timothy Scott Young Jr., 38, was found not guilty after a weeklong jury trial in Carlton County Sixth District Court Friday, Aug. 13. Young had been accused of two felony counts of sexual assault after an alleged incident in April 2020 involving a girl under the age of 16. He could have served up to 30 years if convicted. After two days of jury selection last week, Carlton County Attorney Laurie Ketola presented her case. The victim, now 16, testified, carrying a blanket and a teddy bear for security. Other witnesses included her d... Full story
The old building at 219 St. Louis Avenue burned with a fury once firefighters finished their final practice sessions Saturday morning, torching one of the few remaining structures on Cloquet's Dunlap Island. From 8 a.m. to nearly noon, they lit fires and practiced putting them out in the many rooms of the apartment building, until the roof started to sag and it wasn't safe to be inside anymore. "I think we got 18 cycles in before the building got too unstable," said Cloquet Area Fire District... Full story
Carlton County will petition the Minnesota Department of Transportation for a speed limit of 45 mph on Big Lake Road from Pinewood Drive to just past Brevator Road and the tribal center. The tribal council for the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa had requested the speed be set at 35 mph on the newly repaved section of road. County highway engineer JinYeene Neumann told the board of commissioners at its regular meeting Aug. 10 that a MnDOT speed study done earlier in the year supported a 55-mph speed limit. Neumann said she is using...
It's been 10 years since Charlotte Polo retired from working at Polo Liquors in Scanlon, stepping down after 65 years at the helm of the family business. Last week her family helped "Gramma Polo" celebrate another milestone: her 100th birthday! That's right. At the age of 90, Polo was still working 14-hour days at least three times a week, running the store, which was touted as one of the oldest single-family-owned liquor stores in the state. "She's had a long and busy life," granddaughter Jodi... Full story
The Cloquet City Council and Cloquet School Board are in the midst of a virtual faceoff over a new lease for use of the city-owned hockey arenas. Earlier this month, the school board voted unanimously to only ratify one year of a three-year lease; on Tuesday night, the council voted against approving the lease at all. Although school board chair Ted Lammi rallies annually against what he considers the gouging of the school district, this is the first time the school board has pushed back. Of...
The signs are down and Chub Lake Beach is safe for swimming again, according to Carlton County officials, who retested the beach since sending out a notice in July. Carlton County zoning and environmental services administrator Heather Cunningham explained that when the beach is closed due to failed test results, it applies only to the county-owned public beach, not the entire lake. Reasons for a failed test can vary, she said, but it is not because of failed septic systems at Chub Lake, a groundwater-fed lake which generally has good water. A...
Residents turned out in large numbers for many of this year’s Esko Fun Days events, according to Community Ed director Michele Carlson. “I think people were excited to get back together,” she said. “We had a great turnout — I think there were close to 500 people at the park and a hundred at the street dance.” A very meaningful part of the annual celebration in Thomson Township is the Davis Helberg award, recognizing volunteers in Esko. The winner of the 2021 Davis Helberg Community Impact Award is Frank Liupakka. “Frank is a pillar of the...
Traveling back in time really is possible in Carlton County. All you have to do is take a hike. A walk through the woods below the fire tower at the Cloquet Forestry Center - 3,506 acres 3 miles east of Cloquet in the heart of the Fond du Lac Reservation - reveals a forest of tall, straight and large old pine trees. These towering conifers recall a time before eager lumbermen cut down most of the long-lived trees here to build homes and furniture for consumers worldwide, back when our... Full story
It’s always fun to drive past Cloquet’s Veterans Park and see bustling activity — crowds of people, cars parked along the road, bright tents and kiddie games, food vendors, and musicians on a big stage in the corner. This time, it was the Kingdom Builders Ministry that brought back its annual festival to the park last Saturday, after a break last year due to the pandemic. We couldn’t be happier to see them. The park was updated by the city in 2016, to the tune of more than $1 million, to add walkways, the wall honoring veterans, shelter...
Jana Peterson, editor of the Pine Knot News, asked me to cover the opening and closing of a salacious criminal trial in Carlton last week; you can see that story in today's paper. I assume Jana assigned me this task because the story is newsworthy; I have some criminal law experience; and she is very, very busy. It was a fascinating look at our criminal justice system in action. Several things jumped out at me. It struck me that our system truly protects the rights of both the accused and the... Full story
Ah, who doesn't love a day at the county fair? All those adorable farm animals, bumping into old friends and distant family members, yummy fair food, carnival rides and games and all kinds of adventures at the racing track ... what more could a person desire? As a bonus attraction, you also can visit your favorite Pine Knot personalities at the fair this year. Yep. We'll be in the Centennial Building at booth No. 50, near the middle of the building, along with various other organizations and...
I don’t know about you, but this week’s news about our county’s rise in cases really hit me hard. I have been “Covid careful” for at least 16 months. I have been cautiously optimistic that “Minnesota Nice” would make us all realize our personal role in each other’s safety and that science would lick this pandemic quickly, so we could get on with life. But alas, the news is not good. It is a big world, full of diverse opinions, disparities and inequalities, all impacting the outcome of this crisis. And so, as I have done often in my life, I t... Full story
Almost 20 years ago, my daughter, her unborn son and my sister were killed in a car accident. Another daughter survived with life-changing injuries. People say “time heals,” but my reality is heartbreak that never goes away. So when on the news I heard a Minnesota State Patrol trooper talk about the increased fatality rates on our highways due to speed and selfishness, I was motivated to write. The road is a place we share on life’s journey. It is a place where we all make mistakes — where we don’t know which way to turn or can get lost — wh... Full story
We want to acknowledge a very generous man, Dike (hope we have the name right). We were at Super One grocery shopping on Aug. 13 and were at the counter when he approached us, offering to pay for our groceries. When we asked why, he said that he and his wife like to help people. Our bill was $205.70. He paid it all. Not only did he pay for our groceries, but for the person behind us also. Thank you to this thoughtful person. You are truly an angel. Donald and Betty Fossum, Cloquet... Full story
I am a lifelong resident of Cloquet. I am the grandma of Cloquet students and the mom of former students. I am also a retired Cloquet district preschool teacher. When I read that the school board was considering making wearing masks optional I was shocked and dismayed. Something so simple that can help us be safe, well, that should be the obvious decision. Yes, the virus is mainly infecting unvaccinated people. But not only are all children under 12 unvaccinated, some people cannot be vaccinated because of medical conditions. The Delta variant... Full story
Together in life, together in death. Steven and Barbara Kimber of Carlton died in an automobile accident in Scanlon on Aug. 10, 2021. Steve was born July 2, 1941, in Duluth, the son of Marion and Bernadine (Truhn) Kimber, and graduated from Proctor High School. He was a computer programmer and worked hard to support his family through his employment at Carlton County, St. Mary's Hospital, Amsoil, and the Duluth, Winnipeg and Pacific Railway, from which he retired. Steve also had many hobbies... Full story
Richard "Andy" Coathup passed away at the age of 80. Very few people pass through life on their way to heaven like Andy. He was a very good son, born on March 28, 1941, to Alice and Clayton Coathup. Andy was a loving brother to Mary Alice (Jerry) Beckrich; a wonderful uncle to Rick (Leslie) and Scott Beckrich; a fun great-uncle to Mason, Garrett, Emme and Gretchen; and godfather to Mary Kay Thompson and Kelly Lake. He was a dedicated teacher throughout his entire teaching career at Hermantown... Full story
John Arne Manisto, 91, of Cloquet died Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021 in Inter-Faith Care Center in Carlton. He was born on June 24, 1930 in Esko to Hilda E. and Arne F. Manisto. On Nov. 21, 1953, he married Elizabeth "Betty" Rowe in Saginaw. He and Betty were longtime members of Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Cloquet. John served in the U.S. Air Force Jan. 8, 1951 to October 23, 1953. He was a member of the American Legion. John graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1957 with an advanced... Full story
Norman "Dodo" Green Jr., 86, of Scanlon passed away Aug. 15, 2021. Norman was born Oct. 19, 1934, in Scanlon. He is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Ramona. He worked at Potlatch for 41 years and was a member of the Quarter Century Club. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, spending time at the shack with friends and fishing the St. Louis River. He also enjoyed family time. Norman is preceded in death by his parents, three brothers and one sister. He is survived by daughter, Karina (Marco)... Full story
The more the Covid-19 pandemic lingers, the more questions pop up about how high schools sports seasons will be run this fall. Last week, activities directors across Minnesota hoped for guidance from the Minnesota State High School League as the fall seasons kicked off Monday with the official practices for football, cross country, volleyball, soccer, girls swimming, and girls tennis. Unfortunately, the directors didn't get much more information than they already had. "I was not surprised with... Full story
Creatives are sharing their talents to bring more people and businesses to the West End of Cloquet. Come out from 4-7:30 p.m. Friday Aug. 27, and watch watercolor and oil painters capture the St. Louis River, hear musicians play the new community piano, meet Star Wars Rise of the Podcast hosts, visit floral displays and grab a great dinner — all in Cloquet’s historic West End. New businesses are relocating to the West End and joining current business owners working with West End Flourish cre... Full story
