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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Katie Wilkinson was standing outside Churchill Elementary School before the doors even opened Wednesday, a pink gaiter pulled high over her nose, happily waiting for school to begin. "I'm so excited," the fourth-grader said. "I even got ready before I had to. I had everything on an hour before school started." In some ways, the first day of school was the same as always. Some children are in tears and reluctant to go inside, others can't wait to see teachers and friends in the classroom. Buses... Full story
It's been six months since a pregnant Jackie DeFoe and her 20-month-old son, Kevin, were found dead in their Cloquet home - DeFoe stabbed multiple times and the toddler dead from blunt force trauma. On Tuesday afternoon, a crowd of nearly 50 people gathered outside the Carlton County Courthouse, to make sure officials are taking the case seriously and to ensure the alleged killer doesn't go free. Sheldon Thompson - Defoe's boyfriend and father of her unborn child - was arrested and charged in... Full story
Historic Minnesota events with anniversaries this week. Sept. 11 1971 The first Minnesota Renaissance Festival opens at Lake Grace in Jonathan. One of the largest of its kind, the festival now operates from a permanent encampment near Shakopee. The 2020 run was canceled as the Covid-19 pandemic continues. Sept. 13 1930 Duluth’s municipal airport is dedicated, and a crowd of 15,000 attends the ceremony and air show. Sept. 14 1996 The first NorthShore Inline Marathon is held in Duluth. The Rollerblades brand of inline skates is a Minnesota c...
Cloquet's Bryan Bassa selected the correct envelope out of a vault to be the winner of a WKLK/WMOZ radio contest last week. The contest started Aug. 3 and after qualifying listeners for four weeks, 10 finalists were randomly drawn on Aug. 29. Those 10 came to the station for the final round on Friday, Sept. 4. Bassa drew the winning envelope and walked away with $1,100, courtesy of contest sponsors....
Following an Aug. 27 altercation at a local bar involving Cloquet city councilor Steve Langley, the man who says Langley shoved him without provocation — Cloquet’s Brian Vanderwerff — wants the councilor to be charged with assault. This is the second time in two years that Langley has been accused of assaulting someone at The Jack, although the victim in the first case, Don Gentilini, never wanted to press charges. He did, however, file a “matter of record” report with the Carlton County Sheriff’s Office on Nov. 5, 2018. Whether or not Langley...
A woman died Saturday from injuries suffered in a crash between a side-by-side ATV in which she was a passenger and a car. According to a press release from the Carlton County Sheriff’s Office, a 911 call came in at 3:16 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5, reporting the crash on the Soo Trail east of Moose Lake. A side-by-side-style ATV was travelling on the Soo Trail and collided with a car at a trail and driveway intersection near the 4100 block of County Road 8. The 31-year-old female passenger in the ATV was transported to Essentia Moose Lake Hospital...
The Cloquet Police Department issued address information regarding a Level 3 sex offender who is transitioning into the Cloquet community. He is currently listed as homeless. Rory Francis Northrup, 34, has a history of physically assaulting known adult females and engaging in sexual contact with a known adult female, using force and threats to gain compliance, according to state records. Northrup has served the sentence imposed on him and is transitioning into the community. Additional...
The South Dakota priest appointed to lead the Diocese of Duluth in June has resigned after being accused of sexual abuse of a minor. Pope Francis had appointed The Rev. Michel J. Mulloy, from the Diocese of Rapid City, to be the 10th bishop of the Diocese of Duluth. The Rev. James B. Bissonette, administrator for the Duluth diocese, issued the following statement on Monday, Sept. 7: "I have learned that our Holy Father, Pope Francis, has accepted the resignation of bishop-elect Michel Mulloy....
Federal funds sent to counties to address the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic have started to be allocated through Carlton County officials. Board of commissioners members approved funding in four general categories at their meeting Tuesday, Sept. 8, drawing from the $4.4 million received in July. The county will keep $1.2 million in reserve for unexpected costs. After that, $800,000 was set aside to help small business and nonprofits. Grants will be given through the Carlton County Economic Development Authority for up to $7,500. The...
Subscription renewal notices to the Pine Knot News will soon be arriving by mail. Your notice may be for an expiration date that has already passed due to our transition to a new circulation software program. Please contact the PKN office if you have any questions about expiration or payment dates, rates or other concerns: 218-878-9332 or email news@Pine KnotNews.com... Full story
Carlton County will hold a drive-through flu vaccine clinic for the entire family later this month. Set for noon-6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, people can drive through and get an influenza shot at the Carlton County Transportation Building. “The COVID-19 pandemic makes this year more challenging since influenza and COVID-19 will both be a health risk at the same time—it is very important to protect yourself by getting a flu shot,” a flyer for the event declared, noting that people ages six months and older... Full story
Positive COVID-19 cases in Carlton County jumped to 210 on Tuesday, Sept. 8, an increase of 14 since Sept. 2. People are asked to wear masks in public indoor spaces and maintain social distancing from others, wash hands frequently and/or use hand sanitizer. Put the toilet seat down when you flush to help avoid spreading coronavirus in the air and the surrounding surfaces. Thin fabric neck gaiters are not recommended for use as a mask. Anyone who has symptoms of COVID-19 or who has been exposed to someone they think may have the disease is... Full story
Former Cloquet police chief Wade Lamirande was recently appointed to a statewide task force on law enforcement education reform. Now the law enforcement program coordinator at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College, Lamirande will join some 30 other task force members in examining current law enforcement education programs at state colleges and universities using an anti-racism and equity-focused lens. The action is one element of a multi-prong approach to law enforcement education reform...
With the usual Labor Day events on hiatus because of the pandemic, the Carlton County DFL Party held a "covid careful" chili cookoff and political rally. Attendees could bring their own lawn chairs and sit near the stage, or listen from their car radios and stay warm on an unexpectedly chilly day. District 11 (Carlton County) State Rep. Mike Sundin won the chili cookoff. Quinn Nystrom, DFL candidate for Minnesota's 8th Congressional seat, spoke to the crowd gathered at Veterans Park Monday....
Chatter on social media led to a story in a recent Pine Knot News about posts and the subsequent Cloquet school district administration investigation. We are cautiously encouraged that the community takes such information seriously. It is hard to ignore social media in today’s world, as an awful lot of information is shared among neighbors and friends. But the difference between a statement on Facebook and a news story in a legitimate newspaper like this one is simple: legitimate journalists do not publish information unless such information c...
Criminals should not benefit from their crimes. If a jewel thief is arrested with the stolen diamonds, he shouldn’t be able to keep the jewels. That’s just crazy, right? On the other hand, a drunk driver should not forfeit her car to the government when she is caught. Fined, jailed, ordered to get treatment — yes. But it’s not just or equitable that she should lose personal property too. But that is allowed in Minnesota. Under Minnesota’s forfeiture laws, the police can seize your vehicle a... Full story
Labor Day turned out windy and rain-free but cold - 57 degrees in Cloquet's Veterans Park. Lots of people showed up for chili, music and rousing speeches in front of a cheeky sign saying to "elect an adult this time." With the traditional Labor Day parade canceled, the local DFL held a drive-in, some of us sitting in our cars, spaciously arrayed in a semicircle around the stage they'd built, with our radios tuned in. Others sat on lawn chairs in front of the stage or their cars. Organized as a...
The Friends of the Cloquet Public Library will hold September book sales 12:30-2 p.m. Tuesday Sept. 15, 22 and 29 in the new Friends Room at the Library. A limited number of patrons will be admitted at a time to provide a safe environment. The library is asking shoppers to wear a mask, maintain social distance, bring their own bags and plan to deposit money in the donation box (no change will be made). Stop in, call the library at 218-879-1531 or email [email protected], for more information....
Carlton County and the City of Cloquet are teaming up with Northern Lakes Rescue to offer a free microchipping clinic 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19 at Cloquet’s Veterans Park parking lot. The event is free to Carlton County residents and their pets, while supplies last. It is a first-come, first-served event. Proof of residency is required with a valid photo identification. A post by the Cloquet Police Department stressed that microchipping pets makes it far easier to reunite lost pets with their owners. Due to COVID-19 concerns, the e... Full story
Violet M. Axtell, 88, of Carlton passed away Sept. 7, 2020, at Barnes Care in Esko. She was born Feb. 18, 1932, in Gettysburg, South Dakota to Alvin and Myrtle (Breitkreutz) Bryant. Violet was united in marriage to David A. Axtell on Sept. 22, 1951. She worked as the Carlton schools food service manager for 29½ years, retiring in 1993. Violet was a member of Bethesda Lutheran Church. She served as president of the Carlton County Area Senior Citizens. She belonged to AFS for 12 years,... Full story
Richard Charles Carlson, 79, of Cloquet passed away Sept. 3, 2020, in Cloquet. He was born June 3, 1941, in Cloquet to Swen and Esther Carlson. Dick graduated from Cloquet High School in 1959. He served in the U.S. Army October 1960 through October 1962. He then served four years in the Army National Guard. After his discharge from the Army, he worked at Wood Conversion for a short time before going to work at Potlatch, where he worked for more than 36 years. He retired in July of 2001 as a millwright. Dick enjoyed hunting, fishing and... Full story
Robert Edward Saari, 88, of Cromwell passed away Sept. 4, 2020, in Villa Vista. To honor Bob’s wishes, there will be no services. Arrangements entrusted to Atkins Northland Funeral Home, Cloquet. To sign the guestbook and offer an online tribute, see www.atkinsnorthlandfuneralhome.com Alice Virginia Jutila (“Virginia”), 92, died peacefully Sept. 5, 2020, in Inter-Faith Care Center in Carlton. A Celebration of Virginia’s life will be held Saturday, Sept. 19 at 1 p.m. at St. Matthews Lutheran Church in Esko. Masks and social distancing will be... Full story
Cloquet's Lyn Jutila is currently exhibiting her watercolors at the Pine Knot office. She recently sat down with us to talk about her work and how she became a watercolorist after hanging her paintings on the multi-colored brick wall that is The Knot art gallery. "I moved here from California. I'd always enjoyed painting on boards, on driftwood. I began painting in oils, but enjoyed viewing watercolors and dabbling with them, taking classes now and then." A stay-at-home mom, her children...
Artist Stuart Nelson of Cloquet has received another honor from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. His work will be featured on the 2021 walleye stamp issued by the DNR after it was chosen in a contest. It is the fifth time Nelson's work has been featured on a fishing stamp. Nelson chuckles from his home on Big Lake and says he has been painting "forever, probably. I've got a degree in art. I went for four years to an art school, so I've been painting pretty much all of my life."...
Sgt. Neil Dickenson of the Minnesota State Patrol offers some timely reminders on safety around school buses as the new school year starts up: • Parents should discuss and demonstrate pedestrian safety with their children and reinforce safe crossing after exiting a bus. • When getting off a bus, look to be sure no cars are passing on the shoulder. • Before crossing the street, wait until the driver’s face can be seen. Wait for the driver to signal that it’s safe to cross. • Look left, right...
