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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Surrounded by 8 lush acres of corn at the Ru-Ridge Corn Maze in rural Carlton, Angela Line noted there were 21 leaves on a mature corn stalk. "We know when the end of summer is coming," Line said. "We count the leaves." The corn maze opened last weekend and is taking visitors through Oct. 30, generally on Thursdays and Fridays after 4 p.m. and weekends beginning at 10 a.m. Admission is $8 (cash or check only). It's wheelchair-accessible. Now in its sixth year, the corn maze takes more than an...
The Wrenshall school board’s stamina for conflict proved unyielding Monday, when its regular monthly meeting devolved into bickering and generated new insights into ongoing turmoil. Board member Nicole Krisak revealed that board members looked into superintendent Kim Belcastro’s work emails, fishing for information without informing the superintendent or having a specific reason to do so. “We looked into her emails,” Krisak said. “She didn’t know that. We had no right to do it. We still did it.” It was a surprising revelation from a meetin...
Jeremy Gardner plays the piano in the "Ivory Garden" outside Wood City Nutrition on Avenue C in the West End of Cloquet last week during a break from work. Gardner's wife, artist and photographer Krista Leigh Gardner, decorated the piano and surrounding planters as part of the West End Flourish grant program last summer. Anyone is welcome to come and play the piano while the weather remains warm enough to keep it outside.... Full story
Finding a balance between funding streams and paying school district staff adequate wages in a time of inflationary pressures is challenging, Cloquet superintendent Michael Cary told school board members Monday. The Cloquet public school district received a 2-percent increase in state funding equating to roughly $300,000. The money will be used to give staff members throughout the district a raise. The district has already settled contracts with its secretaries and principals, but they’re still negotiating with paraprofessionals and c...
When it comes to children, it can often be difficult to explain life's complicated issues or work through complex feelings. Cloquet class of 1982 alumnus Colleen Gilchrist Collins recognized firsthand the importance of having these conversations. Upon retiring in 2020, she rediscovered an interest in creative writing and started work on a children's book to promote open conversations with children about their feelings, emotions and needs. Gilchrist Collins enjoyed courses in English and writing... Full story
New to the annual Cromwell Harvest Fest this year was a hot air balloon festival on the athletic fields at Cromwell-Wright High School. Hosted by the Sweetly Kismet Candy Store - which has its own balloon - five balloonists offered tethered rides for $20 each. It was a popular, visually stunning event. Other Harvest Festival activities - included a pie social, face painting, a kiddie parade, dancing and a horse show.... Full story
Buckthorn, knotweed (a.k.a. bamboo), or wild parsnip got you down? The Carlton Soil and Water Conservation District is here to help. The recently formed Carlton County Cooperative Weed Management Area Program is working hard to remove invasive plants in neighborhoods around Carlton County. Invasive plants can be frustrating to remove from a yard, threaten healthy ecosystems - affecting food, clean water and air - and cost our community money. These invasive plants choke out native plants and... Full story
The Carlton County Board of Commissioners approved $20,000 for an evaluation of the Restorative Justice program, currently used as a tool for some offenders under the jurisdiction of the local District Court system. This is one of several steps the County Board is taking to see which county services should be funded and which should not. The Restorative Justice program is not mandated or funded by the state of Minnesota. The local program was started in 2008. Simply put, the Restorative Justice program helps an offender own what the person...
Thomson Township officials hosted a sewer rates presentation Thursday, Sept. 8, to allow the township engineer Joe Jurewicz to explain why he is recommending an increase in rates for upcoming years. When Jurewicz and the Thomson Township board of supervisors began public discussion about raising sewer rates earlier this summer, the prospect was met with questions from the community about why there was a need for a price hike. Jurewicz and the board offered the sewer rates presentation to the public to give them an opportunity to see the work th...
At their first meeting of the new school year, the Esko school board heard good news from district administrators. Principals Greg Hexum and Brian Harker told the board Monday, Sept. 12 that there is excitement in the building like never before. With a handful of new teachers, and classrooms being somewhat back to normal after the height of the pandemic, students arrived eager to learn. Superintendent Aaron Fisher said enrollment numbers have remained similar to last year, despite the predicted reduction in numbers this year. All told, 1,265 Es...
Outside the wastewater treatment plant in the Iron Range town of Aurora, a small trailer could hold clues to solving a big environmental problem facing northern Minnesota — how to protect wild rice from sulfate, a pollutant released by iron ore mines, wastewater treatment plants and other industries. Mei Cai, an environmental engineer with the Natural Resources Research Institute at the University of Minnesota Duluth, points to a series of tanks where a chemical called barium chloride reacts with dissolved sulfate in the water to form p... 
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There are two especially striking aspects to the "Inflation Reduction Act," the sprawling climate-change/tax-reform/health-care legislation that just passed Congress and was signed into law by President Biden. The first is that it passed on strict party-line votes. And the second is that in an unexpectedly productive Congress, this makes it unusual. The measure was the product of a year's worth of patient negotiation and compromise in the Senate. And while there are portions of the law that...
Travel near and far in the Pine Knot Gallery’s “urban landscapes” exhibit, opening Friday. Our fall exhibit includes unique urban perspectives from a number of area artists, including Rhonda Peters, Kris Nelson, Ken Hanson, Mark Cline, Carole Hill, Ivy Vainio and Deborah Manisto. Ken and Kris Hanson helped us hang the exhibit, and Ken contributed three acrylic paintings of urbanscapes the two encountered during their trip to Europe this past April. They visited Madrid, Toledo, Barcelona, Rome,... Full story
After losing 16 players to graduation last season, Cloquet-Esko-Carlton girls tennis coach Derek Johnson figured there could be a falloff in wins and losses this season. However, after picking up back-to-back wins this week, the Lumberjacks are now 5-10 on the season and their head coach is pleasantly surprised. "We have a lot of new players this season, but they all are working hard and they have been playing very well," Johnson said. Last Thursday the 'Jacks fell 6-1 against Hermantown, with... Full story
Local cross country teams got a firsthand look at almost all the other teams in the area last Thursday at the Dan Conway Classic in Superior. Held at Pattison Park Golf Course, the Conway Classic was an important race on this year's running circuit because the Swain and the Milaca races have both been canceled. There is speculation that those races may not be brought back, so having the Classic was a vital event for local runners. Duluth East captured top honors in both the boys and girls races... Full story
After opening the season with a road loss, the Bombers bounced back in fine style Friday with a 51-7 trouncing of East Central in Barnum. "Our kids did a nice job and were ready to play," said coach Rob Minkkinen. "The boys played at a high level. I was very happy with their effort the whole game." Quarterback Hayden Charboneau kicked off the scoring in the first quarter with a 7-yard touchdown run, followed by a 2-point conversion pass to Caden Sheff to make it 8-0. Midway through the quarter C... Full story
The volleyball season is in full swing as teams have all played four or five opponents. This is the time of year when trends start to develop and coaches are able to start solidifying their lineups. The cream rises to the top, and observers begin to learn which teams may be contenders for the state tournament in November. The three best teams in the area by division - Cloquet in AAA, Esko in AA and South Ridge in A - have all started fast out of the gate. Cloquet is 3-1, with victories over... Full story
The Minnesota Wilderness announced Monday that Brett Skinner had been promoted to head coach. In a corresponding move, David Boitz announced he was stepping down from head coaching to focus solely on being the team’s general manager. Skinner had arrived in August as an associate head coach, acquitting himself immediately on his way to becoming the fifth head coach in the franchise’s North American Hockey League history. Skinner — a Brandon, Manitoba native — quickly convinced his new boss he could handle the role of head coach. “Brett... Full story
Gerald "Jerry" Michael Anderson, age 64, of Carlton, MN died peacefully at home with his family by his side on Tuesday, September 6, 2022. He was born November 17, 1957, in Superior, WI the son of Gerald E. Anderson and Beverly J. (Kowalczyk) Berglund. Jerry suffered almost all of his adult life with an addiction that he struggled to conquer. He lost his battle and left this earth to go to his eternal home, where he is now at peace. Jerry grew up in Riverside (Duluth) and graduated from Morgan P... Full story
Leif Eggen, 55, passed away on Monday September 5, 2022. Leif was a great father. He grew up in Barnum, spending time riding his bike, walking in the woods, practicing trombone, and wrestling with his brother, Erik. In high school, he participated in football, basketball, track & field, and theater. He also played the piano beautifully and loved nature photography. While attending college at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, he met the love of his life, Michelle Evans. He and Michelle made a... Full story
John A. Ellena, 74, of Cloquet passed away Sept. 11, 2022, at his home. He was born July 16, 1948, in Duluth, the son of Dominic and Winifred (Spehar) Ellena. He graduated from Morgan Park High School and attended Duluth Technical College. John served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, and in the Air National Guard. He was united in marriage to Mary K. Martin on Oct. 14, 1972, in Minneapolis. John worked as an HVAC inspector for the city of Duluth. If you knew John, you were likely a... Full story
Marianne Jeanette (Carlson-Dion) Golen, 98, of Carlton passed away peacefully Monday, Sept. 12, 2022, at Inter-Faith Care Center in Carlton. She was born July 29, 1924, in Cloquet to Oscar and Tilda Carlson. Marianne was preceded in death by her parents Tilda and Oscar; her husband Howard Dion; her sisters Edith Carlson and Margaret Anderson; her brothers Sigard, Edwin "Hook" and Walt; and her step-brother Harry Carlson. She is survived by her daughter Renee Dion Edin of Stillwater; her sons... Full story
Guy A. Kalm, 68, of Beaufort, North Carolina, formerly of Cloquet, died suddenly Sept. 8, 2022, at Essentia St. Mary's Hospital in Duluth surrounded by family. Guy was born Jan. 20, 1954, in Cloquet to Shirley (Golen) and Owen Kalm. Guy graduated from Proctor High School, Class of 1972. He entered the U.S. Marine Corps and was stationed at Cherry Point in Havelock, North Carolina. Guy married Jami Danielson on June 30, 1973, in Cloquet at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, now Queen of Peace... Full story
Shirley May Johnson of Carlton passed away Sept. 10, 2022, at Inter-Faith Care Center, at the age of 95 years, eight months and 15 days. She was born Dec. 26, 1926, to Walter and Evelyn (Darwin) Tamillo in Cloquet. Shirley graduated from Cloquet High School and worked at Diamond Match Company for several years. She was united in marriage to Lyle "Curly" Johnson and together they made their home in Cloquet. They enjoyed playing golf together. Shirley is survived by her two sisters, Mary Blair of... Full story
Carol Arlene Trevena, 86, of Esko passed away peacefully with family by her side Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022, in Sunnyside Health Care Center, Cloquet. Carol was born Dec. 20, 1935, in Esko to Eli and Alvina (Randa) Juntti. She attended Lincoln High School in Esko. On Aug. 25, 1956, Carol married Clifford Trevena in Esko. She was a homemaker, and worked hard to take care of her home and family until she retired. Carol was preceded in death by her parents; husband Clifford Trevena; grandson Trevor... Full story
