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
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 39
The Cloquet School Board approved a resolution last week to close open enrollment in grades 6 and 8 last week. The board had closed open enrollment for kindergarten and grades 1, 3, 4 and 7 in August, leaving open enrollment open only for grades 2, 5 and 9-12. Superintendent Michael Cary said the district is likely to close the remaining grades to open enrollment sometime in October. Students moving into the district can still enroll, even after the district is closed to open enrollment. There are currently 2,622 students enrolled in the...
In another administrative shift at the Cloquet police department, Commander Derek Randall is now acting chief - effective Monday, Sept. 16. Randall replaces Commander Carey Ferrell at the helm, as Ferrell is taking voluntary paid leave for three weeks, according to city human resources director James Barclay. Ferrell, a 25-year veteran of the department, had been acting or interim police chief for five months, after former Cloquet police chief Jeff Palmer placed himself on paid administrative...
A group of volunteers worked together Sunday for close to three hours to get an elderly woman's various garden plots weeded, especially the one in the backyard that she enjoys seeing out the back window of her home. Another group painted parking stripes in the community theater parking lot. Thirty others stayed inside to assemble baby care kits, school backpacks and "ditty bags" for seafarers filled with personal care items. More groups fanned out across Cloquet and the surrounding area, all of...
Cloquet Wendy’s store sold, Burger King coming The Wendy’s in Cloquet is closed for good, and will be replaced by Burger King. “Thanks for a great 15 years,” says a sign on the window of the local fast food restaurant, which is located in a prime spot between Highway 33 and the local Walmart store. “We appreciate all the support. The friendships we’ve made, and all the great employees who worked here.” Chicago-based Cave Enterprises will be leasing the property in Cloquet and the London Road property in Duluth, said Cave Enterprise pr...
Members Cooperative Credit Union has been named the top 2019 Minnesota Credit Union of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration. According to an MCCU press release, the award is being presented to MCCU in recognition of their excellent SBA activity for the fiscal year. From July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019 MCCU closed over $3 million in SBA-guaranteed approved loans, ranking them the top SBA credit union in Minnesota. “We know that without capital, small businesses struggle to s...
Historic Minnesota events that took place Sept. 20-26: Sept. 20 1891 August Schell, founder of August Schell Brewing Company in New Ulm, dies of a heart attack in St. Paul. Born in Durbach, Germany, in 1828, Schell moved to Minnesota in 1856 and four years later, with Jacob Bernhardt, founded a small brewery on the banks of the Cottonwood River. The brewery is still run by the Schell family, producing award-winning beers in the German tradition. Sept. 21 1805 Lieutenant Zebulon M. Pike, reaching the mouth of the Mni Sota Wakpa (Minnesota...
Continued decreasing enrollment is driving decisions in the Carlton school district this month. Outside of the continuing discussions about consolidation with Wrenshall, the school board set its preliminary levy for next year at the maximum. By law, districts need to set levy parameters by Sept. 30 each year. While the levy could go down before December, it can’t be increased. The exact numbers, and impact on taxpayers, has yet to be determined as the state dictates the maximum levy for every school district. The district has seven fewer s...
It's just another day in a Carlton County courtroom, and Sixth District Carlton County Judge Rebekka Stumme is working her way through the final half dozen cases on that morning's docket. One of the defendants - in court because she failed to meet with her probation officer several times - says she's been unable to get a ride there, and also unable to reach anyone to set up an appointment for a Rule 25 assessment. Stumme (her surname rhymes with "tummy") gently reminds the woman that probation...
The very honest and funny Twin Ports artist Lydia Noble will return to the Cloquet Library Saturday to lead a workshop on 'zines for adults, 12-2 p.m. If you would like to learn some tips about how to create your own illustrated journal or comic book, this workshop is for you. Noble was at the library in January for the first-ever Teen Fan Con (watch for more details this fall about the 2020 Fan Con). She often writes and draws about her own life and the Twin Ports area. In addition to her...
"People are always happy when they come here, and if they aren't, they are always happy when they leave". That was Angela Rubish's response when I asked her about her business, the Ru-Ridge corn maze, located just north of Wrenshall on County Road 1. I tested Rubish's claim this past weekend when I took my 2- and 4-year-old children for an afternoon visit. We came happy, we left happy, and we had some good times in between - all without even making it 10 feet into the maze itself. "I'm always...
The 2019 combination of the Carlton Bulldogs and Wrenshall Wrens football teams continued its early season success Friday night as the Raptors picked up their third win of the season. Using stellar defense in the first half against Cromwell-Wright at Jim Erickson Field in Carlton, the Raptors rolled out to an early lead and never looked back. The final score was 48-6. "Our offense is finally starting to click," said Jeremy Zywicki, co-head coach for the Raptors. "We knew it would take a while...
FOOTBALL Barnum vs. North Woods Friday, Sep 20 at 7 p.m. Barnum vs. Chisholm Friday, Sep 27 at 7 p.m. Carlton/Wrenshall at Floodwood High School Friday, Sept. 20 at 7 p.m. Carlton/Wrenshall vs. McGregor High School Friday, Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. Cloquet at Hibbing Friday, Sept. 20 at 7 p.m. Cloquet at North Branch Friday, Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. Cromwell-Wright vs. McGregor Friday, Sept. 20 at 7 p.m. Cromwell-Wright at Onamia Friday, Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. Esko vs. Mora Friday, Sept. 20 at 7 p.m. Esko at Moose Lake/Willow River Friday, Sept. 27 at 7 p.m....
Howard “Howie” James Johnson, 90, of Cloquet, Minnesota left his earthly home Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019. He is alive more than ever now in Heaven. We know that because of Jesus Christ’s death on the cross for his sins and Howie’s acceptance of that gift many years ago. John 3:16-17: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world but that th...
Evelyn Fleisch Pearson, 96, of Cloquet, Minnesota went to be with her Lord and Savior surrounded by her family on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019 at the Community Memorial Hospital in Cloquet. She was born to Clarence and Eva (Pigman) Hayes on Feb. 12, 1923. Evelyn was a lifelong resident of Cloquet and was employed for seven years at Wood Conversion and 15 years as a home health aide for Carlton County. Evelyn was preceded in death by her parents, and her husband of 42 years, Stan Fleisch;...
Lynn (“Smitty”) Duane Smith, 68, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019, after a beautiful day of family and friends at his bedside. He was born on March 24, 1951 in St. Paul, Minnesota to Lowell and Diane Smith. Lynn graduated from White Bear Lake High School in 1969 and went on to attend Bemidji State University. There he played hockey and helped lead the Beavers to multiple division championships. Lynn married Barbara Lynn Holgate on June 9, 1979 and they settled in Clo...
Florence Elaine Mavis Holm, 82, of Carlton, Minnesota passed away Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019 in Inter-Faith Care Center with her loving family by her side. She was born June 19, 1937 in Bruno to Charles and Elsie (Newman) Hanson. While married to Robert Goad, they lived in Germany, England, and California before moving to Cloquet in 1964. After Robert’s death in 1969, Florence married Albert Holm. They made their home in Carlton where they were members of Bethesda Lutheran Church. Florence was a c...
Robert Louis Dahlen, 80, of Cloquet passed away on Monday, Sept. 16, 2019, in his home. To honor’s Robert’s request, there will be no services. Faye A. Thomas, age 92 of Cromwell, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019. Services: Saturday, Sept. 21 at Nelson Funeral Care with a 10 a.m. visitation until the noon service. Ellen “Abby” Judith Volkert Erkkila, 74 of Cloquet passed away on Monday, Sept. 16, 2019, in Duluth. Services: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25 at the Fond du Lac Tribal Center at 1720 Big Lake Road....
Thanks to actions this spring by the state legislature to let schools off the hook for not meeting the state mandated minimum number of school days due to snow days, the Cloquet School District will be making up more snow days in the future. School superintendent Michael Cary said district officials found out that there is a state statute for number of school days, and Cloquet can’t miss more than two days without making them up to meet the state statute. “We always met the minimum number of hours,” Cary told the board. “But if we miss more th...
Fidgety Feet Dixieland Band ended its season last Tuesday night with a free concert at the Cloquet Presbyterian Church. The group is led by Steve Tomhave (back row, far left) with David Luehr and Mike Tester. In front are Rose Kuhlman, Molly Stone, Carina Fogelberg and Ken Etterman. Dick Rollefson is also a member. The group traditionally plays at the Grandma’s Marathon course along with other engagements at senior housing facilities....
The Carlton County Board of Commissioners will hold a public meeting on road funding Monday: specifically to get public input on the continuation of the excise tax authorized in 2014 for county transportation projects and improvements approved in July, as well as identify the estimated costs of those projects. The meeting is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Monday at the Carlton County Transportation Building and all residents are encouraged to attend. Carlton County road work is funded in five ways, with most income coming from state and federal...
The Carlton County Sheriff’s Department issued a notification that Dustin Nelson, who is identified as a risk level three sex offender, is moving from rural Barnum into Barnum Township. In addition to a sexual assault charge, Nelson has a significant history of assault. Nelson, age 36, committed the offense at age 16. According to the press release, Nelson engaged in sexual conduct with an unknown adult female victim and held her against her will. Contact included restraining the victim and pulling her to the ground. He approached her in a p...
The Minnesota Supreme Court has declined to take up challenges by tribal and conservation groups to the environmental review of Enbridge Energy’s proposal for replacing its aging Line 3 crude oil pipeline in Minnesota. The decision means that Minnesota regulators can begin the process of fixing the environmental review of Enbridge Energy’s controversial proposed $2.9 billion project. The project could have faced a long delay if the high court had agreed to hear the appeals. It’s unclear exactly when construction of the pipeline could begin...
The Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa is stepping into the legal battle surrounding the proposed PolyMet copper-nickel mine. According to a press release from the Fond du Lac Reservation Business Committee, on Sept. 10, the Band filed a lawsuit in Minnesota federal district court against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The lawsuit is significant to the Band because the proposed mine will be located in the Ceded Territory where the Fond du Lac Band retains treaty rights to hunt, fish...
Esko's Corner won't have a gas station after today, when the Esko Self Serve closes down after more than 40 years in business. Beth Belden, whose family has operated the popular store known around town as the "Esko Mini Mall" said they struggled to get local support in the face of increased competition, and eventually decided to close the store after no buyers could be found to continue the business. She plans to sell the building after the canopy, gas pumps and storage tanks are removed this...
After a teenage girl disappeared from the Carlton County Youth Shelter last week with her baby and the teen’s 3-year-old sister, police issued a missing children alert — and removed the alert five hours later when the children were found. The escapade came with some major consequences as the teen is now facing criminal charges for taking her sister, herself and her 18-month-old baby out of county custody. Sadie Slides Off, 17, was charged in Sixth District Carlton County Court Sept. 13 for “de...
