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 33
For now, the bright green sashes encircling city ash trees are there to identify them as vulnerable to emerald ash borer - not to mark them for imminent destruction. But destruction is coming, whether by a preemptive strike by a chainsaw or death over time due to the bright green invasive insect. "It means it's an ash tree, that's all," said public works director Caleb Peterson. "What we will end up doing is yet to be determined." Emerald ash borer (EAB) is an insect that attacks and kills ash...
A driver that police say may have been "impaired" was killed Wednesday, Sept. 18 when his pickup truck careered off Minnesota Highway 210 in Carlton, crashing into the Carlton Laundry, with customers inside. There were no injuries inside the business, but the building suffered "heavy damage" and was closed the next few days. On Thursday, tire tracks from the truck could be seen in the grass outside the building. The Carlton County Sheriff's Office got a report of the crash at about 8:30 p.m....
For the second time in less than a year, the Thomson Township board of supervisors approved the hire of a new township clerk/treasurer at its meeting Sept. 19. Beth Elstad will replace Deb Kaumunen, who was hired in March to replace Rhonda Peleski. Peleski retired after doing the job for 30 years. Elstad will earn $35 an hour for the full-time salaried position. Elstad brings a wide range of experience in the nonprofit world to her new job. She's worked in the region since 1996 as a financial...
Several departments, including all court-related operations, relocated to the new Carlton County Justice Center earlier this month, and are now conducting business in the new $75 million facility located on County Highway 61 in Carlton. The county attorney’s office, court administration, probation, public defender and Sheriff’s Office have all moved into the facility, and are no longer reachable in the Carlton County Historic Courthouse in downtown Carlton. The Historic Courthouse continues to house several departments including the recorder, a...
Carlton County officials hope to expand the existing smoke-free ordinance to include smoking cannabis as well as vaporizing and consuming non-smokable cannabis and hemp products. Ordinance No. 29 Smoke-Free Public Places and Places of Work already prohibits people from smoking tobacco products within 25 feet of doors, windows and ventilation areas of indoor workplaces, bars, restaurants and other public places. The Carlton County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing regarding the proposal at 4:30 p.m. Oct. 28 at the Carlton County...
Voters residing in Carlton County can cast early ballots in person at the following locations: Carlton County Historic Courthouse: In-person absentee voting for all Carlton County voters is available at the Carlton County Historic Courthouse, 301 Walnut Ave, Room 205, Carlton. Hours 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday. The auditor/assessor’s office will have extended hours Oct. 26, Oct. 29 and Nov. 2-4 in advance of Election Day. Sawyer Community Center: Temporary absentee voting will be available for all Carlton County residents 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. W...
While the tax levy for the city of Cloquet tax looks like it could grow by 11 percent in December, Cloquet school district levy numbers may actually decrease. District business manager Candace Nelis told board members that right now, the school district tax levy could actually drop 1.3 percent. That could change. “[The state] has been making changes to the levy every single day — sometimes they swing in multiple directions,” Nelis said. “So tonight I’m asking that the approval be at the maximum, so they can continue to make adjustments through...
A $312,927 jump in the Cloquet Area Fire District's proposed budget from its preliminary one two months ago - and a corresponding levy increase of 7 percent, compared to the 2.75 percent sent to the district's member communities in July - passed in a divided vote at the Sept. 18 board meeting. Gary Harms, representing Perch Lake Township, said raising rates after the fact is a problem. "Reality is reality, I guess," he said. "I got to go back and report to my town board and say, 'oops, made a...
It was record-breaking summer at the Cloquet Public Library as 589 children signed up for the Kids Reading Challenge and more than 1,800 people came to events. The library partnered with Community Memorial Hospital to make the summer reading program even more spectacular than past years. Thanks to the hard work of Audrey Tusken, the director of marketing and public relations at the hospital, participants were provided with many health and wellness-related events, including a kids cooking class...
The Carlton County board approved a preliminary 3-percent levy increase at its meeting Monday, containing costs in a way that had commissioners thanking staff, department heads and the finance committee that includes commissioners Susan Zmyslony and Dick Brenner. “I’d like to thank the finance committee for all the work they did on this,” commissioner Marv Bodie said. “I really appreciate it,” commissioner Gary Peterson added. “Myself, I was surprised.” “We worked very hard between our finance committee and the department heads,” Zmyslony said...
The former law enforcement program at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College features new courses and a new name aimed at providing graduates “a deeper understanding of officers’ roles in ensuring justice and providing service,” the college announced this week. The Criminal Justice/Peace Officer program was adopted to replace a focus on enforcement, and reflect “important changes in how officers serve their communities and interact with the public,” a news release said. New courses include one titled Mental Health Crisis Management and anoth...
It's homecoming week at Cloquet High School with a royal court announced at Friday's football game. Candidates include: boys (back row, left to right) Gage Allen, Blair Chartier, Dane Mason, Hudson Snesrud, Jack Battaglia, Benjamin Saletel, Kaleb Yrjanson, Hunter Eugenis, Max Sundquist, Quinten Larsen; and girls (front row) Makena Smith, Morgan Olesiak, Addison Sandman, Erin Keating, Clare French, Tenley Kiminski, Lilyana Rosen, Aspen Winbigler, Kaia Boyd, Ellise Boyd....
We recently came across an interesting item by famed Ely outdoorsman, naturalist and writer Sigurd Olson, who once had a syndicated column in the 1940s. This one piqued our interest since it’s all about your favorite newspaper, the Pine Knot. Well, not really, but we enjoyed the spirit of Olson’s words and found in it many traits we aspire to here at the newspaper. Enjoy. In many parts of the country, pine knots are known as fat wood, because of their great amount of resin and their ability to burn with a bright and colorful flame. Resin or...
I had the honor to serve as our area’s state representative from 2013 to 2023 and I’m grateful for the trust voters gave me. Take note of a keyword: trust. The job requires plenty of it. Trust to collaborate with colleagues to solve problems and improve people’s lives. Trust to be responsive to the local needs of the district. Trust to serve in a way that reflects the values of constituents. Disturbing information about our current representative, Jeff Dotseth, has recently emerged showing he’s undeserving of our trust to serve at the State Cap...
Character matters to me when I vote in elections. I read in various media outlets about state Rep. Jeff Dotseth’s domestic abuse incidents. As a board member of an area domestic abuse program, I know about the destructive patterns of domestic abusers. Physical violence in particular leaves actual and emotional scars that don’t go away. Victims are left traumatized forever. Rep. Dotseth has denied some of the allegations, but the records show that an arrest occurred, and that Dotseth had supervised visits with his daughter. Those are the fac...
How long do we look away? Our current representative in the Minnesota House has sworn affidavits from his former wife and stepson that he terrorized them for a decade with physical abuse. He even beat the family dog, with his daughter begging him to stop. He copped to a lesser plea in court and was barred from owning weapons for a year. This guy actually not only has a license to conceal and carry, he has a license to teach and certify others to carry a gun. No wonder he voted against the red flag laws in Minnesota that take guns out of the...
A year ago, Barnum football coach Rob Minkkinen had a feeling his Bombers would be a good football team. This year? Minkkinen knew they had some unproven talent, but after four games even he is surprised by the 4-0 squad. "We lost a big and talented group of players last year," Minkkinen said. "The group this year has waited for their chance to play and they've spent a ton of time in the weight room and in practice. They are ready to show what they can do." After picking up a close win in their...
Thursday, Sept. 19 Volleyball Rush City 3 Barnum 0 Cloquet 3 Greenway 1 Two Harbors 3 Carlton/Wrenshall 1 Cromwell-Wright 3 McGregor 0 Esko 3 Moose Lake/Willow River 0 Floodwood 3 South Ridge 0 Girls Soccer Duluth Marshall 3 Esko 2 Boys Soccer CEC 6 Proctor 0 Friday, Sept. 20 Football Moose Lake/Willow River 41 Mesabi East 6 Barnum 34 Braham 8 Cromwell-Wright 21 Ogilvie 6 Pequot Lakes 47 Esko 6 East Central 20 South Ridge 13 Rock Ridge 18 Cloquet 15 Hill City/Northland 94 Carlton/Wrenshall 0 Saturday, Sept. 21 Boys Soccer CEC 3 Princeton 0...
It was senior night for CEC tennis Monday. First-year coach Emily Hallgren welcomed parents and fans of the 10 seniors who enjoyed their day in the sun in Cloquet with an impressive 5-2 win over Superior. "It was a fun night because we were able to get all 10 seniors in the matches tonight," Hallgren said. "It was so special. Each senior was introduced with parents and then we read a memory from each of them and also some advice to younger players." Following a ceremony introducing the seniors,...
Wisconsin teams swept the Minnesota Wilderness last weekend, with one game at home Friday night and then the team’s first road game Saturday. The losses put the Wilderness at 2-2 on the season. The Wisconsin Windigo edged the Wilderness at home in Cloquet Friday, 5-4. The loss spoiled Frantisek Netusil’s first two-goal game in his junior career, both in the third period. His 6-on-3 power play goal came with 39 seconds left. Also scoring goals were Avery Anderson and Cloquet native Karson Young, who recorded his first in his third game at the ju...
The Cloquet/Carlton girls soccer team has been on an impressive run this early season. Entering Saturday's game against North Branch, the Lumberjacks had recorded eight straight shutouts and made it nine with a 3-0 win. Cloquet/Carlton topped off its week with another shutout - this time on the road at Grand Rapids for a 3-0 win Monday. Following the two wins, the 'Jacks are now 11-1 with 10 shutout victories. "We're really in rarified air," said Lumberjacks head coach Dustin Randall. "What's...
Entering Tuesday's night volleyball match, Cloquet and Esko were on opposite ends of season records. Esko entered the game with a record of 13-2 while the Lumberjacks came in with a 6-8 record and a much younger team than the team that had made it to the section title match the last few seasons. In the end, it was Esko that came away with an impressive 25-11, 25-12, 25-18 home win. "I was a little surprised at the scores, but when we are on our game we are a pretty good team," said Esko coach...
Mary Hovis, 96, of Cloquet passed away Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, at Evergreen Senior Living with family by her side. Visitation for Mary will be at 10 a.m. until the time of her funeral service at 11 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 27 at Nelson Funeral Care in Cloquet. Interment will be at Maple Grove Cemetery....
Helen Edith Follett McCullough, 91, formerly of Cloquet, passed away peacefully on Aug. 19, 2024, in Marriott-Slaterville, Utah. She was born Nov. 28, 1932, in Moose Lake. Helen spent her life enriching those around her with her kindness and vibrant spirit. She married the love of her life, William ("Bill") Francis McCullough, on July 7, 1952. Together they were blessed with three wonderful children: Judi, Mike, and Bruce. Helen and Bill joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,...
Lela Faye (Heckman) Tuominen, 89, passed away Sept. 19, 2024, at Brooke Manor in Brookston, where she resided for the last five years. She was born in Runeberg Township near Menahga, Minnesota July 15, 1935, to Nels and Aina Heckman. Lela graduated from Denfeld High School in Duluth in 1953 and was married to Eugene Tuominen on June 29, 1957. Lela was an excellent bowler and avid fan of the Minnesota Vikings and Twins. She enjoyed gardening and baking. She adored her grandchildren and...
