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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What's a little snow in mid-October in the crazy year 2020 has been, huh? Reports of 3 to 6 inches of snow in Carlton County were recorded by National Weather Service spotters Wednesday after snow began falling Tuesday afternoon. Another similar dose was expected on Thursday. It's no Halloween blizzard, but the numbers are piling up. Pine Knot News editor Jana Peterson went for a walk Tuesday at the Cloquet Forestry Center as the snow piled up on flora that definitely didn't look ready for...
With less than two weeks to go until the Nov. 3 election, almost half of the registered voters in Carlton County have received mail or absentee ballots. As of Friday, Oct. 16, the Carlton County Auditor's office had mailed out 10,648 ballots to voters who had requested absentee ballots or who live in a precinct that votes by mail - out of a total of 21,424 registered voters after the primary. Of those, nearly 6,000 had been returned. It's a year like none other, said acting county... Full story
After five special sessions since the regular session ended in May, the Minnesota Legislature last week passed a $1.9 billion bonding bill. It was signed Wednesday by Gov. Tim Walz. The bonding will allow for public works projects across the state, including a $7.5 million grant to Twin Lakes Township to design and construct a water main from Carlton County along the Minnesota Highway 210 corridor to Interstate 35. The waterline will alleviate fears about wells contaminated with arsenic and also offer an expected economic boost to the business...
Here is our first entry in the new History Mysteries feature. Northeastern Saloon and Hotel owner Bert Whittington shared this old-time photo with the Pine Knot News. Whittington said he bought the photo at the Cloquet American Legion auction when the Legion was moving out of its longtime home on Cloquet Avenue. He believes the men in their unusual capes may have been part of a group called the "woolies" or "woolly bullies" from the Wood Conversion Company, which made balsam wood insulation at...
A police call Monday for a disturbance at a local apartment building ended well, but only after police and firefighters converged on the building for hours. Nearly a dozen police cars and four fire department vehicles lined Carlton Avenue outside the Carlton Lofts apartment complex Monday afternoon, as police negotiators tried to convince a man in an upper floor apartment to come out and surrender. Billy Joe Martineau, 26, of Cloquet, was ultimately arrested. He was charged with first-degree...
Editor’s note: The following questions and answers were facilitated by the Minnesota Newspaper Association for its member newspapers. U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber Q If elected, what is your top priority for the 2021 Congress? A Two years ago, one of the focal points of my campaign as a first-time congressional candidate was to let you, the voters, know who I am. I introduced myself to you and shared my story, what my priorities are, and how I wanted to represent the 8th congressional district. P... Full story
A Cloquet police officer made his first virtual court appearance Oct. 15 after being arrested for driving while impaired in August. The next court action will take place Nov. 5. Andrew Michael Murray, 34, allegedly crashed his car near 223 Gillespie Road in Carlton on Aug. 6, and fled into some nearby woods, according to a Minnesota State Patrol incident report. In addition to the MSP, Cloquet and Fond du Lac police officers assisted at the scene. Murray was located a short time later and taken into custody without incident. Murray is being cha...
The new motor for the Cloquet Middle School pool is installed and running. Senior Swim and Lap Swim will resume on Monday, Oct. 26, according to Cloquet Community Education. A faulty dehumidifying fan on the roof of the middle school put the three-year-old $6 million pool out of commission for close to six weeks. The first replacement motor didn't work, but a specially built one did, and the swim team can resume practicing, along with all the community education classes and upcoming swim...
The Extension Office in Carlton has an opening for a three-year District 1 term starting in 2021. The committee meets five times per year (bi-monthly February-November). If you are interested in getting involved, please call or email the extension office for an application and more information. Application deadline is Nov. 16. To find out more, contact Carlton County Extension volunteer coordinator Ann Rust at 218-384-3511 or [email protected]....
Carlton County is looking for a Carlton County resident to serve on its Airport Commission. The commission reviews the day-to-day maintenance, operations, and construction at both the Moose Lake and Cloquet airports. Commissioners are appointed for a three-year term and can serve up to three terms. A per diem of $60 will be paid for attending meetings. Contact Quinten Anderson, airport manager, at (218) 879-4911 or email Quinten.anderson @co.carlton.mn.us for more information....
Anyone buying a license online from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources — especially licenses with application deadlines — should be aware they may need to give themselves some extra time to verify their name in the electronic licensing system. People can buy DNR licenses online at mndnr.gov/buyalicense. Hunters who order deer licenses and tags online should allow 5-10 business days for delivery....
Esko school district officials are living the adage that “change is the only constant in life” as they have consistently been adapting protocols this year to combat the coronavirus pandemic. Their newest plan revision, decided on at Monday night’s regular board meeting, will help if the number of Covid-19 cases in the area climbs beyond the next benchmark. The district has spent the entire year so far at Level Two of the state’s “Safe Learning Plan.” This means that K-6 students have been learning in person daily while middle- and high school... Full story
Wrenshall teacher Molly Kidd has been honored with the K-12 Art Educator of the Year award by Art Educators of Minnesota. The veteran teacher was nominated by Wrenshall's speech language pathologist, Theresa O'Gara, after O'Gara saw time and again how Kidd presented engaging, creative lessons and then let her students fly. Kidd said she is dedicated to the growth of her students as artists and critics of the world, and she has spent years crafting her lessons so they build upon each other year a...
Editor’s note: The following questions and answers were facilitated by the Minnesota Newspaper Association for its member newspapers. U.S. Sen Tina Smith Q If elected, what is your top priority for the 2021 Congress? Why are you running for office? A I am running for re-election to continue to fight for all Minnesotans. The rising cost of health care, especially prescription drugs, is the No. 1 issue that I hear about from Minnesotans, which is why the first thing I did when I arrived in the S... Full story
Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College is among the 30 colleges and seven universities of Minnesota State waiving application fees in October for all or part of College Knowledge Month, an annual statewide effort to encourage students to apply to college. The college is also offering virtual information sessions for interested students and parents to connect with college staff to learn more about the college. “We always encourage and recommend that students apply early for college admission and start the next steps of their futures,” sai...
Editor’s note: The following questions and answers were facilitated by the Minnesota Newspaper Association for its member newspapers. Michelle MacDonald Why do you want to be a judge? What are your personal priorities? I have witnessed an unprecedented display of courts abusing their discretion and authority and damaging people and families by their court orders. I want to be a judge in the Court of Appeals to effect change and to hold our judges accountable to equal justice, the rule of law, the Constitution and due process. I advocate a u... Full story
Winter weather has arrived, and the Minnesota Department of Transportation wants drivers to be ready for conditions. Hundreds of snowplow operators work during winter storms to keep road conditions as safe and clear as possible. Motorists should remember to slow down, stay alert, and stay back at least 10 car lengths and use extra caution when driving near snowplows. The same goes for general safe driving on winter roads. The Cloquet Police Department on Wednesday reported that the Tuesday...
After almost eight years of refusing to allow residents on normal city lots to raise chickens, the Cloquet City Council voted unanimously Monday to do exactly that. The move came after members of the Cloquet Planning Commission recommended the change, and that hearing followed a movement started by Cloquet resident and chicken owner Emily Tracy, who circulated an online petition that garnered more than 1,000 signatures. "When it comes to the benefits, well, they are endless," Tracy told the Pine... Full story
Candidates for public office participated in a forum this Wednesday night, organized by the Cloquet Area Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by our little newspaper along with WKLK Radio and CAT-7 (which will be soon operated by Pine Knot News, but isn’t yet). We heard from candidates for the Cloquet school board, District 1 county commissioner, Cloquet city council, and our local Minnesota House and Senate districts. The information provided by each candidate should make it easier for voters to decide whom they will select in November’s ele... Full story
Seven of the area’s judges are on the ballot this year, running for re-election for six-year terms. There are no contested elections this year in our area. Every incumbent judge is running unopposed. There is a contested race in the State Supreme Court. I’ll get to that later. You may be wondering why no one runs against sitting judges. It’s because it’s difficult by design to win against a sitting judge. We have a nice system of selecting judges in Minnesota. Traditionally, most judges retire... Full story
Dick Brenner has served the District 1 of Carlton County as commissioner for 28 years. We have known Mr. Brenner for all of those years and recognize his positive contributions to the county, school district, environment and public health. Experience and integrity count. Re-elect Dick Brenner. Terry and Vicki Anderson, Cloquet... Full story
Jason Rarick should be returned to the Minnesota State Senate, District 11, on Nov. 3. District 11 includes all of Carlton and Pine counties, the eastern half of Kanabec County and four precincts in southwestern St. Louis County. The senator served as a representative in the legislature from 2014 to 2019 in House District 11B and was elected to the senate in a special election to replace Tony Lourey in 2019. Senator Rarick is a lifelong resident of Pine County. He has been active in the community as a 30-year member of the Knights of Columbus,... Full story
Anyone else tired of fear? As if there weren’t enough things in this world trying to kill us and divide humanity, there had to be another added. And this one, during its infancy, has killed plenty. I pray they all rest in peace. There has been a lot of information shared with the masses, which has led to a state of confusion and fear for all of us. This past spring I was talking with a friend on the telephone and he told me I should “listen to understand.” It is good advice for everyone. This newest virus can no doubt kill, but is the word... Full story
The Moose Lake-Willow River Rebels rode the strong legs of sophomore running back Jackson Thompson to an impressive and competitive 34-21 early season win at Esko last Thursday afternoon. "Jackson Thompson had a breakout game versus Esko, playing every snap on offense and defense," said Rebels head coach Dave Louzek. "He is a very strong, hardworking kid who is going to be a great Rebel football player." Esko scored first when quarterback Kevin Gregory scampered in from 4 yards out, giving them... Full story
In response to last week’s letter “Say no to political fear mongering,” I — as the flyer author and co-host of the event of which she spoke — feel compelled to respond to what I see as a personal attack on Minnesota House District 11A candidate Jeff Dotseth. I want to set the record straight with facts. The meeting that was held was open to the public. It is a shame that anyone would personally attack someone for a flyer they saw on Facebook. Anyone who truly wanted to know what it was about could have attended the meeting, and then they woul... Full story
