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Articles from the November 15, 2019 edition


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  • Carlton family business thrives in changing times

    Timothy Soden-Groves|Nov 15, 2019

    When Neil and Theresa Erickson bought Carlton's Woodland Grocery back in 2013, it was already like an old familiar friend. Theresa had found her first job at the store, which was then owned by her uncle, Richard Meger. She had worked there, off and on, since 1995. Neil grew up on a family farm in the Wrenshall area and knew the store at 500 Third Street in Carlton, including its excellent meat department. He met Theresa in 2000. They got married and started a family. Theresa had the store in...

  • Wanted: more police officers

    Nov 15, 2019

    The thin blue line is looking even thinner right now in Cloquet, as the police department faces staffing challenges caused by retirements, departures and officers who are on leave but still with the department. At full strength, the Cloquet Police department is budgeted for a total of 24 licensed full-time police officers, detectives and command staff. They are currently down to 16 working officers, and only one (of three) working command staff. "We have seven that are either gone or on leave,...

  • One man dead, one in custody, after shooting in rural Cloquet

    Nov 15, 2019

    Cloquet and Fond du Lac resident James Arthur Couture died after being shot early Saturday morning in what appeared to be a shooting by an acquaintance. According to a press release by the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office, law enforcement were called to an address on Brevator Road at approximately 5 a.m. Saturday. Deputies and Fond du Lac police officers responded and found Couture, age 65, deceased at the scene, by a gunshot wound. Three other adults were present at the scene and all were...

  • Library expansion: 'It is a great day in Cloquet'

    Steve Korby|Nov 15, 2019

    Continuing with its storied history, the Cloquet Public Library celebrated its major expansion with a groundbreaking ceremony Friday, Nov. 8. The ceremony itself was a formality, as construction work on the area south of the building had already begun. The addition will add flexible meeting space to the library, which can be divided into one to three rooms, a dedicated children's area, a dedicated teen area, spaces for comfortable seating, a portable stage and sound system, and a teaching...

  • NE BBQ closes

    Jana Peterson|Nov 15, 2019

    Cloquet’s NE Bar & Grill is closed for good, its owners announced on Facebook last week and in an email to the Pine Knot News. The last day for the restaurant, which specialized in smoked barbecue meats but offered a range of menu items and an extensive, Minnesota-based drinks list, was a month ago, on Oct. 15. Co-owner Nate Radoush said they made the decision to close the doors “with great sadness.” “We appreciate all the support we received from both staff and those who visited, and wished in earnest that we could have continued to provide a...

  • Lee announces run for Minnesota Senate District 11

    Nov 15, 2019

    Michelle Lee is running to represent District 11 in the Minnesota Senate. The Moose Lake resident will seek the DFL endorsement at the district convention in March. Lee told supporters and attendees of the HD 11A Homegrown Harvest Festival Dinner fundraiser as long as the Minnesota Senate is controlled by Republicans, access to quality healthcare, first-class education and training of our future workforce, the expansion of broadband and attention to the critical needs of our infrastructure in...

  • Officer loses appeal; K-9 dog finds home

    Jana Peterson|Nov 15, 2019

    Five months after his dismissal, a former Cloquet police detective is in the news again. Scott Holman, a 22-year member of the department, lost an arbitration case appealing his dismissal this week. His name also came up during last week's Cloquet city council meeting when the council voted to retire Holman's former K-9 partner, Raja, because of health issues. City officials learned Tuesday that the city prevailed in a grievance arbitration case between the city and Teamsters Local 346,...

  • County jail population deals with mental health

    Lois E. Johnson|Nov 15, 2019

    Heather Giancola said mental health issues among the inmate population are a big problem at the county jail. Giancola, a social worker from Carlton County Public Health and Human Services, gave a report about services provided to offenders at the Carlton County Jail to the Carlton County Board of Commissioners at a committee of the whole meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 5. “Since we started the program four months ago, there have been 344 referrals to community agencies,” she said. “We help people get documents, such as birth certificates or driver’s l...

  • OUR VIEW: Be wary of rules on winter parking

    Nov 15, 2019

    Cloquet does not allow parking on city streets overnight during the snow season. From November 1 until March 31, cars cannot be parked on the streets or in alleys between midnight and 6 a.m. In Esko, it’s prohibited between 4 a.m. and 7 a.m., and in Carlton, the hours are 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. Overnight parking in the winter has been prohibited for many years and should not be much of a surprise to most of us. But a nice reminder about this time of year may help you avoid a ticket, or even worse, a tow. Cars parked on the streets during the o...

  • HARRY'S GANG: Jimmy Carter is my favorite

    Pete Radosevich|Nov 15, 2019

    Jimmy Carter has always been my favorite president. I’m not sure many people agreed with me, because when he ran for re-election in 1980 he got only about 40 percent of the vote and lost to Ronald Reagan. He didn’t even get into office easily; he barely beat Gerald Ford in 1976, even with Ford’s ties to the corruption of Nixon. It’s been said that Jimmy Carter has been viewed far more favorably as an ex-President than he ever will be as a President. But I liked him as President. I was just 12...

  • ON THE MARK: Compassion is where you look

    Ann Markusen|Nov 15, 2019

    Lately, I’ve been searching for compassion in our public discourse. Actually, I’ve been longing for more discourse, period. The kind where people listen carefully to each other and honor the rights of each to hold differing points of view, even when they strongly disagree on values or courses of action. Instead, our ability to engage with each other across class, race, gender, political and philosophical divides seems to be deteriorating. I find it elating when conversing with someone who fee...

  • LETTER: The expense of failures

    Nov 15, 2019

    After three failed referendums, at a community cost of $100,000 or so, Wrenshall has reached out to Carlton Schools to consolidate, costing both communities once again. I attended a public meeting at the Sawyer Community Center where Ehlers and ARI presented preliminary estimates from $38-$40 million for a two-site option. Both superintendents spoke of their possible options for consolidation and option No. 6 for Carlton would be to dissolve and sell the high school to the county. If indeed this were to occur, it would be a sad day for Carlton...

  • Obituary: Carol J. Palmer

    Nov 15, 2019

    Carol J. Palmer, age 84 of Cloquet, passed away Thursday, November 7, 2019 at Diamond Willow in Cloquet. She was born December 17, 1934 in Cloquet, the daughter of Harry and Clara (Kleckner) Demers. Carol graduated from Cloquet High in 1952. She was a lifelong Cloquet resident and a member of Queen of Peace Catholic Church; the Holy Angels Circle, Catholic Foresters, and the Daughters of Isabella. Carol was a volunteer driver for cancer patients and served as an election judge for Knife Falls...

  • Obituary: Zahwa G. Pringle

    Nov 15, 2019

    Zahwa G. Pringle, 24 of California/Cloquet/Duluth, passed away on Tuesday, October 29, 2019. He was born in San Jose, California, on August 22, 1995 and relocated to Cloquet on July 1, 2002 at the age of nearly 7. Zahwa graduated with the 2014 Cloquet High School class with a large group of great friends! Zahwa is liked by everyone! The love that has poured in from all those he has touched is a reflection of how much he connected with and loved others. Zahwa has always had a strong magnetic...

  • Obituary: Patricia Ann Jukich

    Nov 15, 2019

    Patricia Ann Jukich, 81, of Hermantown, formerly of Esko, died Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2019 in her home after a brief illness. Pat was born in Cloquet on Aug. 28, 1938 to Edwin and Ellen Oja. She was raised in the Cloquet and Esko area, graduating from Lincoln High School in Esko in 1956. She married Joseph Jukich on March 16, 1957 in Cloquet. Pat was an exceptional seamstress. She loved doing puzzles and playing Scrabble and other games with her girls. Pat was preceded in death by her husband,...

  • Obituary: Delores Jean Lindstrom

    Nov 15, 2019

    Delores Jean Lindstrom, 89, of Cloquet died Friday, Nov. 8, 2019 in Community Memorial Hospital, Cloquet. Delores was born on Feb. 14,1930 in Cloquet to John and Vienna Korby. She graduated from Cloquet High School in 1948. She married Roy Lindstrom in 1951. Delores worked as a secretary in Churchill School from 1967 until her retirement in 1993. She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church and enjoyed gardening, cooking and baking for her family. She was preceded in death by her husband, Roy, and...

  • Services: James "Weasel" A. Couture

    Nov 15, 2019

    James “Weasel” A. Couture, age 65, of Brookston, passed away Saturday, November 9, 2019. Visitation will be Thursday, November 14, 2019 from 10 a.m. until the 11 a.m. funeral service at Nelson Funeral Care in Cloquet....

  • Obituary: Lila Genevive Niskanen

    Nov 15, 2019

    Lila Genevive Niskanen, 97, of Floodwood, passed away Monday, Nov. 11, 2019, in Villa Vista Care Center in Cromwell. She was born June 11, 1922, in Kalevala Township to John and Mabel (Waisanen) Marsyla. She graduated from Cromwell High School in 1939. On July 5, 1940, she married Leo Niskanen in Floodwood. Lila loved life on the farm. She enjoyed her animals, and vegetable and flower gardening. She took pride in her family and enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren,...

  • Services: Lee Alan Angell

    Nov 15, 2019

    Lee Alan Angell, 60, of Moose Lake, passed away peacefully Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019 in his home. Visitation: 12:30 p.m. until the 1 p.m. memorial service Monday, Nov. 25 in Atkins-Northland Funeral Home, Cloquet. Private inurnment in Maple Grove Cemetery, Cloquet....

  • Obituary policy

    Nov 15, 2019

    The cost for obituaries in the Pine Knot News is $75 for up to two black-and-white photos and obituaries up to 800 words. Death notices with just name, date of birth and death, city of residence and service information are printed at no cost. Email death notices and obituaries with attachments to obits@pineknot news.com or stop by the office at 122 Avenue C, Cloquet, by 2 p.m. Tuesday....

  • Carlton/Wrenshall commitment clash clouds consolidation

    Mike Creger|Nov 15, 2019

    The results of what at times was a contentious meeting of school board members from Wrenshall and Carlton Tuesday will be seen at each board's regular meetings next week. There should be two identical resolutions on the respective agendas. They will be worded the same, but judging from the conversation at the joint meeting Tuesday, they're being crafted by two clashing mindsets. Wrenshall board members were expecting a firm commitment from the Carlton board that it was moving ahead on...

  • Cloquet writers collect state honors in essay contest

    Jana Peterson|Nov 15, 2019

    While athletics and drama are often in the spotlight, three Cloquet High School juniors recently took centerstage for an academic endeavor, after placing first, third and fifth in a statewide essay contest. Cloquet's Benjamin Bauer placed first, Lexis Gerard third and Brenna Mattson fifth in the Minnesota Best Prep Educational Forum Essay Contest. All participants were asked to respond to a prompt by fellow Minnesotan and New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, from his book "Thank You for...

  • Feds file charges in funeral shooting

    Jana Peterson|Nov 15, 2019

    The Carlton County Attorney’s Office announced Friday that the man at the center of a shooting at a funeral last month is being charged in federal court, rather than state court. Shelby Gene Boswell, 28, of Hugo, Minnesota was accused of shooting and injuring another man in the back of the head at a funeral ceremony Oct. 18 in the Head Start gymnasium on the Fond du Lac Reservation. Boswell was charged with both first- and second-degree assault, being a felon in possession of a firearm as w...

  • STATE FOOTBALL: Inspired Esko loses ground game battle

    Dwight Cadwell|Nov 15, 2019

    BRAINERD-The Eskomos saw their season come to an end Saturday afternoon at the hands of the Annandale Cardinals. It was a snowy battle that ended 33-13 after the Cardinals outgained Esko on the ground by a margin of 357 yards to Esko's 74 yards. After a fumble and a punt on Annandale's first two drives of the game, the Cardinals took over on the ground. The Cardinals offensive line opened huge holes - allowing Annandale to pick up giant chunks of yards as they finished the game averaging over 6...

  • STATE FOOTBALL: Runner pounds South Ridge

    Dwight Cadwell|Nov 15, 2019

    DULUTH-Mountain Iron-Buhl put together an impressive show Friday night at Public Schools Stadium as the Rangers knocked off South Ridge 42-6 in the state quarterfinals of the 9-Man football tournament. Rangers senior running back Dillon Drake averaged 10.1 yards per carry on his way to 242 yards rushing on the night, scoring four of the Rangers' six touchdowns. He had two rushing touchdowns, one 81 yards and a 42-yard run. Drake also added a touchdown catch of 19 yards and returned an...

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