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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Seven dogs died late Friday, Nov. 18, when a garage they were kept in caught fire in Scanlon. The fire occurred at 1208 28th St. Firefighters began arriving within a few minutes of being paged at 9:10 p.m. Friday. They found a "heavy, well-developed fire" in the garage, said Cloquet Area Fire District chief Jesse Buhs, who confirmed the deaths of the dogs. "It had progressed to the point where there were no survivable conditions within the building," Buhs said. "It tugs at people's heartstrings... Full story
Not so much a mystery this week. It was called the “Comeback of Cloquet,” and people here celebrated in style 100 years ago this month. While it may seem odd that a whole community came out to celebrate a street construction project, that’s just what people did on Nov. 4, 1922, after a mile of paving was completed on business arteries in the city. As the Minneapolis Journal reported, “The great forest fire of 1918 descended upon this city and left much of it in ruins. Now, the city has ‘come back’ and today finds this town with many prospe...
The Thomson Township board of supervisors interviewed finalists for its vacant board seat on Nov. 17, after nearly three months without a full board. The three candidates, Eric Rish, Gary Bonneville, and David Sunnarborg, were asked a series of questions about their intent to apply for the seat, what they view as hot issues for the township, and what they would bring to the board. Eric Rish is a retired Duluth Police Department lieutenant and Esko resident. He served on the Esko Sports Alliance board for four years and was a member of the...
The County Seat Theater Company will bring "A Christmas Carol" to the stage again, but a more spirited and fanciful version, featuring a swirling, dancing chorus of ghosts who weave through this uplifting holiday story of redemption, magic and hope. "The show starts with Scrooge in bed, surrounded by the ghosts and spirits, having a fitful, nightmare-filled sleep atop the bed covers," said County Seat general manager Joel Soukkala. "Throughout the whole show, the apparitions are constantly... Full story
For decades, the two churches have stood across the street from one another: one Lutheran, the other Presbyterian. Each holding services every Sunday, plus weddings and funerals, Bible studies, baptisms and confirmation classes. Each seeing the number of people in the pews declining over the years. Now the two Carlton churches - Bethesda Lutheran and River's Edge Presbyterian - are taking action together to change that. They formed a partnership, starting in October, that leaves them with... Full story
Earlier this month, Fond du Lac welcomed Indian Health Services director Roselyn Tso for a tour earlier this month. It marked the first time an IHS director selected a tribal facility in this part of Minnesota. The tour consisted of stops at the three FDL Human Services Division facility locations, the Band's regional water project site, and wrapped up with an in-depth discussion with FDL's governing body, the Reservation Business Committee. Indian Health Services is the principal federal health...
The Esko school board approved all winter sports team coaches and their stipends at their meeting on Monday, Nov. 14, but not without discussion from the board about the direction the coaching staff has taken over the last few years. With more parents stepping up to fill empty coaching positions, board member Jeff Salo asked the board to take a good look at what options the district has to entice individuals to come coach long-term, and not just while their child is on the team. “The comment which I seem to be making every year is my disdain fo...
The Carlton school district administration and board plan to discuss an audit along with enrollment and budget at its meetings in December. But this month, school leadership heard from one portion of the school community already representing itself impressively. With 65 American Indian students in Carlton schools, Indigenious children make up 20% of the student population, said American Indian Education coordinator Kevin Kot. "They wanted to have a voice," he said. "Otherwise, it's invisible... Full story
Ann Gustafson - a local farmer and teacher and all-around engaged citizen - is one of eight statewide finalists in the 2022 Outstanding Conservationist Award Program, along with her family and the business they operate northeast of Carlton, Leaning Barn Farm. The Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts will announce one of the eight as Outstanding Conservationist of the Year at its convention on Dec. 14. The awards program recognizes farm families, individuals,... Full story
Minnesota will likely see a record number of visits to food shelves this year. The demand has nonprofit organizations scrutinizing budgets and considering new ways to stretch resources. The Salvation Army is one of many organizations responding to a growing demand for food. The Northern Division of the organization serves hundreds of hot meals every day at locations across Minnesota and North Dakota. Local units also operate food shelves. Maj. Scott Shelbourn said demand is up 15-20% over... Full story
Cloquet mayor Roger Maki cited several interesting numbers in his recent proclamation of Small Business Saturday. In short, small business makes up a significant part of the economy. So we need to support local business not only this Saturday, but all year-round. For the holiday season, “thoughtful” is the way to go when gift giving. There is nothing more thoughtful than something that supports our friends and neighbors in a direct way. The pandemic was extremely difficult on area businesses; now is a good time to make them feel whole aga... Full story
Election 2022 has come and gone. When members of Congress and the Minnesota State Legislature take their seats in January, they will officially be representing the new districts drawn in the 2021-22 redistricting cycle. These boundaries were drawn based on the results of the 2020 census to ensure that each district contains roughly the same number of people. On average, Minnesota state House districts now contain 42,586 people, state Senate districts contain 85,172 people, and each of Minnesota'...
Corey was standing a few feet from the sled run when she spoke — one hand on her hip, her other mittened hand trying to wisp away the strands of hair run renegade from under her cap. “Are you the announcer, or something?” She was 8. She often cut to the heart of matters with me, her nattering uncle — curt queries snapping her into adult demeanor, leaving me bemused and suddenly self-conscious. “I’m just trying to make this more exciting, like we did when I was a kid.” Corey only half-listened and then bellyflopped onto her plastic glide...
Last spring, after months of following Covid-19 guidelines, we completed a road trip to South Carolina. Many activities were outdoors or in buildings that required masks. No Covid symptoms upon our return. I flew to Florida for a week in May. Safe again. Maybe we were too careless, over-confident that the Covid pandemic had missed us. We relaxed our defenses. After a cautious return to attending church services, birthday parties and family gatherings — mask-free, hugs all around — life felt nor...
Staff and students at Churchill Elementary capped off their Blue Ribbon awards season with a party in the gymnasium, complete with drumming and a brass band, special guests, a funny heartwarming movie and hundreds of blue and white pom-poms. The celebration began in September, when U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona announced the 2022 National Blue Ribbon schools. Churchill was one of 297 schools in the country - and only eight in Minnesota - to make the list. The Cloquet school was the... Full story
If strength of schedule is important to developing a hockey team during the regular season, then the Cloquet-Esko-Carlton girls hockey team is on the right track. The 'Jacks opened the season on Nov. 12 at Anoka followed by back-to-back home games against South St. Paul and Bloomington Jefferson. Despite going 0-3 in that stretch, there is reason to be optimistic. In their opening game road loss to Anoka, the Lumberjacks fell 2-1 in overtime to the Tornadoes. "We have a lot of new faces in the... Full story
The Cloquet-Esko-Carlton girls swim team's season came to a close officially after the Minnesota state meet was held last weekend in the Twin Cities. Senior Hannah Sandman was the lone Lumberjack to qualify for State: she swam in the 200 freestyle Thursday at the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center on the campus of the University of Minnesota. While Sandman was the only CEC swimmer, she was joined at the state meet by numerous teammates, there to support their teammate. Head coach Rachel Peterson... Full story
This year marked the 50th anniversary of the legislatively approved Title IX provisions that required equal funding for genders in athletics. It is fitting and wonderful that Deb Hunter, who many feel is Cloquet's most gifted girls and women's athlete, made it back to her hometown in 2022 to share some of her fond sports memories. Even though it's not in her nature, I asked Deb to try to not be humble. I wanted to hear the classic sports stories from her vantage point, with no filters. It's... Full story
For many families across the state, deer hunting is a tradition that goes back generations. Whether it is the same stretch of land they hunt each year, a shack that has been around for decades, or just jumping into a truck and going to a parcel of public property to hunt, the idea of getting back in the woods is a bit like a kid waking up on Christmas morning. My first hunting experience was out of an old farmhouse leased by my dad, a couple of my uncles and my grandfather. They hunted from the... Full story
The Minnesota Wilderness followed a dramatic road win Friday with a trip-ending 5-2 loss Saturday in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. The Wilderness got Gustavs Ozolins’ first goal at the perfect time in a 4-3 overtime victory over the Steel on Nov. 18. The 19-year-old from Riga, Latvia broke a 3-3 tie with 1 minute, 20 seconds remaining in the extra period. Ozolins took a pass and weaved to the slot before “roofing” the game-winning shot over goaltender Adam Gajan, a Wilderness game account said. Joe Cesario scored twice for Minnesota, inclu... Full story
Mark Dougherty, 58, of Saginaw passed away unexpectedly at home on Nov. 18, 2022. He was born on Sept. 17, 1964, to Lowell "Tuffy" and Rosemary Dougherty. Mark graduated from AlBrook school in 1983. He was employed at Bobcat of Duluth, a job that he enjoyed and where he was able to put his skills to use. Mark was a quiet man. No one could ever anger him or make him lose his patience. He had the biggest heart and if there was something he could do to help someone, he would. Mark was truly a jack... Full story
Betty Jane Reed, 89, of Automba Township passed away from Covid pneumonia on Nov. 6, 2022, at Essentia Hospital in Moose Lake. Betty Jane was born at home in Automba, Minnesota on Oct. 10, 1933, to Rev. Matt Reed and Edna Jarvenpaa Reed, the 12th of 13 children. Betty Jane was the last surviving child of that union. She attended Kalevala Elementary School and graduated from Barnum High School. As was the case with all the Reed children, she started her schooling at five years of age. Betty Jane... Full story
Janice E. Nelson, 78 of Duluth, passed away Friday, Nov. 18, 2022, at Diamond Willow Assisted Living in Proctor. She was born May 10, 1944, in Duluth, the daughter of Verner and Lucille (Anderson) Ostman. Janice attended school in Alborn and graduated from AlBrook High School. She married Ronald Nelson on April 14, 1962, and together they raised two children. Janice was the U.S. postmaster for 30 years in Canyon and Pine River, Minnesota, and an officer in the National Association of... Full story
James "Jim" Harold Tario, 70, of Cloquet passed away on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022, peacefully in his sleep at home. Jim was born July 10, 1952, in Cloquet to Harold and Marie Tario. He lived in Cloquet and Scanlon all his life and graduated from Cloquet High School in 1970. He attended Lake Superior College. Jim served in the U.S. Navy. Jim worked at SuperValu as the produce manager from 1977 to 1991 and then at Potlatch from 1991 to 2002 as a laborer. He was a member of the Navy VFW, and the Moose... Full story
Michael Clarence Erickson, 62, of rural Duluth died unexpectedly in his home on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022. He was born in Cloquet on June 30, 1960, to Clarence and Smila Erickson. Mike was a 1978 graduate of AlBrook High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1981. Mike was promoted to corporal within the first two years and proudly served in the Color Guard. He served his country for six years and was honorably discharged. He was a hard-worker all his life and worked most of his career as a foreman with Lakehead Constructors. After retiring,... Full story
