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 40
"You don't think something will happen that fast," said Chad Laine. He explains how quickly his brother's Covid-19 infection progressed from something Connor was hoping he could sleep off in a few days to the 24-year-old not being able to breathe properly. Both Connor and his mother, Karen Laine, died last month from Covid: Karen on Friday, Nov. 12 and Connor three days later, on Nov. 15. The world lost two wonderful, kind and caring people, said Bernie, Karen's husband of 25 years. Both of...
There is drama in the Cloquet Area Fire District. The status of the fire chief is uncertain, and recent board meetings have included debates over a large tax increase for ambulance district residents (and the resignation of one board member as a result). Matt Ashmore, who was hired to lead the district in November 2020, was placed on paid administrative leave Nov. 11, while the board investigates claims against him, at least some of them regarding failure to follow Covid protocols established by...
The Carlton County Historical Society is looking for any information on the above photo, found in its archives. Note the bus, the flags and the "Hotel" sign. Send your information to [email protected] with "History" in the subject line....
The Carlton County Board of Commissioners examined a model jail cell as part of a regular meeting on Nov. 22. The board met in the Carlton County Transportation building and a jail cell was mounted on a truck and brought to the garage there from the manufacturer in Huron, South Dakota. The cell featured bunks for two offenders, a small shower, a toilet and shelves for hygiene supplies and seating. Buddy Johns, a representative of the manufacturer, Coastal Detention Holdings, said the cells are...
A Cloquet area man who accidentally shot his friend almost a year ago pleaded guilty last week to second-degree manslaughter. Joseph James Fohrenkam, 19, pleaded guilty in Duluth Sixth District Court Monday, Nov. 22, to the manslaughter charge. The maximum imprisonment for second-degree manslaughter is 10 years, with a minimum of 36 months. Fohrenkam signed off on the plea knowing that the prosecution is seeking an aggravated sentence of 84 months, or seven years. A charge of third-degree murder — with a maximum sentence of 25 years — will be...
Esko school board members elected interim officers last week, the result of board chair Jeff Salo stepping down from his leadership position. Salo’s action came after a long apology, for a verbal exchange with an Esko student athlete after a football game. Jerry Frederick is the interim board chair, Todd Rengo will serve as vice chair and Steve McConnell the interim clerk. The board will elect new officers at the organizational meeting on Jan. 10, to serve for the following year. Board members got good news following the audit for the fiscal y...
After a series of impassioned pleas from parents this fall to end the current mask requirement at Cloquet schools - which applies to all grades during the school day -the school board will have a police officer at meetings and will do more to inform the public how the comment period works at meetings. After police were called during the Nov. 22 meeting, superintendent Michael Cary suggested that the board move its public comments portion of meetings into what is called the "working session"...
Talks about a tuition agreement that would allow Carlton to close its high school and send students in grades 9-12 to Cloquet are moving toward action. On Monday, committee members representing both school boards met in Cloquet. They touched on minor changes to the evolving tuition agreement. Both sides agreed that they were comfortable with the agreement, which outlines both student enrollment and financial arrangements between the districts. The next step is to send the final documents to the...
Changes are underway for the city of Barnum. A new building houses the Barnum Municipal Liquor Store, a spacious event center and the city offices. The 100-year-old Barnum Community Center - once the Legion Hall - was demolished last week. The brick structure that once housed the city offices and the municipal liquor store is also slated for demolition. It has been a long process to bring the new building to completion. Discussions about a new structure that would fit within the city's $2 million budget began in 2019. As preparations were made...
It’s time for the fifth annual Deck the WrensHALLs lighting contest. Make your own amazing light display and enter the community contest for best lighting display. Forms are available at the Wrenshall General Store. Others can compete in the regional contest by going to christmas lightingchallenge.com by Sunday, Dec. 5....
The Cloquet/Carlton Housing & Redevelopment Authority hired Trish Stanius as the new coordinator of Section 8/Housing Choice voucher program. HRA executive director Debra Shaff said Stanius understands the challenges low-income households may have gaining access to and maintaining affordable housing while supporting property owners and managers who provide opportunities....
Join Cloquet schools superintendent Michael Cary, along with some school board members and administration for conversation from 9-10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 6 at the Warming House, 411 Sunnyside Drive, Cloquet. The meetings are being held monthly at different coffee shops in Cloquet and are a way to have a two-way discussion with school officials....
Barry Michael Hintz, 66, of Esko passed away Nov. 19, 2021. A native of Cloquet, he was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Dickison Hintz, and his parents, William Marlin Hintz and Dolores Tuura Anderson. Barry worked for Potlatch-Sappi for more than 20 years, and was a lifelong member of the union, serving as vice president for many years. In his spare time, he enjoyed muskie fishing and spending time at his shack on the St. Louis River. He is survived by his loving son, Jordan Hintz, and his...
Karisa Kay Disberry, née Waltjer, 37, of Cloquet passed away Nov. 20, 2021 in St. Luke’s Hospital in Duluth. Services were held Nov. 27 in River of Life Church, Cloquet. Michele Marie Johnson, 63, of Mahtowa passed away Nov. 30, 2021. Celebration of Life: 4-7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 6 at Nelson Funeral Care, Cloquet. In lieu of flowers, please plant a tree or bulbs in honor of Shelly....
This week’s snow reminded us that it’s time to shift into winter mode. That means we need to wear our hats and mittens, get out our brooms and shovels, and keep our cars off the streets at night. From Nov. 1 until March 31, in Cloquet, cars cannot be parked on the streets or in alleys between midnight and 6 a.m. In Esko, it’s prohibited between 4 and 7 a.m., and in Carlton, the hours are 3 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...
We live like royalty in America. We have stores full of food and trinkets. We work only 40 hours a week. Some people work even less and some of us choose to work more. Nearly everyone has indoor bathrooms and heated houses, and, when we turn on the faucet, day or night, water comes out. Clean, drinkable water. No one has to hike to the nearest well and bring a bucket of water home. Our lights turn on when we flick a switch and our sewage flows away from our homes in enclosed pipes to a...
Armas John Laine, 87, of Wyoming, Minnesota, formerly of Cloquet, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021, in his home. He was born Oct. 21, 1934, in Grand Rapids to John and Mary Ellen (Pajuola) Laine. Armas served in the U.S. Army from 1955 to 1957. On April 26, 1961, he married Shirley Heittola. Armas worked at Duluth Dock and Transport for six years. He also worked at Lundin Construction as a truck driver, crusher and heavy equipment operator until his retirement. Armas enjoyed playing the...
Patrick Calvin Dahl, 68, of Wright passed away Friday, Nov. 26, 2021, in his home. He was born March 13, 1953, in Grand Rapids, Minnesota to Lawrence and Dorothy Dahl. He graduated from Cromwell High School in 1972. On June 21, 1991, Patrick married Jill Rezac in Faribault. Patrick worked at the peat plant in Cromwell for a couple of years. He then worked at Conwed, later known as USG, in Cloquet as an operator/forklift driver, and ran a line for more than 40 years until his retirement. He...
Robert F. Cummins, 76, lifelong resident of Barnum, passed away at home Nov. 27, 2021, surrounded by his family. Bob was born Nov. 21, 1945, to Clyde and Myrtle (Sortedahl) Cummins. Bob worked for Minnesota Power in sales and customer service in Duluth, Cloquet, and Sandstone until 1998. He also worked for All Season Heating & Cooling of Carlton and Carrier. Bob was a member of Jesus Center Church of Barnum. One of his many hobbies included making "Bound by Faith" crosses - he gave more than...
Laurie Jean Sparks, 62, of Wrenshall passed away Monday, Nov. 22, 2021. She was born Dec. 22, 1958 in Duluth to Gerald and Barbara Cook. She was raised on Lawrence Road in Cloquet and attended Cloquet Schools, graduating in 1977. Laurie married William Sparks on Sept. 19, 1998 in Carlton. Laurie received her associate's degree from Lake Superior College in Duluth. She worked as a commercial loan processor at Members Cooperative Credit Union in both Cloquet and Duluth and at Park State Bank in...
Mary Kathryn "Kathy" Millen of Cloquet passed away Nov. 29, 2021, in her home surrounded by family. She was born Nov. 30, 1940, in Cloquet to Joseph August and Laura Vivian (Arthur) Meisner. Kathy was a lifelong resident of Cloquet and graduated from Cloquet Senior High in 1958. Kathy married her high school sweetheart Richard "Dick" Millen on Jan. 21, 1961. She worked for Northwest Paper Company, which later became Potlatch Corporation, and eventually worked for the Duluth & Northeastern...
Gerald Thomas "Jiggs" La Breche was born May 1, 1932, in Cloquet and passed away Nov. 17, 2021, in Floodwood. He was better known to his family and friends as "Jiggs." His parents were Edward and Evaline La Breche. Jiggs grew up in Cloquet, along with his two brothers and one sister. He graduated from the Catholic Sacred Heart school, the Cloquet high school and University of Minnesota Duluth. He served in the U.S. Army and played on the Army golf team. Jiggs was a high school teacher; he...
The Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts has named Burnell Peterson and Ann Carlander from the Wrenshall area as one of eight finalists in the 2021 Outstanding Conservationist Award program. They will be recognized at a Dec. 14 luncheon at the association's 85th annual state convention in Bloomington. The awards program recognizes farm families, individuals, conservation organizations, and other groups for their accomplishments in implementing conservation practices...
For the first time, the Superior National Forest has a full-time tribal liaison. Juan Martinez coordinates communication between the national forest and the three Ojibwe bands in northeastern Minnesota - the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa, the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, and the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. The bands occupied the nearly 4 million acres that now make up the Superior National Forest long before the federal government acquired it, and they maintain...
Over the last two years, my rural Wrenshall neighbor Burnell Peterson has built a cabin entirely of wood from trees he planted on his property 40 years ago. Peterson is quick to give Kelly Smith credit for the genesis of the project. “If it hadn’t been for Kelly, those red pine would still be standing,” he said. Two years ago, he reached out to Smith, who serves as a forestry technician at the Carlton County Soil and Water Conservation District, for assistance with planting a native pollinator h...
