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 37
A substantial hike to 2022 Cloquet Area Fire District taxes for ambulance-district-only properties only has Thomson Township residents in an uproar. Township chair Terry Hill is frustrated with the CAFD’s tax increase, feeling that the township has been “backed into a corner.” Residents feel that the nearly fourfold increase in the CAFD portion of their 2022 property taxes, without prior notification from CAFD, is too much for the services they are provided and unfair. Thus, the town board...
After placing Cloquet Area Fire District Chief Matt Ashmore on paid administrative leave last month, the CAFD board voted unanimously Monday to close its investigation of Ashmore "without findings" and subsequently accepted his resignation, effective the same day. The board then approved a separation agreement with Ashmore. All three votes followed a closed meeting that lasted nearly 45 minutes. The fire chief had been on leave since Nov. 11, when the board also met in closed session to discuss...
This latest photo from the Carlton County Historical Society may be just "interesting" rather than a mystery. The only information on the back of the picture is the likely location, "Scanlon." Do you recognize the landscape or the people? Send any information you may have, or other mysterious items that readers might be able to provide information on, to [email protected], with "History" in the subject line....
Cloquet City Councilors approved a 3.49-percent levy increase taxes payable in 2022, but with a market value increase of 4.49 percent, some Cloquet property owners could see a decrease in their city taxes next year. Rural Cloquet resident Eric Witeli would like to see his taxes decrease even more. Witeli was the only resident to address the council during Tuesday's Truth and Taxation hearing. The Brookston Road resident said he'd like to pay fewer taxes because he uses very few city services....
The Carlton school district is holding a public meeting on the proposed tuition agreement between Carlton and Cloquet. If the agreement is approved, Carlton could close its high school and send students in grades 9-12 to Cloquet next year without going through the open enrollment process. The Carlton meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 13 in the school library or small gym. Carlton school board members will likely vote on the proposal at their board meeting Dec. 20. Carlton students will also be able to enroll in other districts if they...
Lakehead Harvest will continue its holiday hayrides this weekend and next through the Lakehead Harvest property and woods 2 miles west of Midway on St. Louis River Road. No reservations are required, and cost is $6 per adult, free for children ages 12 and younger. In addition to the hayrides, there are also fire pits, a s’more shack, singalongs and an occasional appearance by Santa Claus (when he can make it). Concessions are available for purchase. The hayrides last about 10 minutes on a cold night, and closer to 18 when the temperatures are k...
Snow removal crews were out in Cloquet Monday in the West End on Avenue C after a weekend storm left a few inches on the ground across Carlton County, the first significant snowfall of the season. There were blizzard conditions farther north, with 12-18 inches reported along the North Shore and inland past Two Harbors. The Sunday snow was met with sub-zero temperatures Monday and Tuesday. There was some warming later in the week. Expect another warming trend this weekend with highs reaching...
Harold Ankrum is at it again, raising money for his favorite children’s hospital in novel ways. This time it’s Christmas trees. Cut your own tree or pick up a freshly cut tree, and donate what you can to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. To cut your own tree, visit Rod and Sue Holmes’ tree farm south of Wrenshall (3.3 miles south of County Road 4 (Military Road) on the west side of Minnesota State Highway 23 across from Fire #3030. Or pick up a freshly cut tree at Harold’s Service in Carlton....
The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs is continuing the tradition of decorating graves at veterans cemeteries with memorial wreaths. A nonprofit organization has led the effort in the past but is unable to do so this year. The fundraising goal is $100,000 for 6,500 decorated wreaths. See MinnesotaVeteran.org/Wreath for more....
Following their Thanksgiving successes, the Carlton County Disabled American Veterans chapter is taking over operations for the annual Christmas dinner from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Christmas Day. Because of the ongoing pandemic, the DAV will move its headquarters from Zion Lutheran Church to the Cloquet VFW at 210 Arch Street. They will offer sit-down dinners along with carryout or curbside pickup, with limited deliveries only to area senior high rise apartments). Call Zion at 218-879-4647 to volunteer or sign up for curbside pickup. Look for more...
The Knot Gallery's current exhibit features two area photographers whose subjects are all "out of doors." Colorful and majestic framed landscapes by retired Raiter Clinic physician Dan Malkovich hang along the multi-colored brick wall at the Pine Knot News office on Avenue C. Among his framed prints, we've interspersed Will Stenberg's remarkable wildlife photos, often intimate with flashes of movement. Last week, we held an opening for the two artists during the West End open house that helped k...
Ma & Pa Kettle Days, with strong support from the Kettle River area, organized the third annual Christmas tree lighting last weekend with a crowded Veterans Building as the site of a Christmas bazaar. This year the community Christmas tree location was moved to the front of the Vets Building just in front of the flagpole. The white spruce was donated by the Butkiewicz Family Farm in Split Rock Township. Twenty-plus feet in height, the tree was cut, hauled in, and put up with lights and star by...
It’s never fun to talk about money, but we must. After three years, the Pine Knot News has overhauled its subscription rates, making them simpler and, yes, a little pricier. Rising postal rates and inflation bear some of the blame. Growing pains are also part of it. We’ve gone from a minimum of 16 pages to a minimum of 20 pages per week. There are more and better stories and local advertising in the paper. Our small army of freelance writers and part-time employees is growing too. As an independent, locally owned newspaper, we are a rare breed....
I’m disappointed that our representative in Congress voted against the infrastructure bill last month. It seems to me it was a great bill for our region, but U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber didn’t agree and voted against it. It was a mistake. It’s not hard for people to guess my political persuasion, but I try to limit my criticism (and my effusive praise) for specific actions by our leaders, because hypocrisy is destroying politics in our country. So, I’ve been pretty silent on Pete Stauber, a very ni...
Michele Marie Johnson, 63, of Mahtowa passed away in the comfort of her home Nov. 30, 2021. She was born Oct. 11, 1958, in Hibbing to Nick and Ann (Forsman) Maras. Shelly was employed as a food service manager at various places and was beloved by her co-workers. She was passionate about her grandchildren: she had mailboxes for each one of them at her home, and the "Mail Bunny" always made sure she visited before the grandchildren arrived. Shelly attended her grandchildren's sporting events whene...
Lori F. Skog-Gourley, 62, of Cloquet, passed away unexpectedly Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, at her home, peacefully in her sleep. She was born April 12, 1959, in Minneapolis, the daughter of Alf "Ole" and Patricia (Mercer) Skog. Lori was a kind soul full of love for all around her. She cherished her time with her family, especially her grandchildren whom she adored. Lori loved gardening, camping, sewing, berry picking and making her own jam, traveling and spending time with friends. She was a member of...
Riley Jon Roe, 33, of Cloquet, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on Dec. 2, 2021, after a 10-year battle with bipolar disorder. Although mental illness did not define him, it played a big part in his day-to-day living. Riley was born in Cloquet on Aug. 14, 1988, to Cortland and Gretchen Roe. He attended many years of school in Carlton, and graduated with honors from Cloquet High School. He graduated from Fond du Lac Tribal Community College in 2019 with a degree in electric utility...
Judith Helen Burshten, 80, of Cloquet, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021, at St. Luke's Hospital in Duluth. She was born March 22, 1941, in St. Paul to Willard and Ruby Borst. She was a 1959 graduate of Richfield High School. She attended the Northwestern School of Nursing and was a licensed practical nurse at Northwestern Hospital. She retired as the school nurse from Little Black Bear Elementary School in Cloquet. She was a member of St. Matthews Lutheran Church in Esko and was the head...
Donald Ray Henninger, 91, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021. He was born in Barnum on April 27, 1930, to Ralph and Nora (Fall) Henninger. He grew up in the Nemadji area, where he attended Central School. At age 17, Don went to work for Diamond Match in Cloquet, where he became a 1st Class engineer. In 1949, Don married Carol Willey and they spent 72 wonderful years together. In 1965, they purchased a dairy farm outside of Mahtowa, where they spent the rest of their lives. They worked side by side building the farm while they raised four...
Marilyn A. Tvedt, 80, of Wrenshall passed away Dec. 7, 2021, at Community Memorial Hospital in Cloquet. She was born Sept. 11, 1941, in McGregor, the daughter of Helmer and Mabel (Patrick) Johnson. Marilyn graduated from McGregor High School and two years of X-ray technician training at the Duluth Clinic. She was united in marriage to Kenneth Tvedt on Jan. 20, 1962, at Zion Lutheran Church in Cloquet. Marilyn worked at the Duluth Clinic, and also for the Moose Lake State Hospital, later the Minn...
Martin Rediske, 64, of Cloquet passed away in St. Luke's Hospital Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. He was born in St. Paul on March 2, 1957 to Charles and Adeline Rediske. He was raised in Shoreview and graduated from Mounds View High School in 1975. Martin worked for Synagro for 30 years as a machine mech- anic and retired in 2020. He enjoyed golf, and collecting agates and old coins. Martin never left a friend behind, and always tried to lend a helping hand to anyone he knew. He was a very jovial man,...
Kaylah Hope Hietala, 23, of Duluth lost her batttle with addiction on Dec. 2, 2021. Visitation: 10 a.m. until the 11 a.m. memorial service Friday, Dec. 10 at Nelson Funeral Care in Cloquet. Robert Henry Botz, 89, of Cloquet died peacefully Nov. 27, 2021. A Celebration of Life will be held in the spring. Ronald Edward Laminen, 86, of Carlton died Dec. 5, 2021 at Inter-Faith Care. Memorial service: 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 16 at Inter-Faith Care Center. Arrangements by Whispering Pines Funeral & Cremation Service....
Editor's note: Each year, on the anniversary of the Dec. 7, 1941 Pearl Harbor attack, the Pine Knot News checked in with Don. We were saddened to find out he passed away in August, and want to share his obituary with readers. Below is a 2019 Pine Knot story on Don and his day in the middle of history. Some memories never fade. Don Long remembers the morning of Dec. 7, 1941 like it was yesterday. The Barnum High School 1939 grad had been at Kaneohe Bay Naval Air Station in Hawaii for about only...
Barnum native and Pearl Harbor veteran Don Long passed away peacefully on August 16, 2021, in his home in Napa. He was born on June 22, 1921, the eldest son of Anna and Bert Long, in St. Cloud and was preceded in death by his brothers Jack, Ken and Dick, his sisters Joan and Gladys and his wife of 64 years, Madeline Long. Don was 100 years old, a member of the "greatest generation," and enjoyed many events celebrating WWII veterans during the last decade of his life, including being honored in t...
The snow came a day late but holiday spirits were high during the annual Santa's Home for the Holidays events last weekend in Cloquet. Whether enjoying stories by Mrs. Claus, eating s'mores, singing or watching the parades, people were actually eager for fun. They were shopping too. Allison Jerde, coordinator of the Holiday Expo at Churchill Elementary School, said they had a steady stream of people visiting the 126 vendor booths there. "I think it was successful for what's going on right now,"...
