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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Two familiar faces are among the six candidates set to interview for a spot on Cloquet's school board later this month. Cloquet public schools leaders on Monday, Dec. 9, agreed to interview Brendon McKeon, Robert Peacock, Nate Sandman, Jason Loons, Shaun Williams and Ted Lammi next week. Each hopes to replace Sarah Buhs, a board member who resigned effective in January after she was elected to the Carlton County board of commissioners in November. The current board members agreed to meet...
Greg White describes himself as a father, husband, firefighter, outdoorsman and mental health advocate. Now the Cloquet Area Fire District firefighter can add the title of "champ" to the list, after being crowned winner of the 'Stache Salt moustache competition and title of "2024 Saltiest 'Stache of the Year" last week. Sponsored by 'Stache Salt, the monthlong online competition included a number of judges challenges to get to the Top 10. From that point, it was a popularity contest, with the to...
Nearly 50 Thomson Township residents crowded into the town hall Thursday, Dec. 5, worried the board of supervisors was going to address the long-delayed private roads and shared driveway resolutions. In the end, board chairwoman Ruth Janke addressed the issue only once — at the start of the meeting — and that was to tell residents they were misled by a social media post. The controversial resolutions were not on the agenda and wouldn’t be discussed. An update to the township’s road policy and engineering guidelines that was on the agenda under...
A man was rescued and later charged with driving while intoxicated Monday after his vehicle was submerged in the St. Louis River in Scanlon. A 35-year-old man from Ironwood, Michigan was arrested by the Cloquet Police after being medically cleared from the local hospital. At 10:30 p.m. Monday, first responders were dispatched to a vehicle that went into the river off River Gate Avenue, past the River Inn and Minnesota Whitewater Rafting businesses, CAFD battalion chief Jason Maki said in a...
The city of Carlton was expected to adopt a 4.01-percent levy increase following its Truth in Taxation hearing Dec. 4. The taxable levy on the city’s $1.81 million budget for 2025 rose to $516,367, up from $496,457 in 2024, accounting for the 4-percent increase. The city council met Dec. 5 for a special meeting aimed at finalizing the numbers prior to this week’s hearing. “We went through it line by line to see where we can make changes and save money,” mayor Mike Soderstrom said following the Dec. 5 meeting. “People can ask themselve...
The Cloquet Area Fire District’s 2025 budget has climbed and its proposed levy, which garnered three “no” votes from board members in September, remains unchanged. The district board presented this information at its annual truth-in-taxation meeting at which two residents participated Dec. 5. The state-mandated meeting allows for public comment ahead of levy approval. The total that could be levied on the combined fire and ambulance service areas at the board’s upcoming Dec. 18 meeting is $4,334,394. The amount individual residents pay may dif...
Only three members of the public spoke at Wednesday’s Truth in Taxation hearing conducted by the Carlton County board and administration. While small in number, the three speakers seemed to carry the concerns of a broad swath of citizens. Namely, why do taxes keep going up? “If I don’t have enough money, I don’t go to my employer with a levy,” said Cody Gilbert, 43, of Moose Lake, who reported his property taxes have doubled in the seven years since he’s owned his home. Gilbert was comparing how the levy on property owners is used to balance ju...
The Minnesota Department of Transportation is accepting snowplow names for the agency’s fifth “Name a Snowplow” contest. Past winners have included names like Taylor Drift, Plowy McPlowFace, and The Big Leplowski. MnDOT encourages people to submit their most witty, unique and Minnesota or winter-themed snowplow name ideas through the agency’s website. Submissions will be accepted through noon on Friday, Dec. 20. MnDOT has a few basic rules: • Each person may only submit only one name. • Submissions are limited to no more than 30 characters...
Starting this upcoming tax filing season, renters eligible for a property tax refund will now claim the new Renter’s Credit on their Minnesota Individual Income Tax return. To claim the Renter’s Credit, renters must file a state income tax return (Form M1). For most renters claiming a property tax refund, this means they will no longer file a separate Property Tax Refund return and will not receive a separate refund later in the year. The Renter’s Credit will be part of their income tax refund amount, be applied to the amount owed on their...
At their working session Monday night, the Carlton school board acknowledged and formed a response to a letter from Wrenshall asking for continued discussion of a possible merger. The letter from Wrenshall, dated Nov. 12, had only one sentence which contained 15 words: “We are ready to meet to discuss consolidation between Wrenshall and Carlton when you are.” It was signed by all six members of the Wrenshall school board. Board member Sue Karp, who has two years left to go on her term, thought the superintendents needed to be involved in any...
With no comment from the public or school board members, a 2025 levy increase was approved in Wrenshall Tuesday in a Truth in Taxation hearing before the regular school board meeting. Superintendent Jeff Pesta called the budgeting in the district the past four years a solid path for the district. Next year’s levy is “staying close to home,” he said, and the better news is that the district’s fund balance is increasing: $506,000 in 2023 to $800,000 in 2024, Pesta said. Better financial shape means the district can look for ways to improve...
The Arrowhead Regional Arts Council announced the winners of its 2025 Arrowhead Arts Awards, which includes two artists from Cloquet, Karen Savage-Blue and Giizh ("Sarah") Agaton Howes. Savage-Blue, Agaton Howes and artist Joan Farnam will be celebrated at a ceremony in the spring. The awards honor "outstanding contributions to the arts in the Arrowhead region, showcasing the exceptional talent and dedication that enriches our region." Savage-Blue received the George Morrison Artist Award,...
Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College celebrated its updated commons and amphitheater area on Dec. 4. The event included speeches from FDLTCC president Anita Hanson and Title III coordinator Jeffrey Tibbetts. Renovations in the area started in May and concluded in late November. The refurbished area features a terrazzo design starting at the main entrance and connecting with the terrazzo floor in the building's south wing featuring the college's five core values, a project completed in 2019....
This past Sunday I attended my church, which sits 15 feet up a scrub tree overlooking a plot of turnips and clover. The bustle and commitments of the week slowly dissipated as the hours crept, the snow and sleet turned sideways attacking my perch. I sat resolute — a shot at a late-season whitetail would be my only reprieve. Tucked in for the long hall, my mind turned to a great loss. This past week, a patriarch of the Baker family, Uncle Earl, passed away. I sat saddened that I would never h...
Earl William Baker, 91, passed away in the presence of family on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, at Diamond Willow Assisted Living in Cloquet. He was born March 10, 1933, to George and Mable (Piquette) Baker in Duluth. He was raised in the Gary New Duluth area, and forged a close bond with his six siblings that remained strong throughout their lives. Family was very important to him. Earl served his country with the U.S. Army, and was stationed in Korea. Earl married Sharon Lafontaine on July 27, 1957....
I swear I didn’t run for state representative just to get out of writing for the Pine Knot News this past year. In fact, I’m pleased Jana, the editor, asked me to start writing “Harry’s Gang” again. It’s nice to be back. It’s also nice to know that I was right. Just after the election, we heard the state is facing a possible budget deficit in two years of nearly $6 billion. That’s precisely the amount I had been advocating that we save from the $18 billion budget surplus of a couple years ago. A...
Congratulations to directors Jodi Hodgson and Joel Soukkala, and the entire cast and crew of County Seat Theater Company’s recent production of “A Goblins’ Christmas Carol.” For several years I have been meaning to attend a show at County Seat Theater, but it has never worked out. I was fortunate enough to be in the audience on Saturday, Dec. 7 and was very impressed with all elements of the show. The staging was smooth and seamless. The scenery, lighting, makeup, and costumes were very well done. It was also great to see the wide range o...
Tension and emotions ran high when the Cloquet-Esko- Carlton boys hockey team hosted East Grand Forks at Northwoods Credit Union Arena Saturday. Eventually, the No. 3 ranked Lumberjacks were able to secure a wild and thrilling 4-3 win over the No. 7 ranked Green Wave. "We got the great start we were looking for, and then we started going to the penalty box and the flow of the game changed," said CEC coach Shea Walters. CEC took a 1-0 lead just 1:40 into the game when Neil Elsmore slammed home a...
Thursday, Dec. 5 Boys Basketball Barnum 68 Hinckley-Finlayson 32 Bayfield 104 Fond du Lac 90 Cherry 96 South Ridge 45 Girls Basketball Northwoods 32 Carlton/Wrenshall 30 ML/WR 58 Hinckley-Finlayson 44 Cromwell-Wright 79 McGregor 17 Boys Hockey Moose Lake Area 6 WSFLG (Wisconsin) 5 Girls Hockey CEC 5 Hibbing/Chisholm 1 Superior 4 Moose Lake Area 2 Friday, Dec. 6 Boys Basketball Esko 86 Cloquet 69 Northwoods 80 Carlton/Wrenshall 48 Cromwell-Wright 73 McGregor 45 Girls Basketball Moose Lake Area 4 St. Paul Highland Park 1 Saturday, Dec. 7 Boys...
A quick start for the Esko boys basketball team was the perfect recipe for an 86-69 win over the Cloquet Lumberjacks last Friday night in Esko. "We were ready to go from the start," said Esko coach Derek Anderson. "We talk to the guys about the fact that the outside perception of our team is that we will be down this year, but our expectations are the same as they've always been, and that's to win a section championship and get to State." Esko scored quickly and often on their way to grabbing a...
Despite outshooting the Duluth Northern Stars by more than a 2-1 margin, the Cloquet-Esko-Carlton girls hockey team fell in overtime Tuesday night at Northwoods Credit Union Arena. Gracyn Schipper scored 11 seconds into the 8-minute overtime to give the Northern Stars a 2-1 victory over the Lumberjacks, her second goal of the game with both assists coming from Bailey Theis. The 'Jacks outshot Duluth by a margin of 33-16 for the night. Stars goaltender Aailli Anttila stopped 32 of the 33 shots...
The Minnesota Wilderness had its best offensive output of the season in a weekend sweep of the Janesville Jets. The Wilderness combined for 12 goals over the two-game series, with a 5-1 victory Friday and 7-2 win Saturday. Jakeb Lynch led Minnesota with seven points, combining for two goals and five assists over the weekend. This marks Minnesota’s second road sweep of the season and extends its winning streak to three games. After Janesville opened the scoring Friday night, the Wilderness responded with five straight goals. Sullivan Miller n...
There’s not much time left now before Christmas, so please try to take part in some of the following events around our area. The students at the school will be celebrating Jolly Days next week. Each day the kids will wear designated outfits. Monday, Dec. 16 is Merry Morning, Holiday Pajamas day; Tuesday is Elf Yourself, dress like one of Santa’s helpers day; Wednesday is Christmas Spirit colors day; Thursday is Ugly Sweater day; and Friday is Dress Your Best day. Hope all the people at sch...
Richard Milton Chabot, 69, of Cloquet passed away on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, at Aspirus St. Luke’s Hospital in Duluth. He was born March 5, 1955, to Milton and Joyce (Thul) Chabot in Cloquet. Rick married Barb Hunt in June of 2000. The couple built their home and settled into married life. Over their years together they enjoyed traveling, and made many memories on their trips. Rick operated his own business, Chabot Construction, and later worked out of the Carpenters Union. After retiring, he w...
At the end of harvest, when "All is safely gathered in, ere the winter storms begin," farmers gather to compare notes before their attention is captured by the holidays. Traditionally, the two largest Minnesota organizations, Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) and Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF), hold their annual conventions in Minneapolis on the weekend before Thanksgiving. Each assembly hears reports, welcomes guest speakers, and votes for delegates to their national affiliates....
