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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The filing period for school board, cities (except Cloquet) and township positions opens Tuesday, July 28, for residents looking to serve by leading at the most local levels. The filing period runs through 5 p.m. Aug. 11. In most cases, the filing fee is $2. Applicants can generally pick up an application and/or file at school, city or township offices, although people should call ahead for hours because of pandemic protocols. The general election is Nov. 3. Following is a list of school board,...
In the six years since a housing study showed a need for lots of new housing in Cloquet and Scanlon, there's been what amounts to an apartment building boom. That was the goal, said Cloquet Community Development director Holly Hansen. Seeing how many housing units the two cities needed - 260 rentals, 240 owned units - caught people's attention. And things started happening. "It stimulated major conversation with lots of boards like the EDAs (economic development agencies, city councils, Carlton...
Former Carlton County attorney Thom Pertler is facing possible disciplinary action regarding unprofessional conduct during his tenure with the county. Susan Humiston, the director of the Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility, filed a petition for disciplinary action with the Minnesota Supreme Court on July 6. The complaint centers around Pertler's failure to follow through with duties to disclose all exculpatory evidence (favorable to defendants), specifically by not disclosing miscon-...
Minnesota is holding primary elections for various offices on Tuesday, Aug. 11. In Carlton County there’s not a lot of action: voters will narrow the field for Cloquet City Council Ward 5 and County Commissioner District 5. In addition, there are partisan elections for the U.S. Senate and U.S. House. Considering the potential for spreading the coronavirus, coupled with the nervousness of many — especially seniors and others more vulnerable to the virus — we encourage people to vote absentee. While the question of the virus’ potential to caus...
While the Duluth City Council will vote on a proposal Monday to require people to wear masks in public spaces and gatherings, the Cloquet City Council isn’t quite ready to take that step. Mayor Roger Maki broached the idea during a council discussion of ongoing pandemic measures by the city to limit the spread of COVID-19. Maki pointed out that it’s a popular discussion point right now, with cities like Rochester, Mankato and Edina implementing requirements for face coverings recently. Additiona...
As construction workers put finishing touches on the extension at the Cloquet Public Library, donations to help pay for furnishing the new meeting rooms, teen room and children's area continue to come in. On June 25, representatives from Northwoods Credit Union and its board dropped by for a peek of the new facility and the large meeting room that will bear its name. They brought a larger-than-life check for $40,000 with them, with the promise of another $40,000 to follow over the next four...
Pope Francis has appointed Father Michel J. Mulloy, from the Diocese of Rapid City, South Dakota, to be the 10th bishop of the Diocese of Duluth, it was announced June 19. Bishop-elect Mulloy was born May 20, 1953, in Mobridge, South Dakota, and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Sioux Falls in 1979. He served parishes in both the Sioux Falls and Rapid City dioceses before being incardinated formally in the Rapid City diocese in 1986. He has spent most of his ministry serving in parishes...
Although a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by a former Cloquet police officer against Carlton County Attorney Lauri Ketola and Carlton County earlier this month, the lawsuit is not entirely dead. Claims against Cloquet City Council member Kerry Kolodge, the city of Cloquet, and Ketola in a past role on Cloquet’s Citizen Advisory Board — which works with the police department on hirings, firings and disciplinary matters — are still in play. The civil lawsuit was filed by Scott Holman and...
The minute that former Cloquet police chief Wade Lamirande saw the video of George Floyd dying under the knee of a white police officer in Minneapolis, he knew it would blow up in a big way, with good reason. It was the antithesis of everything they teach in the law enforcement program at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College, where Lamirande is the program coordinator. He makes that clear in the very first interview with a prospective law enforcement student. "I tell new students coming...
A few years ago, Cloquet commissioned a police study, which recommended significant changes to the department. A new chief was hired to implement the changes, among other things. Long story short, resistance in the department was so high, the chief ended up resigning. What makes us think we are going to have any real success in reforming police departments around the country, when simple organizational and procedural changes are rejected by the police force? With the recent demands for police...
After far too many excursions to local stores where I observe the low level of mask wearing and social distancing, I’m convinced that voluntary measures aren’t working, and that we’ll be facing a significant shutdown of our society and economy well into next year or beyond. This country is already one of the worst globally in regard to increased COVID-19 cases. Therefore, I want to propose that the Cloquet City Council pass a measure to require wearing masks in all indoor public spaces within the city. The science on the effectiveness of mask...
The dehumidification system in the city’s Northwoods hockey arena — considered too small for the facility for years — is finally being replaced. Cloquet city councilors unanimously approved a bid for $275,080 to replace the existing dehumidification system with an appropriately sized unit this summer, paid for with funds from the half-cent sales tax. The bid came in almost $75,000 below the engineer’s estimate. The council did not approve a second bid to construct stairs and safety rails t...
I don’t know where my brain has been lately, but I just found out that Father’s Day is June 21, not last Sunday. Oh, well, it means twice the good wishes for all you fathers out there. I also know that there will probably be no class reunions this summer. The Class of 1961 will not gather this year, but members hope to make some bigger plans for the 60th reunion next year. I want to wish all our area classes a great summer, even if you can’t gather for your significant reunions. There doesn...
Geese honked in unison overhead. Then, after they passed over, the few of the formation's stragglers gave fading squawks individually. Birds chirped from newly flowered fauna. There were the whirs and clicks from media photographers and rumblings of traffic on an overcast and, when the breeze kicked up, chilly late Saturday afternoon. The small clock tower at Cloquet City Hall showed 6 p.m. Now there was the shuffling of feet, some of the more than 60 bodies here repositioning on the asphalt...
It’s probably too late now, but I wish the City of Cloquet had decided to open “The Beach” at Pinehurst Park this summer. The city council agreed with the leanings of the parks commission and city staff that opening the pool this year just wasn’t feasible due to the COVID-19 restrictions, the late start date, and the concern that the pool may be overrun by swimmers who couldn’t get into other beaches. I can appreciate those concerns, and it’s always easy to criticize a decision after it’s...
After months of searching and almost an entire day of interviews, Cloquet has a new, yet familiar, police chief. Following a nationwide search, Cloquet city councilors voted 6-1 Tuesday to hire interim police chief Derek Randall as the permanent police chief. A panel of nine community members interviewed the three finalist candidates Tuesday morning, then the council conducted interviews via teleconference in the afternoon. Candidates included Troy Bacon, police chief in Franklin, Indiana, Eric...
Add July Fourth festivities in Cloquet and the swimming pond at Pinehurst Park to the list of cancellations caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Cloquet City Councilors voted unanimously Tuesday to cancel all of the usual July Fourth activities, including the fireworks. The committee that organizes the event had hoped they could still offer the fireworks, and ask people to watch from cars or other uncrowded locations, but it wasn't to be. City administrator Tim Peterson requested the council not...
The swimming pond at Pinehurst Park is another pandemic casualty, city staff and councilors determined during Tuesday's Cloquet city council meeting. Although there was no formal vote, councilors agreed with a staff assessment and the Cloquet parks commission that the The Beach at Pinehurst would not open this year. Public works director Caleb Peterson said it would take staff two weeks to fill the pond and balance the chemicals to start. Add a late start to the state's current prohibition...
The filing period for local political offices ended Tuesday, June 2 and there are both new and familiar faces in the mix. At the state level, incumbent Mike Sundin (DFL) will face challenger Jeff Dotseth (R) again in the general election for State Representative District 11A. For State Senator District 11, incumbent Jason Rarick (R) will face challenger Michelle Lee (DFL). For Carlton county commissioner, incumbent Dick Brenner will be challenged by Erik Blesener, while District 3 commissioner Tom Proulx is running unopposed. Three people are...
After closing public access to city facilities since March, the City of Cloquet is opening back up, one step at a time. City parks reopened last week, with cautionary signs posted to let residents know that playgrounds aren’t sanitized and park users (including the skatepark and basketball court) should follow social distancing recommendations. Pinehurst Pond and indoor rental space remain closed at this time. The library also reopened for staff but is offering curbside pickup of material. To request materials, call 218-879-1531 or emailing c...
After more than a year's wait, two Carlton County departments are being moved from the Courthouse to the former city hall building in Cloquet. At the regular meeting Tuesday, May 26, the Carlton County board of commissioners unanimously approved moving the Economic Development office and the county coordinator/human resources/property management office led by Dennis Genereau to the old City Hall office space at the corner of Cloquet Avenue and 14th Street. "This is a first step," Genereau said....
The Cloquet City Council will hold a special meeting at 3 p.m. Tuesday, June 2 via teleconference, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes Section 13D.021 in response to the COVID-19 emergency, to conduct Police Chief interviews. To submit a question or comment regarding the interviews, email [email protected] prior to the meeting and include “Police Chief Interviews” in the subject line, along with your name and address. All comments are considered public data....
There are three Cloquet city council positions up for election: Ward 4, Ward 5 and At-Large. Because Cloquet City Hall is currently closed to the public, affidavits of candidacy will be accepted by appointment and curbside, Monday through Friday between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Make an appointment by calling 218-655-1501 or emailing either [email protected] or [email protected]. The filing period ends at 5 p.m. on June 2....
After months of searching and almost an entire day of interviews, Cloquet has a new but not-so-new police chief. Cloquet city councilors voted 6-1 to hire interim police chief Derek Randall as their permanent police chief following a nationwide search. A panel of nine community members interviewed the three finalist candidates Tuesday morning, then the council conducted interviews via teleconference in the afternoon. Candidates included Randall along with Troy Bacon, the police chief in Franklin, Indiana, and Eric Klang, police chief in Pequot...
After more than a year in limbo, Cloquet is closing in on getting a permanent police chief. Three of five police chief candidates made it through to the finalist round following a brief discussion during Tuesday’s Cloquet city council meeting. One of the five had already dropped out for personal reasons. Interim Cloquet police chief Derek Randall is in the running for the position, along with Troy Bacon of Indiana, and Eric Klang of Pequot Lakes, Minnesota. Klang started his law enforcement c...
