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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Plans for building a new fire and ambulance station in Cloquet are not new. But now there is a revived sense of urgency to the idea, following a Jan. 15 vote by the Cloquet Area Fire District board on its intent to issue $18.8 million in bonds while calling for a public hearing on a new facility, to be built on 13 acres of donated land off 22nd Road across the street from Sappi. Board members and CAFD chief Jesse Buhs say the hearing on Feb. 12 is hugely important. They want the community to...
A federal spending freeze pursued by President Donald Trump this week sent state and local governments scrambling to understand potential ramifications. The White House later paused the order after a judge suspended the freeze on trillions of dollars moments before it was set to begin. Still, state and local sources sought to get a handle on what a funding freeze could mean if it were allowed to proceed. The state receives $1.9 billion in federal funding every month, a news release from the governor’s office said. Democratic Gov. Tim Walz p...
An effort is underway to educate and gain public feedback on the planned elk restoration project for northeastern Minnesota. "We are thrilled to announce that, with the support of the Minnesota DNR, 1854 Treaty Authority, local governments, and other conservation partners, we are on track hoping to reintroduce the first elk to the area in the next year or two," said Mike Schrage, wildlife biologist for the Fond du Lac Band, in a news release. "The return of elk will not only enrich the cultural...
With two-and-a-half years of his four-year term behind him, Robert Abramowski resigned from the position of secretary/treasurer of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa last week, effective Friday, Jan. 31. He made the announcement at the Jan. 16 Reservation Business Committee open meeting for band members, saying he wants more time for other priorities in his life. RBC chairman Bruce Savage thanked Abramowski for his services and said the RBC will appoint Brookston representative Earl...
Decorated with major state awards and beloved for his leadership both in-house and across the public health sector, Dave Lee conducted his final all-staff meeting on Jan. 9. The roughly 150 employees in Carlton County Public Health and Human Services left him with a standing ovation. The 66-year-old director is retiring at the end of the month after 25 years with the county, with the last 20 in the department's top spot. "I have been director for 20 years," he said. "I feel like I have had my...
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...
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 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,...
The National Weather Service in Duluth has issued the following warning for Southern Lake, Carlton and South St. Louis counties, including the cities of Two Harbors, Duluth, and Silver Bay. * WHAT...Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations between 6 and 8 inches, with locally higher amounts in the higher terrain of Duluth. * WHERE...Carlton and South St. Louis and Southern Lake counties. This includes the Tribal Lands of the Fond du Lac Band. * WHEN...From midnight tonight to midnight CST Thursday Night. * IMPACTS...Travel could be very...
When the state afforded an additional $10 million to Carlton County in 2023 to help fund the new $75 million Justice Center, the money came with a stipulation. The project would include a justice-involved female program to serve as a demonstration project that might one day be replicated in other parts of the state. More women were being jailed and incarcerated, and lawmakers were sold on the idea of a creative solution to the problem. The 16-bed justice-involved female portion of the jail -...
Residents along a proposed bike and pedestrian trail were eagerly waiting for more information at two open houses this week explaining the project announced last month by the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. The branches from Carlton's Munger Trail to Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College and Black Bear Casino Resort would create 3.8 miles of connection to the popular trail that runs from Duluth to Hinckley. There were two open house sessions planned for Thursday at the college....
Every election season, candidates for county office talk about their desire to expand the tax base so that county expenses can be spread across a wider swath of property owners. Growth outpacing expenses would lower individual taxes, which have only risen in recent years. But those are campaign promises. Reality offers a more difficult picture. To learn more about how well Carlton County is positioned for growth, the Pine Knot met this week with one of the primary people responsible for it,...
Forty percent of the Carlton County board of commissioners turned over on Tuesday, with voters electing two newcomers to go along with the familiar face of an incumbent. "I appreciate the support from the district, it's been great," said 59-year-old Tom Proulx, the District 3 commissioner representing northeast Cloquet, from Scanlon to beyond Sunnyside. Proulx ran unopposed, and earned 97 percent of the general election vote (2,667 votes out of 2,725 cast), winning his seat for a fifth straight...
David F. Locke, 66, died in Tucson, Arizona on Oct. 9, 2024, from cancer and other causes. He was born in Duluth and grew up in Cloquet. He was an outgoing child and award-winning skier with the Cloquet ski team. After graduating from high school, David joined the U.S. Marines and did security duty. He was proud of his military service for the rest of his life. David and his siblings were adopted. He was born with fetal alcohol syndrome, which creates permanent brain damage when a woman...
The Pride Club at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College is excited to host Dr. Kat Werchouski (Red Cliff) at the Ruth A. Myers Library 6-7:30 P.M. Wednesday, Nov. 13. Werchouski will lead a brief presentation exploring the history, cultural significance, and modern perspectives on Two Spirit identity within Indigenous communities. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit https://fdltcc.edu/event/two-spirit-history-and-identity-with-dr-kat-werchouski/. "Two Spirit people served numerous critical roles in our...
Cloquet School Board members voted Monday against appointing a temporary replacement for Ken Scarbrough, who moved with his wife to North Dakota with less than three months left of his school board term. Superintendent Michael Cary said there was a former board member willing to serve the remainder of the term. He also explained there is a 30-day wait period for public comment, so even if the board had appointed a temporary member on Monday, they couldn’t be seated until Nov. 13, after the board’s first meeting that month. “So you would have...
DISTRICT 1: Sarah Buhs Briefly summarize your personal background and qualifications. As a lifelong Carlton County resident working in public safety, healthcare, and community service, I'm dedicated to community well-being. Leadership, resilience, and passion for public service drives my commitment to positively impacting Carlton County. Learn why I am determined to be a Carlton County District 1 Commissioner at sarahplantebuhs.com. What made you decide to run for Carlton County commissioner this year? I'm concerned about rising taxes and...
Issues that get farmers to devote a morning of discussion during harvest time must be important. Resolutions about the Cloquet Forestry Center, local milk processing, and County Extension programs drew a dozen busy agriculture practitioners to the annual meeting of the Carlton County chapter of the Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU). The group is comprised of specialists in livestock, dairy, vegetables, berries, and agritourism, as well as Carlton County director of development Ryan Pervenanze. Chair...
Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing. Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold. * WHAT...Sub-freezing temperatures as low as 30 expected. * WHERE...In Minnesota, Carlton, South St. Louis, Central St. Louis, North St. Louis,Northern Aitkin, Pine, Koochiching, North Itasca, South Itasca, Northern Cook and Lake, and Southern Cook Counties. In Wisconsin, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Sawyer, and Washburn Counties. This includes the Tribal Lands of the...
For now, the bright green sashes encircling city ash trees are there to identify them as vulnerable to emerald ash borer - not to mark them for imminent destruction. But destruction is coming, whether by a preemptive strike by a chainsaw or death over time due to the bright green invasive insect. "It means it's an ash tree, that's all," said public works director Caleb Peterson. "What we will end up doing is yet to be determined." Emerald ash borer (EAB) is an insect that attacks and kills ash...
Family and friends of Peter Martin continue their efforts to find their missing loved one. But as months have gone by, the number of those who gather on Sundays to search areas on the Fond du Lac reservation has dwindled. This week, looking for more tips and keeping the public aware that Martin remains a missing person case, those friends and family organized a walk along Big Lake Road west of Cloquet, where banners can be found with his picture, stating "Bring Peter Home." Kayla Jackson was...
The Fond du Lac Band’s Resource Management invites all community members to the Ganawenjigewin Maawanji’idiwin, or Taking Care of Things Gathering 1-6 p.m. today, Friday, Sept. 13. This event, dedicated to environmental stewardship, sustainability and holistic community wellness, will take place at the Fond du Lac Pow Wow Arbor, located behind the Fond du Lac Ojibwe School, 49 University Road in Cloquet. The gathering promises a fun-filled day for all ages. Highlights include information tables, diverse vendor booths, exciting raffle giv...
Carlton County's new home for its Sheriff's Office, courts and jail got its public unveiling last week. Too massive to cover behind a curtain, the new Carlton County Justice Center sat gleaming in front of the more than 100 guests who attended the outdoor grand opening. Among attendees Aug. 22 was Chief Justice Natalie Hudson of the Minnesota Supreme Court. She toured the facility, tripling up her "wows" when she walked into one of the three second-floor courtrooms. "Wow, wow, wow, this is...
The Big Drum has a new home. Friday morning, members of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and guests gathered for the opening of a new ceremonial hall, Gimanidoowichigemin Gwaaba'iganing, in Sawyer. It was built specifically to house the Big Drum. The drum is named Nimishomis, which translates to "my grandfather." The hall is new, but the drum and the songs and ceremonies that surround it are very old. Band member and Sawyer resident Vern Northrup said his great-great-grandfather...
Nichole Diver is running for Cloquet School Board as a write-in candidate, joining Melissa Siltanen Juntunen and LeAnn M. Butler in a race that will feature three open seats. As a write-in, Diver won't be listed on the ballot in November, while Juntunen and Butler will because they filed in advance of the election deadline. That means voters will need to remember Diver's name when they go to the polls or mail in a ballot. That shouldn't be an issue. Born and raised here, she is an enrolled Fond...
