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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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...
According to the National Weather Service, dangerous wind chills are forecast Sunday night into Tuesday, Jan. 19-21. Sunday and Monday's high is forecast at minus 8, with lows around 19 and 17 degrees below zero. Wind chills will approach 30 to 45 below zero. People exposed to extreme cold are susceptible to frostbite and can succumb to hypothermia in a matter of minutes. Areas most prone to frostbite are uncovered skin and the extremities, such as hands and feet. Hypothermia occurs when the...
A sort of musical chairs has come to the region’s schools this year as several open superintendent positions are scheduled to be filled in the coming days and months. Barnum, Moose Lake and Wrenshall, along with nearby McGregor and Proctor, are all in the market for new leaders atop their district administrations. Wrenshall appears closest to filling its superintendent post, scheduling a round of community-led interviews next week after the school board narrowed its candidate list to two on Monday. “We’re currently out ahead of those other sear...
Cloquet city councilor and local funny guy Warren "Bun" Carlson passed away Sunday, Jan. 12, from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a genetic heart disease. In his second term on the council, Carlson was first elected to the Ward 1 seat in November 2018. Well known for his involvement in local hockey programs - as player, coach and radio personality - Carlson easily won reelection in 2022. Carlson grew up playing hockey in Cloquet, graduating from Cloquet Senior High in 1974. He served as senior clas...
A good-sized crowd turned out for Monday's open house highlighting Esko high school's new flexible learning space for juniors and seniors, a place students can gather to study for their various College in the Schools classes. Guests at the open house got a bonus on Monday: free samples of coffee from the new student-run Kahvia Coffee shop opening soon inside the learning center. Kahvia means coffee in Finnish, and is a little more straightforward than Esko's "sisu" motto (which has no direct tra...
“With hope waning, horse is found,” was a heartwarming story, written by Wendy Rockvam Johnson, about the disappearance, search and recovery — after two long months — of my horse, Taz. It was published in the Pine Knot News on Dec. 6. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all the people, many unknown to me, who helped by posting flyers and/or participating in our search: on foot, on horseback, online and on ATV. When we brought him home, Taz was grossly underweight, dehydrated and with an injury, so following the advice of my vet, I ad...
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has released its 2024 Forest Health Annual Report, which uses data from aerial surveys and on-the-ground site visits to compile information about insect outbreaks, disease epidemics, and other impacts to the state’s forests. DNR aerially surveyed 17.5 million acres of Minnesota for damage to forests in 2024. Since the early 1950s, aerial surveys have been a valuable tool for discovering, tracking, and managing forest health threats like spruce budworm, oak wilt, ice storm damage, eastern larch b...
The Minnesota Wilderness and Wisconsin Windigo each earned regulation wins in their Thursday/Friday series last week in Eagle River. The Wilderness (17-14-3) kicked off the series with a 5-3 win on Thursday, while the Windigo (23-9-3) bounced back Friday with a 4-0 victory. Minnesota stretched its season-high winning streak Thursday to eight games with a balanced offensive attack and a strong performance in goal from Valdemar Andersen. Andersen finished the contest with 39 saves on 42 shots in his first start since Nov. 29, and first start...
Bethany/Bethlehem Lutheran Parish www.bethanybethlehem.org Bethany Lutheran Church 5660 Hwy 210, Cromwell 218-644-3640 bethany55726@ yahoo.com Worship 9:30 a.m. with Sunday School Women’s Bible study 9:30 a.m. first Wed. Bethany Beacons women’s ministry 9 a.m. second Wed. Bethlehem Lutheran Church Hwy 210 & Third St., Wright 218-357-2593 [email protected] Worship 8 a.m. Holy Closure service 10 a.m. Jan. 26 Bethel Lutheran Church Pastor Rob Larson 1012 29th St., Scanlon 218-879-9723, 763-957-2990 [email protected] Facebook:...
FRIDAY, JAN. 17 The Cloquet Public Library closes at 12:30 p.m. for staff training. SATURDAY, JAN. 18 Junior Rangers Frosty Adventures 1-2 p.m., Jay Cooke Park. Discover the secrets of winter, and make and take a snowflake craft. Sign up by Jan. 17 to ensure supplies: 218-673-7005, [email protected]. Carlton County Animal Rescue cats and dogs adoption event 1-4 p.m. at PetSmart in Duluth. Application process and approval required; applying prior to the event is encouraged. (218) 900-7066, [email protected],...
Senior Nutrition menu for Jan. 17-24, 2025 Friday, Jan. 17 Chef Salad, orange slices, chocolate pudding Saturday-Sunday, Jan. 18-19, frozen meals available Monday, Jan. 20 Ham, cheese & broccoli-stuffed baked potato, gingersnap cookie (call 24 hours ahead for alternative entree: 879-5870) Tuesday, Jan. 21 Glazed pork loin, herbed rice, peas, applesauce, brownie Wednesday, Jan. 22 Turkey, mashed potatoes & gravy, green beans, red gelatin Thursday, Jan. 23 Shepherd’s pie, broccoli Normandy, chocolate chip cookie Friday, Jan. 24 Cook’s Choice Cal...
Gerald Richard "Jerry" Tschida, 78, of Wrenshall passed away on Jan. 16, 2025, at his home. He was born Sept. 26, 1946, to Richard and Shirley (Sullivan) Tschida in Moose Lake. He was active on the football and track teams before graduating from Moose Lake High School in 1964. Jerry enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1966, serving on active duty until 1969 and then continuing with the Reserve until 1972. He was stationed aboard the USS Princeton as a corpsman. While on the ship, Jerry recognized what...
Thomson Township welcomed two brand-new board members Thursday, Jan. 2, swearing in Nathan Barta and Logan Saline. Elections were held for town board offices, with Tony Compo elected board chair and Ruth Janke as vice chair. The first meeting of the new year was largely dedicated to organizational tasks, once the new board members were seated. The two new supervisors quickly settled in, volunteering for a number of committee and liaison positions. The youngest member of the board at age 21,...
What was supposed to be a pretrial hearing Tuesday turned into a plea hearing immediately followed by a sentencing at the Carlton County Justice Center. Loren Roy Van Vickle, 37, of Cloquet, pleaded guilty to one charge of using minors “in sexual performance/pornographic work” in court Tuesday. In accordance with the terms of the plea agreement, Sixth District Judge Rebekka Stumme dismissed seven other counts relating to sexual performance work/porn or soliciting a child through electronic communication to engage in sexual conduct. Per the agr...
The Carlton County board met Tuesday for its annual organizational meeting. Sixth District judge Amy Lukasavitz administered the swearing in of newly elected commissioners Sarah Plante Buhs and Dan Reed, along with reelected District 3 commissioner Tom Proulx, representing most of Cloquet. Plante Buhs represents District 1, including large parts of rural Cloquet and Sawyer, while Reed is the District 5 commissioner, representing the western half of Carlton County, including Cromwell, Wright,...
Carol Ann Marciniak, 76, passed away on Jan. 5, 2025, at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends. She was born in Cloquet on July 7, 1948, to Lawrence and Patricia Hohensee. Carol grew up in Cloquet with her younger brother, Michael, and later her sister, Mary Kay. Carol graduated from Carlton High School in 1966. After graduation, she attended the University of Minnesota Duluth for one day and decided she didn't want to continue. Carol...
Barbara (Isaacson) East, 91, passed away Jan. 1, 2025, at Evergreen Senior Living in Cloquet. She was born to Arthur and Lucille Isaacson in Sawyer. She is survived by her daughters, Kathy Isaacson (Kim) and Sue Moroney (Steve); her son, Bob East (Kellie); nine grandchildren, Erik, Willie, Lucy, Lilly, Jacob, Jordan, Amber, Grace and Joy; and eight great-grandchildren, Everett, Amelie, Simon, Cecilia, Jay, Caspian, Archer and Michael; her cousin Val (Terry) O'Rourke; and other special family...
David Harold Bennefeld, 78, of Cloquet passed away Jan. 5, 2025, at Aspirus St. Luke's Hospital in Duluth. He was born Oct. 7, 1946, to Harold and Louise (Sweet) Bennefeld. David grew up in Red Wing, Minnesota. He attended the University of Minnesota and was a member of the Theta Chi fraternity. He had a long career as an electrical engineer and was granted multiple U.S. patents. Dave met Laurie while they both worked at General Mills. They married in 1972 and raised their family in Ramsey....
Lois J. Kolodge, 92, of Cloquet passed away Jan. 1, 2025, at Evergreen Knoll. The youngest of six children, she was born Aug. 8, 1932, in Scanlon to P.D. and Donna Edwards, Lois was a 1950 graduate of Cloquet High School. She was married to Raymond "Reese" Kolodge in 1953, and they made their home in Cloquet until his death in 1996. Lois was a wonderful wife, mother, and grandmother who always found time to spend with her family. She was known for baking great oatmeal chocolate chip cookies....
Kathleen M. Stierns, 75, of Cloquet passed away Dec. 31, 2024, in Chestnut Grove-Hillcrest Assisted Living in Virginia, Minnesota. She was born in Cloquet, the daughter of Florian and Myrtle (Champeaux) Zegan. Kathleen attended school in Cloquet and served in the U.S. Army, attaining the rank of Specialist 4. Kathleen was preceded in death by her parents, and brothers, Kevin and Kenneth Zegan. She is survived by her daughter, Caroline (Paul) Charon of Apache Junction, Arizona; two grandchildren, Caleb and Delaney Charon; and numerous extended...
June Marie Hill, 92, passed away on Dec. 28, 2024, at Essentia Health St. Mary's Medical Center in Duluth. She was born on June 10, 1932, in Cloquet to Uno and Olga (Savo) Karjala. June attended school in Cloquet, and went on to a 32-year-long career with Diamond Brands. June was united in marriage to Arnie J. Hill in August 1947. They shared 24 years together before Arnie passed away Feb. 12, 1973. They lived in Cloquet and raised five children. June was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church...
Come next week, Veterans Park in Cloquet will be transformed into an elite hockey facility - outdoors, the way the hockey gods intended it - with seating for 1,300. Hockey Day Cloquet promises to be unlike anything seen before in the Wood City. The homegrown hockey extravaganza will span eight days, from Jan. 8-15, peaking with the Lumberjacks varsity boys and girls hockey games on Saturday, Jan. 11. The timing couldn't be better: the Cloquet-Esko-Carlton boys hockey team is currently ranked...
This past month, members of the Cloquet Rotary Club were busy working together to make the holidays brighter for families in Carlton County. The non-profit group started the holiday season by offering Pet Photos with Santa during the Home for the Holidays weekend. Money raised from Pet Photos with Santa was added to the Project Elf Fund, a Rotary project to help local families struggling during the holidays. School counselors in Carlton County nominate families in need. The Cloquet Rotary Club...
Take your time reading this week's issue, because the Pine Knot News office will be closed the week between Christmas and New Year. We will not produce a paper next week, and look forward to time with family and friends. Obituaries and breaking news will be published online at pineknotnews.com during Christmas week. Email [email protected] or text Jana at 218-213-1231 with anything that simply can't wait. Feel free to share fun or beautiful winter photos for possible publication in the new...
A story in last week’s Pine Knot, “County explains 3% tax increase,” raised the eyebrows of Carlton County assessor Kyle Holmes. “Market values are independent from taxes and vice versa,” he said, correcting a passage in the Pine Knot report that suggested the factors were intertwined. “Rising property values and rising taxes are not intertwined, and should be kept separate,” he said. Levy increases are a function of spending, he said. Holmes attended the Dec. 11 Truth in Taxation hearing, at which the county heard from audience members and pre...
