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Gary Sather, of Cloquet, received a $25 gift certificate to CreativEdge Designs in Carlton for being spotted sporting an "I Think Knot!" bumper sticker on his vehicle. "It's got all the information in it," Sather said of the Pine Knot News. Photo by Brady Slater / Pine Knot News... Full story
When we started the Pine Knot News six years ago, people in the newspaper industry noticed. Admittedly, it was mostly shock — Who was crazy enough to start a brand-new paper? — mixed in with a flicker of hope. It all started after my previous employer, the Pine Journal, closed its office here and moved operations to Duluth. A group of us felt strongly that Cloquet and Carlton County needed a solidly local newspaper that actually cared enough to have an office here and a paper producing original... Full story
Back on Oct. 7, the Carlton school board itself went to school. Members met for three hours with a representative of the Minnesota School Board Association to receive instruction on Minnesota law, school board rights and responsibilities, Robert's Rules of Order, and several other subjects pertaining to the proper function of a school board. Carlton schools are facing significant challenges, but all six of the people governing the schools still found time to work on making themselves better... Full story
Jeff Dotseth (I) Briefly summarize your personal background and qualifications. I am a husband, father, grandfather, farmer, realtor and small business owner who, as a state representative, has delivered for the people of District 11A during my first term in the Minnesota House of Representatives. What made you decide to run for state representative? I represent a district that previously lacked a strong voice. Local residents deserve better so I ran to solve local problems and get things done. Please describe where you stand on the following... Full story
Marcia Sarvela Briefly summarize your personal background and qualifications. I have lived in Kettle River since 1988 and have been active in city activities for many years. I have been attending the council meetings monthly for many years so I am familiar with the current issues. What made you decide to run for mayor/city council this year? There was no one filing to run except the incumbent, and I felt we needed someone to run against her. What do you think are the top two issues facing your city and how would you go about tackling them? One... Full story
Gloria Jean Mike, 84, passed away Oct. 5, 2024, at New Perspectives in Cloquet. She was preceded in death by her parents, Roland and Elsie Wolpern; and brother, Robert Wolpern. She is survived by children, Bob Chaussee (Jenni), Terry Chaussee, and Sherry Mike; grandchildren, Ryan (Dakotah) Chaussee, and Kyle and Kaleb Lamb. A Celebration of Life will be held 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 13 at Atkins Northland Funeral Home in Cloquet. Pine Knot News, Oct. 18, 2024... Full story
Paul Matthew Ward, 91, of Albert Lea, Minnesota and formerly of Mahtowa and Moose Lake, died peacefully on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, at St. John's on Fountain Lake in Albert Lea. Paul was born June 27, 1933, in Pelican Rapids to Paul and Agnes Ward. He lived most of his life in Minnesota and worked as a carpenter for Nordaas American Homes in southern Minnesota. On Oct. 7, 1951, Paul married Doris Larson in Mahtowa. He loved telling people about Jesus and sharing the word of the Lord. In his... Full story
Janice Loy Kangas, 78 of Esko, and longtime resident of Willow Lake and Watertown in South Dakota, died Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, at Essentia Health-St. Mary's Medical Center in Duluth. The cause was an unexpected hemorrhagic stroke. She was born April 11, 1946, to Alfred and Mable (Trevithick) Warkenthien of Willow Lake. Janice was married to Gary Kangas of Bryant, South Dakota on Aug. 13, 1966. Janice held various administrative assistant positions outside the home in Watertown and then Duluth,... Full story
James "Putz" Henry Gatchell, 90, of Villa Vista in Cromwell passed away peacefully with family by his side on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. He was born May 4, 1934, in Fargo, the son of Charles and Pearly (Pope) Getchell. As a child he moved to Menahga, Minnesota, working the farm with his family and learning his life skill of a self-taught mechanic, later working at Stock Tire and Cloquet Transit, retiring at age 62. During his retirement years, he enjoyed spending time at his cabin in Bena,... Full story
Marjorie Stone Christofferson, 69, passed away at home with her family on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024 succumbing to ALS. Margi was born to Vernon and Norma Stone in Colorado Springs, Colorado on Dec. 3, 1954. Margi graduated from Alma High School in Wisconsin in 1972 and later earned a degree from University of Wisconsin-Stout. She was an educator for the Singer Company, where she met her husband, Doug Christofferson. Margi was also employed as a manager at Sofro Fabrics, the purchasing project... Full story
By Jenny Sherren SWCD News This year, the Carlton Soil and Water Conservation District has three supervisor positions up for election. Candidates are elected county-wide but must reside in one of the supervisor districts up for election. The supervisor districts and candidates running for election this year include: District 1: Barbara M. Dahl and Michelle Boyechko District 4: Gary E. Peterson District 5: Bruce Heikes and Roger Hurd SWCDs are special-purpose units of government that manage and... Full story
Carlton County is experiencing a steady flow of early voters and absentee ballots in advance of the Nov. 5 general election. “Since early voting started Sept. 20, we’ve been getting 50 to 100 voters each day,” said county auditor/treasurer Kevin DeVriendt. “The mail-in ballots are rolling in, too — 150 to 200 by mail every day.” Early voting is taking place at the auditor/treasurer’s office on the second floor of the Carlton County Historic Courthouse (Room 205). Also called “in-person absentee voting,” early voting is available for all...
The candidate forum organized by the Cloquet Area Chamber of Commerce got a makeover for 2024. Instead of candidates sitting side by side in the Cloquet City Council chambers in front of a live audience, individual interviews will be recorded without an audience and posted to the city and chamber website, as well as the city's CAT-7 television channel (Mediacom customers). "With only two [local Cloquet] contested races this year, we decided to do 'Meet the candidate' interviews that will be tape...
A 38-year-old Carlton man was sentenced this week to eight years, eight months in prison for a violent attack earlier this year. Jacob Robert Clarin had pleaded guilty in August to felony first-degree assault — great bodily harm, for attacking another resident on Feb. 21 at the Lake Venoah Board and Lodge outside Carlton, in Twin Lakes Township. Judge Rebekka Stumme accepted the guilty plea, and an amended charge — first-degree assault down from attempted murder. In return for the guilty plea, a charge of second-degree assault with a dan...
Some carry signs, others bring photographs and many simply bring family or friends or the their own thoughts in memory of a loved one who died by suicide. They walk and talk, and remember, together. Held every October, this year's annual Suicide Awareness Memorial Walk will take place 9:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, at Carlton High School. An average of 150 community members attend the free event in memory of friends, family, coworkers and others lost to suicide, and to bring awareness... Full story
Minnesota’s youth deer season will take place statewide Thursday, Oct. 17, through Sunday, Oct. 20. The season coincides with statewide teacher workshops, so many Minnesota students don’t have school. To participate, youth must be 10-17 years old and have a deer license. Participant numbers are not limited and there is no special permit, so parents should obtain a regular deer hunting license for each youth who will be hunting. Youth may not tag antlerless deer or legal bucks taken by another individual. An adult parent, guardian or mentor mus...
After years of looking for a more economical way to distribute the school paper, Esko school board members approved a move to a digital-only newspaper starting in January. That means community members will no longer receive a paper copy of the Esko's Corner paper produced and distributed by Esko Community Education. The move is expected to save the school district thousands in printing and postage costs. Esko isn't the only local school making the move: Wrenshall switched to a digital paper effe...
Our society is far removed from the Great Depression of the 1930s. Nevertheless, some government programs instituted to aid in the economic recovery left their marks on the northern communities of Minnesota. One of the most familiar is the Works Progress Administration, established in 1935 to employ millions of people to build public projects such as town halls, bridges, schools and park structures. These buildings and bridges are widely known, and the WPA letters are seen stamped somewhere on... Full story
A 22-year-old man who hit and killed a pedestrian in Moose Lake in March admitted Wednesday he was driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs when the crash occurred. Brent James Keranen, of Pengilly, Minnesota, pleaded guilty to one count of felony criminal vehicular homicide while under the influence of cannabis/hemp edible products. Under the terms of a plea agreement with the prosecution, three other charges of felony criminal vehicular homicide will be dropped. Sentencing is scheduled for December, and defense attorney David Keegan...
Carlton County teacher, naturalist and poet Patrick Stevens has released a second book of poetry, titled "Natural Wonders." The new poetry book follows the author through his wanderings in each distinct season of the Minnesota year. He begins his journey in winter, the longest season, dealing with dying plants, frost, frozen lakes, major snowfalls, animal tracks and habitat, before moving on to spring and the welcome rebirth of plants and animals. Summer is his joyous time, bringing long days...
It was appalling to me that this newspaper printed three opinions in their Letters to the Editor section last week that were all one-sided and did not print any for our hard working Rep. Jeff Dotseth. It’s also not surprising since Jeff’s opponent owns this newspaper. The opposing party must be getting very nervous about losing the race. I have known Jeff personally for the last six years. He is hard working and wants to represent everyone in his district. Jeff has worked tirelessly, despite the one party rule the last two years, to make life b... Full story
It broke the bank and nearly broke my spirit. The other day, hankering for some good old chili on a brisk, er, hot, fall day, me and the kid went to the store. My mind just happened to be on point, so, with a working list in my head, I made a few other purchases beyond the soup recipe I also keep in my brain. I knew it would be a mistake. There were paper products and batteries involved, along with the need to find mid-morning school snacks for the kid for the next few weeks. For the first time in my life, I spent more than $200 on a single... Full story
I hastily loaded my car and headed west in late September. The trees lining the highways showed hints of fall colors. I cranked up the Jim Croce CDs I've listened to hundreds of times and sang along carefree. The duck opener was on the horizon. The lakes, surrounded by graying landscape, seemed to glow in the dimming light as I approached our Traverse County campsite. When I arrived, I listened to my father-in-law explain how the next morning would work, despite the fact I'd been up since 1... Full story
For the second time in less than a year, the Thomson Township board of supervisors approved the hire of a new township clerk/treasurer at its meeting Sept. 19. Beth Elstad will replace Deb Kaumunen, who was hired in March to replace Rhonda Peleski. Peleski retired after doing the job for 30 years. Elstad will earn $35 an hour for the full-time salaried position. Elstad brings a wide range of experience in the nonprofit world to her new job. She's worked in the region since 1996 as a financial...
The Carlton County board approved a preliminary 3-percent levy increase at its meeting Monday, containing costs in a way that had commissioners thanking staff, department heads and the finance committee that includes commissioners Susan Zmyslony and Dick Brenner. “I’d like to thank the finance committee for all the work they did on this,” commissioner Marv Bodie said. “I really appreciate it,” commissioner Gary Peterson added. “Myself, I was surprised.” “We worked very hard between our finance committee and the department heads,” Zmyslony said...