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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Tied at 143 votes each after the Nov. 5 municipal election, challenger Jeff Bloom’s name was drawn at Wrenshall City Hall Tuesday, meaning that he will likely replace incumbent Gary Butala, who requested a recount after the drawing. That will be done by Carlton County, and is within either candidate’s rights, considering the knotted vote totals. The recount will take place at 9 a.m. Dec. 2 at the county transportation building. Butala said there are some questions about 50 ballots that were not counted. All voting for the city is done by mai...
Laura Simi and Patricia Lund shuffled to a table decked with cards that would be the final arbiter of who would spend the next four years on Kettle River's city council. City officials at Kettle River's council meeting Tuesday viewed this quirky procedure - prescribed by state statute in the event of a tied election - with some humor as candidates Simi and Lund drew their lots. Lund expressed disappointment as she picked the winning number. Lund joined the race to give voters options. That was...
With all of Carlton County's 39 precincts reporting, the unofficial tallies from the 2024 general election brought some interesting results, including a win in the county for President-elect Donald Trump, who did not win Minnesota. The Republican was the top vote-getter - 50.1 percent to Vice President Kamala Harris' 47.6 percent - in a county that had nearly 90-percent voter turnout with more than 20,000 people submitting ballots. Voter turnout nearly matched the 92-percent mark made in 2020...
There was a line of people outside Cloquet City Hall at 7 a.m. Tuesday morning, waiting for the polls to open. "There was a line again at 10 a.m. that kind of surprised us, and now there's another one," said head judge John Cavanaugh at about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. "We've been busy all day." By 4:30 p.m. they'd seen 675 voters come through, and Cavanaugh was expecting between 800-850 by the end of the day. The city hall was also busier than usual with people registering to vote, Cavanaugh said,...
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...
Two more pro-consolidation candidates were elected to the Carlton school board Tuesday. Challengers Ben Nilsen and Dan Solarz will join the board in January: both have indicated they strongly favor pairing with neighboring Wrenshall. Another advocate for a union with Wrenshall was Ryan Leonzal, who was re-elected Tuesday after winning a special election a year ago. Each of the winning candidates received over 20 percent of the vote, a strong showing in a race where voters could vote for up to three candidates. Leaving in January will be...
Nathan Barta is just 20, but he won in a landslide Tuesday, taking more than 50 percent of the vote for Thomson Township Supervisor Seat C while his opponents – Jaryn Edblad and John Bergman – garnered 27 and 22.6 percent. While the incoming Thomson supervisor is definitely the youngest person in Carlton County – or maybe even the state – to win election Tuesday, the University of Minnesota Duluth junior knows a thing or two about local politics. Two years ago he penned a guest column in the Pin...
It was another close race for Minnesota House District 11A Tuesday, with the incumbent Rep. Jeff Dotseth (R-Kettle River) edging repeat DFL challenger Pete Radosevich by 664 votes, 51.1 percent to 48.4 percent of 23,840 votes cast in all of Carlton County and parts of Pine and St. Louis counties. In 2022, Dotseth won by 454. “I am a firm believer in the power of prayer,” Dotseth wrote in a statement to the Pine Knot Wednesday. “I’d like to thank my lord and savior Jesus Christ, my wife and my family, as well as all the members of team Dotseth...
Come the Nov. 5 general election, voters in Wrenshall will be saying hello to three new school board members. Barring a successful write-in campaign, the new faces will be the three candidates on the ballot - Jon Beck, Ashley Laveau and Erin Riley. The trio has gotten to know one another, and agreed to put all of their names onto one campaign sign. "Three open seats for three people," Riley said, "we figured we'd save resources." "We've all kind of talked and feel like we can work well...
This is a list of candidates that area voters can expect on their ballot now until Election Day, Nov. 5. State Representative District 11A (elect 1) Jeff A. Dotseth, Republican Pete Radosevich, DFL Judge Sixth District (elect 1) Gunnar B. Johnson Shawn Reed County Commissioner District 1 (elect 1) Sarah Buhs Caleb Dunlap District 3 (elect 1) Tom Proulx District 5 (elect 1) Alex French Dan Reed Soil and Water Superivisor District 1 (elect 1) Michelle Boyechko Barbara Dahl District 4 (elect 1) Gary Peterson District 5 (elect 1) Bruce Heikes...
This fall, Minnesotans will vote on whether to renew a proposal earmarking some money from the state lottery to fund environmental programs, including parks projects, conservation and clean water efforts. Back in 1988, voters approved a Minnesota constitutional amendment dedicating a portion of lottery proceeds to the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund. Since then, voters have thrice renewed the proposal. Like earlier measures, this one would continue directing 40 percent of the net proceeds generated to the Minnesota Lottery to the... 
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When Jen Schultz won the first of her four House terms at Minnesota’s Capitol in 2014, she joined a stable of Democratic legislators from the area and the 8th Congressional District was in the party’s hands, too — albeit by a very narrow margin. A decade later, it’s a far different picture. Outside of her home base in Duluth, Republicans hold sway in much of northeastern Minnesota. And the 8th District has elected a Republican in U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber in three consecutive elections. Schultz, who left the Legislature after the 2022 session... Website
STATE REPRESENTATIVE District 11A (elect 1) Jeff A. Dotseth Republican Pete Radosevich Democratic- Farmer-Labor JUDICIAL CANDIDATES 6th District (elect 1) Gunnar B. Johnson, Shawn Reed, Duluth COUNTY COMMISSIONER District 1 (elect 1) Sarah Buhs Caleb Dunlap District 5 (elect 1) Dan Reed Alex French SOIL AND WATER SUPERVISOR District 1 (elect 1) Michelle Boyechko Barbara Dahl District 4 (elect 1) Gary Peterson District 5 (elect 1) Bruce Heikes Roger Hurd CITY CANDIDATES BARNUM City Council (elect 2) Darrel Berry James Calhoun CARLTON Mayor...
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...
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...
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...
Name: Gunnar Johnson Age: 56 Residence: Gnesen Township Current job: Attorney for Cloquet Area Fire District, City of Hermantown, numerous townships, and Overom Law. Education I received a BS in biology at UMD in 1990. I was on the Dean’s List and received service awards including the Sieur du Luth Award. I went to law school at the American University in Washington, DC. I graduated cum laude in the top 25 percent of my class in 1994. As an attorney, I attend at least 15 hours of Continuing Legal Education each year to maintain my Minnesota and...
Ann Gustafson Briefly summarize your personal background and qualifications. I have lived in Carlton and worked in Cloquet for 20 years. I am a parent, spouse, educator, farmer, and nature enthusiast. I served first on the Thomson then Carlton City Councils for 14 years. Next, I served the Carlton School Board for one term. Then, I needed a break... What made you decide to run for mayor this year? First and foremost, to make a positive difference in my community. But also, a friend pestered me, and my husband misses the fire department steak di...
David Lucas (I) Briefly summarize your personal background and qualifications. I have spent four years in the Marine Corps, five years in the Minnesota National Guard. I've lived and worked in the community for the last 24 yrs and the past 6 yrs as Mayor of Kettle River. What made you decide to run for mayor this year? Because I care for the wellbeing of the community and so I can continue to serve and keep moving the city in a positive direction. What do you think are the top two issues facing your city and how would you go about tackling...
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...
Doug Juntunen Briefly summarize your personal background and qualifications. I have extensive community service experience, including roles as Barnum's mayor, assistant fire chief and chair of the Carlton County EDA. My background as a St. Paul police officer and deputy sheriff enhanced my problem-solving skills. Since joining the Moose Lake City Council in 2014, I advocate for local businesses and public safety. What made you decide to run for mayor this year? My commitment to the communities I've served drives my dedication to local...
Gary Butala (I) Briefly summarize your personal background and qualifications. My name is Gary Butala. I have lived in Wrenshall for 25 years. I've been involved with city politics since 2006. I have held the positions of City Councilor and Mayor. I know how city government works. What made you decide to run for mayor this year? I decided to run again (as incumbent) because the city has projects that need to be finished – things that will benefit all residents of the city. What do you think are the top two issues facing your city and how would...
Steven Studniski Briefly summarize your personal background and qualifications. I am currently employed at Sappi Paper in Cloquet as a Maintenance Superintendent. I have been in a leadership role for the last 16 years. What made you decide to run for Wrenshall mayor/city council this year? My wife and I have attended several city council meetings and we often find ourselves frustrated with how our tax dollars are being spent. What do you think are the top two issues facing the city of Wrenshall and how do you think you would go about tackling...
Nathan Barta Briefly summarize your personal background and qualifications. My name is Nathan Barta, and I am a lifelong Esko resident. I graduated from Esko high school, and I am currently a Junior studying Social Studies Education and Political Science at UMD. I have been heavily involved in local politics since high school and have made great connections. What made you decide to run for Thomson Township supervisor this year? I love my community, and this open seat on the Board is a great opportunity for me to step up and serve my neighbors....
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...
