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
Sorted by date Results 2564 - 2588 of 4092
Esko school board members decided to stop holding its meetings via Zoom and return to in-person meetings, most likely in the auditorium to allow for physical distancing. The next meeting is March 8 at 6:30 p.m. Board members also accepted the resignation of Janet Halonen, director of business services. -Approved up to $110,000 to purchase a new propane-powered bus, bringing the fleet to 13. -Discussed the plan to pave the parking lot the school owns between the post office and Esko Dental. Funds have been allocated but the project has been...
The Carlton County board of commissioners gave its blessing Tuesday, Feb. 22 for two township grant projects that will compete for limited transportation funding from an annual Legislature initiative for Greater Minnesota. County engineer JinYeene Neumann requested the board’s support at the adjourned session of the county board Monday, Feb. 22. Almost all the Carlton County townships inquired into the possibility of funding needed township road projects, but the highway department staff explained that the competition throughout the state w...
Thomson Township supervisors unveiled a new audiovisual system at their meeting Feb. 18 that is expected to improve accessibility to meetings. The board had been experiencing audio and video issues since it began online meetings last year. It was often difficult to hear everyone and to understand who was talking. The township was able to purchase new equipment through the federal CARES Act, which provides pandemic relief funding. Board members, most of whom have been meeting in person at the town hall outside of Esko, and virtually through a...
The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled earlier this month that the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency was justified in arguing that pollution seeping into groundwater from the Minntac mine tailing basin in Mountain Iron has harmed federally protected waters. The court sided with the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, which appealed a 2019 court of appeals decision that said the MPCA failed in interpreting water rules in a 2018 permit for the U.S. Steel iron ore mine and pellet plant. The...
The county has formed a special committee to focus on plans for a new county jail building and programming, which met for the first time Tuesday, Feb. 23. Sheriff Kelly Lake said there is increasing urgency in what has already been a long process. "The state of Minnesota has given us a deadline of July 31, 2023 when we can no longer house inmates in our current facility," Lake said. "As it is now in the planning process, the goal is to have a jail facility completed by 2024 and we will need an...
Cloquet police officers were called to a Cloquet apartment complex early Friday morning and ended up disarming a man who appeared to be under the influence of drugs and told police he had fired his handgun nine times. Todd Richard LaDoucer, 53, of Roseville, Minnesota, was charged Monday in Carlton County Sixth District Court with first-degree damage to property, two counts of intentional discharge of a firearm that endangers safety, one count of felon convicted of a crime of violence-firearm...
It was the mid-1970s when the Erickson family moved their Coast to Coast Hardware store from the middle of the block to the former Raiter Hospital building at the corner of Ninth and Cloquet Avenue. Although the names have changed - next it was Ace, then Erickson's and now Wood City Lights and Hardware - since then, the building has remained a hardware store for nearly 50 years. But not anymore. On April 30, Wood City owners Julie and John Haverkamp will hand over the keys to the building's new...
When the news broke last year that former Carlton basketball coach Robert Pioro was being charged with sexually abusing one of his players nearly 20 years ago, there were people who immediately identified his victim. They’d seen the red flags or wondered about the relationship, but never knew for sure. That’s the nature of sexual abuse. It doesn’t usually occur in the open. It’s hidden between abuser and victim, specifically so people don’t see it. So when there are red flags, people need to pay attention to those niggling worries and red flags... Full story
Jessie Waldorf faced the class. "We're here just to have fun and make something creative." It was a chilly Saturday afternoon and sunlight streamed unobstructed through big, south-facing storefront windows at 213 Chestnut Street in Carlton. A hardwood floor and white walls combined to bring early-February light all the way to the back of the shop. Waldorf is the owner of CreativEdge Designs. She was talking to a group of about a dozen women of all ages as part of new art classes at the shop.... Full story
A major water break on Washington Avenue over the weekend was quickly identified but still left local homes wondering why their water was running a little brown this weekend. Caleb Peterson, director of Cloquet public works, said a typical break involves a small hole that leaks at a fairly slow volume. In this case, the pipe ruptured and the city’s water loss was estimated at more than seven times a typical leak. “To put this in perspective, the system was losing more water than some fire hydrants around town are able to supply,” Peter...
With a pandemic still throbbing, the recent annual presentation of the Carlton County Emergency Medical Service took on special significance as volunteers and professionals were honored. Steve Trenhaile from the Moose Lake Fire Department heads the county EMS association and he presented awards to several people at the Feb. 9 Carlton County board meeting. With 25 on the roster of the Esko Fire Department, the group was recognized as the EMS Unit of the Year. It has responded to more than 230...
Things are looking positive for some kind of July Fourth celebration in Cloquet this summer, if discussions during Tuesday's City Council meeting hold true. City administrator Tim Peterson asked councilors for guidance on the annual celebration, which normally features a 5K race, a parade downtown, and activities in Veterans Park all day and into the night, finishing with an outdoor movie and fireworks over the St. Louis River. "Do we want the large normal celebration, a variation where we do...
The Carlton County board of commissioners recently approved and presented a $4,000 grant from CARES Act funds to go to the B&B Market food train, which has been chugging along since late last March. During that time, individuals and businesses from all over Carlton County and even further away have donated money, products, anything to help out folks who are struggling during the pandemic, and B&B owners John and Kim Lind have used the donations to give away free food for anyone in need during the pandemic. The food train has morphed over time.... Full story
It might be that early February provided the biggest punch of cold winter we'll receive this season. So the remnants of this winter will be a breeze when it comes to enjoyment without the arctic air. There are myriad ways to alleviate cabin fever in the area while still taking pandemic precautions. Here is a sampling: WALK There are many trails available in Carlton County for folks who'd like to get outside and tromp around in the snow, including trails at Jay Cooke State Park, along the St.... Full story
Carlton County residents and others are invited to join an online series of conversations about equity, diversity and inclusion across the county 6-8 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month starting Feb. 23. Called “Niibidoon: Relationship Weaving,” the two-hour conversations will be held online via Zoom and are open to all community members. “Really, this is about wanting to be good neighbors: indigenous and non-indigenous,” said Mandi Rosebrock, who helped organize the online forums. “The planning group recognizes the close proximity...
Grade 9 Joshua Anderson Elexis Anderson Drew Angell Elijah Aultman Madyson Babineau David Baker Brandon Bandy Hannah Bastien Owen Brenner LeeAna Burley Ava Carlson Courtney Carroll Elise Cawcutt Ella Chartier Quinn Danielson Macy Dearborn Kiana DeFoe Emmie Doesken Ethan Doty Emily Draken Jacob Dunaiski Evan Etter Robie Anne Forte Madison Fredrickson Anders Gunelson Riley Hall Isaac Hill Makenna Horvat Kiley Issendorf Eli Jazdzewski Jayden Johnson Gage Johnson Carly Johnson Annalise Kalm Mary Kayser Brynn Kowalke Caden Kubis Kyle Lahti Adison Le... Full story
Esko High School Honor Roll Quarter 2 Emma Adkins Kaitlyn Adkins Ashley Aker Jason Amireault Claire Anderson Karin Anderson Keone Anderson Simone Anderson Siri Anderson Santiago Anich Joseph Antonutti Rachel Antonutti Ellahna Barnes Ellynor Barta Joel Barta Alena Beare Mollie Belich Aspen Berg Cairin Berger Cuinn Berger Alexander Bourgeault Cadence Brissett Owen Campanario Braeden Caple Emma Cekalla Samuel Cheslak Ayden Chopskie Jordan Chopskie Megan Chopskie Brynn Christensen Ty Christensen Liberty Clifford Avah Clow James Cornell Michael... Full story
Carlton High School Quarter 2 A Honor Roll Grade 12 Kristian Herman Elizabeth Hey Jayna LeBrasseur Samantha Matarelli Trevor Ojibway Kristina Wuorio Grade 11 Nicholas DeVriendt- LeDoux Kash Gibson Thomas Orlowski Carly Parker Joseph Solomon Grade 10 Korah Crane Eliza DeCaigny Gunner Fadum McKenzie Midge Emma Peterson Michaela Sundeen Grade 9 Michael Cadott Brayden Drake Elijah Kot Gavin LeBrasseur Megan Matarelli Sam Ojibway Grade 8 Gavin Gibson Lauryn Hilton Jackson Korpela Amber Lawry Ayden Ojibway Julia Peterson Kayla Radtke Aryanna... Full story
Barnum High School Quarter 2 A Honor Roll Grade 7 Emily Class Alizondra Collelo Lucy Franek Sophia Frank Grace Grover Kash Johnson Ivar Kasberg Kyson Landwehr MaKenna Nordstrom Morghan Nynas Ava Nyquist Aleksander Shefchik Hartleigh Stecyk Grade 8 Kaden Carlson Kyler Clarke Casey Corrigan Connor Corrigan Jack Dobosenski Bryce Ferguson Eli Gilbertson Rijah Jones Janaya Jurek Madison Koecher Pierce Korpela Aili Lund Kairi McCoy Lily Newman Landen Oetterer Brooklyn Peterson Neela Piri Alexis Poirier Makayla Sheff Megan Swenson Avery Westendorf... Full story
In June of 2020, we turned off County Road 6, just east of Barnum, and onto the gravel driveway at the Johnson family farm. It may be our new home, but it will always be the Johnson farm. We had just come from Moose Lake, where we had signed the closing papers. Ed Johnson had handed us several large sets of keys. We still aren't sure what some of those keys open. We parked, got out of the car and started to walk. Nothing needed to be said. My fiancé, Heather-Marie Bloom, and I knew where we... Full story
A public safety alert went out to cell phones across Carlton County after 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 19, alerting people to avoid the area near Cary and Enger Roads to Mission Road. According to a press release, just before noon Friday, Fond Du Lac police responded to protest activity blocking Ditchbank Road. As people were dispersing from the area at 12:40 p.m., Carlton County 911 Dispatch received a call that three people had thrown suspicious packages out and left the area. Deputies from the Carlton County Sheriff’s Office responded. A bomb s... Full story
In the afternoon hours of Friday, Feb. 19, bomb squad personnel responded to a suspicious device on the 3200 block of Ditchbank Road in Perch Lake Township. After careful examination, it was determined that the device was not an explosive agent. During the incident, 40 residences were evacuated within a half-mile radius of the device. A temporary shelter was set up and available for the people that were evacuated. Law Enforcement transported anyone that needed a ride. At this time, anyone that was evacuated may return to their homes. Law... Full story
Sexual abuse survivor K.M. addressed the courtroom during the sentencing for her former high school basketball coach, Robert Pioro, at the Carlton County Courthouse Friday afternoon. She read a victim impact statement to the people in the courtroom — including Pioro and one of his attorneys — and a host of people watching the proceedings online. “The first time he kissed me, I cried. I can still remember how disappointed I felt knowing that everything had changed. As I cried, he told me that some parents kiss their kids on the lips. And then... Full story
The on-again, off-again talks between the Carlton and Wrenshall school districts regarding consolidation are officially off again. Superintendents and school board members agreed last week that it was time for a “pause” in current negotiations regarding a merger that has been kicked around for more than a half-century. The pause marks an end to a flurry of consolidation maneuvers in the past two years that saw the school boards agreeing on a two-site plan that would utilize the South Ter...
Esko schools plan to expand a tutoring program for students who fell behind during distance learning, after a pilot program led by high school principal Greg Hexum showed good results. The high school tutoring program will provide remedial help and focus on credit recovery, which is for juniors and seniors who may need help to earn the credits needed to graduate. The elementary school program, led by principal Brian Harker, will focus on remedial needs in the core subjects such as reading and math. Esko school board members approved both plans...
