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 2964 - 2988 of 3909
Despite a "stay at home" order from the governor in order to slow the spread of COVID-19 cases in the state, spring as we've always known it, does go on in Carlton County, like snow melt this week in Jay Cooke State Park, far right, as witnessed by Pine Knot News editor Jana Peterson. Above, Peterson found Father Justin Fish on Palm Sunday morning handing out palm fronds to those who drove by Queen of Peace Church. And, while not that many of us are driving a whole lot these days, gas prices...
Amidst all the fear and uncertainty caused by the coronavirus, there's a movement afoot to make life more fun, more beautiful, or both. Suddenly, there are bears - of the stuffed variety or two-dimensional, not hungry-just-out-of-hibernation live ones - appearing in windows and on porches in Cloquet and beyond. It's not limited to bears, though. Other windows feature Easter eggs or original artworks for all the world to see as people walk or ride past homes, businesses and even City Hall....
The city of Cloquet closed all its outdoor play structures on Wednesday, including playgrounds, the skatepark and other athletic facilities as part of its ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic. City administrator Tim Peterson said the decision to close parks was not specifically due to one park, but rather the safety and well-being of residents throughout the city. “Avoiding groups of people congregating needs to be a priority for all of us and this closure reflects that,” Peterson told the Pine Knot News. “We now need help from the publi...
A house fire in Barnum Township Sunday put three people in the hospital for smoke inhalation, and destroyed the home, killing several pets that were inside. According to a press release from the Carlton County Sheriff’s Office, a 911 call reporting the structure fire at 4120 County Road 6 in Barnum Township came in just after noon Sunday, March 29. The initial report was that the water heater inside the residence had started on fire and the flames had spread to the residence. Members of the Barnum Fire Department, Moose Lake Police D...
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act authorizes stimulus payments to those who qualify. As a result, scammers may target Minnesotans and try to steal their personal information. Government agencies, including the IRS and the Minnesota Department of Revenue, will not call, text, or email requesting information for stimulus payments. The Minnesota Department of Revenue does not have a role in issuing these or other federal payments. Be aware of phishing calls, emails, or texts that include language such as: “In order to r...
The Pine Knot News contacted Lyz Jaakola and asked her to describe her life at home after staff members discovered her family in humorous musical performance on Facebook. The Jaakola family joins a growing trend near and far of people offering their talents for all to see while "stay at home" edicts remain. Every night after dinner, I ask the kids: "So what song are we going to livestream tonight?" Being a music teacher and having a bit of a music habit, of course my family has a band. We...
B&B Market is the epicenter of giving in the Cloquet area right now, as many residents grapple with losing jobs or income as the state responds to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to owners John and Kim Lind, it all started last week when Lenny Conklin bought 100 pounds of ground beef to "pay it forward" on Tuesday, March 24. They posted a photo on social media to get the word out, then Tom McConnell from Cloquet Flooring came in and chipped in $500 toward the cause. The donations have been...
There are several free book boxes in the area, including a Book Barn and Kitchen Cabinet outside the Jadeke family’s house at the corner of Sixth Street and Selmer Avenue in Cloquet, where both books and food supplies are free for the taking (or giving). The Cloquet Police Department also has a book box outside the joint City Hall and Police Station at 101 14th Street in Cloquet and there’s one on Brevator Road near the Fond du Lac school, among others. Contact [email protected] or call 218-878-9332 with the address of any that we mis...
A grand and hurried experiment in education began this week in Minnesota, as schools around the state implemented distance learning for K-12 students in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Teachers and administrators across Carlton County had two weeks to come up with a plan for distance learning, which is not necessarily the same thing as online learning - rather, it refers to learning away from school. In Cloquet, that meant lessons on paper for elementary school students (K-grade 4) -...
Thanks to all for playing Wrenshall trivia this week. I had a videoconference with Dale Wolf and he told me all the answers. I wrote them down while dehydrating apples and now they are either in the compost or at the bottom of the stack of papers that I cleared off my desk to make room for my son’s new “classroom.” So I called the next best resource, Jim Sheetz. Here are his responses: QWhat was the total number of brickyards running in Wrenshall during the peak time of that industry here?...
The order Wednesday by Minnesota governor Tim Walz that schools remain closed and transition to distance learning through May 4 didn't surprise many educators, since they were told to be ready for this moment on March 15. Not to worry, the Cloquet school district - like every other district in the county and the state - has a plan. "For elementary it's all paper and pencil via delivery or pickup," Cloquet superintendent Micheal Cary said. "For secondary, we'll go digital for as many students as...
In Wrenshall, superintendent Kim Belcastro updated the school board this week on where the district was since the closure order March 15. “I will admit it did feel like the last week of school for the students,” Belcastro wrote in her memo about the final day of school March 17. She said teachers prepped for distance learning last Wednesday through Friday. The district is on spring break this week, allowing for a bit of a breather for staff, she said. “Once the teachers had the assurance that they were going to be able to work from home (it)...
Don’t even think about flushing that down the toilet. Western Lake Superior Sanitary District officials warn residents and businesses about the hazards of flushing any products except toilet paper. Wipes, paper towels, facial tissue and other paper products are not flushable and must be disposed of in the trash. “Toilet tissue has been in limited supply in local stores and we’ve heard some folks have substituted paper towel, facial tissue, wipes, napkins, and more,” said Al Parrella, WLSSD’s man...
The workings of government have changed as the pandemic spreads at an unknown rate throughout the nation. Physical participation in Carlton County meetings and whether any County building should be open to the public were two of many public safety issues discussed at the Carlton County Board of Commissioners meeting Monday, March 23, when commissioners passed a resolution declaring Carlton County in a peacetime emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During Monday’s meeting, Commissioners voted on a number of measures to protect county staff a...
Local governments have closed many offices to the public in response to the coronavirus pandemic and governor's orders, although vital staff continue to work in buildings and from home and can be contacted by phone and email. Following is the latest guide to what's open and what's closed, and other vital information for Carlton County residents. Contact each department at the phone numbers listed below or by visiting the county website at www.co.carlton.mn.us. Find updates on the homepage under...
CAT7 TV must have at least seven lives. Following a year (2019) when the community access television channel was black almost as much as it was broadcasting, the station is black again following the dismissal of its only remaining employee on March 5. Cable coordinator Eric Lipponen was present and the subject of a closed meeting with the Cloquet city council that night. Immediately after the meeting was reopened, councilors voted unanimously to terminate Lipponen's employment with the city, on...
At approximately 6:30 p.m. Saturday, March 21, Carlton County dispatch received a call from a resident in the 3100 block of Maple Drive in Sawyer, stating that their neighbor's seasonal cabin was on fire. First arriving law enforcement personnel noted visible flames and smoke coming from the structure. The property owner was notified of the fire and confirmed that nobody was at the cabin. There was extensive damage but the exact amount wasn't immediately known. The incident remains under...
The Kettle River Christmas tree lights have been turned on again to provide a light of hope during these darkening days of the coronavirus pandemic. The Ma ’n’ Pa Kettle Days committee, with the electrical support of the Federated Co-op of Kettle River, have made this possible. The lights will remain on through the Easter season. The idea of putting up lights has been spreading throughout the nation, according to news reports. Duluth has bathed its iconic Enger Tower in purple light this week. Last year’s Ma ’n’ Pa Kettle Days parade grand mar...
The average U.S. worker spends seven hours a day on the computer either in the office or working from home. According to an American Optometric Association’s 2015 survey, 58 percent of adults surveyed have experienced digital eye strain or vision problems as a direct result. Digital eye strain is defined as a temporary vision condition caused by prolonged use of electronic devices. Each March, the AOA reminds Americans of the importance of eye health and regular, comprehensive eye exams to identify and treat digital eye strain symptoms. The ear...
Medicare Cost plans are not going away for 21 counties in the state, including Carlton County. Medicare Cost plans provide additional coverage to help pay for expenses that original Medicare doesn’t cover, and they are administered by private insurance companies. Platinum Blue (Blue Cross Blue Shield), Prime Solutions (Medica), and Freedom (HealthPartners) are Cost plans. Starr Marshall, a Medicare agent at Reliable Agency in Cloquet, says the news will ease fears. “I have been receiving calls from clients that are concerned about this and I a...
MNsure announced a 30-day special enrollment period for qualified individuals who are currently without insurance, in response to the potential growth of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases. The enrollment period began Monday, March 23, and runs through April 21. It allows uninsured individuals 30 days to enroll in health insurance coverage through MNsure.org. Individuals who enroll after April 1 but before 11:59 p.m. on April 21 will have a retroactive coverage start date of April 1. “As more cases of COVID-19 are diagnosed throughout the state, w...
Community Memorial Hospital in Cloquet welcomes Ronald Alston, the new practice administrator for CMH Raiter Family Clinic and Specialty Clinic. Alston is originally from Washington, D.C. and moved to Rochester, Minn., following high school graduation. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in human and healthcare administration. Prior to joining CMH, he was employed in the Mayo system and Essentia Health. During his career he has worked with community organizations combining healthcare and com...
Community Memorial Hospital in Cloquet welcomes Dr. William Haug, who has joined the CMH Emergency Services department. Dr. Haug is a native of Grafton, North Dakota and graduated from University of Minnesota Medical School. He completed a sports medicine fellowship in Montana and is board- certified in family medicine and primary care sports medicine. His work experience includes health services in Alaska and Red Lake, as well as sports medicine in Grand Forks....
This week we have settled into the realization that everything is canceled except grocery shopping, critical medical appointments and emergency travel. At least folks seem to be paying attention and following the guidelines of our health experts. I, for one, haven’t done much away from home. I did have to make a quick trip to town for much-needed supplies, but did not try to overstock my shelves by hoarding any items. If we do run out of some things, I’m sure we can make do with what we sti...
Hoping, dear readers, that you are finding it a kind of strange gift to be shut out of most social events and gathering holes. At first, I discovered the joys of just staying home, cleaning out the corners of our home where detritus had piled up and whittling down the pile of deferred correspondence. But, watching the birds avidly dining at our feeders, I got restless. "Why don't we get out on our snowshoes?" I suggested to my husband Rod. So far we've gone four days in a row. We started by...
