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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In keeping with the altered state of life during a pandemic, the Cloquet Public Library kicked off a virtual summer reading program Monday. Instead of using physical time sheets to log their reading, the library is using Beanstack, an online software program for keeping track of reading time and activity challenges. Participants will earn badges and tickets along the way, and once they reach seven-hour reading time, every child will receive a free book. They can also turn in their tickets for a virtual grand prize drawing. Prizes are...
Add July Fourth festivities in Cloquet and the swimming pond at Pinehurst Park to the list of cancellations caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Cloquet City Councilors voted unanimously Tuesday to cancel all of the usual July Fourth activities, including the fireworks. The committee that organizes the event had hoped they could still offer the fireworks, and ask people to watch from cars or other uncrowded locations, but it wasn't to be. City administrator Tim Peterson requested the council not... Full story
The swimming pond at Pinehurst Park is another pandemic casualty, city staff and councilors determined during Tuesday's Cloquet city council meeting. Although there was no formal vote, councilors agreed with a staff assessment and the Cloquet parks commission that the The Beach at Pinehurst would not open this year. Public works director Caleb Peterson said it would take staff two weeks to fill the pond and balance the chemicals to start. Add a late start to the state's current prohibition... Full story
After much study and citizen input, the Carlton county transportation department has decided to keep the Kettle River county garage open as a base of operations for the area’s grader. Commissioner Gary Peterson recently attended a Split Rock Township board meeting with more than 15 people in the audience. “Not one person there thought the closure of the Kettle River garage was a good idea,” Peterson said. “I am glad that it has worked out to keep the garage open. My constituents support that action.” The county’s Barnum garage is being upgra...
The Carlton County Republican Party will hold its monthly meeting outside at Wrenshall’s Hugh Line Park at 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 8. Bring your own chair. All are welcome. Social distancing guidelines will be observed. Call Republican Party chairman Tony Sheda at 218-384-4734 for more information....
Cloquet's Sappi Mill is continuing to find its place in a pandemic world. Word that the Cloquet Sappi Mill is laying off some employees while it balances supply and demand as a result of the worldwide response to the COVID-19 virus isn't so much news as the new normal, at least for now. "These are unprecedented times for anybody and everybody," said Mike Schultz, former Cloquet mill manager and now vice president of manufacturing for Sappi North America, explaining that the mill has been...
The filing period for local political offices ended Tuesday, June 2 and there are both new and familiar faces in the mix. At the state level, incumbent Mike Sundin (DFL) will face challenger Jeff Dotseth (R) again in the general election for State Representative District 11A. For State Senator District 11, incumbent Jason Rarick (R) will face challenger Michelle Lee (DFL). For Carlton county commissioner, incumbent Dick Brenner will be challenged by Erik Blesener, while District 3 commissioner Tom Proulx is running unopposed. Three people are...
My maternal grandmother, Mildred Schulenburg, was born in Hull in northeastern England in 1910. During World War I, her hometown was a common target for Zeppelin airships, and she recounted stories of watching neighbors perish in the attacks. When she was 18 her family immigrated to the United States. In October of that year the United States was plunged into the Great Depression. When she was 80 years old she built a new house for herself, and we have a snapshot of her hanging on a kudzu vine....
Graduation Gallery!... Full story
A gathering held in Cloquet Saturday afternoon to remember George Floyd lasted close to two hours, with a peaceful reflective vibe. A handful of people spoke at the park rally as more than 100 people gathered around, most wearing facemasks and keeping their distance from each other, then 60-plus marched to the police station and City Hall. As a group they took a knee together for 8 minutes, 40 seconds ... the time a Minneapolis police officer knelt on Floyd’s neck. Organizer Taysha Martineau o... Full story
You just can't cancel Memorial Day. After initially announcing there would be no ceremonies by the Combined Cloquet Honor Guard because of coronavirus concerns, events to honor the nation's fallen soldiers came together anyway. At Cloquet's Veterans Park, a prayer was said, wreaths were laid - representing each branch of the military - and Marine Lance Corp. Bryce Moe played taps on his trumpet, as a crowd of nearly two dozen people stood silently Monday morning. At Hillcrest Cemetery, above...
With the permanent closure of the Salvation Army store last week, Cloquet is now officially a thrift store desert. The Salvation Army Northern Division blamed "the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic" for the closure of the thrift store at 316 Carlton Avenue in Cloquet, along with stores in Morris, Faribault and Fairmont. "This is the type of decision that is tough to make, because it has an impact on staff and the communities we serve," said Lt. Colonel Lonneal Richardson, commander of The Salvatio... Full story
School board members got a glimpse this month of what a budget for a Carlton and Wrenshall consolidated district might look like. Some rough data project a significant fund balance increase for school operations in a consolidation. With current enrollment staying intact, savings in administrative salary costs would drive a $786,200 balance of revenues over expenditures. Representatives from Arrowhead Regional Computing Consortium presented the numbers during a joint meeting of the district school boards online last week. ARCC’s Jennifer S...
After closing public access to city facilities since March, the City of Cloquet is opening back up, one step at a time. City parks reopened last week, with cautionary signs posted to let residents know that playgrounds aren’t sanitized and park users (including the skatepark and basketball court) should follow social distancing recommendations. Pinehurst Pond and indoor rental space remain closed at this time. The library also reopened for staff but is offering curbside pickup of material. To request materials, call 218-879-1531 or emailing c...
The filing period for county elected offices ends on June 2. Three county commissioner spots are up for election in November for Districts 1, 3 and 5. Three Carlton Soil & Water Conservation District seats are up in Districts 1, 4 and 5. Sixth District Court Seats 3 and 14 in Carlton County are also on the ballot this fall. File for state and county offices at the Carlton County Auditor’s Office, Room 205 of the Carlton County Courthouse, 301 Walnut Ave, Carlton, Minnesota 55718. Candidates may file in person or by mail, as long as the f...
Following a lengthy discussion during the work session Tuesday, Cloquet school board members voted 4-2 to give high school students an "incomplete" grade instead of an "F" if they failed a class during the fourth quarter, when the district switched to distance learning. Getting an "I" on their report card means students will have to make up the class in order to receive credit for the course. Cloquet high school principal Steve Battaglia initially proposed that failing students receive an asterisk instead of a grade for any classes they...
Washington Elementary School held a "reverse parade" Thursday afternoon and Friday morning. Retiring teachers sat in special personalized parade floats outside the building, while other school staff found a place to stand or sit so they could wave and chat with students who were driven (clockwise) past the school building. Teachers made signs with messages for students, and the weather cooperated. There are a number of retirements in the district this year. Cloquet Schools: Retirements... Full story
Following interviews in April that resulted in a renewed and somewhat altered search for a new leader, Cloquet Area Fire District board members interviewed two new fire chief/CEO candidates on Wednesday. One of them, Brian Fritsinger, is familiar to Cloquet residents, as he led the city for nearly two decades as city administrator before taking a job as deputy county administrator in neighboring St. Louis County in 2017. Candidate George Esbensen currently works as the director of sales and...
After more than a year's wait, two Carlton County departments are being moved from the Courthouse to the former city hall building in Cloquet. At the regular meeting Tuesday, May 26, the Carlton County board of commissioners unanimously approved moving the Economic Development office and the county coordinator/human resources/property management office led by Dennis Genereau to the old City Hall office space at the corner of Cloquet Avenue and 14th Street. "This is a first step," Genereau said....
The Cloquet City Council will hold a special meeting at 3 p.m. Tuesday, June 2 via teleconference, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes Section 13D.021 in response to the COVID-19 emergency, to conduct Police Chief interviews. To submit a question or comment regarding the interviews, email [email protected] prior to the meeting and include “Police Chief Interviews” in the subject line, along with your name and address. All comments are considered public data....
There are three Cloquet city council positions up for election: Ward 4, Ward 5 and At-Large. Because Cloquet City Hall is currently closed to the public, affidavits of candidacy will be accepted by appointment and curbside, Monday through Friday between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Make an appointment by calling 218-655-1501 or emailing either [email protected] or [email protected]. The filing period ends at 5 p.m. on June 2....
The Cloquet Public Library will be offering limited computer access starting Monday, June 1. Patrons can reserve one 45-minute session per week. There are three computers with printing capability available 3:30-6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 3:30-5:30 p.m. Friday. To reserve your session, call 218-879-1531 on the day you would like to use the computer. Come to the library at your scheduled time. Wear a mask, and wait in the library lobby until a staff member brings you inside....
One thing is certain: the Class of 2020 will have lots of stories to tell future generations about their final school days. Last Friday marked the beginning of the high school graduation season with three ceremonies - for Carlton, Cromwell-Wright and Cloquet graduates - each one organized differently but taking into account the COVID-19 pandemic and state guidelines to avoid large gatherings and maintain social distancing. In Cloquet it was a true drive-in movie experience. Cars started lining... Full story
4 scholarship recipients • Jordan Allen: Myhrwold/Kayser Scholarship • Taylor Anderson: Cloquet Community Scholarship • Tasia Beatty: Cloquet Community Scholarship • Kiana Bender: Education Minnesota-Cloquet Scholarship • Rachel Blais: Community Memorial Hospital General Scholarship, Duluth News Tribune General Scholarship, Cloquet Community Scholarship • Sophia Brenner: Sons of Norway Scholarship, Ludwig and Delores Hiti Memorial Scholarship, Anway Memorial Scholarship, Tim Stark General Scholarship • Ryan Conway: Education Minnesota-Clo... Full story
It has been a historic time these past couple of months. Many of our programs have been halted due to the COVID-19 spread. I know people who are infected with COVID-19, or who have died from it. While many people, fortunately, have no or very light symptoms, it is devastating for others. I want to recognize all the workers who have stayed with our child care programs during this time. This vital service allows medical workers, law enforcement and corrections staff and other emergency workers to...
