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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Picture a surgery room. A neurosurgeon is performing surgery on the patient's spine. But only after a state-of-the-art X-ray machine does a 360-degree scan of the patient - creating an interactive picture, or template of the person's spine that allows the surgeon to see precisely where his surgical tools are going inside the patient's back. "It's like GPS for the spine," neurosurgeon Dr. Matthew Davies explained, pointing to a large screen that shows the spine model on the table before him and...
The Carlton school board received the results of the annual audit on Monday night and learned that this year’s deficit is lower than expected. Janel Bitzan of the accounting firm BerganKDV outlined the results via remote video presentation. “The amended budget called for a decrease [in the general fund] of $463,000. The actual was a decrease of about $65,000. So about $397,000 better than you anticipated the fund balance to come out,” she said. Why the big disparity between the anticipated and actual? Mostly it was federal dollars coming into...
Last week, the Carlton County’s office dismissed two first-degree criminal sexual conduct charges previously filed against Chad Arnold Connor. The reason listed was “prosecutorial discretion.” When contacted, Carlton County Attorney Lauri Ketola declined to discuss Connor’s case specifically. She did, however, talk about the challenge of prosecuting cases that revolve around conduct from years before. “It can be difficult to prove,” said Ketola, who has made prosecuting sexual abuse a priority. She noted that her office doesn’t file charges...
Those who didn’t get a text message or email announcing the “shelter in place” order in Cloquet on Jan. 8 might want to register with the Cloquet Police Department’s Nixle service. Nixle was created for local law enforcement, designed to notify the public of community updates, public advisories and emergency alerts. To sign up for notifications and alerts using the Nixle messaging system, text the city’s zip code (55720) to 888777 and follow the prompts, or follow the link: https://l...
Friday, Jan. 19 is the last day to take advantage of the Wall of Wine and raffle from noon to 7 p.m. at Cold One Liquor in Cloquet. For a donation of $20, guests select a random bottle of wine and an envelope containing a gift card ranging in value from $10 to $100 donated from an area business. The event is first come, first served, with payment by cash or check only. Raffle tickets are also available. All proceeds go toward supporting Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College student scholarships....
The Cloquet Educational Foundation’s biggest fundraiser is coming up fast. There is a limited number of tickets available for the 22nd annual Blue Jean Ball on Saturday, Feb. 3 at the Black Bear Casino Resort. Tickets are $50 per seat and support educational grants in Cloquet. Social hour begins at 5 p.m., with dinner, auctions and games to follow. Contact Jody Acers at 218-879-3806 or [email protected] for tickets or for more information....
The Essentia Health-Moose Lake hospital has been re-designated as an acute stroke-ready hospital by the Minnesota Department of Health. The re-designation means the hospital has stringent protocols, collaborations, testing and education and partnerships in place to help achieve the best possible outcome for patients who suffer this potentially deadly health event. The designation is good for three years. “We are prepared to care for stroke patients 24/7 and are committed to providing high-quality care to patients undergoing this serious a...
CreativEdge opened in downtown Carlton in 2017 when Jessie Waldorf, with the support of her husband, Joe, jumped from being employed as a full-time graphic artist for more than 15 years to beginning an adventure as a business owner. After starting out as a design studio, CreativEdge has evolved into a full-service print shop offering graphic design, print services, apparel decorating, promotional products and creative workshops. With her knowledge and experience in the design and printing...
A suspected double murder/suicide at the Super 8 hotel in Cloquet Monday resulted in the death of a Cloquet woman and two male hotel guests, one of the men the killer. The shooting forced the evacuation of the hotel and nearby businesses and a community lockdown as authorities searched for a suspect. That search ended in the hotel parking lot, where the suspected shooter was found dead with evidence suggesting a self-inflicted gunshot wound. By midweek, investigators still had no information on...
"To know Shellby was to love Shellby," said Lizzie Strickland of Shellby Trettel, the 22-year-old Cloquet woman who died Monday after being shot during a shift as a clerk at the Super 8 hotel in Cloquet. Police are still trying to find out if there was a motive behind the shootings, and if Trettel was targeted. Her friends and family want people to remember Trettel for the person she was, not as just a tragic statistic. "I think everybody should see her smile, and her laugh and how she was. Who...
A dispute involving a boxcutter between two students at Barnum schools Tuesday led to a short lockdown and an arrest of a 14-year-old girl. The Carlton County Sheriff’s Office reported that it received a call from the district just after 9 a.m. about a student attacking a classmate with a knife. A 16-year-old boy suffered a slight slash wound to his chest. When deputies arrived, school staff had subdued the 14-year-old girl and were taking care of the boy. The victim was brought to Mercy Hospital in a private car and is “expected to make a ful...
Carlton school board filled its leadership positions at its organizational meeting Monday. Julianne Emerson was re-elected to her position as chair. This will be her fourth consecutive year in the role. To date, she has served on the board 11 years total, leaving in 2018 and returning in 2020 as a write-in candidate. Over her previous terms starting in 2010, she served as chair for six years. Salaries for board members were renewed without change. Board members receive $1,000 a year plus $40 a meeting. Based on the tentative schedule, a member...
Of all the unwelcome house guests you may ever host, few are as nasty as radon. The colorless, odorless gas occurs naturally in Minnesota soils and is found at elevated levels in nearly 40 percent of all homes in the state. It also is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. In fact, each year this unwelcome house guest kills more than 21,000 people across the country. While there are cheap and easy ways to test for radon, many people are unaware of the risks and may not be getting the help they need to be safe. Fortunately, the...
Residents of Carlton County are eligible to apply for dislocated worker funding. This funding can be life-changing for people who have been laid off from a job and need a way to recover lost wages and benefits, according to JET, which serves adults, dislocated workers, public assistance recipients, and youth ages 14. Applicants must have been on Unemployment Insurance sometime in the past year to be considered. Funding can be used to assist with training and job search expenses such as help paying tuition for a 2-year degree or the last two...
A continuing shortage of bus drivers for routes in the Cloquet school district has provoked school board members to meet with its transportation company to find ways to ease the crunch. The issue came up in the work session before the board's organizational meeting on Monday. "Something's got to change," said member Ken Scarbrough. Melissa Juntunen said there have been far too many instances of parents finding out that a route can't be filled, leaving them to their own devices in getting kids...
Reorganization was the first item of business at the Thomson Township meeting on Thursday, Jan. 4. Ruth Janke will again serve as chair of the Thomson Township Board of Supervisors, with Bill Gerard as vice chair, both by unanimous vote. Board members voted to continue with their current committee assignments as well. The board also approved a list of office appointments including Leah Pykkonen as deputy clerk treasurer, Jon Bouvine as public works supervisor/assistant weed inspector, Dan...
By unanimous vote, Esko School board members re-elected the same officers to serve in 2024: Board chair Jerry Frederick, Vice chair Todd Rengo, Treasurer Maggie Sunnarborg and Clerk Steve McConnell. The group set board salary at $60 per meeting up to a maximum of $1,690 per year. Sunnarborg was the sole "no" vote. "I don't want any [salary] at all," she said. Board members also again selected the Pine Knot News as the school district's official newspaper....
There's a new game, and a lot of craft beer, in town. The 218 TapHouse opened for business on Wednesday, Dec. 27, in the business complex that includes Premiere Theatres on South Highway 33 in Cloquet. Southgate Family Pizza previously operated in the space that is now home to 218 TapHouse. "We had a very successful first week," said bar manager Dane Levinski. "Opening day was on a Wednesday and our seating was full with a good standing room crowd. Our weekends have been very popular." "The...
The University of Wisconsin-Superior announced its dean’s list for the fall 2023 semester. To be named to the list, students must have completed 12 degree-seeking semester credits and achieved at least a 3.50 grade point average on a 4.0 scale. Students from the area earning the honor include: Barnum Brynne Mickle, Joe Peterson Carlton Henry Collier, Samuel Collier, Matthew Hamann, Jadin Sullivan-Soukkala Cloquet Joseph Baker, Lexi Bakken, Adam Blesener, Ryan Conway, Maddie Kayser, Timber Latvala, Brenna Mattson, Gavin Rasmussen, Maria Sajdak,...
Barring an emergency, there will be no New Year's baby at Cloquet's Community Memorial Hospital this year. The three delivery suites - with private baths and whirlpools, forest views and aromatherapy patches - sit empty. "We've got a pause on it right now," said Rick Breuer, CEO of the independent nonprofit hospital. It is not a permanent change at this point, but it was necessary due to low staffing levels, Breuer said of the decision made last summer. "As much as I hate to blame anything on...
Were you born in 1976 and are turning only 12 this year? What camp are you in: Can Leap Year babies only celebrate a birthday on Feb. 29? On off years, should they celebrate Feb. 28 or March 1? So many questions. None of them earth-shattering, but quizzical nonetheless. The Pine Knot News wants to hear from Leap Year babies from age 1 to 150. Tell us about your unique date in personal history. Tell us how you celebrate. If nothing else, just let us know you are a Leap Year baby and we’ll publish a special page honoring all those to answer t...
Three new laws that were central to the DFL trifecta's legislative agenda took effect Jan. 1. Gun-safety laws, including so-called red flag warnings for people at risk of harming themselves or others, sweeping landlord-tenant changes and a statewide sick leave plan all became law on the first day of 2024. Here are descriptions of the new changes to Minnesota law. Paid sick leave The sick leave law covers all-but the self-employed, even those who work for employers with just one worker. It...
Over $9.5 million in new state grants will help aging Minnesotans stay in their homes longer through services such as caregiver support, housekeeping, retrofitting to prevent falls and other assistance. Research shows that people are happier and have better health outcomes when they can live in their homes longer, rather than moving into institutionalized care such as nursing homes. Projects funded in the Minnesota Department of Human Services include Volunteer Services of Carlton County with $192,000. The grant will help rebuild programs...
High school seniors and other Northland residents seeking financial assistance with advanced studies of all kinds can apply for scholarship support. The Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation provides more than 80 scholarship awards annually. Scholarships support students and job seekers who are pursuing postsecondary education throughout the region. The foundation website (dsacommunityfoundation.org) allows students to research eligibility based on the high school from which they graduated or GED program completed. Many of the scholarships...
A giant warehouse that will one day support the medical supply needs for more than 100 Essentia Health facilities has transformed the Esko Industrial Park over the past several months. Hidden from Highway 61 - where the park entrance is located - the dark rectangular building looms large to those driving past on Interstate 35. It represents a $36 million investment by the regional health care system. According to Essentia spokesperson Tony Matt, the building structure is complete. Contractors...
