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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Early in March we spent an afternoon soaking up the sun and strolling in the stunning Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix. It was quite busy, even for a weekend. Part of the draw was the butterfly house ... and the added crowd attractor was the annual plant sale. A plant sale? In March? Oh, to be a Zone 9 gardener. Our temperatures here in Zone 3 are finally creeping into the 50s, and the aching to see green and the urge to get our hands dirty in the garden are palpable. Despite the cold hard...
A couple of times a week I would drop down the ridge behind my childhood home into the lowlands that led to Big Otter Creek. Having made the journey dozens of times with my older brothers, I was confident in my footsteps. Alone now, each trip took a slightly different route. Would I drop into the slop and plow a straight line toward the deep bend where the two tall pines shadowed the pool? Would I follow the neighbor’s fence to where it crossed the creek at a set of frothy rapids? There was n...
Hello to another edition of "Look at that!" I have been on the run recently and found myself in Anchorage, Alaska, where two of my grandchildren live. The last time I traveled was my first trip to Hawaii, where I was struck by the similarities in geology between the north shore of Oahu and the north shore of Lake Superior. Even though our north shore is about a billion years older, the similarities were striking. I decided to look for any similarities in the Anchorage area and Carlton County but...
The season of spring may well be considered the season of new. As the latest-model boats and motorcycles hit the market, grills and other summertime recreation equipment fill the stores, and the newest offerings for gardening, camping, backyard get-togethers or home renovation and yard care pour in, it stands to reason that producers know we are wide-eyed after being holed up for the long cold spell. On top of all that, lawn care, tree maintenance and stump removal businesses will soon be in...
Last week, the Carlton Soil and Water Conservation District brought you Part 1 of a story on water quality and agriculture, which highlighted the ways farmers can make an impact - positively or negatively - on local water quality through the choices they make in raising cattle. This week, we'll concentrate on the use of manure pits and how to properly handle abandoning them when they are no longer needed. Most farmers who have feedlots or barnyards have had manure pits constructed. These are...
Spring seems to be here - and if not, at least the promise of spring is finally in the air after a good five months of winter. But I'm still waiting for the other shoe to drop. Last year, the last blizzard blasted us on April 23. Spring never seems to be a sure thing around here. Only winter is a sure thing, it seems. What a winter we're shaking off! Some towns set snow records and others came close to the state low record. The Cotton area missed it by only four degrees. Temperature stats for...
We have now officially entered spring! Shouts of “Hooray!” and sighs of relief can be heard from warm-weather fans all through the area (I know most of our office is Team Summer). Still, even if you’re cheering this opening act of a warmer season, a damaging reality almost always goes with it — flooding. It is one of the greatest threats to homeowners in our state and looking to be a formidable foe this year. With a wet fall sparking a deep winter soil freeze and a snowy February, it’s li...
The Carlton County sheriff’s office is warning residents to be aware of spring flooding risk, stating in a press release, “We currently are experiencing higher than normal amounts of moisture in the snow pack. This, combined with saturated soils from rain last fall, elevate our risk of flood danger. We are monitoring and will continue to monitor the situation. Currently the weather looks good for the near future for slow melting which helps with flood risk, but we want to get the following information out to Carlton County residents and visitor...
Warm weather and significant rainfall in parts of the state have resulted in slush and standing water on many water bodies, leading to rapid ice deterioration and making travel over the ice difficult and extremely unsafe, according to the Department of Natural Resources. While most lakes across the state remain ice-covered, increased spring sunlight combined with previous precipitation means ice conditions can change dramatically within a matter of hours, even when the air temperature remains low. Ice this time of year is dangerously deceptive...
My dad is full of old sayings he keeps on hand, waiting to disperse them at opportune times. “Push hard, comes easy,” is one of my all-time favorites. Growing up, he would offer these subtle words of wisdom when we had a difficult chore or heavy lifting that called upon our collective manpower. His words have stuck with me. No matter if I’m honing my lesson or fishing plans, my father’s advice has served me well. Taking my own kids fishing is a perfect example. They will only see the end res...
Ever wonder how the DNR sets deer hunting regulations? Or how you can provide input on deer management in your area? Local wildlife managers across the state are inviting the public to come to open house meetings to ask their deer questions and learn about the state’s most popular mammal. In Cloquet, the open house will be held 6-8 p.m. Thursday, March 28 at the DNR’s Cloquet area office located at 1604 Highway 33 S., Cloquet. In addition to discussing general concerns about deer, individuals can ask DNR staff about last year’s harvest data,...
The last couple of weeks I’ve detailed techniques that shape the way I approach most days on the water. Power-corking and lead-core trolling are fantastic tools that I’ve added to my arsenal — both serve me well at specific times and places. I don’t power-cork every day, and lead-core trolling shines only under certain circumstances; a third technique I use almost every time I hit the water is casting reaction-style baits. Over the years, subtle approaches like Lindy rigging and vertica...
As Minnesotans are still digging out from what was the snowiest February on record throughout much of the state, deer enthusiasts may grow concerned about the condition of the white-tailed deer herd and wonder if supplemental feeding is needed to prevent population declines. Although deer feeding can be well-intentioned, the DNR recommends against it. Why? In short, what we know now is that the risks of these feeding practices easily outweigh the potential benefits. Some examples include: Disease risks – The congregation of animals at c...
Last week I detailed the “nuts and bolts” of power-corking. Power-corking shines when fish are concentrated on a specific structure. When fish are randomly spread out across the expanse, it’s time to break out the lead-core trolling rods. The lead-core technique starts with the line itself. Lead-core is a Dacron or braid coated line with lead at its “core” or center. Instead of relying on snap-weights, sinkers, or the natural dive curve of a crankbait, the lead-core itself controls lure depth. E...
The timing couldn't have been better. The conditions were perfect this year for the annual Cloquet City Ski Meet, an event featuring both ski jumping and Nordic ski races at Pine Valley. The sun was out, the temperatures were cold enough to keep the snow frozen, but not cold enough to freeze tiny fingers and toes. It hadn't rained yet. And the congenial atmosphere at the meet was just as sunny as the weather. In addition to the many members of the now thriving Cloquet Ski Club - which meets...
Spring rain, melting snow and culverts plugged with ice can cause water to back up onto highways. The Minnesota Department of Transportation reminds motorists to be watchful for flooded areas, as water can rise quickly. MnDOT crews have already been working to thaw frozen culverts and will continue to monitor conditions. If flooding occurs, lanes or other sections of highway may need to be closed with barricades and other traffic control devices. MnDOT also reminds all motorists that driving through standing or moving water is dangerous, and...
Six different teams from Carlton County and as far afield as Grand Rapids and Superior took to the softball diamond Saturday for a tournament in the snow. They call it "snoftball" and it was a ball, said Lee Harris, player, tournament organizer and board member of the nonprofit Kingdom Builders Ministries and its Common Ground coffee shop. "The snow was a challenge, but also it was an absolute blast," said Harris, noting that between tournament play and a special combo team made up of people...
Last week, I touched on the growing problem of chloride (salt) pollution in our waterways, and steps that we can all take to help slow the increase of this substance. This time, we are going to dive a little deeper into the trauma that salt pollution has on a natural landscape and why this is important. Before anything else, I want to mention again that chloride is a permanent pollutant in water. Yes, we can purify and remove contaminants. But by no means can we do so to treat all the water in...
The deadline to remove fish house from inland lakes is inching closer. For structures on lakes in the northern third of the state, the deadline is the end of the day Monday, March 18. The deadline was March 4 for the southern two-thirds of the state. If shelters are not removed by the deadline, owners may be prosecuted and structures may be confiscated and removed, or destroyed by a conservation officer. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources urges anglers who haven’t yet removed their shelters to make plans now to ensure they meet t...
It’s an easy trap to fall into: fishing the same body of water, same time of year, same location, same tactic, year in and year out. Admittedly, the draw of familiarity is a strong one. I could tell you exactly where I will crappie fish on Memorial Day this spring, or what nights around the June full moon I will troll post-spawn walleyes. However, the one constant in fishing is change. To be successful year in and year out, you must not fall into the trap of only fishing memories — fle...
They were a small but hardy crew who competed in Saturday's Frozen Forester triathlon or 5K race at Pine Valley. Organizer and forester Tim Krohn said the triathlon had six entrants and four finishers. The triathlon included a 6.8-mile ski, 4.6-mile pedal (on fat-tire bikes, of course), and a 3.1-mile no-shoe/snowshoe run. There were bonus time deductions for wearing plaid and bringing soup. The Frozen Forester 5K race started later and followed the Frozen Forester's ribbon line through the wood...
Better late than never. Minnesota’s record month of February snow is a boon to winter sports enthusiasts. With more than 18 inches of snow covering two-thirds of the state, there’s still time for people to register their snowmobile and ride the state’s 22,000 miles of trails before the snowy winter melts into spring. Cross-country skiing opportunities this season are also excellent and purchasing the Minnesota Ski Pass provides access to more than 1,100 miles of state and grant-in-aid cross-country ski trails at more than 90 state, regional and...
Minnesota has a new state record lake sturgeon so large that anglers had to drill five holes to fit the 6 1/2 foot long fish through the St. Croix River ice. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has certified the fish as a state catch-and-release record. Early on in the effort to catch the fish on Feb. 9, record holder Darren Troseth knew he had something special on the line. "I've seen a lot of big sturgeon in my life, but I was stunned when I got a look at it," Troseth said. Troseth...
Wise woman, cultural anthropologist and author Margaret Mead once said: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world." This describes what the Carlton County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) has been attempting, but recently it has undergone big changes of its own. At the end of 2018, Carlton SWCD bid farewell to three board supervisors who left SWCD service: James Nynas, Mark Thell, and Joe Lambert. "We are sad to see Jim, Mark and Joe leave...
Low-salt diets are a common recommendation for many adults these days. Doctors have individuals adjust the consumption of foods and seasonings to limit their intake of sodium and in turn have healthier lives. Recently, a similar diet is being recommended for Minnesota water bodies. Professionals from organizations like the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and Freshwater Society, who keep a close watch on the quality of water in the state, are advocating for waterways to have a low-salt...
