Our View: Cheers and jeers

Cheers: To the Cloquet Fourth of July committee and coordinator Alyson Leno, for putting such tremendous effort into planning and executing the Cloquet Fourth of July celebrations. Enjoyed by thousands, many won’t even realize the work that goes into executing such a major event. It’s not too late to volunteer: Call Alyson at 218-879-1551 if you have a couple hours to help out next week.

Cheers: To the first Cloquet Senior Citizens Day June 14 and the senior resource fair and celebration at the Armory the same day. Led by Pine Knot News guest columnist Starr Marshall (of Reliable Insurance) and organized in three weeks, the event offered free food and beverages, numerous booths with relevant information and items for sale, lots of freebies, and even a fun photo booth courtesy of Alan Johnson Photography. “Imagine what we can do next year when we have even more time,” Marshall said. We echo her hopes of turning it into an annual event, to coincide with World Elder Abuse Awareness Day.

Jeers and Cheers: Jeers to the Cloquet City Council’s premature announcement of a special election to fill councilor Dakota Koski’s seat. It turns out the council must wait until a regular election day (Nov. 5) and will appoint someone to fill that seat until then. Having just appointed a councilor a few years ago when Adam Bailey moved out of town, the city should have known the proper procedure. We’d also like to offer cheers to those Cloquet residents in Ward 3 willing to step up to the plate and apply for that open council seat (the city will take applications through July 10). Serving city government is a lot of work and a big responsibility. We’re hoping the council will have a qualified and wide selection to choose from.

Cheers: To the Cloquet City Council for its courage in censuring Ward 5 Councilor Steve Langley. While the move is largely ceremonial, the message came through: Councilors should know and follow their own “City Council Values Statement” in following directives to “encourage engagement and increased participation of the City Council and community” and to “encourage open and free communication” and “respect difference of opinion.” We agree. People must feel free to express their disapproval of council or councilor actions and not fear someone calling their employer afterward.

Cheers: To the respectful kids at the new skateboard park. This is the first summer season for the park, and some feared trouble, as has happened at so many other skateparks. The skatepark’s open design and its location along a busy street help, but the kids using the park seem to be self-monitoring. We hope they keep it up.

Jeers: To the railroad train whistles blowing all night long through our city. As the whistles got louder, the City addressed the problem by closing some unused intersections and cooperating in the installation of cross arms and signals. Still, the railroad blows its whistles too long, too loud, and too late at night, annoying too many residents stretched along the railroad from Scanlon to the Reservation.