Pine Knot News - A hometown newspaper with a local office, local owners & lots of local news

The morning of June 21, Father's Day, broke hot and humid in the Twin Cities. I was visiting my daughter and son-in-law and three of my grandsons. My work quarantine was over and, for the first time i...

Not every sports event has been canceled. At 9 a.m. Saturday, July 18, the Frozen Forester Pine Valley Bike and Run is still on at Pine Valley Recreation Area in Cloquet. The event is a fundraiser to... Full story

In recent columns I’ve talked about my walking prowess and how I have used this time to enjoy outdoor walks with my wife each night. It is well reported that I am not in a rush when I go out for... Full story

In a normal spring and summer, area youth soccer players would be smack-dab in the middle of their seasons, but with the COVID-19 pandemic that has all changed. Until recently, no teams had even... Full story

I saw something unusual the other day while visiting some neighbors down the street. They have three kids and the two boys were outside playing what appeared to be a game of tag. Those of us who grew... Full story

It must have seemed like Christmas to the youth hockey players Monday when Northwoods Credit Union Arena opened on a limited basis for hockey camp. "I am having a great day because I am looking out my... Full story

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... Full story

The COVID-19 pandemic has been wreaking havoc on sports across the country and this area is no exception, with youth baseball and softball in a holding pattern. Cloquet Area Youth Baseball/Softball... Full story

In talking with a co-worker on Tuesday, we were hashing about ideas for this column. He suggested I go back a year and write about what happened then. A year ago on Memorial Day weekend, the Section 7... Full story

Cloquet High School seniors were met with well-wishers from the school staff Saturday as they picked up graduation gowns and other materials. The raucous event was part of ongoing efforts to bring... Full story

With the current lull in the sports world due to the COVID-19 pandemic, now is a good time to discuss two dire needs in the Minnesota sports world: referees and coaches. Across the state, the... Full story

Pandemic or not, there are still some things we can do. Last week I was able to enjoy a short trip to the deer shack, somewhere near Cromwell. It brought a welcome respite from being boxed in and... Full story

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the sports world across the globe has slowed to a crawl and in some instances seems to have stopped completely. But there is still work to be done in the case of a few... Full story

Anticipation was running high in mid-March for the Cloquet girls softball players. The Lumberjacks had returned to the gym and were preparing to defend their Section 7AAA title and make a run at a sta... Full story

The 2020 NFL draft is history, and provided history at the same time. For the first time the draft was not held in a centralized location. It was held from the basements, kitchens, recreation rooms...

Golf courses across the state got some good news last week when Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz decided to allow courses to open, albeit with some restrictions. The Friday announcement was perfect timing for... Full story

Apparently I should have been a comedy writer. After last week’s column I’ve been inundated with comments from people who said they got a kick out of me describing the daily walks my wife and I... Full story

The great mystery of when sports will start again has athletes all over the state and country trying to weigh their options. With the shutdown in full swing and sports on hold, it is up to each... Full story

Last week in the Pine Knot News we featured a story on the benefits of walking and how people across the state, and especially in our area, are walking more than ever during the COVID-19 pandemic.... Full story

Sports as we usually know them may be on the back burner, but people all over the country are rediscovering ways to stay fit. Chief among those is walking. One look around neighborhoods in the area...

Every sports fan has a favorite sport. For me, that sport is baseball. Every sports fan is probably missing watching his or her favorite sport on television, listening on the radio and reading about i...

The COVID-19 pandemic has meant college athletes have seen their seasons end early or simply not start. A number of Cloquet grads are home now instead of competing at their chosen university. St. Clou... Full story

Safer at home, uncertain times, flattening the curve, social distancing ... are all terms that have become commonplace since the coronavirus hit the United States. And that is just the tip of the... Full story

For now, high school sports and other activities in Minnesota are in a holding pattern. The Minnesota State High School League first shut down all spring sports March 13 through today and now will... Full story

Sports fans come in all types. They all have at least one thing in common and that is their love for sports. How are sports fans coping with the lack of sports during the COVID-19 pandemic? The Pine... Full story