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Articles from the February 2, 2024 edition


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  • Top wildlife authority talks wolves

    Brady Slater|Feb 2, 2024

    Already into the second month of 2024, the ramifications of a poor November deer hunt continue to linger. Fewer deer sightings and harvests in northeastern Minnesota have riled up hunters, and the new Minnesota-based group Hunters for Hunters has capitalized. The group's ongoing public meetings in small towns throughout northeastern Minnesota draw hundreds of participants, and have turned the focus onto wolf predation of the deer population. Noticeably quiet throughout the surge in anti-wolf... Full story

  • Wanted for fire district: money and space

    Noah Beardslee|Feb 2, 2024

    While a statewide task force examines challenges facing emergency medical services in rural Minnesota, the Cloquet Area Fire District's status as a special taxing district - with its ability to levy taxes over a broad area - is being looked at as a model. But its reliance on property taxes and ambulance billing with the absence of local government aid affects necessities such as building maintenance and staffing. CAFD officials are hoping the state legislature will come through with a more balan... Full story

  • Knot Pining: 1937 post office mural's fate is a mystery

    Mike Creger|Feb 2, 2024

    There was an interesting program on Minnesota Public Radio last week on the New Deal, the government efforts in the 1930s to pull the country out of the Great Depression. Included in the Jan. 24 Marketplace program was a segment on the Living New Deal project, an effort to locate and map across the country the many projects spurred by President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal through the Works Progress Administration and other federal agencies. One of those projects was the Cloquet Post Office,... Full story

  • Chili cookoff coming next week

    Feb 2, 2024

    Holy Smokes Coffeehouse & BBQ is holding a chili cookoff fundraiser 4:30-8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 9. Eat and vote for your favorite chili or enter your own by picking up an application at the restaurant, located at 103 Ave. C, in the West End of Cloquet. Tickets will be available for purchase that evening: adults $20, children 5-12 $10, free for age 4 and under.... Full story

  • Snowplow names announced

    Feb 2, 2024

    The Minnesota Department of Transportation announced the winners of the Class of 2024 “Name a Snowplow” Contest. In order of the most votes, the winners are: Taylor Drift, District 2 (northwest Minnesota), 12,027 votes Clark W. Blizzwald, District 3 (central Minnesota). 6,667 votes Dolly Plowton, District 1 (northeast Minnesota), 6,315 votes Waipahiŋte (Dakota word for “snowplow”), District 8 (southwest Minnesota), 6,266 votes Beyonsleigh, District 4 (west central Minnesota), 6,016 votes You’re Killin’ Me Squalls, District 6 (southeast M...

  • Scholarships available

    Feb 2, 2024

    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...

  • Shooting motive remains unclear

    Feb 2, 2024

    Cloquet police say they still haven’t established a clear motive for the shooting at a hotel that left three people dead in that city on Jan. 8. Police chief Derek Randall said Monday they also haven’t found any connections between the two victims and the man suspected of killing them at the Super 8 hotel before taking his own life. Investigators are continuing to focus on digital evidence obtained at the scene and are awaiting a final autopsy report for the suspect, including toxicology results. That report is expected in four to six wee...

  • Carlton County man jumped to death in prison

    Jana Peterson|Feb 2, 2024

    Autopsy results are now public for Raymond Arthur Julian, the 67-year-old Kettle River man who died by suicide in state prison on Dec. 20. According to the report released by the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office on Jan. 25, Julian died of multiple blunt force injuries caused by a “jump from height.” The report gave no other details on the fall. Aaron Swanum, Minnesota Department of Corrections spokesperson, previously confirmed that Julian entered Minnesota Correctional Facility-St. Cloud on Dec. 20 and died the same day by suicide. Julia...

  • Cloquet man sentenced for child pornography

    Jana Peterson|Feb 2, 2024

    A Cloquet man is now serving prison time after pleading guilty to eight charges related to child pornography. Edward Christian, 76, was sentenced in November to 15 years in prison for seven charges of possession of pornographic work of a minor under age 14, and one count of using a minor under 14 years old for sexual performance. Sentences for each charge varied from 24 months to 180 months. The sentences will be served concurrently. If they had been served consecutively, Christian would have faced more than 61 years in prison. According to the... Full story

  • Neck protectors required for hockey

    Feb 2, 2024

    USA Hockey, which oversees hundreds of youth hockey leagues across the country, will require neck protectors for all of its players starting in August. The decision, which was announced Monday, comes after the death of Adam Johnson. Johnson, a Minnesota native, died after an on-ice collision during a hockey game in Sheffield, England in late October. Johnson was cut by a skate blade on his neck and later died from his injuries. Minnesota Hockey is the governing body of youth and amateur hockey in Minnesota. It is an affiliate of USA Hockey and... Full story

  • USDA low-income home loans available

    Feb 2, 2024

    USDA Rural Development is accepting applications for very-low- and low-income individuals and families seeking to purchase or repair homes in rural areas. The Direct Home Loan program offers financing to qualified very-low- and low-income applicants who are unable to qualify for traditional financing. No down payment is required, and the interest rate could be as low as 1 percent with a subsidy. Applicants must meet income and credit guidelines and demonstrate repayment ability. The program is available in rural communities of generally 35,000...

  • Wrenshall School Board plans search for new leader

    Brady Slater|Feb 2, 2024

    The Wrenshall school board approved a search firm to hire its next superintendent during a special meeting on Monday, landing on a familiar name, one run by current superintendent Jeff Pesta. Pesta’s Rising Tide School Board Services, based in his hometown of Deer River, will conduct the search, one targeting a full-time intern. “This is Jeff’s really innovative idea,” board chair Mary Carlson said during an interview Wednesday. “I’m ready for Wrenshall to be pioneering things, and this seems like a great solution when there is a shortage of...

  • Stauber is in, so rematch is on

    Feb 2, 2024

    U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber, who represents Carlton County as part of the Eighth Congressional District, announced Monday that he will seek a fourth term in Congress. His announcement comes a week after Jen Schultz, a Democratic candidate, said she will run again against the Republican. The two exchanged barbs for a week in press releases and campaign pitches as the announcements rolled in. In between the announcements, Pres. Joe Biden visited Duluth and Superior to tout $1.06 billion in funding. Bef... Full story

  • Board talks bathrooms

    Jana Peterson|Feb 2, 2024

    Cloquet High School bathrooms could soon be home to vape detectors if school administrators have their way. In response to questions about bathrooms and a state law requiring that schools provide space for gender-neutral, single-user restroom and locker room facilities, superintendent Michael Cary said he’s gotten no complaints about making the former faculty bathrooms available to all. It was the most simple solution at every school, since the single stall bathrooms were already essentially gen...

  • Business Spotlight: FARMERS INSURANCE

    Feb 2, 2024

    Hello, I’m Lisa Montminy, owner of the Farmers Insurance agency at 106 Ave. C in Cloquet, across from the new Holy Smokes Coffee House & BBQ. I am originally from Duluth and I have two children, Mylee and Brock. Prior to purchasing my agency, I worked in the restaurant industry, and was general manager of several restaurants in Duluth, and the food and beverage manager at Northland Country Club starting in 2018. It was fun to be part of such a creative team of people working together on the same vision. While working at Northland, I met Mark L... Full story

  • Tax filing window is open

    Feb 2, 2024

    Pine Knot News Minnesota taxpayers could begin filing their state and federal income tax returns as of Monday. Taxpayers have until April 15 to file and pay their state and federal income taxes. The Minnesota Department of Revenue offers more information at www.revenue.state.mn.us/ and offers the following useful tips for tax filers: • File a return to claim the new Child Tax Credit. Beginning with tax year 2023, you may qualify for a Child Tax Credit of $1,750 per qualifying child, with no limit on the number of children claimed. This is a ref...

  • Photos: Lots of giving when it comes to vets

    Feb 2, 2024

    Fifty-six residents at the Silver Bay Veterans Home were tickled to receive monogrammed winter vests last week, courtesy of Cloquet VFW Post 3979. During a previous visit, veteran and VFW junior vice commander Carl Schenk, at right with a resident, said he noticed how happy one of the nursing home residents was to have a visitor call him by name, and how another resident asked for a blanket during bingo. Warm winter vests with their first name seemed like a useful gift, he said. VFW officers... Full story

  • Son takes mom to the movies ... his movies

    Mike Creger|Feb 2, 2024

    A Cloquet High School graduate who now dabbles as a filmmaker has planned a special free screening of his short films for his mother next week at a theater in Duluth. "Cloquet native Allan H. Johnson has been making short films for the last seven years," a formal press release stated. "All of his films have played at film festivals in the Twin Cities area at one time or another. Some of his films have played around the world. However, his mom has never seen them." Johnson will remedy that in one... Full story

  • Quilting group gets award, cash

    Pine Knot News|Feb 2, 2024

    The Lake Country Power electricity utility selected the Lakeside Quilters of Tamarack as the winner of its annual Touchstone Energy Community Award. The co-op chose to recognize the group as its members volunteer time to make quality quilts by hand and donate to people in local communities. The quilters were awarded a plaque and $500 that will go toward materials needed for making quilts. "Receiving this award is an absolute honor because it recognizes our mission to give handmade quilts to peop...

  • Court in session for Valentine's Day

    Feb 2, 2024

    Cupid will make a stop at the Minnesota Judicial Branch this Valentine’s Day, as judges in three counties perform free Valentine’s Day weddings. St. Louis County District Court in Duluth will have one judge available to perform weddings if couples would like to get married on Valentine’s Day. Likewise, Judge Michelle Anderson at the St. Louis County District Court in Virginia also will marry couples on Feb. 14. “Performing weddings is one of the highlights of my job,” Judge Anderson said. “Valentine’s Day gives me an opportunity to share in t... Full story

  • On Mauer entering Hall

    Feb 2, 2024

    Pine Knot News columnist Steve Korby was curious about the Carlton County reaction to former Minnersota Twin Joe Mauer’s induction into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame, which was announced last week. So he asked. Catch his reaction to the news on Page 11. Howie Hanson, gifted Lumberjacks shortstop and publisher of Duluth’s Howie’s Blog: “First ballot is surprising. But Mauer respected the game throughout and will continue to be a legendary ambassador for baseball.” Keith Basney, Cloquet graduate and now Arizona resident: “Mauer Ha... Full story

  • Letter: Forestry Center status still a secret

    Feb 2, 2024

    As a former director, I have often been asked about the status of the Cloquet Forestry Center. I am not in the loop but did recently receive a copy of the University of Minnesota’s annual report, “View of the Woods,” which includes information on the forestry center. The following is taken from that report: “A focused working group of Fond du Lac and U of M representatives have been diving deeper into the details of possible collaborative research and outreach opportunities as we look into the future. This technical working group has been ch... Full story

  • Francy that: When it comes to saving the world, everybody matters

    Francy Chammings|Feb 2, 2024

    We live in the land of more than 10,000 lakes and 6,000 rivers and streams. Fresh clean water sustains our way of life from the systems in our homes, to the farmers who grow our food, to the outdoor recreation opportunities on or near our waterways. It is easy to take all of this for granted. Even though we experienced a record snowfall season last winter, our precipitation pattern left us very dry throughout the summer months. Our garden in Carlton County needed watering often, as did the... Full story

  • Lumberjacks hold on in OT

    Kerry Rodd|Feb 2, 2024

    A little over two weeks ago, the Cloquet boys basketball team throttled Duluth Marshall by 22 points in a home win. On Monday night, the 'Jacks managed to sneak away with a 77-66 overtime road win over the Hilltoppers despite an off night on offense. "We were lucky to get a win," said Cloquet coach Steve Battaglia. "We shot poorly, we were undisciplined on offense, and on defense we didn't do a good job of swarming to the basketball." Swarming to the ball was needed Monday because Duluth... Full story

  • The Ticker: A quick look at area teams in action

    Feb 2, 2024

    Thursday, Jan. 25 Girls Hockey Duluth Marshall 2 Moose Lake Area 1 Boys Hockey WSFLG 4 Moose Lake Area 1 Girls Basketball Duluth Marshall 77 Cloquet 73 South Ridge 73 Silver Bay 24 Cromwell-Wright 54 McGregor 37 Esko 82 ML/WR 29 Barnum 63 Two Harbors 40 Boys’ Basketball Proctor 53 South Ridge 48 Carlton/Wrenshall 87 McGregor 66 Friday, Jan. 26 Boys Basketball Cromwell-Wright 70 McGregor 49 Barnum 75 Two Harbors 69 Esko 79 ML/WR 63 Carlton/Wrenshall 94 Hill City 49 Boys Hockey Bemidji 4 CEC 2 Girls Hockey CEC 4 Chisago Lakes 2 Saturday, Jan. 2... Full story

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