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Articles from the February 16, 2024 edition


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  • For Janae, it's all smiles ... and a crowning moment

    Mike Creger|Feb 16, 2024

    The smile on Janae Sjodin's face was everything. But then someone must have said, "But wait, there's more." Wrenshall High School principal Michelle Blanchard called it all "surreal," like "something out of a movie." That Sjodin - the 2023 winter homecoming queen - was at the 2024 coronation on Friday, Feb. 9, to present new royalty was a real miracle. Eleven months ago, she was driving home with her sister Jaela after softball practice when their SUV was hit on Janae's side by a driver who... Full story

  • Citizen input mixed on Forestry Center plans

    Jana Peterson|Feb 16, 2024

    Close to 100 people gathered Tuesday to talk about the future of a place they all love, the Cloquet Forestry Center. Although University of Minnesota representatives presented the transfer of the Cloquet Forestry Center to the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa as a mostly done deal - with only the details left to be negotiated - that didn't stop people from sharing their opinions on the proposal. And that was the intent, said Karen Diver, former Fond du Lac tribal chairwoman and now...

  • A Friday night for royalty

    Feb 16, 2024

    It was a royal night of homecoming for schools on opposite ends of Carlton County last Friday.... Full story

  • Agency on Aging offers webinar series

    Feb 16, 2024

    The Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging announced the launch of a series of webinars aimed at providing valuable information and resources for community members and professionals, beginning Feb. 27. Learn about Minnesota’s multisector plan on aging, insights from the Age-Friendly Exchange, and how you can take action in the first webinar 12-1:30 p.m. Feb 27. Other topics include “Paying for Long-Term Care” 10-11:30 a.m. on Feb. 29, and “Paying Family Caregivers to Provide Care” 10-11:30 a.m. on March 19. Each webinar will feature knowledge...

  • "Escape the Vape" video challenge

    Feb 16, 2024

    Middle- and high school students across the state of Minnesota are being invited to participate in a contest to help educate their peers on the dangers of vaping, with the chance to win up to $500 for students and $500 for their associated school or organization. To participate, students will submit a 30-second public service announcement video to educate their peers, schools, families, and community on the dangers of using e-cigarettes. Email video submissions to mnescapethevape.org. by the end of February. Winners will be announced on May 7.... Full story

  • Vape detectors approved

    Jana Peterson|Feb 16, 2024

    In an effort to quell a vaping epidemic in Cloquet high school and middle school bathrooms, the Cloquet school board voted unanimously Monday to purchase a vaping detection system at a total cost of $21,699. The school district is purchasing 14 devices for the high school, 10 for the middle school and seven for the Cloquet Area Alternative Education Program at Garfield. “We’ve been trying for a number of years to see if we could address the vaping issue,” superintendent Michael Cary told the board, advocating for the purchase. “Our princip...

  • Board holds off on wolf resolution

    Brady Slater|Feb 16, 2024

    The Carlton County board pumped the brakes on a resolution lending support for delisting the gray wolf as a federally endangered species during its meeting Tuesday. The proposed resolution would have featured letters sent to federal legislators, including Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith and Rep. Pete Stauber. Instead, the board tabled the resolution until its 4 p.m. meeting Feb. 26. The proposed letter requests a return to state management of the wolf. Fewer deer sightings and harvests in northeastern Minnesota during November’s deer hunt h...

  • Carlton mulls the finances of consolidation

    Ted Lammi|Feb 16, 2024

    Public finance advisers Ehlers told the Carlton school board on Monday that a consolidation with Wrenshall would be close to revenue-neutral with only a slight decrease in state aid for the new combined school district. Aaron Bushberger, Ehlers’ municipal advisor, forecasted revenues that could be expected from a consolidation between Carlton and Wrenshall. Because the new district would be larger, it loses certain state aid to the tune of $61,000, which is partially offset by an increase of over $23,000 in the total tax levy, resulting in a n...

  • Northland Foundation grants

    Feb 16, 2024

    The Northland Foundation awarded nearly $2 million in grant funds in the last quarter of 2023 to benefit people and communities in its geographic service area. The lion’s share of grant dollars, $1,175,000, was awarded through the Northland Foundation’s Integrated Rural Community Aging Program. The program provides resources to help three targeted rural sites and three Tribal nations to integrate care coordination, social engagement, and quality of care for older adults, elders, and their caregivers. This is the second three-year phase of thi...

  • Mushroom foraging webinar coming

    Feb 16, 2024

    In a webinar on Wednesday, Feb. 21, a member of the Minnesota Mycological Society will discuss edible mushrooms that grow in Minnesota and how foraging for mushrooms, after learning how to do so safely, can be a fun and healthy way to find delicious wild food and connect with the outdoors. The Minnesota Outdoor Skills and Stewardship Series webinars are free and offered year-round, though registration is required. Visit the Outdoor Skills and Stewardship webpage of the Minnesota DNR website (mndnr.gov/discover) for the registration portal,...

  • County preps judges for March primary

    Brady Slater|Feb 16, 2024

    Adopted by the state in 2016 and first practiced in 2020, the presidential nomination primary gets its second go-round in Minnesota on March 5. That's when the state will join 14 others as part of Super Tuesday. To prepare locally, the office of the Carlton County auditor and treasurer conducted one of its series of hourlong training sessions Monday at the Transportation Building along County Road 61. Roughly 40 election judges and township clerks were in attendance, as the county trains its ros...

  • Candidates file for April 2 FDL tribal council vote

    Feb 16, 2024

    Members of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa will have plenty of choices in the primary election April 2. Names for three Reservation Business Council positions — Chairperson, District I (Cloquet) Committeeperson and District III (Brookston) Committeeperson — were released Monday. They are listing in alphabetical order below. Candidates for chairperson include James Roy Blacketter III, Kevin R. Dupuis Sr., John A. McMillen, Bruce M. Savage and Victoria (“Vickie”) A. Smith. Dupuis is the incumbent. Candidates for District I include...

  • AEOA Adult Education: One person's success story

    Pine Knot News|Feb 16, 2024

    Pranee left her home country, Thailand, to come to the United States so her son could receive the best education possible. Additionally, she hoped to improve her English speaking, reading, and writing skills. She joined Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency's (AEOA) Adult Education Classroom in Cloquet to attain these English language goals. AEOA offers a variety of adult education services to individuals who are at least 17 years old and not currently enrolled in secondary school. Adults can... Full story

  • Letter to the Editor: Story spurs action on wandering letter

    Feb 16, 2024

    In regard to the “Sticky letter” article in the Feb. 9 edition of the Pine Knot News, the very next morning a U.S. Postal Service mail van pulled up to my house. The postmaster of the Saginaw post office stepped out of the van and introduced herself. She told me that she had learned about a letter being repeatedly delivered incorrectly to my address. She asked me if I still had the letter. I did, and I gave it to her. She said she was going to personally make sure the letter got delivered to the correct address. Well done, Pine Knot News. You... Full story

  • Letter to the Editor: Roundabouts can work, I've seen it

    Feb 16, 2024

    I attended the Minnesota Highway 33 meeting on Feb. 1 at the Cloquet Library. Here are some things I can say about the discussion. I heard someone say the roundabout at Washington Avenue and 14th Street doesn’t work. I live close to that intersection, and when it first opened up, I took a walk along the sidewalk to the intersection and stood there for 10 or 15 minutes to observe the traffic flow. I saw cars, trucks, buses, and the big semi-tractor trailers, with the trailer, traversing it without difficulty. It worked smoothly. I use this round... Full story

  • Letter to the Editor: Dotseth is fighting for us in District 11A

    Feb 16, 2024

    I’m writing on behalf of Rep. Jeff Dotseth’s bid for reelection as representing Minnesota House District 11A in the state legislature. Jeff has firmly stood behind and represented the values of voters in our district. Unlike the ruling party in St. Paul, Jeff advocated to control state spending. He fought to return the $17.5 billion budget surplus to the pockets of the taxpayers. Instead, the Democrat-controlled legislature voted to increase state spending by a significant amount, eliminating the surplus. As a business owner, Jeff knows the... Full story

  • Seniors share 'This I believe' essays

    Feb 16, 2024

    The Feeling of Family By Merissa Witte When I was younger my dad would play bands on the radio like Bon Jovi, Van Halen, Guns N’ Roses. I’d sit there in the car with my siblings trying to figure out who the band was and what song of theirs it was. Truth is I never really knew the names of the bands; I just loved listening to music with my siblings and Dad. When I was about 10, I remember one Christmas where we were at my aunt and uncle’s house, playing “Apples to Apples.” It was my grandpa’s turn and the card was “something chewy.” Well,... Full story

  • Young 'Jacks run out of gas

    Kerry Rodd|Feb 16, 2024

    A massive run over the second half of the season propelled the Cloquet-Esko-Carlton girls hockey team into the Section 7A semifinals on Saturday against defending champions Proctor/Hermantown. But a slow start proved costly. The young Lumberjacks were unable to overcome an early deficit as they were ousted from the playoffs by a score of 6-0. "All season we prided ourselves in coming out ready to play," said CEC coach Kennedy Houge. "I think we were overly excited and then they got an early... Full story

  • Marshall flurries end MLA's season

    Kerry Rodd|Feb 16, 2024

    Less than two weeks ago, Moose Lake Area defeated Duluth Marshall 4-0 in girls hockey in Moose Lake. Last Saturday, MLA was looking to become the first Rebels girls hockey team to play in a section final if they could beat Hilltoppers again. It wasn't in the cards. The Rebels struggled to match the firepower of Marshall and were bounced from the Section 7A tournament 5-1. "I thought we had a good edge to start the game and we had some chances early," said Rebels head coach Reilly Fawcett. "We we... Full story

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

    Feb 16, 2024

    THURSDAY, FEB. 8 BOYS HOCKEY CEC 3 Sartell 2 Northern Lakes 5 Moose Lake Area 0 BOYS BASKETBALL Denfeld 70 Cloquet 59 GIRLS BASKETBALL North Woods 72 Fond du Lac 21 Cloquet 82 Coon Rapids 69 South Ridge 30 Cromwell-Wright 29 Pequot Lakes 50 Esko 40 Moose Lake/WR 50 Two Harbors 48 FRIDAY, FEB. 9 BOYS BASKETBALL Carlton/Wrenshall 71 Barnum 58 Moose Lake/WR 77 Two Harbors 73 Cromwell-Wright 67 South Ridge 53 BOYS HOCKEY Northeast Range/Ely 5 Moose Lake Area 4 SATURDAY, FEB. 10 GIRLS HOCKEY Section 7A Semifinals Proctor/Hermantown 6 CEC 0 Duluth... Full story

  • Big night, big win for running Raptors

    Kerry Rodd|Feb 16, 2024

    The gym was rocking and the fans were in a frenzy last Friday when the Carlton/Wrenshall Raptors hosted Barnum in Wrenshall. The game was part of the Wrenshall homecoming festivities, and the Raptors didn't disappoint as they cruised to an impressive 71-58 win over a good Barnum team. "It was a great atmosphere with a student section that was really into it, and Barnum always has a lot of fans," said Raptors coach Shawn Filipiak. "It was just a fun, good, high school basketball game." The... Full story

  • Sports Schedule

    Feb 16, 2024

    Friday, Feb. 16 Girls Basketball ML/WR vs Hinckley- Finlayson, 7:15 Boys Basketball Barnum at Esko, 7:15 Carlton/Wrenshall at Two Harbors, 7:15 ML/WR at Cloquet, 7:15 Saturday. Feb. 17 Boys Hockey Section 7A playoffs Moose Lake Area at Internationals Falls, 1 p.m. Girls Basketball Cloquet at Bemidji, 2 Wrestling CEC Sectional at Mora, TBD Monday, Feb. 19 Girls Basketball Fond du Lac at South Ridge, 6:30 Cromwell-Wright vs Cass Lake, 6:15 Carlton/Wrenshall vs Ogilvie, 7:15 ML/WR at Pilager, 7:15 Tuesday. Feb. 20 Boys Hockey Section 7A playoffs... Full story

  • Wilderness end slide, win a pair

    Pine Knot News|Feb 16, 2024

    The Minnesota Wilderness got a much-needed home sweep of the Kenai River Brown Bears last weekend, ending a five-game losing streak. The Wilderness got wins of 3-0 on Feb. 9, and 3-2 on Saturday, allowing them to keep pace in a tightly packed Midwest Division. The Wilderness (24-16-4) are in third place with 52 points, trailing the first-place Wisconsin Windigo (63 points) and second-place Janesville Jets (55). Winners of nine straight, the Windigo are among the top teams in the North American Hockey League. Fourth-place Anchorage Wolverines... Full story

  • Esko notches Cloquet sweep

    Howie Hanson|Feb 16, 2024

    Esko completed a boys basketball home-and-home sweep against Cloquet on Tuesday night, coasting to an 83-66 nonconference victory in Esko. Adding to the celebration was senior guard Koi Perich becoming his school's career scoring leader following a contested layup with 13 minutes, 3 seconds remaining in the second half. Esko, ranked seventh in Class AA by Minnesota Basketball News, led 44-23 at the half and never looked back. Sam Haugen had 24 points, Perich added 18 and Braedyn Male had 16 for... Full story

  • CEC gets No. 2 spot in playoffs

    Pine Knot News staff|Feb 16, 2024

    The Cloquet boys hockey team was seeded No. 2 for the upcoming Section 7A playoffs. Moose Lake Area is the last seed which is No. 9. Cloquet benefited from a strong finish to the season. After winning their last two games, they moved to No. 3 in the section in the QRF rankings. Then, because CEC defeated Hibbing in a head-to-head game, the Lumberjacks moved up to the No. 2 seed. Moose Lake will have a play-in game at 1 p.m. Saturday at International Falls, the No. 8 seed. The winner will move... Full story

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