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Articles from the June 21, 2019 edition


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  • Cloquet council censures its own member

    Jana Peterson|Jun 21, 2019

    The Cloquet city council voted 5-0 Tuesday to censure Ward 5 City councilor Steve Langley, after independent investigator Michelle Soldo found that Langley had sent an unwanted text message to former Cloquet police chief Wade Lamirande and contacted and complained to Lamirande’s current boss in Langley’s capacity as city councilor. Lamirande filed a series of complaints against city officials earlier this year, detailing eight issues each with Cloquet city councilor Steve Langley and Clo...

  • History hits the market

    Jana Peterson|Jun 21, 2019

    One of Cloquet’s most historic homes is for sale, for a cool $625,000. The house at 1 Park Place was built in 1919, after the previous home was destroyed in the 1918 Fires. A nearly exact replica was constructed after the fire for timber baron and mill owner R.M. Weyerhaeuser, who was the owner and proprietor of the local sawmill (located where USG now stands) as well as Northwest Paper Company. Al and Reneé Birman purchased the house from Tom and Beth Collins in 2010, but said they want to move...

  • Carlton schools budget stays red

    Mike Creger|Jun 21, 2019

    Despite making $143,000 in cuts, the Carlton school board faces an approval Monday of a 2020 budget that shows the district $580,809 in the red when comparing expenditures versus revenue. At a discussion meeting Monday, business manager Renee Eiffler said the budget for next year is still comprised of a “lot of unknowns. We deal with what we know.” School districts in Minnesota are required to submit a yearly budget by July 1. Eiffler and superintendent Gwen Carmen said there will undoubtedly be amendments to the budget expected to be app...

  • Landon's final bow

    Jana Peterson|Jun 21, 2019

    A crowd of several hundred people — many of them teenagers and young adults — gathered in the Cloquet High School auditorium Friday afternoon to pay tribute to Landon Hall, a 23-year-old CHS alumnus who died unexpectedly while gardening at his home on June 8. The cause of death is still unknown. The initial autopsy came back with negative results, so Hall’s loved ones are awaiting further details, which will take another 6 weeks to 8 weeks, Hall’s close friend, mentor and father figure Kevin H...

  • Council to name interim

    Jana Peterson|Jun 21, 2019

    After voting to hold a special election to fill Ward 3 councilor Dakota Koski’s seat at the June 4 council meeting, city officials learned that they have to follow a state calendar for the election, which means the soonest the vote could happen would be Nov. 5. City administrator Aaron Reeves said Ward 3 residents can apply to be appointed in the interim through July 10. The council will interview all applicants before their July 16 meeting — the July 2 meeting was canceled — and appoint an in...

  • Vaping forums are next week

    Jana Peterson|Jun 21, 2019

    If you missed the last educational forum on e-cigarettes and vaping, don’t worry. The Minnesota Department of Health is hosting two free Tobacco 21 Education Forums Tuesday, June 25. The first forum is 12-1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Cloquet High School Auditorium, 1000 18th St., with lunch provided. The second runs 5:30-7 p.m. at the Moose Lake School Auditorium, 4812 County Road 10, with appetizers provided....

  • Welcome Pine Knot's latest hire

    Jordan Allen, Pine Knot News|Jun 21, 2019

    Hello, Pine Knot News readers. My name is Jordan Allen and I will be an intern for the newspaper this summer, writing stories and taking pictures around the community. Although born in Lafayette, Ind., I have lived in Minnesota for nearly 14 years. This coming school year, I will be a senior at Cloquet High School and I hope to use my internship to interact with people of Cloquet and Carlton County before the school year takes over my time. This summer, you may see me running the roads and...

  • Enjoy coffee and a chat with mayor

    Jana Peterson|Jun 21, 2019

    Join Cloquet mayor Roger Maki for coffee and conversation at the Cloquet Public Library at 1 p.m. Friday, July 12. The meetings with city elected officials are scheduled for once a month, and started with Ward 2 councilor Sheila Lamb on June 14. Several residents joined Lamb for a wide-ranging conversation about everything from sidewalks and potholes to Enbridge and sex trafficking. “It is a chance for citizens and city leaders to meet in a welcoming, informal space and have a dialogue about the issues facing our community,” said assistant lib...

  • District Court report

    Pine Knot News staff|Jun 21, 2019

    Following are recent felony and gross misdemeanor court cases resolved in Carlton County Sixth District Court. Arresting agencies are abbreviated as follows: Cloquet Police Department (CPD), Carlton County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), Fond du Lac Police Department (FDL), Moose Lake Police Department (MLPD), Minnesota State Patrol (MSP). Sloan, William Joshua, 40, Cloquet, violation of protective order, felony. Sentenced to St. Cloud for 24 months on May 17. CPD Richards, Trenton Alexander, 28, Mahtowa, first-degree possession of cocaine or m...

  • Nutty fun planned for the fourth

    Pine Knot News|Jun 21, 2019

    What’s 11 ½ feet tall, 8 ½ feet wide, 26 feet long and weighs 14,000 pounds? The Planters Nutmobile, that’s what. Mr. Peanut and the vehicle are cruising to Cloquet to celebrate the Fourth of July this summer. The Nutmobile is already entered in the parade at 11 a.m., then it and its “peanutter” companions will plant themselves at Veterans Park near the wiffleball field from noon to 4 p.m....

  • County tax base still on the rise

    Dan Reed|Jun 21, 2019

    Few Carlton County taxpayers attended local boards of review to contest — or at least ask questions about — the estimated market value for the buildings and land they own. Land values continue to improve with a typical 40-acre piece valued at $1900 per acre, which is a 6.5 percent increase from last year. The County Board of Appeal and Equalization, made up of the current county commissioners, met Monday, June 17 with only one homeowner from the city of Carlton appearing in person about his property value. Most concerned property taxpayers had...

  • County files opioid lawsuit

    Jana Peterson|Jun 21, 2019

    The Carlton County attorney’s office filed a lawsuit in federal district court Friday, June 14, against six of the nation’s largest opioid manufacturers — including Purdue Pharma, Cephalon, and Janssen Pharmaceuticals, and the three largest distributors of prescription drugs — McKesson Corporation, Cardinal Health, Inc., and AmerisourceBergen Drug Corporation. Carlton County alleges that these companies used deceptive marketing tactics with the intent to maximize profits while minimiz...

  • Go out for a farm breakfast

    Jana Peterson|Jun 21, 2019

    The Carlton County Dairy Association is holding its third annual Breakfast on the Farm 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 29 at the Leveau Grandview Dairy Farm on 508 Cemetery Road, Wrenshall. There will be numerous activities for families, including milking demonstrations, a petting zoo, hayrides, a bouncy house, access to local organic farmers, and visits from special guests Princess Kay of the Milky Way Rebekah Paskewitz and the Pine County Dairy Princesses. Cost for pancakes, scrambled eggs,...

  • Bus tours show 1918 fire area

    Jana Peterson|Jun 21, 2019

    The Moose Lake Area Historical Society is sponsoring 1918 Fire Site narrated bus tours on July 6, 2019. The morning tour will feature interesting fire sites around Moose Lake and the surrounding area west of town, including Dead Man’s Corner. Boarding is at 9 a.m. at the Depot Museum. A bag lunch will be served upon return at 11:30 a.m. The afternoon narrated tour will start with a bag lunch at 11:30 a.m. at the Soo Line Event Center, then boarding at 1 p.m. The tour covers the outlying areas o...

  • DNR, MPCA balk on Line 3

    Jana Peterson|Jun 21, 2019

    The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources are committed to a fair, efficient, and thorough review of Enbridge’s Line 3 Replacement Project applications. After reviewing the Minnesota Court of Appeals’ ruling regarding the Environmental Impact Statement for the Line 3 project, both agencies have determined that, consistent with state law, they may not take final action on the applications pending before them until the Public Utilities Commission add...

  • Our View: Pitch in for our fab Fourth traditions

    Pine Knot News|Jun 21, 2019

    Every year, Cloquet puts on quite a spectacular Fourth of July celebration. But it’s a lot of work, and while most of the volunteers do their work with a smile and a positive attitude, they are always shorthanded, especially on the day of the event. Coordinator Alyson Leno told the Pine Knot News that volunteers are especially needed on the Fourth of July itself. “If we don’t have enough help the day before, it takes forever to get everything set up. If there are not enough volunteers on the Fourth, we have chaos. We need help cleaning up after...

  • Harry's Gang: Treasured pond could use tweaks

    Pete Radosevich|Jun 21, 2019

    Now that summer has arrived, The Beach at Pinehurst Park is open and ready for swimmers. Or is it? The City of Cloquet spent millions to renovate Pinehurst Park to make a clean, safe swimming facility. It was a long, community-involved process. Consultants gave us three options for remodeling the old Pinehurst Pond and neighbors debated the merits of each option for months. It didn’t help much that the consultants labeled the options as “Good,” “Better” and “Best.” Those designations caused a lo...

  • Hands-on lesson in government is an eye-opener

    Jordan Allen|Jun 21, 2019

    Government. When you hear the word, oftentimes your brain goes directly to the United States capital, Washington D.C. When you hear the word “government,” you may also immediately think of elected officials in the Senate, the House of Representatives, or even the president of the United States of America. My mind jumped to the same thoughts before I spent a week at The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University participating in the American Legion Boys State. June 9 through June...

  • On the mark: You've graduated ... now it's time for your job fit

    Ann Markusen|Jun 21, 2019

    Moving beyond high school to a lifetime of work is not easy. In high school, most things are dished up for you. You have some choice over subjects you study. You may have worked part-time, and you chose which extracurricular activities you engaged in. But whether you go on to college or enter the workforce directly, you face daunting choices and tradeoffs. If you go to college, what will you specialize in and how much debt are you willing to take on? If you go directly into the workforce, what...

  • Death Notices

    Jun 21, 2019

    Whitney W. Setala, 79, of Cloquet, passed away Sunday, June 16, 2019, at his home. Celebration of Life: 11 a.m. until 12 p.m. Monday, June 24, at Nelson Funeral Care in Cloquet. Shirley Mae Carlson, 81, of Cloquet, passed away on Thursday, June 13, 2019, in New Perspective Senior Living. Visitation: 1 p.m. until the 2 p.m. memorial service Monday, June 24, 2019, in Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 515 Skyline Dr., Cloquet. Arrangements by Atkins Northland Funeral Home and Cremation Service. Katie Lynn LaVoie, 36, of Carlton, passed away Tuesday,...

  • Senior dining menu

    Jun 21, 2019

    Arrowhead Nutrition Menu for June 21-28 Friday, June 21: Chicken Parmesan with spaghetti, fresh fruit Monday, June 24: Special of the Day, vegetables, dessert Tuesday, June 25: Baked fish or alternative*, fresh fruit Wednesday, June 26: Bacon cheeseburger pasta hotdish, fruit Thursday, June 27: Salisbury steak, strawberry cream pie Friday, June 28: Lasagna, fresh fruit Please call 24 hours in advance to order the alternative entree. Frozen meals are available for weekends. Meals are served at the Cloquet Senior Center, open Monday-Friday at...

  • Cromwell-Wright news

    Jennie K. Hanson|Jun 21, 2019

    There is a new minister for the Bethlehem and Bethany Lutheran parish: Pastor Debra L. Hanson-Carlson will begin her ministry July 1, with her first worship service on July 7. She and her husband will be living in Wright at the former home of Yvonne Peterson, now owned by Tyler Grones. Let’s welcome the Hanson-Carlsons to our area. Our sincere sympathy to the family and friends of Gloria Mae Bertelsen Kelley, 73, of Tamarack, who died June 9 at her home. A memorial service was held June 16 at Be...

  • Volunteer services

    Cathy Niemi|Jun 21, 2019

    While people are living longer today, negative age-related stereotypes are still prevalent in our society. Unfortunately, health struggles and difficult changes in life chapters are a reality. Some people look back and want to hang onto the “good old days.” Reflection can be a good thing, but it can make it difficult to look forward, and imagine new opportunities before us and enjoy the present. If you are asking where you can find new opportunities at “this age,” or what you can do, please consider volunteering. Sharing of yourself, your ti...

  • Teen specialist keeps his charges busy at library

    Anne Lundquist|Jun 21, 2019

    If you walk in to the Cloquet Library on a weekday between 4-5 p.m., you’ll notice the library is full of teens. Last fall, Cloquet Public Library hired Justin Dinger to be its youth services librarian, working especially with people age 10-18. He immediately made an impact by instituting regular programming such as Teen Reads on Mondays, where he reads aloud while listeners enjoy a snack, and Teen Tech Wednesdays. He has made some interesting discoveries, such as the teens really enjoy p...

  • Wrenshall, Carlton school boards to meet

    Jana Peterson|Jun 21, 2019

    The off-again, on-again consolidation discussions between the Wrenshall and Carlton school districts may be on again. Wrenshall superintendent Kim Belcastro told board members at the Monday school board meeting that she and chair Matt Leveau would be meeting with their Carlton counterparts Thursday to come up with a date and an agenda for a joint meeting of both boards, which could happen as soon as July 8. The neighboring small school districts have been discussing consolidation without ever...

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