A hometown newspaper with a local office, local owners & lots of local news
A hometown newspaper with a local office, local owners & lots of local news
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Jana Peterson [email protected] Tuesday's primary election offered a small taste of what the general election will likely offer voters in November. Far more people voted either by absentee or mail ballot than ever before, outnumbering people voting in person. Those who voted at polling stations were required to follow pandemic social distancing measures and wear masks inside. Election judges also had to sanitize any surfaces touched by voters after each person voted. Although all the votes...
There are outliers among Carlton County schools, those that won’t be coming back this fall with all of their students. So far, students in Esko, Carlton, Cromwell-Wright, Moose Lake and Barnum will likely go back to school en masse next month if the number of positive Covid-19 cases remains low. Decisions have already been made by some boards or have been recommended. Cloquet won’t make a final decision until Aug. 24, when more numbers come in on the number of coronavirus cases in the county. Wrenshall, by virtue of a delayed construction proje...
A Thomson Township woman was airlifted to a Duluth hospital last week following an alleged assault by her daughter. Amber Rae Stonemark, 35, is facing charges of first-degree assault, great bodily harm as well as second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, both felonies, for allegedly assaulting her mother with a hammer Aug. 5. Stonemark was charged in Carlton County Court Aug. 7. According to the criminal complaint, Minnesota State Patrol and Carlton County Sheriff’s Office officers responded to a welfare check Thursday, Aug. 6, on East S...
The bridge replacement project at the Midway River just north of Esko in Thomson Township on Carlton County Road 1 remains on schedule to be completed by early October, the county engineering division told the Pine Knot News. The project has had few delays since it began in late June, said assistant county engineer Rick Norrgard, who was at the site with an inspector Tuesday, the same day these pictures were taken. The project has cut off Esko schools from the Esko Sports Complex - save for a...
A Hermantown woman pleaded guilty to felony third-degree murder Monday, Aug. 10, admitting tearfully that she sold methamphetamine to a Moose Lake woman who died as a result of taking the drug in 2018. Dawn Marie Clemons, 41, appeared in person before Judge Robert Macaulay in Sixth Judicial District Carlton County Court Monday, with her attorney Kevin Cornwell and prosecuting attorney Jeffrey Boucher there and others attending via Zoom video. In exchange for the guilty plea, the prosecution agreed to recommend a downward departure for...
In a few short years, Carlton County will have to find a new place to take its solid waste as Superior’s Moccasin Mike landfill is expected to reach capacity sometime between 2026 and 2028. On Aug. 11 the Carlton County board of commissioners took the first step toward figuring out the future of Carlton County waste by supporting the creation of a regional plan for solid waste management. The Northeast Minnesota Waste Advisory Committee — made up of solid waste officers from Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Lake, Itasca, Koochiching and St. Louis cou...
Former Carlton teacher and girls basketball coach Robert Kent Pioro, 62, appeared via Zoom video for a hearing in Carlton County Sixth District Court on Tuesday. Pioro faces three felony charges of criminal sexual conduct in the third degree, stemming from allegations of sexually abusing a student athlete more than 20 years ago. Each charge stems from a different incident that occurred in Carlton County — at Four Seasons Recreation Center, South Terrace Elementary School and Carlton High School — all between October 2000 and March 2001. Acc...
Voters on the Fond du Lac Reservation will elect two vital leadership positions next Tuesday. Facing off for Reservation Business Committee chairperson are incumbent Kevin R. Dupuis Sr. and challenger Bryan (Bear) Bosto. The two candidates for RBC District I (Cloquet) Representative are incumbent Wally Dupuis and challenger Jeroam DeFoe. RBC District III Representative Roger Smith Sr. was already sworn in for another term July 8, after winning more than 50 percent of the vote in the primary election. Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m....
For more than 100 years, Cloquet has celebrated the hardworking men and women of our area with parades and festivities. But Labor Day will be quieter this year. Organizer Mike Parrot said all of the regular Cloquet events -the parade, the carnival, the car show and even the picnic lunch at the Labor Hall - are not happening because of the coronavirus pandemic and the risk of spreading the disease with large gatherings. Organizers in Duluth have canceled activities there as well, including a...
A Minnesota man walked 100 miles to raise funds for Covid-19 food programs. Mickey Nelson crossed the finish line at his church in Clarks Grove in southern Minnesota on Aug. 5, just three blocks from the house he was born in - and still lives in. A veteran of World War II, Nelson served in an armored division maintaining tanks. As a businessman, he founded and operated a successful bus business for 58 years. Now, he is serving in another role - as fundraiser. He decided back in May he would...
Q What in your personal background, characteristics and/or qualifications makes you good for this job? A I have 14 years of experience as a reservation division director/manager. In that capacity I have worked closely with community members to provide services through mentoring and by building partnerships with outside organizations like the Minnesota Extension Office, Minnesota Swarm Lacrosse Team and Native American Law Enforcement Summit. Partnerships that help foster leadership skills by giv...
Q What in your personal background, characteristics and/or qualifications makes you good for this job? A I started reading the tribal constitution and treaties in 1990, when I came home from the Marine Corps. There was a lot I didn't agree with. I started getting more involved with the reservation and the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe (MCT). I wasn't aiming for politics but decided I had something to offer. I've served as secretary-treasurer, Brookston Rep and now Chair and MCT president. I believe...
Q What in your personal background, characteristics and/or qualifications makes you good for this job? A My dedication to the Band shows in my years of service to FDL Law Enforcement and Tribal Council. I have 10 years experience as District I Representative and seven months as RBC Chairman. It is my passion to help others and help my community thrive. My integrity, dedication, and dependability speak for themselves. My positive attitude, experience, and strong working knowledge of our...
Q What in your personal background, characteristics and/or qualifications makes you good for this job? A Boozhoo, I am Jeroam DeFoe and I'm 23. I try my best to follow my teachings every day. I'm respectful, driven, open-minded and a great listener. I strive academically and graduated from FDLTCC with an Associate of Arts, Associate of Science and Associate of Applied Arts degrees. I'm now going to St. Scholastica and am one semester away from my business management degree. I care deeply about o...
The Salvation Army of Carlton County will again provide back-to-school help to Carlton County residents in need of assistance. Applications will be accepted 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Aug. 19-26 by calling 651-746-3538. No late registrations will be accepted. The drive-thru distribution will be held at the Salvation Army food shelf at 316 Carlton Avenue in Cloquet, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sept. 3....
Coronavirus has claimed the fall musical at Cloquet High School, director Darrell Davey announced “with a heavy heart” on the CHS Theatre Facebook group page last week. Davey said the cancellation came per administration guidance and following school and health protocols. Cloquet’s fall musicals usually involve large casts and, by definition, lots of singing. Scientists have determined that Covid-19 can be spread by droplets that are expelled from the mouth while talking and particularly while singing. “As unfortunate as this is, your health...
Carlton County and the City of Cloquet are offering pet spay/neuter vouchers for Carlton County residents. If your pet needs to be spayed or neutered, you are encouraged to apply for this program that provides financial assistance. These vouchers include $150 off a cat spay/neuter and $250 off a dog spay/neuter at any of the three listed local veterinary offices (Crow-Goebel Veterinary Clinic, Cloquet Animal Hospital and Moose Lake Veterinary Clinic). Approved vouchers must be redeemed before the end of the year. For more information or an...
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has released studies of two contaminated sites - the Scanlon and Thomson reservoirs - in the St. Louis River Area of Concern that detail cleanup options for the sites. The public is invited to review the cleanup alternatives by studying the plans online and commenting to the MPCA. The Scanlon Reservoir site is east of Scanlon and downstream of Cloquet. The site is approximately 40 acres and bounded by forested lands owned by electricity provider Minnesota...
As I headed off on a 2,000-mile road trip with my daughter two weeks ago, I was distinctly aware of the insanity of our venture. We were leaving the relative safety - in terms of coronavirus - of northern Minnesota to drive to California, a pandemic hotspot. But Franny needed to get back to college in Tucson (another hotspot), and this was her first time driving to school in a car that sometimes burns oil. And we went via California so we could visit family. The trip was pretty great, I won't li...
Bill Effinger, the silky-voiced announcer at WKLK, has been heard on the morning show quite a bit lately as ringleader Kerry Rodd recovers from surgery. Last week, I made one of my well-received guest appearances on the weekly Pine Knot News segment (Jana was busy), and he asked something interesting: "Why is there no plaque or any information at the foot of the voyageur statue" on Dunlap Island. My family spends quite a bit of time down in that green space right next to the Spafford Park...
Music and film have long offered “outsiders” — immigrants, women, African Americans — opportunities to tell their stories, use their talents and earn a living. Often pigeonholed into stereotypical roles and marginal venues, many have been able to create breathtaking works that endure and enrich American life. They also provide windows into other cultures and belief systems, often emotionally, by telling stories. Sometimes their works cross racial and ethnic lines, tackling topics where most fe...
It was very sad and discouraging to hear the Challenge Incarceration Program in Willow River will be closing. On Aug. 6 I had a good conversation with the Department of Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell. The Willow River CIP is a very efficient, successful correctional program. It has helped many male offenders turn their lives around and become contributing members of society. Compared to other correctional programs, Willow River has a lower recidivism rate. The CIP has become a big part of our community. I remember when the floods hit...
Denise E. Mullen, 79, of Cloquet passed away April 13, 2020, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Duluth. She was born April 24, 1940, in Breckenridge, Wisconsin to Vilas and Angeline (Mrotek) Woodward. Denise graduated from Cloquet High School in 1958 and was united in marriage to Dale Mullen on April 4, 1959, in St. Casimir’s Catholic Church. She worked at the Johnson Company, Medich Drug, and at Churchill Elementary School as a teacher’s aide for 25 years. Denise was a member of Queen of Peace Catho...
Rose Marie (Meyers) Johannsen, 84, of Cloquet and formerly of Grand Rapids, passed away August 9, 2020, at Memorial Community Hospital in Cloquet with her daughter at her side. Rose was born June 25, 1936, in Onigum on Minnesota's Leech Lake to Chester Nathan and Ethel Agnes Meyers, the youngest of five children. Rose grew up and attended school in Cass Lake, where she met Russell Louis Johannsen, before moving to Boring, Oregon. She graduated from Union High School in Sandy, Oregon. After...
Donna M. Melin, 87,of Carlton, passed away Tuesday, August 11, 2020, at St. Luke's Hospital in Duluth. She was born May 31, 1933, in Carlton to Charles and Anna (Novak) Dahlberg. Donna worked as a secretary for South Terrace Elementary School for 29 years. She served on the Carlton City Council for six years and also on the board of directors for the Carlton Library, the Carlton Volunteer Fire Department, and was a lifelong member of St. Francis Catholic Church. She enjoyed crocheting,...
