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Articles from the September 13, 2019 edition


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  • A new life for The Old Log Church

    Pete Radosevich|Sep 13, 2019

    Del Prevost was looking sharp in his colorful jacket, tie, and creased slacks, but when he stepped to the pulpit at the end of Mass at the rededication of the Sawyer Log Church at Saints Mary and Joseph in Sawyer on Sunday, Sept. 8, a gentle chuckle wafted through the worshippers crowded in the small wooden pews. Apparently, no one was expecting the retired lawyer and former president of Members Cooperative Credit Union to deliver his words with such enthusiasm and energy. It was a fitting end... Full story

  • Consolidation crush is on for Carlton, Wrenshall school boards

    Mike Creger|Sep 13, 2019

    There will be a flurry of meetings in the next two months as school boards in Wrenshall and Carlton continue to explore a consolidation of the districts. After joint meetings this summer with the full boards, members are moving in the direction of a single district with buildings in Carlton and Wrenshall, known as the two-site option. This week, committees from both boards met to discuss needs at the current schools should the school populations be merged. There are several state mandates that are pushing the boards along in the complicated...

  • Many lessons learned after Extension inquiry

    Dan Reed|Sep 13, 2019

    The Carlton County Extension Office has made some procedural and management changes following an investigation last year conducted by the Aitkin County Sheriff’s Office. Allegations regarding a former Carlton County employee were “exceptionally cleared” following the investigation, in large part because the alleged wrongdoings were either not covered by county policy or impossible to prove beyond reasonable doubt. Information for this story was taken from an unapproved draft of an investigative report by Aitkin County investigator Steve Cook, a...

  • Labor Day car show winners

    Jana Peterson|Sep 13, 2019

    About 75 cars registered for the annual Cloquet Labor Day Car Show at the NorthEastern Saloon and Hotel on Sept. 2, and there were approximately 100 classic cars to view. NorthEastern owner Bert Whittington said it was a great day for a car show, and folks came from around the region to see and be seen with their prized automobiles. Here’s how the awards ceremony broke down: Best of Show and Best Open class: a 1958 Edsel owned by Ron Thompson of Esko People's Choice: a 1968 Super Bee owned by T... Full story

  • As we age, housing arrangements may change

    Holly Henry|Sep 13, 2019

    Thanks to the Baby Boomer generation, the number of people 65 and older in the United States is expected to increase to 55 million in 2020. And, according to the AARP, by 2030 the population of adults aged 65-plus will reach 71.5 million. That's a lot of seniors who may or may not be able to continue living in their own homes, on their own terms. If you are one of these seniors or the child of one, now is the time to start talking about long-term care options. Cloquet's Shirley Wirtanen, who is... Full story

  • Minnesota's Senior LinkAge Line connects seniors to information, resources and help

    Sep 13, 2019

    The Senior LinkAge Line helps simplify complex issues and decisions that seniors, Baby Boomers, Medicare beneficiaries, caregivers or those trying to reduce prescription drug costs face every day. Just one phone call to 1-800-333-2433 is all it takes to get help with determining what services might be helpful. The Senior LinkAge Line has expertise in the areas of: Medicare Prescription drug expense assistance for Minnesotans of all ages Health insurance counseling Help with forms and applying for Medical Assistance and Medicare options Long-ter...

  • It's complicated: Five finish Lost Forester race in time

    Jana Peterson|Sep 13, 2019

    Cloquet's own wacky race, the Lost Forester Adventure Run, had a record 23 racers this year and 22 finishers (because one had to leave to get to a soccer game). Only five racers, however, officially finished within the required 3-hour time limit, according to organizer and lost forester himself, Tim Krohn. The Lost Forester is a race in and around Pine Valley recreation area and the Otter Creek Area on the Fond du Lac Reservation: and runners travel across the trails - and through the woods... Full story

  • Washington named 'School of Excellence'

    Jana Peterson|Sep 13, 2019

    The secret is out: Washington Elementary School is a Minnesota School of Excellence. Of course, the students and staff already knew Washington is an excellent school ... but now that inside knowledge has been validated by the Minnesota Elementary School Principals' Association (MESPA), which recognized eight elementary schools in the entire state as 2019-20 Minnesota Schools of Excellence. Principal Robbi Mondati said the message sent by the designation is important. "I think it says that we're...

  • Coates RV store leaves area

    Jana Peterson|Sep 13, 2019

    After being acquired by national retailer Camping World in March, it seemed to be business as usual at the Coates RV showroom in Scanlon. Not anymore. Although it is still filled with all kinds of RVs, campers and fish houses, the Scanlon staff (and soon its inventory) have moved to the Hermantown Gander Outdoors and RV store, which are also owned by Camping World. Sales associate Matt Juntunen said it's more like Coates RV took over Hermantown Gander store. "We're selling there; it's our...

  • County mulls age-21 requirement on tobacco

    Dan Reed|Sep 13, 2019

    For more than a year, the Carlton County board of commissioners have heard concerns of the rising use of vaping e-cigarettes and the negative influences on the county’s youth. Earlier this summer the board instructed the county attorney to draw up a proposed ordinance to regulate purchases of any tobacco product by anyone under the age of 21. At the Committee of the Whole meeting on Sept. 3, board members heard a presentation on the proposed ordinance. Little comment was made during this first draft. No hearings or a recommendation for c...

  • Moose Lake chief on leave

    Sep 13, 2019

    Moose Lake police chief Bryce Bogenholm is currently on paid administrative leave. City administrator Tim Peterson said there’s no investigation going on, but he couldn’t share any other details about the leave. Peterson doesn’t have any date for Bogenholm’s return for work. Sergeant Mike McNulty is interim police chief during Bogenholm’s absence. There are four full-time officers and the full-time chief in the department, Peterson said. According to the Moose Lake Star-Gazette, Bogenholm has been chief of police in Moose Lake since May of 20...

  • Watch free play at diversity fair

    Sep 13, 2019

    Everyone is invited to watch the play “Bloom,” presented by the BOLD-choice Theatre Company, a coming-of-age story about Lily, a young person with a disability in the 1960s. Admission is free. The play highlights the painful and complicated history of division in the United States as well as the powerful movements that set the groundwork for change and inclusion. A diversity resource fair and food will be available before and during the play, starting at 12 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 24, before the 1 p.m. performance of “Bloom” in the Fond du Lac... Full story

  • Principals shuffle at area schools

    Jana Peterson|Sep 13, 2019

    Carlton County schools has lost at least one principal to Duluth this fall, and moved one in from neighboring Pine County. In Carlton, the school board held a special meeting Friday, Sept. 6 to approve the resignation of secondary school principal Barry Fischer, who had been with the school district just over a year. After six years there, Barnum High School principal Brian Kazmierczak resigned as principal and girls basketball coach to become the new Lincoln Park Middle School principal in...

  • Volunteer, share some reading joy

    Sep 13, 2019

    The Power Lunch reading program seeks volunteers to share the joy of reading with children in the Cloquet School District. Both regular readers and substitute readers are needed. Power Lunch begins in October and concludes in March, and volunteers each receive a complimentary lunch. For more, call 879-3308 or email [email protected]....

  • OUR VIEW: Cheers & Jeers

    Sep 13, 2019

    Cheers to multi-use pathways. The concrete pathway along the south side of Washington Avenue will help encourage kids to walk, and ride bikes and skateboards to both the Cloquet middle and high schools. The pathway along Big Lake Road connecting the tribal center to Fond du Lac Gas and Grocery will also encourage people to walk or bike rather than drive for short errands and simply for exercise. Most of us need to walk more, and walking on the roadway is not safe, especially on busy roadways like the two mentioned. (By the way, these trails...

  • HARRY'S GANG: Hey, Coach! Enjoy this court ruling

    Pete Radosevich|Sep 13, 2019

    I have a lot of respect for coaches; they are mostly parents or teachers who take on the task of guiding children through soccer, hockey, lacrosse, and a dozen more sports popular with kids these days. Most coaches are dedicated. Most love their jobs. Most don’t make any money from coaching, or make very little. And most parents appreciate their efforts. But most parents, occasionally, also can find a reason to criticize their kid’s coach for one reason or another. We should be ashamed of our...

  • LETTER: Is it a trail to nowhere in Scanlon?

    Sep 13, 2019

    At the June and July city council meetings in Scanlon, Mayor Annette Bryant talked for 45 minutes about getting a trail, which will cost more than $400,000. She had Carlton County engineer JinYeene Neumann at the July and August meetings trying to persuade the council to give the go-ahead on this trail. At the first two meetings, three of the council members were against spending another $15,000. Neumann said if they don’t agree to this grant, Scanlon may not get any grant applied for in the future. (We have never been able to get any before, a...

  • LETTER: Addition to library is essential

    Sep 13, 2019

    This is an exciting time for residents of Cloquet and the surrounding area. Our public library has been awarded a grant of $784,000, contingent on the City providing the balance of construction costs. That is no small change, and a great savings to our city for an improvement to a well-used city building. I understand that bids came in higher than anticipated, and this now creates a dilemma for our city council on whether to proceed with the project. If the council rejects the project based on the bids, they will lose $784,000. The library...

  • Funeral notice: Helen Swanson

    Sep 13, 2019

    Helen M. Swanson, 87, passed away peacefully Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2019, at her home in Carlton. Celebration of Life: Sunday, Sept. 15, 11:11 a.m. (Helen’s request) to 2:30 p.m. at Oldenburg House, 604 Chestnut Ave. in Carlton....

  • Lights on for school

    Sep 13, 2019

    A total of 190 runners gathered last Friday night, wearing their best glow-in-the-dark bling, to run for wellness and raise money for Washington Elementary School. It was the school's sixth annual "Light Up the Night" run, and this year people could choose between running a 1K (basically around the school block) or a 5K. Principal Robbi Mondati told Cloquet school board members Monday that the event was a great success, with fabulous weather and their biggest crowd yet. "A lot of staff put a... Full story

  • Mistakes haunt Cloquet in loss to Hermantown

    Kerry Rodd|Sep 13, 2019

    The Cloquet football team committed a host of penalties and had three turnovers last Friday night - a recipe for a sour-tasting game as the Lumberjacks fell to the Hermantown Hawks 27-12. Despite the miscues, the Lumberjacks trailed 7-6 at the half and were down only 13-6 entering the final quarter. Then the mistakes piled up and the Hawks slowly pulled away. "We just made too many mental errors and we didn't handle the pressure of the situation very well, especially offensively," said Cloquet...

  • Rebels keep on rolling

    Kerry Rodd|Sep 13, 2019

    Things got tough early for Barnum in Friday night's football matchup with Moose Lake-Willow River. The Rebels got out to a two-touchdown lead and were up 42-0 at the end of the first half. By the time the dust cleared, ML-WR had picked up its second-straight win by beating the Bombers 78-0. "A margin of victory like that is never desired," said Rebels coach Dave Louzek. "Every one of our kids, right on down to the ninth-graders, played a lot in the game." A big key to the Rebel victory was the p...

  • South Ridge gets its first win ever against Cromwell-Wright

    Dwight Cadwell|Sep 13, 2019

    For the first time in school history, South Ridge defeated Cromwell-Wright in high school football action, as the Panthers shut out the Cardinals 36-0 in Culver Friday, Sept. 6. "We saw some things we thought we could do both offensively and defensively in the first game against Floodwood that we could have some success with," head coach Brent Johnson said. "We also saw the things they did well and we knew if we played our game we could win." The Panthers would strike first Friday when Conner Bu...

  • Lumberjacks soccer: Cloquet girls find winning ways with a balanced attack

    Jana Peterson|Sep 13, 2019

    With a 6-1 record, the Lumberjacks girls soccer team is off to an impressive start. Coach Dustin Randall said this year's team is balanced across the field. "In years past we've had one area that was really strong, now it's more evened out," Randall said. "We are getting goals from a lot of places, and the defense is strong so we're getting some shutouts too." Senior Kiana Bender is the top scorer for the team, with eight goals (four against Hibbing Tuesday) and seven assists. Katie Turner has... Full story

  • Lumberjacks soccer: CEC boys hang tough

    Jana Peterson|Sep 13, 2019

    The Cloquet-Esko-Carlton boys soccer team may have a 3-3 record right now, but head coach Dave Bergan says the record doesn't show how well they are playing soccer. "We are competing with every team that we play," Bergan said on Wednesday, after the boys beat Hibbing/Chisholm 5-0 at home on Tuesday, but lost to the Hawks 3-2 the Thursday before that in a close game at Hermantown. Bergan said he's "psyched" about the team, which does a great job of learning a new skill in practice and applying... Full story

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