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Articles from the September 22, 2023 edition


Sorted by date  Results 1 - 25 of 39

  • High-end home sales on the rise

    Brady Slater|Sep 22, 2023

    More expensive homes are changing hands than ever before in Carlton County, which saw a $1.29 million property sale close Sept. 15, and 16 sales over $600,000 in the past 12 months. "We're seeing record increases in values," county assessor Kyle Holmes said. "When it stops, only the buyers and sellers will let me know. Right now, it's not slowing down." Residential home assessments have increased 70 percent from 2021-23, with respective increases of 20 percent, 30 percent and another 20 percent...

  • Up, up and away

    Jana Peterson|Sep 22, 2023

    Riding in a balloon over rural Carlton County was amazing, said Superior's Meghan Edwards, one of the lucky ones who got to fly away from Black Bear Casino Resort in a giant hot air balloon Saturday. They landed in a neighborhood not far from Carlton's Chub Lake. "It was very peaceful, very calming, there were a few trees that had changed colors already, so that was kind of neat," she said. It was also nice and warm, she added, thanks to the burner that heats the air inside the balloon, making...

  • FDLTTC welcomes new president

    Jana Peterson|Sep 22, 2023

    The newest president of Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College already knows the college from the inside out, working in numerous positions since she was hired as a part-time counselor nearly 30 years ago. Anita Hanson is the fifth president of the college, and the second woman to lead the college, a partnership between tribe and state. Hanson replaces FDLTCC's first woman president, Stephanie Hammitt, who passed away unexpectedly in November after leading the college officially since 2018....

  • Motorcyclist dies in Mahtowa

    Sep 22, 2023

    A crash between a motorcycle and car in Mahtowa Wednesday night killed the motorcycle driver, identified as 47-year-old Justin Eller of Esko. According to a news release from the Carlton County Sheriff’s Office, Nicholas Berglund, 51, of Bruno, Minnesota was driving a passenger car and was turning left (south) onto County Road 61 from County Road 4. When his car entered the intersection, Eller and his motorcycle, which were traveling north on County Road 61, struck the passenger car. Eller was fatally injured. He was not wearing a helmet. B...

  • River Run race set for Sept. 30

    Sep 22, 2023

    The Cloquet River Run is Saturday, Sept. 30 with a 1-mile race at 9 a.m. followed by the 5K race at 9:30 a.m. The races start and end near Churchill Elementary School. Organized by the Churchill P.I.E. (Partners In Education), the races serve a dual purpose: to encourage healthy lifestyles and raise money for health-related equipment and programs and technology purchases for the school. More at www.cloquetriverrun.... Full story

  • Police to get new Tasers, cameras

    Jana Peterson|Sep 22, 2023

    Thanks to a sizable allocation for public safety aid by the state legislature this year, the Cloquet Police Department is getting body cameras and new Taser stun guns, at no additional costs to the city or taxpayers for now. Cloquet Police Chief Derek Randall strongly recommended the move. "Essentially, we are living in a world that if it's not recorded, it didn't happen," Randall told the council during Tuesday's meeting. "It's becoming more and more difficult to rely solely on officers'...

  • Blood donations are needed

    Sep 22, 2023

    Memorial Blood Centers has announced a blood emergency following a summer of low donor turnout. Contributing to the shortage are the recent Labor Day holiday, back-to-school activities, and a prolonged 50-percent decrease in youth and first-time donors. Minnesota’s blood supply is well below the optimal 5-7 days. While all blood types are needed, types O+, O-, B-, and platelets are critically low. Help by donating blood or organizing a blood drive. Learn more or schedule an appointment to donate at mbc.org or call 888-448-32...

  • Pet microchip clinic CANCELED

    Sep 22, 2023

    The pet microchip and vaccine clinic for Cloquet and Carlton County that was scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 23 has been canceled after the Northern Lakes Rescue founder was charged with fraud. Northern Lakes has partnered with the city and county in recent years to operate the microchip clinics. Carlton County coordinator Dennis Genereau said the city and county discovered the charges and plan to reschedule the clinic with another agency in the future. According to a news release from the Minnesota Department of Revenue, the complaints allege... Full story

  • New mothers have a resource

    Sep 22, 2023

    Community Memorial Hospital is offering “Beyond the Bump: Growing together,” a free eight-week class to empower and educate moms through the beginning stages of motherhood. Free classes are 5-6 p.m. Tuesdays beginning Oct. 3 at the hospital. Open to all, but registration at www.cloquethospital.com is necessary. You do not need to be a CMH patient. Free childcare will be available. Topics include introduction to solids, teething, returning to exercise, pelvic health, managing expectations, mental health and more. Open to all, but reg... Full story

  • Cloquet business park enjoys a growth spurt

    Jana Peterson|Sep 22, 2023

    The Cloquet Business Park is growing. C&L Distributing, one of the largest beer distributors in Minnesota, plans to construct a 22,000-square-foot distribution and office facility at the business park off Minnesota Highway 33 north of Cloquet. Dick Family Real Estate, LLC, closed on the purchase of three commercial lots, totaling 3.77 acres, on Sept. 12. They will join Best Oil, Toy Barn Storage and the Cloquet DNR at the 60-acre business park. Tom Dick, president of C&L Distributing and Dick...

  • New Indian education coordinator appointed

    Ted Lammi|Sep 22, 2023

    The Carlton school board officially and unanimously appointed Graciana Studier as Indian Education coordinator Monday, replacing Kevin Kot, who was dismissed in June. Superintendent Donita Stepan was excited about Studier’s performance so far. “She’s doing a great job,” Stepan said. In her report to the board, Studier made it plain she did not wait for her official appointment to get started, describing how she took 12 students to a wild rice camp demonstration held at Chambers Grove Park on Sept. 15. The students had the hands-on experie...

  • Submit proof of insurance online

    Sep 22, 2023

    Drivers who have been charged with no proof of insurance or no insurance, while the vehicle they were driving was insured on the date of the offense, can now submit proof of insurance online. Minnesota’s Court Payment Center recently made the electronic submission of proof of insurance a permanent option on the Minnesota Judicial Branch website. Submit proof of insurance online at the “pay fines” page of mncourts.gov....

  • Covid test kits are in demand

    Sep 22, 2023

    Minnesotans are pulling out the at-home Covid-19 tests, again. The Minnesota Department of Health is seeing requests increase for its free self-test kits following a continued upward trend in Covid hospitalizations. Residents can order the tests online at https://sayyeshometest.org/. MDH spokesperson Amy Barrett said last week that there had been an “explosion of orders” and interest continues to be elevated. The state program allows households to order four free self-tests while supplies last. People may order a new set of testing kits eac... Full story

  • Dial 988 for crisis support

    Sep 22, 2023

    Minnesotans facing mental health crises can dial or text 988 to connect to Lifeline support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The 988 code serves as a universal entry point, so callers can reach a trained crisis counselor who can help regardless of where they live. People can also dial 988 if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support. People should call 911 if they suspect a drug overdose or need immediate medical help....

  • Tire recycler was once welcomed by county

    Brady Slater|Sep 22, 2023

    When St. Louis County first permitted a waste tire recycling facility north of Cloquet in 2014, it concluded that the project along Highway 33 was "consistent with a desirable pattern of development" in the area. The county, in its area land use plan, said it wanted "to encourage rural industry," and a findings of fact document concluded there was "limited residential development in the area." That must have been news to the residents who spoke in opposition at the time to the proposed...

  • 'Deer Camp' will provide laughs at County Seat

    Sep 22, 2023

    Fans of musical theater and deer hunting may be able to agree on one thing: “Deer Camp” is a hoot. Next weekend, the County Seat Theater Company will debut its production of “Deer Camp,” a musical comedy written by Gene Jurek and music by Doug Spartz. Four buddies are enjoying their annual deer hunting trip, but this year is different. After 15 years of them coming home with nothing but a hangover, their wives have given them an ultimatum: bag a deer or your deer camp days are over. Only on... Full story

  • 4-Hers clean up in State Fair animal barn

    Sep 22, 2023

    Carlton County had 17 entrants among the 4-H members from across Minnesota who showcased their animals at the Minnesota State Fair. More than 2,562 animals were shown. The best entries from county fairs are brought to presentations in the 4-H Building at the fair. Here are the results for local 4-H members during the Livestock Weekend. • Justine Anderson received a blue ribbon and placed sixth in her class with her registered Red Angus junior yearling, and received a green ribbon in senior s...

  • DNR stocks sturgeon in river

    Sep 22, 2023

    For the first time since 2000, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is stocking lake sturgeon in the St. Louis River. DNR fisheries stocked 375 fingerlings into the river Sept. 12 at Chambers Grove Park in Fond du Lac. Lake sturgeon are a native fish that can live for over 100 years and grow to over 100 pounds. Sturgeon were once abundant here, but their populations declined in the early 1900s due to habitat destruction, pollution and overharvest. Intermittent stocking in the 1980s and ’90 helped boost their numbers, and while h... Full story

  • Free state park days

    Sep 22, 2023

    The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is waiving vehicle permit fees at all 75 state parks and recreation areas on Nov. 24. With the support of the state legislature, the DNR offers Free Park Days to encourage Minnesotans to get outdoors and enjoy the health and wellness benefits of spending time in nature. Research shows that walking offers multiple benefits, from increased creativity and better brain function to more flexibility and stamina. So you won’t just burn calories, you’ll also improve your well-being....

  • At the Library: Library has many friends, and a sale

    Keiko Satomi|Sep 22, 2023

    The Cloquet Public Library is a City of Cloquet department and is funded by the tax dollars of our community members. We currently have 13 library staff members running the library. We are also supported by many more people behind the scenes, including the people who make up the Friends of the Cloquet Public Library. The Friends of the Library supports many areas, including coordinating library book sales, assisting library staff with shelving books, taking care of the outdoor garden areas,... Full story

  • Harry's Gang: Exchange program creates bonds

    Pete Radosevich|Sep 22, 2023

    School kids seem to always create a language of their own, mostly, I assume, so they can communicate with each other without their parents knowing what they are talking about. But when a kid goes to the effort to learn German, he just may have an ulterior motive. In this case, that motive was to be able to join Cloquet high school German teacher Cara Jago, known as "Frau Yago" to her students, on her biannual trip to Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany for three weeks, immersing themselves with... Full story

  • Deep Lumberjacks are on a roll

    Kerry Rodd|Sep 22, 2023

    Optimism is running high for the Lumberjacks boys soccer team. Heading into Tuesday night's game against Superior, Cloquet-Esko-Carlton had reeled off six straight wins and improved its record to 7-2. "Our two losses were to a Top 10 team in Class AAA and the top-ranked team in Class AA," said CEC head coach John Sundquist. "We feel that we have all the pieces to make another strong run at the end of the season." CEC finished third at the Class AA state tournament last year and they are loaded... Full story

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

    Sep 22, 2023

    Full story

  • It's domination for Esko on the court

    Kerry Rodd|Sep 22, 2023

    Esko and Barnum met in girls volleyball Thursday with Esko dominating its southern neighbor, and improving their record to 11-3 with the win. "So far so good," said Esko coach Pete Stasiuk. "We lost to Hermantown in the second week of the season - a game I thought we should have won - but since then we've been playing well, although I'd like to see some more consistency." While Esko has a deep team, the Bombers are entering a new era with a new coach. Amanda Nordstrom has taken over the program... Full story

  • Senior captains lead young Lumberjacks team

    Kerry Rodd|Sep 22, 2023

    A young Cloquet-Esko-Carlton girls swim team had the dubious honor of having to open the season against the three toughest teams in Section 7 this season. Starting with Grand Rapids, Proctor-Hermantown and Hibbing was tough, but the Lumberjacks' young swimmers continue to show improvement this season. "It's been a rebuilding year for us," said CEC coach Rachel Peterson. "We have a lot of young swimmers. It will take a while, but the girls are working hard and doing what they need to do to... Full story

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