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Cloquet's Pine Valley Park was crawling with mountain bikers last weekend, as nearly 1,000 student athletes competed in the sixth Minnesota Cycling Association race event of the season. Add in their parents, coaches and fans, and the woodland recreation area was in constant motion, with fans hiking into the woods with cowbells or large speakers blaring music under a canopy of yellow, orange and red tents. The announcer's voice could be heard across the park and up to a mile away, as he... Full story
Kathleen Louise Ahlgren, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully at her home in Richmond, Minnesota on Sept. 23, 2024, surrounded by her family. She was born March 30th, 1942, in Clarissa, Minnesota. She lived a life full of love, kindness, and dedication to those around her. Kathy graduated from Cloquet High School in 1960 and married Ron, the love of her life, on Sept. 8, 1962. Kathy earned her certification as an X-ray technician in 1962 and went on to wo... Full story
Mary Jean Erickson, 88, peacefully passed away, comforted by her family, on Sept. 24, 2024. She was born April 2, 1936, to Roy and Josephine (Kupsc) Weedman in Cloquet. Mary graduated from Cloquet High School in 1954. Following graduation, she worked as a secretary for the Wood Conversion Company (now USG) in Cloquet. She married Edwin Erickson on March 2, 1957. She was a stay-at-home mom for her three children, actively supporting their education and outside activities. Mary also gave of her... Full story
Corinne Louise Carlblom, 89, of Cloquet, passed away on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, at Viewcrest Health Center in Duluth. Corinne was born Oct. 11, 1934, in Hartley, Iowa to Maynard and Goldie Olson. She was raised on a farm in southern Minnesota and graduated from Mountain Lake High School. After high school, she got married in Mountain Lake and raised five children. Job opportunities took their family to Windom, Waseca, and Cloquet. She later settled in a beautiful home in Hermantown. With hard... Full story
Violet Wendla Eckman, 96, of Cloquet, passed away Oct. 4, 2024. She was born June 13, 1928, to Charles and Wendla Lindquist in Duluth. At the age of 2, Vi’s family moved to Arthyde, Minnesota, in Aitkin County, near her grandparents farm. Vi’s parents had migrated from Finland. She attended school through eighth grade, after which she went to McGregor High School, where she graduated as salutatorian in 1946. She went on to attend Carey-Gaspard School of Business in Duluth. On May 25, 1955, she married George Raymond Eckman. The couple liv... Full story
Marie Judith Hunt, 88, of Cloquet, died Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, at St Luke’s Hospital in Duluth, with her children by her side. She was born Aug. 17, 1936, in Astoria, Oregon to Theodore and Ann (Sodervick) Niemi. The family moved to the Brookston area in 1945. After graduating from Brookston High School, Marie worked at the former Northwest Paper Company’s general office in Cloquet. She married John Hunt on Aug. 5, 1955, and they were married for 69 years. She enjoyed family and friends, coo... Full story
Judith Arlene Rosicky, 82, of Cromwell died peacefully on Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024, at Villa Court in Cromwell. She was born Dec. 22, 1941, in Duluth to Lyle and Ellen Lanhart. She is preceded in death by her husband, Ronald Rosicky; special friend, Bud Olson; twin infant girls; siblings and parents. Judy is survived by her sons, Mark (Denise) Warner of Tennesee, Todd (Erica) Warner of Montana, Scott (Angie) Warner of Illinois, Tyson (Christine) Warner of Minnesota, and Ryan Warner (Michelle) of... Full story
Gloria Jean Mike, age 84, passed away Oct. 5, 2024 at New Perspectives, Cloquet. Gloria was preceded in death by her parents, Roland and Elsie Wolpern and brother, Robert Wolpern. She is survived by children: Bob Chaussee (Jenni), Terry Chaussee, and Sherry Mike; grandchildren: Ryan (Dakotah) Chaussee, Kyle and Kaleb Lamb. A Celebration of Life will be held 2-4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 13 at Atkins Northland Funeral Home, 801 14th St, Cloquet....
Carlton County is experiencing a steady flow of early voters and absentee ballots in advance of the Nov. 5 general election. “Since early voting started Sept. 20, we’ve been getting 50 to 100 voters each day,” said county auditor/treasurer Kevin DeVriendt. “The mail-in ballots are rolling in, too — 150 to 200 by mail every day.” Early voting is taking place at the auditor/treasurer’s office on the second floor of the Carlton County Historic Courthouse (Room 205). Also called “in-person absentee voting,” early voting is available for all...
Reese Kuklinski and Nolan Pfister and were crowned Esko homecoming royalty during halftime of Friday's football game against Hibbing. Esko got a big win to cap off a week of festivities. See Page 9 for game highlights.... Full story
Frigid weather looming, dark afternoons creeping in: it's the perfect time for racquetball, say the dwindling number of players in Cloquet. What was once a bustling fraternity of players, filling spreadsheets of court times day after day, is now a dedicated cadre of survivors playing an endangered sport. "We're down to less than 20 people that play probably," said Dennis Painter, 47, of Cloquet. "There's our group of five or six guys, and then another couple of small groups of five-six guys and...
The Hong Kong Restaurant on Sunnyside Drive in Cloquet announced on social media this week that it will be shuttering the restaurant on Nov. 24. The Chinese restaurant has been operating since opening in the West End part of downtown in 1986. In 1997 it moved to its current location off Minnesota Highway 33. The Panda Buffet at 1310 Cloquet Ave. is the only other Chinese food option in the city....
The candidate forum organized by the Cloquet Area Chamber of Commerce got a makeover for 2024. Instead of candidates sitting side by side in the Cloquet City Council chambers in front of a live audience, individual interviews will be recorded without an audience and posted to the city and chamber website, as well as the city's CAT-7 television channel (Mediacom customers). "With only two [local Cloquet] contested races this year, we decided to do 'Meet the candidate' interviews that will be tape...
Quilt lovers or those who enjoy a spectacle are invited to participate in or drive by a “quilt walk” Saturday in Cloquet. Quilters will wrap themselves in a favorite quilt and walk from the Cloquet Chamber of Commerce parking lot across the St. Louis River on the Minnesota Highway 33 bridge before crossing the highway at the Cloquet Avenue intersection and walking back on the other side, said Mary Thompson, owner of the Quilted Dog Quilt Shop at 274 Hwy 33 North. The walk will start at 10 a.m. Those who can’t walk can choose to stand along...
Cloquet Middle School seventh graders got a hands-on lesson about trees last week, venturing into the school forest with Carlton County Soil and Water Conservation District staff and science teacher Farrah Grimm. Students learned about different types of seed dispersal, tree roots, and forestry tools, going outside with the SWCD's Jenny Sherren, below, and Tim Byrns, right, to collect seeds and identify types of tree on Tuesday, Oct. 1. Byrns also took core tree samples with an increment bore...
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz this week announced the appointment of Jessica Fralich as judge in Minnesota’s Sixth Judicial District. Fralich will replace David M. Johnson and will be chambered in Duluth in St. Louis County. She is currently the city attorney for Duluth. Jeffrey Boucher, chief deputy attorney in the Carlton County Attorney’s Office, was one of three attorneys considered for the appointment. The other was Aaron Welch, a senior assistant county attorney in the St. Louis County Attorney’s Office. Before the city of Duluth job,...
The Haunted Shack between Carlton and Wrenshall is back for its 31st season, opening tonight, Oct. 11, at 7. Crews have been transforming the working farm into the Haunted Ridge the past two months. Logan Stojevich, co-director of the attraction and technical director said there are new structures along an extended haunted hayride designed for a "more terrifying experience." A "swamp scene" has also been added. Pat Stojevich, Logan's father and the founder of the Haunted Shack said "this was...
A 38-year-old Carlton man was sentenced this week to eight years, eight months in prison for a violent attack earlier this year. Jacob Robert Clarin had pleaded guilty in August to felony first-degree assault — great bodily harm, for attacking another resident on Feb. 21 at the Lake Venoah Board and Lodge outside Carlton, in Twin Lakes Township. Judge Rebekka Stumme accepted the guilty plea, and an amended charge — first-degree assault down from attempted murder. In return for the guilty plea, a charge of second-degree assault with a dan...
Some carry signs, others bring photographs and many simply bring family or friends or the their own thoughts in memory of a loved one who died by suicide. They walk and talk, and remember, together. Held every October, this year's annual Suicide Awareness Memorial Walk will take place 9:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, at Carlton High School. An average of 150 community members attend the free event in memory of friends, family, coworkers and others lost to suicide, and to bring awareness... Full story
Minnesota’s youth deer season will take place statewide Thursday, Oct. 17, through Sunday, Oct. 20. The season coincides with statewide teacher workshops, so many Minnesota students don’t have school. To participate, youth must be 10-17 years old and have a deer license. Participant numbers are not limited and there is no special permit, so parents should obtain a regular deer hunting license for each youth who will be hunting. Youth may not tag antlerless deer or legal bucks taken by another individual. An adult parent, guardian or mentor mus...
After years of looking for a more economical way to distribute the school paper, Esko school board members approved a move to a digital-only newspaper starting in January. That means community members will no longer receive a paper copy of the Esko's Corner paper produced and distributed by Esko Community Education. The move is expected to save the school district thousands in printing and postage costs. Esko isn't the only local school making the move: Wrenshall switched to a digital paper effe...
The Wrenshall school board is in the process of formalizing a policy for community use of school facilities. The policy received a first reading at the board’s meeting on Tuesday. Superintendent Jeff Pesta said that because it’s a new policy the board can conduct as many readings as it takes to get it right. “We want community feedback on this,” board chair Mary Carlson said. Depending on the category, users of the school could be charged fees. The six-page policy proposal prioritizes non-fee based use of the facility for pre-K through 12th gr...
Local author Katharine Johnson has published a new young-adult fiction book, "Belzi's Blizzard," a story about 12-year-old Belzi, who is unhappy about staying with a grandmother she barely knew in northern Minnesota. Belzi plans to run away until she is stopped by a blizzard and a long-ago mystery about her mom. Johnson is the featured author next week at the Cloquet Public Library starting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17.... Full story
Blue Crab Properties, LLC. is excited to announce their new senior development on Sunrise Drive in Carlton, Minnesota. Owners Matt and Amy DeCaigny and Kris and Ann Johnson are all graduates of Carlton High School. Matt and Amy DeCaigny are also the owners and operators of DeCaigny Excavating, Inc. in Sawyer. Kris and Ann Johnson own and operate Lake Superior Energy Company in Cloquet. Their expertise in excavating and electrical contracting, combined with many prior building projects, produce... Full story
Our society is far removed from the Great Depression of the 1930s. Nevertheless, some government programs instituted to aid in the economic recovery left their marks on the northern communities of Minnesota. One of the most familiar is the Works Progress Administration, established in 1935 to employ millions of people to build public projects such as town halls, bridges, schools and park structures. These buildings and bridges are widely known, and the WPA letters are seen stamped somewhere on... Full story