Pine Knot News - A hometown newspaper with a local office, local owners & lots of local news

This week’s Pine Knot News and the local election guide inside are being delivered to almost every home and business in Carlton County … free of charge. Please don’t throw it into the recycling bin before exploring what’s inside. You will find st... Full story

An observant police officer and a likely DNA match led to the arrest of a 43-year-old Cloquet man last week on suspicion of trying to strangle a woman in her home this summer. Cloquet detectives and officers arrested Brendan Gareth Smith Friday... Full story

A request to allow the local industrial landfill to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week for two specific customers was approved by the Cloquet planning commission Tuesday. The motion passed by a 3-1 vote, with new commissioner Michelle Wick... Full story

Blackhoof Township residents have collected nearly 100 local signatures on a petition opposing a new “green” cemetery advertising its services on land in the township. Residents again attended Tuesday’s county board meeting, this time to objec... Full story

The Thomson Township board of supervisors is continuing to seek improvements for the township’s sewer system in order to prevent future emergency repairs, like the one in late July 2022 on Highway 61 in front of the Esko school. At their meeting T... Full story

Here is the call to action, the case for vetting candidates and getting out to vote. In democratic forms of politics, representation and visibility matters. During elections, voters are the board of directors establishing the mandates for the elected... Full story

It seems to me so many senior citizens like me feel they have no way, no power, to express unhappiness with what is happening in our government. Voting may seem like a small thing, but it’s the most important thing you can do. I urge you to vote i... Full story

First & Second Amendments, police, veterans, secure borders, every unborn, freedom, American dream, good to defeat evil, future of the USA and, most important, to serve my God. Bill Dian, Wrenshall... Full story

Weighing in on a political race is just not something I normally do, but I have concerns that I would like to share with my fellow voters. I wonder, is Jeff Dotseth truly focused on the needs of 11A? His realty business office address is in... Full story

Politicians are sending us campaign literature. I ask of every sentence that comes my way: how shall I pick this sentence up? What shall I do with it? It seems as if our default assumption is that (declarative) sentences are about the natural world... Full story

I am writing this letter in support of Dave Bjerkness for mayor of Cloquet. I only came to know Dave this year and he has been very helpful. He really listens and has compassion for people. Through conversations with his supporters, and his history... Full story

I come from a family of patriots. My grandfather, father, two of my sons and I — four generations — have served in the United States Armed Forces, from World War II to Iraq. It is because of my sense of duty to America that I feel compelled to wei... Full story

The Pine Knot News will accept candidate endorsement letters, with the following restrictions. The suggested word limit is 200 words, but we’ll accept up to 300 words for those who aren’t simply repeating themselves. If we receive multiple let... Full story

The cornstalks are up and the light poles are being decorated. Come and check them out. The Kettle River American Legion Post 360 rifle drawing is 9 a.m. Friday, Nov. 4 at the Tower Tap in Kettle River. First prize: Winchester XPR .30-06 with scope... Full story

After losing my husband of 52 years on Oct. 1, I had to postpone his memorial service since I got Covid-19. Sometimes I wonder, “What else can happen?” But, as my mother always said, “This, too, shall pass!” So, with that in mind, Bob’s service h... Full story