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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Two familiar faces are among the six candidates set to interview for a spot on Cloquet's school board later this month. Cloquet public schools leaders on Monday, Dec. 9, agreed to interview Brendon McKeon, Robert Peacock, Nate Sandman, Jason Loons, Shaun Williams and Ted Lammi next week. Each hopes to replace Sarah Buhs, a board member who resigned effective in January after she was elected to the Carlton County board of commissioners in November. The current board members agreed to meet...
Greg White describes himself as a father, husband, firefighter, outdoorsman and mental health advocate. Now the Cloquet Area Fire District firefighter can add the title of "champ" to the list, after being crowned winner of the 'Stache Salt moustache competition and title of "2024 Saltiest 'Stache of the Year" last week. Sponsored by 'Stache Salt, the monthlong online competition included a number of judges challenges to get to the Top 10. From that point, it was a popularity contest, with the to...
Nearly 50 Thomson Township residents crowded into the town hall Thursday, Dec. 5, worried the board of supervisors was going to address the long-delayed private roads and shared driveway resolutions. In the end, board chairwoman Ruth Janke addressed the issue only once — at the start of the meeting — and that was to tell residents they were misled by a social media post. The controversial resolutions were not on the agenda and wouldn’t be discussed. An update to the township’s road policy and engineering guidelines that was on the agenda under...
A man was rescued and later charged with driving while intoxicated Monday after his vehicle was submerged in the St. Louis River in Scanlon. A 35-year-old man from Ironwood, Michigan was arrested by the Cloquet Police after being medically cleared from the local hospital. At 10:30 p.m. Monday, first responders were dispatched to a vehicle that went into the river off River Gate Avenue, past the River Inn and Minnesota Whitewater Rafting businesses, CAFD battalion chief Jason Maki said in a...
The city of Carlton was expected to adopt a 4.01-percent levy increase following its Truth in Taxation hearing Dec. 4. The taxable levy on the city’s $1.81 million budget for 2025 rose to $516,367, up from $496,457 in 2024, accounting for the 4-percent increase. The city council met Dec. 5 for a special meeting aimed at finalizing the numbers prior to this week’s hearing. “We went through it line by line to see where we can make changes and save money,” mayor Mike Soderstrom said following the Dec. 5 meeting. “People can ask themselve...
The Cloquet Area Fire District’s 2025 budget has climbed and its proposed levy, which garnered three “no” votes from board members in September, remains unchanged. The district board presented this information at its annual truth-in-taxation meeting at which two residents participated Dec. 5. The state-mandated meeting allows for public comment ahead of levy approval. The total that could be levied on the combined fire and ambulance service areas at the board’s upcoming Dec. 18 meeting is $4,334,394. The amount individual residents pay may dif...
Only three members of the public spoke at Wednesday’s Truth in Taxation hearing conducted by the Carlton County board and administration. While small in number, the three speakers seemed to carry the concerns of a broad swath of citizens. Namely, why do taxes keep going up? “If I don’t have enough money, I don’t go to my employer with a levy,” said Cody Gilbert, 43, of Moose Lake, who reported his property taxes have doubled in the seven years since he’s owned his home. Gilbert was comparing how the levy on property owners is used to balance ju...
The Minnesota Department of Transportation is accepting snowplow names for the agency’s fifth “Name a Snowplow” contest. Past winners have included names like Taylor Drift, Plowy McPlowFace, and The Big Leplowski. MnDOT encourages people to submit their most witty, unique and Minnesota or winter-themed snowplow name ideas through the agency’s website. Submissions will be accepted through noon on Friday, Dec. 20. MnDOT has a few basic rules: • Each person may only submit only one name. • Submissions are limited to no more than 30 characters...
Starting this upcoming tax filing season, renters eligible for a property tax refund will now claim the new Renter’s Credit on their Minnesota Individual Income Tax return. To claim the Renter’s Credit, renters must file a state income tax return (Form M1). For most renters claiming a property tax refund, this means they will no longer file a separate Property Tax Refund return and will not receive a separate refund later in the year. The Renter’s Credit will be part of their income tax refund amount, be applied to the amount owed on their...
At their working session Monday night, the Carlton school board acknowledged and formed a response to a letter from Wrenshall asking for continued discussion of a possible merger. The letter from Wrenshall, dated Nov. 12, had only one sentence which contained 15 words: “We are ready to meet to discuss consolidation between Wrenshall and Carlton when you are.” It was signed by all six members of the Wrenshall school board. Board member Sue Karp, who has two years left to go on her term, thought the superintendents needed to be involved in any...
With no comment from the public or school board members, a 2025 levy increase was approved in Wrenshall Tuesday in a Truth in Taxation hearing before the regular school board meeting. Superintendent Jeff Pesta called the budgeting in the district the past four years a solid path for the district. Next year’s levy is “staying close to home,” he said, and the better news is that the district’s fund balance is increasing: $506,000 in 2023 to $800,000 in 2024, Pesta said. Better financial shape means the district can look for ways to improve...
At the end of harvest, when "All is safely gathered in, ere the winter storms begin," farmers gather to compare notes before their attention is captured by the holidays. Traditionally, the two largest Minnesota organizations, Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) and Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF), hold their annual conventions in Minneapolis on the weekend before Thanksgiving. Each assembly hears reports, welcomes guest speakers, and votes for delegates to their national affiliates....
Esko Schools Quarter 1, 2024 Honor Roll Emma Adkins Aania Ahsan Adisyn Anderson Lillee Ankarlo Joshua Antonutti Emmett Bailey Aaron Bailey Roman Barnes Ellynor Barta Lucy Barta Brooklyn Battaglia Ashlynn Beare Josef Bednar William Beisang Gavin Belich Remington Bender Jaxon Benedix Harper Benedix Aviana Bergstrand Elin Besonen Isabella Bowman Marisa Brabec Ahna Brekke Annabella Brodin Quinn Bryant Braeden Caple Merik Carey Priya Carey Charlie Carlson Owen Cawcutt Amelia Cebelinski Joseph Cekalla Samuel Cheslak Ayden Chopskie Brynn Christensen...
Wrenshall High School Quarter 1, 2024 A Honor Roll Kiara Ankrum Soren Barron Bryce Bartczak Drew Bartczak Gavin Beetcher Soyure Beetcher Luci Berglind Evelyn Brown Vera Brown Willow Cash Gabriel Cass Hannah Christensen Kyler Clarke Kylee Crisp Lila Dalen Taiden Eider Mason Goetz Annabelle House Angel Hughes Taylor Hulgan Gracelyn Johnson Jack Johnson Julieauna Johnson Kendal Kot Tatem Morgando Isaias Padilla Carson Parker Camden Peterson Isabel Riley Aowyn Rupp Selah Rupp Jonah Sandstrom Matthew Shaw Molly Sheda Jaela Sjodin Jeshua Sjodin...
On Nov. 15, two months of sleepless nights, searching, agonizing, and waiting for the phone to ring came to an end for Cloquet's Anne Gullion. Her 23-year-old horse Taz, which had disappeared from the Cutfoot Sioux Horse Camp in Itasca County in mid-September, had been found. Without her horse, her world had become a blur. Gullion and a group of friends had been at the camp northwest of Deer River, in the Chippewa National Forest, as they had done many times before. Taz had somehow come off his...
When the state afforded an additional $10 million to Carlton County in 2023 to help fund the new $75 million Justice Center, the money came with a stipulation. The project would include a justice-involved female program to serve as a demonstration project that might one day be replicated in other parts of the state. More women were being jailed and incarcerated, and lawmakers were sold on the idea of a creative solution to the problem. The 16-bed justice-involved female portion of the jail -...
Recycle your unwanted or no longer working holiday lights at the Carlton County Transfer Station, 1950 Highway 210. Electric cords are also accepted. Please remove all decorations from your string lights and remove them from any type of plastic spool, cardboard packaging, or plastic bags first. Place the clean string lights in the correct box at the Transfer Station. Rope lights are acceptable. Acceptable electric cords include extension cords, appliance cords, and telephone cords. Operating hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday,...
There’s lots going on next weekend at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College in Cloquet. First up is the annual Holiday Celebration 5:30-7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13, in the FDLTCC commons. The celebration will include food, games and drawings, plus every child in attendance will receive a gift from Santa. The holiday fun continues Saturday, Dec.14, with an Arts and Crafts Holiday Market from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., where artists, bakers, and craft makers will have their unique works for sale in the commons area. Stay a little longer and join the O...
Despite being sympathetic to citizens who can’t afford higher taxes, Cloquet city councilors unanimously passed an 11.23-percent property tax levy increase Tuesday, an increase of nearly $398,000 over last year’s levy. “This is the cost for the level of service that we have right now,” said city administrator Tim Peterson. “If we want to decrease the level of service, that will lower the costs that we have presented in front of you, but this is what it costs to have what we have right now.” Peterson focused much of his explanations Tuesday on...
Residents along a proposed bike and pedestrian trail were eagerly waiting for more information at two open houses this week explaining the project announced last month by the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa. The branches from Carlton's Munger Trail to Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College and Black Bear Casino Resort would create 3.8 miles of connection to the popular trail that runs from Duluth to Hinckley. There were two open house sessions planned for Thursday at the college....
Sixth District Court judge Rebekka Stumme called it the most “remarkable” victim impact statement she’d ever heard, after Brandon Westby asked the judge to be lenient. Westby’s father, Justin David McNeil, died after being hit by 21-year-old driver Brent James Keranen on March 21. “As a Christian, I reflect on the many examples of forgiveness found in the Bible,” said Brandon Westby. “My father was a devoted Christian. With that in mind, I forgive the young man [sitting] here.” Stumme listened to Westby — and also spent weeks pondering her deci...
A rural Carlton County man who posted a sexual image of a minor online was sentenced to prison for more than 17 years for one count of production and attempted production of child pornography. The sentence was announced in U.S. District Court last month. Cord Cameron Schipman, 34, of Blackhoof Township in Carlton County, pleaded guilty in June and was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz on Nov. 21 to 210 months at the federal prison in Sandstone, requested by the defendant so he could be closer to family. Schipman was...
The County Seat Theater Company ends its 2024 season with a new take on Charles Dickens. "A Goblins' Christmas Carol" by Kenny Chumbley premiered last fall at the Orpheum Theatre in Champaign, Illinois. It's a musical that can be enjoyed by the whole family. "The County Seat Theater was excited to work directly with playwright Kenny Chumbley on bringing this piece to life," said Joel Soukkala, the theater's general manager and music director. "He has been very generous in allowing us the...
Barnum Schools Quarter 1, 2024 A Honor Roll Grade 7 Nicolas Beckstrand Nolan Carlson Owen Carvell Draya Collelo Colten DeVriendt Jaxon Erickson Grace Evans McKenzie Gran Cameron Kauppila Gendreau Langhorst Lilly Leino Makaylie Lohn Clark Moerke MiKayla Nichols Myah Ninefeldt Willamena Olsen Kylan Reller Emmie Rhodes Gabrielle Roy Levi Thompson Luke Thompson Vivian Wallace Grade 8 Owen Bailey Andrae Davis Morgan DeCaigny Rachel Dinger Henry Franek Avery Graftaas Amos Grover Hailey Ikola Lucas Laine Benson Langhorst Lindy LeDoux Clover Moerke...
'Tis the season ... for making and serving massive meals, if you're a member of the Carlton County Disabled American Veterans or one of their faithful volunteers. Last week's annual DAV Thanksgiving dinner and deliveries saw close to 1,000 meals served, starting at 3:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 28 when the first turkeys went in the oven at two locations. Head "Vetsgiving" organizer Raffy Johnson estimated they served 350 sit-down meals plus another 325 takeout meals at Zion Lutheran Church on...
