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Inside: Snowmobile safety... See /3 Winter sports... See /1B COVID-19 updates...See /3B Clocks spring ahead on March 14 Barred owls...See /4B the TServing the IMBERJAYcommunities of northern St. Louis County since 1989 VOL. 32, ISSUE 10 March 12, 2021 $100 GREENWOOD TOWNSHIP ELECTION Greenwood fire officials Two incumbents ousted face election complaint by MARSHALL HELMBERGER by JODI SUMMIT Ralston last year, losing Managing Editor Tower-Soudan Editor Option B fails for second time by 12 votes. GREENWOOD TWP— The fire chief and Both Lofquist and assistant fire chief here are facing official complaints GREENWOOD Tahija lost to Barb Lofquist turnout topped last year’s Drobac strongly opposed over allegations they may have violated a state law TWP- Incumbents Larry 167-160, while Beihoffer totals, with at least 328 Option B, which voters that prohibits public employees and officials from Tahija and Byron Beihoffer lost by a much wider voters casting ballots, rejected nearly 2-to-1 for using their authority to pressure or compel others to lost their bids for reelection margin to former clerk Sue compared to fewer than the second year in a row. engage in political activity. to the Greenwood Town Drobac, 184-144. 300 last March. Lofquist has been a On March 2, with a hotly contested township Board during the town- Interest in the election Lofquist ran against ship election on Tuesday. was high this year, and current chairman Mike See...VOTE pg. 9 See...COMPLAINT pg. 9 SCHOOL LITERACY CITY OF TOWER Council shows little interest BRAIN FOOD in forming New vending machine Police Dept. at Ely Elementary School Tower-Soudan looks dispenses only book titles to rely on county by KEITH VANDERVORT take money. It takes golden for law enforcement Ely Editor tokens that students can earn through the school’s Paw Pride ELY – Washington by MARSHALL HELMBERGER program by being respectful, Managing Editor Elementary students received responsible, cooperative and a new vending machine last safe. TOWER—Residents here will week. But they can’t use their The Ely Community likely be reliant on the St. Louis allowance money on juice Resource’s initiative was County Sheriff’s Office for emer- boxes, candy bars and other unveiled last Thursday during gency law enforcement response for junk food. a ribbon-cutting ceremo- the foreseeable future, as officials This vending machine ny. ECR’s Julie Hignell, in both Breitung Township and the dispenses only books. And city of Tower appear reluctant to this vending machine doesn’t See...BOOKS pg. 9 re-establish a local police depart- ment in the wake of the resignation Ely third-grader Elliot Eastham, right, selects a book of former chief Dan Nylund. from the school’s new Bookworm Vending Machine. Last week, Breitung supervisors A ribbon-cutting ceremony, below, included, from left, said liability and expense were two Julie Hignell and Jill Swanson, of Ely Community key factors behind their preference Resource, third-grade students Violet Franciskovich to hand over local law enforcement and Eastham, ECR’s Janine LaMontagne, and Ely K-5 responsibility to either St. Louis Principal Anne Oelke. photos by K. Vandervort County or the city of Tower. Having Tower assume responsibility for establishing local police was Option Two on a list of five alternatives developed during last week’s meeting in Breitung. But members of the city council, who met here on Monday, expressed little appetite for taking on the task. “Option Two is not an option,” said council member Sheldon Majerle. “We do not want that liability and neither does Breitung. It’s a big thing and someday something’s going to See...TOWER pg. 10 ELY SCHOOL DISTRICT Building project starts April 1 Learning, teaching disruptions on the horizon by KEITH VANDERVORT machinery within a matter of weeks. Ely Editor Superintendent Erik Erie told school board members Monday ELY – The construction timeline night that recent meetings and for the ISD 696 building project walk-through tours with the project calls for the Industrial Arts building architects and construction managers to be emptied of the preschool, tech students, learning materials and See...BUILDING pg. 10 Contact The Timberjay 218-753-2950 [email protected] 2 March 12, 2021 THE TIMBERJAY Community notices HABITAT FOR HUMANITY Suicide Prevention and Support: Ely Habitat home to be dedicated How Can I Make a Difference? REGIONAL- The Lake Vermilion Cultural Facebook Live event scheduled for Monday, March 15 Center in Tower is holding a virtual program, “Suicide Prevention and Support: How Can I by KEITH VANDERVORT Make a Difference?” on Sunday, March 28 at Ely Editor 3 p.m. on Zoom. The presenter is Ilene Rice, a ELY- Community retired Marriage and Family Therapist with years members here are invited of experience in suicide prevention. The format to a virtual dedication on will include an introductory presentation by Rice Monday, March 15 for on risk factors, warning signs, mental illness, a Habitat for Humanity how to ask the question, and how to respond. Two rehabilitation project. panelists will ask her additional questions. To reg- Brittany Satterwhite ister for this free Zoom event send an email to the and her three daughters, LVCC at [email protected]. You Kiersten, Claire and will receive a Zoom invitation the day before the Kaitlyn, worked togeth- event. er with the North St. Louis County Habitat for Embarrass Fair needs volunteers! Humanity organization Next meeting is March 18 on renovating an existing REGIONAL- The Embarrass Region Fair is Ely “habitat” home from run by volunteers and this year there are many the ground up, located openings that need to be filled in order for the on 11th Ave. near the Ely fair to continue. Volunteer jobs range from fair Recreation Center. “The family is excited The Satterwhite girls, Kaitlyn, Claire and Kiersten, at their new Habitat for day duties like selling wristbands at the entrance Humanity home in Ely. photo by K. Vandervort to large volunteer commitments such as being to celebrate this occasion with the Ely community,” in charge of a single event, and everything in Our neighbors in need of Thompson said. adding my own touches to said Nathan Thompson, between. simple, decent and afford- “Before I knew what the home and to helping executive director of the The fair committee meets the third Thursday able homes have struggled Habitat truly was, I thought the children decorate their regional organization. of the month at the Embarrass Timber Hall at 6:30 to meet the challenges of that a person applied to bedrooms, something they “Join us for the virtual p.m. Meetings generally run around 90 minutes. the COVID-19 pandemic Habitat and just got a free could not do in the rental,” event where we will offi- The next meeting is Thursday, March 18 at 6:30 in overcrowded, unhealthy home,” Satterwhite said. “I she said. cially welcome this family p.m. at Timber Hall, 4855 Hwy. 21 in Embarrass. and substandard living didn’t want anything free Thompson said that into their home and then If you or your family have enjoyed the conditions,” Thompson or to be a burden to anyone. typical community vol- hang out after the ceremo- Embarrass Region Fair in years past, please con- said. I try to work hard enough unteer guidelines for local ny for a home tour.” sider stopping by to see if there is a volunteer role Satterwhite’s rehab so I can make everything Habitat Humanity projects The Facebook event you might be able to fill. home received new electri- work on my own. I was this year were adjusted will be held at 10 a.m. Contact Amber Johnson at 218-600-8517 if cal and plumbing systems. glad to learn that Habitat because of COVID-19. on Monday, March 15. you have any questions or want to volunteer. New windows and siding was about an opportunity “We had to be more cau- For more information on were installed before to work with volunteers tious with our volunteers this Ely event, call the winter settled in and the to build and then buy my but we are hopeful that Rep. Rob Ecklund announces St. Louis County Habitat interior was completed own home.” things will soon get back for Humanity office at March 30 Virtual Town Hall Meeting this winter. “Brittany is She and her three girls to normal,” he said. 218-749-8910 or email REGIONAL- State learning a lot from our moved to Ely just over Applications for new [email protected]. Rep. Rob Ecklund invites construction supervisor, a year ago and live in an house projects are still “Habitat for his northern Minnesota Greg Eisenhuth, as she apartment as they continue being taken. Go to the Humanity’s mission con- constituents to join him works with community to work on their new home. website at www.nslchfh. tinues to be very rele- for a Virtual Town Hall volunteers on her project,” “I am looking forward to org for more information. Meeting on Tuesday, vant in our current times. March 30 at 6 p.m. on Facebook Live to discuss ARROWHEAD LIBRARIES the 2021 legislative session. Rep. Ecklund will provide area resi- Make your own treasure bag take and make kits dents an update from the State Capitol and answer questions about issues being considered at the REGIONAL- The System Mail-A-Book Legislature. Arrowhead Library (patrons must qualify for “It’s important for me to connect with the System (ALS) will be Mail-A-Book services) people I represent, and while I hope we can have providing Make Your among others. in-person events soon, right now a virtual setting Own Treasure Bag Take Please note each loca- is the best way to get maximum participation from and Make Kits to member tion has a limited number across the region,” Rep.