Quick Response Saves The
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Inside: Keith charges dropped... See /3 Farmers Market season... See /1B Orr Bogwalk reopens...See /4B Ringo the bear...See /8B the Serving the communitiesIMBERJAY of northern St. Louis County since 1989 VOL. 32, ISSUE 25 June 25, 2021 00 T $1 CITY OF TOWER City, developers wrangle over river docking by MARSHALL HELMBERGER Managing Editor City threatens prosecution if river pilings are removed; jurisdiction unclear TOWER— Persistence Health signed off on his plans Right: The tattered remains of century-old river has finally paid off for the for a 32-unit RV campground, pilings have become a sore point between developer of a planned RV located along the East Two developers and the city of Tower. photo by M. Helmberger park here. After six years of River. Construction on the city hall. Rose and an adjacent currently prevents access to on-again, off-again battles project has been underway, developer, Geoff Griffin, the river from their property. with city officials over his in fits and starts, for the past have expressed their intent Both developers say they want proposal, Dave Rose has his several months. to remove about 200 linear to provide docking for future final approval in place after Yet Rose still faces at feet of old retaining wall, or the Minnesota Department of least one more battle with pilings, along the river, that See...TOWER pg. 9 BROADBAND No easy options for Greenwood by JODI SUMMIT Tower-Soudan Editor GREENWOOD TWP- There may be no easy answers on how to get broadband internet service to Greenwood Township, but there will be some options if the township decides to move forward. The lack of decent internet service, let alone high-speed service, is seen as a major issue facing the township in the future, particularly as increasing numbers of res- idents and new arrivals seek to work from home. The town WILDFIRE board met with Joe Buttweiler, from broad- band provider CTC, along Quick response saves the day with IRRRB Joe Buttweiler staffer Whitney Aerial assault contains Embarrass blaze despite extreme fire weather Ridlon and by DAVID COLBURN cials unloaded everything Above: A CL-415 RAMS director Steve Giorgi, during a Cook/Orr Editor they had on the would- drops water on the fire special meeting on June 15. be conflagration, with a on Friday afternoon. CTC did some preliminary engineer- EMBARRASS- It was massive aerial assault that ing work in the township last year and bad timing for a wildfire. knocked the fire down by Right: Fire scorches a came up with some preliminary figures With high winds, low humid- later that evening. Fire crews tree. photos by D. Colburn on the cost to bring broadband to all ity, and tinder dry woods, continued to work the site excess of 40 mph contributed road-access properties in the township. the 60-acre blaze southeast much of this week to put out to its cause and rapid spread. Total price tag: $6.3 million. of the Four Corners intersec- the last remaining hot spots. “It started from just a “You’ve done the survey, we’ve tion, sparked by a downed Called the Rahkola small tree on a power line,” done the preliminary engineering,” said powerline last Friday, could Road fire for the small Embarrass Fire Chief Tom Buttweiler. “This is a common spot to have been worse— much strip of forest between that hit a barrier.” worse. road and Hwy. 135 where Which is why fire offi- it started, winds gusting in See...FIRE pg. 11 See...BROADBAND pg. 11 END OF AN ERA Ely’s oldest business closing soon by KEITH VANDERVORT Ely Editor JD Mills Company clothing store opened in 1901 ELY – Shoppers bustled 120-year run. John Mills still uses a vintage cash register in the in and out of the doors of “I remember coming in J.D. Mills Company clothing store on Sheridan Ely’s oldest retail busi- here a long time ago when Steet in Ely. photo by K. Vandervort ness last Saturday just as we were on vacation every the summer tourist season summer and getting our the same not having this bearded man standing near ramped up. Those days will school clothes,” said one store here in town,” she said, the vintage cash register, the soon end as the J.D. Mills out-of-town shopper who as she scanned the racks for third generation Mills to own Company prepares to close reminisced about the good clothing. for good next month after a old days. “It just won’t be John, the friendly See...MILLS pg. 9 Spring Clothing, New Book Titles, New Gifts Contact The Timberjay plus excellent Canoe Camping Gear. 218-753-2950 Come in today for a New Canoe or Kayak [email protected] Open Every Day 6 am - 9 pm piragis.com 218 - 365 - 6745 boundarywaterscatalog.com 2 June 25, 2021 TIMBERJAY Newspapers Community notices IRON RANGE PARTNERSHIP FOR SUSTAINABILITY Lake Vermilion Pow Wow, June 25-27 VERMILION RESERVATION- The Lake Vermilion Traditional Pow Wow will be held Friday, Here Comes the Sun! June 25 to Sunday, June 27. Grand entries will be at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday and at 1 p.m. on IRPS presents a self-guided solar tour of the range Sunday. 2 Step Championship, winner takes all. REGIONAL- Here answers to important, prac- comes the sun. The sun, as tical questions, such as their Babbitt Scholarship Scramble awards you may know, gives its reason for investing in solar, $12,000 in scholarships energy freely, everywhere. type of solar installation, BABBITT- The Men’s Club of the Babbitt Golf We and the whole Earth who installed, cost, time Association has awarded a total of $12,000 in schol- community live by its light. to install, energy savings, arships to six seniors from Northeast Range High As society approaches any financial incentives School. Each scholarship is in the amount of $2,000. the end of the fossil fuel used, and any mainte- The graduates receiving the scholarship are Anne era, we are increasingly nance needed. Posters at Barich, Oskar Koivisto, Alexia Lightfeather, Phoebe turning toward the endless each location on the tour Morgan, Sadie Theel and Jimmy Zupancich. In 23 power of the sun to provide provide QR access to the years of the Men’s Club awarding scholarships, they electricity. irpsmn.org website with have awarded a total of $185,500 to 115 graduates. From Ely to Grand full information. People can The scholarship money is raised during the annual Rapids, solar energy is pow- visit any of the businesses Labor Day Scholarship Scramble held at the Babbitt ering the Range. Across our Piragis Northwoods Company is one of many and public buildings at their local businesses that has installed solar panels Golf Course. area, people and communi- convenience. If someone ties are turning to the sun and will be featured on the tour. submitted photo wants to contact a solar The Art of Tying Knots: for their homes, businesses, homeowner, a connection public buildings and public homes. Many more people utilities. Each phase of the can be arranged (again, via Macramé Take and Make Kits utilities. A solar plant is are asking questions. Does tour will highlight solar the website). REGIONAL- The operating at high capacity it work? Can we afford it? projects already working Here Comes the Sun Arrowhead Library System in Mt. Iron. A new commu- The Tour in Range communities, and is a journey of discov- will be providing The Art of nity solar array is currently This summer, the some that are ‘in the works.’ ery. Undiscovered solar Tying Knots: Macramé Take under construction in Grand Iron Range Partnership Guided solar tours or group sites will be identified and and Make Kits to member Rapids. Businesses in Ely for Sustainability is pre- events will take place in added to the solar map of public libraries to distribute are saving money on energy senting Here Comes the those communities. People the Range. Solar stories July 1-31. Learn the basic costs. So are govern- Sun, A Range Summer ‘21 can find out how it works will be told and shared. three knots of macramé and ment buildings in Virginia Solar Tour. Beginning in from people who know, More hands-on information create a trendy micro-mac- and Mt. Iron. Bois Forte Ely in June and ending in either in person or on the will be made available ramé zipper pull. This DIY Reservation is turning to Grand Rapids in August, irpsmn.org website. throughout the summer. project, created by Minnesota the sun’s energy for growth, the self-guided tour will A map of solar energy Solar tour partners SUN artist Jen Anfinson, can be used on jackets, back- with solar installations on spotlight solar power across sites is being created on (Solar United Neighbors), packs, purses – anything with a zipper! This is a their government buildings the Range, at work for the Iron Range Partnership RREAL (Rural Renewable great hands-on opportunity to create an artistic gift and some homes. People are homes, businesses, public for Sustainability website, Energy Alliance), and or even start a new hobby! This program is geared finding cost effective ways buildings, and community irpsmn.org. Each location REAL Solar will be sharing towards adults and kids ages 10 and up (younger to invest in solar for their on the solar tour is providing their resources. kids may need help from an adult). Kits will be distributed at Babbitt Public Library, Cook Public Library, Ely Public Library, Virginia Public Library, EDUCATION Arrowhead Library System Bookmobile, and Arrowhead Library System Mail-A-Book Please note each location has a limited number Local students receive Alworth of kits.