Winter Festival Embraces the Cold Tower Holds Reorganization, Delays Closed Meetings
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Inside: Timberjay wins awards...See /3 Frekings take 1st/2nd... See /1B Ultra cold racers...See /4B the T VOL.IMBERJAY 30, ISSUE 4 FEBRUARY 1, 2019 $100 SEASONAL CELEBRATION Winter Festival embraces the cold by KEITH VANDERVORT Ely Editor Annual Ely event runs Feb. 7-17 ELY - The annual Ely Winter Festival celebrates its favorites as well as exciting for Feb. 7-10 as 18 teams from snow at Ely’s Whiteside Park. 35th year when it gets under- new additions. The event runs across Minnesota, including “If you live in Ely, you’ve way on Thursday, Feb. 7 and through Sunday, Feb. 17. some from Ely, and even other probably seen the snow blocks organizers say this year’s event The International Snow- countries, will compete to create going up,” said Shauna Vega, will offer plenty of traditional sculpting Symposium is set amazing art from huge blocks of See...ELY pg. 11 ECONOMY Cook may IN THE get new discount DEEP retailer by MARCUS WHITE Cook/Orr Editor COOK— A vacant plot of land FREEZE formerly home to the Ashawa Inn on Hwy. 53 is being eyed for a possible Dollar General store. Cook Area Health Coldest air in decades chills North Country Services currently owns the land, but has reportedly indicated a willingness by MARSHALL HELMBERGER to sell. Managing Editor At last week’s Cook City Council meeting, City Administrator Theresa REGIONAL— The Martinson said a developer affiliated coldest air mass since 1996 with the massive small-box retailer had descended on the North applied for a land use permit for the site. Country this week, sending Angela Petkovic, a spokeswoman temperatures plummeting for the Tennessee-based chain, con- close to all-time record lows. firmed that the company was in a “due Brisk winds only added to the diligence” phase of development in misery, sending wind chills Cook but had not yet greenlit the project. as low as 70 below zero in “We are reviewing the opportunity places. to add a new store in the area, but we An official low tempera- have not committed to doing so just ture reading of minus-56 yet,” she said. “Based on our current degrees at Cotton on Sunday timeline, we anticipate to have a final morning, Jan. 27, was the decision on this by spring 2019.” coldest reading reported Petkovic said when it comes to during the cold blast, at least where their stores go, there are many Timberjay as the went to factors that go into a project. “Meeting press late Wednesday. customers’ needs is Dollar General’s top A frosted Scott Jensen, top, is all smiles But State Climatologist priority,” she said. “The company looks Pete Boulay said the state’s at the finish of the Arrowhead 135 Ultra- for places where we can offer custom- all-time record low of minus- Marathon at Fortune Bay on Tuesday. Look ers an easy and convenient shopping 60, set Feb. 2, 1996, in for more race coverage on Page 4B. An Ely choice. We know convenience is a Kugler Township just south major factor in our customers’ shop- postal carrier, right, reaches for a Boundary of Tower, could be at risk Street mailbox on Saturday. Mail delivery ping decisions as we generally serve early Thursday morning customers within a three to five-mile was suspended on Wednesday. Bocce ball depending on whether winds players, above, brave frigid temperatures in radius, or 10-minute drive. We also take demographic trends, competitive Tower on Saturday. Timberjay staff photos See... FREEZE pg. 10 See... COOK pg. 10 CITY OF TOWER Tower holds reorganization, delays closed meetings by JODI SUMMIT January— one for an unspecified reorganization and move them to the items be moved to the regular some on the council. The clerk Tower-Soudan Editor misconduct allegation and the a meeting on Feb. 4. meeting on Monday, Feb. 11. has refused to give information other for a performance evalu- Council member Kevin Kringstad said he would on the employee misconduct TOWER— The city council ation of the city clerk-treasurer. Fitton objected to another special prefer to do the meetings on meeting to Kringstad. here, on Monday, again delayed The meeting started with meeting, saying “I can’t just drop Feb. 4, “so we can have them Kringstad had asked for holding two closed meetings a tussle over the agenda, with everything to be at a meeting, behind us.” the closed meeting to discuss that have twice appeared on Mayor Orlyn Kringstad asking to whenever. I have a full-time job The nature of the two closed the council agendas earlier in table the closed meetings plus the and then some.” Fitton asked that meetings is unclear, even to See...TOWER pg. 9 New Fall & Winter Clothing Styles in Stock Contact The Timberjay 218-753-2950 [email protected] New Book Titles Daily Upstairs 365-6745 Mon-Fri 9-5 pm, Sat 9-6, Sun 10-4 105 N Central 2 February 1, 2019 TIMBERJAY Newspapers VERMILION COUNTRY SCHOOL School Choice Week Students at Vermilion Country School celebrated National School Choice Week last week. VCS is a grades 7-12 charter school in Tower that attracts students from a 30-mile radius. This week half a dozen students are busy getting ready for a winter camping trip (through the Northern Tier High Adventure Camp), as well as celebrat- ing spirit week, with the school semi- formal dance set for Feb. 1. photo by J. Summit Day-long beekeeping workshop at FDLTCC on Saturday, Feb. 16 CLOQUET– Fond du equipment, general trouble- needs to understand. His talk will is presented by Fond du Lac Lac Tribal and Community shooting, beginning beekeeping, cover equipment requirements, Tribal and Community College College, in partnership with the bee hotels, colony communica- troubleshooting, developing a through support from a USDA- Northeast Minnesota Beekeepers tion, varroa mites, gentle bee- timeline for a new beekeeper’s NIFA grant and in partnership Association, is hosting a day- keeping, and creating bee-related first year of beekeeping, getting with the Northeastern Minnesota long workshop, Beekeeping and products. stung, and more. Beekeepers Association. The More, on Saturday, Feb. 16 for “This will be a great day of Britt Forsberg of Minnesota workshop is part of Fond du Lac anyone interested in learning learning and information sharing Bee Atlas will present informa- Tribal and Community College’s about beekeeping as a hobby for both novice and experienced tion about different species of Environmental Institute and or as a commercial enterprise. beekeepers,” said Courtney bees and wasps that are com- Extension programs. The Symposium will open at Kowalczak, Director of the monly found and how to identify Registration is $20 for 8:30 a.m. and classes run from Environmental Institute at Fond them visiting artificial hives or Northeastern Beekeepers 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. starting du Lac Tribal and Community bee hotels. Association members, and $25 for in the college commons. Pre- College. “There will be plenty of Jessica Helgen from the non-members. Pre-registration is registration is encouraged. time to meet other beekeepers, University of Minnesota Bee encouraged and available online The first Beekeeping and ask for advice, get questions Squad will present on how hon- at https://www.signmeup.com/ More workshop, held in 2016, answered, and share ideas.” eybees communicate through reg/form/129043/registration. drew in more than 150 bee- Opening speaker Guy pheromones and how paying Same-day registration will at [email protected]. keepers and the event has kept Degerstedt of the Northeastern attention to hive scents can be available as space allows, Additional updates will be posted growing, making it one of the Minnesota Beekeepers make a better and more effective payment by cash or check only. to the official Environmental largest beekeeping workshops Association will introduce the beekeeper. For more information, Institute at Fond du Lac Tribal in northern Minnesota. basics of beekeeping and cover The fourth annual contact Courtney Kowalczak and Community College Session topics include everything a new beekeeper Beekeeping and More workshop at 218-879-0862 or via email Facebook page. For Join our TEAM! NEWS FLASH ! All Your FREE CNA Course Offered Feed & Seed Needs Cook Care Center partners with COLD WEATHER Leading Age Minnesota and has forced our the State of Minnesota to offer online Nursing Assistant ZUPER SALE training at no charge. into OVERTIME! Complete the training Subscribe to the courses in a matter of SALE Extended TIMBERJAY! weeks from the comfort of through Saturday, Feb. 2 Call your own home. Skills lab and 218-753-2950 clinicals are completed at the Winter Hours: Cook Care Center. Mon.-Thurs. 8-6 Fri. & Sat. 8-6, Sun. 8-3 Application deadline February 15th. 315 Main Street, Tower • 753-2725 Apply online at www.cookhospital.org or pick up an application from the Cook Hospital Business Office. Requirements: Complete background check Pass drug screening Commit to minimum 90-day employment Inquire about our sign-on bonus! For questions, contact: Annie Dougherty, RN CNA Program Coordinator 218-666-6218 [email protected] TIMBERJAY Newspapers February 1, 2019 3 ELY SCHOOLS Ely school facility planning kicks off Feb. 11 by KEITH VANDERVORT Ely Editor Community group to hold several meetings this spring ELY – Following an all-day learning atmosphere. with the idea of possibly present- that we can move forward with “That would be fun,” Mann listening session with ISD 696 ARI designer Katie ing a referendum to taxpayers this fall.” responded, “but they are a very teachers and staff on Monday, Hildenbrand, along with archi- in the fall to help finance the She expects that members small portion of all the students.