Inside: Stauber opposes Haaland... See /3 Looking Ely School Board... See /12 for lynx... Winter sports begin...See /1B See /4B Serving the communities of northern St. Louis County since 1989 T VOL.IMBERJAY 32, ISSUE 3 January 22, 2021 $100 TACONITE MINING Tribes pressure Walz to clean up mining pollution by MARSHALL HELMBERGER back behind the basin’s dike. The Managing Editor Failures to address violations at Minntac and Keetac facilities cited MPCA used that requirement as justification for their decision not REGIONAL— Tribal tories, tribal officials and their MORE MINING They cite U.S. Steel’s to set sulfate discharge standards nations from across Minnesota environmental allies contend Minntac tailings basin as a to the Sand River in a new permit are accusing state regulators of that the Minnesota Pollution Twin Metals opponents case in point. For several years, the agency issued to U.S. Steel bad faith over their continuing Control Agency continues to hopeful in wake of political MPCA officials had argued that in late 2018. failure to address longstanding drag its feet on enforcement of changes. Page 9 they had addressed pollution Yet, MPCA officials appar- pollution concerns, many stem- sulfate standards to protect wild discharges from that tailings ently knew at least a year ming from lax regulation of the rice as well as other pollution haven’t always been candid basin into the Sand River, by earlier that Minntac contin- Iron Range’s taconite industry. concerns. At the same time, about the extent of pollution requiring the company to pump Despite recent legal vic- they argue that agency officials from major sources. outflows from a discharge point See...MPCA pg. 9 CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC CITY OF ELY At least five MASSIVE RESPONSE candidates Registrants look to fill overwhelm mayor seat COVID-19 Primary election to vaccination be held on April 13 by KEITH VANDERVORT rollout plan Ely Editor by DAVID COLBURN ELY – Let the campaigning begin. At Cook-Orr Editor least four current city council members and a former mayor are looking to lead REGIONAL- While a the city of Ely as its next mayor. massive public response to Heidi Omerza, Paul Kess, Angela a statewide rollout of pilot Campbell and Jerome Debeltz filed COVID-19 vaccination sites candidacy papers for the position on on Tuesday threatened to Tuesday, the first day of the filing overwhelm a registration period. Former Ely mayor Roger Skraba website and phone banks, is looking to return to the position he Cook Hospital Director of once held and threw his hat in the ring Nursing Nichole Chiabotti on Tuesday. and her colleagues stayed Interim Mayor Chuck Novak, who focused on what they’ve lost his re-election bid last November, been doing since December, said this week that he had “no answer” managing and administering Timberjay vaccinations for hospital when asked by the if he will staff, emergency responders, run for election again. “It is too early to and the Cook Care Center. tell,” he said. “However, I have put a lot “We’re actually in the second of thought into it.” week of giving second doses,” Ninety-six-year-old Tower resident Richard Helmberger was among a small Potential candidates have until 5 p.m. Chiabotti said. “Last week group of local seniors to receive a COVID-19 vaccine this week at Scenic Rivers on Tuesday, Feb. 2, to file for the election we had 57 staff members that Clinic. The clinic does not currently have any additional doses available (and with the City Clerk’s office. asked patients not to call for appointments at this time), but will notify patients As more than two candidates are See...COVID pg. 10 when they start to receive their expected allotment. seeking the job, a primary election will photo by M. Helmberger be held on Tuesday, April 13. A general election will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 10. The Ely city government was under Ely students ‘back in the groove’ as they return to school the leadership of Novak last summer when resident Erik Urbas decided to run by KEITH VANDERVORT for elected office for the first time in his Ely Editor life. In August, Urbas withdrew from the race because of an ongoing health issue, ELY – The sounds but it was too late to remove his name of shoes squeaking on from the ballot. the floors, locker doors Urbas won, 925 to 800, over Novak, slamming, and kids but turned down the job, setting in motion talking and laughing the steps to hold another election. in the hallways filled At the beginning of the year, the Memorial School last students back here,” mayor’s seat vacancy was declared and week. Those familiar she said. Novak was named interim mayor by a sounds made it to the In-person learning majority vote of the council. Novak will ears of 6-12 Principal is now in place for the continue to lead the city until at least Megan Anderson as younger students in the April or maybe August. students transitioned Washington building Beginning her 14th year on the Ely from distance learning as the school district City Council, Omerza said in a press to hybrid learning. release that as mayor she would continue “It is great to have See...ELY pg. 11 Ely students follow the mask mandate. photo by K. Vandervort See...MAYOR pg. 11 Snowflakes falling, shovels throwing... Contact The Timberjay It’s a great time for a new book, to browse our 218-753-2950 Fall/Winter Fashions or to get out and have some fun! [email protected] WINTER RENTALS AVAILABLE Open Monday - Saturday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sunday 10 - 4 piragis.com 218 - 365 - 6745 boundarywaterscatalog.com 2 January 22, 2021 TIMBERJAY Newspapers Community notices THINGS TO DO Ely ArtWalk begins Feb. 4 Celebrate Ely Winter Festival at home ELY- Please join us for the annual Ely ArtWalk, by KEITH VANDERVORT running from Feb. 4-28, when the city of Ely is Ely Editor Public is invited to make front yard snow sculptures transformed into an art gallery, a window-shopping exhibition of more than 400 pieces of art by artists with direct ties to the Ely area in the shops and windows of downtown businesses. Thrive Range offers free online stress management course REGIONAL- Thrive Range is now offering a free, online stress management course, “I’m Making It Matter with Micro-Interventions”. The course is for anyone who has struggled with mental health submitted photo and/or substances; friends, family or other support- ers of someone who has mental health challenges; or ELY – Ely Winter an amateur snow sculpture If you’ve never carved Winter Festival orga- anyone who wants to learn coping (DBT) skills. Festival organizers invite contest this year and has before, you may want to nizers encourage partic- The course teaches micro interventions. Micro- winter lovers to participate not invited out-of-town check out some instruc- ipants to post pictures interventions are small steps and coping skills you in this year’s celebration at carvers. Many artists who tional videos which will of the carvings on their can do in five minutes or less to improve your health home, by creating a snow can’t come to Ely this year be posted on the Ely Facebook page. If you wish or support others. People say this micro-interven- sculpture in their own because of the coronavirus Winter Festival Facebook to provide your address, tions class improved their life. 92 percent reported front yard. The event runs pandemic still want to page and on their website. people can drive around improved stress management and 75 percent said from Thursday, Feb. 4 to carve something. Here is Snowbank Productions Ely and enjoy them. Please it improved relationships. Those who complete the Sunday, Feb. 14. their chance. has given the organization tag photos: #elywinterfes- course receive a certificate and option for free con- The 2021 Ely Winter This is not a competi- permission to post their tival @elywinterfestival. tinuing education credits. This course can be com- Festival is not conducting tion. Just go for it. videos. pleted on a phone or computer in two hours or less. To enroll, visit http://bit.ly/ CommunityMicroInterventions (capitalization matters.) Anyone living on the Iron Range, please go to Minnesota Discovery Center Reopens http://bit.ly/RangerStressMgmt. CHISHOLM- The one Thursday a month. (Go Research Center (IRRC) outdoor recreation team is Minnesota Discovery to www.mndiscoverycen- - The IRRC is open at also launching a series of Ely library seeks artists Center (MDC) reopened ter.com for details.) 25-percent occupancy. “Discover Snowshoeing” portions of its historic 660- Additionally, MDC Walk-in appointments are events in the near future. ELY - The Ely Public Library, in cooperation acre campus to the public will be offering snow- welcome (up to five people Watch the MDC website with the Arrowhead Library System, is seeking on Jan. 12. shoe rentals for youth at a time) or you can call and social media for dates Requests for Qualifications (RFQ) to create a piece “We are over-the- and adults. Private guided 218-254-7959 to set up an and details. or series of pieces of public artwork for the library. moon about being able to group tours for up to 10 appointment. The IRRC Precautions are being These pieces will be funded by the Minnesota welcome back guests at a people of MDC’s historic continues to accept online taken to keep staff and Arts and Cultural Heritage Legacy Fund. Artists limited capacity this week. campus and the new world- and remote requests via our guests safe as MDC reopens who are interested should have experience working We continue to follow our class Redhead Mountain website.