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WINTER FROLIC Queen Jessica Anderson and King Alex Motes were crowned at Tuesday’s pep rally.

Adam Turner, Jaymie Stocks and Heather Friedli stand in front of their winning sculpture Saturday, Feb. 2.

By Deanna Weniger, Pioneer Press -

HONORED - Dave Merhar’s number 7 now hangs in not one but two arenas. Tuesday, the Ely native and college hockey legend was honored in his hometown, as “Dave Merhar Night” was celebrated at the Ely Arena. A 1965 Ely High School graduate, Merhar was recruited to West Point and was one of college hockey’s most decorated players in the late-1960s. Merhar, still known in some Ely circles by his boyhood nickname “Otto,” set a single-season standard with 57 goals in his senior campaign of 1968-69, and he added 50 assists the same year to become the first collegian ever to get 100 points in a season. He is pictured with his wife Jan and Ely athletic director Tom Coombe. Photo by Eric Sherman.

POETRY AND MUSIC at the Tuesday group courtesy of Tim Stouffer and Joe Kenig. The Raven Loonaticks gave a sneak preview of (Sebstian Project II - the Second Comming) a multi-media event consisting of poetry, music and more to be performed at the Vermilion Community College Performing Arts Theatre on Saturday, Feb. 9 from 2-4 p.m. Photo by Tom Coombe.

by Tom Coombe
The Ely City Council will reconsider its decision to name a Tower-based publication as its official newspaper.
Members decided that Tuesday on a 5-1 vote, with mayor Chuck Novak opposed and Heidi Omerza absent.
The move came amid controversy, and protests from officials of the Ely Echo, over the council’s Jan. 15 decision to name the Timberjay as the city’s official publication.
The issue dominated this week’s regular council session, with Novak, council members and city attorney Kelly Klun weighing in, as well as local residents and the general manager of the Ely Echo - Nick Wognum.
Wognum said he was seeking “a level playing field” for his business, noting the Echo pays commercial real estate taxes and utility rates and challenging the Timberjay’s claim that the home of its Ely editor serves as the publication’s “office of issue.”

Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08) will host a forum this weekend to give stakeholders the opportunity to express their concerns regarding the failure of recreation.gov and the subsequent inability to book permits for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA).

“The BWCA reservation system failure has already had a massive impact on business owners and families across Minnesota’s Eighth Congressional District and beyond,” said Stauber. “Since the website crashed last Wednesday morning, my office has heard from countless outdoor enthusiasts along with outfitters who are concerned with their ability to provide timely customer service and the harmful impact this crash could have on Northern Minnesota’s local economy. This forum will be a useful platform to express any concerns pertaining to the failures of recreation.gov.”

by Tom Coombe -

by Tom Coombe -

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