News

CONTEST WINNERS - Ely VFW Post 2717 saluted the winners of the Patriots’ Pen Essay Contest. Lauren Rehbein and Lily Dirks won $20 prizes and Abigail Johnson was the overall winner. They are pictured with post commander Mike Pope. Submitted photo

The 100+ Ely Women Who Care group presented Northern Lights Clubhouse with a check for $7,885 as the recipient of the combined donations at the group’s Oct. 28 event. The purpose of 100+ Ely Women Who Care is to foster philanthropy and community by donating as a group to a local charity. Over 100 Ely women contributed to the donations. This was the fourth 100+ Ely Women Who Care event. The first three events raised over $22,400.

THEY LIKE SNOW - Brennan Rue, Avery Cornish, Brooks Brenny and Brian Cook enjoying the snow on the playground at Washington Elementary. Photo by Pam Roberts.

Baseball season has ended but Ely had what amounted to a game-winning double play last week in the Twin Cities.
Ely American Legion Post 248 was named Minnesota’s “Post of the Year” by the state Legion baseball board of directors.
The same group also approved Ely’s bid to host the 2021 Divison II Junior Legion State Tournament.
The recognition comes in advance of next summer’s Division II Senior Legion State Tournament, which will be held Aug 2-4, 2019 at Veterans Memorial Field.
That will be the latest in a long line of major tournaments to be held at Ely’s historic ballpark, and committee members were quick to award the community the opportunity host the fledgling Division II Junior Legion event.
The last two years, Minnesota has held a state tournament for the Junior Legion level, which has taken off in popularity and has replaced VFW baseball as the program of choice in many small towns.

by Tom Coombe -

The Holiday season begins with activities and a parade over the Thanksgiving holiday, so come out and support your home town with shopping, fun and family activities! You'll find them all and more in this week’s Ely Echo and North Country Saver! Enjoy! Stay warm and be safe on the snowy streets!

Photographer Randall Greiner said it takes more than a good camera to get a photo of an eagle alongside Bear Island Road - it takes patience, too.

VETERANS DAY program speaker Mike Pope addresses the crowd at Ely Memorial. Photo by Pam Roberts.

by Tom Coombe -

Just About Everybody Reads the Ely Echo
Even a group of travelers from Minnesota (the Iron Range, Duluth and Wyoming - several Elyites) at the 1st Minnesota Monument on the Gettysburg Battlefield at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Those from Ely included Bill Erzar, Debbie Erzar, Jeff Anderson, Dean Erzar, Peggy Erzar, Terry Jackson, Ann Jackson, Kay Kratz, Al Kratz, Vera Pratt-Olson, Dave Jauhola, Judy Jauhola, Kristin Anderson, Alison Zaverl, Wayne Hartleben, Elaine Hartleben, Terry Myers and Judy Myers. They are pictured in front of the Monument of the 1st Minnesota Regiment of 296 men who held off over 1,000 Confederate soldiers until reinforcements arrived with only 42 men surviving or remaining unhurt after the Battle of Gettysburg.

Once a Marine, always a Marine - Joe Telich,96 years old, (seated right) watches as Cael Richards, 23 years old, cuts the Marine Corps birthday cake at the recent Ely area Marine Corps dinner.