News

JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY READS THE ELY ECHO, including the Vermilion Ironmen baseball team on their recent spring trip to Florida. Pictured are Brendan Schwichtenberg, Erik Hakamaki, Kaleb Beane, Robert Studivent, Dawson Linkert, Casey Holman, Cody Leslie, Jordan Kaczrowski, Kyle Hintz, Lukas Adelman, Connor Knettel, Caleb Berg, Ben Zeidler, Chase Bottin, Brady Meyer. Missing is head coach Tom Coombe. Photo submitted by first mound visit coach Mike Turnbull.

AT THE EADA offices in the Frandsen Building was Jeanette Palcher who volunteers her time to help people find jobs. Photo by Tom Coombe.

by Tom Coombe -

by Tom Coombe -

ShopKo announced Monday afternoon that it will close all of its stores later this year - including one that occupies a massive 38,000 square foot building on Ely's east end.

The announcement came as the Wisconsin-based retailer navigates rocky financial waters, including a move to seek bankruptcy protection and plans for corporate restructuring.

ShopKo closed its pharmacy operation in Ely last month amid reports that the company owed $67 million to a pharmaceutical supplier.

At the time, it appeared the Ely store would continue to operate but the retailer indicated Monday that all of its remaining stores would close by June 16.

Ely's is one of several ShopKo locations in northeastern Minnesota to close, joining stores in Duluth, Aitkin, Moose Lake and Two Harbors. ShopKo has 134 stores and another 176 ShopKo Hometown outlets across the Midwest.

Two high-powered opponents made for a difficult two days for an Ely hockey team at state tournament play.

The Ely Pee Wees fell 5-0 to Moorhead Black in the opening round of the State Pee Wee B Tournament at Plymouth.

Friday's loss sent the future Timberwolves into the consolation round, where Ely was defeated 9-0 on Saturday by Chaska/Chanhassen. The loss eliminated the local squad from the eight-team tournament,

Ely qualified for state two weeks ago after winning championships at both the district and regional level. The Pee Wees range in age from 11-13 and were the first Ely team to make a state youth hockey tournament in four years.

by Nick Wognum -

by Tom Coombe
A challenge to a Morse supervisor’s seat was easily turned down. Len Cersine beat Terry Cooper 149-58 in a high turnout for a township election.
Following the election the annual town meeting was held with the most discussion on broadband.
The budget and levy for 2020 was passed with little discussion. Residents voted to set the levy the same as 2019.
The levy will fund the bulk of a roughly $333,000 budget with a general fund levy of $163,638.10 and a road and bridge levy of $109,092.06.
There is also a debt levy of $57,500 for Morse’s share of the joint public safety facility with the Town of Fall Lake. The debt on the building is close to being paid off.
Terry Soderberg was elected as the moderator for the meeting. He and treasurer Mary Ann Lekatz went through the specifics of the budget and levy.
Lekatz said the township’s total fund balance increased slightly to $448,972.34.

First look at school project has $23 million price tag
Two plans with kitchen sink of options and additions will be whittled down

Cersine easily wins re-election
Morse supervisor retains seat with 72% of vote victory over challenger

Seliskar re-elected to Fall Lake board

Cabaret musical set for VCC stage

Full summer of events planned for Ely Arts & Heritage Center at Pioneer Mine

Girls invited to STEM workshop in Ely

School may add online pay option

PLUS Columnists, sprts news and LOTS of Color Photos!

Delores Potter nominated Roger Skraba for the Ely Unsung Hero award. She wrote,“Every time it snows, he’s here plowing behind our garages without being asked or for anything. What a blessing. Thank you so much. God bless you.”Roger said it must be his brother’s good work, but since Darrell was out of town for the photo, Roger stood in for him. Photo by Pam Roberts

DONATION - The Ely Food Shelf received a donation of $2,000 from Twin Metals Minnesota. Presenting the check were four employees of the Ely office last Friday. Pictured are Jordan Richards (TMM), Kevin Boerst (TMM), Dean DeBeltz (TMM), Kathy Champpa, Cheryl Boyes, Mary Matthies, Mike Mathiasen and James Devine (TMM). Photo by Nick Wognum.

STORM WATER was backed up Wednesday night from Third Avenue East and Conan Street all the way to the alley behind Sir G’s where sandbags had to be used around the building to keep the rain water out. “There’s close to seven feet of frost in the ground so it took awhile to come back through the surface on Third Avenue,” said Ely Operations Director Harold Langowski. That relieved the pressure in the main allowing the water to drop from behind Sir G’s, but a house on Conan ended up with four feet of water in the basement. “Butch Gornik and Kurt Mattila pumped it out last night,” said Langowski on Thursday afternoon. “When you get an inch of rain and everything is frozen it causes some problems. We had 200 feet of storm sewer frozen solid.”
The city fire department and public works assisted with the sand bags at Sir G’s. Photo by Nick Wognum.