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Democratic vice-presidential nominee John Edwards is coming to the Iron Range this week.<BR><BR>Edwards will headline a Tuesday evening (5 p.m.) rally at the Hibbing Memorial Building.<BR><BR>The event comes just two weeks before the election and with polls showing a very tight race, both nationally and in Minnesota, between President George Bush and Massachusetts Senator John Kerry.<BR><BR>Kerry-Edwards campaign officials finalized plans for the visit last week, but a trip to the Iron Range by a member of the Democratic ticket had been in the works ever since Kerry came to Cloquet in July, according to U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar.<BR><BR>“In Cloquet, I told Senator Kerry that I need you or Senator Edwards on the Iron Range in late-October,” said Oberstar.

Scuba diver John Kuehlman lives a couple cabins over from the Hobbie family’s on Burntside Lake. Last Thanksgiving Erik Hobbie, who lives in Washington D.C., came for a visit with his girl friend Pamala Gahr from Minneapolis. <BR><BR>Pamala liked ice fishing so Erik wanted to show his fiancee Burntside Lake and what it was like in the wintertime. He also had an extraordinary marriage proposal scheme for his dearly beloved that he planned to initiate at this time. <BR><BR>Little did John Kuehlman know until this July how he himself would have a part in making up for the “knot” not being tied even though the “knot was tied.” <BR><BR>Being an innovative guy, Erik wanted to come up with something completely different as far as proposals go. He came up with this idea to go out onto the frozen lake, cut two holes in the ice, and he would fish in one hole and she would fish the other.

They share a bond that brings them together as their bodies and minds are being torn apart by the disease known by its initials, MS.<BR><BR>Ely residents Jim Hogan and Kathy Artisensi got together recently to talk about MS and to review an annual fundraiser to help people in the Ely area who suffer from the debilitating disease.<BR><BR>Multiple Sclerosis has made its mark on the Ely area and those with the disease battle it every day. <BR><BR>But once a year, that battle is joined by a motorcycle group out of Two Harbors that organizes the Jim Hogan Fun Run to raise money.

Less than a month after he seemed destined to hold two key area leadership positions, city clerk-treasurer John Tourville may soon not hold any.<BR><BR>Tourville is one of four finalists for an administrative position in Virginia and has told council members that he’s seeking other employment.<BR><BR>Meanwhile, the area’s economic developer position remains in flux after the council took no action on a recommendation from the Ely Area Development Association’s transitional task force.<BR><BR>The group, which first recommended that Tourville be hired as economic developer, has since switched gears and is pushing for the city clerk-treasurer and EADA jobs to remain separate.<BR><BR>But discussion Tuesday revealed that city officials are clearly divided.<BR><BR>Council members Jerome Debeltz and Mark Zupec favor a six-month trial run in which Tourville would be allowed to hold both jobs, while both mayor Frank Salerno and coun

Everyone had quite a surprise at the regular Fall Lake Township meeting this month. <BR><BR>Kawishiwi District Ranger Mark Van Every was in attendance to discuss the issue of the use of ATVs on the Cloquet Line. <BR><BR>“The new (Superior National) Forest Management Plan states that all higher standard roads be closed to ATVs,” said Van Every.<BR><BR>As reported last month, Van Every had said this is in line with national policy, restricting off road vehicle traffic to designated routes because of potential safety issues. This raised the ire of many ATV users in the area.<BR><BR>Van Every’s purpose at the Fall Lake Township meeting was to show that the Forest Service is willing to sit down and work together to solve problems in the area of recreational use. <BR><BR>He asked the township to take over jurisdiction on the portion of the Cloquet Line that falls within Fall Lake Township.

City council members want the Ely Utilities Commission to soften proposed penalties for late payments.<BR><BR>Tuesday, the council backed the first reading of an ordinance that calls for both a $20 late fee and 18 percent annual interest changes for accounts at least 15 days past due.<BR><BR>But at the same time, the council directed the EUC to revise the proposal before it comes up for final approval at the Oct. 19 session.<BR><BR>Debate last week indicated that the council would not back the current plan.<BR><BR>Some pushed for the EUC to eliminate the $20 late fee, while others pushed for a reduction of the 18 percent interest rate, the highest allowed under state law.<BR><BR>“To me, 18 percent seems like a little much,” said mayor Frank Salerno.

The city council race was jolted last week as candidate Robin Mathews pulled out.<BR><BR>Mathews, one of six contenders vying for three open council seats, is leaving Ely to take a new job.<BR><BR>He and his family will move to Pine County, in east-central Minnesota, where he was named the county’s land surveyor.<BR><BR>Mathews’ name will remain on the ballot, but he’s no longer pursuing election and would be unable to take office if he was elected.<BR><BR>In an Echo letter to the editor, Mathews said he and his family have chosen to leave Ely for both family and economic reasons.<BR><BR>He cited both the rising cost of living and limited economic opportunities in the area, noting that his wife is the only person in his household who receives benefits.<BR><BR>“I took employment with salary and benefits that were significantly less than jobs I had held previously,” said Mathews.

With near-perfect weather last week the U.S. Forest Service completed another clean-up task from the July 4, 1999 windstorm in and around the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. <BR><BR>A total of 1,649 acres between Snowbank Lake and Moose Lake was burned Wednesday to reduce the fuel load in that area. <BR><BR>The objective of the burn was to reduce the fuel load which will then reduce the potential for fire starts growing into large wildfires in the future. <BR><BR>Aircraft were used to start and monitor the blaze, which could be seen for miles from the smoke billowing up. <BR><BR>Bell 206 helicopters started the fire from several areas to control the area to be burned. The helicopters flew out of a landing area off the Snowbank Road, just before Smitty’s.

Just days after the school year began, somebody spilled pop in one of the hallways at Ely Memorial High School.<BR><BR>Now that the school has a brand-new security system - complete with video surveillance cameras - it didn’t take long for school officials to find the guilty party,<BR><BR>The culprit “fessed up pretty quickly,” high school principal Joselyn Murphy joked during the school board’s Sept.

The city’s liquor committee has recommended that three-day license suspensions be issued to businesses that failed a spring compliance check.<BR><BR>The unanimous vote followed a public hearing last Tuesday and goes to the city council this week (Tuesday, 5:30 p.m., City Hall).<BR><BR>Six Ely liquor establishments would be barred from selling alcohol for a three-day period, beginning Friday, if the council endorses the committee recommendation.<BR><BR>Facing suspension this week are the Ely VFW, Portage Bar, Vertin’s Pub, Mike’s Drive In Liquors, Ely Bowling Center and Zaverl’s Bar.<BR><BR>Two other businesses that were cited in the May sting operation by Ely police - Kwazy Wabbit and Zup’s - accepted suspensions in September and waived their right to a public hearing.<BR><BR>The rest were subject to last week’s hearing, when the committee followed past precedent and recommended suspension.<BR><BR>Ely’s liquor o