News

by Tom Coombe
When it comes to social media, the city of Ely is dipping its toes in the water.
Council members voted 6-0 Tuesday night to adopt a social media policy, which includes the establishment of a city Facebook page.
Public comments, however, won’t be allowed on the page, a provision adopted at the strong suggestion of mayor Chuck Novak.
Novak cited the dangers of a comment area, including the possibility that people could post personal “very salacious” allegations against elected officials.
He also pointed to legal opinions that indicate cities run into free speech issues if comments are removed,
“I would be supportive (of the policy) as long as the council (page) does not have any comments, because you can’t delete them,” said Novak.
While the council went along with Novak’s suggestion, member Heidi Omerza said she was “fine with agreeing to disagree.”

The Memorial Day Program is held at the Ely Cemetery and honors veterans. Ely was well known for the number of volunteers - men and women - who served in war and peacetime. Monday they will be honored at the 10:30 program open to one and all. The speaker will beCommander James Kuehl. In case of rain, the program moves to Vermilion Community College.

This issue of the Ely Echo is filled with photos in color from concerts and dance programs and more. On newsstands now. You are cordially invited to subscribe!

STUDENTS Shane Spangler (left), Abby Rehbein and Zach Robbins present to the Ely school board on Monday.

FOX PUPS went nose to nose in this photo taken by Eric Sherman last week near Ely.

ELY HIGH SCHOOL CHOIR: Back Row: Grace Fedders, Cora Olson, Lauren Olson, Shane Geiger, Matt Janeksela, Jasiah Wigdahl, Caleb Rouse-Littler, Bryce Fairchild, Preston Morgan, Grace Erickson, Madison Hill, Adrianna Bishop. Front Row: Hanna Littler, Amelia Pluth, Nash Hren, Adam Williamson, Logan Mather, Reba Kissell and Caitlin Priebe. Photos by Eric Sherman.

FROM UNDERNEATH the sidewalks and pipes holding Frontier phone lines, Dick Rach lifts a 10,000 fuel oil tank from in front of the Community Center as city workers assist. Photo by Nick Wognum.

The Morse town board approved recreation donations and discussed potential future broadband options for township residents.
Isaac Olson addressed the board on a proposed broadband project that would be able to provide access to anyone within sight of the Ely water tower.
Olson said he has approval from Ely to install antennas on the water tower and has talked to Winton. He said the antennas can reach out five miles.
He said a 90-foot tower is going up at Camp Widji and being put up by Frontier to service the YMCA camps.
Olson said he has the contract to run the fiber inside the camps to each building. His treehouse.mn service would cost $200 for the installation fee and $50 per month after. The water tower set up can handle 200 customers.
He said there are 50-60 customers on the north side of Shagawa. The city will charge $240 per month for two antennas on the water tower.

by Tom Coombe -

Since 1991, international journalists from the World Press Institute (WPI) have made a visit to Ely part of their nine week stay in the States. Each year they are hosted by area families and participate in an Ely Echo Open Forum held at the Miners Dry House in the Pioneer Mine complex at the Ely Arts & Heritage Center. The Forum will be held Monday, August 26 from 9-1 p.m.
The Ely visit this year is scheduled for August 25-27. For more information, contact Anne Swenson at 365-3141.
The World Press Institute (WPI) has chosen 10 journalists from Algeria, Belarus, Bulgaria, Finland, Hungary, India, Romania, South Africa, Uganda and Uruguay to be fellows in its 2019 international journalism program.

A Culture & Tourism grant awarded to the Ely Folk School by Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation will help support several initiatives the nonprofit school has in the works for 2019. These include launching a pottery program in the school’s newly remodeled workshop space and expanding the school’s forge and blacksmithing program, which opened to popular appeal last fall in an adjoining building.
Another supported initiative is EFS’ involvement with the “Nature for the Nation” outdoor walking play slated for a performance in Ely this August. The grant also includes support for EFS’ seasonal folk-dance series, its annual birchbark canoe building program, expanded marketing and website services, and funds to assist with compensating contracted instructors who teach the school’s short courses in traditional skills.