News

by Tom Coombe
A divided St. Louis County Board put two Iron Range commissioners - including one from Ely - in leadership positions.
Breaking from tradition, the board opted against rotating the chair position and re-elected Chisholm commissioner Mike Jugovich on Tuesday.
Commissioner Paul McDonald of Ely, meanwhile, was selected vice-chair.
The votes came with some acrimony, and with outspoken Virginia area commissioner Keith Nelson creating controversy when he called Duluth - the county’s largest city - a “cesspool.”
For years, the board’s chair position went back and forth between the Range and the Duluth area.
But Hermantown commissioner Keith Musolf, who was in line to take the gavel, cited personal reasons for declining and suggested Jugovich get another year at the helm, pointing to disruptions created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

by Tom Coombe
Ely could have a new mayor, or at least a temporary one, as soon as Tuesday.
The council’s first gathering in 2021 brings both some drama and uncertainty - all stemming from the surprising November mayoral election victory by Eric Urbas and his subsequent decision to turn the job down.
Council members are expected to either appoint an interim mayor this week or set a process by which to choose one, and take steps that will lead to a special mayoral election - and perhaps a primary - later in 2021.
Some maneuvering toward the mayoral election has already begun, with former mayor Roger Skraba indicating that he will be a candidate for his former job.
The decision by Urbas, who made headlines by unseating incumbent Chuck Novak despite dropping out of the race months earlier, has set in motion a series of events.

by Tom Coombe
After a November spike, reported cases of COVID-19 continue to decline locally, regionally and statewide.
With only five residents of the 55731 zip code testing positive for the virus in a two-week period that ended Dec. 24, the case rate in Ely is low enough to allow for in-person learning for all grade levels, according to state recommendations and a restart blueprint adopted by the Ely School Board.
In St. Louis County, cases have fallen by two-thirds since peaking in late-November while active cases in Minnesota have plummeted by 76 percent since a high-water mark of Nov. 20.
The developments come in the wake of restrictions authorized by Gov. Tim Walz, including a “pause” that has closed restaurants, bars and indoor entertainment venues for several weeks.

by Tom Coombe
The COVID-19 vaccine has arrived in Ely.
As part of a nationwide effort to combat the virus, about 30 doses were distributed Monday to employees of Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital and the Ely Area Ambulance Service.
Another 25 workers were to get shots Wednesday, with health care employees at the front of the line to receive a vaccine that only earlier this month was approved for emergency distribution.
The Ely hospital is coordinating the vaccinations of its staff and ambulance employees from Ely, Babbitt and Tower, while local clinic provider Essentia is coordinating vaccinations for its staff.
Ely’s nursing home and congregate care facilities are also set for vaccinations in the early stages of an operations that could result in the distribution of millions of doses by mid-2021.
Rebecca Holmstrom, chief nursing officer at EBCH, said those who received shots this week will get a second dose in another three weeks.

Opponents of Gov. Tim Walz’s restrictions on businesses have found a powerful ally in U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber.
Tuesday, Stauber spoke with numerous business owners and industry leaders and called on Walz to lift restrictions on bars, restaurants and other venues.
“To point to the obvious Minnesota needs to get back to an open and working economy,” said Stauber, who met via conference call in a session that also involved media representatives. “I’m going to continue to fight for a full reopening in the days to come. It’s time for our governor to level the playing field.”
Last week, Walz extended what started as a four-week “pause” that limited restaurants to takeout or delivery service and closed bars, gymnasiums, entertainment venues and other gathering places.
Walz tweaked some of the provisions effective Dec. 19, including opening gymnasiums to 25 percent capacity and allowing restaurants and bars to open outdoors.

by Tom Coombe
Reported cases of Covid -19 have declined dramatically in the Ely area, to a point that in-person learning would be allowed per current guidelines.
According to data released Thursday, only three new positive tests were reported among residents of the 55731 zip code in the last three days, and 10 overall in the last two weeks.
That’s in comparison to 40 in a two-week period that ended Dec. 3 and 57 from Nov. 14-27, and has brought Covid case rates to levels consistent to when the Ely schools provided in-person learning earlier this school year.
Ely’s zip code case rate per 10,000 in the last 14 days has plummeted to 16.11, compared to 37.04 last week and 91.80 Nov. 27.
Guidelines released by the state of Minnesota earlier this year suggest full in-person learning for rates of 10 and under, with rates between 10 and 19.99 recommended for in-person learning for elementary schools and hybrid at the secondary level.

A Dec. 10 incident at the Zenith Apartments has resulted in felony charges against two Ely men.
Court documents say that two counts of first-degree burglary have been filed against Ashton Swanson, 23, and Justin McNulty, 24.
Both were also charged with fifth-degree misdemeanor assault in connection with an early-morning incident inside an apartment at the Camp Street complex.
According to a criminal complaint filed by the Ely Police Department, officers were dispatched to a Zenith apartment shortly after midnight.
Upon arrival, police found broken glass suggesting a window was broken from the outside, and a male occupant on his hands and knees.
The male was found with multiple scratches on his back, multiple bruises on his face and a bloody mouth, and told police he was attacked by both Swanson and McNulty.

Ely’s two major grocers have come together on a deal that will eventually result in one grocery store in town - in the now vacant Shopko building.
Zup’s Food Market and Ely Northland Market announced the partnership Wednesday night.
Zup’s will purchase Ely Northland Market in early-2021 and both stores will continue to operate as they currently have been until later in the year, when the 32,000 square foot Shopko building becomes the new home to Zup’s and Ely Northland Market.
Once the purchase is final, employees from both stores will work together as one big group.
“It makes perfect sense,” said Donna Richards, who along with her husband Jim will sell ENM after purchasing it in 2003. “The best of both stores are moving into one.”
“We’re very excited about it,” added Jim Zupancich Jr. “As a family, we’re excited and our employees are excited as well.”

The Ely Area Food Shelf is very grateful to have received a Minnesota Department of Human Services COVID-19 Transportation Grant that has enabled them to purchase this truck. Historically the people in need of food have come, once a month to the building at 15 W. Conan Street in Ely to select food items. With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, it became clear that they had to move to a more decentralized, mobile food shelf model, in order to best address food insecurity for people in need throughout the greater Ely area. The new truck will enable the Ely Area Food Shelf to continue to make healthy and nutritious food accessible to people who need it the most - older adults, people who are homebound and they will be able to further expand into rural communities. Currently they are looking for a “winter home” for the truck to keep it out of the elements. Call 218-235-6128 if able to help. Photo by Cam Weisert.

Santa and Mrs. Claus will be in Ely as scheduled on Saturday, but the COVID-19 pandemic has forced a change in their plans.
Instead of gathering indoors, they’ll be outside as part of the new-look Santa and Mrs. Claus Party put on by the Ely Chamber of Commerce.
The event will take place from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in the parking lot at the Chamber headquarters, located on the east end of town.
Due to health concerns and efforts to minimize the spread of COVID-19, organizers have put together a new format for the annual event.
Santa and Mrs. Claus will be positioned outside the Chamber building to wave and share holiday greetings, but event participants are asked to remain in their vehicles.
Event planners are asking youth and adults to drive in on the 16th Avenue (Subway side) of the Chamber lot, and they will be able to view Santa and Mrs. Clause extending their greetings.