News

A caretaker at Silbey Manor apartments is being credited with putting out a fire on Thursday morning.
Michelle Milton of the Ely HRA said while putting out fires isn’t part of Brian Boettcher’s job description, “basically he saved our building.”
Milton said a new resident was cooking pork chops and left the apartment for a short time. When she returned the stove had started on fire.
Boettcher heard the commotion in the apartment and went to help.
“He went in and saw the flames and the smoke so he grabbed the fire extinguisher and tried to put the fire out,” said Milton. “He had it out but it started up again so he asked her if she had a wool blanket and he put that on top of the fire and it put it out.”
The apartment suffered fire damage to the stove and the range hood along with smoke damage.

by Tom Coombe -

Ely's Luke Olson will battle for a state high school track championship on Saturday.

After Friday's preliminaries, the Ely junior is in first place in the 800 meter run at the state meet in St. Paul. Olson had the fastest time among 18 runners competing in three heats on a sweltering 90-degree day on the campus of Hamline University.

The Section 7A champion finished in 1:55.84 and was one of nine competitors to move on to the finals, set for approximately 6:30 p.m. Saturday.

Olson was the only Ely athlete to reach the finals - as the remainder of the Wolves' state individual and relay qualifiers were unable to advance past the preliminaries.

Junior Eric Omerza came the closest to moving on, finishing one spot away and taking 10th in the triple jump. Teammate Raif Olson competed in the 300 hurdles and was 16th, while the Ely boys' four-by-400 relay of Omerza, Nate Nettifee, Emmett Faltesek and Raif Olson was also 16th.

No wonder the Echo is the largest circulation north country Ely publication! It’s brimful with color photos and the latest news. A variety of columnists and the O’clock hour introduces you to folks in Ely. Plus you get the North Country Angler and all the fishing news. Sign up for the email edition which is sent as a pdf for just $35 a year. Or oder the print edition you can hold in your hands! 218-365-3141.

CELEBRATING after commencement exercises were the 2019 graduates of Ely Memorial High School by throwing their graduation caps up in the air.

by Tom Coombe -

Flames along Hwy. 1. Photo by Jenn Cole-Foster.

by Tom Coombe -

High School trapshooting across the state of Minnesota completed the final week of the regular season on May 25 but that doesn’t mean the guns get oiled and put away anytime soon.
With the State Championship right around the corner the Babbitt Conservation Club has opened its trap range four nights a week giving athletes more opportunities to shoot as often and as much as they want.
Northeast Range is scheduled to shoot on Thursday, June 13 beginning at 8 a.m. at the Alexandria Shooting Park which is the State Tournament qualifier.
The Club also took time to treat the team to its annual Open House/Fun Shoot. It was a time for the team to pass out season awards, enjoy a BBQ and participate in the Annie Oakley Tournament.
Winning the overall High Gun award this year was Joseph Foster with a season average of 21.33. He also won the boys division with runners up being Josh Pohlman and Tracker Koivisto.

Last call for Ely Arts & Heritage Center 2019 Childrens’ Summer Art Camp. There are a few spaces open for children in grades 2-6 for Art Camp Monday June 10 thru Wednesday June 12 at the Ely Miner’s Dry on Miner’s Landing Road at the Pioneer Mine Site. Doors open Monday at 8:45 AM and 9:00 Tuesday and Wednesday and camp ends daily at Noon. An Art Show for friends, family, and the public showcasing camp work is Noon Wednesday. Projects include stone carving, drawing, water colors, garden poles, tile mosaics, placemats and kite making. To confirm space please call 218-235-1912 or write muffinely@gmail.com.

Keiko Williams (left) was on last year’s bike tour.

Kawishiwi Ranger District Completes Prescribed Fires to Meet Multiple Objectives
June 3, 2019, Ely, MN–Kawishiwi Ranger District crews completed ignition on two Prescribed Fire Units over the weekend, the Pitcha Pine and North School Section Units. A total of about 1,200 acres were burned as part of a plan for several prescribed fire projects that may occur this spring. Forest personnel were assisted by the Lake Vermillion Fire Brigade and the Black Hills (SD), Kootenai (MT), Daniel Boone (KY), Chippewa (MN), Lolo (MT), and Nebraska (NB) National Forests, plus Minnesota state personnel.