News

Twin Metals Minnesota issued the following statement in response to today’s action by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to formally reinstate two federal mineral leases held by the company in Northeast Minnesota.
The formal reinstatement of the leases follows a U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) legal opinion issued in December 2017 affirming Twin Metals’ right to renewal of the leases, which the company and its predecessors have held in good standing for more than 50 years. The December 2017 legal opinion negated actions taken in 2016 by the BLM and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to deny the renewal of the two Twin Metals leases. Twin Metals’ federal leases are important components of the underground mine project proposal the company is preparing for submittal to state and federal agencies for extensive review through an Environmental Impact Statement.

by Nick Wognum -

In the four weeks of the Ely Echo’s Shagawa Lake Ice Out Contest, most of the entries were for April, 2018. In this week's Echo are published the guesses of those folks who chose May or later.

Members of a committee formed by the Ely School District appear to largely agree that the school campus needs more gymnasium space and an enclosed pathway between the district’s buildings.
But the district’s facilities planning committee also wrestled with its role and the timeline for moving a potential major facilities project forward Monday, as the group met for the second time.
For now, there remains no formal proposal to remodel or expand the campus and superintendent Kevin Abrahamson said he believes the earliest a project could be presented to voters is in November, 2020. He added that if the school board desires to minimize the tax impact of a project, it could be 2026 before a bond referendum goes on the ballot.
Several members of the group, including school board member Rochelle Sjoberg, said they wanted a faster pace to any project.

In 2004, the VCC Foundation Board of Directors established the Lifetime Achievement Award to annually honor a graduate of Ely Junior College or Vermilion Community College who has made a significant local, regional statewide or national contribution. According to VCC Foundation Executive Director Patti Zupancich, “The award demonstrates the important role Vermilion plays in the academic, career, and civic development of our graduates.”
The VCC Foundation Board selected Tony Pecha as the recipient of the 2018 award for his outstanding accomplishments and exceptional commitment to the business field. The Lifetime Achievement Award was announced at the VCC Foundation’s annual scholarship awards banquet on April 19 at the Grand Ely Lodge. Tony was in attendance at the banquet to accept the award.

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A TOW TRUCK pulls out a partially sunken vehicle on Bear Island Lake last weekend. Photo by Tony Schaller.

by Nick Wognum -

The Vermilion Community College Foundation held their annual Scholarship Awards Banquet honoring scholarship recipients and donors on April 19 at the Grand Ely Lodge. One hundred eighty people attended the event to celebrate the generosity of the Foundation’s donors and to recognize the achievements of the scholarship recipients.

Paula Baltich: Immigrant from Slovenia to Ely and Joe Baltich: From minnow seller to Police Chief in Ely, MN

In this two page article by Pamalot Roberts

Left to Right: Top Row: Bobbi Jo Hasz, Tyler Walter, Dylan Kienitz, Jasiah Wigdahl, Mike Keller; Middle Row: Cameron Kienitz, Elijah Olson, Austin Kallberg, Caleb Janeksela, Emmett Faltesek, Evelyn Bercher, Lauren Porthan, Holly Dirks; Bottom Row: Ethan Hasz, Isabelle Kelley, Adrianna Bishop, Brianna Alverson, Lily Sauls, Grace Tweit, Ana Bercher, Sarah Isbell, Kris Bercher. Not pictured: Laura Pasmick, Meghan Lord, Gretchen Lord