News

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.

BACK AT VCC to deliver the commencement address at this year’s Vermilion graduation was Eli Dotts. Dotts graduated from VCC five years ago, went on to Bemidji State University and is now employed as a teacher and coach in western Minnesota. Paul McDonald, who in July will become Dotts’ father-in-law, looked on with college dean Jeff Nelson. Graduation hotos by Eric Sherman

by Tom Coombe -

Congressmen Tom Emmer and Pete Stauber watch as U.S. Department of the Interior’s Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management, Joe Balash signs the lease agreements.

by Tom Coombe -

As school draws to a close, the summer season awakens. Get all the Ely area news in the Ely Echo. Are you a subscriber? You could be!

WATER WONDER - A drone photo of the power dam and boats fishing in the foam on the opening weekend of the 2019 fishing season. Photo by Bryan Worth.

Martin Kubik of the Boundary Waters Advisory Committee on the Powwow Trail.

CELEBRATING with a ribbon cutting last week for the new CT scanner at the Ely-Bloomenson Hospital during an open house. On hand were Jason Zabokrtsky of the Ely Chamber of Commerce, hospital employees Susan McCormick and Victor Aime, hospital administrator Michael Coyle, Ely mayor Chuck Novak and Dr. Robert L. Savereide. Coyle thanked Jodi Martin for writing the grant used to purchase the machine.

HAVING FUN at the Ely middle school concert on Tuesday were Peyton Gregory, Emile Wojcik, Henry Zgonc, Gabe Mann, Sean Ogburn, Colt Kvistad, and Colton Bramley. Photo by Hailey Worth.