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Andrew Merfeld has been an administrator for 13 years and the principal of St. MichaelAlbertville Middle School West for the past nine. Andrew has been the school’s only leader and has taken great steps to develop programs that inclusive for students and staff. West has been part of the Safe Schools Initiative for several years and has used strategies from a book study on “Discipline with Dignity” to establish develop stronger relationships with students and families.
School climate has been a driving force and the Minnesota State Survey Shows that 99% of students agreed they feel safe/very safe at Middle School West. An Advisory Period has been established every day that focuses on both academic and emotional wellness.
Andrew says this focus makes the school feel smaller and provides the opportunity to build stronger relationships with adults in the building to promote social-emotional wellness.

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SECTION CHAMPS AND SIXTH IN THE STATE for Ely’s boys Nordic ski team Pictured are (front, l-r) assistant coach Jerritt Johnston, Micah Larson, Raif Olson, James Schwinghamer; (back, l-r) Head Coach Paula Anderson, Adam Wiliamson, Nate Netiffee, Jon Hakala, Gabriel Pointer, Jasper Johnston, Ethan Bremner, Kjetil Midttun.

by Tom Coombe -

AN UNSUNG HERO - Elyite Steve Brousseau, the first winner of the Ely Echo Unsung Hero Award, is pictured with Byron Moren who, with his wife Alice, nominated Steve. Photo by Tom Coombe

ON THE MICROPHONE at the BWCA meeting Saturday morning was long-time Ely outfitter Dan Waters.

by Tom Coombe -

The Ely speech Team started its season with their first meet at Hibbing High School. Left to right Cari Eibler, Cora Olson, honorable mention in drama, Willow Olhauser, Harry Dammann, honorable mention in creative and Shane Spangler, honorable mention in poetry. Missing were Esther Anderson and Sidney Marshall. Next week the team travels to Virginia High School. Photo by Donna Kari

A dynamic new exhibit is coming to the International Wolf Center to replace the celebrated “Wolves and Humans” exhibit that has been on display at the Center since it opened in 1993.
To prepare for the new gallery, staff are documenting the current exhibit and will dismantle it in February. Beginning February 18, the Wolves and Humans exhibit will be closed to the public. The rest of the Center will remain open to visitors on weekends for its usual winter hours. While the exhibit area will be closed, visitors will still be able to watch the Center’s ambassador wolves, listen to numerous programs in the auditorium and watch wolf-related movies in the theater.

by Tom Coombe -

The USDA Forest Service anticipates reopening the process to reserve Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness quota permits on February 27, 2019. Prior to the tentative reopening date for the reservation system the Forest Service is working on the following actions:

fixing a technical problem in the BWCAW sale software;
additional planned training for permit cooperators who rely on the system;
and additional testing to ensure a smooth launch of the updated system.
Once the above schedule of actions is successfully completed the Forest Service will confirm the reopening date and move forward with broad public outreach to notify the public of the new reservation period.

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