News

by Nick Wognum -

EYE ON THE BALL for Ely Little League catcher Frank Udovich of the Twin Metals Rockies. With summer on the way and school days almost over, future Timberwolves players begin their season

Highway 1 single lane closures and flagging operation begin Monday, May 21 in Lake County

Motorists traveling on Highway 1 will encounter single lane closures and flagging operations beginning Monday, May 21 in Lake County. Short duration closures for rock blasting may also occur.

Work will take place from just south of the Kawishiwi River to just west of T-273 and from just southeast of County Road 2 to Isabella. Drivers should use caution and be prepared to stop.

The finished project will result in improved drainage, safety, and driving surface.

For more information visit: http://www.dot.state.mn.us/d1/projects/hwy1isabella/index.html

For updated road condition information, call 511 or visit www.511mn.org.

The US Forest Service plans to implement two prescribed fire projects in the Norwegian Bay area of Lake Vermilion this spring, summer, or fall. The actual date of ignition is dependent on many factors including: fuel moisture, relative humidity, temperature, wind, etc.
Size and Location: These prescribed fire projects are located on the west end of Norwegian Bay of Lake Vermilion on the LaCroix Ranger District on the Superior National Forest. The project names, legal location, and acreage include:
 Norwegian Island T63N, R18W S13 (9 acres)
 Norwegian Point T63N, R18W S24 (30 acres)

by Nick Wognum -

Most of the north half of Minnesota is under very high fire danger today, including a Red Flag Warning issued by the National Weather Service for the following counties:

Polk (west), Kittson, Roseau, Lake Of The Woods, Marshall (west), Marshall (east), Beltrami (north), Pennington, Red Lake, Polk (east), Clearwater (north), and Koochiching.

A Red Flag Warning means the area is experiencing extreme weather conditions that are ideal for wildfire, including dry vegetation and gusty winds. Do not burn while the Red Flag Warning remains in effect and check any burning done recently to ensure the fire is out. Any spark could become a wildfire under Red Flag conditions.

The Red Flag Warning expires at 8 p.m.

Monitor mndnr.gov/burnrestrictions, and follow @mnforestry on Twitter, for up-to-date information about the fire conditions statewide.

Most of the north half of Minnesota is under very high fire danger today, including a Red Flag Warning issued by the National Weather Service for the following counties:

Polk (west), Kittson, Roseau, Lake Of The Woods, Marshall (west), Marshall (east), Beltrami (north), Pennington, Red Lake, Polk (east), Clearwater (north), and Koochiching.

A Red Flag Warning means the area is experiencing extreme weather conditions that are ideal for wildfire, including dry vegetation and gusty winds. Do not burn while the Red Flag Warning remains in effect and check any burning done recently to ensure the fire is out. Any spark could become a wildfire under Red Flag conditions.

The Red Flag Warning expires at 8 p.m.

Monitor mndnr.gov/burnrestrictions, and follow @mnforestry on Twitter, for up-to-date information about the fire conditions statewide.

by Tom Coombe -

It might have been a bit later than usual when Shagawa Lake was officially declared open, but it made it in time for Saturday’s fishing opener.
The date officially was Sunday, May 6 at 1:16 p.m. as declared by Grand Ely Lodge employees Jakob Dahlin and Toni Zaverl.
There were many May guesses, but the winners came from the third week of entries which had some errors when compared to the original entry slips.
Connie Olson, Hills, MN was one minute off the result and took the top $100 GEL Gift Certificate prize.
Second prize went to Jesse Sislear of Blaine, 31 minutes off the mark with 12:45 p.m., He gets the $50 Ely Echo credit.
Third prize ($25 GEL Gift Certificate) Bill Meyer of Ely, 44 minutes off entry (12:32 p.m.).
Some errors were discovered in last week’s report which didn’t match the actual submitted entries. Those are now corrected.
Winners have been notified by US Mail.

by Tom Coombe -