Breaking News

by Nick Wognum
An organization with conservative political leanings is threatening legal action against the Ely School District, alleging a civil rights violation and accusing the district of engaging in “unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination.”
Earlier this week, an attorney for the Young America’s Foundation served notice in a letter to superintendent Erik Erie.
Steven Mairella, deputy general counsel for the organization wrote that the school district’s cancellation of a 9-11 memorial event linked with his group “violated the civil rights of not only YAF but the students at your school.”
Mairella said the organization would take legal action unless the district “makes a public apology to YAF and the students who intended to participate in the 9-11 Never Forget Project” in both printed and social media, and “create clear guidelines that are consistent with the Constitution to prevent future abuses by school officials.”

School districts have a habit of living in a bubble and that just doesn’t work once decisions are questioned and the public starts looking for answers.
The Ely school district has discovered this by getting a failing grade in public relations in multiple areas.
The first problem was a communications disaster when the district dropped a bombshell decision on the Friday before the new school year began. With an open house the night before and people seemingly happy with wearing masks if they so chose to, suddenly that was no longer acceptable. A must wear a mask policy was instituted without discussion, debate or school board participation.
The reaction was swift and severe. A petition was started to protest the required mask decision and quickly grew to over 300 names. This was PR SNAFU number one.

CONTINUING THE SAGA. Part two
The spring of 1976 my byline began appearing regularly in the Ely Echo. Miles Aakhus was the owner and publisher then and he had encouraged me to change from volunteering a column to working part-time and learning the business. I joined a staff which then included editor Bob Cary, reporter Doug Smith and advertising salesman Sam Cook.
On the staff side were bookkeeper Millie Simonick, and advertising layout persons Pat Harri and Lorene Mauser.
My first assignments were to create a “women’s page” and write feature stories.
There were two newspapers in town then - the Ely Miner and the five-year-old Ely Echo. The papers were as different as night and day. The Miner followed the tradition of noting who was visiting in town and who was entertaining luncheon guests.

by Tom Coombe
A top-10 individual finish was the highlight as Ely’s cross country team faced high-level competition at its second outing of the fall.
Junior Zoe Devine placed ninth in a field of more than 70 girls at the Sept. 9 Titan Invitational in Coleraine.
It was Ely’s best individual outing on a day in which the boys finished seventh among 11 teams, and the girls were ninth out of 11.
Devine completed the five-kilometer course in 20:56.2, just over a minute behind winner Hannah Drietz of Brainerd.
The Ely boys’ top overall finisher was senior Gabriel Pointer, who took 19th among 75 athletes in 18:29.1.
The rest of the Ely girls’ lineup included:
23. Phoebe Helms, 21:49.0;
47. Gracie Pointer, 24:42.6;
53. Anna Dunn, 25:29.6;
60. Sydney Durkin, 25:47.4
73. Kiarstin Eaton, 31:32.2;
74. Juliet Stouffer, 31:41.1;

Ely Area Ambulance Service

POSITION TITLE:
Executive Direction FLSA: Exempt

The Executive Director will have primary responsibility for overseeing the goals of the Ely Area Ambulance Service as determined by the Board of Governors. These goals will always include maintaining and promoting EAAS as a premier EMS service. The Executive Director shall also initiate and promote fund-raising opportunities to benefit EAAS. The Executive Director will also be responsible for management of human resources and related issues as well as assist in budget preparation and cost containment policies. The Executive Director shall accomplish these goals through proactive leadership, effective supervision, exceptional communication skills, and adherence to policies and procedures.

Please email your resume to Kavonc@msn.com

School Board Meeting Minutes August 9, 2021
(Board approved 9/13/2021)

Study Session
August 23, 2021
(Board approved 9/13/2021)

Special Meeting
August 23, 2021
(Board approved 9/13/2021)

1.0 The study session of the School Board of Independent School District No. 696 was called to order in the Board Meeting Room by Chairman Marsnik at 7:21 p.m.
2.0 On roll call the following directors were present: Colarich, Coombe, Marsnik, Omerza, Visser. Absent: Sjoberg. Also present: Nick Wognum, Ely Echo; Keith Vandervort, Timberjay; Anne Oelke; Megan Anderson; Nancy Preblich; John Meyer; Todd Hohenstein.
3.0 Moved by Colarich, seconded by Omerza, to approve the Ely Public Schools Health and Safety Measures for the 2021-2022 School Year. YES: Colarich, Coombe, Marsnik, Omerza, Visser. NO: None. ABSENT: Sjoberg. Motion carried. (Vote: 5-0)
4.0 Moved by Omerza, seconded by Coombe, to adjourn at 7:25 p.m. Motion carried. (Vote: 5-0)
Rochelle Sjoberg, Clerk

Ely Echo 9/18/2021

Timothy Orin Forbes, 80, passed away peacefully at his home in Cypress, Texas on August 26, 2021.
Born in Nevada Iowa to Phyllis and Harry Forbes on August 31, 1940
Graduated from Nevada High School in 1958
Graduated from Humboldt Technical School with a degree in Traffic Management. He worked at Great Northern Oil Refinery in South St. Paul using this education to put himself through the University of Minnesota graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Business Management.
During this time, he became engaged and married Alberta Weinzierl from Ely Minnesota on June 16, 1962. The next year, they became parents of their first child, Cheryl Lynn Forbes. He graduated from college in March 1966, and the following month they welcomed their son, Michael Timothy Forbes.

Mark Palser, age 68, died on September 11, 2021 in Carlton, MN. Family arrangements are by Kerntz Funeral Home.