Breaking News

Twin Metals Minnesota announced it has received the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Notice of Intent to scope and prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Twin Metals’ proposed copper-nickel-cobalt-platinum group metals mine in northeast Minnesota.
The BLM notice formally initiates the scoping and environmental review process at the federal level under the National Environmental Policy Act, which will allow for a thorough analysis of the potential impacts and benefits of Twin Metals’ proposed project.
Multiple federal agencies and tribal governments will be engaged in the process, and the public will have several opportunities to participate through comment periods.
A parallel environmental review process will be led by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
The BLM determined Twin Metals’ proposal to be complete in late May after the company responded to comments from federal agencies on its initial mine plan submittal.

Natalie "Sis" Chinn, 70, of Babbitt, MN, passed away Friday, June 26th, 2020 at her home in Babbitt.
"Sis" was born June 12th, 1950 to Wayne "Bud" & Joyce (Tibbetts) Baird in Minneapolis. MN.
"Sis" grew up in Babbitt, MN. graduating from John F Kennedy High School. She attended Cosmotology school in the cities after graduation.

We’ve had two house fires in the past couple of weeks where fire departments from Ely, Morse-Fall Lake and Babbitt have worked together seemingly seamlessly. That doesn’t always happen when their governing bodies get together.
The two fires were similar in they happened during the day and grew into massive blazes with flames shooting high in the air. While firefighters donned air tanks and sprayed thousands of gallons of water, anyone who could pitched in to help.
At the June 4 fire there were people walking down Chapman Street with cases of water for the firefighters.
On June 23 when massive lengths of hose had to be hauled several blocks to a different water main, people who weren’t even on the department jumped in to help.
A community was bound together by pitching in wherever they could. That’s a far cry from what we’ve had to endure in watching riots across the country.

Early voting by absentee ballot for the $10 million bond referendum being proposed by the Ely School District starts June 26, with August 11 as Election Day for the bond referendum. In order for our citizens to have the opportunity to be informed voters the District has complied information about the bond referendum, on our District website: https://www.ely.k12.mn.us/ or visit our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ely.k12.mn.us/
We are also holding public forums that at the present time are scheduled to be in a virtual format, using Facebook Live where the public can ask questions through a chat feature. You can go directly to our Ely Facebook Page (see link above) or our District website (see link above) to connect.
The public forums are scheduled for the following dates and times:
Monday, June 29 at 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, July 13 at 6:00 p.m.

by Tom Coombe
Despite a recommendation that it be cancelled, Ely’s Harvest Moon Festival is still on as scheduled in early-September.
The Ely Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors the annual event,plans to wait until July 28 before deciding the fate of the popular arts and crafts show held in Whiteside Park.
But the Chamber’s board will weigh a recommendation from the organization’s events and promotions committee, which recommended on May 26 that the Harvest Moon Festival, slated for Sept. 11-13, be cancelled.
Brian Forsberg, chairman of the Chamber’s board of directors, stressed Thursday that no final decision has been made.
“This has not yet been discussed at the board level,” said Forsberg. “At this point, the ‘go or no go’ date is July 28. The board as far as I know would not make any decision until that time.”

by Tom Coombe
Solid pitching, impressive defense and just enough work at the plate proved to be a winning combination Wednesday night for Ely’s Junior League baseball team.
As baseball returned to Veterans Memorial Field for the first time in nearly a year, a good-sized home crowd had plenty to cheer about as Ely edged Eveleth-Gilbert 4-1 in Iron Range Baseball action.
The 14-and-under team rode the pitching of Ty Walker and Brecken Sandberg to the win.
Walker pitched four shutout innings, striking out seven and giving up one hit while Sandberg escaped a bases-loaded jam in the fifth with back-to-back strikeouts.
E-G nicked the reliever for a run in the sixth but that was it, as the two Ely pitchers combined on a three-hitter with 11 strikeouts.

by Tom Coombe
The first obstacle has been cleared on the road to a fall sports season at Vermilion Community College
On June 19, the National Junior College Athletic Association cleared the way for fall sports, including football and volleyball, to move forward in 2020.
But the national approval is just an opening step in the process.
Nicki Kosik, athletic director at VCC, said the seasons must also be approved by the Minnesota Community Athletic Conference - an alliance of more than a dozen junior colleges - as well as the state’s college and universities system.
A green light also figures to be necessary from the Minnesota Department of Health, which allowed youth activities to proceed with games in many sports, including volleyball, effective June 24.
Earlier in the month,VCC notified its students that the school year will begin on time in late-August, with classes being held in-person and students residing in on-campus housing.

On Friday June 26, the U.S. Forest Service will open additional recreation sites. For a full list of open areas and other up-to-date information, visit the Superior National Forest website at www.fs.usda.gov/superior. Following is a list of recreation sites and facilities on the Superior National Forest that will be opening June 26:
Toilets at boat ramps and carry-down canoe access:
• Moose Lake
• Snowbank Lake
• Lake One
• Mudro Lake
• Sioux River North
• Moose River North
• Farm Lake
• Tofte Lake
• Ojibway Lake
• Johnson Lake
• Echo Lake
• Lake Jeanette
• Sawbill
• Trails End
Toilets at trailheads:
• Bass Lake Hiking Trail
• Vermillion Falls
• Britton Peak
• Oberg
• Eagle Mtn
• Trails End
• Pincushion
Toilets at other sites:
• Skibo Vista
• Lake Leander

NOTICE OF
Absentee Voting for the Primary Election

To the Electors of the City of Ely in the County of St. Louis, State of Minnesota

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN: that the Primary Election will be held at 27 South 1st. Avenue, East (the Senior Center) on TUESDAY, August 11, 2020, at which time the polls will be open from the hours of 7:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M.

Anyone who wishes to vote by ABSENTEE BALLOT can obtain an Absentee Ballot Application by:
• Online - www.mnvotes.org
• Call - City Hall, Clerk’s Office - 218-226-5449
• In person – Clerk’s Office, 209 E Chapman St, Ely MN
• Monday –Friday 8am-4:30pm,
• Saturday, August 8th 10am-3pm
• Monday, August 10th 8am-5pm
• Email - deputyclerk@ely.mn.us

Once an Absentee Ballot Application is received, a ballot will be available to you.

CITY OF ELY
REQUEST FOR ELECTION JUDGES

The City of Ely is accepting applications for Election Judges for the Primary Election on Tuesday, August 11, 2020 and for the General Election on Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

Judges must be at least 18 years of age and a resident of Minnesota for at least 20 days. Election training will be provided prior to the election.

The City of Ely along with the Secretary of State’s office will be making extra safety precautions throughout the election season for the safety of our voters and election judges.

Application forms for an Election Judge can be found on the City website at www.ely.mn.us or at the City Hall on the table in the foyer or the Clerk’s Office, located at 209 E Chapman St., Ely MN 55731. If you have questions, please call our office at 218-226-5449. Applications must be submitted to the Clerk’s Office by Tuesday, July 2, 2020.