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Myrtle June Feroni, 96, of Virginia passed away Wednesday, June 22, 2022 at Edgewood Vista in Virginia.
Myrtle was born on June 11, 1926 in Ely to Fredrick and Mabel Bunney where she grew up and attended school. She met Albert Feroni while she was in high school. Since that day she always said “I am going to marry that man one day”, and then waited for the love of her life to return from the war and married him on September 26, 1946. They later moved to Virginia in 1968.
Those who will miss her dearly are her three sons; Albert (Beverly), Gilbert (Kimberley) and Scott (Mary Shustarich); grandchildren, Todd (Heather), Kim (Shanna), Nikki, Sammi, Nico and Kaitlen; great-grandchildren, Vinny, Sophia, Jack and Alex; and other dear relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and siblings, Alfred, William and Doris.
The family would like to give a special thank you to Fairview Range Hospice and Palliative Care.

Dennis “Jake” Jacobsen, 77, died on Thursday, June 30, 2022 of injuries suffered in a fall in 2018. He was a lifelong resident of the Iron Range. He grew up in Ely, graduating from Ely Memorial High School in 1963. He spent 3 years in the Navy, serving in Mobile Construction Battalion 58. His service included 2 tours in Vietnam during that war. He was very proud of his service and was a member of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He worked as a meat cutter and butcher for most of his post navy life; first for Joe’s IGA in Ely and then for Zup’s in Hibbing and Aurora. He most recently resided at the Waterview Woods assisted living facility in Eveleth.

Harold "Sonny" Frank Leustek, 77, of Ely, a U.S. Army veteran, passed away on Wednesday, June 29, 2022. At Sonny's request there will be no formal service. A celebration of his life will take place sometime in August at his residence. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home.

David (Dave) Kochendofer, 78, passed away peacefully at home on June 24, 2022. Dave had a 5+ year journey with a form of Parkinson’s Disease. He was the loving husband of Carol (Novak), and father of Kim & Mike.
Dave made many trips to Ely with his wife, Carol though the years; as she was a native of Ely, and the beautiful lakes supported his life-long passion for fishing. This year marked their 55th wedding anniversary.
Born on October 24, 1943 in South Bend, Indiana, Dave was a fan of all Notre Dame teams. He worked at Mid-Continent Engineering in Minneapolis for 44 years. He was first a welder, then worked as tool and die maker as he was a great trouble-shooter. Dave picked up these skills in the United States Air Force where he served from 1962-1966.

by Tom Coombe
For the second time in five years, the city of Ely has sold its historic Community Center building.
Earlier this week, city officials finalized the sale of the 85-year-old landmark - for $2 - to developer Matt Stupnik of Dellwood, Minn.
Stupnik’s vision for the facility is a 28-room hotel, and his deal with the city gives him up to three years to bring the concept to reality.
Renovation of the facility is expected to begin in 2023.
The city previously sold the building, which is on the National Historic Register of Historic Places, to the K America Foundation.
That agreement, struck in 2018, fell apart and the city regained ownership and put the building back on the market.
City officials voiced some relief this week that another buyer had emerged.

Ely Community Education’s Dog Obedience class will graduate dogs next week from both the beginners and the advanced classes. Many dogs dramatically improved their behavior, and all dogs improved their basic skills.
The beginning classes covered basic command skills such as sit, down, heel, come when called, and stay. Dogs were able to mix with many other dogs.
The class was made up of young dogs to a six-year-old dog. Students worked on communication with their dogs. Learning to ask their dog clearly and rewarding their dog with praise, a treat and love.
Community Education usually has two beginning classes, but this year they had one class meet Monday night and the other Tuesday night. This really helped with students’ busy schedules.
The advanced class has 16 dogs and handlers participating.

To the Editor:
I write as the chair of the board of directors of Ely’s Historic State Theater. The movie “2000 Mules” is being screened this weekend at EHST by a local organization that is renting the theater for their use. Because many people within the community have expressed concern and even upset about this, I would like to clarify the theater’s rental policy, and the particulars of this event.

Look around at our community and what do you see. Where are the boundaries of what you see as community? What is the geographical distance to the edge of your community? Is the community you recognize a social community, an ecological community, or both included in one?
Community is a group of common interests. With that in mind, the describing the characteristics of our community becomes complicated. History, beliefs, current needs, future interests and potential, available resources, leadership, social framework, environmental conditions etc. factor into the evolution, stability, and potential of communities to be sustainable. Any or all of these are important factors. Looking at your perception of your community, what do you see as its strengths?

by Lori Casey
Thirty-three golf camp participants grades three to eight were definitely not swatting at golf balls last week at Ely Golf Club. Sand flies were swarming so the rhythm of play seemed to be swing the club, swat the bugs, and listen for that putt to sink! Throughout the week the pests seemed to decline and the winds helped create a comfortable atmosphere.
Several returning students from Ely, Duluth and Virginia welcomed newcomers from Iowa and Texas.
As in past years volunteer members of Ely Golf Club taught the game of golf to young girls and boys. The goal was to have fun, learn the game of golf or fine tune the “good” skills previously learned.
Tuesday through Friday coaches spent 90% of the time on the course. They taught a skill, tested for accuracy and practiced that swing in a game situation.

After finishing as section runners-up, the Ely Timberwolves have placed four representatives on the All-Section 7A baseball team.
Seniors Chase Sandberg and Mason Davis, junior Joey Bianco and freshman Caid Chittum all made the all-section squad as determined by area coaches.
All played key roles on an Ely team that went 19-8 and reached the 7A finals, falling to defending champion South Ridge 3-2 in the title tilt.
Sandberg started every game as catcher for the Wolves and helped anchor the defense, throwing out 15 base stealers during the course of the spring.
At the plate, Sandberg had a .375 on-base percentage and hit .277 with 23 hits and 17 runs batted in.
Davis emerged as one of the section’s top pitchers, going 5-1 on the mound with a 0.62 earned run average, notching 36 strikeouts in 34 innings pitched. He also was a starting outfielder and hit .338 with 26 runs scored.