Breaking News

by Tom Coombe
Brielle Kallberg climbed three spots in the standings but did not make the medal round at last weekend’s state track meet.
The Ely long-jumper, a junior, was eighth in her heat and 15th overall at the event held June 7 in sweltering conditions at Hamline University in St. Paul.
Competing in 90-degree heat, Kallberg had a leap of 15 feet, 10 inches.
That was about three-and-a-half inches shy of her leap at the Section 7A meet, where Kallberg took second, and well off her career-best of 16-9 during the 2018 season.
The top-nine jumpers moved on to the final round and Kallberg would have needed of at least 16-5.5 to move on.
“I was glad she was able to get one pretty good jump and no scratches,” said Ely Head Coach Jayne Dusich. “Unfortunately at state you need to have great jumps to move into finals.”

by Tom Coombe
South Ridge had its ace in the hole and the Ely Timberwolves ran out of aces.
That was the story late in the evening of June 6 at Duluth’s Wade Stadium, where the Panthers repeated as Section 7A high school baseball champions, riding the pitching of Mason Lane to a 9-0 victory in section finals.
Ely, which had won five straight elimination games, including a 9-8 win over the Panthers earlier in the day to force the winner-take-all showdown, went deep into its pitching staff in the finale.
South Ridge (20-6), meanwhile, had Lane rested and ready to go and the junior delivered, holding the Wolves to just two hits and recording nine strikeouts.
The Panthers put the game away early, scoring five times in the second inning against freshman starter Harry Simons and putting the game away.
The loss ended a stellar run through the playoffs for the Wolves, who finished 19-7.

by Kurt Soderberg
Photos by Barb Soderberg
At noon on Sunday, June 9, 2019, 39 enthusiastic golfers headed out under darkening skies to participate in the First Annual Polish Delight Par Three Tournament, sponsored by Zup’s as a fundraiser for the Ely Golf Club.
After a gloomy start the conditions turned to full rain and wind, but not one team failed to complete the 18 holes. The eventual winners of the event were Team Youngman, followed by Team Curtiss, and with Team Casey in third place. Most teams were mixed men and women, with ages from the 20s to the 70s. Many additional prizes were awarded for accomplishments on various holes.
Course Superintendent Jacob Curtiss shortened each of the nine holes to a Par Three length – mostly 100 yards or less – so that the emphasis was on skill and not power. The most notable change was hitting from near the top of the hill near Morse Town Hall over the trees to the number three green in the valley below.

Fortune Bay has already hosted two MLE (Major League Eating) Indian Taco Eating Contests, but now things will even more interesting later this month as the first annual MLE Wild Rice Hotdish Eating Championship takes place.
The No. 5-ranked competitive eater in the world, Darron Breeden, from Orange, VA and other top-ranked eaters will gather Saturday, June 22 to seek the title and $2,500 cash prize.
The competition will take place at 3 p.m. at Fortune Bay’s Lakeside Tent. There is no charge to attend this event.
“We are excited to welcome the top competitive eaters in the nation for this historic eating contest for this distinct rice dish,” said Fortune Bay’s Sammy Richter. “This event continues a series of exciting events for guests of the Fortune Bay Resort Casino.”
This inaugural event will take place over eight minutes of sanctioned competition time.

TOWN OF MORSE NOTICE

The Town of Morse has been notified paving will begin on Monday morning for Cedar Lake Road and continue through the day. Please plan accordingly.

POSITION OPENING - ISD No. 696, ELY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
for the 2019-2020 school year
.44 FTE Social Studies Teacher (Grade 9 Civics)
Salary and fringes as per Master Agreement Between ISD #696 and the Ely Education Association and School Board policy. Include district application, resume’, official transcripts, letters of recommendation and current Minnesota teaching license; background check required. Application available at www.ely.k12.mn.us, click on District then on Job Openings, then Application for Employment in Licensed Position or at the General Office, 2nd floor of the Memorial Building; return materials to: ISD No. 696, Attn: Superintendent, 600 E. Harvey St., Ely, MN 55731. Application deadline: Position open until filled.

STATE OF MINNESOTA
COUNTY OF ST. LOUIS
DISTRICT COURT
PROBATE DIVISION
SIXTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT

Court File No. CX-88-162

Order for hearing on petition to confirm appointment of trustees

In Re: Funds held by
donald G. Gardner Humanities trust

by Tom Coombe
The state champion in the 800 meter run came right out of centerfield.
Instead of chasing fly balls, Luke Olson was being chased by his opponents in track all spring long - all the way up to last weekend’s state meet in St. Paul.
But nobody ever caught the Ely junior, who won the Class A title late Saturday afternoon with a blazing time of 1:55.48.
Olson, an all-state cross country runner who converted from baseball to track this spring, made history in many ways.
Not only did he win a state title in his first year of action, but he is believed to be Ely’s first-ever boys state track champion. Larry Berkner was the closest, finishing second in the 1,600 run in 1975.
Olson, who won the Section 7A title a week earlier, had the top seed entering the state meet and was first after the June 7 preliminaries.
In Saturday’s final, he was bound and determined and didn’t let up.

George H. Nyman, 88, of Ely, passed away on Friday, May 31, 2019 at the Boundary Waters Care Center in Ely. George was born on December 29, 1930 in Ely to Arthur and Lillian (Norha) Nyman
George had a love for physics, chemistry, and technology in general. His love of physics and chemistry led him to obtain his teaching degree in these areas and later he earned his Master’s Degree. George was a high school teacher in the Forest Lake School District for 15 years. During this time, his passion for golf led him to be the varsity golf coach. Following his teaching career, George became a Horace Mann insurance agent and moved his family to Grand Rapids, MN in 1968.

Lois May Sanford (nee) Purdy, age 96, born in Ely, Minnesota on February 10, 1923, passed away peacefully in her home in Bloomington, Minnesota on Sunday, May 26, 2019, surrounded by her loving family. Preceded in death by her parents, John & Julia Betsy Purdy; Sisters Betty Mattila, Faith Purdy and brother Jack Purdy, all of Ely, Mn; husband, Warren (Bob); daughter and son-in-law Lynn and Tom Cedergren. She is survived by daughter, Janis Sanford Wiegand of Burnsville; son, Dale Sanford of Minneapolis; several grand children and great grandchildren.