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I can’t take it anymore, I’ve had too many wood shed days in a row. My snowshoes look tired, last November, December, January they looked fun, that’s over, and the icicles of late are pretty long in the tooth - what an eave crop of them we’ve got growing. It’s all too much, so, heavy sigh of, oh my, so, today while the rest of the world does Lord knows what, I talked my Mrs. into letting me plant one pot of sugar snap peas for me to grow in the windowsill.
I get happy thinking about it. New shoots, maybe some leaves that offer potential. And if all goes right those soft white flowers that will allow for tiny sweet peas. It’s a little thing, but in my world, it’s becoming a big deal.

Entries are floating in for the Ely Echo and Grand Ely Lodge Shagawa Lake Ice Out Contest.
May 1, 2020
It was a May Day pick at 5:07 p.m. from Mike Murray, living in Sartell, MN.
April 10, 2020
A pick of 2 p.m. came in from Alexandra Murray Bender, living in Rochester, NY and desiring to be in Ely.
Joe Shikonya of Lacrosse, WI sent in 11:48 a.m.
April 13, 2020
This is the right day and 1:16 p.m. is the right time according to Katie Heitzig.
April 14, 2020
Susan Kasbeer said her guess is 9:32 p.m. of Ormond Beach, FL: “Go away, Covid19, so we can come back to Moose Lake.”
April 19, 2020
Elyite Tony Bartovich submitted 10:00 a.m.
April 20, 2020
Terry Cooper of Ely guessed 10:20 a.m.
Chuck Kasbeer of Ormond Beach, FL chose 1:11 p.m.
Bill Durst of Quincy IL sent in a guess of 1:25 pm.

by Tom Coombe
Classrooms and hallways will be empty, but education in Ely will go on in unprecedented fashion.
Starting Monday, students in the Ely district will join thousands of their counterparts across Minnesota in “distance learning,” an initiative prompted by the coronavirus pandemic and on course to last at least through May 4.
For the last week-and-a-half, Ely teachers in both the Memorial (grades 6-12) and Washington (K-5) buildings have brainstormed and improvised, fast-tracking a curriculum conversion in an effort to continue to deliver education in an unconventional manner.
Instead of sitting in their classrooms, students will log on to the internet each day - using everything from email to Google Classroom and even YouTube to gather lessons and complete coursework.
“It’s going to look different in both buildings because you have that difference in age between high school and the elementary,” said high school principal Megan Anderson.

Dear Editor,
As a long-time Ely resident, born and raised in the bustling metropolis of Winton and participating in the economy of Ely, I strenuously object to the use of racist terminology directed at the mayor by race baiters Betty Firth and Peta Barrett and racist comments directed by Steve Piragis toward another former Elyite.
I also object to the gang of five (Peta Barrett, Betty Firth, Carol Orban, Steve Piragis, and Becky Rom) use of the term boycott and boycott claims which no one said but them.
The gang of five and the organizations they represent have not addressed their own harmful behavior and salacious use of racist comments.
They could have resolved this controversy with a sincere apology and a simple common-sense resolution stating they would never again use racist or derogatory terms directed at any Ely citizens, past or present.

My Ely area neighbors..
These trying time we find ourselves in are just beginning. We up here are rightfully thought of as a friendly caring community. This time of crisis, which will last for quite a while it appears, is going to give us a chance to prove those thoughts.
It’s been brought to my attention of hoarding of products, and people coming from outside the area to shop at our stores for necessities. The Star Tribune published an article on Saturday March 21st mentioning this phenomenon. I don’t know whether to be proud or worried if people are coming up north to “avoid” the coming catastrophe.
I think my main concern is the thought whether from up here, visiting or in between, hoarding food, toilet paper, and any other product is blatantly wrong.
All the reputable news outlets on both sides of the political aisle have stated food isn’t going to run out. I actually saw a website to calculate how long a roll of toilet paper will last.

by Tom Coombe
Dylan Fenske and Eric Omerza formed a potent combination for the Ely Timberwolves.
While their teammates handled the bulk of the outside shooting for Ely high school boys basketball team that reached the Section 7A semifinals, the two seniors were clearly the Wolves’ “bread and butter.”
Arrowhead Conference coaches noticed, naming the pair to the All-Arrowhead Team.
The recognition comes on the heels of a surprising season for the Wolves, who won 23 games and fell to defending section champion North Woods in hotly-contested 7A final four matchup.
Fenske and Omerza were clearly two key cogs in Ely’s success.
A 6-2 forward and the Wolves’ tallest starter, Fenske gave Ely an inside presence and at times was an offensive machine.
That was obvious Feb. 11, when he scored 28 first-half points to reach 1,000 for his career in a home win over Lakeview Christian Academy.

City of Winton
Notice of Meeting Change

The April regular meeting of the Winton City Council has been changed to Monday, April 13, 2020 at 6:00 PM in the Winton Community Center.

The April council meeting has been changed to comply with the Minnesota Governor’s enhanced “Stay at Home” declaration in effect from March 27, 2020 to April 10, 2020.

Future notices regarding the City of Winton COVID-19 response can be found on the city website: wintonmn.com; the center bulletin board or by calling the City of Winton at 365-5941.

Kathy Brandau
Mayor

TOWN OF MORSE

The regular Tuesday, April 14, 2020 meeting of the Board of Supervisors for the Town of Morse has been changed to TUESDAY, April 7, 2020 at 5 p.m. at the Morse Town Hall. This will be a telephone meeting as allowed under State Statutes.

Nick Wognum, Clerk
Town of Morse

Emergency Declaration Order 2020-02
Suspending all meetings of Boards, Commissions and Committees of the City of Ely.

I, Chuck Novak, Mayor of the City of Ely, do hereby suspend all meetings of Boards, Commissions and Committees of the City of Ely until further Notice.

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented an unprecedented challenge to our country, state, county and city. It is imperative that we take steps in an attempt to stay ahead of this challenge and take all measures recommended by the Federal and State governments intended to prevent a further spread of the virus as well as implementing a response strategy.

DOCUMENT 00 11 11
NOTICE OF CALL FOR BIDS

Project Location: Ely Municipal Airport
Project Name: 2020 Connector Taxiway
FAA AIP No. 3-27-0027-21-20
SP No. A6920-51
TKDA Project No. 17619
Bids Close At: 2:00pm on April 16, 2020

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS
Sealed bid proposals for the project listed above will be received by the City Clerk, City of Ely, 209 E. Chapman Street, Ely, Minnesota, 55731, electronically through QuestCDN until the date and hour indicated, at which time they will be opened. The work, in accordance with drawings and specifications prepared by TKDA, 444 Cedar Street, St. Paul, Minnesota 55101.