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by Tom Coombe
A nationally-recognized speaker is set to deliver the keynote address at an annual event sponsored by the Ely Chamber of Commerce.
Lynne Jensen Nelson, a former Fortune 500 company manager who founded an organization to inspire groups to excel and reach their potential, will speak Tuesday at Grand Ely Lodge for the “Smile, You’re in Ely” event put on by the Ely Chamber of Commerce.
Social hour begins at 5 p.m., with a dinner to follow and a program starting at 6:30 p.m.
Now in its 28th year, the Chamber “Smile” event includes a social, dinner and program at Grand Ely Lodge (5 p.m.) and serves as an annual meeting of sorts for the business organization..
Organizers annually choose a speaker to deliver an engaging and often inspirational message, and this year they’ve turned to Nelson.

For all but about 20 minutes, the Vermilion Ironmen had a near-perfect day of baseball.
But that 20-minute lull - in a span of more than four hours - cost Vermilion dearly and resulted in a doubleheader split with Northern Division rival Tuesday at Proctor.
After sophomore Lukas Adelman blanked the Norse 10-0 in the opening game, Vermilion blew a 9-3, sixth-inning lead in the nightcap when the Norse sent 12 batters to the plate and tied the score.
Mesabi went on to push across the winning run in the bottom of the seventh and secured the split with a dramatic 10-9 win.
The late-inning meltdown took some of the luster off an otherwise splendid day for the Ironmen, who got superb starting pitching performances from Adelman and fellow sophomore Connor Knettel and ripped 26 hits, including six by freshman Dawson Linkert.

How lucky we are to have concerts, plays, musicals and other theatrical events in Ely!
Coming up is Cabaret which was an instant hit when it opened on Broadway in 1966. It’s still playing somewhere in the world as I write this. I saw this show at least a dozen times – twice on Broadway and in other cities in America.
It was unusual the minute you walked into the theater. The curtain was already up and when the lights went down the musical didn’t start with an overture. There was only a drum roll and a cymbal crash. The plot consists of two stories. The first takes place in the nightclub called the Kit Kat Klub. The second is about a failed romance
The two main stars in the show are Sally Bowles and the unnamed Master of Ceremonies. Every song in this musical is a hit. They were written by John Kander and Fred Ebb. My favorites are the title song Cabaret followed by Don’t Tell Mama, Casey at the Bat, Two Ladies and Maybe This Time.

News of our families, school children important events, news of area businesses, a variety ,of opinions, sports, columninsts. This week the Ely Echo's ShagE Lake Ice Out Contest wrapped up for entries - Spring is on its way! Want to try out the Echo's email edition? send me an email (thepub@elyecho.com) and I'll send you a sample.

Chelesnik named Unsung Hero
WRAPPING UP the Ely Echo’s Unsung Hero award for 2019, the final nomination was from Jim Garni (right) for long-time neighbor David Chelesnik. Garni wrote: “For the past three years, Dave has been keeping our driveway and sidewalks clear of snow all winter. He has done this on his own without us even asking, So great to have a neighbor like that. So nice to come home to a house with the driveway and sidewalks clear of snow. Thanks Dave!” Garni said of David Chelesnik’s shoveling and kind care, “I’m happy that he does this. I appreciate it. Never had to ask him to do it. I keep telling him he doesn’t need to do it but he says: “I need the exercise....” And I said, “Yes he does...(Don’t we all.)” ... “I appreciate it, I’ll tell you that.” David, “We’ve been neighbors almost 50 years. I know more about the outside of his house than he does....” Good neighbors... they stood and talked a while longer... Photo by Pam Roberts

A fundraiser for Team Rubicon which was in town to receive a $500 check from Zaverl’s Bar. Pictured are, l-r: Eric Mayranen, Phil Jacobs, Jeanie Zaverl and Michael Pope. In the background above is the fundraiser that was made into the American Flag honoring all veterans. Photo by Toni Zaverl

Aerial photo of the City of Ely from the west end, with frozen Shagawa Lake on the left by Bryan Worth.

SENIORS from Ely and Northeast Range and their chaperons listen to U.S. Sen. Tina Smith Thursday.

Paul Eugene Kyllonen, 57, of Fort Collins, CO passed away suddenly at Palmer Station Antarctica on October 23, 2018. He was born on June 11, 1961 to Eugene and Ellen Kyllonen in Ely MN. He graduated from Ely High School and Staples Vocational Technical Institute heavy equipment diesel mechanics program. Upon graduation he moved to W Palm Beach FL where he worked as a mechanic until 1991. His love of adventure and the environment led him to work for the next 27 years in Antarctica and Greenland supporting the work of scientists from around the world studying climate change and the effects of pollution. He had the unique distinction of working at every station on the continent of Antarctica and the nickname MacGyver for his ability to fix anything with little at hand. He crossed some of the most forbidding terrain on Earth as part of the traverse team that drove supplies to remote stations.

Leroy “Roy” Jenson of Embarrass joined this world on September 23, 1945. Son of Clarence Jenson and Clara Jenson. Brother of Delores, and Marvel.

Roy was drafted into the United States Army in 1965-1967. He proudly served his country during the Vietnam War as a helicopter gunner. In later years he so enjoyed exchanges with other Veterans and those individuals who would approach him and thank him for his service.

Roy first met his sweety, Pam in 1986-1987 while in Law Enforcement. Life happened. Pam and Roy were able to reconnect in 1992 and blended their two families on April 18, 1998.