Breaking News

Special Meeting
June 28, 2021 (Board approved 7/12/2021)

Donald O. Niska, 85, of Ely, a proud U.S. Marine Corp Veteran, passed away at his residence on Thursday, July 15, 2021. Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.

Margaret “Marge” Swindlehurst, 83, of Silver Bay died on Monday, July 12, 2021 at Carefree Living.
She was born on September 2, 1937 to Michael and Margaret (Matanich) Paun in Ely, MN where she grew up and graduated from Ely High School in 1955. Marge was employed as a secretary for Hunkin for a short time before her marriage to Robert Swindlehurst in 1959. She then worked for Lake Superior School District for over 20 years in various positions.
Marge was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and a founding member of the Bay Area Artists. She enjoyed water-color painting, calligraphy, and was a renowned cook and baker.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Bob in 2013; sister, Ann Levar; brother, Stephen Paun; and niece, Linda Levar Powers.

by Tom Coombe
Two city positions were filled Tuesday as council members breezed through a packed agenda.
Upon recommendation of the city’s employee relations committee, the council voted unanimously to hire David Huberty for the part-time planning and zoning administrator position, and promoted Troy Oelke to the post of Equipment Operator III.
Both moves came at a council session that lasted less than an hour.
Huberty, whose hire is subject to a background check, was one of two candidates interviewed for the planning and zoning job, last held by Tim Riley.
“It was a competitive process, said council member Heidi Omerza, a member of the employee relations committee. “We’re grateful to have so many interested candidates.”
Oelke was one of four internal candidates to be interviewed for the equipment operator job.
Both the Huberty and Oelke hires were recommended unanimously by the employee relations committee on June 30.

Starting on Monday, July 12, most Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness visitors will need to pick up their wilderness permits in-person.
The Forest Service is phasing out the virtual permit issuance option, with the exception of Sunday sessions for the remainder of the permit season. The virtual option was developed as a temporary modification in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
After this week, permit issuance and Leave No Trace & Tread Lightly education sessions will only be offered on Sundays at 9 a.m. for permit holders who selected the LaCroix District Office or Tofte District Office as their issue stations, due to these offices being closed on Sundays this year. The first Sunday this change will be in effect for is Sunday, July 18.
If you have an upcoming reservation and have already received an email to a virtual session this week, this change does not affect you.

Our home is a bit quieter tonight. For the first time in 15 years there isn’t a Yorkie living here.
Her final day was a tough day made only easier by the great folks at the Ely Vet Clinic. We knew this day would come but it arrived quicker than we thought.
None of that was on our minds 15 years ago when we drove to Rochester to look at purchasing a Yorkie puppy. Megan had picked her out and we took her to a vet there on a Saturday afternoon.
The vet was honest and said there was a chance this wasn’t a purebred but at the same time there weren’t any red flags on the puppy’s health. This made Megan a happy camper and we brought Morgan home.
For the next 15 years there were times I wondered who was the owner and who was the pet. Morgan did what she wanted when she wanted. Independent to a fault, she seemed to relish the times I would take an empty garbage bag and head for the back door.

With the world finally returning to normal it was good to see the town fill up for the annual July 4 celebration. Kudos to all who stepped up to make it happen, it was a great success.
The day started off early with a new event, the raising of the flag at the Veterans Memorial. For a 7 a.m. start there was a decent turnout with a short program on what Independence Day is all about. We hope this new tradition continues.
The Janet Gensler Memorial Four on the Fourth race filled the Trezona Trail with runners and walkers. This year the entire route was on blacktop, a first on the Fourth. Plenty of Ely and former Ely residents participated along with a large group of visitors. The event is a fundraiser for the Ely high school track teams.
Whiteside Park started hopping soon after that as YoungLife again put together games, food and fun for all everyone.

by Tom Coombe
After going virtual in 2020, Ely’s annual four-mile race around the Trezona Trail returned in full force this year.
Two new winners were crowned this year at the four-mile race that kicks off Ely’s Fourth of July Celebration.
Michael Schwinghamer was the overall winner and Cailee Peterson was the first female to cross the finish line at the Janet Gensler Memorial Four on the Fourth.
Schwinghamer, 22, completed the Sunday morning race in 21:00.5, while the 21-year-old Peterson, who was seventh overall, had a time of 24:30.
The event doubles as a fundraiser for Ely’s high school track teams and attracted more than 160 participants.
Taking second place overall was Joseph Dabado, 32, of Chicago, in 22:32.8.
Rounding out the top-10 male finishers were:
• Andrew Kephart, 21, Cedar Falls, Ia., 22:41;
• James Schwinghamer, 20, Ely, 22:42;
• Blake Gallardo, 18, Santa Clarita, Cal., 22:46.2;

by Nick Wognum
For many summers, Veterans Memorial Field was Renee Lassi’s second home.
So it only seems fitting that it’s at the ballpark where her family, friends and Ely’s baseball community will gather on Thursday to remember her.
The longtime manager of the ballpark concession stand passed away last fall, and her family will hold a celebration of life in conjunction with Thursday’s Junior and Senior Legion baseball games with Taconite.
An on-the-field ceremony will be held just prior to the 7:15 p.m. Senior Legion game, and the celebration will take place starting with the 5 p.m. Junior Legion game and will include photos, memory boards and an opportunity to visit with Lassi’s loved ones.
Lassi was famous, not only within Ely’s baseball circles but beyond, for her concession stand specialties - most notably pulled pork sandwiches.

NOTICE
Public Hearing
Re-Zoning Request – 1499 Miners Drive

The Ely City Council will hold a Public Hearing on Tuesday, July 20, 2021 at 5:00 pm to consider a Re-zoning request from Peggy Kovall 1499 Miners Drive Ely MN 55731. Parcel No. 030-0500-00238. Applicant requests change in zoning from (M)-Light Industrial to Residential Transition (RT).

The public may submit comments to the Ely City Council supporting or opposing the request for re-zoning. Your name and address must be included for comments to be entered into the public record.

Please submit comments to 209 E Chapman Street, Ely MN 55731 or by email to deputyclerk@ely.mn.us

Ely Echo
July 10, 2021
July 17, 2021