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John Norman Viken, 85, of Ely, Minnesota passed away on Wednesday, December 5 in the loving arms of his family at the Minnesota Veteran’s Home in Silver Bay, MN after a long goodbye due to Alzheimer’s disease.
John was born Norman John Viken Jr. on March 22nd, 1933 in St. Paul to Norman and Loraine Viken. He was a protective big brother to his two younger sisters Cindy and Sandra. John enjoyed hanging out with “neighborhood gang” of lifelong friends. He started following in his father’s professional photography footsteps as the photographer for the school newspaper and yearbook, graduating in 1951 from Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis, MN.

by Tom Coombe
It’s been a busy and fruitful year at Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital, and all signs indicate that things aren’t about to slow down.
The hospital posted operating income of over $568,000 in the fiscal year that ended in September, and new administrator Michael Coyle said Monday that additional services, new branding and marketing and perhaps an overhaul to the hospital campus are on the way.
Coyle, who succeeded longtime chief executive officer John Fossum earlier this year, was brimming with enthusiasm Monday, as hospital shareholders gathered for the annual meeting of Ely-Bloomenson’s umbrella organization- the Ely Health and Hospital Foudation.
A new logo was unveiled and Coyle outlined an array of plans for 2019 that address everything from hospital facilities to enhancements to an already growing surgical department.

by Nancy McReady
There was lengthy discussion about the upcoming St. Louis County Planning meeting scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 13 at 10:30 a.m. at the public works building in Virginia. The meeting will focus on whether or not to give the Will Steger Wilderness Center non-profit status.
Although not in Fall Lake Township, Supervisor Mary Tome said her concern was the increased traffic that would be on the Cloquet Line leading up to Steger’s. Some comments made were that Steger should contribute to the upgrading of the road before given non-profit status.
Fall Lake Township maintains the Cloquet Line to Browns Lake Road. Beyond Browns Lake Road, the road is a Forest Service road that is not maintained.
The DNR did do some road improvements a few years ago as there are DNR landings on Cedar Lake and Low Lake.

Joseph (Joe) Telich, age 96, left us on December 11, 2018 at Care Free Living in Ely, Minnesota. He was born in Ely on September 16, 1922
at Shipman Hospital to Frank and Jeannie Telich. He is survived by his wife Florence of Ely, daughter Jo Ann Erickson of Le Bugue, France, sister Katherine Lenich of Ely, sister Jean Vasicek of Florida, nephew Matt Smrekar of Ely and numerous other nieces and nephews.

Joe enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1942 and was attached to the 4th Marine Division. He first saw action in the Marshall Islands where he was wounded and received the Purple Heart. He later joined another Division in which he continued the fight on Saipan, Tinian and then Iwo Jima.

After the war, he met Florence Zitko in Cleveland at a "Minnesota Gopher Club". They fell in love, married in 1949 and in 1955 moved back to Ely.

Mary Klun was born on June 2, 1928 in Ely, Minnesota to Mary and Frank Delak. She married Ed Klun on May 13, 1950 and they spent 46 happy years together. She enjoyed waitressing at Vertin’s restaurant for many years and ran the Ely Surplus store with Ed until they retired. She was a wonderful mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend to everyone that she cared about, putting everyone she loved ahead of herself. She cared for Ed after he was diagnosed with cancer and then spent over 16 years caring for Evan and Carrie’s family. Her favorite pastime was ironing, even our jeans had to have a sharp crease and the sheets were always pressed. She left us on December, 7, 2018 after a short illness.
She lived right up until the end with a smile on her face and a kind word to all. We are honored and privileged to have had her in our lives for over 90 years.

Nickolas Przybylski, 85, of Ely passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 6, 2018 at the Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital surrounded by his family.
Nick was born on July 12, 1933 in Withee, WI to John and Ann (Stibak) Przybylski. He married his high school sweetheart, the love of his life, Carol Wattunen on November 15, 1952.
He and Carol enjoyed raising their seven children in Winton, MN. His family was his pride and joy and was his greatest accomplishment.
Nick was a hard worker, having multiple jobs throughout his life to provide for his family. He bartended, logged, mined at the Pioneer Mine until its closure and then at Reserve Mining; was co-owner of Anderson Produce “The Chicken Farm” with two of his brothers. Later in life he took great pleasure working for the USFS in their Senior Program and then at the Recycling Center in Ely, where he enjoyed chatting with many customers.

Nick and hunting buddy Dave “Otto” Merhar

by Senator Amy Klobuchar -

Retiring U.S. Representative from Minnesota’s Eighth District Rick Nolan and staffer Jeff Anderson. Photo by Nick Wognum

by Tom Coombe -

Council Minutes - November 20, 2018
Regular Meeting Ely City Council – City Hall, Council Chambers

CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Novak called the Regular Council Meeting to order at 5:30pm.

PRESENT: Council members A.Forsman, Kess, Debeltz, Omerza, Callen, D.Forsman and Mayor Novak
ABSENT: None

APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Debeltz/D.Forsman moved to approve the minutes from the November 8, 2018 Regular Council Meeting and November 13, 2018 Special Council Meeting. Motion Carried Unanimously.

ADDITIONS OR OMISSIONS TO AGENDA
Addition 8.A. Projects Committee Minutes
Addition 8.A. Insurance Committee
Addition 8.A. Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities Fall Conference
Addition 13.F. Ely Area Christmas Concert
Items A-D added without objection.