Breaking News

Letter to the editor:
My Response to Becky Rom:
In the last few months, Becky Rom, has penned numerous letters to the Ely Echo that, at first blush, use questionable data and accusations. Based on her reoccurring playlist of talking points, I have comments and questions for Becky. Change your strategy, you’ve become too predictable.
You fixate on the phrase “sulfide-ore mining.” Literally, you mention it everywhere. Are you actually telegraphing your consent that “oxide-ore mining” is an acceptable method of mining?
Here’s a fact that never rolls off your pen or your lips; that TMM has less than 2% sulfide in its porphyry, and that PolyMet has only .8 of 1% sulphide. Truthfully, the sulfur issue regarding these two mines shouldn’t even be getting an honorable mention.

The Ely school district has been chosen as the only school in Minnesota to earn the rights to produce Frozen.
“I am so surprised and excited!” said Mike Rouse of the Ely school district. “We entered this contest because Musical Theater is such a big part of our lives…and after all, Ely is literally “Frozen” about half of every year!”
Winners of the United States of Frozen contest, which will see 51 U.S. high schools—one from each state and a single school in Germany for children of military families—earn the exclusive rights to produce the Disney musical were revealed.
The contest is a collaboration between the Educational Theatre Association, Disney Theatrical Group, and Music Theatre International.

On Sept. 10, Duluth paddler Mike Ward completed a 250-mile traverse of the Boundary Water Canoe Area Wilderness from near International Falls, MN eastward to Lake Superior via the Grand Portage in 5 days, 10 hours and 31 minutes.
Ward started at Sha Sha Resort outside of International Falls on the western edge of Voyageurs National Park on Sunday, Sept. 4 at 6:23 a.m. and paddled on average 42 miles per day along the border of the US and Canada for six days, finishing with a 12 mile trip on the Pigeon River and 8.5 mile trail hike on the Grand Portage Trail by Friday, Sept. 10 at 4:54 p.m.
This time beat the existing stand up paddleboard record from Scott Baste by 18 hours, about six later from when Baste’s time of 6 days, 5 hours was recorded earlier that same day. Florida stand up paddleboard athlete Baste had set a time of 7 days, 10 hours in September 2020 and lowered his time in 2022.

by Tom Coombe
Rock Ridge got out to a fast start Tuesday and made that hold up in a high school girls swimming victory over Northeast Range/Ely.
The final score was 47-45, but the Nighthawks swept all of the points in the last two events after the Wolverines had clinched the team victory at Eveleth.
In contested races, Rock Ridge won eight of nine events with the only Nighthawk victory coming from Ely senior Lily Tedrick, who won the 160 yard individual medley.
Tedrick’s win was a dominant one as she finished in 1:57.82, nearly six seconds in front of her next-closest foe.
In the 100 yard butterfly, Tedrick came close but wound up rougly a second short against winner Hailey Pechonick. Tedrick’s time was 1:11.41.

Ruffed grouse and spruce grouse hunting season begins Saturday, Sept. 17, and lasts through Jan. 1, 2023.
Woodcock season is from Saturday, Sept. 24, through Monday, Nov. 7.
Minnesota’s ruffed grouse spring population counts are up from last year, which was not expected during the current declining phase of the 10-year cycle — a pattern recorded for 72 years.
Unexpectedly high ruffed grouse counts this year may have resulted from the warm temperatures and dry conditions last year during May and June, which favors high nest success and chick survival. Snow conditions also were favorable during winter for roosting throughout much of the core of grouse range.

School Board Meeting Minutes
August 22, 2022
(Board approved 9/12/2022)

Lloyd G. Herberg, 95, of Babbitt, died of natural causes on Tuesday, September 13, 2022 at Carefree Assisted Living in Babbitt.
He was born on November 5, 1926 in Crookston, MN and was one of 14 children to Harry and Anna Herberg. Lloyd was the sole survivor of his 13 siblings.
Lloyd grew up in the Crookston area, until he joined the military service at age 17 and was a Navy Seabee Petty Officer Third Class during World War II.
On returning from the military he met Joyce Roselle Solie, the love of his life, and they were married for 56 years. They moved to Babbitt in 1955, where he worked for Reserve Mining Company until retiring in 1984.
Lloyd enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping and traveling to different areas in the United States. Family was very important to him. God blessed him with seven children.

Dolores K. Maki (Kozar) passed away on September 11, 2022 at Essentia Health in Virginia, MN.
Dolores was born on September 27, 1930 to Rose (Peritz) and Anton Kozar in Ely, MN. She was a homemaker who loved to play bingo and spend as much time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She is survived by her children, Charles Jr. (Barb) from Winter, WI; daughters, Linda (Mark) Buria, Jackie (Nathan) LeBeque, both of Virginia, MN, and Debbie (Jim) Weinzierl of Ely, MN; sisters Leone (Louie) DeBernardi of Carefree, AZ and Marie (Charles) Klun of White Bear Lake, MN; brother Ken (Nancy) Kozar of Lyons, CO; 10 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles E. Maki, Sr.; son-in-law Robert Lobe; sisters Rose Scott Mavetz and Jeanette Steinert; brothers-in-law Robert Scott, Charles Klun, Lyle Steinert and Louie DeBernardi.

Donna M. Fink, 90, of Ely passed away on September 13, 2022 at Edgewood Vista in East Grand Forks, MN.
She was born on February 17, 1932 to Albert and Helen Eiden in Holdingford, MN. Donna graduated from Melrose High School and then completed her nurse’s training at St. Mary’s in Minneapolis. She married Victor John Fink on June 30, 1956 in Melrose. Donna worked as a RN at the Winton Hospital until they closed and then for Ely Bloomenson Community hospital until her retirement in 1994. She was a member of the VFW and American Legion Auxiliaries and the Ely Loony Red Hatters. Donna enjoyed jigsaw puzzles and babysitting her grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, her infant son, Daniel Victor Fink and two brothers, David and Merle Eiden, father and mother, Albert and Helen Eiden.

Gerald “Gerry” Salo, 85, of Tower, Minn. passed away peacefully in his sleep on Friday, September 2, 2022 at his son Darrel’s house in Red Wing.
Gerry was born on February 24, 1937 in Embarrass, Minn. to Francis and Lila (Maki) Salo. He graduated high school and joined the Navy. After the Navy, Gerry married Kathy Pucel and together they had three children; Darrel (Dollie) Salo, Terry Salo and Debra (Chris) Hedin. Kathy passed away in 1986. Gerry later married his high school sweetheart, Joanie Lindsoe who also had grown children; Dawn (Scott) Chaffee, Sue (Mike) Maternowsky, Greg (Marcy) Lindsoe, and Chris Lindsoe. Together they started the second chapter of Gerry’s life in Tower, Minn.