Breaking News

All four members of Ely’s high school speech team have advanced to the section meet.
They qualified Monday, while competing off-campus and virtually in the subsection competition.
Laura Holmstrom, Harry Dammann, Maggie Dammann and Esther Anderson all qualified for the Apr. 16 Section 7A event.
“The kids did fine,” said head coach Donna Kari. “There were a couple of glitches with the technology but they did win. They all made it to sections, which was no sweat.”
Holmstrom advanced with a fourth-place subsection finish in Extemporaneous Speaking, while both Harry Dammann and Maggie Dammann were fifth in Creative and Extemporaneous Reading, respectively.
Anderson moves on after placing sixth in Extemporaneous Reading.
It has been an atypical year for speech students in Ely and across the state, with all meets held virtually this season with students generally competing from their own campuses.

The Superior National Forest is planning to conduct a series of prescribed fires across the forest to improve and maintain forest health and wildlife habitat, and reduce hazardous fuel build up and the risk of intense wildfire. T
he meadow and forest ecosystems in northeastern Minnesota are fire-dependent and rely on periodic fires to stay healthy. Prescribed fires are carefully planned and managed to meet natural resource objectives in a safe, effective manner.
Depending on the fuels and weather conditions, the prescribed fire units could be burned starting as early as March 29 and all the way until June or July.
Prescribed fires are conducted by trained fire management professionals who have studied fire behavior and fire control techniques. These fire professionals help ensure the safety of the burn crew, nearby residents, and property. The window of opportunity for prescribed burning is very small.

NOTICE OF
SPECIAL PRIMARY ELECTION
City of ELY
State of Minnesota, County of St. Louis

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a SPECIAL PRIMARY Election will be held in all election precincts in the above named city at the:
ELY SENIOR CITIZENS BUILDING
27 S 1ST AVE
ELY, MN 55731
on Tuesday, April 13, 2021. Polling places will be open from 7:00 A.M. until 8:00 P.M. (M.S. 204C.05).

CITY OF ELY OFFICES
One Seat – Mayor

Harold R Langowski
Clerk/Treasurer

Ely Echo
April 3, 2021
April 10, 2021

CITY OF ELY-NOTICE OF
PUBLIC ACCURACY TESTING

Pursuant to MN Statutes 206.83, the City of Ely will be conducting a public accuracy test for its voting system equipment for the Special Primary Election to be held on April 13, 2021. The testing will take place at Ely City Hall, Council Chambers, 209 E Chapman St, Ely MN on Thursday, April 8, 2021 at 10:00am.

Harold R Langowski
Clerk/Treasurer

Ely Echo
April 3, 2021

CNS-3454124#
Frontier provides basic residential services for rates from $10.72-$24.01 for flat rate service. Frontier also provides basic business services for rates from $11.51-$45.03. Other taxes, fees, and surcharges may apply. Frontier offers single party service, touch tone, toll blocking, access to long distance, emergency services, operator assistance, and directory assistance. Use of these services may result in additional charges. Budget or economy services also may be available.

by Nick Wognum
Some Ely water customers have noticed a change in the taste and smell of the water coming out of their taps.
“It’s not the Burntside water I’m used to,” said Patricia Nettifee, who lives on the east end of town. “My dad lives over on Camp Street and it’s not as bad there. At my house it just tastes and smell funky.”
The cause may be from a cold snap. Ely operations director Harold Langowski said there aren’t any health concerns and nothing has changed with the city’s water supply or how it is treated.
“We’ve gotten a few calls in isolated areas. It’s asthetic in nature, it’s not a water quality or health concern,” said Langowski.
The city pumps water out of Burntside Lake through an above and below ground pipe system to the water treatment plant on Shagawa Lake.

by Tom Coombe
Distance learning for all students in the Ely school system will continue for at least another week.
Although a COVID-19 outbreak within the school slowed considerably this week, Ely district officials announced Wednesday that a COVID-related “reset” in the Memorial Building will be extended until April 12.
That’s the date that Washington Elementary students would also return to school under current plans.
Students in grades 6-12, who have been out of school since March 19, were originally scheduled to return to school April 6 but school administrators decided to instead “extend our reset for one more week,” principal Megan Anderson said in a message sent to parents.
“Current data indicates that we still have high numbers in our community,” said Anderson. “It is with every intention that we plan to return to in-person learning on April 12th.”

Kathleen M (Kathie) Hanson passed away on Tuesday, March 30, 2021 at Chestnut Grove in Virginia, MN.
She was born on May 12, 1942 in Fergus Falls, MN to Effard “Bud” Kromer and Agnes (Papesh) Kromer and grew up in Ely, MN graduating from Ely Memorial Sr High in 1960.
She attended UMD and graduated from Bemidji State College participating in many plays and musicals, and was a drum major for the Ely Dillonaires and the UMD ROTC Drum Corp. She was a baton twirling instructor for many years, and an avid bowler. Kathie was employed by the Department of Indian Affairs, the Pioneer Press and owned the K & D Cafe in Bemidji and was a member of the VFW and Legion Auxiliaries and the Loyal Order of the Moose.
She moved back to Ely and worked for Irresistible Ink and Hardee’s and was a member of St Anthony’s Catholic Church and past president of the Catholic Council.

Dear Editor,
Letter to the Editor: We want to express our utmost gratitude to Morse/Fall Lake Fire Department, Ely Fire Department, Ely First Responders, the St. Louis County Deputy and the Conservation Officer that responded to our fire on Sunday the 21st.
Their overwhelmingly rapid response time and skills are second to none. Their compassionate concern for us was genuine and reassuring. They certainly saved our home.
We all express our thanks to our fire fighters, first responders and law enforcement, but when you personally need their services you feel true gratitude.
We are so fortunate and blessed to have these wonderful people in our community.
Jimmy & Kate Nelson
Ely, MN

by Muffin Nelson
The Annual Ely Children’s Summer Art Camp run under the auspices of the Ely Arts & Heritage Center at Ely’s historic Miners Dry is scheduled for 2021.
It will begin Monday, June 7 and end Wednesday, June 9 from 9 - Noon each day. Mark your calendars now.
A community Art Show showcasing student art work is featured at the end of camp at noon on Wednesday.
Up to 50 children in grades one through sixth are welcomed to new projects each year for a fee of $50 each. We are looking for new teachers and projects in any medium.
Teachers are paid and all supply costs are covered. Do you have a hobby, craft, or skill you’d enjoy sharing with young students?
There are four 40 minute class sessions each day with students rotating in groups to each teacher. Projects can be completed in one day or might require two or three days. You may bring a helper or Art Camp can supply adult assistants.