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Margaret Jean (Peg) Asplund, age 93, departed this world from Solvay Hospice House in Duluth on Saturday, October 5, into the awaiting, loving arms of her Lord and Savior. Peg was born to Leo T. and Mary Alice Coons of Hibbing on June 13, 1926. Peg married the love of her life, Arthur F. Asplund, on June 13, 1947. They had two children, a son, Thomas Asplund of Babbitt and a daughter, Carol Jean (Alan) Stewart of Minnetonka. In 1955, Peg and Art moved to Babbitt to begin a life-long adventure with their family. Peg worked at Hibbing High School during the first five years of their marriage and then became a Homemaker when they moved to Babbitt.
Peg’s life revolved around her family, Woodland Presbyterian Church, and many dear friends. She was involved in Cub Scouts, Brownies, Presbyterian Women, Church Circles, Bible Study, Church Bazaars and Community Outreach programs. She was a Church Elder.

by Tom Coombe
By a narrow majority, Ely council members want to give consumers a choice when it comes to trash pickup in town.
They rejected, on a 4-3 vote, a proposal Tuesday to renew the contract held by the incumbent provider - G Men Environmental Services.
The city will instead develop licensing processes to allow for two service providers, a move that has some urgency given a contract with the G Men that expires at the end of the month.
Council members also requested that the G Men extend their current contract through June 30, 2020.
The council was clearly divided over the issue, which has festered for several months.
Council member Heidi Omerza blasted the decision and predicted it would result in higher rates paid by Ely residents, while some wondered if the move may at least temporarily force residents to seek other options - including hauling garbage to the landfill south of town.

James J. Mehle Sr., 76, of Hibbing passed away surrounded by family on Thursday, August 22, 2019 at Fairview Range Medical Center. He was born on December 18, 1942 to John and Frances (Mikolich) Mehle in Ely. He was a 1961 graduate of the Ely Memorial High School. After graduating, Jim served in the U.S. Army as Sergeant and was once stationed in Germany. While on leave, he had the opportunity to visit relatives and the ancestral family home of his grandfather, Johan, in Slovenia. Jim had a 33-year career with Eveleth Taconite and retired in 1998. Jim was united in marriage to Donna Mehle on May 9, 1999.

Caroline Marie Anderson “Big Ma”, 88, Ely, passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 3, 2019, at the Boundary Waters Care Center surrounded by her loving family.
Caroline was born on March 12, 1931, in Ely, Minnesota to Joseph and Ethel Klobuchar. She later graduated from Virginia High School in 1949.
She married William Andrew Anderson of Ely on November 19, 1949, in Ely, Minnesota.
Caroline was a stay at home mother until the youngest of their 11 children entered the Ely School District. She then worked for the school district in a variety of positions, including the lunchroom, a custodial position in the former JFK school building and a secretary to the high school counselor before retiring in the early 1990s. She especially enjoyed the secretarial job as she forged many great friendships with the students and took great pleasure in seeing the success they would later enjoy.

The stories of Ely’s past came alive Monday afternoon.
It’s been over 50 years since the Pioneer Mine closed, but one could almost hear the echoes of days gone by as Serafine Rolando, John Seliga and Bill Erzar told stories, showed off exhibits and shared their passion for our community’s rich history.
Their audience was elected officials and political aides, and their appeal was genuine and matter-of-fact.
Money, a lot of it, is needed to preserve the historic mine site.
Much has already been done over the last two decades, with the preservation of the Miner’s Dry building providing a venue for public and cultural events, and a window to Ely’s mining past.
The headframe and shaft house rehabilitation were also welcomed and visitors, from around the region and far beyond, stop each year for tours, to look at the exhibits and hear some of the tales of Ely’s last operating mine.

by Tom Coombe
Even at less than full strength, the Ely Timberwolves are one of the most formidable teams in Section 7A.
That was evident earlier this week, as the high school volleyball team dominated two opponents even as it missed key players.
Senior standout Brielle Kallberg was out with an ankle injury for wins over Northeast Range and Lakeview Christian Academy, while fellow senior Jenna Merhar was also absent for Tuesday’s sweep of LCA.
The temporary absences did little to slow the Wolves, who got a boost each night from freshman Rachel Coughlin.
Coughlin had eight kills in both matches as the Wolves improved to 15-3 for the season.
“Offensively, Rachel started getting power behind her hits,” said Ely Head Coach Andrea Thomas.
The Wolves powered past Northeast Range Monday, winning 25-13, 25-6, 22-25, 25-12 at Babbitt.

by Tom Coombe
Minus their leading runner, the Ely boys weren’t able to defend their championship at Tuesday’s Ely Invitational.
Senior Luke Olson did not compete in the annual home meet and the Ely boys settled for third place, just a point behind runner-up Eveleth-Gilbert and two back of Virginia, at the Ely Golf Course.
Freshman Zoe Devine’s fifth-place finish sparked the Ely girls team to a second-place showing, behind only International Falls.
The annual home event was held on an overcast day with prime running conditions, but chilly 40-degree temperatures that forced spectators to don an extra layer of clothing to stay warm.
Olson, who won a state track title during the spring and has a string of individual wins to his credit this fall, returned to Ely late Monday after a college visit and sat out the home meet.

Sixth grade students from Ely, Tower-Soudan and North Woods all gathered at Bear Head Lake State Park on Sept. 26, to take part in a fun filled day of learning.
The program, in its fifth year, is organized by James Pointer, Interpretive Supervisor at Lake Vermilion – Soudan Underground Mine State Park.
During the event the students rotate through seven interesting stations that relate to aspects of our boreal forest.
The stations included topics of mammals, watersheds, forestry, fisheries, water quality, bird banding, and Great Lakes Worm Watch.
The program is made possible by the many volunteers that assist with the program.
This year there were representatives from the Forest Service, DNR forestry, DNR fisheries, Vermilion Community College forestry and water clubs, and St. Louis Country Soil and Water Conservation.

The St. Louis County Board of Commissioners will make seven appointments, One (1) St. Louis County Association of Townships, One (1) Southern Townships representative, One (1) City of Eveleth representative, One (1) City of Hermantown representative and Three (3) At-Large representatives, to the St. Louis County CDBG Citizen Advisory Committee with terms expiring April 30, 2022. The CDBG program provides funds for community facilities, public infrastructure, economic development, housing activities, and public service activities.

The CDBG Advisory Committee holds one public hearing and three public meetings to review applications and provide funding recommendations. Meetings are typically held in January between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. CDBG Citizen Advisory Committee members are paid $50 per diem and mileage at the current county rate.

Stipend: $2,460.00. Application to include: district application form, available online at www.ely.k12.mn.us, click on District then on Job Openings or at the District Office, current resume; background check required. Return application to: ISD No. 696, Attn: Superintendent, 600 E. Harvey St., Ely, MN 55731. Application deadline: October 16, 2019.