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Minnesota’s popular warm weather stream trout season opens Saturday, April 13, with quality fishing opportunities in every region of the state. Brook trout and splake fishing also opens on Lake Superior and its tributary streams that have no posted boundaries.

“The trout fishing opportunities are improving through investments in trout habitat, angler access, sound land use, and science-based management. Anglers help pay for this work when they buy fishing licenses and trout stamps.” said Jamison Wendel, DNR stream habitat consultant.

Minnesota has roughly 3,800 miles of designated trout streams. Its four coldwater hatcheries produce more than 1.7 million fingerlings and yearlings for stocking each year. Anglers fishing on designated trout waters must have a trout validation in addition to an angling license.

Applications for bear hunting licenses are being accepted now through Friday, May 3, wherever Minnesota hunting and fishing licenses are sold, online at mndnr.gov/buyalicense, and by telephone at 888-665-4236.

A total of 3,400 licenses are available in 13 permit areas. Bear licenses cost $44 for residents and $230 for nonresidents, and there is a $5 application fee. The 2019 season is open from Sunday, Sept. 1, through Sunday, Oct. 13.

Lottery winners will be notified by June 1. The deadline to purchase licenses awarded by lottery will be Thursday, Aug. 1. Any remaining unpurchased licenses will be available over the counter starting at noon on Tuesday, Aug. 6.

An unlimited number of bear licenses will be sold over-the-counter for the no-quota area that includes east-central and far northwestern Minnesota. No-quota licenses are valid only in the no-quota area. Hunters with a no-quota license can harvest one bear.

SNOWFLAKES didn’t stop the VCC baseball team from playing last weekend. Photo by Sylvia Linkert.

BOB CARY’s BAND practicing at Anne’s:, l-r: Bill Lynott, Dick Mitchell, Fred Godec and Bob Cary.

The St. Louis County Board presented the Ely Community Care Team with a 2019 Public Health Achievment Award Tuesday. Shown L-R are Amy Westbrook, director of Public Health; Commissioner Frank Jewell, who chairs the Health and Human Service Committee, and Heidi Favet of the Ely Community Care Team.

by Tom Coombe -

A recent study examined the economic feasibility of introducing mass timber manufacturing to the state of Minnesota and/or Minnesota’s Arrowhead region. Specifically, the study examined cross-laminated timber (CLT) which is a wood panel system that has gained popularity after being widely adopted in Europe. The study concluded:

For the first time in two years, Vermilion Community College is fielding a women’s softball team.
The Ironwomen are back on the field after a one-year hiatus, with a new head coach and an almost entirely new roster.
Justin Kosik, who also serves as head football coach at VCC, has taken the reins of a softball program that went dark in 2018 because of a lack of participation.
That shouldn’t be a problem in 2019, with a dozen athletes out for the squad, which opened its season in late-March with three nonconference games at the Rosemount Dome, south of the Twin Cities.
Shawna Butler, a former Ely Timberwolf, is one of the newcomers to the VCC lineup while the only holdover from the 2017 team is first baseman/outfielder Lynn Engler.
Others on the team are Ely graduate Maggie Isbell, as well as Jade Evans, Brittany Packer, Meghan Ferrell, Jessica Emmans, Hannah Larson, Ashley Goley, Lauren Huchel, Hanna Peitso and Morgan Schubert.

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WINNER of the Ely Chamber of Commerce’s Jackpine Bob Cary Community Spirit Award was David Wigdahl. He received the award at the annual Smile, You’re In Ely dinner Tuesday at Grand Ely Lodge. Photos by Nick Wognum

Positivity at Smile, You’re in Ely