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Adam Turner, Jaymie Stocks and Heather Friedli stand in front of their winning sculpture Saturday, Feb. 2.

By Deanna Weniger, Pioneer Press -

HONORED - Dave Merhar’s number 7 now hangs in not one but two arenas. Tuesday, the Ely native and college hockey legend was honored in his hometown, as “Dave Merhar Night” was celebrated at the Ely Arena. A 1965 Ely High School graduate, Merhar was recruited to West Point and was one of college hockey’s most decorated players in the late-1960s. Merhar, still known in some Ely circles by his boyhood nickname “Otto,” set a single-season standard with 57 goals in his senior campaign of 1968-69, and he added 50 assists the same year to become the first collegian ever to get 100 points in a season. He is pictured with his wife Jan and Ely athletic director Tom Coombe. Photo by Eric Sherman.

POETRY AND MUSIC at the Tuesday group courtesy of Tim Stouffer and Joe Kenig. The Raven Loonaticks gave a sneak preview of (Sebstian Project II - the Second Comming) a multi-media event consisting of poetry, music and more to be performed at the Vermilion Community College Performing Arts Theatre on Saturday, Feb. 9 from 2-4 p.m. Photo by Tom Coombe.

by Tom Coombe
The Ely City Council will reconsider its decision to name a Tower-based publication as its official newspaper.
Members decided that Tuesday on a 5-1 vote, with mayor Chuck Novak opposed and Heidi Omerza absent.
The move came amid controversy, and protests from officials of the Ely Echo, over the council’s Jan. 15 decision to name the Timberjay as the city’s official publication.
The issue dominated this week’s regular council session, with Novak, council members and city attorney Kelly Klun weighing in, as well as local residents and the general manager of the Ely Echo - Nick Wognum.
Wognum said he was seeking “a level playing field” for his business, noting the Echo pays commercial real estate taxes and utility rates and challenging the Timberjay’s claim that the home of its Ely editor serves as the publication’s “office of issue.”

Carl Thomas Mistek, September 26, 1943 – February 2, 2019. It is with broken hearts that we announce the passing of Carl Thomas Mistek of San Jose. Carl peacefully entered into rest with his soulmate and loving wife, Gina, by his side. A strong man, fierce patriot and generous person, he believed in giving back and was frequently seen with a big smile and heard with a deep laugh. He greatly enjoyed visiting with too many friends to mention, spending time with his cherished and precious dog Brandi, working on a crossword puzzle or enjoying a quick-witted joke.
Carl leaves behind his adoring sister, Mary “Missy” Davis and brother, Jerome (Aneta) Mistek; cohort and brother-in-law, Philip (Marlene) Chantri; loving parents-in-law, Bruno (Gloria) Galli; cherished nephews, Joseph Mistek, Jonathan (Mary) Davis and Philip “Mickey” Chantri; adoring niece Jodi (Steve) Moore and precious great-nieces Jamie and Kristen Moore.

Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08) will host a forum this weekend to give stakeholders the opportunity to express their concerns regarding the failure of recreation.gov and the subsequent inability to book permits for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA).

“The BWCA reservation system failure has already had a massive impact on business owners and families across Minnesota’s Eighth Congressional District and beyond,” said Stauber. “Since the website crashed last Wednesday morning, my office has heard from countless outdoor enthusiasts along with outfitters who are concerned with their ability to provide timely customer service and the harmful impact this crash could have on Northern Minnesota’s local economy. This forum will be a useful platform to express any concerns pertaining to the failures of recreation.gov.”

This week’s colossal failure engineered by the U.S. Forest Service brought up some important lessons to be learned.
By killing the lottery and having people all apply at the same time for day use and overnight motor permits, the Forest Service is creating a system of have and have-nots.
Here’s what we’ve know to be true:
1. Listen and respond. The Forest Service held a public meeting in November where this very scenario was described. What changed? Nothing. The plan was in place and the officials in Duluth, Milwaukee and D.C. ignored the warnings. Not too surprising, this is the government we are talking about. Either the Forest Service failed to listen or they failed to respond to the concerns raised months ago.

by Tom Coombe -

by Tom Coombe -

Friends, good friends, are rare. As children we tend to expect that we will have the same friends throughout life. For a very lucky few, that happens.
Mostly, our lives tend to lead us away from the past and from places we’ve called home along the way of life. And there comes a time when we wonder about those past friends... have they passed?
Even if they have, they remain indelibly in one’s mind, nourished by memories and impromptu reminders.
In many ways, family members are supposed to remain friends through time, but that doesn’t always work out as egos, slights, and different paths separate us from those who were once a big part of our lives. Can those hostilities be resolved? Probably not if all parties are not willing to succumb to heart felt apologies.
Life goes on. With each setback one picks up the pieces of one’s life and hopefully finds new purpose. You gotta keep on, keeping on.