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Try Hockey for Free Day was held in Ely on Nov. 10 in conjunction with USA Hockey and Minnesota and sponsored by Pure Hockey and Chipolte. Kids get to try hockey with no obligation, for free! There were over 30 skaters this year and coaches at all levels come and help out. Photos by Tara Kay.

Two deer have been harvested at Camp Cholesterol, both out of the same stand.
Our deer slayer from last year, Megan, returned to take a basket rack eight on the second day of the season. She had been waging war with a squirrel who kept trying to join her in the stand.
Luckily the battle was at a lull when the buck walked in behind her. With no snow on the ground we had to do some searching.
If you’ve been in that situation, doubt can creep in really fast. Did I hit it? Which way did it go? Could I have missed? This is the time where prayer returns to the deer stand.
When I spotted the deer lying near the edge of a swamp, I called for Megan. I think she ran through the woods.
“I was praying up in the stand,” she said with an excited look on her face.
“You’re prayers have been answered,” I responded.

Once a Marine, always a Marine - Joe Telich,96 years old, (seated right) watches as Cael Richards, 23 years old, cuts the Marine Corps birthday cake at the recent Ely area Marine Corps dinner.

Philip K. DuFresne, 104, Two Harbors, passed away peacefully on November 13, 2018 at Ecumen Scenic Shores in Two Harbors.
He was born June 20, 1914 to Henry and Hulda (Johnson) DuFresne in North Dakota. When he was a child, his mother remarried and they moved to Two Harbors, where Phil remained the rest of his life. He was the second oldest of the four boys and one sister.
In 1935 he married Delores (Pat) O’Brian and had two sons, David and Fred. In 1936, John (Boomer) Norlen, (a cousin of Pat’s) at age 12, came to live with them temporarily and stayed permanently.
Phil retired with 41 years working for the D.M.I.R. (Duluth, Mesabi & Iron Range Railroad). He at one time co-owned a local pool hall with a friend in the mid 1950s and ran the Dairy Queen for a few years in the early 1960s.

Photo by Tom Pearson

Hortense Louisa (Simpkins) Davis, 92, of Galesburg, IL died Tuesday November 6, 2018 at 4:15 p.m. at home.
She was born December 21, 1925 to Peter and Olga (Warden) Simpkins. Hortense married John D. Davis on June 28, 1942 in Palmyra, Missouri. He preceded her in death July 10, 1999.
Hortense is survived by her four children, Barry (Charlotte Self) Davis of Florida, Kriss (Betsy Hensley) Davis of Bloomington, Kerry (Sandy Furniss) Davis of Ely, Minnesota, and Dixie Davis-Sharp of Galesburg; seven grandchildren, Dorothy Lam, Timothy Sharp, Chad Davis, John Davis, Taylor Davis, Justin Davis, and Sara Skar; nine great grandchildren, Eleia Lam, Baron Lam, Minuet Lam, Mason Davis, Isabella Davis, Jace Davis, Cameron Sharp, Emelia Skar, and Theodore Skar; and two great great grandchildren Ivy Sharp and Lennon Sharp. She is also survived by her sister, Sylvia Simpkins-Stoutner of Penn Valley, California and numerous nieces and nephews across the country.

There is a wave of excitement moving throughout the community. Children are excited as the snow begins to accumulate and lakes freeze. Sledding, skiing and hockey are on their way. Adults are making plans for holiday gatherings with family and friends. All are anticipating the fun and celebration of the season.

Ely has long standing traditions highlighting our unique and beautiful corner of the north woods. We invite you to come and celebrate the start of winter with these great events:

ANTHONY MATHEW (TONY) KNAPP, 82, passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home in Mankato, Minnesota on November 10, 2018. He was surrounded by his family after a courageous six-month battle with pancreatic cancer.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, November 15 at Hosanna Lutheran Church. He will be interred at Calvary Cemetery in Mankato.
A memorial visitation will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, November 14, at the Mankato Mortuary and also at the church for one hour prior to the service on Thursday.
Tony was born on September 27, 1936 in Ely, Minnesota to Anton and Mary Knapp. He graduated from Ely High School and went on to the Ely Junior College for two years.
Tony loved learning throughout his entire life, and he completed his teaching degree from St. Cloud Teachers College before earning his Master’s degree at Mankato State University.

by Tom Coombe -

The U.S. Forest Service will hold a public meeting following concerns raised over changes to the BWCA permit system, specifically the elimination of the lottery system for motor permits.
The meeting will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 13 at 2 p.m. at the Kawishiwi District Ranger Office conference room.
Both Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Rep. Rick Nolan have questioned the changes after Ely area businesses and residents have raised concerns.
Beginning Oct. 1, recreation reservation services on the Superior National Forest were upgraded within the nation-wide recreation.gov website.
These include stronger security controls, better protection of Personally Identifiable Information, and increased fraud protection.
The new system also enables real-time notification of availability and reservation of campsites in Superior National Forest developed campgrounds as well as Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) quota permits.