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Two thirds of 2021 are over and it has indeed been a pretty warm year. We are 2.5 degrees over the normal mean temperature. Seven of the eight months so far have been warmer than normal. Only one, February, was bitterly cold.
Rain equivalent totals for the year have been way down. So far, precip is about 5.6 inches less than normal. Only March and April ran a rain surplus. The other six months have fueled the drought that affects us now.
For September, we’ll get 50% relief. Long range forecasters think the heatwave will break. But, the drought will continue. It is thought we will average one degree below normal for September’s temperature. The thought unfortunately also feels rain will be at least two inches shy of normal.

AFTER VANDALS spray painted grafitti, city workers including Kurt Mattila gave Ely’s 130 year-old water tank a fresh coat of paint on Wednesday morning at the Pioneer Mine National Register Site. Volunteer Seraphine Rolando spotted the vandalism and alerted the city council Tuesday night. Photo by Nick Wognum.

Editor:
Will they finally make a difference?
Scientists have found that although forest fires do not release a significant amount of Acid Rain, they do create a significant amount of mercury into the environment. California, Oregon, and Washington wildfires contribute greater amounts due to the trade winds and climate.
These non-profit anti-mining so-called environmentalists from Northern Minnesota should invest time and funds to the National Science Foundation, to help educate and to come up with solid solutions instead of playing politics for only upholding an agenda for selfishness of their own private needs. Along with one-sided big box newspapers who will not inform its readers about these non-profits who are in violation of their non-profit status.
It would be for the greater collaboration of these anti-mining non-profits to promote education and work with the great mining industry of Northern Minnesota.

by Tom Coombe
The lights of a new timing system only added to the excitement Tuesday at the Babbitt pool.
Spectators were allowed in without capacity restrictions, and the 2021 high school girls swimming season began without a cloud of COVID restrictions.
Northeast Range/Ely, with a heavy emphasis on Ely, meet a deeper International Falls team and lost 59-31 but the result told just part of the story.
The Nighthawks showed off their brand-new $25,000 timing system, which is the result of a major fundraising effort and brings the Babbitt pool in line with most others in the region.
It made for a more meet-like feel for the home opener, according to head coach Cheri DeBeltz.

by Tom Coombe
Volleyball matches can turn on a dime, and that seemed to happen Tuesday at Ely’s high school gymnasium.
Powered by NCAA Division I-bound Hannah Reichensperger, visiting Northeast Range won the second set and was on the verge of taking the third when it jumped to a 23-21 lead.
But as quickly as the Nighthawks gained the advantage, Ely answered right back.
The Timberwolves scored four straight points, with Kellen Thomas’s kill giving Ely the set and the momentum it needed to go on to a four-set victory in the season-opener.
Scores were 25-18, 21-25, 25-23 and 25-18 as the Wolves gave new head coach Megan Wognum a victory in her debut leading the program.
It wasn’t an easy win, and the Nighthawks nearly rode Reichensperger’s power to an early-season upset.
Reichensperger was a force at the net and nearly unstoppable when she got the ball in the middle.

William Kvas (age 91), a long time Ely resident passed away peacefully at his home in Rosemount, MN on August 29, 2021, after a battle with pneumonia. He is survived by his sister Molly (Kvas) Sinar of Grand Rapids, three sons: William (Suzanne) of Eagan, Robert (Laura) of Lakeville, and Lawrence of St. Cloud and stepdaughter, Laura (Bird) Miller of Orlando, Florida. In addition to several grandchildren, he is survived by one great grandson. He was preceded in death by his parents Joseph Kvas and Jennie (Fercik) Kvas, both Slovenian immigrants. He was also preceded in death by his sister Jennie (Mestnik) Aho and brothers, Daniel Mestnik (Wakefield, MI), Stanley Mestnik (St. Paul), Robert Kvas (Mt. Iron, MN), and Edward Kvas (Silver Bay, MN).

Mildred Catherine (Bomleny) Schlueter passed away at Carefree Living in Babbitt, Minnesota on August 26th, 2021.
Mildred, also known as “Mim” or “Millie,” was the fifth of eight children and was born on a large farm in Sheffield Illinois to Peter and Daisy (Reynolds) Bomleny. She made her entrance into the world during a severe snowstorm, so her father had to assist in her birth at their home.
After raising two boys, Mildred and her husband Herb retired to Bemidji, Minnesota in the 1970s from West Chicago. She was passionate about flower gardening, cooking big meals for her family, and baking delicious goodies for anyone who stopped by for a visit.
Millie loved being active in her church, fishing at Lake Marquette in Bemidji, and was a talented bowler until her mid eighties.
She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings John, Darlene, Lucille, Paul, Elna, Joe, and Leo, sons Ronald and Kenneth, and daughter-in-law Donna (Ronald).

Thomas Bialke, 98, of Babbitt, passed away on Friday August 27, 2021 at Carefree Assisted Living in Babbitt. Family arrangements have been entrusted to Kerntz Funeral Home of Ely.

Juanita L. Constant, 91, of Babbitt, passed on Wednesday, August 25, 2021 at Miller-Dwan Hospital in Duluth.
She was born December 5, 1929, in Jefferson City, MO. She married Willard Constant on August 3, 1948 in Jefferson City. The couple moved to Minnesota in the early 1950s then to Babbitt in 1956. where they raised five children.
Juanita loved gardening and grew beautiful flowers. She also enjoyed cooking and baking.
She was an excellent mother and grandmother, her family was everything to her. She was also a very devoted member of St. Pius X Catholic Church.
Her last couple of years were spent in Lino Lakes with her son.

Last Saturday was the Pink Ribbon ATV Ride from Ely to Babbitt and back on the Prospector Loop Trail System. It was a fundraiser to benefit Pink Ribbon Riders and the group raised $2,049. “We had a great group of people along for the ride and we had a fun time,” said organizer Penny Reedy. “Thank you to Prospector Loop ATV Trail System for your help planning and guiding, Babbitt ATV and Snowmobile Club for the use of your building, setting up and a donation, Zup’s of Ely for the cookies, Lindsey Keen for prizes, Nyman Excavating for the donation and everyone who participated!”