Breaking News

Laurence McLaughlin Smith, 82, of Coralville died of cardiac failure on Monday, August 26, 2019, at the University of Iowa Hospital.
Laurence “Larry” Smith was born October 2, 1936, in Nevada, Iowa, the son of Laurence and Helen (Gottschalk) Smith. Growing up in Coon Rapids with his younger sister Nancy, Larry was “bright and cute as a button.” He played basketball and worked in an ice cream parlor during high school.

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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.

Cameras and signs will soon be posted along the Trezona Trail in Ely to warn users of the trail about recent wolf encounters in the area. On Thursday, Aug. 15, a dog out for a run with its owner was attacked by a wolf at about 8:30 p.m. A report was made to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) by the dog’s owner, detailing his encounter with the wolf near the Shagawa Lake boat landing.

by Tom Coombe
Five years after it was rescued from disrepair and decay, Ely’s State Theater building will live again.
A major and massive renovation project is coming to a close and the building’s owner has completed a long search for a tenant: a nonprofit organization formed this year by nearly a dozen area residents.
That group,operating under the name Ely’s Historic State Theater, is brainstorming ideas, generating funds and working toward a late-fall grand opening, perhaps in November.
The nonprofit will lease the building from Alley A Realty, which has purchased and refurbished numerous Ely buildings, and intends to make it home to an array of potential events.
In addition to movies, the main theater is set up as a multi-purpose venue, with the stage extended to accommodate for theater productions and an open area at the front of the room to go with 234 completely refurbished theater seats.

The Minnesota bear hunting season opens Saturday, Sept. 1, and the Department of Natural Resources is asking hunters to avoid shooting marked research bears. These bears are marked with distinctively large, colorful ear tags and have radio collars.
Researchers with the DNR are monitoring about 30 radio collared black bears across the state, especially in zones 27, 25 and 45, and in parts of the no-quota zone. Most of them are in or near the Chippewa National Forest between Grand Rapids and Bigfork.
Others are farther north, near Orr or Voyageurs National Park. Some collared bears are also around Camp Ripley, and in northwestern Minnesota, especially near Thief Lake Wildlife Management Area and Plummer.
“We’re asking hunters to watch out for these valuable research bears, and avoid shooting them. These collared bears are providing much of the data that is being used in bear management,” said Dave Garshelis, DNR bear research scientist.

by Tom Coombe
Ely’s high school volleyball team overcame a second-game hiccup and took care of a local rival.
An impressive serving game and an assortment of hitters helped the Timberwolves overcome a stellar outing from Northeast Range sophomore Hannah Reichenserger as the hosts won the season-opener in four games.
Ely junior McKenna Coughlin had 10 ace serves to go with a team-high 10 kills in the Wolves’ 25-20, 23-25, 25-19, 25-8 victory.
On the heels of a 21-win season in 2018 and high hopes for the 2019 campaign, the Wolves had trouble with the determined Nighthawks early on.
Reichensperger, who led all hitters with 16 kills was a force at the net and kept her team close in the opener.
The Nighthawks bolted out to 16-8 and 22-16 leads in the second game and persevered after the Wolves rallied to tie it at 22.

by Tom Coombe
Ely’s Harvest Moon Festival is far more than arts and crafts and food.
In addition to the staples of the end-of-summer celebration, now in its 26th year, entertainment is also a key part of the event slated for Whiteside Park next weekend.
The festival begins Friday, Sept. 6 and runs through the weekend, with a dog show and music serving as two key attractions.
The All-Star Stunt Dogs Challenge returns to delight audiences. It stars dogs that have been rescues from pounds and shelters, and features the dogs performing air stunts, athletic feats and high-jumping challenges. Two, 30 minute shows are scheduled each day with an opportunity after each show to meet and greet.
The music component kicks off Friday with Timmy Haus, who performs a variety of genres from Paul Simon to Johnny Cash and more.

POSITION OPENING
ISD No. 696, ELY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
PARAPROFESSIONAL
PLACE OF WORK: District; RATE OF PAY: $16.08/hr.; HOURS: 6.5 hours/day, 5 days/week, student contact days; QUALIFICATIONS: AA Degree or two years of college required. Background check required. Application (non-licensed) available at www.ely.k12.mn.us or in the District Office. Send materials to: ISD #696, Attn: Superintendent, 600 E. Harvey St., Ely, MN 55731. Application review to begin Monday, September 9; open until filled.

STATE OF MINNESOTA
COUNTY OF ST. LOUIS

DISTRICT COURT
PROBATE DIVISION
SIXTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
Court File No. 69VI-PR-19-109

ESTATE OF
EDWARD C. MARSOLEK, SR.
A/K/A EDWARD CHARLES MARSOLEK,
Decedent

NOTICE AND ORDER FOR HEARING ON PETITION FOR PROBATE OF WILL AND APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE
TO CREDITORS

by Tom Coombe
Some may consider it bad news that it’s time to go back to school. Here’s some good news. The hot water system is finally fully functional in the Ely school buildings.
In Ely and in most other Minnesota communities including those around the Iron Range, school doors will swing open this week with the first day of classes on Tuesday.
The 2019-20 school year also brings some new faces to the district, including right at the top, with Erik Erie set to take over as superintendent this month, pending the completion of licensure requirements.
A longtime principal at Mesabi East in neighboring Aurora, Erie was tabbed this summer to replace Kevin Abrahamson, who is leaving after four years as the district’s part-time chief executive.
Megan Anderson (Memorial) and Anne Oelke (Washington) return as building principals, but both will be overseeing some new staff members.