Breaking News

by Tom Coombe
Members of the U.S. House of Representatives’ Western Caucus, including Eighth District Representative Pete Stauber are seeking an investigation of what they’ve termed an “Obama Administration scandal-plagued land grab in northern Minnesota.”
Stauber, caucus chairman Paul Gosar of Arzona, and Minnesota’s Tom Emmer, are seeking a U.S. House investigation into Obama Administration actions in late-2016 that temporarily curtailed the Twin Metals Minnesota project and set the wheels in motion for a potential mining ban in some parts of northeastern Minnesota.
Both actions were later reversed by the Trump Administration.
The U.S. House members, all Republicans, have also made Freedom of Information Act requests demanding “all documents and communications involving federal agency employees and external organizations, including environmental and conservation groups,” related to the issues.

Gail Williams Sheddy was born in Lincoln, NE, Sept. 3, 1940 to Mark and Dorothea Williams who predeceased her as did her husband, Gordon and her brother, Mark. Three nieces survive her: Julie Cortinas and Marcia Johnson of Omaha, NE and Amy Engelhart of Turnersvile, NJ, as does her sister-in-law, Barbara Solly of Williamstown, NJ. Gail died in Ely, July 3, 2019.
After living in several Nebraska towns her family settled permanently in Omaha where Gail attended North High School. She was educated at the University of Kansas and joined the Delta Delta Delta sorority. Afterward she taught briefly in Kansas and then returned to Omaha to teach English and Debate for several years.
Deciding to “see the world” Gail changed careers and began a 38-year adventure with United Airlines. Beginning as a flight attendant, she quickly rose to positions of greater responsibility and considerable leadership.

Robert K. Olson, age 93, of Seeley, WI, died on June 22, 2019 at Aspen Acres Care Center in Hayward.
Robert “Bob” was born December 23, 1925 to Sigurd F. and Elizabeth (Uhrenholdt) Olson, in Ely, Minnesota.
He lived in Ely until he graduated from Ely High School in 1944. He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II during 1944 and 1945. After his discharge he attended Northland College in Ashland, WI and Carleton College in Northfield, MN where he majored in International Relations and graduated BA cum laude 1949. He then earned a Master’s degree from the Graduate School of International Studies (GSIS) at the University of Denver in 1951. During that time he met and married Yvonne O. Urbank of Rhinelander, WI.

Frank Duane Kerntz Sr, age 71, of Ely, passed away on Thursday July 4, 2019. He was born on December 28,1947, to Frank and Rose (Hren) Kerntz. He attended and graduated from Ely Memorial High School in 1966. He married Rae Ann Froelich on June 22, 1974 and recently celebrated 45 years together and were blessed with three children; Frank Jr, Brian and Deanna. Frank was a proud Papa of his grandchildren: Olivia, Silas, Daxton and Brue. He was an avid hunter and fisherman who enjoyed and appreciated the outdoors. Frank served in the US Army in Vietnam as a combat field medic from 1970-1972. Frank was a lifelong member of St Anthony’s Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, Men’s Bible Group, the Ely American Legion and the Ely VFW.
Frank attended the University of Minnesota and graduated with a degree in Mortuary Science. He then joined Kerntz Funeral Home and along with his brother Terry they purchased the business from their brother Jim and was a co-owner until his death.

James Robert Maki of Ely, 70, died on July 6, at his home on Burntside Lake. He was where he loved to be, doing what he loved, fishing.
Born on August 24, 1948 in Ely Minnesota, Jim was the son of Luella (Erickson) Maki and Robert William (Ropey) Maki. After graduating from Ely High School, Jim joined the Army serving from September 1967 until December 1970. He was in the 173rd Airborne Division, the 41st Battalion, working as an MP. He sustained injuries in Vietnam.

Myron “Mike” Meier, 79, died on April 24, in Austin, MN. His obituary can be read at clasenjordan.com
A celebration of his life will be held in Ely at 1:00 P.M. on Thursday, July 18, at the First Presbyterian Church. The family prefers memorials to our Ely Presbyterian Church or the Northwoods Hospice Respite Partners.

by Tom Coombe
Two new winners were crowned this year at the four-mile race that kicks off Ely’s Fourth of July Celebration.
Joseph Minor was the overall winner and Megan Falconer the first female to cross the finish line at the Janet Gensler Memorial Four on the Fourth.
Minor completed the morning race around the Trezona Trail in 21:04, while Falconer, who was 15th overall, had a time of 27:05.
The event doubles as a fundraiser for Ely’s high school track teams and attracted more than 200 participants.
Taking second place overall was Mick Schwinghamer in a time of 21:07 while Luke Olson of Ely, a state track champion in the 800 meter run, took third in 22:45.
Other age group winners were:
• Boys, 10-12: Otto Devine, 33:27;
• Boys, 13-15: Gabriel Pointer, 24:45;
• Men, 20-29; Schwinghamer, 21:08;
• Men, 30-39: John Zak, 26:22;
• Men, 40-49: Jay Asmus, 26:13;
• Men, 50-59: Doug Kleemier, 25:51;

by Tom Coombe
While Ely’s high school baseball team fell a game shy of the state tournament, one of its top players earned state recognition.
That was senior Tyler Housey, who landed a spot on the All-State Class A Team, as picked by the Minnesota High School Baseball Coaches Association.
The award follows a brilliant senior season and a spectacular high school career for Housey, a four-year varsity starter.
This year, Housey helped lead the Wolves to 19 wins and a runner-up finish in Section 7A.
There were few better hitters in Class A baseball than Housey, who ripped 45 hits in 95 at bats, good for a sizzling .479 average.
Housey reached base 54 percent of the time, scored 28 runs and drove in 25 - both team-highs. He also swiped 11 bases and had 10 extra-base hits.
On the mound, Housey went 3-1 with 33 strikeouts in 28 innings pitched.

The pain was all over my body. I walked doubled over. The doctor said I would have to go to the hospital for an MRI. They would have to sedate me before they put me in the tube. I was told the procedure would take 40 minutes and I could go home the same day.
I woke up two days later in intensive care. I thought I was having a bad dream. When the doctor walked into the room he told me there were complications but he didn’t say what they were.
The source of the pain was a disc in my back which they were able to fix. I was in intensive care for six days which I couldn’t understand. No one was talking and telling me what went wrong. Mentally I didn’t feel like myself.
A nurse came into the room and said I was being discharged. I was thoroughly confused. When I got home my doctor reluctantly told me I may have been given an overdose of a drug called Fentanyl.

Minnesota’s ruffed grouse spring drumming counts were similar statewide this year to last year.
DNR biologists have monitored ruffed grouse populations for the past 70 years and this year, DNR staff and cooperators from 14 organizations surveyed 131 established routes across the state’s forested region.
Each year on the routes, surveyors count the number of grouse drums they hear. Drumming is the low sound male grouse make as they beat their wings rapidly and in increasing frequency to signal the location of their territory and attract females ready to begin nesting.
Drumming counts are an indicator of the ruffed grouse breeding population. Grouse populations tend to rise and fall on a 10-year cycle that can vary from 8 to 11 years, and Minnesota’s most recent population peak was in 2017.