Breaking News

by Tom Coombe
Their final 15 months as high school students were like no other graduating class in the storied century-plus existence of Ely Memorial High School.
Yet their last act will be strikingly, if not refreshingly, “normal.”
That’s the backstory as the graduating class of 2021 gathers Saturday night for their commencement ceremonies.
They won’t walk across the stage at Washington Auditorium, which is unavailable because of the ongoing school construction and renovation project, but the group will instead gather at the baseball stadium - Veterans Memorial Field - for a ceremony slated to begin at 7 p.m.
Graduation is outdoors for a second consecutive year in Ely, but while the class of 2020 had to take part in a drive-in graduation in the arena parking lot, this year’s event is much more traditional in nature - save for a new venue.

Frank Mathew Jaeger, passed away at the age of 86 on June 3rd at his home in Babbitt. He was born on October 23rd, 1934 to Frank and Mary (Musich) Jaeger in Ely, MN. He was a 1952 graduate of Ely High School, attended Vermilion Junior College, then graduated from the University of MN School of Pharmacy in 1956.

Frank married Lorraine (Snell) on September 29, 1956 in Ely. They moved to Babbitt in 1959 where he owned Babbitt Drug and worked as the pharmacist for 52 years until his retirement in 2011.

by David Merhar, Colonel (Ret) U.S. Army
If we look to the answer as to why for so many years we achieved so much, and prospered as no other people on Earth, it was because here in the USA we unleashed the energy and genius of our men and women to a greater extent than any other time in our history. Freedom and the dignity of the individual have been more available and assured here than on any other place on earth.
The price of this freedom at times has been high, but we have NEVER been unwilling to pay that price. To those that say that we are in a time when there are no heroes – they just don’t know where to look. Just visit any military cemetery with the rows upon rows of simple white markers bearing crosses of Stars of David, to see first hand the fraction of the price that has been paid for our freedom.

Persistent dry conditions throughout northern Minnesota will mix with unseasonably warm temperatures, low relative humidity, and gusty winds resulting in near-critical fire weather through the weekend.
Wildfires under these conditions can easily start and spread quickly, especially in the already dry northern forested areas.
The Minnesota Interagency Fire Center urges everyone to be careful with any potential heat source that can cause a spark.
“Minimal precipitation throughout northern Minnesota brought little relief over the spring, and we are entering summer under higher fire danger conditions in northern Minnesota,” said Travis Verdegan, fire behavior specialist Minnesota Interagency Fire Center.
“The appearance of green-up is deceiving as many areas in the north are now two to three inches below average for rainfall.”

by Tom Coombe
Photos courtesy of Micah Larson
A ninth-place finish told only part of the story on Wednesday for Ely’s high school boys track team at the subsection competition.
The Timberwolves, who fielded one of their smallest rosters in recent history, had a day full for individual bests and improvement, and managed to send three individuals and a relay to next week’s Section 7A meet, set for Thursday, June 10 at Cloquet.
Senior Emmett Faltesek was fourth in the 800 meter run and continued his charge toward a potential state meet berth, while junior Micah Larson sprinted his way to sections in the 100 dash.
Sophomore high jumper Jake Cochran also moves on, and Cochran joined Leo Stalmer, Jon Hakala and Gabriel Pointer on a 7A qualifying four-by-800 relay quartet.
Add numerous other solid showings and it was a good event for the Wolves.

by Tom Coombe
Photos courtesy of Micah Larson
Four third-place finishes were the highlights of a solid subsection meet for Ely’s high school girls track team.
While the Wolves finished fifth overall on a sunny Wednesday at Aurora, they punched a whopping 11 tickets to the June 10 Section 7A Meet at Cloquet.
That includes nine individual slots and two relays, with junior Annikka Mattson and sophomore Zoe Devine qualifying in three events each.
“The girls had a great day with several personal bests,” said head coach Eliza Vistica. “Many girls moved up several spots from where they were seeded to qualify for sections.”
Mattson sprinted to a third-place finish in the 400 meter dash (1:05.21), while Devine placed third in the 3,200 run in 12:56.18.
Junior Ande Visser qualified for sections by taking third in the discus (96-1), and
Ely advanced a four-by-800 relay team that took third in 10:45.8.

The City of Ely’s 4th of July Parade will be on Sunday, July 4th at 1:00pm. Line up starts at 10:00am on 4th Ave from Harvey Street to Boundary Street including the Ice Arena Parking lot and the green space. If you are participating in the parade please enter the lineup area at 4th Ave and Boundary Street we will have parade workers to direct you to your line up spot.

Please call City Hall, Clerk’s Office at 218-226-5449 to sign up to be in the parade. More information to follow on judging of floats, judging will be at Noon.

There will be ribbons & prizes awarded for kids entering decorated bikes, trikes, wagons and/or costumes, judging will be at Noon.

Parade starts at 4th Ave and Harvey St and follows Harvey Street to 2nd Ave East and then down Sheridan St, ending at 8th Ave (Whiteside Park).

Volunteers are needed to assist with the parade. If anyone is interested please contact the Clerk’s Office for more information. 218-226-5449

Notice to the Public – 2HR PARKING

2 hour parking will be enforced
Areas involved are:
• From 2nd Ave W to 6th Ave E on Sheridan St
• From Central Ave to 2nd Ave E on Chapman St
• From Harvey St to Camp St on Central Ave, 1st Ave and 2nd Ave
• From Chapman to Sheridan on 3rd Ave

Parking tickets can be paid in the Police department or Clerk’s office with Cash, Check or Credit Card or they can be paid ONLINE at http://elymn.vciteplus.com/

If you have any questions, please call the Ely Police Department at 218-365-3222-ext. 2.

Ely Echo
June 5, 2021

Regular Meeting Ely City Council – City Hall, Council Chambers
May 18, 2021

1. CALL TO ORDER
The regular City Council Meeting on May 18, 2021 was called to order by Mayor Novak at 5:30pm.

2. PRESENT: Council members A.Forsman, Kess, Debeltz, Omerza, Callen, Campbell, and Mayor Novak
ABSENT: None

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Campbell/Debeltz moved to approve the minutes from the May 4, 2021 Regular Council Meeting. Motion Carried Unanimously.

4. ADDITIONS OR OMISSIONS TO AGENDA:
A. Addition 5.A Proclamation to End all Emergency Orders in the City of Ely
B. Addition 5.B. Water Tower
C. Addition 8.A. Budget Committee
D. Addition 10. D. Minnesota Leads the Nation in Dental Health Disparities
E. Omit 13.G. Trailhead Site Project Bids – 3 bids were received and Low Impact Excavators Inc. was the low bidder on the project at $438,130.13.
Additions and Omission were approved without objection.

Vondalee Schreffler, 81, of Ely, passed away at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth on Monday May 31, 2021.
She was born in Danbury, Wisconsin to Ernest and Margaret Carpenter on July 10, 1939.
On July 16, 1955 she married the love of her life, Theodore Schreffler, and spent 65 years together. Together they raised six children.
Vonda cleaned for the Ely Clinic for many years until her retirement.
Vonda loved raising cows and chickens. She also liked to berry pick and trout fish.
Vonda is survived by her children, Shelby (Greg) Hochman of Bloomington, MN, Ted Jr. (Heather) Schreffler of Eveleth, MN, Glen (Melodee) Schreffler of Babbitt, MN, Eugene (Robbie) Schreffler of St. Paul, MN, Roger Schreffler of Ely, MN, James (Tricia) Schreffler of Ely, MN; grandchildren, great-grandchildren; niece and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ted, and her parents Margaret and Ernest.