• BWCAW Entry Point #D–Fall Lake-Newton-Pipestone Bay (Fall Lake and Beyond) Kawishiwi Ranger District, will reopen for day use to visitors effective Saturday, Aug. 29.
• BWCAW Entry Point #12–Little Vermilion Lake, LaCroix Ranger District, will reopen for day use only, effective Tuesday, Sept. 1.

The following recreation areas will open on September 1, 2026:

• Lake Jeanette Campground, boat launch and backcountry sites
• Nels Lake boat launch and backcountry sites

The following entry points are cancelled through Sept. 7: 12–Little Vermillion Lake (overnight paddle and motor), 12A– Lac LaCroix Only (overnight paddle and motor), 13–Herriman Trail, 20–Angleworm Lake, 21–Angleworm Trail, 22–Mudro Lake Restricted, 23–Mudro Lake, 24–Fall Lake (overnight paddle and motor), 71–From Canada

The following entry points are cancelled through the quota permit season on Sept. 30: 11–Blandin Trail, 14–Little Indian Sioux River North, 15–Sioux-Hustler Trail, 19–Moose/Portage River North, and 19–Stuart River. These areas were directly impacted by the wildfires and need maintenance and rehabilitation to ensure they are accessible to visitors. 
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The Forest Service reminds the public that if wildfire activity increases, reopening plans may be adjusted. Protecting both the public and firefighting personnel remains the highest priority.

These changes were based on engineering studies and public input for the two intersections assessing improving safety and intersection operations. The signals are near the end of their expected service lives, and MnDOT is looking at mid-to-long-term solutions for them. No further intersection control changes are planned in the near future.

The Ely city council and state Rep. Roger Skraba (R-Ely) have opposed the move by MNDOT.

For real-time traffic and travel information in Minnesota, visit www.511mn.org or get the free smartphone app at Google Play or the App Store.

The order went into effect at 12:01 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 24 to remove the Class III burning restrictions previously in place. 

This means campfires may take place in remote locations, although permits are still required for burning vegetative debris such as grass, leaves and branches. 

The easement of the restrictions arrives with oncoming cooler fall weather, which lowers wildfire risk. 

Severe drought continues in Northeastern Minnesota, however, according to the DNR’s latest drought information.

The Forest Service cautions individuals against leaving their campfires unattended. Campfire users should drown the fire and ensure ashes are completely cold before leaving the site. 

Since the beginning of July, wildfires have scorched 76,032 acres across northern St. Louis, Lake and Cook Counties. On Monday, 593 personnel were dispatched to the fires. 

The Camp Fire is nearly contained at 97%. Suppression repair ensued Monday on the Great Fall Trail and along the Echo Trail. Crews working on the Camp Fire will be available to respond to any new fires as they continue hauling materials out from worksites on the Camp Fire. 

The Forest Service stated this area remains a priority for return to its pre-fire state. 

Progress has been made on the Sioux Fire, which is 76% contained and has been under active monitoring from unmanned aircraft systems for heat signatures along its perimeter. 

The Sioux Fire had burned 6,833 acres as of Monday. 

The Thumb Fire reached the Wolfpack Fire and officials now classify this complex as the Thumb Fire. Combined, they have burned 25,515 acres, with 500 of that total across the Canadian border. The Thumb Fire is 55% contained. 

Fire personnel will continue to monitor the fire by air on a daily basis.  

The Bear Trap Fire remains the largest of the fires, even after the merging of the Thumb and Wolfpack Fires. Bear Trap has burned 39,327 acres and is 55% contained. Mop up continues on this burn. 

The Southern Area Complex Incident Management Team 1 has taken over command of the incidents from the Eastern Area Complex Incident Management Team.

Acreage burned in Northern Minnesota has reached 78,701 this summer.

The number of personnel has decreased to 599, down from last Thursday’s update when 706 responders were on the fires.

The Camp Fire has nearly reached full containment, with fireline implemented around 97% of its 4,357-acre footprint.

“The Camp Fire has been really pounded a lot with resources. It’s in a really good place. We picked up no heat yesterday on the Camp Fire,” said Troy Floyd, Operations Section Chief for the Southern Area team.

Suppression and repair activities will begin along the south end of the fire’s perimeter.

The Bear Trap Fire has burned 30,810 acres and sits at about 51% containment. About 77% of the total personnel responding to the three fires were assigned to this incident on Thursday morning.

Floyd said crews have been hard at work along the fire’s eastern edge. Backhauling, the removal of equipment from a former work zone, has ensued in other portions of this fire’s area.

The Thumb Fire is the second-largest incident currently under the Southern Area Complex Incident Management Team’s command, at 25,015 acres and 47% containment.

Crews have been watching heat signatures on islands along the Thumb Fire’s northern boundary on a daily basis. Mop-up continues along other edges of the fire’s northern edge.

“Crews are doing a great job up there, especially in the wilderness,” Floyd said.

Incident command has now classified the Wolfpack Fire under the Thumb Fire.

The Sioux Fire is the smallest of the three with a footprint of 6,833 acres. Fireline has been implemented around nearly two-thirds of the fire’s perimeter.

Work continues on the southern half of the fire, where cabins and other values are still at risk. Suppression and repair has begun in the southeastern corner of the fire’s footprint.

The Sioux, Bear Trap and Thumb fires exhibited minimal fire behavior early in the week. These three fires have resulted in $56.8 million in costs, as of Thursday morning.

The Camp Fire’s costto- date was $6.9 million on Sunday, Aug. 16, bringing cumulative costs among all four incidents to over $63 million.

The celebration kicks off with a group bike ride at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, hosted by Club Mesabi.

This 30-mile bike ride celebrates the Mesabi Trail’s 30th anniversary, featuring the new section of trail from Tower to Embarrass and back.

Following the ride, stick around for a celebration at Tower Depot Park at 3 p.m., featuring food for purchase and live music.

The main event is the official ribbon cutting at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 15, at the Tower Depot Park at 404 Pine St. in Tower.

The community is invited to hear from public speakers who were instrumental to the development of the trail, as well as enjoy refreshments and light appetizers.

Although the event is located in Tower, the general public is encouraged to attend. In case of inclement weather, the ribbon cutting will take place at the Herb Lamppa Civic Center.

The Mesabi Trail Open House will take place from 8-10 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 16 at the official Mesabi Trail trailhead, Mesabi Station, at 111 Station 44 Road in Eveleth.

Community members can enjoy coffee and pastries while exploring the Mesabi Trail’s official trailhead.

The celebrations will culminate with the Tomassoni Tour from Sept. 17-19. There will be after-ride parties at 10:45 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 18, on Lake Street in Chisholm, and 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19 at Giant’s Ridge, 6329 Wynne Creek Drive, in Biwabik.

The Mesabi Trail winds from the Mississippi River in Grand Rapids to Ely, touching 28 communities along the way.

While this is the symbolic opening of the trail’s completion, cyclists, walkers, and inline skaters have enjoyed the trail for 30 years as various sections have opened. It is also a destination for traveling cyclists from across the U.S. and Canada.

One of Minnesota’s best fall cycling destinations, the Mesabi Trail is the longest connected paved trail in the state, and one of the longest paved trails in the country.

Nearly 300,000 individuals enjoy the beauty surrounding the trail each year, making it a well-traveled link between the Mesabi Range communities.

All events are free and open to community members of all ages, including children and families.

The Mesabi Trail is managed by the St. Louis and Lake Counties Regional Railroad Authority. For more information about any of these events, contact Sarah Ciochetto, deputy director of the St. Louis and Lake Counties Regional Railroad Authority, at sarah@rrauth. com or 218-744-1388.

Visit mesabitrail.com/ events/30th-anniversary-celebration to RSVP for the group ride.

Researchers with the Minnesota DNR are monitoring 50 radio-collared black bears across the state, especially in bear hunting zones 27, 45 and parts of the no-quota zone. Most of the radiocollared bears live in or near the Chippewa National Forest, Camp Ripley, the Brainerd/Baxter area, and Duluth. However, the bears also range widely from these sites. All but two of these bears are female.

“We ask hunters to avoid shooting these research bears,” said Andrew Tri, Minnesota DNR bear researchscientist. “These collared bears give us much of the data we use in bear management and are most valuable to us when they are collared for multiple years. Thank you to hunters who have opted not to take collared bears in past years and hunters who choose not to harvest collared bears this season.”

A key element of the DNR’s research is to look at year-to-year changes in natural food supplies and how those changes affect individual bears in terms of their habitat use, physical condition, denning, reproduction and interactions with people. This research is not designed to evaluate mortality from hunting. Tagging new bears every year to replace any killed cannot substitute for long-term data on individual bears.

The collars the Minnesota DNR uses in this research have GPS units. Periodic GPS coordinates of collared bears’ locations are either uploaded to a satellite or stored in the collar, and DNR researchers download this data when they visit a bear in its den. Each bear provides several thousand data points per year.

The bear’s coat often hides the collar, especially in the fall, and most collars are black. But all collared bears have large (3 x 2 inch), colorful ear tags. The tags should be plainly visible on trail cameras or when a bear is at a bait. Example photos of collared bears with ear tags and a summary of pertinent research findings can be found online under “importance of radio-collared bears” on the Minnesota DNR bear management webpage (mndnr.gov/ hunting/bear).

Minnesota DNR officials recognize hunters might not be able to see a radio collar or ear tags in some situations. For this reason, taking a bear with a radio collar is legal; however, pausing briefly to get a clear view of the bear’s head can help reveal whether it has large ear tags, which indicates that it is collared.

If a hunter does take a collared bear, they are asked to look for a small, implanted heart monitor under the skin on the bear’s left side, in the chest. This device contains valuable information storedinmemoryandlookslikeasmall, silver capsule that is approximately the width of a paper clip. If a hunter finds this device while skinning the bear, theyareaskedtosubmitittoDNRalong with the collar.

Hunters may see bears with very smalleartags(1x1/4inch).Thesebears are not collared and may be part of other ongoing research projects. It is legal to takeabearwithsmalleartags,butthese hunters should contact the Minnesota DNR to report the tags.

The Minnesota DNR asks any hunters who shoot a collared or ear-tagged bear to call the Minnesota DNR Wildlife Research Office in Grand Rapids at 218328-8879 or 218-328-8874 to report it and coordinate the pickup or drop-off of the collar and heart monitor, if applicable.

CO Sean Williams (Ely #1) reports weather conditions changed for the better as lower temperatures and rain finally arrived over much of the fire area. Bear baiting activity was monitored for the opening weekend, and several eager hunters were contacted. Bear hunters around the Echo Trail are asked to check closures as the north (east) side of the Echo Trail is still closed for fire management activity over a large swath.

CO Brent Ihnen (Ely #2) focused much of his time this week checking anglers and watercraft operators. Time was also spent patrolling for ATV and off-highway motorcycle activity. Ihnen also monitored AIS compliance near area lakes and public accesses.

CO Thomas Wahlstrom (Grand Marais) spent time in the BWCAW checking anglers. Time was also spent working ATVs, anglers on inland lakes and bear bait stations. Enforcement action was taken for boating violations. CO Hudson Ledeen (Hovland) reports an uneventful start to the bear baiting season on Friday. Fishing has slowed to a standstill. ATV activity has increased and people are reminded to refresh their knowledge on all regulations before hitting the trails.

CO Anthony Bermel (Babbitt) reports working TIP complaints regarding fishing, boating, and camping violations. Time was also spent preparing for bear baiting and hunting season.

CO Trent Anderson (Tofte) focused on angling, ATV, and bear hunting enforcement for the week. Hunters were out establishing baits across the area. Anglers are reporting a slower bite. Enforcement action was taken on a variety of boating related violations. CO Cassie Block (Two Harbors) spent time this week checking anglers on area lakes. Block focused efforts around bear baiting activity as well. Time was also spent training with K9 Jet.

District 5 - Eveleth area

CO Paul Kennedy (International Falls #1) worked a BWCA detail with partners for a majority of the week. Phone calls were taken regarding bear huntingandtheupcomingbearseason. Kennedy also attended the District 5 firearms safety field day event hosted in International Falls over the weekend. CO John Slatinski IV (Ray) assisted with a firearms safety class for a group of area youth who are excited to move into the nextphaseof outdoorparticipation. He monitored areas of concern for reported angling violations and ATV operation violations. Slatinski began checking bear baits as the season approaches.

CO Troy Fondie (Orr) reports boating activity was monitored. Administrative tasks continue. Equipment work is ongoing. Angling success remains poor with little observed being caught. CO Aaron Larson (Tower) worked primarily angling and ATV enforcement. He spent time checking lakes and fielding complaints. He investigated a large dumping violation, public water violations, and worked the beginning of bear baiting. He also found violations related to angling with extra lines and assisted in teaching at a firearms safety class.

CO Marc Johnson (Hibbing) primarily worked ATV, angling, and boating activity over the week. In addition, time was spent at an outreach event and attending a district-wide firearms safety class put on by local COs. Violations encountered included taking fish with no angling licenses and expired registration. He also followed up on an ongoing trespass complaint.

CO Shane Zavodnik (Virginia) spent time attending training at Camp Ripley, and he continued to work on a background investigation for the CO Prep program. Additional time was spent helping with a firearms safety class held in International Falls.

CO Duke Broughten (Aurora) spent the week monitoring ATV, boating, fishing, and bear baiting activity. Few anglers and boaters were encountered this week. Anglers reported limited success. ATV activity continues to be lower thanpreviousyears.Broughtenfielded calls regarding nuisance bears and deer licenses. Broughten also assisted with a youth firearms safety class.

One fellow was tearing down the stand known as Old Faithful; after so many years, it was in much-needed repair, so much so that it was easier for him to just take it down and start over. We mentioned not taking it down for a while, though; he agreed.

My young cousin opted for a brand new two-person, 18 feet tall ladder stand jobby. It looks like some sort of engineering marvel; it comes with a folding rain roof. I hope it sheds snow. Just the padded bench seat alone makes this thing look dreamy: safety rails for climbing up or down, a safety bar, like a sky chalet. This thing- yes, it was expensive- but since when has deer hunting been anything other than that?

Three other gents just needed a bit of trail brushing, nothing too serious, and we picked an upcoming Saturday, very early morning, hoping it would be much cooler.

Finally it came to me, I mentioned a new 14 foot ladder stand I put up for the archery season, and I have the footings and floor foundation set for yet another deer shack, I feel one can always use another, Mrs. thinks this one better be the last, I assured her at my age, it most likely will be, but who knows, just like deer season, who knows what will come of it, but were getting that itch, you gotta scratch through a lot of sweat, but the fall itch is itching.

--The trout whisperer

A couple of area high school teams get rolling with preseason activities this week, leading up to a full slate by the week of Aug. 31. The action starts today, when the Ely Timberwolves join several area volleyball teams at a series of scrimmages hosted by Hibbing.

The Saturday morning event begins at 9 a.m.

Ely will test itself against area opposition both at Hibbing and again at Tuesday’s Iron Range Conference Jamboree at Chisholm.

That event also starts at 9 a.m. and will put the Wolves in 30-minute scrimmages against league foes Mesabi East, Chisholm, Deer River and Greenway.

Those contests are tuneups prior to an Aug. 31 season- opener, at home, against Deer River.

Hopes are high for the Wolves, who won 19 games last fall and again figure to be a leading contender in Section 7A.

Seniors Lydia Shultz and Charlotte Hegman gained all-conference recognition last year, while classmate Gretta Lowe got honorable mention.

The Wolves also figure to get a big boost from the return of senior Audrey Kallberg, who missed her entire junior year with a knee injury.

Led by head coach Megan Bialik, the Wolves begin the season ranked 10th in the state in Class A. Ely won the 7A title and advanced to state in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

• Also due for action this week are the Northeast Range/Ely swimmers.

Head Coach Cheri De-Beltz leads a roster with 18 swimmers, but the Nighthawks will be younger overall than they have been the past several seasons.

The Nighthawks will get a taste of competition Thursday, taking part in the Rock Ridge Relays in an event that begins at 1 p.m., at the Rock Ridge campus between Virginia and Eveleth.

NRE will make its home debut on Thursday, Sept. 3, with a 5 p.m. home meet against Proctor.

The first dual meet is Sept. 1 at International Falls for the Nighthawks, who are led by senior captain Moon Vetos-Keen and junior captain Jorden Borchert.

• Ely’s high school football team wrapped up its first week of practice on Friday, and the Wolves will close out week number two on Saturday, Aug. 29, welcoming Chisholm for a 9 a.m. scrimmage at Ely School Stadium.

Louie Gerzin coaches the Wolves, who are trying to improve after a 2-7 campaign last fall.

Ely opens with a Sept. 3 game at Barnum with the home opener set for Sept. 11 against International Falls.

Fall Homecoming will be celebrated Sept. 18 against Mt. Iron-Buhl.

Because of low participation numbers, Ely will not field a junior high team this season.

Ely’s cross country season begins with a Sept. 3 meet at Virginia.

Those that grew up in the 1970s and 1980s are sure to remember the packed receptions downstairs, very often the Zup’s-catered buffets and trying to squeeze in at tables filled with too many metal folding chairs on so many memorable Saturday nights. As the night continued, one would climb the stairs to the top floor. The music seemed to get louder as did the hundreds of voices who packed the venue.

Those 50 or over have their own unique memories of the historic hall - soon to be rebranded as a hotel. Perhaps their parents’ reception was there, maybe other family members, certainly friends and acquaintances. It seemed, as spring turned to summer and summer moved into fall, there were many a Saturday when the cars stretched for blocks along Harvey and Chapman and toward the Ely Steam Bath as well. One knew it was going to be a special and memorable Saturday night - at least for those fortunate to have an invitation. And at least in those days, it sure felt like anybody who was anybody did.

Weddings have changed through the years and economics probably have something to do with that.

The day of the town-centric wedding has gone by the wayside and the old CC didn’t host as many weddings in its final years of operation before the city shut things down in 2014.

New locations have popped up locally and no matter where one goes, the events seem more intimate than they were when several hundred or more danced past midnight at the CC.

Age and station in life have no doubt changed perspective as well. Now more often than not, there’s a generational shift when it comes time to dress up and be part of a wedding day.

Which brings us to the 2026 season as it relates to weddings.

The first on our lineup card this summer took us south, to a farm outside of Mankato and an event that was straight out of a storybook. It was a first for us, as the stunning bride was the daughter of dear lifetime friends, one who was part of our big day and me his.

Outdoor weddings are en vogue, and this one combined elegance with a barn theme and had all the bells and whistles one comes to expect with today’s weddings - including an NBA-style introduction of the wedding party, specialty drinks, and a whole lot of 20-somethings who all seemed to know each other while climbing the ladder of success.

Staying into the night, it was hard not to be impressed, and equally enjoyable to be in a more senior role at the proceedings. Instead of long shifts on the dance floor, there were long conversations, connecting with those whom we don’t see enough of because of time, distance, jobs, and family.

And in true Ely fashion, we were able to reconnect with some not seen for decades. Perhaps it’s the same for those who hail from other areas, but one can find a fellow Elyite, one not seen for 10 or 20 years, and rekindle a conversation as if they’d never lost touch. It was another heartwarming benefit of a memorable evening.

Several weeks later we were set to take in an Ely destination wedding, this one involving one of my former baseball players at Vermilion with his new bride. These were two small-town Wisconsin kids who met here and thought so much of the town they decided to bring 150 friends and family here for their special day.

This time baseball and a trip to the state tournament got in the way and we were forced to miss out.

Yet fate again had something in mind as a consolation round loss brought us home early from Parkers Prairie and the groom, his bride and five of his former teammates remained in town.

A phone call and a text message or three resulted in a dinner gathering. There were photos shared of the wedding, reception and dance, and both the bride and groom took time to spend with us as part of their still-busy weekend.

And for a couple of hours the former Ironhawks and I stepped back in time and relived old stories and memories while also talking of today and the future. These young men were from Becker and Milwaukee, Eau Claire and Florida, but for all, Ely, baseball and Vermilion reshaped their lives.

Only two nights earlier, there was a Hall of Fame plaque accepted and recognition for 650 American Legion baseball wins, but those two hours downtown were a major victory all to themselves and turned a day that started with a disappointing loss into one that ended with a spectacular win. Thanks, men, you truly made my day and the photo we took holds a special meaning.

Vermilion baseball was responsible for the most recent wedding - one last weekend at beautiful McCarthy Beach State Park near Hibbing.

Given the penchant for outdoor weddings, it’s no surprise that the venue near Big Sturgeon Lake was chosen but odds are no wedding there previously had a groom from Tallahassee, Florida and a groomsman from Anchorage, Alaska.

The two were the first recruits of a new college coach and only the oddest set of circumstances brought us back together eight years later this time for a wedding.

This event too had the bells and whistles of the modern wedding, complete with catering by venerable Valentini’s of Chisholm, a massive tent and even fireworks.

Those bells and whistles however were mere window dressing, as again the night was defined by life experiences and in all reality lives that were shaped and redirected because of Ely, baseball and the relationships that came about.

Wedding season is anticipated now. The participants are younger and we are older, but each event is the result of a connection, a relationship and a bond.

This season is over but the next will start with another in a few months. Who knows, by 2027 or 2028 we may even climb the stairs of the old CC for one. We can’t wait.

In addition to the Ely School District, Coombe will also be the AD for the Vermilion campus of Minnesota North College.

Coombe joined the college in that role this month and will oversee football, volleyball, trap shooting, men’s and women’s basketball plus baseball and softball.

He will replace Aaron Bender who held the position for the past four years.

Coombe, 56, will scale back his work at the Ely Echo, where he has been the editor for the last 30 years and a full-time employee since 1993. He started with the Echo as a part-time sports reporter in 1985.

“The timing for this was actually pretty good with Harmony Fisher coming on board,” said Ely Echo publisher Nick Wognum. “Tom will still be doing sports, writing opinion pieces and helping out with podcasts so we’re thankful for that.”

Wognum said Fisher will be promoted to editor as part of the transition.

“Harmony has been doing a fantastic job. She worked for us last year and then returned after she graduated from Harvard,” said Wognum. “She didn’t miss a beat and really has been busy covering news stories from around the Ely area.”

For Coombe, the additional AD work is already lining up with what he does for ISD 696.

“The two complement each other very well. I’m hiring volleyball game workers and now I’ve got a pool of workers that I can plug into both. I think it’d be very helpful in that regard,” he said.

Covering sports for the Ely Echo and being an athletic director for two institutions fits right in with Coombe’s love for sports. He’s also the baseball coach at Vermilion and the Ely Legion baseball team head coach, and this summer coached Ely to the state tournament and was inducted into the Minnesota Legion Baseball Hall of Fame.

“For everything I’ve done in terms of coaching baseball, doing AD work at the high school, it just seemed like a very good fit with what I was already doing,” said Coombe.

“I still like what I do here at the Echo. It’s natural just to keep doing that and hopefully have some time to do some other things as time allows,” said Coombe. “It’s kind of the next phase of my working life.

“And, my daughter Macy is in swimming and probably going to be involved in other sports as well. I think hopefully this will give me a chance to see more of her events as well and step back at least a little bit from work.”

Identify and experience something or someone today and make notes on the calendar or in your journal. That identity becomes a record with a name and/or description that represents more than just being. Last week’s reflection on the annual migration of common nighthawks and the reporting of the 2025 August counts at Hawk Ridge has resulted in a report that occurred recently by Steve Engel and a follow-up of the first five days of 2026 counts at Hawk Ridge.

Everything counted at Hawk Ridge is reported daily beginning August 15 and can be found on the www.hawkcount.org website. Looking for common nighthawks first and following through August 19, an actual hawk (broad-winged hawk), and a dragonfly (green darner) caught my attention.

Common Nighthawks – 15th (3), 16th (49), 17th (82), 18th (60), 19th (42) Green Darners - 15th (3), 16th (31), 17th (35), 18th (196), 19th (379) Broad-winged Hawks - 15th (0), 16th (1), 17th (455), 18th (130), 19th (91) Each species has been given a common name, a scientific name, and has received other labels like insects, dragonflies, birds of prey, bullbats, goatsuckers, etc., based on their nature, impressions, or designated groups.

Any person or name encountered during the past week might have been a friend, neighbor, weather information management for firefighters, candidate for office, member of a local group, family member, etc. Like every organism and component of the world around us, all are identified by names or labels provided to describe them. Each encounter provides a candidate for study by investigating beyond the label.

Thanks to all those who continue to observe, question, report, share, study, discover, and help others understand how the world around us works. Only people working together will determine whether they fit with a vision that enables them to fit with what has developed over millions of years.

Coneflowers support bees and monarchs as they prepare for next year. Mowing the lawn uncovers an American toad that escaped the blades. A mink dashes across the road avoiding cars. A shrew was found on the morning dog walk. Mice begin to appear in the house, and discussions arise about whether the one caught in the bathtub is a life-ordeath situation. Landscaping choices: removing, trimming, repairing, planting? Abundance of chokecherries, mountain ash fruit, maple seeds. Evening presence of midges hatching from local waters.

Find time to paddle some small lakes and streams. Take a walk daily and report back. Planes are flying overhead. Campaigns in full swing with evaluation of candidates behind the claims, labels, records and visions.

They were one of the first groups to participate in a new one-day summer program. STARBASE offers handson learning focused on real world problem solving and STEM applications.

Students were engaged and inspired by the opportunity to use cutting edge technologies, scientific equipment and exploration of regional and local STEM careers.

Sponsored by AAUW, EMPOWER, and ECR, the group gathered in the wee hours of the morning to travel to the fast-paced program.

Back at home, Caden Fitzgerald said “At STARBASE, I learned that Mars is a near vacuum. My favorite activity was the vacuum chamber Mars homes! (A near vacuum sucks all air out of airy things.)” Annie Blomberg said, “We learned how to code rovers, watched videos about STEM careers and did a scavenger hunt on a CAD program. Also, learned how to keep a structure from expanding on Mars.”

Current contractor Jeff Schultz informed the township his company will continue with grading of Fall Lake Township’s roads until Jan. 1, but he will not be doing the snowplowing this year.

A sample agreement was received as to what Town of Morse and St. Louis County do. Seliskar said that in the past the township hasn’t used a contract.

Kingston asked if it would be too late to ask Lake County to work with them. Seliskar said they would need another employee to work up in this area.

There are no requirements for the equipment to be used by the contractors, but Phil Hegfors said it has to be the right equipment.

“It’s one thing to be plowing two inches of snow with a pickup truck,” said Hegfors. “But when you get 18 inches on the road, you have to have the equipment to do the job.”

There are roughly 20 miles of roads owned by the township.

The list of contractors that the township has used in the past will be sent a bid request for plowing the 169 Corridor which includes the Cloquet Line, Shady Lane, Winton Point Road, Birch Lane, Circle Drive, Power Dam Road, and Snowbank Road. A separate bid for plowing the Kawishiwi Trail Corridor that includes all the township roads off the Kawishiwi Trail.

Seliskar will send details for the bids for plowing for the 2026 to 2027 winter season to DeBeltz, noting that the township will supply sand for sanding roads, and the winter maintenance will include steaming of culverts.

DeBeltz will email the details to contractors by Aug. 24 with bids due by Sept. 8 in time for the Sept. 9 township meeting. Contractors can bid on one or both corridors for winter maintenance.

The board will address the summer maintenance in the spring and finalize a contract by the reorganization meeting in April.

Council members approved a motion to post the survey, being conducted by the University of Minnesota, on its social media accounts, but only after some debate and a single vote in opposition.

The survey is being promoted by Ely Community Response, and both business owners and non-profit leaders have been urged to respond and that “compiled results will be shared with leaders and could be used to advocate for support.”

Data from the survey would presumably provide information that would be considered as lawmakers ponder potential economic relief to local businesses in response to the ongoing wildfires and the negative impact on Ely’s economy.

Council member Emily Roose, who was instrumental in forming Ely Community Response, said the group took steps to commission the survey in the wake of the fires and a public town hall meeting last month - one that focused on the economic impact of the fires.

State Sen. Grant Hauschild (D) and State Rep. Roger Skraba (R) hosted the meeting, and Roose said Hauschild indicated that data would be helpful as lawmakers consider relief.

“He mentioned that it would be really helpful to get some economic impact results,” said Roose.

Roose added that the survey encompasses 10 questions, is fully anonymous, and that the data was being collected by the University of Minnesota Extension.

“We’re hoping we would share this on our social media accounts,” said Roose.

Lahtonen said he was uncomfortable with linking the survey to the city and cited rumors around town.

“I think it would be better if the university did it just to quell any rumors,” said Lahtonen.

Mayor Heidi Omerza asked attorney Kelly Klun if the survey could be considered a “conflict of interest” given Roose’s involvement.

Klun said “I don’t think it’s a conflict of interest,” and noted that conflicts arise when there’s financial gain involved for an interested party.

The motion to post the survey on the city’s accounts passed 5-1 with Lahtonen opposed.

In other business at a brief meeting Tuesday, the council: • Accepted the resignation of police officer Courtney Olson, who is leaving the department after about three years to take a position closer to home.

The city will advertise for a new officer.

• Heard from Riley Smith of the Ely Tree Board, who provided a tree update and cautioned that emerald ash borer could reach Ely within the next five-to-10 years.

Smith noted that it arrived in Duluth and Virginia already and will make its way to Ely, threatening about 40 percent of the mature trees in Ely.

• Approved a temporary liquor license for the Ely Winton Rod and Gun Club for a Sept. 5 wedding reception at the Miners Dry.

• Raised the permit fee for the Farmers Market to $40 per day along with the annual $150 event permit. The daily fee was $15.

• Accepted recommendations from the heritage preservation commission to seek a $15,000 grant for oral histories and $2,000 for photographic artwork at City Hall.

• Appointed Freja Alioth to the Gardner Trust Board.

• Approved various city in-kind services for the Harvest Moon Festival, which takes place Sept. 11-13.

Above it on the cross beam or rather hanging over it, was the tail of what turned out to be a Starling; identified first by its song and second by its shadowy silhouette when it moved along the beam’s breadth.

Neither one of these were any kind of revelation or indicator that the day might transform into something unexpected or special and as it turns out it hasn’t become anything other than a normal August afternoon in Ely. The temperature hasn’t even climbed to 70 yet and my blood pressure seems low and steady. It might just be a normal day. It’s been a while since that’s been the case.

Last night after the Farmer’s Market and a late dinner I sat in the back yard with the cats and the dog and felt the strong breezes blowing without much thought for dry conditions, wildfire or potential lightning storms. I didn’t feel chilly, although it was already trending toward what would be low temperatures overnight of 45 degrees. It felt like summer with a cherry on top; felt like autumn and then a loon flew overhead letting out its keening unmistakable call.

No Air Bosses, no helicopters carrying giant bags of water, no sirens, no smell of smoke. I’m grateful, as I’ve said many, many times, for the tools and professionals that have protected us and continue to protect us and attack these fires at their own peril. Without them I wouldn’t be contemplating the normalcy of normal, the lack of anxiety, the quiet peace of silence.

I feel like I’ve been “on” for so long that it feels unnatural to be “off.” On edge. On point. On alert. On pause. On call. On the ready and the set and the go or close in various mindsets. Off is nice. Off is calm. Off is a good book, a cold drink and a comfortable chair as the sun goes down. It is watching the dog pick raspberries off the canes and the cats chase moths and shrews through the shadows. Off is becoming lost in the cacophonous and not so casual melody of the house wren’s song dropping out of the low branches and through the dense cover of crabapple leaves and fruit hanging above me.

Off is finding a few fun antiques, finding a conversation with a friend at the grocery store about music, off is finding the smell of fresh cut grass and finding a birdie on the first hole of the golf course after a drive that was so straight and long it could’ve only have happened with my brain in “off.” Off is throwing together some Chili-Mac in 15 minutes and finding that after it has cooked for over four hours it is more magically delicious than Lucky Charms. Off is realizing that I’m smiling at something that I’ve only just realized makes me happy enough to smile like when I used to be a kid.

I’m a little off. Again.

City council member Sue Scufsa and city clerk-treasurer Anne Jackson gathered with Jim Maki, Joe Mertel, Bob Tholen and Joan Martin at the Community Center to tell stories about days gone by.

“(Winton is) half as old as the United States, for crying out loud, when you think about it,” Scufsa said. “And we’re still here.”

The community found its beginnings as a gathering of small houses around a sawmill established by the Knox Lumber Company on Fall Lake in 1892, mainly inhabited by Finnish immigrants. Logging occurred all the way up to Basswood Lake.

The town featured many bars in the early days that saw a high volume of foot traffic from lumber industry workers. A one-room jailhouse was built in town to handle incidents arising from this situation, Martin said.

The building was torn down in recent years, a loss of history that some residents lamented. Jackson said the one-room jailhouse may have been one of the only of its kind left standing in Minnesota.

Other local establishments included a public sauna, the Winton Co-Op, a hospital and the Finn Hall, where community dances were held. Residents launched a shoemaking venture, a dairy, a blacksmith shop, a hotel and many more businesses.

Locals grew their own fruits and vegetables in large gardens. Barns sat along the alleyways and families raised chickens and cows.

“ It’s ama z ing how self-sufficient people really were,” Scufsa said.

The very first female mayor in the state took her seat at the head of Winton’s city government in 1921. Jackson said Winton’s Finnish heritage may have contributed to this big “first,” as it was not out of the norm for women to assume leadership positions in the old country.

“Some of them coming from Finland would have thought nothing of electing her, and the men were probably too busy working in the sawmills, supporting the family,” Jackson said.

The sawmills closed in the mid-1920s, leading to a population decline as many families moved their houses from Winton to Ely to begin work in the mines. Some of those houses are still standing, including several two-story houses on Boundary Street and one on the western end of Sheridan Street.

“Winton got smaller. Ely got bigger,” Jackson said.

Residents could access other towns via the Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railway, which had its own depot right in town. The train now on display at Tower’s Depot Park would carry Winton residents into Ely for just a nickel.

Though the population had subsided from its peak by the mid-twentieth century, Winton was still a tight-knit community with many young families.

“This was such a good town to grow up in as kids,” Scufsa said. “We had sliding and we had skating and we had all that good stuff and a Sunday school.”

Local children would sled down the slope by the water tower in winter. Scufsa said there were never any major injuries beyond a broken leg, as there were fewer vehicles driving the road at the bottom of the hill at the time.

Rubber gun fights and basketball ensued in the hippodrome on Main Street, and kids could also play baseball at the town’s ballpark or ride bicycles.

Young people would also hold nightly bonfires in winter and skate on the river until it grew unsafe following the DNR’s removal of a small dam.

Community members looked out for one another, and the older kids watched over the younger ones.

“You could let your kids out to play and they could play all day long,” Jackson said. “Somebody’s mom would feed them a sandwich.”

Winton once filled two buses with schoolchildren in the mornings. Now, Mertel said he doesn’t hear the sounds of children playing outside anymore.

“We don’t have families with small kids, and that kind of worries me because you need someone who’s going to follow and take over the city government,” Scufsa said. “I’d like to see more young families come.”

Jackson said the town has transitioned to mostly a residential community.

Scufsa expressed hopes to see the town continue on in its own right for many years to come and keep its identity.

“To live here is really inexpensive, and we try really hard to consider all the taxpayers, and a lot of them are seniors, too. We try to keep that levy as low as we possibly can but still maintain our city government and what we need here,” Scufsa said. “We use a lot of foresight when we’re planning what is coming up.”

Scufsa’s path took her from her roots in Winton, out to California and Illinois. She said Winton’s easy access to water eventually brought her back.

“My mother passed away in 2015, and so there I am back in my growing-up house,” Scufsa said. “I came full circle, and I just have absolutely loved being back. There’s something about Winton. It’s peaceful, it’s friendly, it’s kind, it’s a big family.”

“It’s a caring place to live, and I’ve really enjoyed that,” Scufsa said.

From here on I’ll call those piles segments instead. Same idea, it’s just the real term the email tools use, and you’ll see it again in this series.

If you did that too, you’re sitting on the same thing she is. A list that isn’t doing anything.

That’s this week’s tip. Not that you lack an audience, you don’t. It’s that the audience is waiting to hear something and hearing nothing.

Most owners stall here. They don’t know what to say. Or they worry an email sounds like a pitch nobody asked for.

Silence gets read as news too. A past visitor who saw one scary wildfire headline and never heard different from you assumes the worst is still true.

A local who hasn’t been in for a month assumes you’re doing fine without them. Both are wrong, and you’re the only one who can correct it.

It doesn’t matter if your list is six hundred names or six. The discomfort of hitting send lasts a few minutes. The relief, for you and for them, lasts the rest of the month. Do it once and next month it’s already easier.

This week: write two short emails, one for each segment, and send them. Not sales copy, plain, in your own words.

To the locals: what’s actually open right now, and one honest ask, come in, and tell a neighbor.

To the past visitors: the real status of the closure (entry points are reopening in stages, Ely itself never closed), and one specific reason to plan a trip later this year.

How you send it depends on the size. A short list: use your own inbox. BCC ten or twenty at a time, not everyone at once.

A longer list, six hundred names like the shop owner’s, needs a tool built for it. Check your point of sale system first, several can email your list straight from the same dashboard.

No tool there? A free-tier email platform will do it. Either way, skip anything that looks designed: no logo, no stock photo, no template. It should read like it came from you, because it did.

Keep each one short enough to read on a phone standing in a kitchen.

The shop owner sent hers this week. Not every address on an old list still works, a few of her six hundred bounced, but most of them heard it from her instead of from a headline. That’s the whole job this week: send the two emails, one to each segment.

Next week: turn those local walkins into proof a stranger can see before they even ask.

Richard Stuart builds websites and revenue systems for owner-operated businesses from his home in Ely. Have a question you’d like answered in a future column? Send it to ibuild@richardstuart.me. If something’s quietly costing you customers, let’s talk: richardstuart.me.

Late in his career at the Ely Echo, there was more than a time or two when he could spot something in the news that didn’t seem quite right or failed to mesh with the facts.

After taking a long sip of coffee, ‘ol Bob would look up and say, chuckle at what might be in the news and say “don’t let the facts get in the way of a good story.”

One couldn’t help but think of Jackpine Bob Tuesday afternoon at the Ely Folk School, where some longtime and notable opponents of copper- nickel mining gathered for an event that had all the makings of a pep rally and celebration.

The man of the hour was Gov. Tim Walz, who snuck in through the back door rather than face some protestors out front.

Hours before, just outside of the Twin Cities, Walz made it official that he was issuing an executive order aimed at stopping the Twin Metals Minnesota project in its tracks yet again.

For those of us who have followed along in a battle that has gone back-and-forth for nearly two decades, it was just the latest tilt on a political teeter-totter.

But Walz, the old coach who played the part Tuesday of a high school coach firing up a crowd at a school pep rally, maintained it was different.

“This debate ended today,” Walz said, generating applause and cheers from those who attended the closed-door, apparently invitation- only gathering.

Walz made it clear, maintaining that in his eyes the teeter-totter had stopped, the debate had ended, there would be no back and forth and that copper-nickel mining in Ely was dead and buried.

“We’ve wound this thing up so tight you can’t unwind it,” Walz maintained before the TV cameras and his Ely fan club.

For those inside, it seemed like a victory celebration decades in the making and the end of a battle that had stretched generations and has resulted in deep political divides.

But alas, as ol’ Bob Cary would have astutely observed, the facts told a different story, especially once one escaped from the old Fisherman’s Headquarters building and ventured back outside the closely-guarded doors.

Indeed, the Walz edict is only good for 90 days after he’s out of office and seemed to be only the latest blow in the toe-to-toe fight.

Pro-mining advocates won a clear victory during the spring, when federal legislation ended a federal mining ban and cleared the way for Twin Metals to proceed.

But it would have been sheer folly to suggest then that the federal action would ensure Twin Metals would go forward, just as it’s sheer folly now to suggest that the governor’s lame-duck action closes the door.

Reaction outside the pep rally was swift and largely predictable.

Those who have backed Twin Metals, including U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber and State Rep. Roger Skraba, were among those issuing statements in opposition to Walz.

So too did State Sen. Grant Hauschild (D), who was put in the precarious position of bucking his party while in the midst of his own re-election battle.

The timing of Walz’s decision was strange to say the least, and it undoubtedly makes the mining ban a key issue in statewide races, area legislative races, and probably even in our local election contests this fall.

Walz drew a line in the sand, and those seeking office - at least this year - now face questions about where they fall.

The merits of the decision will be discussed on another day, but it’s pretty clear that Walz has bowed to special interests and put aside recommendations of his own administration.

He also made it clear, at least Tuesday, that he wasn’t interested in opposing viewpoints.

It was peculiar that the gathering in Ely was closely guarded, so much so that Paul Peltier, who represents every unit of government on the Iron Range as the executive director of the Range Association of Municipalities and Schools, was kept out of the Folk School celebration.

Perhaps because inside, where one might some of the same folks who held “No Kings” signs on Ely street, those same folks were cheering the circumvention of process and, oddly enough, a King-like move.

The celebrations will certainly fade. So too will the Walz edict.

More chapters are yet to be written over the fate of Twin Metals and copper-nickel mining projects and the battle is certain to carry on.

That indeed is the story. No matter what yarn the governor tried to spin during his latest stop in town.

The Chisholm-based organization began fundraising July 14 and opened applications July 31 to small businesses and individuals located in Babbitt, Buyck, Cook, Crane Lake, Ely, Embarrass, Nett Lake, Orr, Soudan, Tower, Winton, and townships between any of the aforementioned communities.

Applicants were required to show proof of residence, proof of income loss, and proof that loss was directly caused by wildfires.

Funding decisions were made with help from a panel of UWNEMN board members and Ely community members, all of whom signed confidentiality agreements.

“We are keenly aware that at this moment, our fund is the only financial resource available to a community under significant stress, so our team has been working diligently to balance speed and due diligence to ensure these critically needed funds get to those who need them most in a timely and equitable way,” said UWNEMN executive director Erin Shay. “Caring for the community while being responsible with donor dollars is of the utmost importance.”

Household funding has been applied directly to bills or given as gift cards to Zup’s in Ely. Small business funds are restricted to business-specific expenses including payroll assistance; rent, mortgage, and/or utility costs; payments to suppliers; and equipment necessary for business operation.

A total of $294,043 in crisis funds were released Aug. 17 among 14 households and 42 businesses in Buyck, Crane Lake, Ely, Tower, and Winton.

Funding disbursements ranged from $100 to $1,500 for households and $2,500 to $10,000 for businesses.

“I was in the store when (funding approval) came through on my phone; I had all I could do to not cry,” said one funding recipient. “We cannot thank the United Way and everyone involved enough for helping us with this tremendous gift to get us through this season.”

While organizers say they are moved by the impact donors have made, they also acknowledge the need exceeds available assistance; UWNEMN applications received reflect $807,000 in support needed.

On average, business applicants reported 40% in annual revenue lost.

“To see the need quantified has been eye-opening,” Shay said. “It’s even more staggering when you consider this is not reflective of August losses, and it’s only reflective of the businesses and households that applied.”

UWNEMN continues to accept donations for impacted communities across its service area (Iron Range, Koochiching County, and Lake of the Woods County) through its Crisis and Disaster Recovery Fund and its Ely-specific fund.

A local cabin owner is offering a second $25,000 in matching funds for UWNEMN’s Ely-specific recovery fund, adding a dollar for every $2 donated there.

Waconia-based Lakehouse Candle Co. is donating 10% of sales from all “Boundary Waters” scented candles they sell this month to UWNEMN’s Ely Wildfire Recovery Fund, specifically to support small businesses.

“This fund is receiving an incredible amount of support both from people who live here and people who don’t live here but love it here,” Shay said, noting the matching funds from Ely cabin owners and several fundraisers led by metro-area businesses. “It’s heartwarming to see the entire state show up for our region this way.”

Donations are 100% tax deductible, and 100% of funds raised will stay in the community or communities donors designate their funds toward. 100% of gifts not designated for a specific community will stay within UWNEMN’s service area.

More than $340,000 has been raised to-date, with $251,500 dedicated specifically to the Ely area. At the time of this release, all Ely-designated donations have been distributed to Ely businesses.

Funds were raised by more than 560 individuals as well as Boundary Waters Connect, Ely Area Community Foundation, Friends of the Boundary Waters, the Minnesota Department of Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation, NewRange Copper Nickel, Save the Boundary Waters, Sota Clothing, and Twin Metals Minnesota.

In addition to crisis funding, funds raised to-date have been used to purchase air purifiers for older adults in the Ely area.

The Vermilion campus of Minnesota North College is bucking both trends and headwinds.

As many colleges face declines in student enrollment, that’s not the case in Ely as the 2026-27 school year begins on Monday at Vermilion.

Enrollment is projected to increase and student housing was full heading into move-in weekend.

About 350 students are expected to arrive in town this weekend to move into both on-campus and off-campus housing.

While enrollment at Vermilion remains down from what it was 10, 20 or 30 years ago, it is ticking up and that’s in sharp contrast to declines being seen overall in the Minnesota North system, which includes campuses in Ely, Virginia, Eveleth, Grand Rapids, Hibbing and International Falls.

The new school year also comes with new leadership at Vermilion, with Keith Turner stepping in as campus director.

Turner returns to Vermilion after a 20-year absence but with a long history with the school.

A graduate of Vermilion and former football player at the school, Turner also spent a decade-anda- half on staff as a coach and instructor.

As school officials and staff were readying for the new year this week, the student count was still growing.

Vermilion was a construction zone for much of the summer, as workers completed the next phase of a $3.6 million overhaul to the campus.

That included major renovations to the classroom building, which was the result of funding included in the state bonding bill in 2024.

Over the course of the last two years, work included a new roof, restroom improvements and corridors received epoxy terrazzo flooring, wood panels, as well as new lighting and ceilings.

In two separate areas, two classrooms were combined into 45-seat single classrooms, while other classrooms got new flooring, ceiling and IT equipment.

New doors were also installed and several classrooms also have new furnishings including tables and chairs while a new campus- wide fire alarm control panel was also installed.

Athletics continues to play a major part in Vermilion’s enrollment growth, with approximately 70 football players on the roster along with nine current volleyball players.

Both basketball teams are at better than full strength while the baseball team will have 32 players on campus this fall.

The bulk of the students are arriving en masse this weekend, although football and volleyball players and a few other students have been here a week or more.

As part of Minnesota North, Vermilion is part of a single unified college with five separate campuses - joining Itasca (Grand Rapids), Mesabi (Virginia/Eveleth), Rainy River (International Falls) and Hibbing.

The merger came in response to overall declines in student population and is geared at streamlining operations as well as offering students additional opportunities.

Vermilion is known for its niche programming - an array of courses and degree programs that focus on the natural environment.

The school year comes to an unofficial start Saturday and Sunday, when vehicles fill the parking lots and pull up outside campus housing units and first and second-year students arrive in town, many with their parents.

In contrast with many community colleges, which rely heavily on graduates from nearby high schools, Vermilion is unique as a two-year school that gets its students predominantly from outside the area and who live on campus.

Ely Watercolor Club had to change the date of the show to Aug. 20-23. The club will again present paintings and greeting cards this summer at Ely’s Miner’s Dry building from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

City of Winton 125-Year Anniversary Picnic will be on Saturday, Aug. 22 from 4-7 p.m. at the Winton Community Center. Pulled pork sandwiches, coffee and punch provided. Bring a potluck dish. BYOB At the Ely Public Library on Tuesday, Aug. 25 at 10:30 a.m. the program will be Move and Groove - for preschoolers with an adult. Get some of those wiggles out to the dance beat as Jessie leads kids in simple dances and stretches. This program is sponsored by Friends of the Library.

At the Ely Public Library on Wednesday, Aug. 26 at 11 a.m. the program will be Get Crafty for Kids: Tie Dye – for all ages (adult supervision/help required). Get ready to craft with Tricia and make a tie-dye pillowcase. The library will supply everything you need to tie-dye your pillowcase. We will need to have this program outside, so it is weather dependent. Please register in advance. This program is sponsored by Friends of the Library.

Ely Braver Angels Alliance will be holding its Summer Social on Aug. 26, from 5-7 p.m. at Samz Place. Free beer/ soft drink, fresh fried fish and root beer floats.

At the Ely Public Library on Thursday, Aug. 27 at 11 a.m. the program will be Wolf Ecology 101 with the International Wolf Center. Using the gray wolf as an example, staff from the International Wolf Center will introduce you to basic concepts in ecology and the various interactions that these apex predators have with other animals. This program is in cooperation with the International Wolf Center.

The Lake Vermilion Cultural Center is presenting its first ever talent/variety show on Thursday, Aug. 27, at 7 p.m. Seven acts have already been recruited. The event will be interspersed with songs from emcee, Steve Solkela who wears many hats (including a cymbal): singer, actor, songwriter, player of many musical instruments, and comedian.

At the Ely Public Library on Friday, Aug. 28 at 10:30 a.m. the program will be 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Graduation and Storytime – for preschoolers and families. This Friday storytime will honor the children who have finished their 1,000 book goal within the past year. Anyone (and other family members) in the 1,000 book program is welcome to attend whether or not they have made it to 1,000 books. This program is sponsored by Friends of the Library.

The Northern Lights 5k Color Glow Run Glow Fest will be on Friday Sept. 25, packet pickup and race day registration will begin at noon. Glow Fest is from 4-7 p.m. at Ely Community Hub before the race. New registrations are from noon to 5:45 p.m. Race day prices are $35 for adults, $25 for students and $15 for youth. The event is free to attend, with live music and fun activities for the kids.

Stretch and movement class: Fridays, 9:30-10:45 a.m. at The Hub sponsored by Northwoods Partners. All welcome, great music, friendly people...join us.

Everyone is welcome to play MahJong at the Ely Community Center. There is a table for beginners with instructors. You can learn on the fly plus there is online help as well. MahJong is played on Thursdays from noon to 3 p.m.

Bingo every Wednesday at 1 p.m. at the Ely Community Center. All are welcome, bring your friends for a fun afternoon.

Cribbage is being played at the Zenith Apartments at 965 E. Camp Street in Ely on Thursday evenings from 6-8 p.m. Join in, have fun. Bring your own snacks.

Northwoods Partners Caregiver Support Group meets the third Tuesday of the month from 11 a.m. to noon at the Ely Area Community Hub, 760 E. Miners Drive.

New closed AA meeting; primary purpose men’s group. Will be held on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 226 E. Harvey St.

The Ely Senior Bridge League has a weekly session of bridge starting at 12:15 p.m. on Wednesday at the Ely Senior Center, front room. Reservations are recommended. Call Terry Cooper at 651-230-2117 for more information.

The order prevents the DNR from issuing new leases and permits for all noniron mineral extraction within the watershed and requires the agency to review existing leases for this type of mining in the defined area.

The DNR has issued 38 total nonferrous mineral leases within the Rainy River Headwaters watershed.

The governor’s ban encompasses the proposed location of Twin Metals’ copper, nickel and cobalt project between Ely and Babbitt.

Mining would commence outside of the Boundary Waters but within the Rainy River Headwaters watershed, as defined by the DNR. The mine would operate along Highway 1 about nine miles southeast of Ely.

Twin Metals proposed mining operations would largely exist deep underground, with 80% of extraction occurring below 1,500 feet and 40% below 2,700 feet.

NewRange Copper Nickel’s NorthMet project plan falls outside the Rainy River Watershed and will not face limitations from the ban.

Walz’s executive order will expire 90 days after he leaves office in early Jan. 2027, unless either halted earlier or extended by Minnesota’s next governor.

State legislators would need to pass a bill in a future legislative session in order to make the ban permanent.

With the House tied leading up to the November election, Republicans have kept an anti-mining bill from being passed and signed into law.

DNR commissioner Sarah Strommen said the Walz administration will draft language for such a bill to send to the next state legislature.

“That will be up to the legislature to decide, but we will bring it forward,” Strommen said.

If a permanent ban receives approval from state senators and representatives, Strommen said federal legislators could do little to pave the path forward for nonferrous mining in the specified area.

This is due to Minnesota regulations requiring industrial operations to obtain permitting from state agencies before they can proceed.

Walz visited the Ely Folk School and YMCA Camp Widjiwagan following the executive order’s signing.

Walz told listeners at Camp Widjiwagan that he believes the measures issued in the order will be “very, very difficult for anybody to unwind” due to many Minnesotans’ support for the ban.

Iron Range legislators, including one in the governor’s political party, indicated disapproval of copper-nickel mining restrictions, however. State Sen. Grant Hauschild (DFL-Hermantown) said he strongly opposes the executive order.

“Northern Minnesota deserves both a strong economy and clean water. Those values do not have to be in conflict. Most importantly, the people who live in our region deserve a meaningful voice in decisions that directly affect our communities, our environment and our economic future,” Hauschild said.

State Rep. Roger Skraba (R-Ely) called Walz’s move a devastating blow to the Iron Range.

“Politicians in St. Paul shouldn’t be picking winners and losers or deciding the outcome before the process is finished. Northlanders are tired of having our future decided for us by leaders who don’t understand our communities, our people, or our way of life. Let the review process work, let our communities have a voice, and let the chips fall where they may,” Skraba said.

Skraba said he believes a permanent ban could be a difficult sell in the legislature, especially if the state house remains evenly divided between DFL politicians and Republicans.

“(The Walz administration) could have run it all the way through this last time, but they didn’t. It doesn’t have legs,” Skraba said. “In my opinion, that bill is a fantasy.”

“We have been looking at the minerals within our deposit areas for the last 16 years,” says Dean DeBeltz, the vice president of external relations and project operations at Twin Metals. “We’ve invested over $600 million into this project to really understand the minerals. We’ve been working on the engineering of a project that will meet or exceed the requirements that are out there, to ensure that we can protect this area where we live. Twin Metals is about real people, it’s about real jobs.”

Walz’s recent move represents yet another question for the future of northern Minnesota’s copper-nickel industry, which aims to tap the world’s second-largest copper deposit.

Potential projects have sparked a heated back-andforth between mining advocates and opponents for years, generating lawsuits on both sides of the table.

The Biden administration implemented a 20-year block on mineral leasing across 225,378 acres of Superior National Forest Land in 2023, which was overturned by the Trump administration last April.

About 350 people turned out Tuesday night at Whiteside Park, remembering Leslie Washington, a firefighter from Alaska who passed away Aug. 11 while battling the nearby fires.

Washington, 41, died of natural causes. His death captured the attention of the Ely area and beyond, and the memorial in Ely brought out dignitaries, fellow firefighters and the general public.

Ely Mayor Heidi Omerza was among those to pay her respects during the service, and Ely’s city band was on stage to perform.

Reverend Corey Larsen of Ely’s First Presbyterian Church opened the service.

Ely’s fire department had a role as well, placing the giant flag that was overhead throughout the service, which came at the conclusion of the weekly Farmers Market event.

A eulogy was delivered by William Glesener, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Wildfire Operations Supervisor and a message was read from Gov. Tim Walz, who was in town earlier in the day.

Bagpiper Joe Linneman also performed during the somber event.

Earlier the Morse-Fall Lake and Ely fire departments were part of an procession of fire trucks that escorted Washington’s body to the Minneapolis airport. Overpasses in the Twin Cities had fire trucks on them with American flags flying.

Washington was one of the hundreds of firefighters who have been dispatched here from around the country to battle the series of fires that erupted in mid-July and forced both home and business evacuations and the temporary closure of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

New Arrivals

Adult Fiction:

“Ace & Ember” by Kate Crew

“Amateur” by Chris Bohjalian

“Brighter Than Before” by Courtney Walsh

“Falling Into You” by Jill Shalvis

“Getting Away with Murder” by Shari Lapena

“Harbor Lights & Broken Hearts” by Jennifer Walters

“Heart Set Free” by Amy Clipston

“Helpless” by Jessica Knoll

“Keeper of the Stars” by Buck Turner

“Last to Drown” by Noelle W. Ihli

“Matchmaking for Psychopaths” by Tasha Coryell

“No Place Like Home” by Betsy St. Amant

“Paris Match” by Kate Clayborn

“Rain Catcher” by Buck Turner

“Re-Do List” by Denise Williams

“Story Keeper” by Kelly Rimmer

“Things We Never Say” by Elizabeth Strout

“Thousand Distant Stars” by Buck Turner

“Twilight Tactics” by Lynette Eason

“Unknown” by Riley Sager

“Way I Used to Be” by Amber Smith

“Whiskey Chaser” by Lucy Score & Claire Kingsley

“Whisper Creek” by Allison Brennan

“Wild Beneath” by Kelly Anderson

“Yes, Chef” by Grace Reilly

“You’ll Be Sorry” by Lisa Gardner

Adult Non-Fiction:

“By the River’s Edge” by Gregg Olsen

Young Adult:

“Arches Legend” by C.R. Fulton

“Bad Kitty Gets a Job” by Nick Bruel

“Binding 13” by Chloe Walsh

“Glacier Vanishing” by C.R. Fulton

“Keeping 13” by Chloe Walsh

“Lion & the Deathless Dark” by Carissa Boradbent

“Love Stuck” by Farah Rishi

“Milkweed” by Jerry Spinelli

“Redeeming 6” by Chloe Walsh

“Releasing 10” by Chloe Walsh

“Saving 6” by Chloe Walsh

“Super Scary Narwhalloween” by Ben Clanton

“Taming 7” by Chloe Walsh

Children’s Fiction:

“Bats on the Bus” by Alison Jackson

“Boxcar Children” by Gertrude Chandler Warner

“Cranky Cranberry” 

“Happy Spooky Halloween!” by Lebron James

“Haunted Playground” by R.J. Palacio

“Owl By Myself” by Pete Oswald

“Pete the Cat & the Missing shoes” by Kimberly & James Dean

“Story Rug” by Sophie Blackall

DVDs:

Come Fly with Me

Epic Elvis Presley in Concert

Hokum

Obsession

Pressure

Favorite Meat Loaf and 

Japanese Fried Rice

Ingredients

2/3 cup crushed saltine crackers

1 cup milk

1 1/2 pounds ground beef

1/2 pound Polish sausage, ground

2 large eggs, beaten

1 small white or yellow onion, grated

1/2 teaspoon rubbed sage

1 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Place the crushed crackers in a large bowl. Pour the milk into the bowl and let it soak for 5 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients and mix well. Form the mixture into a loaf and place in a meatloaf pan or casserole dish. Bake for 1 hour or until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F. 

Yield: 8 servings. 

Japanese Fried Rice

Ingredients

2 tablespoons peanut or vegetable oil, divided

1/2 cup diced leftover meat and/or chicken, ham, shrimp

1/2 cup canned French-style green beans

1/2 cup cooked and crumbled bacon

1/2 cup chopped canned bamboo shoots

1/3 cup thinly sliced green onion or regular onion

1 teaspoon monosodium glutamate (optional)

Salt and black pepper, to taste

2 large eggs, unbeaten

2 cups cold leftover cooked rice

Soy sauce, for serving

Instructions:

Heat 1 tablespoon of oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Add the leftover meat and other protein(s) of choice. Cook for 2 minutes or until heated through, stirring often. Add the green beans, bacon, bamboo, and green onion. Season with monosodium glutamate (if using), salt and pepper. Cook for another 2 minutes, then stir in the whole eggs. Once the eggs have scrambled, scrape the mixture into a bowl and set aside. Turn the heat to high and add the remaining tablespoon of oil. Add the rice to the pan and cook until lightly browned, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and stir the egg mixture into the rice. Season with soy sauce. 

Yield: 4-6 servings. 

Notes:

Favorite Meat Loaf was adapted from Mrs. William Bunney’s recipe in the Ely Family Cookbook (1962) 4th Edition: 1970, pg. 102. 

Japanese Fried Rice was adapted from Cooking from a Melting Pot by Elizabeth Paulucci (1981), pg. 238. Yield: 12 servings. 

The Knights captured the only state title in school history with a come-frombehind victory over Sleepy Eye, 6-5.

Last weekend, members from that historic 1976 team reunited in Babbitt to celebrate the 50year anniversary of their historic achievement.

At the helm of that team was first-year head coach Greg Rajanen. Then only 23 years of age, Rajanen took an already talented group of high schoolers and helped push them over the edge to contend for a state title.

“I tell some of the players that a few of them were more mature than I was at that point,” Rajanen said recently in a telephone interview. I grew up in Superior, Wisconsin and in my era, we all played two or three sports and that’s just what happens at these smaller schools like Babbitt.

“Baseball wasn’t the first sport for many of these guys but there were a couple where their best sport was baseball. If you have good athletes like that, have the instincts for strategy, know how to compete and don’t back down from a challenge, then you can go quite a ways.”

Centerfielder Joe Boffa was one of six seniors on the state championship team and Boffa said Rajanen was a nice fit for the program, with many of the players already knowing him as a hockey coach.

“He brought great energy and knowledge and youth to us,” Boffa said. “He showed us how to do things properly and we were happy to have him as our coach.”

And, Boffa said, Rajanen’s coaching style had them prepared for anything.

“Hegaveusamanualandwehad never had a manual before. We had plays and we knew what we were doing in every scenario, when to lay down a bunt. He covered it all.

“He laid out the season, definitively, with great attention to detail and we were fortunate enough to live it.”

Heading into the state tournament with a record of 18-3, the Knights had little issue when it came to the regular season. While there were a few close wins throughout, a number of their contests were just pure domination—like their 30-5 victory over the Gilbert Buccaneers.

“It’s pretty tough as a coach when things like that happen,” Rajanen said. “It’s hard to tell the players not to get a hit or throw the ball right down the middle. I’m a little sheepish about that looking back but that may have been one of the reasons they came up with a 10run rule. Our guys just wanted to compete in every game and it showed.”

“We were aggressive,” Boffa said. “We stole a lot of bases. We made people play with the ball. We even had a couple really good ball players that didn’t come out that year because they didn’t think they would play so we had a few freshmen on the team. The beauty was everyone contributed. That’s what Babbitt was great for. You could always find a game to play.”

After taking down McGregor and Moose Lake in the regional tournament, Babbitt locked up a state quarterfinal spot where they matched up with Roseau in a game to be played in Grand Rapids.

A number of memories from the day of that game came to mind for Rajanen and Boffa, the first being when the team’s bus broke down on the way to the field.

“We had parents picking up kids on the side of the road,” Boffa said. “If they hadn’t done that, we probably wouldn’t have made it to the game.”

For the game itself, Rajanen’s first thought was when the team’s ace on the mound, Curt Koivisto, broke his wrist after a comebacker made contact with his throwing hand.

“We had really good depth in our pitching staff,” Rajanen said. “He was out and we had to turn to someone else so our No. 2 guy Randy Rosett jumped in there and we were able to complete the game and move on in the state tournament.”

“He was a great support for us even when injured.”

Boffa said of Koivisto. “He was with us every bit of the way but we all felt bad for him. He got us there. He was our ace so that was a big hurdle and it brought us closer together I think.”

The junior Rosett would go on to pitch the team to victory in the state semifinal with fellow junior Chuck Evancevich getting the nod to start the state final against Sleepy Eye. While Evancevich was normally a pitcher to be counted on, the Indians had his number, putting up five runs on him in the first two innings.

“He threw the ball extremely hard,” Rajanen said. “But Sleepy Eye was a fastball hitting team. My assistant coach Dan Zubich and I knew we had to make a change. We didn’t want to fall further behind if we wanted a chance to win.”

From there, junior Bob Demaris took over on the hill and Sleepy Eye couldn’t hit him.

“We brought in the old timer and he threw knuckleballs and a slow curve ball. They were just flummoxed by him. We rode him for the next three-and-two-thirds innings until we found a way to get into the game.”

The Knights worked their way into the game, scoring one run in the fourth and another in the fifth to trail by three heading into the bottom of the seventh. The Knights took some walks early in the inning to set up the dramatic finale and one run came in off a fortuitous hit courtesy of Rosett.

“He hit a hard ground ball to first,” Boffa said. “And I swear there were no blemishes on that field but it must have hit the only rock around and it took a bounce up and went way over the first baseman’s head so we had a little bit of luck going our way.”

Trailing by two, the Knights tied the game with a double to the gap from Evancevich and it started to feel like things were going to end in favor of Babbitt.

With senior catcher Grant Boisner on third, another hit would end the game but the finish had a bit of its own flair as the Sleepy Eye pitcher issued a wild pitch. Boisner got the signal to head home and the rest was history.

While the Knights had climbed to the top of the mountain, one thing the players and coaches took pride in was bringing the trophy back to Babbitt.

“That was the thing,” Boffa said. “Being able to share it with the community was the coolest part. There were cars following us all the way home. We had this great reception. We just felt pride. Pride to be from Babbitt and to be able to celebrate with all the townsfolk.”

“The people were going crazy,” Rajanen said. “They had the police escort waiting for us when we turned the corner into Babbitt. We knew it was something special. For a small town to do something like that, it starts when you’re young from good coaching in Little League to good Babe Ruth coaching. All those coaches throughout the years prepared these kids to be good athletes and they stepped up and made it happen.”

And while that entire season felt perfect, it couldn’t be replicated.

Rajanen lost his job as a teacher due to budget cuts the next year and moved back to his hometown of Superior, WI. He’d go on to coach hockey and baseball throughout Minnesota at schools in Austin, Fridley and Anoka.

After that, he had a lengthy scouting career with the Calgary Flames in the NHL. Rajanen credits one of his high school coaches— RonOrlandi—forhelpingmakehim the kind of coach he wanted to be.

“He taught us well and I basically copied everything he taught us and tried to share it with my team because of my lack of experience. It paid off. You learn to keep your cool. We had all these three-sport athletes that have been on the short end of the score at times but they knew how to pull it together and win when it counted.”

Boffa, who currently resides in Palm Springs, California, looks back fondly on the historic season and perhaps even more fondly on Babbitt as a whole.

“We had an idyllic childhood,” Boffa said. “What more could you want when it comes to nature and things to do? We played outside every day. Being this mining town, they took really good care of us. We had fields everywhere and great ice to skate on. We were pretty spoiled in that regard.

“That state tournament run, we took things game by game. We had been to state as a VFW team and I look back at our Little League program and how wonderful that was. Our youth hockey program was wonderful. We were just blessed.”

In the end, the pressure didn’t prove to be too much and the Knights still remember that feeling of winning it all.

“It stands the test of time,” Boffa finished. “I don’t think we’ve ever had a reunion for it. We just walked away so this is a pretty special time for us to get together.”

Of the 14 team members still living, 10 were in attendance at the reunion.

Players from the team include seniors Terry Podlogar (LF), Grant Boisner (C), Joe Boffa (CF), Jeff Krensing (2B), Mike Eide (SS), Ron Grossman (RF) and Curt Koivisto (1BP); juniors Tim Pastika (3B), Randy Rosett (1B-P), Chuck Evancevich (3B-P), Bob Demaris (P) and Jeff Thiel (OF); sophomore Dan Grossman(1B)andfreshmenBrandon Von Wald (RF), Mike Krensing (2b) and Dan Stackowski (OF).

Head coach Greg Rajanen was assisted by Dan Zubich. Mike Kuschec was the student manager.

Evangelical Lutheran Church will be hosting a community worship and fellowship meal in Fountain Hill Park on Sunday, Aug. 23. Come at 4 p.m. for worship with live music by Irene Hartfield and friends and stay for the meal after. Bring your lawn chair and a drink. All are welcome to share in the meal. Donations of covered dishes are welcome but not required. Parking is available in the church parking lot. If the weather is bad the event will move to the church Fellowship Hall.

Embarrass Fair at Timber Hall schedule: Friday, August 28: Heart & Hooves Riding Association - In-hand and Ranch Trail, Kids Games, Timber Hall Crafters/Vendors, Wizard’s Kingdom Inflatables, Pony Rides, Music by Big T & The Growlers, Cribbage Tournament, Mullet Contest, Music by Willy Martin & The Rangers; Saturday, August 29: Medallion Hunt, Timber Hall Crafters/Vendors, Softball Tournament, Wizards Kingdom Inflatables Pony Rides, Heart & Hooves Riding Association - Showmanship, Ranch Riding, Ranch Rail, All Around Ranch Horse Reining, Kids Games, The Amazing Charles Magic Show, Bingo, K-9 Demonstration, Cornhole Bean Bag Tournament, Races for All Ages, Demolition Derby, Dog Agility Demonstration, Will Hale - Kid & Family Rock Concert, Klatt’s Farm Petting Zoo, Live Music by Iron Range Funk Machine; Sunday, August 30: Medallion Hunt, Horse Games, Softball tournament, Classic Car & Truck Show, Timber Hall Crafters/Vendors, Wizard’s Kingdom Inflatables, Exhibit Building, Pony Rides, Kids Games , The Amazing Charles Magic Show, K-9 Demonstration, Will Hale - Kid & Family Rock Concert, Bingo, Pie Eating Contest, Adult Races.

The Babbitt veterans resale room now accepting gently used items Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon in the back of the Municipal Building in Babbitt at 71 South Drive. Come check out vintage items for sale.

Runners are invited to lace up for the first annual Timber Trot at Timber Bay Lodge on Saturday, Sept. 5. Choose your challenge on the scenic Pine Plantation Trail: 5k Trail Loop – Fast and fun for all paces; or 10k Challenge – Rugged ridges for the active adventurer. 7:30-8:45 a.m.: Runner check-in & bib pickup; 9 a.m.: 10k Trail Run official start; 9:15 AM: 5k Trail Run official start; Noon: Post-race celebration, awards, & beachside BBQ. Runners will receive a commemorative t-shirt, finisher medal and runner’s gift. Post-race beachside BBQ, local brews and live music. Link to register: https://www.timberbay.com/timber-trot. All proceeds benefit Ely/Babbitt high school sports.

A firearms safety hybrid class will be held on Saturday, Sept. 12, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Students must pre-register by calling Terri Loewen at 218-290-4810. Requirements: Must be 11 years of age before class start date.

A Community Night Out will be held on Sunday, Sept. 13 from 4-6:30 p.m. at the Seitaniemi House Barn at 8162 Comet Road off Hwy. 21 between Embarrass and Babbitt. There will be a live music by Pat and Donna Surface. Tour the newly resided house barn, enjoy chili, pie and coffee. Bring your own blanket and lawn chairs. Free event.

Babbitt High School class of 1966 reunion will be Sept. 19 at 2 p.m.-? At Senior Center (old elementary school) Hope to see you there.

The Babbitt Farmers Market is held on Thursday evenings from 4-6 p.m., rain or shine in the city’s public park located on Central Boulevard, organized by the Babbitt Farmers Market. Any interest in participation or questions: babbittfarmersmarket@gmail.com.

“Minnesota has been mining for 146 years. We know how to do it,” said Minnesota Congressional District-08 Congressman Pete Stauber. “Our union workers know how to do it and we can lead not only the United States, but we can lead the world in mining.”

Stauber pointed to the state’s rigorous permitting process and environmental standards, which he and other state legislators reiterated are among the best in the world for mining operations.

“I want to be crystal clear. There will be no mining in the Boundary Waters, and there will be no mining in the buffer zone surrounding the Boundary Waters,” Stauber said.

The 1978 Wilderness Act prevents mining operations within this area. The buffer zone encompasses 220,000 acres north of the Fernberg Corridor and north of Burntside and Shagawa Lakes.

State District 3A Rep. Roger Skraba (R-Ely) and others pointed to the Eagle Mine on Michigan’s upper peninsula as an example of a copper-nickel mine operating in accordance with modern environmental standards.

“What they did there, we can do here,” Skraba said.

“We need to persevere. This is a bump in the road,” Skraba added. “After the election, we’ll have a governor that will hopefully support our cause.”

Skraba also pointed to the irony that Walz supporters have shown when they hold up “No Kings” at political events.

“When you see those people standing on the corner with those signs that say No Kings, what he did yesterday is what kings do. That is wrong. What he did was wrong,” said Skraba.

Stauber called the Walz administration’s move an attack on the Iron Range, union workers, students and the local economy.

Minnesota’s mining industry contributes to public school funding through avenues like the School Trust Fund land system, which funnels industrial revenue on these lands into the state’s Permanent School Fund.

Mining operations contribute to 90% of the education revenue generated on those lands. To date, those ventures primarily represent iron ore and taconite mining, as nonferrous mineral production has not yet expanded beyond the exploration lease phase on school trust properties.

BabbittmayorAndreaZupancich said the recent wildfires have proven that a local economy reliant only on tourism can be sensitive to seasonal and natural disruptions.

“We don’t have 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week tourism. It’s very cyclical. It’s very weather-driven,” Zupancich said. “But during those fires, the miners are working every single day.”

State District 7A Rep. Spencer Igo (R-Grand Rapids) expressed concern that the executive order would push copper-nickel interests out of the state and into corners of the world with less stringent labor and environmental standards.

“We want to show the world how to do it right,” Igo said.

Minnesota’s next governor will largely determine the future of the Rainy River Headwaters mining ban. She will have the power to retract or reinstate the executive order.

Republican candidate Lisa Demuth said she opposes Walz’s executive order.

DFL candidate Amy Klobuchar said she supports mining in general, though she has indicated concern about projects so near to the Boundary Waters. She has not taken a stance strictly in favor or against the Twin Metals proposal.

The commission will send Silver Rapids’ proposal to the Lake County Board of Commissioners for a vote, recommending no need for more intensive environmental review.

Following a go-ahead from the board of commissioners, Silver Rapids may soon move forward with the permitting process. Developers stated in the EAW they hope to begin sitework this fall, pending project approvals.

Silver Rapids Lodge elected to undergo the environmental assessment worksheet (EAW) process for their new plan.

An EAW outlines the project’s overall goals and design, allowing governing entities to determine whether further environmental review is required.

The decision followed public controversy sparked by the lodge’s first development plan, announced in 2024, which resulted in a petition including hundreds of signatures calling for a more rigorous analysis of the development’s potential impacts.

The new proposal scales down the resort’s initial plan from 49 fractional share cabins to 44, and 75 proposed moorings to 33. Silver Rapids no longer plans to install a tiki bar.

The revamped project description initially included 52 moorings instead of the 33 it now proposes. The reduction allowed Silver Rapids to fall in line with the county’s current shoreline density policy.

The Lake County Environmental Services Department received 51 public comments throughout the 30 day public review period.

Existing contamination from the resort’s two underground fuel tanks emerged as the most-cited concern among public comments, Lundgren said.

The MPCA has been involved in the issue since 2021, Lundgren said, when a consultant-produced report stated that multiple borings had revealed contamination extended no more than 10 feet around the tank.

Additional borings this year found that accumulated fuel concentrations in nearby groundwater were below health risk limits established by the Minnesota Department of Health.

Silver Rapids has elected to voluntarily remove the tanks as a proactive measure during the proposed development process.

“These are the types of times when the governing body should look to the project as the perfect opportunity to remediate something that’s taken place,” said board member Ken Guenther.

Concerns about the proposed development’s density were also well-represented in the slate of received comments.

Officials determined the project meets Lake County standards, which were updated in May 2026 to match the Minnesota state shoreline density ordinance.

Previously, county ordinances limited density to a value lower than the state’s standard. This disparity was cited in the DNR’s 2024 lawsuit against Silver Rapids, claiming Lake County had violated its own shoreline density restrictions in granting the project a CUP.

Public comments also cited increased boat traffic and possible disruptions to paddlers and the lake’s peaceful environment as key concerns.

Lundgren said the comments mainly related to the type of watercraft and the timing of boat traffic, which Lake County staff determined could be best addressed by operational conditions rather than further environmental review.

Lake County also received a comment from the 1854 Treaty Authority the morning of Monday’s meeting. The Authority encouraged the commission to consider the development’s possible impacts on wild rice.

“They indicate the presence of wild rice around the location of the site presented a reasonable probability that the area could have potential for cultural resources,” Lundgren said.

Data from the DNR’s Wild Rice Management Work Group included Farm Lake in its state wild rice inventory, but not White Iron. Silver Rapids developer Leisure Hotels and Resorts stated that the lake bottom drops steeply into the water on both lakes, meaning habitat would not be ideal for wild rice, which grows in shallow, gently-flowing water with a soft, organic bottom.

The White Iron section of the project is set to include the restoration of native shoreline plants and the removal of roads and concrete, which Silver Rapids representatives stated would bolster wild rice potential.

No aspect of the public comment record or review from environmental staff ultimately warranted EIS review.

“This development is over 100 years old now,” said planning commission member Rich Sve. “There have been some environmental impacts. We’ve talked about some of those right here today. All those are going to be addressed. Moving forward, they should see more improvements as long as all of these rules and regulations and agency reports are met.”