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North Shore Morning

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News and information, interviews, weather, upcoming events, music, school news, and many special features. North Shore Morning includes our popular trivia question - Pop Quiz! The North Shore Morning program is the place to connect with the people, culture and events of our region!

 


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Birch Grove School

Birch Grove Community School - News February 20

School News from Birch Grove Community School with Kara, Kayne and Justin.
Februrary 20, 2020

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Purple Finch.  Photo by Dennis Chick.

North Woods Naturalist: Bird survival skills

How do birds survive the northern winters?

WTIP's CJ Heithoff learns about the survival skills of birds from naturalist Chel Anderson in this edition of North Woods Naturalist.

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Sumitted by Deane Morrison

Northern Sky: February 15-28, 2020

Deane Morrison is a science writer for the University of MN and authors the Minnesota Starwatch column, and in this feature she share what there is to see in the night sky...in our region.

Northern Sky by Deane Morrison for February 15-28, 2020.

In the second half of February, it doesn’t matter if you’re looking at the post-sunset or the predawn sky; you’re going to see upwardly mobile planets.
 
In the evening, Venus is still blazing away as a gorgeous evening star. If you look to the west, you won’t have any trouble finding it. As it climbs farther above the horizon, it sets later. Venus is currently up and bright for more than three hours after sunset.
 
No bright stars are near Venus, but a young crescent moon stops by on the 25th, 26th, and 27th. The moon is way below Venus at first, but on 27th, it’ll have moved to about the same level as Venus. The bright winter stars are in the south after nightfall, so if the night is clear and moonless, don’t miss the chance to see them if you haven’t already. But even Sirius, the brightest of all, can’t match the candlepower of our sister planet. As they say, location is everything.
 
The three bright outer planets are now assembling in the predawn sky. They’re all fairly low in the southeast, with Mars leading the way—that is, it’s the highest and farthest to the west. Next comes brilliant Jupiter, and finally Saturn. Late in the month, when Saturn is high enough to be easily visible, the three planets form a straight line with Mars at the upper right end, Jupiter in the middle, and Saturn at the lower left end. This assembly sets the stage for some of the closest approaches between these three planets that we’ll ever see, as both Jupiter and Saturn pass Mars.
 
What’s happening is, Earth’s orbital motion is carrying us closer to all three planets; this pushes them higher and farther west each day. But they don’t move west at the same speed. As they orbit the sun, all the planets move eastward against the background of stars. Because Mars orbits eastward at great speed, it resists Earth’s westward push. But Jupiter and Saturn orbit sluggishly, and so Earth’s motion is pushing them westward, toward Mars, rather fast. In just a few weeks we’ll see first Jupiter, then Saturn, catch up to Mars and pass it.
 
Also, since Jupiter’s orbital motion eastward is faster than Saturn’s, it’s slowly closing in on the ringed planet. We can watch this slow approach until December, when Jupiter and Saturn pass each other in the evening sky.
 
In the days leading up to the new moon on the 23rd, a waning the moon plunges through the morning sky, toward the rising sun. On the 18th, the moon passes right in front of Mars. The red planet disappears behind the moon’s bright leading edge, which is to say, behind the lighted crescent. Mars reappears behind the moon’s dark edge, but not until after daylight. If you want to see Mars disappear, get out by 6 a.m. and bring binoculars. This won’t be the most spectacular lunar occultation, as these eclipse-like events are called, because Mars is still pretty far away and small, so don’t feel bad if you miss it.
 
The next morning, the 19th, a thinner crescent moon will be staring right at Jupiter, and on the 20th an even thinner moon rises below Saturn. Try to catch those two about an hour before sunrise, before Saturn gets washed out.
 
Also, between the 24th and 25th, Mars glides right above the star that marks the lid of the Teapot of Sagittarius. Meanwhile, Jupiter pretty much stays put below the softly curving Teaspoon of stars. If you’ve never seen these features of Sagittarius, these planets can be your guide.
 

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ISD 166 photo by CJHeithoff

Sawtooth Mountain Elementary - School News February 13

Sawtooth Mountain Elementary - School News with Levi and Ella.
February 13, 2020

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Fox in Snow. Photo by Janice Gill on Unsplash.

Wildersmith on the Gunflint - February 14

Wildersmith on the Gunflint     by     Fred Smith
February 14, 2020    
 
Border country marks the half-way point of month two with images of scarlet hearts scattered over depths of our snowy landscape. Come to think of it, Valentines’ Day always splits February in two.                                                                                                                                                     

Since our last meeting on the radio, the atmospheric elements have been reasonably ordinary. A little snow and a few nights of subzero have been sandwiched between a few blue sky days as what we might expect this time of year.                                                                         

While the northland missed out on the big snow happening down south, this area has plenty. A walk off the plowed path earlier this week, as I did some winter brush pile burning, was a surprising challenge without snow shoes. Plowing through the woods found me wading in fluff from knee to near pockets deep in places.                                                                                                                                          

In one instance, it took me ten minutes to advance about fifty yards as I struggled to pull my boots from any number of now early season crusted layers. The trek had this old guy huffing and puffing by the time I got back on a solid track.                                                                                                           

It becomes fairly evident why large critters of the “wild neighborhood” possess the savvy to travel the path most used whenever possible, even when it is maintained by us two legged beings. If there were white tails in this neighborhood, as there was several years ago, they would be having a tough winter staying ahead of those hungry wolves in this belly deep snow.                                                                                                                                                      

Whereas our friendly fox prefers the maintained snow paths when she stops by, I see pock marks where she has veered off into the deep stuff and has scrambled to get back on top of things. The same shows true for the pine marten, as it maneuvers its way with a chicken treat in its jaws.                                                                                                                                                                               
On another note about this foxy gal, while many Gunflint folks have a story to tell about one or more of these red canids, the Smiths’ have one of their own to share. During the last couple visits, we have found the critter becoming ever more curious about this place in the woods.                                                                                                                                                                                       
In early visits she seldom got too close, but with pangs of hunger clouding her natural wariness, it has since come right to the wood shop door for a treat. With an evolving comfort level that I am the guy with the bucket of chicken, the little red gal has now edged her way up onto the deck around the house.                                                                                                                                                                 
Just days ago, we caught her sitting on the deck where she could look up through the windows. Obviously she could see us gawking folks inside, and she readily conveyed a subtle look of “don’t you see me, I’m here.” With each visit, as we watch her in amazement, I’ m not sure who is treated more, we observers or Ms. Fox.                                                                                                                    
The mid-Trail neighborhood looks to be busy this weekend as the Ridge Riders Snowmobile Club holds their annual drag races on Hungry Jack Lake. Registration begins at 11:00 am at Hungry Jack Lodge with racing to begin around 12:00 noon. There will be considerable traffic along the Trail and on HJ Road so be patient and safe.                                   
 
In other news, with my brush burning chores in the rear view mirror and snow removal tasks up to date, I’m able to get back into the wood shop. With the help of my saw dust making buddy on Loon Lake and good friend and diamond willow pro in Iowa, wood shaping has my attention.                                                                                                                                                                      
Projects include artifacts rehabilitation for the new Interpretive Cabin on the Chik-Wauk Museum Campus. The GTHS Exhibits Committee is hard at work completing arrangement of interior cabin exhibit items for the 2020 Campus opening on Memorial Day weekend.                                                                                                           

Meanwhile, the Chik-Wauk Campus Director and several Trustees are busy with next summer preparations as the GTHS celebrates year ten of telling the cultural and natural stories of the historic Gunflint Trail.                                                                                                                                                                                               

For WTIP, this is Wildersmith, on the Gunflint Trail, where every day is savored, like the sweetness of Valentines’ Day!
 

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Superior National Forest Update

Superior National Forest Update - February 14

National Forest Update – February 13, 2020.

Hi.  This is Steve Robertsen, education and interpretation specialist with the Superior National Forest with the National Forest Update.  It’s our birthday this week!  In 1909, on February 13th, Theodore Roosevelt signed the Superior National Forest into being.  At that time, a lot of the land was bare.  The mixed pine forest had been cleared during the intensive logging era of the late 1800s, so, as with many of the national forests declared in the east, the Superior was less a forest than it was a brushy stump field.  Thanks to replanting efforts by the Forest Service, hard work later by the Civilian Conservation Corps, and the forest’s own natural resiliency, the woods grew back and made the forest we see, enjoy, and use today.  So, happy birthday, Superior!

While we’re in history mode, the Tofte Ranger Station recently was gifted a bit of National Forest history.  A kind individual donated a lifetime’s collection of Smokey Bear memorabilia, from early Smokey stuffed animals to a music box with Smokey in a jeep playing John Denver’s ‘Country Roads’.  We’ll be featuring portions of the collection on display in our office, so check out early Smokey next time you stop in.

Shifting from history, we can look into the future.  Well, ok, we can at least tell you at least a couple of things happening this weekend.  There are two ski events on February 15th.  One is the annual Pincushion Winter Festival including several levels of ski races, skijoring, and the Y-ski Winter Carnival.  The other is a candlelight ski on the Sugarbush Trails starting at the Oberg Mountain trailhead.  Both events are sponsored by partner organizations which maintain and groom our trail systems, and without which we quite possibly would have not have groomed trails.  So, we’d like to thank the North Superior Ski and Run Club for all the work they do at Pincushion, and the Sugarbush Trail Association for their work with the Sugarbush and Moose Fence trails.  Good job, club members!

When you’re headed out to ski, or do anything else outside, this is a good weekend to check the weather.  Our forecasted temperatures are all over the place from below zero to 32 degrees.  It is a good weekend to heed your mother’s advice and dress in layers so you can adjust to whatever nature throws at you.  Plan ahead and bring extra clothes or an empty pack for clothes you shed.  You don’t want to end up wearing below zero gear when it is near the melting point, and you don’t want to be wearing a light jacket and baseball cap when it’s below zero.
You can plan for trucks to be hauling logs on some roads.  On the Gunflint District, logging traffic will be on Cook County 14 and 60, the Sunfish Lake Road, Greenwood Road, the Gunflint Trail, and the Pike Lake Road.  Tofte District will have trucks using the Trappers Lake/Sawbill Landing Road, Perent Lake Road, The Grade, and Cook County 27.

It is harder for us to tell you which roads deer will be using.  Deer are on the roads a lot right now, partly because travel in the deep snow in the woods is difficult.  One person at our office hit a deer about a month ago, crumpling the hood, breaking the right headlight, and causing hundreds of dollars in damage… then was lucky enough to hit another deer with the newly painted and repaired car last week, breaking the other headlight, smashing the fender, and so on.  This is not an unskilled or poor driver, it was just bad luck.  So, keep your eyes on the roadsides and don’t speed.  With the new speed limit of 60 on portions of Highway 61, it is tempting to go even faster – but don’t. 

On the plus side, if you do drive slower and keep your eyes open looking for wildlife, there’s a lot to be seen besides deer.  Both great grey and snowy owls are around the area right now, and great greys in particular love to roost on street signs.  I saw a beautiful wolf on the road this morning, and eagles scavenging deer carcasses are abundant.  You can’t really beat that for a morning commute.

Enjoy the Forest and stay warm!  Until next time, this has been Steve Robertsen with the National Forest Update.
 

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NSHCF Logo

North Shore Health Care Foundation Update - Valerie Eliasen

North Shore Morning host Brian Neil talks with North Shore Health Care Foundation Executive Director, Valerie Eliasen for a report on the February NSHCF Board meeting.

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Snow flea. Photo by Don Henise on Flickr via Creative Commons, creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.

North Woods Naturalist: Snow fleas

WTIP's CJ Heithoff talks with naturalist Chel Anderson about Springtails, also known as snow fleas, in this edition of North Woods Naturalist.

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Hoar Frost Photo by Fran Smith

Wildersmith on the Gunflint - February 7

Wildersmith on the Gunflint     by    Fred Smith
February 7, 2020    

It seems the rush of 2020 has not diminished from that of 2019. One twelfth is into the books, and month two is a week old. By weekend’s closing, the Ojibwe, full “Sucker moon” will have reached the pinnacle as winter meanders along in border country.                                                         
 

Speaking of winter, the season looks to be one day longer than usual with this being “leap year.” While calendar settings don’t usually reconcile with what really happens in this neck of the woods, we can look forward to more than another six weeks. Local wood chucks slumbered right through “Ground Hog Day” and likely only dreamed of coming out to see if a shadow was cast.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
As an example of seasonal twists and turns, last weekend looked to be reasonably calm with warm temps. In fact the local forecast called for “mostly cloudy.” To show atmospheric  prognostication is not a pure science, the upper Trail awoke Sunday morning to a new six inch blanket of “mostly cloudy” in the Wildersmith neighborhood, with the likelihood of even more along the Trail “snow zones.”                                                                                                                                                                            

In fairness to those who make a living predicting those percentage chances of this or that, I can predict a 100% chance, the elements of “Mother Nature’s” realm are in charge with meteorologists just watching and hoping like the rest of us.                                                                          
 

As I mentioned, the area being under a siege of warmer than usual temperatures, a look back at the first few days of February 2019, found the readings along the Mile O Pine were an actual teeth chattering minus 35 to 40F. Here we are three hundred sixty five days later with the mercury hovering near the freezing mark at the time of this scribing last Sunday. Easy math totals a near seventy degree swing. What difference a year can make.                                                                                                           
 

At the same time we Gunflint folk are looking at extended cold season days ahead, there seems to be some spring-like rumblings going on in the bowels of “mother earth.” It seems that those jaw jarring dips, in any number of culvert locations along the Trail, are growing more conspicuous, earlier than expected. If regular Trail travelers haven’t already found out the hard way, a word to the wise, beware, those asphalt undulations are about to test every connection in your vehicle.                                                                                                                                                
 

The fluffy dropping of last weekend coupled with a visit from “Jack Frost”, has had our wild country in splendid white lace attire. “Mr. Frost” was around for several days doing his version of “Pleine  Aire” hoar-frost creations. The actual exhibit found a new touch of crystal being added each day before snow puffs were piled back on each and every forest extremity. I must say, Jack’s effort this time around was an exhibit of “Best in Show”.                                                                                                   

There was a howling in the woods last Saturday and it wasn’t from the local wolf pack. An unusual sunny Gunflint winter day of late found the annual running of the Cook County Ridge Riders Snowmobile Club “fun run.” Sledders were a blur as they sped by the Smith shore line, taking advantage of wide open spaces on the Gunflint Lake to burn the cobs out. Hope everyone had good day and return to the start safely!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
The club’s next event will be their Drag races beginning at noon, Saturday the 15th on Hungry Jack Lake. Check their website for more details.                                                                                            
 

In closing, I predict there’s a 100% chance love will be in the air next weekend. It’s a time of bouquets, hearts and chocolates! Be ready to honor your Valentine!                                                                                 
 

For WTIP, this is Wildersmith on the Gunflint, where every day is great, with wilderness surprises, always in the making!
 

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Michelle Schroeder_Photo submitted by MS

Backpacking 101 - Michelle Schroeder - February

Backpacking 101 by Michelle Schroeder.
February 2020

In this edition, Michelle discusses how and why to keep your food safely out of a bear's reach while camping.

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