Community Conversations

The mental illness revolving door is a state-wide concern and the emergency room isn’t a good place for people in mental health crises – now, there is a new, much needed alternative.

Join WTIP’s Jay Andersen for “Birch Tree Center— helping to meet our mental health needs” this month’s First Thursday Community Conversation. Program guests are a Who’s Who of mental health care professionals in the Arrowhead.

Birch Tree Center is the product of more than two years of collaboration among hospitals, police, tribes and mental health centers across the region as well as government officials.

Many of those key players will be on the air for “Birch Tree Center— helping to meet our mental health needs” this month’s First Thursday Community Conversation. Only on WTIP North Shore Community Radio.

Two young Cook County women go beneath the surface to talk about their art and their spirituality on a special edition of WTIP’s Fifth Thursday Conversations.

Join Jay Andersen with guests poet Amy Woschek Schmidt and singer-songwriter Maria Nickolay for an hour of reading, music and conversation about creativity.

“Poems, Songs and Spirit” – This month’s Fifth Thursday Conversations. Only on WTIP North Shore Community Radio.

Are our local schools becoming more centralized due to state and federal mandates? Do standardized tests help or hinder teachers and their students? What does creating the world’s best workforce really mean?

Join WTIP’s  Jay Andersen when we explore the big picture of education as well as how two of our schools apply all those rules and policies. ISD166 Superintendent Beth Schwarz and Great Expectations Charter School Administrator Peter James talk about responding to the challenges of local education.

First Thursday Community Conversation – “Flexibility, Accountability and Creativity in Local Education.” Only on WTIP North Shore Community Radio.

As health care needs grow, treatments become more sophisticated and patients require a broader menu of choices, hospitals and care centers grow and change with the demands.

Join WTIP’s Jay Andersen for “Remodeling and Re-visioning North Shore Hospital and Care Center”– on Third Thursday Community Conversation.

The Cook County community first decided in 1958 to a levy that would build North Shore Hospital and Care Center. Over the years there have been many expansions, innovations and revisions. That time has arrived again.

Studio guests are hospital administrator Kimber Wraalstad, board member Kay Olson, maintenance supervisor Rory Smith and architect Ryan Turner.

Remodeling and Re-visioning North Shore Hospital and Care Center”– Third Thursday Community Conversation. Only on WTIP North Shore Community Radio.

Back to school time means time for students to update their vaccinations. There have been some changes at the state legislative level and some new guidelines as well.

Join WTIP’s Jay Andersen for First Thursday Community Conversation -- “Vaccines: who needs them, when and why.”

In the studio are Dr. Jenny Delfs, nurses Amy Marie Schmidt, from Sawtooth Mountain Clinic and Kay Borud from ISD166.

First Thursday Community Conversation -- “Vaccines: who needs them, when and why.” Only on WTIP North Shore Community Radio.

Emergencies can strike anytime, but summer is a good time to review your preparedness for severe weather, wildfires and other untimely events.

Join WTIP’s Jay Andersen for the August edition of First Thursday Community Conversation: “Preparing for Emergencies in Cook County.”
We’ll be joined by Gunflint Trail fire chief Jim Morrison, county Emergency Manager Jim Wiinanen, Sheriff Leif Lunde, and Carol Christenson, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, National Weather Service in Duluth.

First Thursday Community Conversation: “Preparing for Emergencies in Cook County.” Only on Wtip North Shore Community Radio.

Cook County is a long way from the Iron Range, so why do we reap the benefits of the taconite tax? If non-ferrous mining becomes a reality, who benefits from those taxes? What exactly is the mission of the IRRRB and after all is said and done, what does it mean to be a miner?

Join WTIP’s Jay Andersen for a special Fifth Thursday Community Conversation – “Mining the Mining Connection in Cook County.”

To better understand mining and its relationship to Cook County, we’ll be talking with District 3A Representative David Dill and Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Commissioner Tony Sertich.

“Mining the Mining Connection in Cook County.” Fifth Thursday Community Conversation. Only on WTIP North Shore Community Radio.

At last count there are over a dozen book groups meeting on a regular basis in Cook County. That’s a lot of readers reading and discussing what they’re reading.

Join Jay Andersen for the June edition of Third Thursday Community Conversation. He’s joined by book group members talking about what they’re reading, past and present, why they participate in groups as well as their insights into better reading -- and why in this increasingly digital age most of them continue to turn paper pages.

 “Reading, readers and book groups” -- Third Thursday Community Conversation. Only on WTIP North Shore Community Radio.

Will the ISD166 Cook County Schools campus be open or closed? How does the schools current policy on bullying match up with the new state legislation? How can a small school keep pace with technology?

Join WTIP’s Jay Andersen for this month’s edition of First Thursday Community Conversation – “A Close-up Look at ISD166.”
School board members Deb White and Jeanne Anderson will be in the studio with Superintendent Beth Schwarz and Principal Adam Nelson.

“A Close-up Look at ISD166” – First Thursday Community Conversation…only on WTIP North Shore Community Radio.
 

For over 20 years she’s been the Grand Marais Librarian. Now she’s decided to put that book back on the shelf and retire.

Join WTIP’s Jay Andersen for Third Thursday Community Conversation when he sits down with librarian Linda Chappell. They’ll talk about the changing role of public libraries, the challenges and opportunities … and a look back on the history of our own library and the part Linda has played in its growth and success.

“A Conversation with Grand Marais Librarian Linda Chappell,” Third Thursday. Only on WTIP North Shore Community Radio.