North Shore News Hour

There are new owners at 1010 Interiors in Grand Marais. Scott Tjaden and Janet Arneson bought the interior design company from LeAnn Wilborne about six months ago. They have settled in at the large building on the east side of Grand Marais and were ready to give WTIP a tour. 

Here's Rhonda Silence with a report on that visit. 

Four fire departments were paged to the scene of a fire just after 6:23 p.m. this evening, August 14. The initial report said a structure at 4 County Road 34, or Rollins Creek Road, in Lutsen, was fully engulfed in flames.

As the Lutsen and Tofte Fire Department approached and saw the amount of smoke visible from the roadway, firefighters requested support from the Grand Marais and Schroeder Fire Departments.

On arrival they found a house and a bunkhouse, as well as surrounding trees on fire. Support from the U.S. Forest Service was requested to prevent the fire from spreading further into the woods.

All four fire departments were on scene by 7 p.m. and tender trucks filled water tanks, shuttling back and forth to the emergency hydrant at Lutsen Resort. By 7:10, the danger of the fire spreading to the trees was lessened and the fire fighters said the Forest Service crew would not be needed. As a precaution, two Forest Service crews responded, one from Tofte and one from Grand Marais.

The Grand Marais Fire Department was released from the scene at about 8 p.m. and the West End fire departments remained on scene to ensure that the fire does not re-ignite.

The two structures are a total loss. The co-owners of the property, Anne Bryant Wight and John Wight, informed the Cook County Sheriff’s Office that there should not have been anyone at the house.  

The cause of the fire is unknown at this time. The State Fire Marshal has been contacted.

WTIP will provide more information as it becomes available.
 

Academic researcher Carolyn Dry, Ph.D moved to Grand Marais because she loves the city on the North Shore. She brought along some interesting ideas and has opened a small branch office of her Winona, Minnesota business, Natural Process Design, Inc. 

Working with her this summer are three college student interns.

Carolyn's mission is to protect the environment through scientific research, attempting to build as if you are part of nature. 

WTIP's Rhonda Silence visited her to learn more about her operations here in Grand Marais. 

Arrowhead Cooperative has announced a scheduled power outage that will affect members on the Maple Hill Substation – Circuit 2 on Wednesday, August 15.

This outage will also affect True North Internet service, but True North phone service will be available (if the phones do not require power to operate).

This outage will impact members on the following roads:
Gunflint Trail fire numbers 728 through 1487
Pincushion Drive
Cutoff Road
Old Ski Hill Road
Devil Track Road from the Maple Hill Substation East
Mort Meadows
Cougar Trail
Thomas Lane
School House Road 
Gunflint Hills Golf Course
Golf Course Road
Wahlstrom Road
Hawk Lane
Maple Hill Drive

Arrowhead Electric and TrueNorth apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and would like to thank customers for their continued support while Arrowhead line crews safely complete the maintenance in this area.
Anyone with questions or concerns, may contact the Arrowhead Cooperative office at 663-7239.
 

The Grand Marais City Council met on Wednesday, August 8 and although the agenda was small, there was good discussion about zoning issues. 

WTIP's Rhonda Silence talks to Grand Marais Mayor Jay Arrowsmith DeCoux to learn more about the meeting. 

Conservationist with Common Sense (CWCS) is a nonprofit organization based in Ely, Minnesota. According to CWCS President Nancy McReady, the CWCS mission is to educate the public in order to preserve reasonable public access to and sensible recreational multiple-use of public lands and waters (including motorized uses) in Northeastern Minnesota, especially the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW), with care for the environment.

CWCS was established in 1989 and has been involved in a variety of issues, lending support to logging projects, snowmobile and ATV trails, and more. CWCS has been involved in a number of lawsuits working to maintain the Chain of Lake use permit quotas and returning vehicle use to Prairie and trout Lake Portages and more.

CWCS also has voiced concern about the School Trust Lands in the BWCAW that do not generate revenue for the state’s schools.

In recent years, CWCS has been an advocate for mining outside the BWCAW and has worked closely with Up North Jobs and Mining Minnesota. CWCSsupports the environmental impact statement process and permitting of both the PolyMet and Twin Metals mining projects.

During his visit to Duluth Wednesday, Aug. 8, Vice President Mike Pence claimed the proposed copper-nickel mines in the region were likely to move forward, including the statement “take it to the bank,” in reference to the mines.

WTIP’s Rhonda Silence spoke with CWCS president McReady to share her thoughts on the vice-president’s comments, as well as an update on the issue that CWCS is involved in.
 

Grand Portage is the busiest place in Cook County this weekend, with events taking place at the Grand Portage National Monument and at the Grand Portage PowWow grounds. A great deal of pagentry and history to enjoy and all are welcome. 

WTIP's Rhonda Silence speaks with one of the Grand Portage PowWow arena managers, Jared Swader, to learn more about the traditional powwow kicking off on Friday, August 10. 

For more information about the Grand Portage Rendezvous Day Powwow, click here. 

Photo courtesy of Mary Ann Gagnon

The 50 Over 50 list created by AARP and Pollen celebrates and recognizes Minnesotans over the age of 50 who have made significant contributions and achievements in their communities.

People from across Minnesota were asked to nominate leaders in their community in one of five categories: arts & culture, nonprofit, business, community building, and disruption. 

A cohort of distinguished peers then took on the near impossible task of narrowing down the list to fifty of the most inspiring and accomplished leaders from across the state.

Ann Possis – a WTIP Community Radio board member, producer of the weekly Roadhouse program, and often-times on-air personality – has been named to the 50 Over 50 list, recognized for her work with nonprofit organizations like WTIP, the Grand Marais Art Colony, Planned Parenthood and others.

WTIP’s Rhonda Silence sat down with Ann to learn more about her nonprofit work and about the award.

To see the inspiring list of 50 Over 50 honorees, click here.
 

Each year during Fisherman’s Picnic, the Grand Marais Lions Club announces the Cook County Citizen of the Year. Honorees are nominated by the community and this year’s award goes to Frances “Frankie” Jarchow of Grand Marais.

Frankie was nominated by a number of friends and neighbors, people who have worked with her on a number of volunteer boards and commissions.

Frankie has served on the Active Living Steering Committee, Safe Routes to School Committee, Public Health and Human Service Advisory Board, Carlton-Cook-Lake-St. Louis Community Health Board, Cook County Community Center Board of Trustees, the Grand Marais Garden Club, and the Cook County Tennis Association and likely several others.

Some of the comments the Grand Marais Lions received regarding her nomination were:
 “Frankie is also currently the chair for the Cook County Community Center Board of Trustees. She does a great job of advocating for the Community Center and I appreciate her leadership with the Board.”
Diane Booth, Cook County Extension and Community Center
 
"Frankie Jarchow's life-long commitment to the health and wellness of her community and herself is inspirational. She shows up, is a positive force, and contributes meaningfully. We are all better off because of Frankie Jarchow."
Sue Hakes
 
"Frankie Jarchow is a one woman powerhouse at not far from 90 years old! She can run circles around me and the number of committees I am on and participate in. I look forward to meetings with her because she gets things done and is a kind and thoughtful participant. If you look at her work you will see she covers the gamut of community service and work to support her community. She does not have a single mission or agenda- her mission is to move Cook County ahead.”
Heidi Doo-Kirk

"Frankie has served the community as a member of the Cook County PHHS Advisory Committee for the last six years..Frankie’s passion for supporting healthy communities is evidenced in participation and her ability to give voice to the essential perspective of a community member.
We are honored to nominate Frankie Jarchow for this award in appreciation for her service to the community and her work to help support the mission of Cook County PHHS, supporting the health, safety and well-being of the community"
Alison McIntyre
Cook County Public Health and Human Services Director
Joni Kristenson
Cook County Public Health Nurse
Carla LaPointe
Cook County Public Health and Human Services Advisory Committee Chair
Jerry Lilja
Cook County Public Health and Human Services Advisory Committee Vice Chair
 
WTIP’s Rhonda Silence spoke with this year’s Citizen of the Year. Here’s her conversation with Frankie.
 
All photos courtesy of Safe Routes to School Committee