North Shore News Hour

A group of energetic kayakers pulled up in the Grand Marais harbor on August 2 -- four, to be exact. The men stopped in Grand Marais during their journey around Lake Superior. They launched from Marquette Michigan on May 21.

WTIP’s Rhonda Silence was there to greet them to learn about the adventure they have undertaken. Here in their own words, are Ryan, Drew, Jared and Karol of Four the Water. 

Track their progress online here. 

The National Park Service is considering changes to the quiet Windigo visitor center at Isle Royale National Park. The park service is working on a concept plan and environmental assessment for upgraded and new facilities at the 400-acre Windigo complex.

The Park Service says the changes are necessary due to a recent increase in visitors, which is stressing the capacity of the existing facilities. According to the Park Service, visitors to Isle Royale have increased by approximately 87 percent over the last three years. Isle Royale hosts between 15,000 – 20,000 visitors per year.

Approximately 90 percent of Isle Royale is wilderness, so there is a sense of remoteness upon arrival at Windigo. Because of this, the park service proposal notes that visitors don’t have the sense that they have arrived at a national park.

The proposal calls for necessary structural and utility repairs, such as replacement of the aging concession store building and aging septic system, fire suppression improvements, enhanced trails and relocation of the small access road to the dock.

The plan also calls for aesthetic improvements, such as expanded space for displays at the visitor center, better interpretive signage on trails, changing the appearance of the facilities, which are a mix of architectural styles and clearing vegetation obscuring the view of facilities.

In addition, the plan calls for construction of up to four new camper cabins and the relocation of a cabin from Johns Island as a new interpretive site.

The Park Service is accepting comments now until August 20. Click here for more information. 

WTIP’s Rhonda Silence spoke with Liz Valencia, chief of interpretation and cultural resources at Isle Royale National Park, about the concept plan. 

It is always a challenge to get a school ready for a new school year. Great Expectations School in Grand Marais had an additional obstacle this year with the delay of delivery of one of the modular units being used in this summer's expansion of the school building. 

All is going well now, says GES Director Peter James, and Rhonda Silence finds out more in this interview. 

According to Patrick Johnson, the assistant fire management officer for the Gunflint and Tofte Districts on the Superior National Forest, the fire near Ogishkemuncie Lake is now considered controlled. 

FMO Johnson said the crews that were camping on site stayed through this morning, Friday, August 3 to monitor and mop up any smoldering vegetation. Crews are paddling back across Seagull Lake today. 

August 1, 2018
WTIP was contacted Aug. 1 by the U.S. Forest Service with an update on the wildfire burning in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness about six miles southwest of Seagull Lake.
According to Patrick Johnson, the assistant fire management officer for the Gunflint and Tofte Districts on the Superior National Forest, Tuesday night's rain showers, which continued into Wednesday morning,  played a major role in helping out with containment efforts. The rain didn’t do enough to completely extinguish the fire, but it dramatically reduced any threat the fire posed, Johnson said.
“We’re making really good progress on containing the fire,” Johnson said. “The rain did nothing but help.”
A crew of 10 firefighters is currently camped on Ogishkemuncie Lake while containment efforts continue. They will likely remain on the site until this weekend, Johnson said.
On July 30, a lightning-caused wildfire was detected on the south/southwest side of  Ogishkemuncie Lake. Until last night’s rain showers, the fire had been creeping and smoldering in a mix of conifer and hardwood trees. 
Johnson said this area is a travel route in the BWCA, so please be mindful of fire crews if you’re traveling through the area. You may also encounter aircraft in the area. Firefighter and public safety are the most important priorities in all wildfire response, Johnson said, and due to the remote setting of this fire, the suppression efforts will be undertaken deliberately with life safety in mind.
There are no closures in or near the Boundary Waters at this time as a result of the fire.
 

The Grand Marais City Council covered a number of topics at the July 25 council meeting. There was discussion on the North House Folk School lease agreement with the city, a Gunflint Hills Golf Course update, a look at the Grand Marais Public Library budget and more. 

Rhonda Silence talks with Grand Marais Mayor Jay Arrowsmith DeCoux about the council's discussion and decisions. 

A year ago there was significant discussion of the North House Folk School’s lease with the city of Grand Marais. That discussion continued at the most recent meeting of the Grand Marais City Council.

Back in August 2017, Greg Wright of North House Folk School appeared before the city council to answer questions about a folk school request to extend its lease for use the waterfront property.

The city of Grand Marais owns the property on which the North House Folk School is located. The city leases the harbor side property to the school for approximately $7,000 annually.

North House’s current is lease for 25 years, of which 11 years now remain.

The lease agreement also outlines performance criteria for North House, in areas such as enrollment, campus management and financial strength. Under the agreement, if North House meets or exceeds these performance criteria by 2029 when the lease period ends, North House has the option to renew the lease for another 25 years.

However, in the meantime, North House has made a request to change the lease time frame by either:

1. Extending the term of the existing lease to 50 years
2. Extending the term of the existing lease to 50 years with an automatic renewal option, provided the folk school meet agreed upon performance criteria OR
3. Extending the term of the existing lease to 99 years.

North House listed ways that the school and its mission match the city’s strategic planning efforts and value statements, such as providing jobs, ways to get people moving and opportunities to be outdoors.

No decision was made back in August 2017 and City Administrator Mike Roth told WTIP it is a good time to review the list and restart the discussion, as the city has a new attorney and there are two new councilors on board.

Rhonda Silence shares more on the city discussion of the North House Folk School lease with the city.
 

Cook County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue crews mobilized for what could have been a massive rescue operation just after noon on Friday, July 27. Fortunately it turned out to be a false alarm.

The call came in to the Cook County 9-1-1 dispatch reporting a person in distress near North Cone Lake, which is north of Brule Lake in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW). The call came from an emergency signal beacon device.

However, according to Emergency Management Director Valerie Marasco, the user of the beacon was able to transmit that it was a false alarm and Search and Rescue was cancelled.
 

The Grand Marais Lions Club has been hosting the Fisherman's Picnic in Grand Marais for decades. This year's event will be August 2 - 5, but the Lions begin their preparations long before that. 

WTIP talked with Lions Bob Laine and Stuart Jackson about their work with the Lions--and about the Fisherburger stand. There may--or may not--even be some singing of the famed Ray From Fishburger Song. 

Here's Rhonda Silence with the Lions. 
 

Care Partners of Cook County provides support and services to help clients and their families  address the transitions of aging, serious illness and end of life with safety, dignity, and confidence.

Care Partners offers services such as Chore Partners and Caregiver Coffees. The organization also helped create the Dementia Friendly Cook County program. 

To help fund the work of Care Partners, a beautiful 89-by-89 inch quilt by Carol Harris is being raffled. The quilt is on display at Drury Lane Books. Tickets are on sale at Drury Lane Books, Java Moose, Buck's Hardware and Trail Center.

WTIP volunteer Marnie McMillan learns more about Care Partners, its services and some fun upcoming activities in this interview. 

The Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa members elected to the Reservation Tribal Council in June have officially taken their seats. The Minnesota Chippewa Tribe marks July 9 as the first day on the job for new council members.

Joining the council for the Committee Person I seat is William “Bill” Myers. John Morrin returns to his Committee Person II seat. And April McCormick assumes the secretary/treasurer position on the tribal council.

The Grand Portage Tribal Council consists of a chairman, vice chairman, secretary/treasurer, and two committee members. All positions are four-year terms.

The Tribal Council is the governing body of Grand Portage. The enrolled members of the band elect the tribal council officers who oversee health care, social services, education, jobs, housing, public safety, and more.