North Shore News Hour

If you live in or visit Cook County, it is likely that you’ve encountered Eleanor Waha somewhere. Eleanor has been volunteering in the community for decades in several places.

She is now a volunteer with the RSVP program, administered by the Senior Corps of Minnesota. The RSVP Program provides an opportunity for volunteers to put their skills, talents, and life experiences into motion for others – and benefit our Minnesota communities in the process. Sharing the skills they have spent years developing, RSVP volunteers like Eleanor put those skills into practice to improve the lives of community members throughout the state.

Eleanor and Nancy Frischmann, coordinator of the RSVP program in Cook County, recently visited with WTIP volunteer Barb Heidemann to share more information on the RSVP program – and a bit of information on Eleanor’s work through the years.

WTIP file photo

There was a great turnout for the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) open house on Tuesday, February 27. MnDOT presented plans for the reconstruction of the highway through the city. About 90 citizens gathered to look at maps and to ask questions of MnDOT officials and representatives of the City of Grand Marais. 

There were questions about pedestrian bump outs, parking, and about the trees that currently line the highway as it goes through the city.  

To see the proposed highway project, visit the MnDOT website. 

WTIP's Rhonda Silence caught up with Grand Marais Mayor Jay Arrowsmith DeCoux after the open house to get his thoughts on the highway redesign project. 

The Cook County Sheriff’s Office has released the details on a two-vehicle crash that occurred on South Gunflint Lake Road on Sunday, February 18.

Just before 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Theodore Clement, 29, of Grove Springs, Missouri, was heading east in a Honda CRV toward the Gunflint Lodge on County Road 50, South Gunflint Lake Road. Clement lost traction and his car began to fishtail.

Another vehicle, a Ford Explorer, driven by Tonia Donahue, 49, of St. Paul, was headed west. Donahue attempted to maneuver around the Honda to avoid an accident, but was not able to do so. The Explorer hit the rear, driver’s side of the Honda CRV, tearing the tire off the vehicle.

The Ford experienced damage to the driver’s side on the front.

Both drivers and the other occupants of the Ford Explorer -- Christopher Donahue, 48, of St. Paul, along with two juvenile females and a yellow Lab -- were shaken, but not injured. They were transported to Gunflint Lodge where Gunflint emergency responders checked them over. No transport by ambulance was needed.

Both vehicles suffered too much damage to drive and were towed.

The Cook County Sheriff’s Office says drugs and alcohol were not a factor in the crash.

Medical responders and firefighters from Gunflint Trail Fire Department Hall 2, along with Cook County Sheriff’s Office responded.
 

At the last meeting of the Grand Marais City Council, councilmembers considered the feedback it has received to date on the city’s stormwater management plan.

Last week the city’s consultants, EOR, created and distributed a map of downtown Grand Marais illustrating the area and extent of flooding in downtown Grand Marais.  The consultants asked for feedback from the public, asking, “What level of flooding is acceptable to you?”

The council used the feedback on that question to set a preliminary goal for its tolerance of flooding depth and duration in the municipal parking lot and downtown area. After quite a bit of discussion, the council agreed that the city could tolerate flooding of up to 12 inches for 12 hours.

Councilors noted that of course no flooding in the business area would be wonderful, but because of the topography of the area and Lake Superior's water level, that is not realistic. They noted that the 12 for 12 guideline is a starting point. 

Based on the city’s goal, EOR will prepare a list of projects and costs for a stormwater management plan.

Visit the Stormwater Management Plan section of the city's website where you can see the drainage area map and submit comments. 

Rhonda Silence spoke with Manager Jay Arrowsmith DeCoux about the city's decision. 

There were a number of personnel matters on the Grand Marais City Council agenda during the last meeting of January. Rhonda Silence learns more in this interview. 

Anyone who would like more information on the new Assistant Manager/Director of Communications position or any other city matter can find more information by calling 218-387-1848 or by emailing [email protected]. 

Among a number of other things on the horizon for the city of Grand Marais, a Highway 61 corridor reconstruction through the city is pending. The project is still in the planning stages, but it was touched on at the last city council meeting. 

Rhonda Silence learns a bit more about the plans in this interview with Mayor Jay Arrowsmith DeCoux. 

Due to weather conditions, the facilitators for the Community Storytelling session are unable to come to Cook County. The session scheduled for tonight has been rescheduled to Monday, January 22. 

In October 2017, the local school district was confronted with a disturbing pattern of racist bullying which led to a local family of four moving away from Cook County.

The topic of racial harassment and bullying was discussed at several school board meetings and at meetings of the Cook County Commissioners. A rally was held in downtown Grand Marais by citizens seeking change. The Cook County Sheriff’s Office issued a strong anti-bullying and harassment statement.

Looking for ways to prevent future incidents, School District 166 teachers reached out to the Minnesota Educators Academy. The School District is now working with the Educators Academy to bring the F.I.R.E. program to school staff, as well the general public.
FIRE stands for facing inequities and racism in education.

For the public, ISD 166 decided to take part in a Community Storytelling Series, which is meant to provide an interactive, sustainable framework for racial equity for all members of a school community. 

The complete Storytelling Series includes ten, 60-90 minute storytelling modules.  The first session was held at the end of December, a second is now Monday, January 22.

The community is encouraged to attend this second session, Monday, January 22 from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Cook County Schools cafeteria at 101 West 5^th Street in Grand Marais.

After the first session, WTIP’s Rhonda Silence spoke with a community member who attended the meeting, Robert Nicholson of Grand Marais. Here’s an excerpt from that interview. 
 

Typically tamaracks drop their needles in winter much the same as deciduous trees…but sometimes they don’t. WTIP’s Jay Andersen talks with North Woods Naturalist Chel Anderson about something different: tamaracks.
 

Need a story to brighten your day?  Rhonda Silence talks with a very special young man.

David Popilek, a.k.a. Jacques La Christian, 1800's French Canadian Voyageur will appear at the Grand Marais Library on Friday, December 8th at 1:30pm.

CJ Heithoff talks with Jacques...