North Shore News Hour

Visit Cook County, the countywide tourism organization, gave a presentation to the Cook County Board of Commissioners in June. Visit Cook County Executive Director Linda Jurek and Financial and Administrative Manager Lily Nelson-Pedersen shared the history of their organization and about what is ahead, which includes a renewal of the county-collected 1 percent lodging tax.

To extend the lodging tax past its sunset date of October 2023, Visit Cook County needs to go back to the Minnesota Legislature. Before doing so, it must gain the endorsement of the Cook County Commissioners.

At the June meeting, the representatives shared that Visit Cook County started as the Cook County Events and Visitors Bureau in November 2008 with the approval of the 1 percent county-collected lodging tax, which is paid by visitors spending the night in local hotels and resorts. The lodging tax sunsets in October 2023.

The CCEVB became Visit Cook County in 2010 when three tourism groups—Grand Marais Tourism Association, the Gunflint Trail Association, and the Lutsen-Tofte Tourism Association—joined forces, along with business partners, Lutsen Mountains and Grand Portage Lodge and Casino.

Jurek and Nelson-Pedersen shared what they know about the establishment of the 1 percent lodging tax, which is unique to Cook County. Jurek points out that neither she nor Lily were there when the tax was enacted through special legislation. However, she stressed that this is not a tax that county residents pay. It is what is charged to guests at county lodging facilities.

This 1 percent local lodging tax is in addition to the 3 percent lodging tax that was already being collected by the State of Minnesota. The 3 percent state tax is strictly earmarked for tourism promotion. The county’s 1 percent lodging tax is designated for events, such as support for the Moose Madness Festival in the fall or the waterfalls tour in the spring.

Nelson-Pedersen said these events are geared toward bringing people to the county in the off-seasons, in hopes to stabilize business for the lodging community.

Jurek also noted that these events are also enjoyed by community members, such as the Oh Ole Night holiday celebration and demonstrations at the Cook County Historical Society’s Bally’s Blacksmith Shop. Jurek said some of the area nonprofits that host events have come to rely on financial support from Visit Cook County.

Jurek also stressed that the campaigns in the last year have recognized the difficulties that the community faced during the coronavirus pandemic. She said because of COVID-19, the organization had to pivot its marketing to focus on education and letting visitors know and understand what to expect when visiting the community. She said they are also working to let visitors know about the staff shortages and weekday closures of many restaurants.

WTIP’s Rhonda Silence sat down with Visit Cook County Executive Director Linda Jurek and Financial and Administrative Manager Lily Nelson-Pedersen to learn more about all of this. Here’s their conversation. 
 

WTIP has some very important breaking news for anyone heading into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Effective today, July 9, campfires are prohibited in the Boundary Waters wilderness and at dispersed campsites outside the wilderness. 

The Forest Service says the following are prohibited:
Igniting, building, maintaining, attending or using a campfire, fire including charcoal grills and barbecues, or coal or wood-burning stoves.

The use of a camp stove solely fueled by liquid petroleum or propane is still allowed.

Until this restriction is lifted, campfires are only allowed in approved fire structures that have been installed and maintained by the Forest Service in fee campgrounds, such as the Two Island or Devil Track campground. See the list of fee campgrounds here.

All other campfires are prohibited.

This ban on campfires will remain in effect until terminated by the Forest Supervisor.

The campfire ban follows the closure of some areas of the BWCA due to a fire in the Ely area. Because of the fire known as the Delta Fire, BWCA closures are now in effect at entry points: #56-Kekekabic Trail East and #74-Kekekabic Trail West/Snowbank. 
Also closed are following lakes, campsites, and portages: Parent, Disappointment, Jitterbug, Ahsub, Becoosin, Benezie, Adventure, Rifle, Bridge, Fire, Drag Primitive Management Area.

In keeping with the WTIP "Rock Steady" summer pledge drive theme, WTIP roving reporter Rhonda Silence asked a number of people this question: What's your favorite rock? 

Click to hear the rockin' replies. 
 

The American Legion Silver Bay/Cook County Baseball teams hosted Eveleth at Arleigh Jorgenson field on Thursday, July 8.  The Vikings came away with a pair of one-run wins.

The junior Vikings jumped out a big lead in the first game and held on to win 7-6.  Jacob Carpenter pitched all seven innings for the Vikings, notching 5 strikeouts. Paul Dorr led the offense with 3 hits, 3 RBIs, and 2 runs scored.

The senior Vikings then won in walk-off fashion in eight innings, thanks to DJ Seidel.  The final was 5-4.  Ero Wallin started the game for the Vikings and pitched 7.1 innings, striking out 9.

The junior team plays a doubleheader on July 9 in Aurora.

The senior team plays next on Friday, July 16 at home vs. Ely.

WTIP’s Rhonda Silence checked in with Baseball Coach Arleigh Jorgenson to find out how the American Legion season has been going so far. Have the sometimes-rival athletes from Cook County and Silver Bay found their rhythm? Who are the senior players enjoying this last season. Click to hear their conversation. 

Photos courtesy of Renee Buryanek for Cook County Baseball

**UPDATE - 9:20 a.m. **
The Cook County Sheriff's Office has announced that 9-1-1 service has been restored. If you are still experiencing problems with your phone, contact your telephone service provider. 
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Phone service to the emergency 911 number is currently unavailable in some telephone exchanges across Cook County.

In the event that anyone requires emergency assistance, the Sheriff’s Office asks residents to go to the following locations where responders who are connected to 911 Dispatch through the ARMER radio network will be available:

• Cook County Sheriff’s Office - 143 Gunflint Trail
• Grand Portage Fire Department - 102 Store Rd (those with phone service in Grand Portage can also call the clinic at 475-2235 for access to 91)
• Hovland Fire Department - 5059 East Highway 61
• Maple Hill Fire Department at Devil Track - 619 Devil Track Road
• Maple Hill Fire Department at Gunflint - 1392 Gunflint Trail
• Schroeder Fire Department – 124 Cramer Road
• Tofte Fire Department – 7240 Tofte Park Road
• Lutsen Fire Department –116 Caribou Trail

The Cook County Sheriff’s Office is not yet aware of what is causing the disruption to 911 service.

If you type “housing” in the search bar on the WTIP website, hundreds of archived stories will pop up. Housing has been a topic of discussion in board meetings of every branch of local government for decades. It seems we all know someone who wants to live and work in Cook County, but can’t find a home.

As government entities consider ways to help create housing—through zoning changes, possible tax breaks for developers, and the establishment of a Housing Redevelopment Authority—there are small projects happening now.

Some community members have seen the need for housing and have done something about it. WTIP is reaching out to some of these builders and developers to learn more about some small projects that have been done.

WTIP’s Rhonda Silence asks for their definition of affordability. What are the obstacles to building housing? What has been helpful?

Once a week we’ll share what we’ve learned. Here’s the third in this series featuring Anna Hamilton of Hamilton Habitat, Inc., who along with her sister, Sarah Hamilton, has developed four homes for local residents and is working on more.    

Learn more about other workforce housing projects here: 

Working to build workforce housing: a motel conversion

Working to build workforce housing: Matt Groth of Grand Marais Construction
 

More and more people are ordering everyday items online these days. And more and more of those packages are processed through the Grand Marais Post Office. Unfortunately, some companies do not accept a post office box as a mailing address—and the post office cannot deliver to a post office box without that box number.

It has caused confusion and angst for some customers.

WTIP’s Rhonda Silence spoke with Grand Marais Postmaster Brennin Hill to get some tips on getting those packages delivered properly. Here’s their conversation.
 

Since our very first broadcast, WTIP Community Radio has enjoyed interacting with the youth of our community.
We have had young people in the studio for youth radio projects and to give us the latest school news report. We have reported on sporting events, plays, and of course graduation ceremonies. And we periodically check in with these Cook County graduates as they’ve gone on to interesting adventures and important careers in a series called Where Are They Now?
 
In this segment, WTIP’s Rhonda Silence speaks with Elsa Lunde, a 2019 graduate who is still in college but finding important work in the community as the Cook County Firewise Coordinator.
 
Elsa grew up in Cook County and is currently a student at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN. She is working on a double major in biology and environmental studies.
 
Elsa tells WTIP that being Firewise and educating the public on the importance of fire is very important to her. She is looking forward to working with the many motivated home and property owners who want to prepare the Gunflint Trail for its next wildfire. 
 
In the interview, Elsa shares information on two upcoming Firewise events.
 
On Monday, July 5 at 6:00 p.m., Jim Morrison the Gunflint Trail Fire Chief, will be presenting the Gunflint Trail Evacuation Plan at Fire Hall 1. The current plan is to have the presentation in person, but a remote option can be arranged. Contact Elsa for information on that.  
 
On Wednesday, July 7 at 1:00 p.m., there will be a Firewise assessment/demonstration training in Ely. The training is to certify Firewise Evaluators.  A Firewise evaluator conducts evaluations of homes across the county for $15 per evaluation in the summer through early fall. If you have knowledge of trees/plants and wildfire and are interested in becoming an evaluator, please contact Elsa for further details. 
 
Firewise Coordinator Elsa Lunde can be reached at 218-370-8966 or by email to: [email protected]
 
Information on the Firewise program can also be found on the Cook County Firewise webpage.

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If you know of someone with ties to our North Shore community that could be featured in our Where Are They Now series, please contact Rhonda by calling 218-387-`1070 or email [email protected]

Where are They Now is made possible in part with funding from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

 If you are planning a trip to High Falls or the Grand Portage National Monument in the coming months, you should be prepared for possible delays. There is road construction underway from Reservation River Road to the US/Canadian Border, a distance of approximately 17 miles. 
 
Motorists in this Minnesota Department of Transportation Grand Portage project area should expect temporary lane and shoulder closures, flagger/pilot car operations, and a single lane bypass at Hollow Rock Creek with a temporary signal. 
 
There are also be temporary closures of the pull-off spots at Wayswaugoing Bay, Grand Portage, and Hovland to allow for pavement resurfacing.

The contractor for MnDOT, Northland Constructors, is reconstructing the Hollow Rock Creek bridge, making some intersection safety improvements, and reclaiming/resurfacing the highway. The work on the bridge at Hollow Rock Creek should be complete on August 7. The pavement reclamation and intersection work should all be finished by the end of August. 

More information and updates can be found on the MnDOT Grand Portage project website. 

WTIP’s Rhonda Silence checked in with MnDOT Project Engineer Samantha Anderson to learn more about the Grand Portage project.
 
 

The reconstruction of Highway 61 through the City of Grand Marais has been progressing on schedule according to Minnesota Department of Transportation Project Engineer Edward Welch.

The “big dig,” the removal of soils contaminated by gas stations that operated decades ago, is complete.  There is a bit more water and sewer line work to be done in the area west of 3rd Avenue, but that should be complete in a few weeks. Highway 61 east of 3rd Avenue should be open in mid-July.

However, the stretch between 8th Avenue and 3rd will continue to be one lane of traffic. There is major excavating on that section, with the installation of a retaining wall for the multiuse path along the side of the highway. When the work is done on the lakeside of Highway 61 the contractor will begin work on the other side. Motorists can expect the single-lane, one-way traffic in that section until sometime in September.

MnDOT has also informed the City of Grand Marais that a change order is necessary for some of the waterline work. Different materials are needed, adding approximately $27,000 to the city’s cost.

WTIP’s Rhonda Silence spoke with Project Engineer Edward Welch about all this.