North Shore News Hour
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Genre:
News
The North Shore News Hour includes up-to-the minute weather, North Shore happenings in local news, sports and entertainment, as well as a variety of features from WTIP staff and volunteers. If you miss the North Shore News Hour at noon, tune in for a replay Monday through Thursday beginning at 5:00 p.m.
What's On:
Baseball splits week with one loss, one win
Rhonda Silence-Cook County Vikings baseball had two games last week, starting with a loss against the South Ridge Panthers at home, but finishing with a win over the Northeast Range Nighthawks on the road.
At the game on April 27, the Vikings were down 8-0. They started getting their rhythm against a powerful, practiced pitcher and scored twice, but ended up losing to South Ridge 12-5.
Coach Arleigh Jorgenson said it was a great experience for pitchers Kole Anderson and Isaac Sandstrom, who both had the opportunity to pitch against the strong Panther batters.
It was a completely different story on April 29 when the Vikings traveled to Soudan to face the Northeast Range Nighthawks. Patrick Pierre was back from injury and pitched an impressive game with a single, a double, and a triple. Coach Jorgenson said Pierre was the all-star of the game.
Coach Jorgenson said the Vikings were great on offense with Riley Tarver, Tait Crawford, Amos Falter and DJ Seidel all getting multiple hits.
The Vikings claimed victory 12-2, in five innings.
Coach Jorgenson said it was a really good win, especially considering it was earned on an away field after a long bus ride.
Looking ahead, it is another busy week for Vikings baseball. The team will have three games at home on Arleigh Jorgenson Field. The Vikes play Esko on Tuesday, May 4, and Moose Lake/Willow River on Thursday, May 6. Both of those games start at 4 p.m.
The Vikings also face some of their summer league teammates on Friday, May 7, also at home against Silver Bay. That game is to make up one that was canceled by weather. It will start at 11 a.m.
WTIP's Rhonda Silence spoke with Coach Arleigh Jorgenson about the games played and the games ahead--and about employing some Yogi Berra philosophy.
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DNR fire danger rating for Cook County is HIGH
Rhonda Silence-Although Cook County is not listed in the Minnesota counties under the "Red Flag" warning issued by the National Weather Service yesterday and today, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has upgraded its fire danger to high on the North Shore.
The National Weather Service is advising that there are "near-critical" fire weather conditions this afternoon and evening, May 1.
The NWS predicts continued warm temperatures, in the upper 60s to upper 70s, west along with northwest winds of 10 to 15 miles per hour with gusts to 20 mph. Low relative humidity values of 20 to 35 percent add to the near-critical fire weather conditions.
Both the National Weather Service and the MN DNR caution that any fires may spread quickly in these conditions.
With fire danger increasing, campers and day use visitors to state and national forests on the North Shore should be extra vigilant when building and extinguishing campfires. Permits for burning yard debris have been suspended.
Details on current fire conditions and current burning restrictions can be found on the Minnesota DNR website.
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Construction season has begun in Grand Marais area
Rhonda Silence-Although the large "Road Closed" sign on the western outskirts of Grand Marais declares that Highway 61 will be closed for construction on May 10, there is already construction activity underway.
In preparation for the roadwork, the stoplight at the intersection of 5th Avenue West and County Road 7, near North Shore Health, has been activated again. Motorists are reminded to look for the traffic signal, not the stop signs.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation has announced that initial work will start on Thursday, May 6. Work will get underway from 3rd Avenue West to Broadway Avenue and from 8th Avenue West to 3rd Avenue West on the lake/south side of the road.
Starting on May 6, the Highway 61 truck detour will begin with truck traffic being routed on County Road 7.
For more information, please visit the project website here.
Also happening now is construction on the Gitchi Gami State Trail between the Cutface Wayside Rest and the outskirts of Grand Marais.
Next week, contractors will be drilling rock on the trail Monday, May 3 and starting to do some blasting on Tuesday, May 4.
The Cook County Sheriff’s Office advises that if sounds of an explosion are heard in the area of mile markers 105 and 106, the trail work blasting is likely the cause.
The sheriff’s office reminds motorists to be careful driving through this area. Please observe signs and watch for workers that may be near the highway.
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Woodland Caribou "visiting" Grand Marais parks
Rhonda Silence-Anyone wandering around Grand Marais in recent days may have been surprised by a new creature inhabiting the city's park areas. Three locations are now home to an interesting art installation that seems to fit perfectly in the landscape. Appearing ready to browse in Harbor Park in downtown Grand Marais and at the municipal campground/recreation area are some life-size woodland caribou.
The animals, crafted carefully of natural materials are the creation of Corrie Steckelberg of Hovland. The exhibit, titled Once and Future was installed throughout the city on Thursday, April 29.
The installation has been a long time coming. The concept was approved by the Creative Economy Collaborative, which is the arts advisory board for the city, and by the Grand Marais Park Board and finally the City of Grand Marais back in 2019.
Steckelberg received a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board for the woodland caribou project, which is purposely temporary. The caribou are filled with soil and seed and as the weather warms, their appearance will change.
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Mayor shares information from his first POST board meeting
-Grand Marais Mayor Jay Arrowsmith DeCoux was appointed to the Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) board by Governor Tim Walz in February. Arrowsmith DeCoux attended his first meeting of the board via Zoom on April 22.
WTIP's Rhonda Silence spoke with Arrowsmith DeCoux about what it was like going into that meeting in light of the Derek Chauvin guilty verdict being announced just two days before. They also discussed what was on the latest POST board agenda.
Here's that conversation.
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Girls team finishes third in Barnum Track & Field Meet
Rhonda Silence-On-again, off-again spring rain and snow have made it difficult for athletes to participate in spring sports. The Cook County Vikings Track & Field team has managed to take part in one meet so far, in Barnum on April 23.
The Vikings girls' team took third place in that meet. The girls were only a couple of points behind the very strong Cromwell and Two Harbors. Several individual athletes had strong finishes. See the stats from the Barnum meet here.
The Track & Field team is scheduled for two meets next week, at Moose Lake/Willow River on Tuesday, May 4 and in Two Harbors on Friday, May 7.
WTIP's Rhonda Silence talked to Coach April Wahlstrom to find out more.
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A Nordic sauna experience coming to Grand Marais
Rhonda Silence-WTIP likes to share news of local businesses -- new businesses, new owners, milestone achievements.
Sisu & Loyly in Grand Marais is such a new business with a very novel concept. Katie and Sam Usem will be offering a "Nordic sauna experience" on the east bay of Grand Marais.
They are converting a historic fish house on their property to offer customers time in a sauna on the shore of Lake Superior with what Katie Usem describes as a casual spa atmosphere.
And whether you pronounce sauna as sawn-ah or sown-ah, you'll want to give a listen.
Here's WTIP's Rhonda Silence with Katie Usem to learn more.
If you know of North Shore business owners who should be featured, give us a call at 218-387-1070 or email: [email protected]. WTIP would love to tell their story!
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Polymet confident that Supreme Court ruling will not halt project
Rhonda Silence-On April 28, the Minnesota Supreme Court announced its latest ruling in the long-running battle over the proposed PolyMet Mining copper-nickel mine in northeastern Minnesota, the first such mine in the state.
The Supreme Court sent the dispute over the NorthMet project back to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for further proceedings to determine if the proposed mine’s waste pond would effectively keep pollution contained.
The Supreme Court also affirmed the 2020 Minnesota Court of Appeals to reverse the DNR’s decision to grant a “permit to mine” because the DNR failed to set a fixed term for the permit. The Supreme Court ordered the DNR to set an appropriate term.
After the Supreme Court announcement, some in the region, such as J.T. Haines, spokesperson for the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, declared the Supreme Court announcement a victory for those concerned about the environmental impact of the new mining in the Lake Superior watershed. See related WTIP story here.
WTIP's Rhonda Silence reached out to Polymet Mining to find out if this ruling could mean an end to Polymet's pursuit of copper-nickel mining in the Hoyt Lakes area. Bruce Richardson, a spokesperson for Polymet, answered with a resounding no. Richardson claims that the Supreme Court ruling is a victory for the mining company.
Richardson told WTIP that the of the eight issues before the Minnesota Supreme Court, the court ruled in the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources--and Polymet's--favor on six.
The fact that the questions about the proposed tailings basin (or waste pond) will be reviewed in a "contested hearing" does not overly concern Richardson. He is confident that the information on the efficiency of the waste pond will be affirmed when the process is complete.
Richardson also said the fact that the DNR will be required to define a "set term" for the Polymet Mining permit is not something that will bring the Northmet Project to a halt.
WTIP's Rhonda Silence spoke with Richardson about the history of the project, the legal challenges, and what he thinks is ahead for the project.
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Vikings baseball starts season in Two Harbors
Rhonda Silence-The unpredictable spring weather has played havoc with spring sports, including baseball which has had numerous games rescheduled. The team has been able to play two games so far, in Two Harbors on April 16 and at home against Carlton on April 22.
Thanks to Michael McHugh for photos of that game versus Carlton. Click on the slideshow to see more.
The Vikings face the South Ridge Panters at Arleigh Jorgenson Field on April 27, followed by the Northeast Range Nighthawks in Soudan on Thursday, April 29. To see the updated Vikings baseball schedule, click here.
WTIP's Rhonda Silence caught up with Baseball Coach Arleigh Jorgenson to learn more as the team prepared to meet the South Ridge Panthers at home on April 27.
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Stained glass at North Shore Health a final gift from the Hospital Auxiliary
Rhonda Silence-The nonprofit Cook County Hospital Auxiliary served the Cook County-North Shore Hospital for over 60 years. A difficult decision was made a few years ago, to dissolve the auxiliary as membership was dwindling. However, it was important to the members to use the remaining funds to do something special for the hospital before finishing their auxiliary efforts.
The timing was perfect, as the North Shore Health expansion and remodel were underway. The 2016-2018 remodel included an opportunity for a special art installation, something that wouldn't be covered by the hospital district levy.
The Hospital Auxiliary agreed to take on that art project. The results of their work with stained glass artists Sharon and Steve Frykman can now be seen at the main entrance to the hospital. The installation of the second stunning stained glass panel was completed on April 8.
North Shore Health Administrator Kimber Wraalstad promises a dedication of the amazing glass work when COVID-19 precautions are lifted. Wraalstad expressed her deep appreciation to the Hospital Auxiliary for their work over the years, as well as this latest gift.
WTIP's Rhonda Silence spoke with auxiliary member Evelyn McDonald to learn more about the stained glass panels and about the auxiliary's work over the years.
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