North Shore News Hour

The Cook County Sheriff’s Office shared a brief report of calls made to the Cook County Law Enforcement Center from January 28 - February 10. WTIP requested more information on a number of the incidents logged by law enforcement dispatchers.
January 28
8:18 a.m. - A set of hearing aids were found and returned to the owner.
9:20 a.m. - Two empty beer cans were found in a mailbox. This is not criminal, so no futher investigation will be made.
2:49 p.m. - The Sheriff’s Office assisted Cook County Probation with the collection of a DNA sample.
5:47 p.m. - A party reported a telemarketing scam call.
7:20 p.m. - A party called for a second time, reporting that they smelled something like propane on Fifth Street near the Cook County Community Center. Deputy responded and found a smell of something decaying or rotton in the area, not gas or chemical. County maintenance will be contacted.

January 29
10:09 a.m. - A party requested that the Sheriff’s Office cooperate with the Michigan State Police about something that happened in Cook County. The sheriff’s office contacted the Michigan State Patrol and they said they did not need assistance from Cook County.
10:28 a.m. - A teacher believed there was an odor of marijuana in a classroom in the elementary school. A deputy responded and could not smell it.
10:51 a.m. - A party called to report that a vehicle door had been left open at George Washington Pines. It appears the person was out skiing and forgot to close the door. Deputy closed the door.
11:00 a.m. – A party in Hovland reported that his neighbor’s dogs run out of a driveway onto the road and he is worried that he would hit them. There is no leash law/ordinance in the county, but the dog owner was advised of the complaint.
2:00 p.m. - A trespass notice for a property in Lutsen was given to the sheriff’s office for information.
4:55 p.m. – A party reported calls from Police Defense and Police Fund. No information was given out.
10:10 p.m. –  The sheriff’s office assisted a motorist on Mile Creek Road with vehicle issues.

January 30
8:53 a.m. – Cook County received a report of a 2002 Jeep Liberty in the ditch on Pike Lake Road, which had been there for about a day and a half. The registered owner was contacted and said she was working with AAA to get it pulled out. No reported injuries or charges.
9:56 a.m. – Medicine was returned to a former inmate.
10:55 a.m. - A dog was found in the woods on Devil Track Road. The dog was returned to its owner.
1:05 p.m. – A party in Grand Portage said they were contacted by somebody claiming to be from Social Security, telling them that their social security number had been discontinued. The person gave the caller their social security number and now cannot reach the caller back on the phone.  The reporting person was given contact information for social security theft. 
1:16 p.m. – A person who had earlier reported that her passport was lost called to report that it had been found.
4:18 p.m. – Another caller received calls from someone claiming to be from Social Security. The person did not give any information and hung up.

January 31
9:00 a.m. – A driver’s license was found in Schroeder. It was mailed back to the owner.
9:31 a.m. – A party in Hovland reported someone driving fast and recklessly through the area. A deputy made contact with the driver and the driver stated that he was not. He said he had put in a new engine and was testing it. Nothing further.
12:01 p.m. – A party found a medicine bottle with marijuana in it in a parking lot in Grand Marais. A deputy collected and destroyed it. No suspects or arrest.
2:49 p.m. – A 61-year-old driver from Elk River drove off the road and hit a tree. The driver lost consciousness for a short period of time and was transported to the hospital for evaluation. No charges pending.
6:02 p.m. – A dog ran away from its owner in Grand Marais. A deputy located the dog but could not get close enough to catch it. The owner went out looking for the dog. It is unknown if it was located.
6:07 p.m. – A party from Grand Marais backed into another vehicle in front of the liquor store. The other vehicle had Ontario plates. Vehicle owners exchanged insurance information. Damage was minor and no charges are pending.
8:29 p.m. - A party in Grand Portage reported being harassed by someone standing outside. The harasser was located and advised of the complaint and told not to go back there.

February 1
10:19 a.m. - There was a report of an injured raccoon in the road on east Highway 61. Cook County dispatched the animal.
12:46 p.m. - A Grand Marais business reported an unwanted person. A deputy made contact with the person and they were advised they were not welcome and told not to return.
4:19 p.m. - A party reported a lost driver’s license while skiing. The license was not found.
6:56 p.m. - A dog was running loose by the school and then Grand Marais Apartments. The owner was contacted and they will go find it.
8:15 p.m. – A dog was hit by a car on the Gunflint Trail. The dog was given to the owners. The outcome is not known by the sheriff's office.
10:53 p.m. - A 2008 silver Ford Fusion went into the ditch on West Highway 61. No injuries or charges for the 26-year-old motorist.
1:07 p.m. - There was a report of another vehicle, a 1998 red Jeep Cherokee in the ditch on West Highway 61. The driver is a 27-year-old male. No injuries or charges.
11:47 p.m. – A car hit a deer on West Highway 61. No tow was necessary. No injuries or charges.

February 2
1:03 p.m. - The sheriff’s office investigated harassment charges.
2:47 p.m. - A county plow truck reported a 1997 red Chevrolet Blazer in the ditch on Country Road 14 with no one around. No contact was made with the owner.
 4:30 p.m. - There was a fender bender at Marathon gas station. The drivers exchanged information. No deputy response was needed.
10:06 p.m. - The sheriff’s office assisted Minnesota State Patrol with a DWI arrest.

February 4
1:11 a.m. – A vehicle has been parked on the Arrowhead Trail for a few days. It belonged to a person who lived in the area.
6:40 a.m. - A party called the sheriff’s office asking to be transferred to Ramsey County 9-1-1.
6:43 a.m. - There was a dead deer in the road on West Highway 61. A deputy removed the deer.
7:43 a.m. – A car hit a deer on east Highway 61. No injuries to the driver, no charges and no tow needed. The deer was removed from the road.
2:27 p.m. – A party ran out of gas on West Highway 61. A deputy assisted.
3:29 p.m. – A person reported that a snowmobile has been sitting at a Grand Marais location for a few days. The party wanted to make sure it had not been stolen.  The owner was having mechanical problems.
4:18 p.m. – There was a report of a vehicle partly on the roadway on West Highway 61, making it difficult for vehicles to get around. The call was transferred to the Minnesota State Patrol and a deputy assisted. The vehicle was towed away.
5:44 p.m. – A welfare check was requested for a person who was late arriving home after work. The person was located, they had to work late.
6:32 p.m. - A party called reporting yelling in Schroeder. When a sheriff deputy arrived, they learned that a child had been locked in a chicken coop, but got out. All was okay.

February 5
1:44 a.m. - A deputy saw a vehicle driving slowly around a closed business on West Highway 61. The vehicle was stopped. It was an employee checking to make sure all the lights were turned off.
7:32 a.m. - There was a report of a missing dog on West Highway 61. While on the phone with the law enforcement dispatcher, the dog returned.
8:36 a.m. - A person was given a ride from Johnson’s Grocery to the couthouse.
9:37 a.m. – Batteries were changed in a Project Lifesaver monitor.
11:08 a.m. – A deputy attempted to pick up a person with a warrant for arrest, The person was not located.
11:55 a.m. – A scheduled countywide paging test was conducted.
5:20 p.m. – The sheriff’s office received a report of a dog being mistreated. The owner left prior to the arrival of the deputy.

February 6
9:26 a.m. – The sheriff’s office investigated a drug incident.
9:41 a.m. - Batteries were changed in a Project Lifesaver monitor.
10:43 a.m. – A cleaning person of a rental property found a white powder while cleaning. The substance tested negative and was thrown away.
3:14 p.m. – A caller requested that they be transferred to the Cherokee County, Alabama, sheriff’s office.
4:03 p.m. – A landlord called to request a welfare check on a party that had not arrived. It turns out the party is not in Cook County.
5:44 p.m. – A car hit a deer on east Highway 61. There were no injuries, but the car was towed.
6:46 p.m. – A car slid off the road because of slippery conditions and hit a sign.

February 7
8:28 a.m. – A car hit a deer on West Highway 61. No injuries. The call was transferred to the Minnesota State Patrol.
9:14 a.m. – There was a two-car collision on the Ski Hill Road. There was minor damage to both vehicles, a white 2015 Toyota Rav and a blue 2018 Subaru Crosstrek. No charges.
10:26 a.m. – A party was notified that someone tried charging items to their credit card, took over their Netflix account and applied for a Lowe’s credit card. The party was not out any money, but was advised to monitor accounts.
10:41 a.m. – A person in Grand Marais lost a wallet. It is unknown if it has been found.
1:37 p.m. – Propane tanks were found missing from Lutsen Resort. No suspects, no charges.

February 8
11:47 a.m. - There was a report of a vehicle parked in violation of the Grand Marais city ordinance. A deputy determined that the vehicle was legally parked.
3:52 p.m. – There was a call of neighbor trouble in Grand Portage.
4:30 p.m. – Parties at a vacation rental reported they did not have power. Law Enforcement dispatch located the after-hours person and advised them of the problem.
4:35 p.m. – A party on Peninsula Point Trail called to report icy and treacherous road conditions. The information was passed on to the Cook County Highway Department.
5:45 p.m. – There was a dog bit incident in Grand Marais. No charges, but the dog was put down.

February 9
4:17 a.m. - A party made a suspicious activity call of two juveniles walking on the Caribou Trail. A deputy responded and was unable to locate the youths.
1:36 p.m. - A party requested a phone number for the Itasca County Sheriff’s Office.
3:32 p.m. – A party requested a welfare check for someone who had not returned phone calls for over a week. Party was found safe and sound at home. They did just not want to call the person back as they had had a disagreement.
11:52 p.m. – A person known to be on probation was seen at Grandma Ray’s in Grand Marais. Deputies located the person and passed the information on to probation to let them handle it.

February 10
1:42 p.m. – There was a report of a person driving around Grand Portage looking in vehicles. A deputy found the party. The person was just looking for somebody.
9:45 a.m. – A party found a tranquilizer rifle on the side of the road. It was returned to a biologist who advised it had fallen out of his truck while working on a moose study.
9:50 a.m. – The sheriff’s office assisted probation with transport of a person to treatment.

Other miscellaneous calls
During this time period, law enforcement also issued nine burn permits, five permits to acquire or carry a weapon and one watercraft permit (to conduct snowmobile drag races). Sheriff’s Office dispatchers also handled 11 crank or misdialed 9-1-1 call.s
There were 24 medical calls.
Deputies conducted 77 business or residence checks. There were 43 traffic stops, which included 33 reprimands, six warnings and four citations.
Deputies also participated in six Stonegarden patrols with U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
 
If you need to contact the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, call 218-387-3040. For emergencies, dial 9-1-1.
 
 

The North Shore Yetis, a team of ten Cook County girls who play in a regional volleyball league, had a great showing at a tournament at Ordean East in Duluth on Sunday, February 23.  

The Cook County Yetis worked hard to earn second place in the Snonami 16s Blue Division.

The team came out strong in pool play, winning the first two matches, against NLV and Rush City. They then faced a strong team from Nevis losing in 2 games.

During Gold Bracket play, the Yetis started against the Hermantown 16s team and lost the first game 12-25.  They came from behind to win the second game 25-23 and again came from behind to win the match 18-16.

They advanced to the Championship Gold game, where the Yetis were up against the same Nevis team. They fell to Nevis, scoring 21-25 and 17-25.

The Yetis are coached by Megan Myers, who said they fought hard and gave a great performance. 

The team members are RaeAnne Silence, Sadie Wilson, Charlet Waver, Molly LaVigne, Morgan Starkey, Paisley Smith, Katie Peck, Emmalli Myers, Anna Helmerson, MaKenzie Fairbanks.
 

In January, WTIP reported that Grand Marais Pharmacy was no longer a “preferred provider” for patients with health insurance with Blue Cross/Blue Shield. At that time we sat down with pharmacist Leslie Condon to learn more. 

Condon encouraged patients to contact Blue Cross Blue Shield to let the company know this would create a hardship in our rural community. The pharmacy also had a petition to sign at its counter. 

The pharmacy contacted WTIP to share the information that the Grand Marais Pharmacy has been able to re-achieve preferred status with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota. 

Pharmacist Condon says this means that the pharmacy is once again a preferred pharmacy in the Blue Cross network. 

Condon said, “The pharmacy would like to thank the entire community for rallying to support our local pharmacy. Your letters, phone calls and petition signatures went a long way toward gaining back the pharmacy preferred status.” 

The January interview about the Blue Cross-Blue Shield situation, as well as the challenges of being a rural pharmacy, can be heard here. 

Longtime District 3 Senator Tom Bakk has seen some changes to his position at the State Capitol. He lost his seat as Senate minority leader on February 1 to Senator Susan Kent of Woodbury. WTIP’s Rhonda Silence reached out to Senator Bakk to hear his thoughts on the changing leadership and how it impacts him, as well as what’s on his agenda for the upcoming session. 
 
Rhonda also asked the senator about his decision to move his annual fundraising golf tournament from the Wilderness at Fortune Bay to Giant’s Ridge. [12:15] The move was apparently made in response to concerns of his construction trade constituents, who were unhappy that the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe had come out in support of legislation promoting a ban of copper-nickel mining in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness watershed. Fortune Bay is operated by the Bois Forte Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, one of the members of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe.
 
WTIP also checked in with Senator Bakk on the property tax classification for short-term vacation rentals, a much-discussed matter here on the North Shore. [20:30]
 
And finally, WTIP’s Rhonda Silence asked Senator Bakk about a recent health scare and the future of his District 3 seat. [31:30]
 

Cook County-School District 166 has had a robotics team for more than a decade. The current robotics team is preparing for a regional competition on March 5-7. “Ice Storm Robotics 3054” will be among 200 high schools throughout Wisconsin, North Dakota and Minnesota.

At the competition, robots must complete a variety of tasks, such as firing basketballs through hoops, setting a spinning wheel to a specific spot and more.

Students learn a lot about mechanics, electronics, marketing, fundraising, and as team member Hailey Smith told WTIP, “Teamwork!”

Part of the teamwork includes fundraisers to help cover travel and lodging expense during the completion. Team mentor Doug Sanders has set up a Thrivent Financial donation page in support of the team.

To learn more about the team, and to follow the action, visit their Facebook page IceStorm 3054.  To see a video of the action, click here. 

WTIP’s Rhonda Silence visited the team this week to check out the progress on the IceStorm robot. Here’s her report.
 

 At 12:32 p.m. today, February 19, the Cook County Sheriff’s Office received a 9-1-1 call requesting assistance for a man who was found just below the Moose Mountain Chalet on Moose Mountain at Lutsen Ski Hill. The man was bleeding from his face and was unresponsive.

The Lutsen Mountain Ski Patrol arrived on the scene and began life-saving measures with the assistance of bystanders.  The male was transported to the Ski Patrol building where life-saving measures continued. 

At 1:15 pm, the man was pronounced deceased by paramedics from the Cook County Ambulance.

The deceased has been identified as 70-year-old David Michael Skog of St. Paul, Minnesota.  The next of kin and family have been notified. 

It is unknown what caused the death and an autopsy will be performed by the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office.

Agencies responding to this incident were the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, Lutsen Ski Patrol, Lutsen First Responders, Cook County Ambulance, US Forest Service, and Cook County Search and Rescue. 
 

Political precinct caucuses are being held across the State of Minnesota on Tuesday, February 25, starting at 7 p.m.
 
Here in Cook County, the Democratic-Farm-Labor precinct caucus will be held at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts. Registration begins at 6:30 p.m.
 
The Cook County Republican precinct caucus will be held at The Hub, the former Cook County Senior Center. Registration will be at 6 p.m.
 
For more information on the Cook County Republican party, call 218-475-2500. For information on the Cook County DFL, visit the Cook County Democratic Farmer Labor Facebook page
 
Bryan Hansel, chair of the Cook County DFL, tells WTIP Community Radio that the Cook County DFL is sponsoring daycare for any parents (of any party) who wish to attend the caucuses. 
 
The Cook County YMCA "Kids Club" will remain open on the evening of February 25 until 9 pm. This care for children over 4 months of age. 
 
WTIP’s Rhonda Silence spoke with the chairs of both the local DFL and GOP parties to learn more about what happens at political caucuses.
 
Here is Rhonda Silence with Bryan Hansel, chair of the Cook County Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.

Here is Rhonda Silence with Mary Petz, chair of the Cook County Republican Party.

 Minnesota (for the first time since 1992) will have a presidential primary on Tuesday, March 3.

Most Cook County residents now vote by mail ballot, which the Cook County Auditor’s Office sent out this week. If you have not received your ballot and you believe you should have, the Auditor’s Office encourages you to contact them by calling 218-387-3640 or by stopping by the Auditor’s Office in the courthouse.

WTIP spoke with County Auditor Braidy Powers about the presidential primary ballot, which looks different than ballots in elections in years past.

For example, the only race on the March 3 ballot is the presidential contest.

Each mail ballot in this presidential primary has two separate ballots inside. County Auditor Braidy Powers explains that voters must choose the ballot for the political party of their choice. The other ballot should be destroyed.

The voter should then complete his or her ballot as usual, with the voter filling in the circle to select their candidate. As in the past, once completed, the ballot should be placed in the brown privacy envelope.

The brown privacy ballot is then placed in the white envelope on which the voter’s name is written—and which a fellow voter signs as witness. The big difference in this presidential primary is that envelope.

For the presidential primary, in addition to the requirement to have a fellow voter sign as a witness, there is a new box on which the voter must declare their party affiliation. The options are Democratic-Farmer-Labor, Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis, Legal Marijuana Now, or Republican.

The two marijuana-affiliated parties are not participating in the presidential primary, so if a voter checks one of those boxes, it will lead to a ballot being rejected.

And, if a voter chooses not to check a box at all, their ballot will be rejected.

Auditor Powers tells WTIP that his office attempts to reach voters when a ballot is rejected. This has happened in past elections, when voters don’t get a witness to sign the outer ballot envelope.
 
So in this election, if neither the Democratic-Farmer-Labor or Republican box is checked, the Auditor’s Office will send a new ballot to the voter. The Auditor’s Office will explain that their ballot was rejected and why. The voter will have the opportunity to submit a corrected ballot.

If it is too close to the March 3 election to send and return a replacement mail ballot, the Auditor’s Office will attempt to reach the voter by phone to let them know their ballot has been rejected.  The voter then has the opportunity to come to the Auditor’s Office to submit a corrected ballot.

For that reason, Auditor Powers stresses the importance of completing this new section on the ballot. If anyone has questions about the presidential primary, they are encouraged to stop by the Auditor’s Office or call 218-387-3640.

WTIP’s Rhonda Silence spoke with Auditor Braidy Powers about all this.
 

Cook County Girl Scouts are once again hosting a Father-Daughter Dance. The event is a fun-filled, family evening for daughters and their dads, grandfathers, uncles—any trusted adult. The Girl Scouts want all girls to feel welcome!

The 2020 Father-Daughter Dance will be Wednesday, February 19, starting at 6 pm in the cafeteria at School District 166. The cafeteria will be transformed with a Mardi Gras theme.

Dance admission includes live music, a light meal (Mac & Cheese, hot dogs, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and desserts by Alyce’s, and a small gift for girls.

Bruce Johnson Photography will be available for Dad and daughter pictures.

More information available by calling (218)-387-2487.

WTIP's Rhonda Silence checks in with a dad and daughter who have made the Father-Daughter Dance a tradition. 

The Grand Marais City Council met on Wednesday, February 12 with not-quite a full council slate. City Councilor Anton Moody was absent as the city handled a number of issues, one which ended with a split vote.
 
The city council once again considered a resolution brought forward by the Grand Marais Public Utilities Commission, one which would support the effort to pass federal legislation related to climate change. The PUC explained the resolution presented to the city was intended to “recognize climate change as a national security, economic and global humanitarian crisis.” The PUC encouraged the city to pass a resolution “to encourage Congress to pass the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act.” 
 
There was a significant discussion by Grand Marais Mayor and the city councilors present, Tim Kennedy, Craig Schulte and Kelly Swearingen. Councilor Kennedy made a motion of support for the resolution, but the motion ended with a split vote, with Mayor Arrowsmith DeCoux and Kennedy voting in favor and Schulte and Swearingen voting no.
 
Schulte and Swearingen noted that they were not necessarily opposed to city action on climate change, but said they did not believe the PUC’s motion was the right measure to take.
 
The councilors also heard from the Creative Economy Collaborative, an ad hoc group which the city has tasked with developing a policy for accepting public art in the city. The city will continue to work with the CED to fine-tune guidelines. The city hopes having guidelines will make it easier for city decisions on local art projects.
 
One such project, which was approved by the city council at the Feb. 12 meeting, was the installation of a life-sized caribou by Corrie Steckelberg of Hovland. The caribou is one of five that will be erected in the community, on city parkland, made of natural materials.
 
The council confirmed the hiring of the new director at the Grand Marais Public Library, the person who has been filling that role since the resignation of former director Steve Harsin. Amanda St. John will be the new library director.
 
There was also a discussion of the recent federal action restricting some tobacco sales to people under 21, approval of a conditional use permit for a vacation rental in the mixed-use zone of Grand Marais, and heard an update on the ongoing city housing study.
 
WTIP’s Rhonda Silence spoke to Grand Marais Mayor about all of this.