North Shore News Hour

Because Halloween fell on Thursday this year, many celebrations were held last weekend, such as the Birch Grove Community School Halloween Carnival. WTIP's Rhonda Silence was there on Sunday, October 27 to check it out. 

Click below to hear from some of the happy folks in attendance. And click to see a Facebook album of photos from the event. 

Or, check out our Facebook live video from the event! 

The U.S. Forest Service is considering a new approach to vegetation management in the Tofte Ranger District. It is hoped that a new process dubbed the “Tofte Landscape Project” will allow the Forest Service to more rapidly respond to changing conditions, while still complying with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The Forest Service is gathering public comment now in a scoping period.

In an introduction to the Tofte Landscape Project, it is explained that Forest Service staff have recognized the need for a process that could allow managers to conduct “the right treatment on the right acre at the right time.”  

According to the Forest Service, sometimes conditions have changed significantly from the time an action (prescribed burn, mechanical treatment, tree planting, etc.) is planned to when it is time to implement that plan. Because there are sometimes delays in implementation, conditions change. However, the Forest Service is locked in to specific planning and implementation for individual stands in the forest.
The Tofte Landscape Project is described as a “landscape scale vegetation management project” using a condition based management approach, which would be implemented over the next 15 years.

The Forest Service would like to hear from the public during its scoping period for the Tofte Landscape Project. Questions for commenters include:

• What forest conditions need improving in the project area?
• What types of treatments should we include in the treatment ‘toolbox’ and under what conditions should they be used?
• Are there any project design criteria (landscape filters and operational standards and guidelines) that we should add, change or remove from the project to better achieve the purpose and need, or to avoid and minimize adverse environmental effects to any specific resources or locations?
• How can the implementation plan be designed to best engage other governments, interested organizations and the public in selecting stands and treatments?

To learn more or to submit comments, visit the Tofte Landscape Project storymap website.

WTIP’s Rhonda Silence spoke with Marshell Moy, the East Zone NEPA Coordinator, about the project. Here’s their conversation.

Further information about the Tofte Landscape Project, is also available from Tofte District Ranger, Ellen Bogardus-Szymaniak, at [email protected]  or project leader Marshell Moy at [email protected]
Marshell Moy can also be reached by phone at 218-387-3247.
 
 
 
 

Patrick and Paula Burns, owners of North 61 in Schroeder, had an experience that could have been devastating. After closing their outdoor gear, clothing and accessories store, they discovered their cash deposit was missing. Fortunately for the Burns family, the money was found by another family, the Robleys of Grand Marais.

WTIP’s Rhonda Silence spoke with Christina Robley and Patrick Burns and shares this feel-good story with our WTIP listeners.
 

Each week the Cook County Sheriff’s Office provides a brief report of calls made to the Cook County Law Enforcement Center. WTIP requested more information on the following incidents. This report provides more details on calls logged by law enforcement dispatchers from Oct. 7 - 13
 
This reporting period started with the call of a disturbance—a party called from Hollow Rock Resort at 12:55 a.m. on October 7 to report an unclothed woman pounding on the door of a neighboring cabin, looking for a pool. An ambulance was requested and the female was transported to North Shore Health.
 
At 8:41 a.m. on October 7 a party called from Mike’s Holiday in Grand Marais to report that they hit a deer on Highway 61, resulting in a damaged radiator and more. Party was given information to reach the Minnesota State Patrol to make the report.

A party called from east Highway 61 to report a loud noise and then a power outage at 10:41 p.m. on October 7. Arrowhead Electric was notified. Power was restored at 12:35 a.m.

On October 8, sheriff deputies initiated a criminal sexual conduct case. The matter is under investigation.

A party called at 11:26 p.m. on October 8 seeking advice on where he could sleep in his car overnight after “the lake ate his campsite.” He asked if he could sleep at The Point. Cook County advised against that.

At 9:26 a.m. on October 9, a party called in a report of someone bird hunting from a vehicle on the Caribou Trail in Lutsen. The incident was handed over to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

A call came in to the sheriff’s office at 8:45 p.m. on October 9, from a storeowner concerned about a female hanging out in the store and then the parking lot for a long time. The sheriff’s office checked on her. She is on a cross country trip and was just using the internet.
City workers were called regarding a report of a “bunch of noise” from a power pole near the Lake County Veterinary Office at 11:51 p.m. on October 9. There is also an alarm going off at the wastewater lift station.

There was a call from Arrowhead Transit at 7:12 a.m. on October 10, reporting a possible hit and run. The reporting party doesn’t know if the damage was old or new because he didn’t usually drive the bus.  The rear bumper was bent.  The current driver of the bus states the damage is old.

A call came in to the sheriff’s office from Grand Marais at 7:41 a.m. on October 10 with no one talking, but yelling and swearing in the background. The person who made the call was found and said there was a little bit of an argument. No further action was taken.

The sheriff’s office talked to a party who thinks people are following him at 2:53 p.m. on October 10. The information was added to a previous report from this party.

A citizen reported an apparent fraud phone voicemail, supposedly from the Social Security Administration. She didn’t give any information, but the person wanted to get her social security number. The sheriff’s office advises the public not to return calls like this.

There was a call with concern for some hikers on Camp 20 Road in Hovland at 4:36 on October 10. The reporting party said his wife and a friend were hiking County Road 70 to the Arrowhead Trail and were due back at 5 p.m. Party called back at 4:47 p.m. to let the sheriff’s office know that parties were out and okay.

A report of a suspicious male party walking alone on Mineral Center Road in Grand Portage was called in 5:04 p.m. on October 10. No sign of the man when deputy investigated.

A party on Gunflint Lake signed up for the Project Lifesaver program at 6 p.m. on October 10.

On October 10, a party found and turned in a marker shell that had a baggy with white powder in it. No suspects.

At 7:05 p.m., on October 10, a caller reported a possible biking while intoxicated incident in Grand Portage. A man was riding his bike past the Grand Portage Heritage Center holding a case of beer.  

At 8:52 a.m. on October 11, a party called to report two hunters on his property. They shot a grouse toward his house. Cook County shared the call with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

A party called with a request to locate someone who did not show up for work on October 11. The party’s daughter was reached and she said the party was alright.

There was a report of a vehicle in the ditch at 2:43 p.m. on October 11. The party was out of the vehicle and seems okay. Minnesota State Patrol responded and the Cook County Sheriff’s Office assisted with lights and traffic control.

A call came in at 4:17 on October 11 to check on a party who was canoeing on Nine Mile Lake in Lake County. The call was transferred to Lake County. Reporting party called back to say the party had returned.

 A white Toyota vehicle used by Bluefin Bay Resort hit a deer in Tofte. No injuries and the vehicle was drivable.
 
A fallen tree was removed from County Road 7 at 11:06 p.m. on October 11.At 11:36 p.m., trees were partially removed from the roadway on Croftville Road, making the road passable. Cook County Highway Department was contacted to come clear the rest of the tree later.
 
Another downed tree call came in at 7:16 a.m. on October 12 on County Road 60, just in front of Berglund farm, covering both lanes. Information shared with Cook County Highway Department.
 
A caller asked the sheriff’s office to have the city come open a waterway in front of the Trading Post to stop flooding. Information shared with Grand Marais City Street Department.
 
The sheriff’s office received a report of a red kayak floating in Lake Superior at 10:32 a.m. on October 12. The caller said it is approximately 30-50 yards out. A deputy arrived at the possible owner’s location and was unable to see the kayak and no one was home. Cook County consulted the U.S. Coast Guard in Michigan and Duluth. It was decided that since the report is of an unmanned kayak, the Duluth Coast Guard would trailer a boat up to the area.
At 2:41 p.m., the Coast Guard requested that Cook County meet them at the original location. The Coast Guard was also unable to locate anything. All parties were clear of the scene at 4:11 p.m.
A short time later, at 5:12 p.m. on October 12, a red and yellow kayak was spotted hitting shore. The reporting party was unable to get to the kayak safely. The US Coast Guard was contacted.  Reporting party noted that the kayak matched one described in reports of a missing Indiana man. Information shared with Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
 
At 5:40 p.m. on October 12, a call came in from the Gunflint Trail reporting a 2007 red Chevrolet Malibu upside down in the ditch north of the Brule River. There were two people in the vehicle, now out and on the side of the road. Driver said he hit some slush and got sucked off the road. Ambulance and First Responders were paged. Parties refused medical transport. Cook County Towing towed the vehicle.
 
At 6:30 p.m. on October 12, a party called to say they saw a male party close to the Coast Guard building in a beige trench coat and carrying what appeared to be a long gun. The male met several other people. Another call came in reporting that four parties wearing ski masks were taking photos near the water’s edge. Deputy located the vehicle described by callers.  An 18-year-old of Grand Marais was identified as the person on Artist’s Point in possession of an airsoft gun that resembled an AK-47. 
The sheriff deputy had a lengthy discussion of the dangers of running around with a replica firearm. The party agreed it was not a smart thing to do, and said he understands the danger he put himself in.   

A party called the sheriff’s office at 7:13 p.m. to ask for help finding her way back to the parking lot at Pincushion Mountain. The caller was using an app on their phone to find their way out, along with signs such as the “Tilt A World” mountain bike trail. A deputy headed down the trail to find them. Deputy made contact with the lost parties. They made it back at their car by 8:11 p.m.

The sheriff’s office was asked to check on a party from Iowa enroute to the Grand Marais area from Isanti County on 11:55 a.m. on October 12. Contact was made and party is fine.

On October 13, at 10:43 a.m., a call came in of two cars hitting a deer. Cook County Ambulance and Tofte First Responders were paged, but it was determined medical assistance was not needed. Cars received significant damage. State Patrol handled the accident.

A call of a hot rodder speeding in Grand Portage was reported at 4 p.m. on October 13. The caller said they was advised the motorist that this was unsafe, but they continue to speed. A deputy checked the area but was unable to locate the driver. A second call came in about the same speeding motorist at 5:06 p.m.

There were a number of “Assist other agency” calls in this week’s law enforcement log, including three calls on October 7 to assist Cook County probation with alcohol swab testing. On October 9, the sheriff’s office assisted the U.S. Forest Service with information on several parties and their firearm registrations. A firearm was confiscated and citation given.
On October 12, the sheriff’s office was informed that the U.S. Forest Service and a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer returned a firearm to the party.
 
Once again there were a number of animal disturbance calls, including the case of mistaken identity of a dog in Grand Marais. The sheriff’s office received a call on October 7 about a Siberian husky running loose. The person believed to be the dog’s owner was contacted, however he said his dog was with him. The sheriff’s office was unable to locate the other dog.
 
At 11:07 a.m. on October 9, the husky in question was spotted at Great Expectations School. The sheriff’s office contacted the owner who retrieved the dog.
 
A male dog was found on Tall Timber Trail at 3:51 p.m. on October 8. Dog is possibly a Weimaraner and has a green and tan collar, but no tags. Cook County called the possible owner and left a message. Dog was reunited with the owner.
 
A sheriff deputy removed a dead deer from County Road 7 at 12:19 a.m. on October 10.

A deputy was flagged down by a motorist at 6:06 on October 12, reporting an injured deer, blocking the northbound lane. The deputy dispatched the deer and pulled it off the roadway. A party called at 6:15 p.m., to report hitting a deer, likely the same deer. The car suffered significant damage.

At 7:50 p.m. on October 10, a party called to see if there were any sightings of a cocker springer spaniel dog named “Buddy.” Party called the next day to report the dog was found.
 
Sheriff deputies conducted 27 business and residence checks, including one in response to a property owner in Schroeder who contacted the sheriff’s office at 2:39 p.m. on October 8, reporting a trespasser caught on camera.
There was no sign of the party entering the property, but they could be seen leaving. The party dressed in a white long-sleeved T-shirt and khaki pants was seen leaving the area. A deputy checked the residence. All doors on house and garage were locked. The scene was cleared and the property owner was advised about how to legally post his property so that this issue could be avoided.

The sheriff’s office handled a number of lost and found calls, including a lost American Express card and a set of Ford keys with a bit of antler on the key ring, on October 8. On October 9, a Mastercard was found on the beach in Grand Marais

There were 29 traffic stops, resulting in 18 reprimands, two warnings, and nine citations for motorists. Dispatchers handled seven crank or misdialed 9-1-1 calls.

During the reporting period, there were 10 medical calls.

Deputies took part in Operation Stonegarden, a joint border monitoring program with US Customs and Border Protection on October 11 and 12. Deputies also conducted ATV patrol on October 7 and 8.

For non-emergencies, call the Cook County Sheriff's Office at 218-387-3030.  If you are experiencing an emergency, call 9-1-1.
 
 

Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and other Native American leaders will protest outside of U.S. Bank Stadium ahead of tonight’s Minnesota Vikings game to urge the visiting Washington team to retire the Redskins team name and mascot.

Lt. Gov. Flanagan will be joined by state Reps. Mary Kunesh-Podein and Jamie Becker-Finn, who are also Native Americans, U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum, and tribal government leaders.

The Washington football team owner Dan Snyder has said the team name shows honor and respect.

But David Glass, president of the National Coalition Against Racism in Sports and Media and a member of the White Earth Nation, says the name is a very offensive racial slur.

The protesters will be marching from Peavy Field Park to hold a rally at The Commons in front of the stadium at 5 p.m.

Earlier today, as the Lt. Gov. was planning for the event, she spoke to WTIP’s Rhonda Silence, about an opinion piece she penned for Huffington Post, and about tonight’s event. 

It should be no secret by now for North Shore residents that road reconstruction is coming to Highway 61 through Grand Marais in the next two years. However, there are still lingering questions from many, including some local business owners and citizens concerned about the preservation of trees in the Highway 61 right-of-way through the city.
WTIP’s Rhonda Silence reached out to the Minnesota Department of Transportation to learn more about the project’s impact on business owners.
And while WTIP had MnDOT’s Michael Kalnbach on the line, Rhonda Silence also asked some of the remaining questions about the fate of trees in the MnDOT right-of-way.

Mark Phillips, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation toured Cook County this week, along with Senator Tom Bakk and Representative Rob Ecklund. Phillips and the legislators spoke with county commissioners at a board meeting, attended a luncheon with the business leaders at Cascade Resort and joined the community at a Gala hosted by the Cook County Chamber of Commerce and Visit Cook County.

Part of the multiday visit included a listening session at Grand Marais City Hall.

WTIP’s Rhonda Silence was there and she shares some of the discussion—first on the history of the Iron Range, the IRRRB’s role there and about some of the ways the Iron Range Resources agency has worked with communities, including Cook County. Listen to that discussion here.

WTIP also asked Commissioner Phillips about the future of mining in Minnesota—particularly about the impact of the Polymet and Twin Metals copper-nickel mining projects. Listen to the commissioner’s response here.

The Moose Madness festival in Cook County has become a tradition for many people—those who live here on the North Shore and those who travel from afar.

There are lots of moose-themed activities all over the county, but Moose Central, the headquarters for all the fun was at Grandma Ray’s in downtown Grand Marais this year. The restaurant was filled with families learning about moose, getting tips on moose scavenger hunts, and enjoying the music of The Bajillions.

WTIP’s Rhonda Silence, with a sidekick (her granddaughter) RaeAnne Silence, headed downtown Grand Marais to check out some of the activity.