Brown on the Air: IRON RANGE FOREVER!

The million dollar question: Is Grand Rapids part of the Iron Range?

That is no small query. Legally and geologically, yes. Culturally? Less so. Since I moved to Itasca County (the Western Mesabi Range) from the central Range in 2005, I’ve heard many neighbors talk about the Iron Range as though it were another country, even though you can see the lights of Keewatin Taconite beaming off the clouds from my house all night long.

These are the thorny thickets I must navigate for this week’s “Between You and Me,” the Saturday late morning call-in and music program on 91.7 KAXE. This week the show celebrates the Iron Range. Instead of my usual essay, I’ll be joining host Heidi Holtan in studio as an extended stay guest. We’ll be talking about Iron Range history, stories, culture and perceptions. What do you like about the Range? What does it mean to you? But importantly, we’ll also be talking about where the Range begins and ends. On Saturday, we are all Iron Rangers. Well, most of us, anyway.

Tune in between 10 a.m. and noon on 91.7 FM in northern Minnesota and streaming online all over the world at www.kaxe.org. Call in or just enjoy the show. It’s one of a kind.

Then, after the show, join me for a signing of my new book “Overburden: Modern Life on the Iron Range” at the Village Bookstore in the Village Mall in downtown Grand Rapids. I’ll be signing from noon to 2 p.m. immediately after the radio show. We had a very successful event in Hibbing last night. I never set down the pen lacked for conversation. I met some loyal blog readers, which was a thrill, so I hope you can come on down.

Comments

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  2. I would have to say that Grand Rapids is very culturally different than Range towns. It’s not laid out like a mining town. Houses are not cracker boxed together like many parts of Range towns, e.g. Brooklyn in Hibbing. Grand Rapids also has a more thriving art scene than the rest of the Range. (Reif center, KAXE, etc.)

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