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In the sticks? Mind the ticks
It occurs to me that I’ve lived my entire life in Tick Alley. From the Minnesota Department of Health The late spring confounded ticks in our area, but they are out in full force by now. By the time the black flies come out the ticks usually thin out a bit. It’s been a heavy…
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Adventure-seeking northern Minnesotans need your help
Whales! They kayaked with whales! A couple months ago I wrote about Dave and Amy Freeman, the northern Minnesota couple who kayaked, dog sledded and canoed across and around North America as part of an educational project. Dave and Amy have been nominated for the Spirit of Adventure award by Canoe and Kayak Magazine. It’s…
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IRRRB to seek loan restructure for Excelsior Energy
So, in case you’ve forgotten, Excelsior Energy, the beleaguered company forged by energy industry lobbyists with Iron Range ties more than a decade ago, still exists. It’s out of money. Its efforts to mandate a customer using political connections to finance the construction of a new power plant in Itasca County have all failed. But…
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Upcoming events fuel debate over northern MN mining issues
The nonferrous mineral mining argument in northern Minnesota hasn’t gone away, it’s just ensconced in a chrysalis, waiting for the first project, PolyMet, to share it’s updated plan with the EPA. This Tuesday, June 18, a free luncheon will be held entitled “The Economics of Sulfide Mining: Benefits and Costs.” The event is sponsored by…
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Land of the Loon arrives in Virginia, MN this weekend
This weekend brings Land of the Loon, a festival of arts, crafts, music and family events in Virginia, Minnesota. This Iron Range event kicks off a long summer of street dances, festivals and Fourth of July celebrations. A few years ago we saw a magician set his goatee aflame while trying to eat fire at…
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Cliffs to provide iron ore to Essar through 2024
Here’s an interesting item. Cliffs Natural Resources today announced that it has signed an extension of an existing iron ore contract to provide taconite pellets to Essar Steel’s Algoma steel mill in Ontario through 2024. They had already been providing ore to Algoma, India-based Essar’s foothold in the North American steel industry, while Essar completes…
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Don’t mind the black smoke, it’s just the power plant
The Hibbing Daily Tribune issued a breaking news alert Wednesday reassuring the people of Hibbing that the black smoke visible over the city was not an uncontrolled fire, but actually the burning of biomass material in the city PUC plant. “There is smoke wafting through the city, but it’s not a from a fire,” [Fire…
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Highway 53 meeting to determine economic impact of reroute
State Rep. Jason Metsa (DFL-Virginia) is inviting people to a public meeting about the economic impact of the Highway 53 re-route from 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, June 19 at the Mountain Iron Community Center. An economist doing an official study will be there and gathering comments from people affected by the required move…
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Arts camp for kids at historic Iron Range park
The 19th Annual Northstar Arts Camp will be held at the Iron Range’s famous Mesaba Park near Hibbing next week from June 17-20, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. The camp, which costs $90, “offers children ages 8-13 an opportunity to experience dance, music, theater and puppet making, as well as nature activities.” Mesaba…
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Mt. Iron to get Wal-Mart Super Center
The Iron Range city of Mountain Iron is getting a Super Wal-Mart, according to the Mesabi Daily News. I’d argue this has more effect on the local economy that the re-routing of Highway 53. The first Super Wal-Mart on the Iron Range was in Hibbing. It was a huge success for Wal-Mart, posting big numbers during…
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Iron Range soldier is ‘The Bomb Whisperer’
Another interesting read this morning, the Los Angeles Times profiled an Army soldier from Eveleth, Minnesota, known among his fellow troops in Afghanistan as “The Bomb Whisperer.” KHOGIANO, Afghanistan — Spc. Kyle Klobuchar spends his days listening intently to the beeps, hums and warbles of a hand-held explosives detector known as a Minehound. He likes…
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B’nai Abraham shares Range Jewish history with stories, music
B’nai Abraham Cultural Center, Virginia, Minnesota When the Iron Range received a surge of immigrants in the early 20th Century it become one of the most diverse places in the country, a fact that often seems foreign on the Iron Range of today. Among its many groups was a vibrant Jewish community, and though that…
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Cook, MN slates week of art displays in the north woods
The Northwoods Friends of the Arts kicks off their Spring Arts Expo this Friday, May 31 in Cook, Minnesota. You can read more about the activities here, including gallery displays, live music and more. To see the poster with more details, go below the jump. Read more… Related posts: No related posts.
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Iron Range mine tax adds dime-a-ton to school funds
Last week I looked at how the legislative session affected the Iron Range. There was one thing I overlooked. John Myers at the Duluth News Tribune explained the 10 cent per ton taconite production tax increase, which will be dedicated toward school improvements in the Taconite Tax Relief Area (loosely speaking, the Iron Range communities…
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Dylan Days reach fever pitch today in Bob’s hometown
Dylan Days continues this morning with the famous Bobby Zimmerman bus tour, an interactive storytelling experience that takes visitors through “Bob’s” Hibbing. The tour departs from downtown Hibbing at 10:30 a.m. and lets out at 2:30 p.m. (refreshments available) at Howard Street Booksellers. Author M.L. Liebler will hold an event there at the end of…