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NEMBAs on Sunday
This weekend the “Overburden” road show will be working without a net as the missus and I head south to Duluth for the Northeastern Minnesota Book Awards at UMD. I am one of scads of nominated authors in the creative nonfiction/memoir category (it’s not a juried nomination system; they let anyone in, even me). I…
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Dicklich strikes back, demands satisfaction
Last week I mentioned Hibbing Daily Tribune publisher Wanda Moeller’s editorial smackdown on Ron Dicklich’s appointment to the Laurentian Energy Authority. Well, somehow I missed the significant fact that Mesabi Daily News editor and co-publisher Bill Hanna hit Dicklich with a similar argument on the same day. You ever see professional wrestling? You ever see…
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Mitchell Bridge to be toppled this summer
On the subject of roads, we learn today in the Hibbing Daily Tribune that the Range-famous Mitchell Bridge between Hibbing and Chisholm will be removed this summer thanks to MNDOT and federal stimulus money. The rough looking landmark will be replaced by new infrastructure that will actually route the Mesabi Trail underneath the new highway.…
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Road lamenting
The Mesabi Daily News makes hay out of an AP news analysis of the federal stimulus plan’s transportation goals, saying that the spending overlooks some areas hit hard by the economy. The MDN ran the story out front and included a corresponding editorial. My favorite line about the stimulus package in the editorial: “It was…
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A worthy counterargument on government spending
In the swirling hurly-burly of what passes for today’s political discourse I do enjoy this offering from KAXE’s Republican commentator Charles Marohn. He’s leading people toward a conservative argument without actually making a specific call. I would contrast this kind of argument with the more shrill diatribes against government spending you often see posted to…
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Thank you, Virginia (again)
Last Friday I spoke at the Virginia (Minn.) Historical Society annual dinner about my book “Overburden: Modern Life on the Iron Range.” It was a fun evening with a very welcoming crowd. I get a kick out of giving speeches when people audibly “harrumph” at the mention of Bob Dylan. There aren’t many crowds left…
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‘Overburden’ mentioned in Star Tribune book column
My book “Overburden: Modern Life on the Iron Range” was mentioned in Laurie Hertzel’s book column in the Star Tribune this morning. It’s wasn’t exactly a review (Summary: “This book exists”) but they spelled my name right so who’s complaining? I’ll be headed back to the Twin Cities June 4-5 for appearances in Roseville and…
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COLUMN: Mom vs. Fish: Who will prevail?
This is my weekly column for today’s May 10, 2009 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. This also served as my essay for “Between You and Me” on KAXE this weekend. Mom vs. fish: Who will prevail?By Aaron J. Brown Mother’s Day is here and for many Northern Minnesotans this Hallmark holiday brings an unholy…
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Essar: Nashwauk project on track … for real
Some clarification from the Sault (Ontario, Canada) Star on yesterday’s Essar story. Everything is on track again. Nice to know that Canadians are also punchy about this project. Essar Steel Ltd., parent company of Essar Steel Algoma Inc., wants to set the record straight on its massive Essar Steel Minnesota project. Media reports out of…
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More economic delays for India/Iron Range steel project?
Well, this is strange. The Sault Star, a newspaper in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, is reporting that Essar Steel is, in fact, delaying its North American developments including the long-awaited proposed iron mine and steel plant at Nashwauk. This paper serves the area where Essar’s Algoma Steel facility is located. What I don’t get is…
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Histro-tainment at sunset tonight
Tonight I’ll be giving the keynote presentation at the Virginia (Minn.) Historical Society Annual Dinner at the Elks Club on 5th Ave. North. As usual I’ll be exploring some aspects of my recent book “Overburden: Modern Life on the Iron Range.” I’ll also be sprinkling in some newer material to keep my brain from smoothing…
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Brown on the Air: MOM vs. FISH!
This week’s edition of “Between You and Me,” the Saturday morning call-in and music radio sensation on 91.7 KAXE, explores a thorny topic in northern Minnesota. The fishing opener is this weekend and so is Mother’s Day. So what’s really more important? Fishing or honoring mom with a holiday? Tough call. As usual, I contribute…
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Dirt track dispatch
There’s a shake up in the northern Minnesota dirt track racing universe. Superior is out of the circuit, leaving WISSOTA for NASCAR. Grand Rapids is racing on Thursdays now. Hibbing, Proctor and Ashland, Wis., are the other race tracks on the local circuit. Related posts: No related posts.
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‘I’ll stop there and wander around’
Bob Dylan has been granting some fascinating interviews lately. The Duluth native and Iron Range-raised musician is also waxing nostalgic about the place where he’s from. This item ran in Tuesday’s “Eh?” column in the Duluth News Tribune, which contained this excerpt from this month’s Rolling Stone interview of Dylan. In the latest issue of…
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The duality of the mining economy crisis on the Range
Recent updates at Business North call to question the existential crisis facing the Iron Range in northern Minnesota. Do we embrace our mining history with full force, to the extent that our future planning remains focused on mining. Or do we find a way to continue mining as is possible and necessary, but expand our…