July 2023

Tofte 4th draws huge crowd

Staff photos Brian Larsen Blessed with great weather—not too hot and not too cold--more than 1,000 people enjoyed the Tofte July 4th festivities. Food vendors, games for kids, live music, and booths filled with many items for sale were available to the public. The longest line for food was the one manned by the Tofte firefighters and EMS workers. While many people milled about, some danced to the good vibrations and sounds of the South Paws, a local band with two “kids” from the West End, Steve Johnson and Al Oikari, making up half of the band.

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BEYOND Reason

A strapping lad Is there a better summer accessory than sunglasses? Shades, as the cool kids don’t call them, are ideal for people who are into optometric health and not squinting. Sunglasses are also good for hiding tells and, if you can dig it, being cool.

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Happy Hikers update

DEVIL TRACK RIVER – JULY 12, 2023 This week the Happy Hikers will hike along the Devil Track River section of the Superior Hiking Trail, beginning at County Road 58 (Lindskog Rd.) trailhead parking lot (a few miles east of Grand Marais). We will travel through a 1937 tree plantation.

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Moving on

Six ways to BEAT the BUGS! We’re used to this, right? We know about black flies and head nets and repellents, but my goodness! This has been the bug year of bug years. I had hopes, what with the dry spring (well, when it finally came), that the dryness might ameliorate the insect populations, but for some reason it did the opposite.

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Wondering ‘61

‘61 Superior touring A family reunion in southern Ohio provided the occasion for us to return home via Lake Superior’s Canadian North Shore. It was a pleasure with some surprises.

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Wild Pets of the Week

Photo courtesy of Carolyn Blood, Tofte This past winter, these two wild cats were completely comfortable coming up to Carolyn’s house. They would stay for about 20 minutes and then would move along on their way.

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Ruby’s Pantry Cook County Ruby’s Pantry, 2nd Tuesday of the month food distribution 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m., $25 (cash only) Sponsored by Spirit of the Wilderness Church.

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Jacob Colt Johnson’s trial is set for July 18 in Duluth

A murder that occurred in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in June of 2021 with deep roots to Cook County may be coming to a conclusion as the final person, Jacob Colt Johnson, goes to trial in Duluth. Johnson’s trial is set for July 18, but the family of the murder victim, Richard (Ricky) Balsimo Jr., has asked the case to be moved to Saint Paul, where Ricky was murdered.

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Lutsong Productions announces second annual music festival

Lutsong Productions, LLC is pleased to announce its second annual event, the Lutsong Music Festival, to be held in Lutsen, Minn. on Thursday, July 13 through Sunday, July 16. Twenty acts are scheduled to play music during the fourday weekend at Caribou Highlands Lodge and the North Shore Winery located on Ski Hill Road in Lutsen. In addition to great music, attendees can enjoy the vendor village, a bronze metal pour, food, and beverages.

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