February 2024

Conservation Officer Tales

Although the Cook County News-Herald knows that the majority of sportsmen and women are law-abiding folks, there are a few that run afoul of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Conservation Officers. Periodically, the DNR provides a report of some of the miscreants the Conservation Officers (CO) have encountered. The News-Herald shares these stories as a reminder to all to be safe and to follow the rules!

Read MoreConservation Officer Tales

Duluth and Arrowhead Solar Co-op launches to make rooftop solar affordable and accessible

Nonprofit group Solar United Neighbors (SUN), Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light, Cook County Local Energy Project, and the Minnesota Renewable Energy Society launched the Duluth and Arrowhead Solar Co-op to help Duluth and Arrowhead area residents go solar. The solar co-op will host online public information sessions on February 13 and February 29.

Read MoreDuluth and Arrowhead Solar Co-op launches to make rooftop solar affordable and accessible

The Big Picture: Cook County Health

When we named this column, the editor “wondered” whether it was a typo and meant “wandering.” But no, my intention was to share the wonderings and curiosities we found as we wandered up and down Highway 61. That singular, winding highway became our road to everywhere when we settled in Grand Marais.

Read MoreThe Big Picture: Cook County Health

CLEAN ENERGY

CCSD #166 opportunity to add Solar for Schools All Minnesota school districts have a unique opportunity to receive Federal plus State funding for solar panel arrays and storage batteries with the MN State Solar for Schools (S4S) program combined with the landmark Federal Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). In 2023 the MN State Legislature appropriated $29.3 million to S4S for K-12 schools, state colleges and universities.

Read MoreCLEAN ENERGY

Wildlife MATTERS

I will be dealing only with deer in this area, but the basics apply to all species everywhere. Productivity will be the first aspect to be presented; it refers to the average number of young born per female in each age group, per year, in a population.

Read MoreWildlife MATTERS

AN EXTRA DAY

When I was younger, my grandmother told everyone her birthday was February 29th. It was not. It was February 28th, but she always wished it were on that special date on the calendar. Probably because she was special, and wanted the extra attention it came with.

Read MoreAN EXTRA DAY

Outdoors

A good friend remembered The first time I met him was long and complex and quite representative. It was a September, and we'd already lived here at the Flute Reed Farm for four months or so, but it's not easy to meet the neighbors on county roads in the big north woods, a quarter-mile from one drive to the next, then the homes tucked well into the woods.

Read MoreOutdoors

Moving on

Not ANOTHER One! Unbelievable! Four major fires in four years. Poor Cook County! Poor us! Poor employees! Poor owners! Our community has been hit hard by the pandemic, but we’ve been hit harder by these fires.

Read MoreMoving on