August 2025
Chamber of Commerce hosts ice cream social
The Cook County Chamber of Commerce held an ice cream social last Wednesday at the Visit Cook County/Chamber headquarters in downtown Grand Marais.
Lightning over the Grand Marais harbor
Photo courtesy of David Johnson
Maple Hill Farm and Sugarbush recognized as a 2025 ‘U of M Farm Family’
The Spinler family of Grand Marais has been named Cook County’s “2025 Farm Family of the Year” by the University of Minnesota. Melinda and Mark Spinler have spent over 40 years building their homestead nestled east of town in the forest. What started as a simple effort to clear land and grow food has turned into a working farm that supports both their family and the surrounding community. Managing life in the Northwoods has not always been easy, since protecting livestock from predators and developing usable soil takes ongoing effort, but they have found creative ways to make it work.
Pet of the Week
Waboose (Rabbit) is about 4 years old and is a friendly, kiss-y girl after she’s been around you for a few days. Although she looks thin, she’s muscular and wirey. She enjoys being held and hanging on to your hands while kissing you. She seems OK with a cat friendly dog and has always lived with other cats. Waboose is spayed, microchipped and up to date on her vaccines. Like all of our cats, Waboose is INDOOR ONLY. For more information on adopting Waboose or coming to meet her, call Barb at 218-290-6866 or Dale at 218-370-9534. Her adoption fee is $100 plus tax or $108.38.
Monitoring wolves
Monitoring of wolf populations has been an important part of wolf introductions/ management programs. Current techniques such as radio collars and visual observation of activities are quite invasive and can be disruptive of natural movements and behaviors.
Matters of Record
Jared Dean Blaisdell, 49, of Blaine, Minnesota, was cited for driving 50 mph in a 40 mph speed zone and fined $125.00.
Churches Part II—ELCA Lutherans
There are about 1.3 million Lutherans in Minnesota, all descended theologically from Martin Luther. He translated the Bible into German so that all the people could understand what is being said. Look underneath the Lutheran hood and you find many kinds. Today I explore the two Evangelical Lutheran Churches in America (ELCA) churches in Cook County. Google’s AI says there are 637 ELCA members in our county. They attend Bethlehem Lutheran in Grand Marias and the Lutsen Lutheran Church. Both Churches reflect Lutheran interest in creative church architecture. ELCA Lutherans generally side with modern Bibilical interpretation rather than inerrancy of Scripture.
Vikings volleyball opens season with a 2-3 record
The Vikings’ volleyball season got off to an exciting start last week. Over the course of two days, the Vikings played four teams, recording two wins and two losses.