GrandMaraisLionsClub President Pete Kavanaugh was slightly emotional when he announced that Mark Abrahamson, a dear friend of his, had been named Cook County Citizen of the Year. Mark and Pete have been longtime volunteers at WTIP Radio, and for many years, Mark and Pete's wife, Tracy Benson, worked together to host a WTIP radio show.
Spirit of the Wilderness Episcopal Church (worships at Maple Hill) hired Rev. Peggy Schnack as their new priest in charge in May. Rev. Peggy graduated with a Master of Divinity from the University of the South School of Theology in Sewanee, Tennessee in 2015 and was ordained to the priesthood in Minneapolis in 2018. Prior to seminary she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice and Spanish from the College of St. Catherine (now St. Catherine’s University) in St. Paul and was, upon separation, a Staff Sergeant (E-5) in the United States Air Force. When she started at Spirit of the Wilderness in May, Rev. Peggy jumped right into the community becoming involved with the Pride Committee and Ruby’s Pantry and she can often be found strolling around town talking with parishioners or anyone else she happens to encounter. “Right now a significant part of my ministry is getting to know the people I serve. That includes parishioners and the whole community of Grand Marais. I want to meet people where they are spiritually and physically; what better way to do that than being out in the community?” Among other things, Rev. Peggy will be preaching, teaching, doing pastoral care, and fostering meaningful ways for people to continue building strong relationships with God, one another, and the greater community. In her free time, Rev. Peggy enjoys hiking, kayaking, geocaching, reading, playing with other people’s pets, sketching, and very-amateur photography. She is close with her parents, siblings, and nieces and nephews and enjoys spending time with them when she is in the Twin Cities. Rev. Peggy resides in Grand Marais roughly half of each month and has an office at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. She can be reached via email at revpeggy.sotwchurch@gmail.com
Wild rice season opens soon, but harvesters must ensure rice is ripe As the Aug. 15 wild rice season opening date approaches, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reminds harvesters that rice stands must be ripe before they can be legally harvested.
For those who missed the August 5 Colvill Town Hall hearing to discuss the proposed Cook County Ordinance 66: An ordinance to regulate cannabis businesses and underage cannabis possession, another Town Hall hearing is scheduled. Community members are invited to attend and voice their opinions.
Northeast MN and Tribal Nation Lands – In the second quarter of 2024, the Northland Foundation awarded 32 grants totaling $657,900 through its Quarterly Grant program. Quarterly grants are generally grants of $10,000 or more made to nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, Tribal Nations, local governmental agencies, and educational institutions/ school districts, as well as to licensed child care programs.
Grand Marais City Council convened on Wednesday, July 31, for a discussion on an ordinance proposed by the county, a significant step in the regulation of cannabis. The ordinance lays out the authority of local government to adopt reasonable restrictions on the time, place, and manner of cannabis business, provided those restrictions do not prohibit the establishment of cannabis businesses.
Chris Knopf, Executive Director of Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness, will speak at the Gunflint Trail Historical Society’s August membership meeting on Monday, August 12, 2024, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 p.m.
The Cook County News-Herald publishes Matters of Record to inform the public of arraignments and dispositions of criminal cases in which the punishment exceeds $125 and/or ten days in jail and/or includes one year of supervised adult probation. It is the Cook County News-Herald’s policy that this information contains a complete record. Requests for items to be withheld will not be granted.