Skraba Announces 2025-2026 Committee Assignments
On Wednesday, December 11, State Representative Roger Skraba, R-Ely, announced his committee assignments for the 2025-2026 legislative session.
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Read MoreSkraba Announces 2025-2026 Committee Assignments
First preliminary results 2024 for the Grand Marais Audubon Christmas Bird Count
We had a good day of birding; the temperatures were almost above freezing, and the wind was not too terrible. No snow or rain made it easier to see and be out looking around. We had generally decent numbers for all species with the conditions. Looking at the results, we all did well, considering the winter blast right before the count probably moved the last of the stragglers out and moved in some more of our winter regulars.
Cook County Commissioners set the 2025 County budget and levy
On Tuesday, December 17, by a 3-2 vote, the Cook County Commissioners passed a 5 percent increase in the levy over 2024, which was their ultimate goal. They lowered the proposed levy of 9.81 percent set in September. The proposed budget of $13,396,910, an increase of $1,196,623 over 2024, was decreased, but it was reduced by borrowing from PILT funds with few cuts made to arrive at a five percent levy increase.
Christmas Eve Service for Trinity Lutheran Church in Hovland
Trinity Lutheran Church in Hovland (4957 East Hwy 61, Hovland) is having a 5 p.m. Christmas Eve worship service. There will be no potluck this year.
U.S. Senators Tina Smith, Susan Collins Introduce Bill to Build Health Care Workforce in Rural Areas
On Monday, December 9, 2024, U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced legislation to improve access to health care and address the physician shortage in rural areas. The Rural Residency Planning and Development Act of 2024 would authorize the Rural Residency Planning and Development Program to continue providing start-up funding to rural hospitals, medical schools, and other organizations to establish new rural residency programs. Among current medical residency programs, only two percent of residency training occurs in rural areas, and in Minnesota, 80 percent of counties qualify as mental health professional shortage areas. The Rural Residency Planning and Development Act of 2024 will help address the health care provider shortages by supporting the training of more clinicians in rural areas.
REASON
Rapping with a Blitzen Somewhere in the North Pole, carrying his signature notebook and pen, Rob Perez is inside âSantaâs Stablesâ. Rob walks past seven stalls until he arrives at Stall Eight. Rob knocks politely on the outside of the stall. After a bit of rustling, a Reindeer sticks his head out of the window.
CORRECTIONS:
» Corrections/Clarifications to the 12.6 County Commissioners November 28 meeting highlights article: The article stated: (previous County Administrator) Joerke and several department heads were classified at 260, the top pay scale grade. Correction: Joerke was the only employee classified at 260. No other department heads are at 260. Most fall at 240 or 250. This is correctly stated later in the article. The article stated: Commissioner Stacey Johnson had some concerns about the pay grades after meeting with DDA the day before the county board meeting. Clarification: This was brought to the Commissioners at the November 19th Committee of the Whole meeting. Johnson says, 'we just learned about this last week', but is referring to the one-on-one interviews with Patrick Melvin from DDA. This can be misconstrued as just learning about the pay grade concerns the day before. The article stated: Human Resource Director Alison Plummer said former County Administrator Jeff Cadwell didn't create the Keystone system. She noted that any system could be better, but she thought it was fair, and it would be a burden to start over again. Plummer also stated: 'All systems have pros and cons. We are used to using the system and do not think it is flawed. Any system could be better but it's not a horrible system.'