News

SWING - Ely Golf Club manager and instructor Tim Cooper takes a swing at the new indoor golf center.
Photo by Jessica Kellogg.

by Jessica Kellogg -

WAX MUSEUM participants (back row l-r): Evelie Cooley-Cramer, Chance Wavrin, Jack Rintala, Tyler Forsberg, Destany Burks, Tatum Gubrud, Peyton Erzar-Tyndall, Zoe Mackenzie, Blake Hegfors, Drew Johnson, Sabrah Hart; Kneeling middle: Otto Devine, Nathan Hoffmeister, Jack Davies, Hunter Halbakken, Molly Lindsay, Cylvia Debeltz, Makenzi Huntington, Addyson Brandau; Kneeling front: Jaymes Scholz, Bryce Williamson, Alison Poppler, Connor Brennan, Aila Harding, James Grant. Photo by Pam Roberts.

by Tom Coombe
It could be more than two years before Ely area voters are asked to support a tax increase to fund a possible major facilities project on the campus.
Superintendent Kevin Abrahamson said the general election in 2020 may provide the best chance to gain public support for a project, now only in the conceptual stage, that could perhaps connect existing buildings and add gymnasium space.
With cost estimates, tax impact, the possibility of other funding and the framework of what’s been dubbed “the corridor concept,” still uncertain, Abrahamson said that prospects for a levy referendum this year are dwindling.
“You’re almost running out of time if you’re going to hold a bond referendum this year,” Abrahamson told school board members Monday, during the board’s regular monthly session.

WICOLA President Teresa Sagen accepted the award.

by Tom Coombe -

by Tom Coombe -

by Tom Coombe
For the Ely School District, an adjustment in state calculations didn’t alter the bottom line: its graduation rates still remain well above state averages.
School board members got a look at the latest numbers Monday, and Ely has exceeeded a 90 percent high school graduation rate in four of the last five years and topped 95 percent in three years.
Even a slight dip in 2017 - 88 percent of Ely seniors graduated - wasn’t enough to buck the trend.
In the last five years, state high school graduation rates have ranged from 80.4 to 82.7 percent.
“You can see we’re well above the state average,” high school principal Megan Anderson told school board members.
Ely’s success has been noticed, according to Anderson.
She said that area principals have also seen the numbers and made note at a recent gathering.
“They’re asking us ‘how do we keep our graduation rates so high,’” said Anderson. “That’s fun to hear.”

Morse buying recreation land
Purchase from county approved; Soderberg re-elected, levy flat;

Tome re-elected to Fall Lake board;

Echo Ice Out Contest week two brings 171 more guesses;

Film, discussion to focus on Saving Snow;

Ely choir, band excel - High school music students strong at section competition;

Musical performances underway at VCC; Seussical the Musical in the theatre now

And SO MUCH MORE! Get the REAL NEWS from professionals and great photos, too. All in the Echo each week! Please subscribe...

A fire forced the evacuation of Fortune Bay Resort Casino mid-Wednesday afternoon.
The fire was reported by a guest who was occupying a room on the fourth floor of the 172 room resort.
The fire alarm sounded around 3:20 p.m. and staff cleared the resort within 15 minutes. All guests were directed to the casino side, but were eventually led outside as a precaution.
Fortune Bay staff worked feverishly to extinguish the smoldering fire, which was contained to the fourth floor.
Fire officials gave clearance for guests to go back to the casino shortly before 5 p.m.
However, it was later determined the resort would be closed Wednesday night due to smoke damage caused by the fire.
Fortune Bay worked with area hotels to find accommodations for the displaced guests.
As of Thursday afternoon the most of the fourth floor and the entire fifth floor were closed so they can be deep cleaned.

FOR 17 MINUTES on Wednesday as part of a national student walkout for safer schools and stronger gun-control legislation, around two dozen Ely students stood in front of the school. Photo by Nick Wognum.

by Tom Coombe -