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JANUARY
• Ely council members stopped short of a fullfledged debate, but mayor Heidi Omerza pushed back strongly against concerns raised by a local resident. Frederica Musgrave, who attends and records numerous city meetings, pressed elected officials to better oversee city committees and commissions and called for more fiscal accountability during an address to the council.
• Despite concerns over a lack of measurable snow, organizers of the Fun Run snowmobile event said the event set for Feb. 3 would go on as planned.
• Over the span of four days, more than 2,000 people attended the Ely School District’s production of Frozen.
Even the city council has taken note of the high school musical production, with mayor Heidi Omerza proclaiming that from Jan. 19-21 the city “will be known as Arendelle as we complete our year of Frozen.”
• Through a personal connection, Frozen director Mike Rouse and his wife Billie were able to procure about $100,000 in equipment and technology - for free - for use in the school’s production of the Disney classic.
• Three Republican lawmakers, including U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber of Hermantown, pressured the Biden Administration for more information on the cancellation of mineral leases held by Twin Metals Minnesota.
• Ely’s school board remains intact this year and members will carry on with the duties they had in 2023. Longtime chairman Ray Marsnik was re-elected chairman.
• The Ely Echo was once again designated as the school district’s official publication.
• Windchill readings as low as -25 hindered participation, but many hearty anglers were out on Ely area lakes for the trout fishing opener.
• Ely city officials recognized Mike Popesh, who retired from his position as the city’s public works foreman. He spent 43 years working for the city.
• Ely’s Erin Bianco was part of the United States national Nordic skiing team at World Cup races in Germany.
• A replenished force helped lead to more police activity in Ely last year. Overall, Ely police were involved in 2,483 incidents in 2023, according to an annual report delivered to the city council by chief Chad Houde. That compared to 2,226 incident calls the year before.
• Town board races in both Morse and Fall Lake near Ely were uncontested after a two-week filing period. Supervisor Terry Soderberg is running for re-election in Morse, while in Fall Lake, Sheila Gruba has filed for the seat held by her husband Rod, who did not file for re-election.
• Patient transports were cited as a problem issue during a meeting of the local ambulance joint powers board.
• A potential snag exists in the ongoing effort to redevelop the Ely Community Center building. While developer Matt Stupnik is moving forward with a $3.4 million project that would turn the landmark into an 18room hotel, he’s struggling to find property for needed parking.
• The Ely Echo won six state newspaper awards - including three for first place and all in the largest circulation division for weeklies across Minnesota. The Echo was first in two categories General Reporting and Special Section - while reporter Parker Loew got first place for Human Interest Story Personality Feature/Profile.
FEBRUARY
• A lack of snow didn’t dampen interest or enthusiasm for the Fun Run Snowmobile Event, which had over 1,000 participants many of whom filled the ballroom at Fortune Bay Resort Casino for the wrap-up party where hundreds of prizes were awarded.
• Another major Ely winter event, the WolfTrack Classic Sled Dog Race, was cancelled because of the lack of snow.
• Fueled by a fourth-place finish from junior Dylan Durkin and a sixth from Oliver Hohenstein, the Ely boys took second at the Section 7 meet and punched their ticket to state as a team. The Ely boys’ relay combination of Aksel Skustad and Silas Solum won the section title and advanced to state on their own, as did the Wolves’ girls relay unit of Claire Blauch and Ava Skustad, who took second.
• The curtains went up Feb. 8 at Ely’s Historic State Theater for the second Ely Film Festival, a four-day event.
• Braydin Mosher was crowned king and Hannah Penke queen during Winter Frolic Week at Ely Memorial High School.
• The Fall Lake Town Board looked to access $50,000 for events from lodging tax funds that were collected from area establishments by Lake County.
• Legislation proposed in St. Paul would pump about $120 million into rural ambulance services across the state and provide a boost to the service in Ely.
• To raise funds for the upcoming Ely High School All-Class Reunion, the reunion committee launched a $100 per ticket raffle with a $10,000 grand prize.
• Above average temperatures and a lack of snow and ice have limited winter recreation in the area and hurt local businesses that rely on winter visitor traffic.
• Ely’s Erin Bianco placed 37th at a World Cup skiing event in Minneapolis.
• Ely’s high school hockey team fell 12-0 to Cloquet-Esko- Carlton in the first round of the Section 7A high school hockey playoffs.
• At the state ski meet at Biwabik, the Ely boys team placed eighth in the single-class event with the sprint relay combination of Aksel Skustad and Silas Solum placing fourth.
• Precinct caucuses were held in Ely and area Republicans veered to the right, passing resolutions related to voting machines, drag shows and sanctuary states. Democrat resolutions included those opposed to copper- nickel mining projects in the region.
• A homeowner was found dead inside a home destroyed by fire on Grant McMahan Boulevard. Property tax records showed the home belonged to Carol Lindbeck.
• Cindy Smyka of Ely won the 2024 Explore Minnesota Emerging Leader award, at the Explore Minnesota Tourism Conference in Rochester.
• After 28 years, Delby Seliga retired from Ely’s Holiday Store.
MARCH
• The Ely Events Committee unveiled a “Rock the Park” lineup that encompassed two weekends and six bands to perform in the bandshell at Whiteside Park.
• The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources denied a request from the Prospector ATV Club to reopen ATV trails for the month of March. The request was made in an effort to give area businesses a boost given the lack of snow and snowmobile traffic during the winter.
• Ely’s high school choir received a superior and two excellent ratings as it hosted the Section 7A music competition. Ely choir participants Gabe White, Matthew Johnson, Colton Bramley, Rachel Carter and Emily Bialik were honored.
• Helium was found near Babbitt, with Pulsar Helium announcing that it encountered helium more than 2,000 feet underground in an exploratory drill hole.
• Cromwell proved to once again be Ely’s nemesis, downing the Wolves 57-51 in the Section 7A high school girls basketball semifinals at Duluth. The Wolves, who finished 22-7 overall, led at halftime but the Cardinals rallied to knock Ely out of the tournament for a third straight season.
• Paced by a hard-hitting attack, the Vermilion Ironhawks baseball team won four games and finished 4-5 on a season-opening spring trip to Florida.
• City officials said that plans for a new apartment complex, to be located near the hospital campus and the Grahek and Sibley apartments, were “picking up momentum.”
• Longtime high school social studies teacher Frank Ivancich announced his retirement, ending a tenure with the Ely schools that dated back to 1991.
• The Ely-Winton Historical Society hired Adam Kovall as its new manager.
• Sheila Gruba won a seat on the Fall Lake town board while incumbent Terry Soderberg was re-elected in Morse Township.
• The International Wolf Center in Ely stood to receive $800,000 from a Chicago businesswoman and philanthropist.
• Homer Wilkes, undersecretary with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, toured the Superior National Forest near the North Arm of Burntside Lake.
• Ely school officials approved a base bid of just over $1.3 million, submitted by Max Gray Construction, to fund various renovations on the school campus planned for the summer.
• Ely council members said they’d explore building a parking lot near the east end of Miners Lake.
• The Ely Chix with Stix took second at a women’s hockey tournament held in Duluth.
• Mt. Iron-Buhl beat Ely 73-53 in the opening round of the Section 7A high school boys basketball tournament. Ely finished with a record of 11-16.
• At least nine homeowners on West Shagawa Road were informed that cancer-causing chemicals known as PFAS were found in their water supply. The residents were advised by the state’s Department of Health to avoid drinking or cooking with the contaminated water.
• A group of 34 high school seniors went to Washington, D.C., for the annual senior class trip. They met with U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber and toured many landmarks during a whirlwind swing.
• Nils DeRemee of Ely won a $2,000 scholarship from the Minnesota Sheriffs’ Association. The Ely High School graduate is pursuing a career in law enforcement.
• The SAGE Foundation was formed to build bridges between students at Vermilion Community College and the Ely community.
• The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources announced plans to renovate the White Iron Boat Landing in 2025.
• Vermilion sophomore Marcus Haire was named Northern Division Pitcher of the Week after pitching Vermilion to a 10-1 win over Hibbing.
• Grace LaTourell, Hannah Penke and Sarah Visser of Ely were named to All-Arrowhead Conference girls basketball team.
• Sabrah Hart of Ely won the high school bullseye competition at a March 16 archery event at Greenway High School.
• The Ely Sports Hall of Fame Committee announced the names of 33 new inductees from graduating classes in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, as well as six coaches and one team that will be added to the hall of fame.
• The Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board approved an $850,000 grant to aid in the construction of a proposed new apartment complex in Ely.
• A budget deficit of just over $485,000 will lead to budget cuts in the school district, although Ely school leaders said the gap was too large to complete that amount of cuts in one year.
• Ely Igloo Club member Bill Hane was recognized by the U.S. Forest Service for his service to snowmobiling.
• St. Louis County snow plows were on the road for a cumulative 33,000 miles during a three-day snow storm March 24-26.
• Jack Davies of Ely was named to the All-Arrowhead Conference boys basketball team.
• An Elyite died in the hospital days after suffering a medical emergency in Mexico. Dr. Matthew Rolando suffered an emergency while scuba diving and passed away several days later. He worked as a physician in Woodbury.
• Ely’s Jasper Johnston closed out his collegiate skiing career at the Spring National Championships. He skied for Michigan Tech.
APRIL
• Ely’s restaurant lineup was set to grow with the addition of The Frisky Otter. Michael Cascone announced plans to open the restaurant and bar at the former Rockwood location.
• The main entrance to Ely’s school campus as well as parts of the interior will be spruced up - following action by board members. The board approved the placement of murals and door coverings outside the main entrance - as well as in the commons area and hallways in both the Washington and Memorial buildings. The project is being funded by a $20,000 contribution from the Ely Educational Foundation.
• The faculty lineup at Ely Memorial High School will have a different look next fall. One teacher resigned and another was granted a leave of absence and those moves come on the heels of a retirement notice issued last month by a longtime Ely teacher. The board accepted the resignation of high school science teacher Nate LaFond and granted English instructor Amy Kingsley a three-year leave of absence.
• Ely city officials announced plans to apply for $4.5 million in state funds to help pay for a proposed new apartment complex.
• The Donald G. Gardner Humanities Trust approved $6,210 in awards to local organizations.
• Dozens of new businesses or those that have renovated or changed hands were featured in the Ely Echo’s annual Progress Edition.
• Elroy Kuehl of Ely was given an award for his lifetime support of logging at the Associated Contract Loggers and Truckers banquet at Grand Rapids.
• First-place finishes by Leo Stalmer and Eli Olson lifted the high school boys track team to a first-place finish at a meet in Deer River.
• Both Esther Anderson and Leo Stalmer of Ely advanced to the State Class A Speech Meet in the Twin Cities. Both are seniors.
• Zoe MacKenzie of Ely threw a no-hitter as Ely blanked Mesabi East 7-0 in high school softball.
• A long-sought electrical upgrade at the Pioneer Mine complex is set to proceed.
After some discussion, council members approved a request to set aside $11,200, matching a contribution made by the Ely Arts and Heritage Center group, which coordinates events at the city-owned facility. The money will pay for $16,200 in electrical work at the Miners Dry building and another $6,200 for the Captains Dry.
• The Ely School Board approved about $250,000 in reductions and revenue enhancements in an effort to bridge a budget deficit.
• Skeptical city officials gave an Ely property owner 30 days to make a series of repairs to a blighted property currently deemed uninhabitable. After their building official was unable to gain access to the property earlier in the day, the city council voted Tuesday to complete a list of 16 improvements and remedies at 45 East Boundary Street. According to tax records, the property is owned by Jason Gillson and Mark Herman, and the home was allegedly set on fire in September.
• On the heels of a hearing in the State House, a State Senate Committee took testimony on a proposal that would deliver more than $5 million to the Ely School District to improve its athletic facilities. The grant is part of much broader tax legislation advanced by State Sen. Grant Hauschild (D-Hermantown) and State Rep. Dave Lislegard (D-Aurora).
MAY
• Legislation overturning a mineral withdrawal in northeastern Minnesota and advanced by U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber has cleared a major hurdle in Congress. Stauber’s Superior National Forest Restoration Act was passed by the U.S. House on a 212-203 vote, The bill reinstates mineral leases that were held by Twin Metals Minnesota but taken away by the Biden Administration, and also overturns the administration’s move to withdraw 225,000 acres of national forest land.
• Ely Chamber of Commerce officials indicated that all available booth spaces for the summer Blueberry/Art Festival had been reserved.
• Despite rising costs for electrical distribution, Lake Country Power announced it would not adjust residential electric rates in 2 024.
• Lake County was looking for a new county attorney after the resignation of Russ Conrow.
• A rematch is in the works in Minnesota’s Eighth Congressional District. District Democrats have endorsed former Duluth legislator Jen Schultz for the U.S. House seat now held by Rep. Pete Stauber (R).
• Ely’s proximity to the nearby Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness meshed with the commencement address delivered by Jessica Holmes Wednesday night on the Vermilion campus of Minnesota North College. About 100 graduates participated in the commencement.
• In order to comply with federal drinking water regulations, the city of Ely is reaching out to all of its utility customers. City residents and business owners are being asked to provide the city with a clear picture of the service line and first valve prior to the meter. It’s part of an effort to determine if the water intake line is made of lead.
• Out of the playoff chase, the Vermilion Ironhawks nonetheless made the most of a season-ending series with Mesabi. The community college baseball team won all four games - all by 10 runs or more - and racked 65 runs in less than 24 hours while sweeping the Norse. Vermilion finished with a 20-23 record.
• Ely Community Resource is scrambling to come up with additional funding to maintain the services it currently offers to area youth. The local nonprofit, which has existed since 1978, is facing a budget crunch after losing two key sources of grant revenue.
• After months of negotiations, the Ely School District and the union representing Ely teachers have come together on a new two-year contract. Highlights of the deal include pay raises of three and 3.25 percent on the teachers’ salary scale.
• A new exhibit at the International Wolf Center offered a unique look and perspective about wolves. Starvation, Adaptation and Survival—Insights from the Voyageurs Wolf Project debuted on May 24 at the museum just outside of Ely.
• The approval of a tax bill in St. Paul brought millions of dollars north, including $5.25 million for Ely School District athletic facilities and funding for Veterans on the Lake Resort, Pioneer Mine, the International Wolf Center and area trails.
• By mid-May, organizers of the Ely High School All-Class Reunion said that 725 people had already registered in advance for the summer event.
• Legislation passed in St. Paul will bring $264,000 to the Ely Area Ambulance Service.
• A Memorial Day program in Ely was highlighted by an address from David Staehlin, senior vice commander for the Minnesota VFW. Hundreds of people turned out for the annual ceremony at the Ely Cemetery.
• Marcus Haire and Chris Rambula of the Vermilion baseball team both gained All-Northern Division First Team honors.
• Northeast Range/Ely won the Section 7A high school girls golf championship at McGregor, with Abby Koivisto placing third overall in the section meet.
• Violet Udovich and Kaylin Visser of Ely had firstplace finishes at the 7A North Subsection girls track meet.
• Ely’s high school softball team had its deepest run ever, making the final four of the Section 7A tournament.
• Silas Solum led the boys track team at the 7A North Subsection meet, taking second in the 800 run.
• A Missouri man apparently drowned in White Iron Lake. The body of Duane Krueger, a 54-year-old man from St. Louis, was found by authorities.
• Gov. Tim Walz came to the Iron Range to sign legislation that provides boosts in state funding to regional ambulance services.
• An Ely woman died as a result of a car crash near Babbitt. Deborah Minier, 64, was killed in the single-vehicle accident.
• Members of the graduating class looked back and ahead during the May 31 commencement ceremonies held before hundreds inside the Washington Auditorium. The class included 33 graduates.
JUNE
• Filing for city offices ended with mayor Heidi Omerza running unopposed and five candidates for three city council positions. Incumbents Paul Kess and Jerome Debeltz will be joined on the ballot by Emily Roose, Frederica Musgrave and John Lahtonen.
• Lake Country Powers awarded $4,000 scholarships to 36 regional high school seniors, including Sarah Visser of Ely.
• The city of Ely will invest up to $20,000 to ensure that vendors at Whiteside Park have access to wireless internet.
• After reaching the final four of the Section 7A high school baseball playoffs, Ely was eliminated by Deer River with a seventh-inning rally. The Warriors scored three runs, all with two outs, to beat Ely 5-4.
• Ely’s softball fields at the east end of town were renamed in honor of Jerome Debeltz, who has led the local slow-pitch softball league for four decades.
• Senior Silas Solum of Ely placed fourth in the 800 run at the Section 7A track meet.
• Roads were the top issue when Fall Lake town board members gathered for their June meeting.
• The Ely School Board extended superintendent Anne Oelke’s contract through June 30, 2025.
• With the help of the Ely Echo, U.S. Army Captain Hunter Thompson connected with Iraqi Brigadier General Baha. Thompson received the Ely Echo in care packages from Todd and Renee Thompson and Baha particularly enjoyed the translations of what the Ely Timberwolves had going on each week in sports.
• Ely artist and Lake County Commissioner Joe Baltich was at Target Field, painting an Adirondack chair for the Minnesota Twins.
• The Ely Senior Center began a $100 per ticket raffle to raise funds for improvements to its building.
• Pulsar Helium’s discovery of helium east of Babbitt was deemed “globally significant.”
• An international paddling film festival came to Ely June 28-29, at Ely’s Historic State Theater.
• Northeast Range/Ely placed fifth in the State Class A Girls Golf Meet at Becker. Abby Koivisto was the top individual finisher and took 17th.
• Violet Udovich advanced to state in the 400 meter dash in girls track, but she was knocked out after the preliminary round of the State Class A meet at St. Michael-Albertville. Ely also sent the four-by-400 relay quartet of Udovich, Lydia Shultz, Sarah Visser and Grace LaTourell.
• With four straight wins, Ely took first in the 36th Annual DQ Grill and Chill Classic American Legion Baseball Tournament, held June 21-23 at Veterans Memorial Field.
• Will ambulance operations in Ely come full circle? Consultants engaged by Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital recommended that the hospital resume ownership and operation of the ambulance service, which in recent years has been stymied both by financial losses and struggles in retaining and attracting personnel. SafeTech Solutions proposed a regional model with full-time ambulance service in Ely, Babbitt and Tower, staffed by EBCH.
• A storm that dumped up to eight inches of rain caused major damage to area roads. At one point three of the ways to leave Ely were closed off, including Highway 1 south of the airport, Highway 169 between Tower and Virginia, and the Echo Trail.
• The Ely High School oral history project, a movie featuring the stories and memories of 13 Ely graduates, made its premiere at Ely’s Historic State Theater.
• An update to census figures showed a slight increase in Ely’s population, with estimates rising to 3,249, compared to 3,209 in 2020.
• The Ely City Council went on record, asking state officials to keep the existing traffic signal at the corner of Third Avenue East and Sheridan Street.
• Lake County Commissioners held a meeting at the Fall Lake Town Hall, and heard from area residents about a series of issues including the county budget and the proposed Silver Rapids Lodge expansion.
• Ely police reported that counterfeit $20 bills were circulating in town.
• Thanks to 1990 Ely High School graduate Renee (Skube) Beaumier, an ore car was donated to the Pioneer Mine historic site in Ely.
• Ely School Board members adopted a deficit budget of $157,545 for the 2024-25 term.
• Water levels on White Iron Lake rose about four feet because of heavy rains.
• The Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness acquired 361 acres of land along the South Kawishiwi River.
• State Rep. Roger Skraba (R) of Ely and his DFL challenger - International Falls Mayor Harley Droba - squared off in their first debate at Grand Marais.
JULY
• Ely area residents and visitors filled sidewalks for the July 4 parade, and Whiteside Park was full for post-parade games and festivities. A fireworks celebration closed out the day.
• The Ely High School All-Class Reunion got off to a blazing start with an allclass mixer, the Sports Hall of Fame banquet and a mining heritage day all drawing large crowds.
• A recreational vehicle was destroyed by fire near Tower.
• Ely School Board members finalized contract agreements with the district’s principal and confidential/ supervisory bargaining units.
• A travel site named Ely as one of the “Most Charming Towns” in the nation to visit. The ranking came from AFAR.
• Wilderness Health hosted listening sessions on mental and behavioral health needs in the Ely area.
• Ely’s Legion baseball team won 9-1 at Miesville on July 1, giving longtime head coach Tom Coombe his 600th win in an Ely uniform.
• Minnesota Public Radio came to Ely to highlight the “Braver Angels” movement in town. The group brings Democrats and Republicans together in social settings in an attempt to bridge political divides and encourage civility.
• The Midsummer Legion Classic had a new name and was larger than ever. Now the Ely Echo Midsummer Classic, the American Legion baseball tournament expanded to four days and included 11 teams.
• The Ely School Board retained engineering firm SEH to conduct an assessment of district athletic facilities, in the wake of an award of $5.25 million from the Minnesota Legislature for athletic related improvements.
• Ely City Council members approved a temporary moratorium on new cannabis- related businesses in town, giving city officials time to draft an ordinance regulating those sales.
• Highway 1 south of Ely reopened to traffic after portions were closed because of flooding.
• Whiteside Park was filled on back-to-back Saturdays for “Rock the Park” concerts that were part of the All-Class Reunion.
• Jean (Folio) Nappa, the daughter of Bataan Death March survivor Etalo Folio, spoke at the flag-raising event held on July 4.
• Bob and Alison La-Tourell were named “Volunteers of the Year” by the Ely City Council for their years of involvement with the Ely Hoop Club.
• State Rep. Roger Skraba (R) of Ely announced his opposition to a proposed sale of land within the BWCAW.
• Assault charges were filed against an Alabama man in connection with a disturbance at an Ely lodging establishment after a wedding.
• Out-of-state tuition was eliminated at the Vermilion campus of Minnesota North College.
• The city of Ely got a healthy audit report, with figures showing that city reserves grew by more than $500,000 in 2023.
• Talen Jarshaw fired a no-hitter for Ely’s Junior Legion team in a July 16 win over Taconite.
• A fight outside a local bar led to a serious injury and an assault charge filed against a Grand Rapids man.
• Ely school officials took steps toward restricting cell phone use by Ely students during the school day.
• A full house at the Fall Lake Town Hall as the Lake County Planning Commission heard testimony related to a proposed $45 million expansion at Silver Rapids Lodge.
• A 19-year-old was flown by helicopter to a hospital after he was severely injured as a result of an ATV accident near Wolf Lake Road.
• Ely School Board members pondered seeking a capital project levy in the November general election.
• Vermilion Community College named Tyree Johnson as the school’s new head football coach.
• Luke Olson of Ely won an NCAA scholarship valued at $10,000. Olson was on the track team at NCAA Division I South Dakota.
• For the fifth year in a row, Elyites Chris Erzar and Nick Mattila won the canoe race at the World Championship Snowmobile Watercross in Grantsburg, WI.
• Esko defeated Ely 3-0 in the finals of the Division II Substate Tournament at Veterans Memorial Field. Ely upended Taconite 3-2 to reach the finals, but finished the year with a 20-7 overall record.
• The 44th Blueberry/Art Festival was a scorcher, with thousands of people turning out at Whiteside Park for the three-day event.
AUGUST
• Petitioners and a nonprofit group teamed up to seek action to stop the proposed expansion at Silver Rapids Lodge. Lake County received a petition with 304 signatures from those who say the county shirked its own regulations in approving permits for the project.
• Hundreds of people turned out for the grand opening of “The Hub,” the renovated former Revenue Building in the Ely Business Park that was purchased by the Ely Area Community Foundation and renovated to house a childcare facility, a gymnasium and offices.
• Hunter Halbakken threw a no-hitter as Ely beat Proctor 11-1 to win the Junior Legion Northeast Substate championship.
• Representatives of Pulsar Helium spoke to area legislators and indicated that production could begin in 2025 at its site near Babbitt.
• Ely city officials said they wanted to bring representatives of area townships, Babbitt, Tower and the Ely hospital together to discuss a proposal that the hospital take on ownership and operation of the area’s ambulance service.
• School board members in Ely approved a plan to seek $350,000 in new tax revenue in a November referendum.
• The Ely Rotary Club held a “Casino Night” fundraiser at the Pioneer Mine complex.
• A man who murdered an elderly Babbitt couple in their home was sentenced to 46 years in prison. Roger Beldo, 56, was sentenced in district court.
• State Sen. Grant Hauschild (D) and State Rep. Roger Skraba (R) were named “legislators of distinction” by the League of Minnesota Cities.
• A community gathering was held at Veterans Memorial Field to send off Ely’s Junior Legion baseball team in advance of its state tournament trip.
• The Ely Chamber of Commerce announced plans to host a JI VISA seminar to aid area businesses interested in hiring temporary workers from other nations.
• Ely’s Braver Angels alliance met to discuss gun control issues.
• Five juveniles were charged with crimes in Tower after they allegedly lured and then attacked a gay man.
• A $3.2 million project would renovate the old “train depot” that was last home to Wilderness Outfitters, was pitched to officials including DEED commissioner Matt Varitek. Drawings showed plans to rehabilitate the property for use as a restaurant, brewery and events center.
• Filings for Ely’s school board election closed with only two candidates for three open seats.
• Morse Township officials got an update from Richards Stuart about his plans to locate a cannabis cultivation business in the township.
• Life lessons, portages and sport intermix at an annual sled hockey combine held at Ely’s Veterans on the Lake Resort.
• Luverne and Parkers Prairie scored narrow wins over Ely at the Division II State Junior Legion Baseball Tournament in St. Charles. Ely finished the year with a 12-6 record and won the Northeast Substate for the first time.
• Ely’s Caid Chittum made the all-state tournament team at the Junior Legion state tourney. He hit .611 for the season and went 2-0 on the mound.
• Pulsar Helium announced a 12,165 percent increase in its helium resource near Babbitt.
• The question of whether the Silver Rapids Lodge project would need an environmental assessment worksheet went to the county board.
• Vermilion Community College baseball inked 21 first-year players for its recruiting class.
• A study session in Ely yielded many questions but few answers about proposals that Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital take over ownership and operation of area ambulance services.
• Northstar Media in Cambridge was selected to be the new printer of the Ely Echo and its associated publications.
• Parking slots in the library parking lot in Ely were set aside for electric vehicle charging.
• Anna Larson and Via DeBeltz had first-place finishes as Northeast Range/ Ely opened the high school girls swimming season with a meet in Babbitt.
SEPTEMBER
• Write-in candidate Erin Moravitz entered the race for the Ely School Board.
• Sen. Tina Smith visited “The Hub” and got a look at Functional Fitness as well as the child care operation at the renovated business park building.
• There were growing reports that bears were wandering into Ely neighborhoods in search of food.
• The new school year began in Ely with 525 students enrolled in grades K-12, including an incoming kindergarten class of 37 students and a tiny first-grade group of just 19.
• The Ely School District wrestled with a shortage of bus drivers as the school year began, prompting fears that some after-school events could be adjusted because of a lack of drivers.
• Water service in Ely was restored after a water line break turned off the faucets for eight hours.
• Ely’s high school football team rallied for a 14-8 home win against East Central. Brothers Alex and Sean Merriman had the Ely touchdowns while Jesse Oelke recorded nine tackles and had a sack.
• Vermilion upset Mesabi 18-16 in community college football, giving new head coach Tyree Johnson his first victory.
• A movie filed in Ely, dubbed “Boundary Waters” was set for a fall premiere.
• House 3A candidates Roger Skraba, Harley Droba and Rich Tru participated in a candidates’ forum held in Ely on the Vermilion campus of Minnesota North College.
• Ely lost an icon with the passing of Bill Braun, a longtime teacher and football coach in the local school district.
• Hockey could move to Babbitt for part of the 202425 season after engineers discovered structural issues at the Ely Arena.
• A Babbitt man died in an ATV crash east of the city. Killed was Brody Horn, 33.
• Former mayor Chuck Novak resigned from his post as the city representative on the Ely Area Ambulance Service board of directors.
• Truck Night was held in Ely, bringing out dozens of children and families to get inside fire truck and other vehicles.
• Records fell at the Ely Marathon, as well over 300 people completed either the full or half-marathon races and men’s and women’s individual world records were set in the event’s unique canoe portage division.
• A lively city council candidates forum was held at Vermilion, with incumbents Paul Kess and Jerome Debeltz, and challengers Emily Roose and Frederica Musgrave on stage.
• Ely school officials put information related to the $350,000 capital projects levy online for public review.
• Ely’s Harvest Moon Festival was held at Whiteside Park and the event was named one of the top-10 fall festivals in the country, according to an online poll conducted by USA Today.
• Plans for an apartment complex in Ely were in limbo after the city was shut out in its request for $4.5 million in Minnesota Housing Finance Authority money.
• The two-time defending Section 7A volleyball champion Ely Timberwolves got off to a strong start, sweeping numerous foes, winning the Greenway Tournament and getting a pair of wins at the Class A state showcase at Burnsville.
• Ray Marsnik, Ely’s longtime school board chairman, passed away at age 83. He served better than 20 years on the school board, most as chairman.
OCTOBER
• An Ely man faced several charges after he allegedly assaulted a family member and discharged a firearm, killing a dog. Charged was Iver Lepisto, 19.
• Fall Homecoming week was celebrated at Ely High School with pep rallies, a parade and other activities. The Homecoming Queen was Carmen Nelson while Ben Leeson was crowned king.
• City and county officials announced that a major reconstruction of Harvey Street will take place in 2025. The $3.5 million project goes from Central Avenue to Ninth Avenue East and will result in detours.
• A development agreement between the city of Ely and Dellwood developer Matt Stupnik furthered plans for a boutique hotel at the former Community Center building.
• The Ely School District launched a strategic planning effort involving board members, staff, and community representatives, and aided by a facilitator from the Minnesota School Board Association
• Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital’s Sandy Nickolson was honored as the Minnesota Hospital Association’s Volunteer of the Year.
• Kelsey Cooke was hired as the new executive director of the Ely-Winton Historical Society.
• The Jake Forsman Memorial Car Show and Burnout Competition, attracted 114 car show entries, 19 participants in each burnout session and hundreds of spectators outside of City Hall. The event raises money for scholarship funds for students pursuing degrees in trade programs.
• A pair of lawsuits threatened the future of the proposed expansion at Silver Rapids Lodge.
• A Burnsville man was apprehended by authorities after he allegedly entered an Ely residence. Charged was Adrian Ybarra, 40.
• Ely’s Caid Chittum won the Iron Range Conference boys cross-country individual championship during the IRC meet at Hoyt Lakes. The Wolves’ Molly Brophy was the girls runner-up.
• Ely School Board members paid tribute to the late Ray Marsnik at their first meeting since his passing. Rochelle Sjoberg was appointed to be the board’s new chairperson.
• Ian Lah, executive director of the Northern Lakes Arts Association, highlighted the economic impact of the arts in Ely during a presentation to the city council.
• Fifth-graders Asa Toddie and Macy Coombe appeared before the city’s parks and recreation committee, seeking improvements to the skate park located at the recreation center.
• Ely police officer Bradley Roy was promoted to the position of police sergeant.
• Team BOREALIS sent several bike racers to the state championships. Beck Sponholz, George Sponholz and Addison Kannas were among the top Ely finishers.
• Paula Anderson was named to the Minnesota High School Nordic Skiing Hall of Fame for her work in building Ely’s program into a state powerhouse.
• A third meeting involving area leaders yielded some progress on a proposal that Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital take over local ambulance operations. Representatives of numerous local governments, the ambulance service and EBCH came together at a session at the hospital. They agreed informally to convene a working group to look closer at the recommendation offered by SafeTech Solutions.
• A temporary fix at the Ely Arena was authorized to make structural repairs that would allow the facility to be used this winter.
• Former U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan, who made frequent visits to Ely, passed away at age 80.
• Longtime Ely boys basketball coach Tom Mc-Donald was inducted into the Minnesota Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
• The city of Ely was in line for a $2 million federal appropriation for its water main project.
• Braham ended Ely’s high school football season with a 46-8 win in the opening round of the Section 7A playoffs. The Wolves finished 1-8.
• City council members touted their support for local businesses during a meeting of the Ely Economic Development Authority. They highlighted low-interest loan programs and efforts made by economic developer John Fedo.
• Caid Chittum, Molly Brophy and Mattie Lindsay punched their individual tickets to state with strong performances at the Section 7A cross country meet in Coleraine.
• Senior Lilli Rechichi of Ely was named to All-State Class A Team, as picked by the Minnesota High School Volleyball Coaches Association.
NOVEMBER
• State Rep. Roger Skraba of Ely won re-election to the Minnesota House of Representatives, beating DFL challenger Harley Droba of International Falls by nearly 15 percentage points. Skraba, who won his House seat in 2022 by a mere 15 votes, earned another two-year term.
• Emily Roose, Jerome Debeltz and John Lahtonen won four-year seats on the city council, in an election that unseated incumbent Paul Kess.
• In the Ely School Board election, Tom Omerza and Hollee Coombe were re-elected while write-in candidate Erin Moravitz also gained a four-year term.
• Vice President Kamala Harris carries most Ely area precincts and Minnesota, but Republican Donald Trump won nationwide and will return to the White House in January.
• Ely swept Floodwood to win a third consecutive Section 7A volleyball championship.
• Crystal Schleuter of Babbitt won a Campbell’s Soup nationwide recipe contest.
• The feature film “Bigfoot” wrapped up production in the Ely area.
• Ely School District voters approved a $350,000 capital projects levy. The measure was carried with 1,623 votes in favor and 1,447 opposed.
• Molly Brophy took 35th and was the top Ely finisher at the state cross country meet. Ely’s Mattie Lindsay and Caid Chittum also participated.
• The city of Ely got $500,000 from the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board to complete major infrastructure work in 2025.
• Engineers identified more than $15 million in potential athletic facility improvements on the Ely school campus, far exceeding the $5 million allocated by the Minnesota Legislature.
• A day-long workshop at the Grand Ely Lodge brought together about 70 area leaders, from non-profit groups to private businesses, in an attempt to help local groups network, coordinate and make better use of resources.
• Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital collected several awards at a national healthcare conference in Florida.
• Ely lost to Minneota and New Life Academy at the State Class A Volleyball Tournament, finishing 28-5 for the year.
• Ely’s Megan Wognum was named Section 7A Coach of the Year for volleyball.
• Via DeBeltz, Anna Larson and a relay team featuring DeBeltz, Larson, Tuuli Koivisto and Alyssa Ice all gained medals at the Section 7A high school girls swimming meet.
• About 150 gallons of fuel oil were mistakenly dumped into a basement of an Ely home, prompting a fire call and clean up efforts.
• Winners of the Patriots Pen essay contest sponsored by the Ely VFW were Ely students Natalie Bermel, Beck Sponholz, Hayden Wiedemann and Suvi Kari.
• Tomi (McDonald) Cole was named the new head coach of Ely’s high school girls basketball team.
• Earning all-district honors in high school football were Ely seniors Alex Merriman and Garrett Rohr.
• Jill Nocera Swanson was named the new executive director at Ely Community Resource, replacing the retired Julie Hignell.
• A study commissioned by the Ely Chamber of Commerce and conducted by the University of Minnesota shows that employment in the region has declined significantly in the last 20 years, and that wages here lag far behind state averages.
• City council members in Ely extended the contract of economic developer John Fedo for his current stipend of $4,000 per month and at least 35 hours per month DECEMBER
• Ely city officials moved forward with ordinances that would severely limit the number of cannabis-based businesses in town, and where they might be located. Much of the downtown business district would be off-limits and three cannabis- specific businesses would be allowed.
• Despite some challenging headwinds, Ely-Bloomenson Community held its own financially over the last 12 months. The hospital posted a net operating loss of $258,838 on just over $32.1 million in revenues in the last fiscal year, but overall the Ely Health and Hospital Foundation grew its assets and reduced its debt load.
• Rob Wilmunen, Mary Ann Smith and Crystal Chopp won seats on the Ely hospital board.
• The last 12 months were full of activity, growth, sharing and recognition for Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital. Chief executive officer Patti Banks reported on a series of accomplishments - particularly the hospital’s recognition as a five-star hospital from the National Rural Care Health System.
• Because of a voter-approved referendum, taxes collected by the Ely School District will rise by about 12.55 percent in 2025.
• Concerns over roads and beavers collided when the Morse Town Board met in December.
• Discussion on potential changes to the area’s ambulance operation were “paused” by Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital.
• A ribbon cutting was held at the Clubhouse, a program of Well Being Development, as it moved to its new home at 248 North Third Avenue East.
• Plans were revealed for Ely’s first “Dark Sky Festival,” which will take place in early-2025.
• Amid partisan divides in St. Paul, area legislators Grant Hauschild (D) and Roger Skraba (R) touted their effectiveness in working to secure funding for Ely area projects, during the annual Legislative Meeting put on by Ely’s Community Economic Development Joint Powers Board.
• An audit showed that Ely School District reserves took a huge hit in the fiscal year that ended in June 30, 2024. The audit showed a general fund deficit of $472,979 with overall reserves falling from just over $2 million in 2022 to $1,451,474 this year.
• Ely city officials reminded area residents and business owners to keep snow on their own property when removing snow.
• St. Louis County board members finalized a $504 million county budget for 2025, with the county property levy jumping by about seven percent.
• A massive bronze sculpture depicting two Voyageurs in a canoe was erected at Whiteside Park. The sculpture was donated by Bill and Holly Rom.
• County commissioner Paul McDonald of Ely received the president’s award from the Association of Minnesota Counties.
• City council members in Ely bid farewell to outgoing members Paul Kess and Ryan Callen, who combined to serve 30 years in city government.
• Two Ely leaders have been elected to the board of directors of an Iron Range lobbying organization. City council member Angela Campbell and school board member Tom Omerza both won seats on the Range Association of Municipalities and Schools board of directors earlier in the month.
• A political seesaw has swung back in the direction of Twin Metals Minnesota and its hopes for developing a copper-nickel mine near Ely. John Eloranta, who works for U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber (R), predicted during a gathering in Ely that obstacles to the mining project would be cleared by the incoming Trump Administration and a Republican Congress.
• Ely city officials voiced hope that 2025 brings more luck when it comes to securing state funding for a 37-unit, $9.2 million market- rate housing project. The city is expected to again seek over $4 million in state funds deemed critical to the development.
• Ely’s Caid Chittum scored a program-record 50 points as the Wolves beat Bigfork 113-65 in the holiday tournament finale.
