Week of July 4, 2025
Week of July 4, 2025
The outbreak of emerald ash borer affecting trees has caused the Minnesota Department of Agriculture to enact emergency quarantines on the movement of firewoods and ash tree materials in Carlton, Meeker, Murray, Ottertail, and Wadena counties. All of Carlton County, excluding the Fond du Lac Reservation, has been quarantined. Under the quarantine, the MDA regulates the movement of ash logs, ash tree waste, ash chips and mulch, and all non-coniferous firewood. The regulated articles can't be...
Walking across the lush green rolling hills of his rural Carlton farm, Ed Kavanaugh leads a tour of two to a well-established peony field. "This is My Love," he says, pausing, then clarifying that he is speaking of the mother-of-pearl white peony flower he's just picked from a bush of peonies. It is enormous, double flowered with the faintest hint of pink, some 7 inches across and at least 3 inches high. Its soft petals are a dense, disorderly pile of fragrant beauty. "One by itself will hold...
After nearly seven years in public office, Carlton County Attorney Lauri Ketola plans to retire Sept. 29, announcing Wednesday she will end her term with 13 months left before the Nov. 3, 2026 election. "It has been a privilege and honor to serve as Carlton County Attorney," Ketola said in a resignation letter delivered Wednesday to county commissioners. Ketola plans to recommend that Chief Deputy County Attorney Jeffrey Boucher be appointed to finish out her term. It'll be up to the county...
An investigative report related to extra payments to former Carlton superintendent Donita Stepan misstated a payment that was actually approved by the full board - leaving the impression there were more unauthorized payments than there actually were. The report also sparked reactions from Stepan and business manager Angela Lind in the days following the public release of the investigation. Conducted by Terch & Associates for the Carlton school board, the investigation examined more than one...
As usual, the fourth annual Wood City Classic girls softball tournament was not devoid of rain, but - also as usual - the tournament went off smoothly as 37 teams competed at the Braun Park softball complex in Cloquet last weekend. "It was another great weekend of softball," said tournament director Adam Maslowski. "We had to fight the weather a little, but there was a lot of softball played and everyone had a great time." The Wood City Classic is basically a rebranding of the Ashley Abrahamson...
I was outraged to see images of elderly Americans, some in wheelchairs, being zip-tied and detained for peacefully protesting cuts to Medicaid at the U.S. Capitol. These people were not threats to public safety. These were vulnerable citizens, many with disabilities, exercising their constitutional right to speak out against policies that threaten their survival. Is this what our country has come to? When speaking out for health care becomes a punishable offense? Are we so far removed from our shared values of compassion and decency that we...
As a victim/survivor of gun violence after my sister was murdered by her estranged husband, I am retraumatized by the shootings of Melissa and Mark Hortman. On Friday, June 27, their bodies laid in state at the Minnesota Capitol and Minnesotans lined up for blocks to pay honor and tribute to the speaker emerita and her husband. That is how much respect people had for Melissa’s leadership in the legislature. Minnesota grieves together over the heinous political assassination of one of its leaders. They should still be here today. It is hard...
If I was old, which I ain’t, but if I was I’d probably say something an Old Person would say and make a point about how the now fully institutionalized and systemic cultural zeitgeist devalues critical thinking in favor of emotional advocacy. Thanks to The Zucks and the echo-chamber-rally-’round-the flagpole-Group-Think social media operationally and financially depends upon, Critical Thinking — or “thinking for one’s-self” — isn’t really A Thing anymore. Instead, the 2025...
The reconciliation bill bandied about at the U.S. Capitol this week was a clear example of why lawmaking is often compared to sausage making. It’s an ugly bill, and it’s likely we’ll all have to put it on the old Fourth of July grill and eat it. Members of the U.S. House were still debating the bill when this issue of the Pine Knot went to press. That came after a long session in the U.S. Senate earlier in the week that ended in a tie vote, with passage there made by the vote of the vice president. Tennis has been played with various...
Seventeen students graduated from the Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College Criminal Justice/Peace Officer Skills program last Friday, June 27. This is the 25th group of students to participate in the program at FDLTCC and the majority of this year's graduates are completing the program with conditional offers at agencies across the region. The Les Northrup Leadership Award, voted on by fellow students, recognizing a classmate who epitomizes leadership, wisdom, mentoring and being a role...
The odds are staggering. A hole-in-one in golf is, for many players, the ultimate goal. According to the National Hole In One Registry, the odds of the average golfer making a hole-in-one are 12,500 to 1, while the odds of a tour player recording a hole-in-one are 3,000 to 1. One to two percent of all golfers score an ace every year. And the average of years of playing before an ace is 24. They are very rare. Yet another level of play defies statistics and approaches immortality: the odds of...
Walk into Tony and Tara Venditto's dining room, and you'll see that almost everything in sight was thrifted. From the hardwood table and chairs, to the chandelier and crafting cabinet, to the oil paintings on the wall, the Vendittos have crafted their personal style using almost exclusively thrifted items. Thrifting provides new life for items, and a community for thrifters. The Vendittos are proud to have given their oil paintings a new home, one that recognizes the hard work that went into...
Perched on the front yard trampoline under a big maple tree in 2020, Cloquet teenager Aili Buytaert wasn't sure what to think when a giant green caterpillar landed on her head. The caterpillar was green with a variety of orange, yellow and blue protrusions along its ridged body. "It was the size of a pickle," said her mom, Katy, adding that Aili's little brother, Will, called it a "sky pickle." "It was very beautiful." Aili, a science fair veteran, didn't freak out at the unexpected drop-in,...
We were expecting a photo any day after hearing rumblings about emerging blooms of the showy lady's slipper at Jay Cooke State Park near Carlton. And Will Stenberg delivered, capturing this gem Monday morning. The showy lady's slipper is Minnesota's state flower. Since 1925, the state has regulated the collection and commercial sale of the species. It is one of 43 orchid species that grow in Minnesota. The lady's slipper flowers from early June to mid-July. According to the Minnesota Department...
SUNDAY, JULY 6 Free community meal 4-5 p.m., St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Cloquet. Beef and broccoli, salad, fruit, dessert. Sponsored by Community of Hope 2:16. Need a ride? Call 218-600-6520. MONDAY, JULY 7 Unicorn Dance Party 1-2 p.m. at the Cloquet Library. TUESDAY, JULY 8 Master Gardeners gardening camp 10-11:30 a.m., Cloquet Public Library. WEDNESDAY, JULY 9 Move & Groove at Dunlap Island Park 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Community Memorial Hospital pediatric physical therapists Aaron & Macy will show you how. All ages welcome. No registration...
Senior Nutrition menu for July 4-July 11 Friday-Sun., July 4-6 Closed Monday, July 7 Chicken salad sandwich, sweet bell pepper slices, grapes, cookie Tuesday, July 8 Pot roast, mashed potatoes and gravy, vegetables, dinner roll, Rice Krispies treat Wednesday, July 9 Tater tot hotdish, green beans, cantaloupe Thursday, July 10 Polish on a bun, au gratin potatoes, zucchini, baked apples. Call 879-5870 for alternative entree 24 hours in advance. Friday, July 11 Tuna pasta salad, cucumber and tomato slices, blueberry crisp. Call 879-5870 for...
