Page 26 - Keith Vandervort News Today

Keith Vandervort WINTON-The former city jail here, built in the 1890s, met its demise last week when the brick landmark toppled in a cloud of dust as the owner demolished the building. Kathie Hill bought the property and building from the city of Winton last fall with the understanding that she would tear down the building within a year. With the spring came the demolition project. Not much effort was required to bring down the building. “It didn’t take long at all,” Hill said. “There ...

Competition to offer high-speed service is ramping up as various projects develop Posted Keith Vandervort ELY – As a variety of high-speed fiber projects get off the ground here, a long-time cable provider recently announced they want to join the party as competition increases. Existing cable and internet customers who are frustrated with all-too-common service disruptions recently learned that Midco activated more than 200 additional miles of fiber to create a northern Minnesota fiber rin...

Keith Vandervort ELY – Travelers entering Ely on Highway 169 this fall could be able to stop into a brand new visitor center in the shadow of a freshly-painted water tower emblazoned with the city’s new logo. Council members Tuesday authorized soliciting construction bids for the centerpiece of a multi-million-dollar redevelopment project for the city’s west end, and gave the go ahead for the water tower repainting project despite exorbitant cost estimates. As much as $3 million, in two s...

Keith Vandervort ELY – The local music scene is mourning the loss of Earl Bulinski this week. Word of his death, at age 72, swept over this community last weekend. Earl and his wife, Sharon, spent their winters in their home away from home on South Padre Island, Texas, and returned to their Pattison Street home in Ely every summer. In recent years, Bulinski played with Jef Cerniak and Andy Messerschmidt in the Tru Blu North Trio, and were regulars at various live music venues around the city ...

Construction of new trailhead building may begin later this year Posted Keith Vandervort ELY – The Ely Economic Development Authority gathered Tuesday night to discuss and plan their goals for the upcoming year to promote the economic growth of the business community. The city’s economic advisor, John Fedo, initiated the discussion with a look back at the progress and successes of the EEDA’s efforts in the last year in the midst of the unique challenges of COVID-19. “Which of these (...

School board set to award construction work next week Posted Keith Vandervort ELY – A public bid opening last Thursday for the first phase of a multi-year building and facility renovation project for the Ely school district gave construction managers and district officials an idea of the real-world cost expectations, estimated to cost about $20 million. Project construction manager Kraus-Anderson Construction Co. hosted the bid opening in the Washington School auditorium. Just a couple of c...

Posted Keith Vandervort ELY - Ely school district administrators late Wednesday extended distance learning for all students in grades 6-12 until Monday, April 12. ‘We expected to have the Memorial students return on Tuesday, April 6, dependent on evidence that the spread of COVID-19 in our school community had subsided,” said ISD 696 Superintendent Erik Erie. “This decision was made to help stem the spread of COVID-19 that is still with us.” Ely students in grades K-12 remain in dista...

Keith Vandervort ELY – Washington Elementary students received a new vending machine last week. But they can’t use their allowance money on juice boxes, candy bars and other junk food. This vending machine dispenses only books. And this vending machine doesn’t take money. It takes golden tokens that students can earn through the school’s Paw Pride program by being respectful, responsible, cooperative and safe. The Ely Community Resource’s initiative was unveiled last Thursday during a...

Print subscribers If youre a print subscriber, but do not yet have an online account, click here to create one. Non-subscribers Ely routs Lakeview Christian to rebound after losses Posted Keith Vandervort ELY- The Timberwolves came off of a two-game losing streak, beating Lakeview Christian in a blowout, 88-56, at home on Tuesday night. The Wolves led 44-32 at the half and never looked back. “We played a bit better defensively in the second half. It was nice to play well after struggling ...

Print subscribers If youre a print subscriber, but do not yet have an online account, click here to create one. Non-subscribers School building project starts April 1 Learning, teaching disruptions on the horizon Conceptual drawing of Ely school addition. Posted Keith Vandervort ELY – The construction timeline for the ISD 696 building project calls for the Industrial Arts building to be emptied of the preschool, tech students, learning materials and machinery within a m...