A special Ranier City Council meeting last week brought information about a planned pier project that appeared to have settled concerns of some people.The council is scheduled to meet in committee this week, Tuesday, to consider whether to issue a conditional use permit for the project, which is required before other permits can be sought.
An attempted suicide by an inmate in the Koochiching County Jail has prompted an official report and counseling services for those involved in the incident.The attempt made in late March was reported to the Minnesota Department of Corrections around one hour after the incident, the jail inspector has been contacted and jail surveillance video has been provided, said Jeff Naglosky, Koochiching County attorney and public information officer.He said situations like the one at the jail are not included in public news releases out of respect for the privacy of the individual involved.Northland Counseling Center had staff available that day as well as subsequently to provide counseling to all parties involved, he said.The RLG does not, in most cases, report suicide or attempted suicide at private residences.
With Workshop 2 of the Inclusion Learning Cohort Tuesday, the Rainy Lake Gazette asked organizers what’s all about, and why is it in International Falls.Amber Lewis, Welcoming Community Program manager with Northspan, and Bob DeGross, president of the International Falls Rotary Club, answered a few questions about the initiative.Bob DeGrossWhy did Rotary members seek to offer the program locally?Our community has lost population over the last decades, how do we reverse that trend by letting potential new residents know that we are a welcoming community that values the perspective that they bring to our community.
A focus group has been meeting to discuss options to fill a gap in home healthcare services left when a major provider ended service in International Falls.Susan Congrave, former director of the Koochiching County Public Health, said a group of stakeholders met in March, and have now become task force.The next meeting is at 1:30 p.m.
Backus Community Center has been named the Agency of the Year by United Way of Northeastern Minnesota.The recognition was presented at the organization’s annual celebration March 21.In addition, a local volunteer was recognized.Mike Silvers, Boise Paper (now Packaging Corporation of America) retiree, was named a Lifetime Lifesaver by the organization for his dedication to UWNEMN’s Buddy Backpacks program, workplace giving campaign, and Koochiching County Advisory Board.The celebration marked the end of UWNEMN’s fiscal year, and donors, volunteers, and partner agencies gathered to celebrate the results of the organization’s 2023 fundraising campaign which raised more than $2.6 million.UWNEMN raises funds throughout the year primarily via workplace campaigns and events to support nonprofits and its own direct service programs throughout Koochiching and Lake of the Woods counties, and the Iron Range.BCCBackus became a UWNEMN Partner Agency in 2022; donations to UWNEMN support the community center’s Community Café and Summer Lunch for Kids programs.“Backus is one of our newest partner agencies, and in just two years our organizations have accomplished so much together,” said UWNEMN Executive Director Erin Shay.
United Way of Northeastern Minnesota is expanding its Smiles United program to address the growing need for dental care in the region.It has established the Northeast Minnesota Dental Task Force and has partnered with Children’s Dental Services, CDS, to bring a new clinic for underserved individuals across the Iron Range.While the project is in early stages, once established, the clinic will serve patients of all ages regardless of insurance status.
Late spring brings the filing period for a number of local, federal and state elected positions, while the filing period for candidates seeking city offices occurs later in summer.May 21 until June 4 is the filing period for:• Federal - U.S.
The Koochiching County Board March 15 decided not to pursue negotiating a lease or purchase of the now closed local golf course.Instead, commissioners agreed that the idea could be revisited, should partners that could lead to the lease or purchase and operation of the local golf course come forward.The board met in closed session with its attorney Feb.
UWNEMN REPORTWith food costs on the rise, United Way of Northeastern Minnesota’s Board of Directors recently approved an increase in the organization’s annual contribution to Koochiching County Food Access and other local food shelves across the region.UWNEMN staff report donating $40,000 in total this month.“Our board members are keenly aware that increasing costs are driving up both the number of people in our community accessing local food shelves as well as costs for the food shelves themselves,” said UWNEMN Executive Director Erin Shay.
The entry and exit points of a plan for a new about $300 million border crossing facility in International Falls were the focus of meetings on Tuesday, organized by the Falls Area Chamber of Commerce.A morning session Tuesday was for businesses and the chamber board, and highlighted the financial impacts some businesses say they expect because traffic headed to and from Canada will be drawn away from the community’s business districts.An evening session was planned for the public.The sessions were presented by staff with U.S.