News and Current Affairs
Duluth 2019 General Election Primer
One week ago the field was thinned. Below is a look at the Duluth municipal and school board races to be decided during the General Election on Nov. 5.
Duluth Mayor
Emily Larson
David Nolle (more…)
West Duluth bar scene adding Boreal House
Katie Fast, left, and Julie LaTourelle stand outside 330 N. 57th Ave. W. The two women purchased the former home of RJ’s Coffee Den and plan to open a new bar in West Duluth. (Photo by Mark Nicklawske)
Two women plan to open a new bar later this fall in a West Duluth neighborhood that boasts some of the oldest drinking establishments in the city.
Katie Fast and Julie LaTourelle, operating as K & J Industries LLC, recently purchased the former RJ’s Coffee Den at 330 N. 57th Ave. W. The century-old building is being remodeled and is expected to reopen as the Boreal House in late November. (more…)
All hail Duluth’s new flag
Duluth has a new flag. Blane Tetreault was selected as the overall winner of the city’s flag-design contest launched earlier this year.
“This was a once in a lifetime opportunity to contribute to a community that I love,” Tetreault said in a news release from the city. “My goal in participating in this project was to help establish a symbol that represents the rich history, culture, and natural beauty of Duluth.” (more…)
Duluth 2019 Primary Election Results
With 34 of 34 precincts counted …
Duluth Mayor
(Top two candidates advance to General Election)
Emily Larson – 5,225 | 66.87%
David Nolle – 992 | 12.7%
John Socha – 450 | 5.76%
Daniel Weatherly – 285 | 3.65%
Donald Raihala – 220 | 2.82%
Caleb Anderson – 206 | 2.64%
Jesse Peterson – 193 | 2.47%
Corey Ford – 160 | 2.05%
Doris Queen Lavender – 83 | 1.06%
At-large Duluth City Councilors
(Two positions; top four candidates advance to General Election)
Arik Forsman – 3,570 | 26.87%
Noah Hobbs – 3,313 | 24.94%
Derek Medved – 3,003 | 22.6%
Mike Mayou – 2,338 | 17.6%
Stephen Abernethy – 498 | 3.75%
Nathaniel Rankin – 321 | 2.42%
Matthew William Stewart – 242 | 1.82%
Third District Duluth City Councilor
(Top two candidates advance to General Election)
Roz Randorf – 661 | 47.9%
Theresa O’Halloran-Johnson – 454 | 32.9%
Henry Banks – 185 | 13.41%
Ryan Glenn – 80 | 5.8%
Hey look, a 45-inch Lake Superior trout
Caught by Steven Gotchie and Jordan Korzenowski on Lake Superior, about five miles out from the Aerial Lift Bridge.
Big changes at Wildwoods rehab facility
Left: New Wildwoods Executive Director Jessica LaBumbard. Right: Outgoing Director Farzad Farr.
Wildwoods, the Duluth-area wildlife rehabber, recently posted its early-season stats: 1,260 animals have been helped by the organization this year, through Aug. 1. Migration season, a busy time for Wildwoods, is still to come.
Meanwhile, Executive Director Farzad Farr will be stepping down on Sept. 21 after 13 years with Wildwoods. He’s going back to California to be close to family. New director Jessica LaBumbard has already began. (more…)
Taps are flowing at Rapids Brewing in Grand Rapids
Executive Chef Erik Halverson, General Manager Bill Martinetto and Head Brewer Darin Jensen are ready to spread beard and beer culture in Grand Rapids.
The newest brewery on Minnesota’s Iron Range has begun serving up suds. Rapids Brewing Company opened Aug. 2 for its first “Summer Sneak Peak Weekend,” with limited beer and food options. General Manager Bill Marinetto said he expects the business to be open seven days a week before the end of the month, and his target is next weekend. (more…)
Missing Person: Priscilla Joy Sohm
The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s assistance with locating Priscilla Joy Sohm, a 25-year-old Native American female who left the At Home Living group home facility in Canosia Township on July 21.
Sohm has a history of leaving the home without permission and was missing for approximately one month in May before being located in Superior. She is described as having black hair, brown eyes, approximately 5 ft. 8 in. tall and weighing 150 pounds.
Anyone with information about Sohm’s whereabouts is asked to call 911 or the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Division at 218-336-4350.
Aug. 21 Update:
Over the past month Sohm has been in contact with her family, but is unwilling to come home or ask for assistance. She is diagnosed with mental health issues that designate her as vulnerable. She is believed to be accompanied by a friend named Joseph Reynolds.
On Aug. 13, Sohm was observed in Downtown Duluth, however, she was gone before law enforcement could locate her. She is still likely to be in the Duluth/Superior area.
Aug. 23 Update:
Sohm was located and brought to a local hospital by the Hermantown Police Department. She was not far from the Kings Creek Park area of Hermantown. A concerned caller had reported to 911 that people may have been camping in the area. She appeared to be in good health.
Duluth 2019 Primary Election Sample Ballot
The primary ballot is a little thin this year. Duluthians who aren’t in District 3 will only see two offices getting narrowed down. City Council races in the first and fifth districts have just two candidates, as do three school board races, which means they don’t appear on the primary ballot.
Primary Election polls open Aug. 13 at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. (more…)
PDD Quiz: July 2019
Put your knowledge of recent headlines to the test with this week’s PDD quiz!
The next PDD quiz will feature neon signs of the Twin Ports; it will be published on Aug. 11. Submit question suggestions to Alison Moffat at [email protected] by Aug. 8. (more…)
Mexican cuisine options expanding in Duluth area
Margaritas, chips and salsa at Bucktales – Photo by Lissa Maki
The Twin Ports of Duluth and Superior have never been known for Mexican food, but options for taco lovers have been expanding and improving in recent years. It’s been a long time since Hacienda del Sol, Zona Rosa and Chi-Chi’s were the hot spots. (more…)
Lake Superior Aquaman in internal St. Louis County weekly news recap
Someone sent this along.
For Sale: Superior Entry Lighthouse
The U.S. General Services Administration is auctioning off the Superior Entry Lighthouse. So far the top bid on realestatesales.gov is $10,000. (more…)
Lakeside donut shop plan hits snag
A Dozen Excuses owner Melissa Kingren serves up fresh sweet rolls at her Tower Avenue bakery in Superior.
A Superior bakery saw its plans to open a satellite shop in Duluth derail last month but owners are still looking for a place to bring donuts back to Lakeside. (more…)
Duluth woman asserts right to go topless on Park Point
An incident on Park Point about two weeks ago has raised the question of whether it’s legal for women to be topless on Park Point beaches. Fox 21 reported over the weekend that Duluth photographer Michelle Bennett was “approached by a Duluth officer who didn’t know if he could arrest her” for exposing her breasts in public. (more…)
Superior in The New York Times
Superior appears briefly in The New York Times opinion piece “This Chemical Kills. Why Aren’t Regulators Banning It?” (more…)
Bethany Lutheran Church could become restaurant
Fox 21 is reporting that brothers Chuck and Robert Bagley are working on turning the former Bethany Lutheran Church at 2302-2308 W. Third St. into a restaurant.
PDD Quiz: June 2019
Celebrate 16 years of PDD by testing your knowledge of current events!
The next PDD quiz, on presidential ties to the Twin Ports, will be published on July 14. Submit question suggestions to Alison Moffat at [email protected] by July 11. (more…)
At Sara’s Table expands kitchen, adds second floor
At Sara’s Table Chester Creek Cafe is expanding its kitchen and adding a second story to its building at 1902 E. Eighth St.
Brunch has become so big at a Duluth farm-to-table restaurant that owners are building an addition to help cooks keep up with the French toast and omelette orders.
At Sara’s Table Chester Creek Cafe owner Carla Blumberg said a construction project started this spring will expand the kitchen, add new bathrooms and offer a newly created second floor space with dramatic Lake Superior views. The restaurant was established in 2002 at the corner of Eighth Street and 19th Avenue East on the former Taran’s Food Market site. (more…)