News and Current Affairs Posts

Hometown Boy Makes Good

Dylan Granted France’s Highest Award

Hero in the Hallways: UMD senior Marie Havrilla’s story of service

Our veterans both fight wars and personal battles. Read about this UMD senior’s experiences saving lives in Afghanistan and battling PTSD back in the States.

UMD Statesman: “Hero in the Hallways

Medical Marijuana

My colleague and friend Shane Courtland pulled a great event together.  I hope you’ll read the stories and advance the conversation.

Minnesota medical marijuana bill forum draws huge crowd

Legislation by an Iron Range DFL’er is drawing big attention in Duluth.

More than 200 people attended a public forum at UMD Monday on a bill to legalize marijuana introduced this spring with help from Rep. Carly Melin, DFL-Hibbing. Since then she’s been getting input and feedback from the public.

Melin said medical marijuana will offer pain relief with fewer side effects. She also said there are stiff penalties should anyone misuse the system.

See also: Minnesota lawmakers, experts debate legalizing medical marijuana

Duluth 2013 General Election Results

39 of 39 precincts reporting

Duluth At-large City Councilor
Top two candidates are elected
Zack Filipovich – 9,658 | 33%
Barb Russ – 9,364 | 32%
Ryan Stauber – 7,884 | 27%
Ray (Skip) Sandman – 2,490 | 8%
Write in – 115 | 0%

Duluth Second District City Councilor
Patrick Boyle – 2,195 | 97%
Write in – 61 | 3%

Duluth Fourth District City Councilor
Howie Hanson – 1,853 | 61%
Garry Krause – 1,153 | 38%
Write in – 44 | 1%

Voter’s Cheese

For years, I’ve noticed this sign when I go to vote at Pilgrim Congregational Church.

I assumed Voter’s Cheese was some sort of event, like an ice cream social, only with cheese, so I always just turned left and went to vote. Today I turned right and found a small room with tables displaying nuts, rosette cookies, felted hats, houseplants, frozen meatloaves, and several kinds of cheese.

The story I got from the nice church lady who was presiding was that the church holds its annual bazaar the weekend before Election Day and then sells whatever’s left over to voters. She said they sell more cheese on Election Day than they do at the bazaar.

Duluth 2013 General Election Sample Ballot

Click to see it larger. Keep in mind some races will not appear on your ballot, depending on which part of town you reside in.


The October Surprise: Local Astroturfing

I never voted for the fellow (and certainly didn’t intend to in the upcoming election), didn’t care for his politics but I did have a certain amount of respect for him and thought he was sincere and certain key issues aside thought he was an OK fellow.

Jim Stauber caught writing letter of support for himself

Ah Jimmy, looks like your twelve years of public service might be coming to a poor end.

Duluth monkeys on ABC’s World News Now

Lake Superior Zoo has named its baby Angolan colobus monkeys. “Kermit” has been chosen for the male monkey (born June 26). He likes to hop around like a frog. “Kaya” has been chosen for the female monkey (born July 16). She is named after a city in central Africa.

The zoo asked for the community’s help in naming the monkeys and guests attending Boo at the Zoo were given the opportunity to cast votes for their favorite names and make a cash donation toward wild colobus conservation efforts. A contribution of $500 from the baby-naming voting process and other visitor donations received at Boo at the Zoo will be sent to Colobus Conservation, located in Kenya.

Duluth Demon Demonized?

Four weeks ago a post on Perfect Duluth Day introduced the “Duluth Demon,” a masked character who apparently jumps out from behind trees in the Bagley Nature Area and scares the dickens out of UMD students. Whether it was a publicity stunt, all in good fun or a dangerous individual threatening public safety, the topic didn’t generate a lot of attention here.

Now that Halloween is upon us, however, we should have seen a twist in the story coming.

City proposal to privatize 17 Park Point street-ends?

I’m wondering if anyone has heard of the city proposal to “privatize” 17 Park Point street-ends? Maybe this is old news?

Below is a letter from Dawn Buck, president of the Park Point Community Club, from this month’s Breeze of Park Point newsletter:

Saving the Great North Woods

No doubt that many in the PDD audience have already read the “Saving the Great North Woods” cover story in the Minneapolis Star Tribune. For those who have not, it is certainly worth a look.

Saving the Great North Woods

R.I.P. Joe Gomer

Joe Gomer, Minnesota’s last surviving member of the Tuskegee Airmen, has died at 93.

Statement from Mayor Ness:

Duluth lost a national hero with the passing of Joe Gomer, one of the few remaining Tuskegee Airmen who served in WWII. Joe and his family moved to Duluth in 1963 and have been an integral part of our community ever since. While we mourn, we can also take comfort in knowing that he received the recognition he rightly deserved. Joe was able to witness the unveiling of a life-sized statue at the Duluth International Airport. The Joe Gomer Monument will forever serve as a reminder of Joe’s vast contributions to our community and country.

Duluth News Tribune: Legendary Tuskegee Airman Joe Gomer of Duluth dies

“This is where the talent wants to live”

In the article “A New Type of Growing City,” The Atlantic quotes “the mayor of a city that has similarities to Sioux Falls and Burlington” who “sent this extremely interesting note.”

Who could that have been?

I was particularly interested in your recent story about Burlington. I believe there is a new class of city emerging across the country which are positioned to succeed in the coming decade – a class of city that has not yet been identified on a national scale.

This city is a small/mid-sized regional center. The population range I have been studying are cites between 50-125k. These cities are defined by natural beauty, outdoor recreation, strong and supportive arts community, entrepreneurial spirit, progressive outlook, and a strong sense of place and ethos connected to the place people choose to live. Cities like Burlington, Asheville, Flagstaff, Bend, Missoula, Santa Fe, Provo, and Duluth.

These cities are all at least a couple hours outside of the major metro in their area, which affords them their own character and identity. They are popular destinations for the metro – primarily tourism, but increasingly companies are coming to realize they can locate in these small cities and find the talent they need to find. Because this is where the talent wants to live.

Jim Carlson – Guilty

From the Minneapolis Star Tribune: Headshop owner guilty of selling illegal synthetic drugs

A Duluth headshop owner was found guilty of selling banned synthetic drugs Monday afternoon in a case likely to have major impact on the handling of artificial hallucinogens.

Jim Carlson, 56, owner of the Last Place on Earth, was found guilty on 51 of 55 felony counts. His girlfriend, Lava Marie Haugen, 33, was convicted on all four counts against her, including conspiracy. Carlson’s son, Joseph James Gellerman, 35, was convicted of two of four counts against him, but not guilty of conspiracy.

The trial lasted two weeks, and the seven-woman, five-man jury deliberated for about two days over the 55 felony counts.

Duluth News Tribune: “Jury finds Last Place on Earth owner Jim Carlson guilty on most counts
WDIO: Carlson guilty on 51 counts
Northland’s NewsCenter: “Jury upholds 51 counts against Jim Carlson in federal court

Closing Graffiti Graveyard?

The Minnesota Dept. of Transportation is posting no trespassing signs up at the entrance of graffiti graveyard.

Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site!