Duluth Alligator Conspiracy #CrookedEmily
Footage sent to the Duluth News-Tribune and leaked here in the wake of Jim Richardson’s disappearance.
Footage sent to the Duluth News-Tribune and leaked here in the wake of Jim Richardson’s disappearance.
John W. Berquist, founder of the Moose Wallow Ramblers band and writer of the song “I Like it in Duluth,” died May 12 at his home in Fayal Township. He was 69.
Recently, the Duluth music community lost a great guitarist and better person when Shawn Burr passed away after a battle with brain cancer. He was only 40, and was a father and a husband.
In 2004, Shawn was part of a short-lived band called “CUD,” who recorded an album at that time that went unreleased due to various technical issues. With Shawn’s diagnosis, it was decided that the album should be completed as a way of attracting monetary donations that will help his wife and two-year-old child in some small way. With the assistance of talented engineer Jake Larson, the CUD album was completed, and it is now available to purchase on Bandcamp. Fans of Ministry, the Melvins, and guitar harmonies might particularly enjoy the record.
Please visit cudduluth.bandcamp.com to purchase this album. (Streaming is free, but keep in mind that no money goes to the cause for streams.) 100% of the money donated will go to Shawn’s wife and child. The album is pay-what-you-can, and any amount is welcome. Thank you.
Walter H. Pederson, a Duluth native and member of the Plaisted Arctic expedition, died Friday in St. Cloud at the age of 88.
Pederson served as mechanic on Ralph Plaisted’s crew, which reached the North Pole by snowmobile in 1968. The subject gained new attention last month when the New York Times published an account of the expedition. In early April the Hollywood infotainment website Deadline reported Will Ferrell will star in film about the Plaisted expedition.
Pederson’s obituary in the St. Cloud Times notes he was a “sailor, cowboy, mechanic, racer, teacher, businessman, inventor, explorer, author, politician, entrepreneur, scientist, private eye, hero, friend, husband, father and grandfather.” Services will be held Friday in Milaca.
After 20 years in business, the Timber Lodge Steakhouse in Canal Park is calling it quits. Bruce Taher, CEO of Timber Lodge’s parent company, Taher Inc., says he regrets having to make the decision. He hoped to close the restaurant for the winter and reopen it this spring, but a number of challenges precipitated the restaurant’s demise.
Somehow, I missed this.
Professional wrestling great Nick Bockwinkel died Saturday night at age 80. The image above is from what was probably his last appearance in Duluth, as special referee during a World Wrestling Federation card at the Duluth Arena in 1987. (WWF is now World Wrestling Entertainment; Duluth Arena is now the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center Arena.)
Within six months of acquiring the Jade Fountain, Bill Kalligher locked the big red doors to the iconic Chinese restaurant. He reached the decision in September, fed up with a dirty kitchen he says he’s still trying to clean, alleged poor product quality from food suppliers and a box filled with bounced checks from customers.
Longtime Denfeld High School economics teacher Dick Gastler died on Thursday, Oct. 15, at the age of 79. Among many great teachers at Denfeld, Mr. Gastler would have to be considered the most famous of his era. He was a ham. He broke into song all the time. He frequently digressed into stories about growing up in Chaska. He wore cheesy leisure suits, famously sporting the same one every day during a stretch of 1984 when he was raising money to fight hunger — a stunt that landed him on Good Morning America. The suit was burned when Mr. Gastler reached his fundraising goal. The ashes are still in a trophy case at the school.
A few notes on Superior bars:
Norm’s Beer & Brats held a “Final Bash” over the weekend. According to its Facebook page, the bar will be moving early next week. “The old building will still be open for business tomorrow for tacos (since last week got all kinds of messed up with the power outage), and all week including Friday and Saturday,” reads a post published today. “Our new home is currently known as the Cedar Lounge. Be sure to check it out!”
Update: It seems the Norm’s / Cedar Lounge deal fell through.
Photo by Paul Van Antwerp
On PDD he went by the handle “Edgeways” and was one of the earliest contributors to the website. He also frequently DJed The Local on KUMD, using the moniker DJ-E.
Edgewood was employed for 18 years providing services to people with disabilities and was also an advocate for them as a volunteer. In addition, he served as an election judge in Duluth, was a member of the Duluth Public Arts Commission and helped to restore Sacred Heart Music Center, among other contributions to the community. He was a graduate of Northland College in Ashland.
He was born Joshua Aaron Samuel Smith, and officially changed his name to Edgewood Joshua Smith when he married Bridget Riversmith 22 years ago, though he had been going by Edgewood long before that.
Jefferson People’s House will close July 12, according to an announcement on the Facebook page of the worker-owned cafe, bookstore and social-justice community spot that specialized in coffee and toast.
It’s the fourth piece of coffee-shop related news in recent weeks. Jitter’s has changed ownership and become Lake Superior Bakehouse, Vietnamese Lotus Inn has reopened as VN Coffee House and Cookie Temptations has opened a coffee shop in the Fitger’s Brewery Complex.
Jefferson People’s House is located in a storefront just below Anytime Fitness on the corner of 15th Avenue East and Jefferson Street in Duluth’s Endion neighborhood.
Below is the Facebook message to customers:
Dear Cherished Community,
June 1st, 2014, we started a venture that has involved love, affection, fierce dedication, and cooperative exuberance. Jefferson People’s House has seen a year of delicious toasts and community growth. We rode this train until the tracks ran out. Our team has simultaneously discovered new opportunities and have decided as a collective to dissolve Jefferson People’s House to put our energies into new, exciting projects. We have loved our time together, and it is bittersweet that we leave this adventure. Our official closing date is July 12. In the meantime, we will be open regular hours (barring July 3-5.) Keep an eye out for our closing weekend events, July 10th and 11th. Our Flowers and Coffee CSA will continue as planned through October.
Much love and solidarity, Jefferson People’s House
