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  • Arrowhead Electric Power Outages: Conversation with John Twiest

    Arrowhead Electric Power Outages: Conversation with John Twiest
    2024/12/04

    John Twiest is the CEO and general manager at Arrowhead Cooperative. He spoke to the Shore Thing Podcast about recent power outages in Cook County and aging infrastructure holding some of the local utility lines in place. Twiest also talks about spirited callers who phone Arrowhead during power outages, and the history of power outages in the county.

    Also, The Shore Thing is on Patreon! Support the independent podcast if you appreciate straight talk on local issues impacting the community. As Steve says: “We don’t have time for any bullshit on this podcast.”
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    36 分
  • Jason Hale Talks About Leaving the HRA

    Jason Hale Talks About Leaving the HRA
    2024/11/21
    The Nov. 8 resignation of Jason Hale as the director of the Cook County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) is the latest example of stalwarts in local government resigning from their positions. For example, in August, former Cook County Economic Development Authority (EDA) Director Theresa Bajda wrapped up her tenure leading a local government entity, which lasted for less than a year. Following Bajda’s resignation, Hale stepped in as the interim EDA director, essentially serving as the top official for both organizations. This arrangement follows what some community members and county officials, including Bajda, feel was a missed opportunity to merge the HRA and EDA in 2023. In this exit interview, of sorts, Hale says he is going to be working on housing projects in northeastern Minnesota, indeed starting his own company where he will work with municipalities and contractors across the region. Hale also talks about the EDA/HRA merger that was voted down in 2023, and what it was like working in a small town where his role was very public.
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    33 分
  • Lutsen Resident Tom Christiansen After Hurricane Helene Flood

    Lutsen Resident Tom Christiansen After Hurricane Helene Flood
    2024/10/09
    A Cook County resident is in Marion, North Carolina, helping people impacted by Hurricane Helene. Lutsen resident Tom Christiansen arrived in North Carolina in early October, not long after the East Coast was impacted by flooding from the hurricane. Tom says he is “assisting in my small way to help people with desperate needs. We are sheltering a man who was trapped in his home with a tree on his chest. His five horses were washed away. Although he has internal bruises he is recovering and thanks me every day for our help.” Tom is volunteering with the Red Cross at a YMCA building currently operating as a shelter for people displaced by the flooding and other events caused by the storm. Tom reports that “a family is here with mom, dad, grandma and three children. They escaped with the clothes on their backs and grandma’s wheelchair.” Tom said many of the people he’s helping are in an unimaginable situation because of the hurricane. “Many of our clients have lost everything,” Tom said. “Please help.” Tom spoke with Joe Friedrichs Oct. 8 for this episode of The Shore Thing Podcast. To help the people impacted by Hurricane Helene, follow this link: https://www.redcross.org/donate/dr/hurricane-helene.html/
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    12 分
  • Garry Gamble District 2 Candidate

    Garry Gamble District 2 Candidate
    2024/09/21
    Garry Gamble is running unopposed for District 2 on the Cook County Board of Commissioners. He last ran for office in 2016, losing the election to Myron Bursheim. Gamble lost in 2016 by a count of 307-227. As of Sept. 20, there have been no official write-in candidacies announced to challenge Gamble. Two local issues that Gamble says are important for him are government spending and housing. Joe Friedrichs spoke with Gamble for this episode of the podcast.
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    42 分
  • Dean Berglund District 4 Candidate

    Dean Berglund District 4 Candidate
    2024/09/21
    Dean Berglund is running for the Cook County commissioner seat in District 4. Born and raised in Cook County, Dean has been a business owner for more than 40 years. This is the second time Dean has run for this seat on the county board. He was defeated in 2020 by incumbent Ann Sullivan. The vote total was 476-407, in favor of Sullivan. In 2024, Dean says two local issues that made him want to run for county commissioner include housing and government spending. Steve Fernlund spoke with Dean for this installment of the podcast.
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    32 分
  • Ann Sullivan District 4 Candidate

    Ann Sullivan District 4 Candidate
    2024/09/21
    Ann Sullivan is running for the Cook County commissioner seat in District 4. She is the current board chair. Ann has won two elections for this seat on the county board. She defeated Dean Berglund in 2020 by a count of 476-407. She won again in 2022 (redistricting led to an election that year), defeating Theresa Luther-Dolan 494-243. Joe Friedrichs spoke with Ann Sullivan about why she is choosing to run for a third term on the county board.
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    50 分
  • Episode 16: Visiting Journalists From World Press Institute

    Episode 16: Visiting Journalists From World Press Institute
    2024/09/18
    Ten journalists from the World Press Institute who are in the United States on a fellowship tour visited Grand Marais and Cook County this week. The journalists met with local media, traveled up the Gunflint Trail, to Grand Portage, and met with community members throughout the county. Two of the journalists, Xhemajl Rexha from Kosovo, and Gugulethu Mfuphi from South Africa, talked with Joe Friedrichs for this episode of the podcast. Topics covered include the values of community journalism, the role of journalists in a community, and other news items of local, national, and global relevance.
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    30 分
  • Episode 15: Arrowhead Electric Board Member Gunflint Trail

    Episode 15: Arrowhead Electric Board Member Gunflint Trail
    2024/08/22
    There is a new person on the Arrowhead Electric Cooperative Board of Directors. Matt Schuerger is the new appointee. He joined the board Friday, Aug. 16. Schuerger is a resident of the Gunflint Trail and will represent District 3 on the board. Schuerger has a vast and longstanding connection with the utility and electric industry in the state, including serving from 2016-2023 as a commissioner of the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. Schuerger was appointed to the state PUC most recently by the appointment of Gov. Tim Walz. Schuerger was appointed to the local board following the July resignation of Michael Valentini from the Arrowhead Cooperative Board of Directors. Valentini is planning to move back to the Iron Range at some point, and said he felt it was the right thing to do to essentially pass the torch to Schuerger, particularly given his experience with the industry. Joe Friedrichs from The Shore Thing Podcast met with Valentini and Schuerger at the Mid-Trail Fire Hall to discuss their experiences with Arrowhead and other related topics.
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    33 分