Boreal Access

Cook County Sheriff’s Office received a call on October 7 at 11:01 a.m. requesting help in locating two overdue female hikers on the Kekakabic Trail.

Maria Jacenko, age 42, and Grace Knezevich, age 23, both of Duluth, left Ely on Friday, October 3, intending to hike the Kekakabic Trail from Ely to the Gunflint Trail.  Arrangements had been made for the women to be picked up at the Gunflint Trail on Monday, October 6, at 5:00 p.m.

Cook County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Forest Service have conducted an extensive air and ground search of the Kekakabic Trail in Cook County but so far contact has not been made with the missing women.  Lake County is involved in the search as well since the majority of the Kekakabic Trail is in Lake County.  

Cook County Higher Education Director Paula Sundet returned to the Cook County – Grand Marais Economic Development Authority (EDA) on September 30, following up on her organization’s request to purchase the former First Baptist Church building. Sundet said Higher Ed was still unable to make a firm financial commitment for purchase of the building, because questions of what was to be removed from the building had slowed things down. Sundet also said Higher Ed’s funding source, the USDA, may not make funds available immediately. She asked if the EDA would consider a lease with an option to buy. EDA Director Geretschlaeger suggested that the EDA consider a two-year lease for a payment amount high enough to cover the EDA’s costs of owning the building, approximately $1,300 in interest plus insurance and utility costs. The Higher Ed attorney will draft a lease agreement, which EDA attorney Mike Hero will review. If the lease agreement is acceptable, the board will approve it at the October 14 meeting.

It was business as usual for customers at the Schroeder Baking Company on Saturday, October 4, despite the fact that the bakery had been broken into some time during the night. Customers enjoyed coffee and baked goods, unaware that the owner’s day had started with the discovery of a shattered pane of glass on the entry door. The only evidence of a problem was one window panel covered with cardboard. Owner Kathy Lawrence called Cook County Law Enforcement at 5:59 a.m. reporting that it appeared as though someone had tried to break in. One pane of glass in the door was shattered. Deputy Pat Eliasen arrived and found that the door had apparently been smashed with a rock. Money was taken from the till and from a pop machine inside the building.

The incident is being investigated and anyone who may have information on the burglary is asked to contact Cook County Law Enforcement at (218) 387-3030.

The park board is preparing to conduct a long range planning effort with help of a professional consultant over the next six months. Grand Marais Park Manager Dave Tersteeg says he’s looking forward to the upcoming public process.

“We got a grant through the Minnesota Costal Program to hire a planner. We’ve gone through the public process to select the planner and we’ve chosen Carduus Consulting out of Duluth. The principal down there is Bob Bruce and he is an excellent professional planner,” said Tersteeg.

An initial meeting is planed for Oct. 22 to define the scope of the visioning process. Tersteeg comments, “We hope to focus on the Rec Park, and we are really hoping to engage the public—the citizens of Grand Marais and the visitors—you know, everyone should get involved that cares about the park.”

The search for two Duluth hikers lost in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness came to a successful conclusion about 3:15 Thursday afternoon when they were found on the north shore of Glee Lake in Cook County.

Marie Jacenko, age 42, and Grace Knezevich, age 23, were located by a Minnesota State Patrol helicopter, according to the Cook County Sheriff’s Office.

Float planes from the Superior National Forest and a helicopter from the United States Border Patrol also assisted in the search. Personnel from the Cook and Lake County Sheriffs’ Departments and federal rangers were involved in the ground search.

The pair set out to hike the Kekakabic Trail at Snowbank Lake near Ely on Friday, Oct. 3 and planned to be picked up on the Gunflint Trail on Monday, Oct. 6. However, they did not make it to the Gunflint and were reported missing Tuesday morning. The Kekakabic Trail has 31 miles in Lake County and nine in Cook County. It is known as one of the most rugged trails in the Arrowhead and its difficulty was increased by the 1999 blow-down and the Ham Lake Fire.