The Mille Lacs Community Trust Board meets quarterly to distribute funds raised through Operation Round Up. This September, the board awarded $22,100 in grants to local non-profit organizations including: Aitkin County Friends of the Arts, Aitkin County Habitat for Humanity, Aitkin County Hi…
The Minnesota Historical Society has announced the opening of the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul and the trading post (retail store) at the Mille Lacs Indian Museum in Onamia, beginning Oct. 1. Read more
It was an interesting side note to what was an area-wide brainstorming session. Read more
The Ruttger family, whose members have owned the resort for more than 120 years, announced Sept. 3 that Ruttger’s Bay Lake Lodge had been sold. Read more
Palisade residents Howard and Erica Beamish hit the ground running when their new HVAC company opened in Palisade last week. Read more
News from Cuyuna Regional Medical Center (CRMC): CRMC has been named as one of America’s Best Hospitals for Obstetrics by the Women’s Choice Award, America’s referral source for the best in health care. The award signifies that CRMC is in the top 17 percent of 2,778 U.S. hospitals offering … Read more
It was a busy month of July for Anil Kermally, now the owner of Aitkin’s barbershop – A.K’s Barbershop. Read more
The Mille Lacs Energy Community Trust Board meets quarterly to distribute funds raised through Operation Round Up. Read more
It’s not exactly a normal summer at the Long Lake Conservation Center in Palisade. Read more
Plans are in the works for the McGregor Area Clothing Closet (MACC) to reopen, hopefully Tuesday, June 23. MACC is located in downtown McGregor and has been closed since March because of COVID-19. MACC has guidelines that must be followed upon its reopening: Only two customers will be allowe… Read more
After 36 years of providing the Aitkin and McGregor community members with eye care and eyewear, Dr. Doug Landsverk is ready to enjoy retirement. Read more
With a week of sunny weather and the desire of patrons to return to their favorite restaurants, the dialing back of restrictions by Gov. Tim Walz went over well last week. Read more
John Bieganek of Superior Thermowood in Palisade recently acquired an antique planer from a regular customer who had the machine sitting in his yard for a number of years. Read more
A request for an off-sale liquor license in Malmo has turned into a drama in the last three weeks, with both sides claiming the other is in the wrong. Read more
Riverwood Healthcare held its annual meeting virtually on May 19, re-electing Chad Gross, Lowell Larson and Steve Wilson to new three-year terms on the board of directors. Read more
Gov. Tim Walz said May 13 he will let his stay-at-home order expire as scheduled May 18, though he’ll leave key restrictions in place to keep up Minnesota’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more
Ruttger’s Bay Lake Lodge will open for its 122nd season Thursday, May 21. Read more
It’s been a world full of change for area stores since mid-March, especially when it comes to area grocers. Read more
The Entrepreneur Fund, Northland Foundation, and The Northspan Group, Inc. announced they are accepting grant applications for their recently-formed Small Business Relief Fund. The three partners developed the fund in response to COVID-19 and intend to provide grants up to $5,000 to regional… Read more
Aitkin County DAC and other day programs serving people with intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DD) in Minnesota are under extreme financial stress due to closures brought on by COVID-19. Read more
After two weeks of closures and shelter in place orders, Kidz Zone director and co-owner Nancy Belden is adapting to the situation and working to keep all eight Kidz Zone employees employed. Read more
The Aitkin Chamber of Commerce recently updated its business and resource directory. Read more
On Saturday, April 11, the farmers’ market at the Butler building will be held from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. There will be a bake sale, featuring Jackie Dilley and Bev Williams’ handcrafted jewelry. Read more
As cases of COVID-19 are on the rise, and a partial closure of restaurants and bars in Minnesota continues per executive order from Governor Walz, it is worth noting that this closure does not include Minnesota farmers’ markets. Read more
Normally, Ruttger’s Bay Lake Lodge would be calling its seasonal staff back this time of year, gearing up for the visitors coming for the start of the summer season in northern Minnesota. Read more
All Through The House, located in downtown Aitkin, is utilizing their Facebook page to show their wares and increase community involvement during this time of social distancing. Read more
If you drive west toward Brainerd on Hwy. 210, it might be a little easy to miss Unclaimed Freight the first time around. Read more
What started out as a social club more than 48 years ago is now a $5.5 million yearly business. As a 501(c)3 nonprofit, the Mille Lacs Trails Inc. maintains 110 miles of snowmobile trails, owns and operates two trail groomers, along with many other pieces of equipment to maintain its trail … Read more
Providing 20/20 vision for their patients has been the primary goal of the EyeCare Centers of Aitkin and McGregor since 1953. The EyeCare Centers are committed to providing patients with quality eye care through a wide spectrum of services, including vision and eye health exams; diagnosing a… Read more
The Round Lake Resort & Bar is currently closed, including not offering take-out orders. The owners are taking advantage of this time to work on some remodeling projects, including, finishing the off-sale room and the convenience store. They look forward to re-opening. Read more
Forging ahead into 2020 with sharp 20/20 vision, the McGregor Area Chamber of Commerce looks forward to a productive year ahead. The McGregor Chamber has been representing the interests of the local business community for over 40 years. The Chamber works together with its business partners t… Read more
Food equity, employee housing, quality local schools, on-the-job training for local youth, volunteer opportunities for community members and living wage jobs for over 400 employees. Read more
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will administer low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of Coronavirus (COVID-19). Read more
Ruttger’s Bay Lake Lodge has hired experienced salesperson Alisha Stevens as its new group sales manager, resort officials announced. Stevens will be responsible for generating new corporate and group business, including conventions, retreats, weddings, family reunions and other events. Her … Read more
It was announced by Governor Walz that Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative (MLEC) was awarded a Minnesota State Broadband grant, for a Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) Internet project. The project area will connect MLEC’s previous fiber project areas and stretch from south of Aitkin to north of Farm Isla… Read more
Wings Financial Credit Union and Neighborhood National Bank announced Friday that the two organizations have reached an agreement for Wings to acquire the bank, including six branch locations. Read more
With a $100,000 grant from the United States Department of Agriculture, Aitkin County Growth Inc. is hoping to extend a helping hand to area business. Read more
Justin Wolfe is a guy who doesn’t mind cleaning up after others and that’s just what he does during his nearly full-time shift at Aitkin High School on a daily basis. He started his new job there this past summer and it didn’t take him long to earn more time doing what he loves. He started w… Read more
Soap-making is a several-thousand-year-old practice that can be traced back to Babylonians, who boiled fats and ash and mixed the resulting substance with various salts to create a soap used in textile production and medicinal practice. Read more
Be You Nutrition began selling its healthy meal replacements on Jan. 6 this year. Read more
Dollar General is among one of the fastest-growing retail store franchises in the United States, and an increasingly common staple in small towns across the country – now including Aitkin. Read more
Aitkin County C.A.R.E., Inc. was one of 36 non-profit organizations awarded funding by the Northland Foundation in the fourth quarter of 2019. Read more
Aloha from tropical McGregor! The McGregor Area Chamber of Commerce held its Hawaiian-themed annual business meeting and dinner on Monday, Jan. 13, at Red Rock Bar in McGregor. The banquet room was filled with chamber members, many of whom donned tropical attire. Read more
A mainstay in McGregor for nearly 58 years, Ukura’s Big Dollar was named the McGregor Area Chamber of Commerce’s 2019 Business of the Year at its annual business meeting and dinner event held on Monday, Jan. 13. Read more
News from Cuyuna Regional Medical Center (CRMC): The center was recently named to the Minnesota Antibiotic Stewardship Honor Roll for Hospitals in recognition of its commitment to improve the use of antimicrobial medications with the goal of enhancing patient health outcomes by reducing res… Read more
Salem West is Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative’s (MLEC) 2019 Touchstone Energy Commitment to Community Award winner. Read more
Riverwood Healthcare Center recently announced the appointment of Lowell Larson to its Governing Board of Directors. Read more
The Aitkin County Developmental Achievement Center (DAC) has been around for quite a while and has been able to place a lot of its clients in jobs around the county. Here’s a look at one of those successful people. Read more
Beginning in February, GuidePoint Pharmacy plans to offer CBD products in several forms, including topical creams, capsules and pet medications. Read more
