Duluth Downtown Waterfront recognizes Skywalk hospitality

Whether it’s bright and early in the morning or the sun is setting, Scott Miller of the Downtown Clean and Safe Team has a smile on his face. As he makes his daily rounds through the downtown Skywalk wearing his bright yellow shirt, he can be found greeting shoppers, business owners, and tourists and opening doors for them as they pass by.

• Scott Miller
• Downtown Clean and Safe Team
• Ambassador of the Year
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Award reflects a Crawford’s commitment

When Carl Crawford of Duluth looks back on his days growing up in Los Angeles, he says he remembers the men who were role models for him. Because they helped him become the person he is today, Crawford decided to dedicate much of his own time toward mentoring and guiding young people.

• Drum Major for Peace Award
• Crawford's speech
• Serving breakfast
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Duluth bed-and-breakfast earns national distinction

Tim Allen said that he and his wife Angie are still in shock that the Duluth bed-and-breakfast they own and operate was chosen as top in the nation. It was only a week ago when the couple got a call from TripAdvisor, an online site where travelers can plan vacations, informing them that the A.G. Thomson House Historic Bed & Breakfast was ranked as first out of more than 21,000 bed-and-breakfasts across the United States.

• Tim and Angie Allen
• Illuminated at night
• A.G. Thomson House
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Groups protest Supreme Court ruling favoring corporations

At the two-year anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision that awarded corporations constitutional rights to contribute to political campaigns, activists in the Move to Amend group on Friday, January 20, staged “occupy’’ rallies at federal courthouses in 100 cities nationwide.

• Daniel Fanning
• Demonstration on Jan. 20
• The Raging Grannies
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Rev. Bagley to retire Jan. 29

After 40 years of ministry, Rev. Peter D. Bagley of the United Protestant Church in Morgan Park has announced his retirement from the ministry.

• Rev. Peter D. Bagley
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Northland artist awaits publication of first graphic novel

When Donny Frank Morris was 12 years old, his mother brought home an X-Men comic book for him. Morris sat on the sofa in his family’s home until he had read the book straight through, and even though it was the first comic book he had ever gotten, he was hooked from that point on.

• Donny Frank Morris
• Drawings by Morris
• "Chained Gun"
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Editorial cartoon

• Editorial cartoon
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Precinct caucuses don’t work as a way to pick candidates

In a little over two weeks Minnesota Republicans will tell others in their party who should be the GOP nominee for president. Actually, they’ll sort of say who should get the nod, because at precinct caucuses their preferences will be expressed in a straw poll.

• Virgil Swing
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The new Vista Fleet sightseeing experience

Justin and Sarah Steinbach met with representatives of Visit Duluth last week after just recently purchasing the Vista Fleet harbor sightseeing tour company. You couldn’t help being happy for the energetic couple taking over the reins of one of Duluth’s iconic attractions.

• New Vista Fleet
• Terry Mattson
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With the mild winter, raccoon are active now

As we approach the middle of this most unusual winter, we now experience temperatures a bit more like normal, but still the snowfall is lacking or limited. Late January is about halfway through our snow season, and at this point, we may be on a record-setting pace.

• Tracks in snow
• Raccoon footprints
• Larry Weber
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EITC puts thousands in your pocket

If you are low-income, don’t miss out on receiving money back from the IRS. Thousands of people in the Northland may be missing out on claiming their full Earned Income Tax Credit. Eligible recipients either don’t know they qualify or don’t file the tax returns required in order to claim the tax credit, possibly losing up to $5,751 in federal income tax refunds.

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Police chief reflects on move of department’s location

Speaking of buildings, we have been packing in anticipation of the move of most of the department to the new building. I am still surprised at the amount of confusion about its location.

• Gordon Ramsay
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UMD scholar says fight for social justice is 'here and now'

As the featured speaker of the event, Janet Haynes addressed issues of social equality in the educational and justice systems while speaking about the life and vision of Martin Luther King, Jr.

• Janet Haynes
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Proctor historical society works on new railroad visitors center

Retiring from the railroad should mean a little less grit to wash off at the end of the work day. But, for 50 active Proctor Area Historical Society volunteers, it might seem like they’re still on the clock.

• Protor Area Historical Society
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Habitat for Humanity constructs ‘ice home’ at Fitger’s courtyard

The warm weather of early January did not discourage volunteers who were working to build a 6-foot tall ice home in the Fitger’s courtyard this month in support of local Habitat for Humanity projects. And when the high temperatures melted what was already built, the volunteers simply started anew.

• Habitat for Humanity 'ice house'
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