Saturday, May 26, and Sunday, May 27
- The Hermantown Hawks girls softball team eliminated Cloquet from the Section 7AAA playoffs by a score of 6-0. This win got the Hawks into the North Subsection Final Four.
Duluth East also defeated Duluth Denfeld by a score of 4-2. This loss eliminated Denfeld from the playoffs.
- A man who tried to rob the Subway in Canal Park was arrested. The suspect threatened an employee with a knife and demanded money.
Reportedly, the man stole a sum of cash and a large bag of chicken.
The employee left the premises after the threat. Then the victim followed the suspect. The victim eventually got help from another person and they captured the man.
He was charged with first-degree aggravated robbery.
- Dario Franchitti won the Indianapolis 500. Scott Dixon took second and Helio Castroneves took third.
- A fight between two exotic dancers at the NorShor Experience, a strip club. This fight eventually led to another fight involving 10 other people.
Police then tried to stop three males who were leaving in a car from the club. A chase then ensued. Eventually the fleeing car ended up in the Chester Creek ravine. The driver of the car left the scene, but two male passengers were stuck inside the vehicle.
One of the men in the car was found to have an outstanding warrant in St. Louis County for felony narcotics.
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Monday, May 28
- The 47th annual Memorial Day Parade was a great success. Also, events at the Sunrise Memorial Park were attended by approximately 750 people.
- Roger Ernest Swanson died in a house fire in the east end of Duluth, early in the morning.
Fire conditions prevented police officers from taking the man out of the house right away. The fire was extinguished in 10 minutes.
The Duluth Police Department and fire department said the fire was caused by arson.
Tuesday, May 29
- The U.S. military announced that six soldiers were killed in a roadside bomb and two more were killed in a helicopter crash in Diyala, according to a Los Angeles Times report.
This brought the May casualties total to 117. This is the highest casualty level of troops for the year.
- A human rights commission accepted an apology from St. Louis County Commissioner Keith Nelson. Nelson made a comment about slavery in a February County Board meeting.
Nelson was also asked to attend diversity training.
Wednesday, May 30
- Gov. Tim Pawlenty canceled a large tax bill because of a clause that would have made financial officials take inflation into account when doing budget calculations.
This development eliminated local aid for many counties. Duluth will miss out on $3.1 million due to the action.
- In high school baseball playoff action, Hermantown defeated Cloquet 6-5, Marshall defeated Mesabi East 10-4 and Proctor defeated International Falls, 7-6.
For more on the high school baseball playoffs, see Page 28.
Thursday, May 31
- It was announced that the Small Business Administration will open a temporary office in Grand Marais to help Ham Lake fire victims receive disaster assistance loans.
The largest loan a victim can get is $1.5 million.
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- A possible pipe bomb was reported in the Gary-New Duluth area. A mail carrier opened a mailbox, at the corner of Commonwealth Avenue and Heard Street, and found what looked like a two-foot pipe.
The mailman then called his supervisor, who called 911. Police then closed off the street.
Two members of the Air National Guard then inspected the item. It turned out to be nothing dangerous.
- Mayor Herb Bergson proclaimed June 2-9 "Neighborworks Week" and presented a check for $8,500 to the Salvation Army's HeatShare fund at a Thursday news conference. Neighborworks Week celebrates the accomplishments of Neighborhood Housing Services, which is dedicated to helping revitalize core neighborhoods in the city and assist first-time homebuyers.
"Last year NHS helped over 140 Duluth families buy their first homes," Bergson said. "People want to live the 'American Dream,' and we salute NHS for its work in helping people do that, especially the work they have done in our communities of color."
Mayor Bergson also presented a check for $8,500 to the Duluth Salvation Army's HeatShare Fund.
Coming this weekend
- The Watershed Festival will be held at the Miller Hill Kmart parking lot from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 2. There will be kids activities and free workshops on topics such as fishing, gardening and rain barrels. For more, call 723-4867.
- There will be a community carnival from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Grace Lutheran Church Saturday, June 2. There will be games, activities, prizes, a giant slide and food. Tickets are $.25 each.
The Duluth News Tribune contributed to these reports.
