Cloquet Happenings 2020

CLO QUE T HAPPENINGS

New director keeps Sappi moving forward

By Jamie Lund jlund@pinejournal.com

As the digital age blossomed and society has used less paper, companies like Sappi have had to evolve to stay in business.

“Successful businesses are able to balance continuous improvements in operating efficiency and developing new products to keep up with changes in the market,” said Tom Radovich, managing director of Sappi North America’s Cloquet Mill. “This mill has done a good job of executing in both areas.”

And with 25 years of experience at the Cloquet Mill, Radovich has seen more than a few things in his time with the company. He was promoted to his current position in Decem-

ber, taking over after the previous managing director, Mike Schultz, was promoted.

Radovich has held leadership roles in operations, engineering and product development, he said. He led the conversion project for a new dry fiber building and the upgrade of the mill’s PM4 former, a machine used to make paper.

In 2013, the company spent $170 million to convert the kraft pulp mill at its Cloquet site to dissolving wood pulp, said Radovich. Dissolving wood pulp is the main raw material used to produce rayon for clothing. The raw material is sent to countries overseas where it is transformed into cloth.

In May 2019, another $25 million capital project helped increased dissolving wood pulp pro-

duction by 8%, Radovich said. The mill produces 400,000 tons of dissolving wood pulp annually.

“I don’t think people realize we are one of 18 mills that make different products,” he said. Of those 18 facilities, only four are in North America.

Ray Higgins of the Minnesota Timber Producers Association said businesses like Sappi have had to face the reality that people are using less paper.

However, while paper consumption is down, the explosion of online ordering has created opportunities. Companies such as Amazon need boxes and brown paper to meet their packaging needs, Higgins said.

“There is growth in brown paper industries,” he said.

About the Sappi North America Cloquet Mill

► The late 1800s: Opens as Weyerhaeuser Lumber Company

► 1898: Becomes Northwest Paper Company, one of the company’s two sites in Minnesota that manufacture newsprint

► 1968: Potlatch purchases the mill

► 2002: Sappi purchases the Potlatch Paper Division; the company idles the Brainerd mill

► Today: The mill employs 700 people in the Cloquet area and around 13,000 worldwide

Jamie Lund / Pine Journal

The large concrete tank holds unbleached pulp, with the recovery boiler in the background. The unbleached pulp is washed, screened and bleached. The buildings are all part of processing at Sappi North America’s Cloquet Mill.

Submitted photo

Tom Radovich was promoted to managing director of Sappi North America’s Cloquet Mill in December 2019.

Remodel underway at Cloquet bank

Renovations to make office more efficient, accommodate growing staff

By Jamey Malcomb jmalcomb@pinejournal.com

Customers walking into Frandsen Bank & Trust in Cloquet over the next several weeks will likely find it a little more chaotic than normal.

The bank is in the

middle of a three-phase remodel expected to take six to eight weeks. The branch, which opened in 1996, is in a former Hardee’s on Highway 33 and still has some of the original flooring from its days as a fast food restaurant.

The entire building is going to be “refreshed,” said Joanne Treviranus, who is managing the project for Frandsen. There will be new flooring, carpeting and wallpaper throughout the bank, as well as some layout changes.

The first phase involves relocating the teller line closer to the drive-thru window so tellers can move back and forth between the locations more easily, market president Jason Olsen said.

“This will create efficiencies for the tellers and make the office flow more smoothly,” he said. “The new efficiencies on the teller line will also make customer wait times less.”

Moving the teller line will also free up space for additional offices for personal bankers. The office has added three

Better hearin g mean s. ..

positions over the past few months, and as a result, Frandsen will build two offices on the main level and more on the basement level. The branch has added a personal banker, a commercial lender and an investment representative over the past year and space is getting a little tight, particularly in the basement.

“Right now, we’re kind of squished down there,” Treviranus said.

With all the changes and planning, the past six months have been a whirlwind for Olsen, who started in his role in July.

Olsen has worked in the banking industry for more than 25 years and comes to Cloquet after 10 years working in Hayward, Wisconsin.

He said he’s been impressed with the staff at Frandsen and the

Cloquet community as a whole.

“I think we’ve got a great team here and that makes it beneficial for our customers,” he said. “The community has been welcoming and helpful — whether it’s the Chamber (of Com-

Dr. Sara K. Downs is a board certified audiologist who has been prov iding hearing aid serv ices at the Raiter Cinic since 2002. Dr Downs has a passion for helping people achieve optimal hearing. She has extensive specialized training in the treatment of tinnitus (ringing in the ears). She has been involved with an international council on tinnitus and shares her expertise with colleagues

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merce) or anyone else.” For those concerned a move from Hayward may have brought another Green Bay Packer fan to Cloquet, not to worry. Olsen’s office is decorated with plenty of Vikings gear.

around the country Dr.Downs is also certified in Mind-Body Medicine from The Center for Mind-Body Medicine. The Hearing Wellness Center’s approach is one that encompasses the whole person. When designing a HearWell™ program we consider the places you do most of your listening. We also want to know about other health conditions you have and about your nutrition, sleep, physical activ ity, and stress levels, because all of these play a role in optimal hearing. What will better hearing do for you? We look forward to helping you find out. Let us help you HearWell™.

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Jamey Malcomb / Pine Journal

Frandsen Bank & Trust on Highway 33 in Cloquet recently started a remodel of the office to make it more efficient and to accommodate its growing staff.

Jamey Malcomb / Pine Journal

Jason Olsen started as market president at the Cloquet branch of Frandsen Bank & Trust in July. He moved to the area after 10 years working in Hayward, Wisconsin.

Jamey Malcomb / Pine Journal

Nick Perkkio of Hunt Electric in Duluth works to wire a new teller line at Frandsen Bank & Trust in Cloquet. The bank recently started a three-phase remodel to be completed over the next six to eight weeks.

New mental health service open in Cloquet

By Jamie Lund jlund@pinejournal.com

Since she opened a Cloquet office in mid-August, Saprina Matheny said Paradigm Therapy Services has been busy.

“I think it speaks to the need that we can have that many providers that are busy on a regular basis,” she said. Paradigm Therapy, 1102 Cloquet Ave., offers services to help people who are living with a variety of mental health issues.

Depression and anxiety are two of the most common reasons why people seek mental health care, Matheny said.

An estimated 16 million adults had a depressive episode in the last year, according to figures from the National Alliance on Mental Illness-Minnesota. Furthermore, young adults ages 16-25 are 60% more likely to have depression than people who are 50 years old or older.

There are nine therapists available at Paradigm, all of whom are licensed to practice in

Minnesota, Matheny said. Seven of those therapists hold office hours at area schools, including Cloquet High School, Cloquet Middle School and Washington Elementary. They also visit schools in Esko.

While, the service is not free, Paradigm can bill the child’s insurance to help cover some of the costs, Matheny said.

Dave Lee, director of Carlton County Public Health and Human Services, said there is a need for more mental health services in the area.

“We could use a greater number of therapists to reduce wait times and give people more options,” Lee said.

Depression and anxiety are the two most diagnosed mental health conditions, he said. If left untreated, they can complicate work, relationships and school.

If people notice a change in their loved one and suspect the person is suffering from depression, Sue Abderholden, executive director of NAMI Minnesota, recommended talking to the person directly.

“Ask them if they are okay,” she said. “Tell them you are worried and mention specific changes you have noticed, such as not meeting up with friends like they used to, or focusing on the negative.”

Paradigm also offers diagnostic and trauma assessments, help with behavioral or attention issues; court-ordered programs such as chemical health assessments, anger management groups and co-parenting therapy; parental

Applebee’s building sold

Jamie Lund

The former Applebee’s in Cloquet was sold in December to the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.

The building at 1405 Highway 33 sold for $600,000, according to the Carlton County Assessor’s Office.

“There are no plans for the building at the moment,” said Rita Aspinwall, communications director for the Fond du Lac Band. She added that they are exploring options for the building. Applebee’s operated at the location for 12 years,

but closed its doors in March 2018.

The location has a long-served as a restaurant. The original building burned down and subsequent buildings demolished in the same location until the current structure was built.

visitations; family conflict and couples counseling; and a parent educational group.

The parent educational group is open to the public and helps parents learn how to navigate the challenges of parenting children of all ages. Parents learn how to set limits and boundaries as well as how to communicate with their child, Matheny said. Call 218-302-4901 for more information on Paradigm Therapy Services.

Mental health in Minnesota

► 1-in-5 Minnesotans face mental illness each year

► Counties across the state report gaps in mental health needs being met

► For every dollar invested in cognitive behavioral therapy for depression, the state saves $36.40

► For every dollar invested in certified peer specialists, the state saves $3.60

Source: Minnesota Department of Human Services

To get immediate help

► National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: (800) 2738255

► Crisis Text Line: Text MN to 741741

► South St. Louis, Lake, Cook & Carlton counties/ Fond du Lac Band: (218) 623-1800 or (844) 772-4742

Jamie Lund / Pine Journal

The former Applebee’s at 1405 Highway 33 was sold to the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa in December.

Jamie Lund / Pine Journal

Paradigm Therapy Services opened in August 2019 in the old Goodwill location on Cloquet Avenue in Cloquet.

Jamie Lund / Pine Journal

Saprina Matheny is the executive director of Paradigm Therapy Services in Cloquet. The business opened in August 2019 and offers a variety of services including counseling and assessments.

The meanings behind Cloquet’s outdoor murals

By Jamie Lund jlund@pinejournal.com

The City of Cloquet worked with building owners to create murals that represent parts of Cloquet’s past.

The murals were created to celebrate the city’s centennial in 2004.

The Homage to the Finnish Homesteader

LOCATION: U.S. Bank, 715 Cloquet Ave.

ARTIST: Carl Gawboy

The mural is a scene from the late 1920s in high summer, with hay-making going on in the background and household chores happening in the foreground. Finnish dovetail log architecture is prominent with the well, farm implements, draft horses, chickens and cows as evidence. The 1920s was a time of optimism in regard to the stability of farm communities and that way of life.

Railway Through the Past

LOCATION: Paradigm Therapy Services, 1102 Cloquet Ave.

ARTIST: Fleta Carol

The mural is the largest of the murals at 16-feet by 60-feet. It depicts an 1890s steam locomotive making its way across a swamp in the winter via a bridge constructed of large wooden beams. In the background of the mural is the leftovers of a logging operation and several pine islands.

Remembering the Saw Mills of Cloquet

LOCATION: Sammy’s Pizza, 305 Sunnyside Dr.

ARTISTS: Connie Hyde and student artists Kristi Cresap, Stephanie Maki, Chelsie Waller, Jessica Christianson, Kayla Koen, Julie Koen and Jennifer Peterson.

Remembering the Saw Mills of Cloquet was painted by Connie Hyde and several Cloquet art students. The mural shows a small lumber mill that was located near the site of Sammy’s Pizza, which the mural is painted on. The Pine Journal wasn’t able to get a photo of this mural due to deep snow surrounding the area.

Scandinavian Immigrant Life

Unfortunately, you can’t see this mural on a building in Cloquet anymore. It was painted on the old Beretta building, 1103 Cloquet Ave, but the building was torn down to make room for the county building and a municipal parking lot, said Holly Hansen, community development director for the City of Cloquet.

However, the mural lives on with the Carlton County Historical Society. Hansen said officials presented the historical society with a banner that depicts the mural.

ARTIST: Brian Olson

The piece depicted a traditional Scandinavian immigrant couple of the early 1900s: Theodore and Borghild Swenson. They settled in Iverson and built Pine Grove Dairy farm, according to historical society records.

Jamie Lund / Pine Journal

Homage to the Finnish Homesteader mural by Carl Gawboy. The mural is located on the U.S. Bank building at 715 Cloquet Ave., Cloquet.

Jamie Lund / Pine Journal

Railway Through the Past mural by Fleta Carol. The mural is located at Paradigm Therapy Services, 1102 Cloquet Ave.

Prescription for a Healthy Community

LOCATION: Medicine Shoppe, 1208 Cloquet Ave.

ARTIST: Laurel Sanders

The mural depicts four seasons of Cloquet residents enjoying a local park and other activities. An old fashioned apothecary shop has the current Medicine Shoppe sign incorporated into the design.

Notable People from the Early Days of Cloquet

LOCATION: Buskala’s Jewelry, 1010 Cloquet Ave.

ARTIST: Dianna Bowker

The mural includes a photo of the original Buskala’s Jewelry store from the early 1900s on the side of the current store, which was built after the 1918 fire. The store was established in 1888, and the mural includes several prominent citizens of the time: Mayor Stokes Wilson, John Buskala, A.K. Oswald, A. J. Solem, Octavie Morneau and Rudolph Weyehaeuser.

Industry Shaped the Past, Secures the Future

LOCATION: Wood City Lights & Hardware, 901 Cloquet Ave. • ARTIST: Kathy Porwall

The mural shows several scenes of loggers in different seasons.

Jamie Lund / Pine Journal

Notable People from the Early Days of Cloquet mural by Dianna Bowker. The mural is located on the Buskala’s Jewelry building at 1010 Cloquet Ave.

Jamie Lund / Pine Journal

Prescription for a Healthy Community mural by Laurel Sanders. The mural is located at the Medicine Shoppe, 1208 Cloquet Ave.

Jamie Lund / Pine Journal

Industry Shaped the Past, Secures the Future mural by Kathy Porwall. The mural is located at the Wood City Lights & Hardware building, 901 Cloquet Ave.

One of the oldest businesses in

Buskala’s Jewelry & Gifts Too!

By Jamie Lund jlund@pinejournal.com

NAME: Buskala’s Jewelry & Gifts Too!

CURRENT OWNER: John and Joanne Buskala

DATE OPENED: 1881

FOUNDER: John Buskala

LOCATION: 1010 Cloquet Ave.

Interesting Facts:

► Founder John Buskala immigrated to the U.S. from Finland.

► He began his jewelry business on the front porch of his home in 1881.

► The building was rebuilt after the 1918 fire.

► He was multilingual: He spoke English, Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian and Polish.

► The current owner, John Buskala, is the founder’s great-grandson.

► If you hadn’t figured it out yet, they share a name.

► Current owner John Buskala’s grandfather spoke often about how the store’s founder would translate among immigrants as they worked out a deal.

► “He was kind of a character,” John said about his great-grandfather.

► Great-grandson John Buskala is the fourth generation to own and operate the family business.

Buskala’s Jewelry & Gifts Too! was built at this location after the original store burned in the 1918 fire. The current owner, John Buskala, is the fourth generation of the family to own the store in downtown Cloquet. John added the vintage looking clock on the sidewalk in front of the store around 15-20 years ago. It is similar to one that was on the front of the original store in the early 1900s.

Jamie Lund / Pine Journal

Like the Buskala’s of the past, John keeps the family store going. The store was built by his great-grandfather, John Buskala, after the previous building burned in the 1918 fire.

Jamie Lund / Pine Journal

Photo courtesy of Buskala’s

This photo shows the original Buskala’s Jewelry Store at 1208 Cloquet Avenue in downtown Cloquet before the 1918 fire. The photo is said to have been taken in 1903-04. Left to right, Arvid Strom, local drugstore owner; Strom’s dog, Pollo; John Johnson; John Buskala; and Buskala’s dog, Rover. The current owner believes the photo was taken after the completion of the wooden sidewalk.

Reflection of the past: Northeastern Saloon and Grille

By Jamie Lund jlund@pinejournal.com

NAME: Northeastern Saloon and Grille

CURRENT OWNER: Bert Whittington

DATE OPENED: 1885

FOUNDER: Louis McCullough

LOCATION: 115 St. Louis Avenue, Cloquet

Interesting facts:

► Whittington has the original liquor license for the Northeastern; it’s the oldest-known liquor license in the state held by a continuous business.

► The original wood building burned to the ground in 1903 and was rebuilt with brick in less than a year.

► The Northeastern was one of a handful of buildings to survive the 1918 fire, along with a few homes, the Garfield School and the old water tower.

► After the fire, the building served as a hospital, post office and U.S. National Guard headquarters.

► The upstairs has been restored to reflect the style in 1904, but is up to today’s code.

► The rooms are available for rent.

► The saloon still has many original items including a 30-foot bar made from African mahogany.

► The bar has a large public display of Duluth brewery memorabilia, including one-of-a-kind vintage neon signs. Whittington said the collection is among the largest in Minnesota.

► In the early days, the Northeastern housed a saloon, barber shop, dining room and a 20-room hotel upstairs, complete with female companionship, Whittington said. There are now 11 rooms in the upstairs hotel.

Submitted photo

This bedroom is one of 11 left of the original 20 rooms in the Northeastern Saloon and Grille. The original maple floors have been refinished in several of them. Some of the rooms were too small to meet current code, so were combined to make larger rooms. Other rooms were updated to become a sitting area for customers renting rooms. Some modern updates have been added such as air conditioning and television sets.

Submitted photo

A part of Bert Whittington’s collection of vintage neon signs is on display at the Northeastern Saloon and Grille. Some of the signs are one of a kind. Whittington restored tin ceilings to several rooms in the old building.

“Locally

Submitted photo

The Northeastern Saloon and Grille looks much like it did when it was built in 1904.

Jamie Lund / Pine Journal

Bert Whittington has a copy of the original Northeastern Hotel Liquor license. Dated January 10, 1885, it hangs in a vintage frame in a room in the Northeastern. The license was issued to Louis McCullough by the newly formed Village of Cloquet.

Submitted photo

A photo of the Northeastern Saloon and Grille in the 1950s next to the Cloquet Cooperative Society general store.

Cloquet’s cozy coffeehouses

Natalie Swanson makes an expresso drink behind the bar at Bearaboo Coffee Escape in Cloquet. Pine Journal file photo

By Jamey Malcomb jmalcomb@pinejournal.com

Cloquet may not have a Starbucks, Caribou Coffee or other national chain, but the city offers plenty of places to pick up a cup of joe, get cozy with a book or catch up on some work.

Here are a few spots around town — plus a bonus spot in Carlton — to check out the next time you need something warm (or cold, these places have it all).

Bearaboo Coffee Escape

When you walk up to Bearaboo Coffee Escape in Cloquet, the word cozy is not the first word that comes to mind.

The stunning view of Walmart and the attached car wash don’t exactly scream “cozy.”

But walk into the shop, and the world changes.

The warm, cabin-like atmosphere will make the massive parking lot across the street seem like a memory.

There’s a small fireplace at the back of the shop, and booths to hunker down and get some work done.

More than likely, new owner Natalie Swanson is behind the counter pulling a shot of espresso or house-made baked goods out of the oven.

Swanson greets you with a smile so genuine you can’t help but feel welcome.

From the outside, Bearaboo may not look like the coziest spot in Cloquet, but inside it feels like the warmest place in town.

ADDRESS: 1005 Stanley Ave., Cloquet

Jamey Malcomb/Pine Journal

Bearaboo Coffee Escape in Cloquet may not have the best view in town, but it’s one of the coziest spots to get some work done or relax and chat with a friend.

Gordy’s Warming House

Gordy’s might be the most prominent place to grab coffee in the city. It’s spot on Highway 33 means it’s almost always busy, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s not cozy.

The coffee is always hot. There’s something tasty for lunch or a snack, and — for those with a sweet tooth — there’s a freezer full of ice cream to choose from.

Armchairs by the fireplace are a perfect place to chat with a friend, or conduct an informal interview.

There are also plenty of tables if you need to do a little more concentrated work. Though the number of people in and out can make the shop a bit noisy, it’s nothing some earbuds and a little music or a good podcast won’t cure.

ADDRESS: 411 Sunnyside Dr., Cloquet

HOURS: Monday-Thursday 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Saturday 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

WEBSITE: www.warming-house.com/

Gordy’s also offers a variety of comfortable chairs and a fireplace that are a perfect spot to catch up with friends or on some reading.

Jamey Malcomb/Pine Journal

Making an Impact

HOURS:Monday-Friday 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

INSTAGRAM: @bearaboocoffee

Jamey Malcomb/Pine Journal

Gordy’s Warming House on Highway 33 in Cloquet offers plenty of space to work as well as coffee, lunch and breakfast menus and ice cream all year

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Common Ground Coffee Bar & Deli

Common Ground Coffee Bar & Deli is easily the most spacious spot to grab

a cup of coffee in town.

Its location in the former Chief Theater in Cloquet’s West End allows for a counter, some tables and a booth in the lobby. Open the doors of the theater to find a variety of chairs and recliners to choose from, as well as a bookshelf to check out.

With an area for young children to play in the back and a number of comfy chairs for mom and dad to watch them, this coffee shop may be a favorite for parents. There is also a foosball table and other games for adolescents and teenagers.

In addition to coffee, tea and baked goods, the shop also serves hot and cold sandwiches, salads and wraps.

ADDRESS: 103 Avenue C, Cloquet

HOURS: Monday 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Tuesday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Wednesday 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Thursday-Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Closed Sunday.

FACEBOOK: @commongroundcoffee

Magnolia Cafe

With a name like Magnolia Cafe, it sounds like they might be serving iced tea and pecan pie instead of coffee.

Still, the shop in Carlton offers espresso and fresh baked cookies, as well as a pretty extensive menu for lunch, considering the size of the coffeehouse.

Make your way into the back and there’s a couple of comfy chairs screaming to have someone curl up and get lost in a good book.

The “Monster Cookie” with M&Ms, oatmeal and peanut butter makes for a nice treat if you’re setting off on an afternoon of work on the laptop.

ADDRESS: 206 Third Street, Carlton

HOURS: Monday-Friday 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

WEBSITE: magnoliacafecarlton.com

INSTAGRAM: @magnoliacafecarlton

In addition to coffee and food, Magnolia Cafe in Carlton also has a couple of cozy chairs in the back that are perfect for getting lost in a good book.

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CornerStone State Bank

Common Ground Coffee Bar & Deli in Cloquet’s West End offers plenty of room in the lobby the historic Chief Theater to get some work done as well as plenty of space in the back to relax and chat with friends or catch up on some reading.

The back room at Common Ground Coffee Bar & Deli in Cloquet’s West End offers recliners, games and even a play area for small children.

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Chartered in 1974, as one office in Le Sueur, Minnesota, now CornerStone State Bank has grown into seven communities: Le Sueur, Cloquet, Belle Plaine, Montgomery, Green Isle, and most recently, Madison Lake and Eagle Lake, Minnesota. All staff at CornerStone State Bank are committed to hometown service and the growth of our customers and communities.

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Jamey Malcomb/Pine Journal

Jamey Malcomb/Pine Journal

Jamey Malcomb/Pine Journal

Magnolia Cafe in Carlton is small but it offers

house-made treats and a number of options for breakfast or lunch.

Jamey Malcomb/ Pine Journal