NEVER MISS AN ISSUE!

By Marlise Riffel
Contributor | February 3, 2023

What do yogurt, kimchi, cheddar cheese, and kombucha have in common? Right! They’re each a product of fermentation. Fermentation is the process where yeast and/or...

Life is learning to persevere through tough challenges

Northland Outdoors: Recreation & Attractions

By Katrina Broten
Contributor | February 3, 2023

Life is rarely easy, as I have come to understand, and my life has certainly thrown some hardships and obstacles my way. Just when I...

COOK – Northwoods Friends of the Arts will be holding a reception on Friday, February 3, from 5 - 7 p.m. to kick off their February Three Exhibits in One called Friendships and Collaborations. NWFA Gallery is located at 210 River Street (behind Dreamweavers Salon) in Cook. Winter hours are...

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Columnists

Healthy for Life

By Julie Asbach
Columnist | February 3, 2023

Welcome to the loving month of February. As the light continues to keep its presence longer, may we feel the energy that Mother Nature bestows...

It’s best to treat Lisfranc injuries early to maintain joint strength, prevent damage

By Katie Evans,
DPM Columnist | February 3, 2023

The Lisfranc joint is the point at which the metatarsal bones (long bones that lead up to the toes) and the tarsal bones (bones in...

Our warm January is to be followed by cold February

By Dave
Anderson Columnist | February 3, 2023

When I've got time to kill, I spend a lot of it poring over old Iron Range newspapers at the Minnesota Historical Society website. I...

News

Share your news with HTF

February 3, 2023

VIRGINIA/VPL PLAY & LEARN CHILD SAFETY RESOURCE FAIR: The Virginia Public Library will be holding a Play & Learn Child Safety Resource Fair on Friday,...

Tool provides health information for 1,000s of lakes

February 3, 2023

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has created a new online tool, called the Watershed Health Assessment Framework for Lakes (WHAF for Lakes), providing easy...

The U of M Voyageurs Wolf Project

February 3, 2023

VNP – New research shows how humans are a substantial source of mortality for wolves that live predominantly in national parks—and more importantly, that human-caused...

Health

Whether or not to have surgery when you’re older; flexitarian diet

By Dr. Roizen | February 3, 2023

Q: I'm 82 and could benefit from a hip replacement, but a lot of folks, including some of my doctors,...

The cause of children’s ingrown toenails is often genetics

By Katie Evans, DPM
Columnist | January 20, 2023

Children are prone to ingrown toenails just as adults are. A child as young as 3 years old can get...

How stress can affect your feet

By Katie Evans, DPM
Columnist | January 13, 2023

We underestimate what stress does to so many parts of our body. There is often both a physical and mental...

History

Looking back at Hometown Focus wedding editions

February 3, 2023

It’s all things wedding related this week! In past years the Hometown Focus has highlighted notable local weddings and the people that help make those...

The Barberg-Selvälä-Salmonson savusauna

By Molly Huber
MNopedia | January 27, 2023

"Sauna" is the word used to describe the Finnish practice of bathing through heat, sweat and steam, and the building in which this bathing takes...

This week in Hometown Focus history

January 20, 2023

Today we present our regular Health Edition, so let’s take a look at what HTF highlighted in previous years. Visit www.hometownfocus.us to read entire e-editions...

Obituaries (updated daily)

Connie Ann Stupca

January 31, 2023

Connie Ann Stupca, 57, died on Friday, January 27, 2023, at her home in Virginia, MN. She was born on February 6, 1965, to John...

Gerald Lawrence “Skip” Bol

January 31, 2023

Gerald Lawrence “Skip” Bol, 69, of Virginia, MN, died peacefully on Friday, January 27, 2023, in Essentia-St. Mary’s Medical Center surrounded by the love of...

Mollie Pauline Siskar

January 31, 2023

Mollie P. Siskar, 101, of Eveleth, MN, died on Friday, January 13, 2023, at Edgewood Vista Memory Care in Virginia, MN. Mollie was born on...

Business

North SLC Habitat for for Humanity elects new board members

February 3, 2023

VIRGINIA — The North St. Louis County Habitat for Humanity (NSLCHFH) Board of Directors elected at their January 12 meeting five new members: Steve Burgess,...

Gov. Walz signs bipartisan bill to provide $100 million in tax cuts and simplify tax filing

January 27, 2023

Governor Tim Walz today signed bipartisan legislation on January 12 providing $100 million in tax cuts to Minnesota individuals and businesses. The first bill to...

Vote now in “Name a Snowplow” contest

January 27, 2023

STATEWIDE – Voting is now open for the 2022- 23 “Name a Snowplow” contest, the Minnesota Department of Transportation announced on Wednesday. The top eight...

Health Features

I’m a Finlander 100 percent! I have Neanderthal DNA More than most!

By Cindy Kujala
HTF Interim Editor | January 20, 2023

It wasn’t exactly breaking news to have my DNA test results proclaim that my ancestry is 100 percent Finnish. That had been my understanding during...

Nobel Prize-worthy sequencing discoveries

January 20, 2023

The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet awarded the 2022 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine to Svante Pääbo for his discoveries concerning the genomes of...

Researchers explain how they use AI in genomic studies

By Sonja Soo, Ph.D. and Prabarna Ganguly, Ph.D. | January 20, 2023

As researchers continue to unravel the many mysteries of genomics, they require more and more sophisticated technologies to diagnose, monitor and treat genetic conditions. Artificial...

Mining Features

“Our mascot and our friend”

By Tucker Nelson
Editor | August 19, 2022

SILVER BAY — In a state with plentiful Paul Bunyans, Snoopy sculptures, and giant fish, a bulbous oddity near Lake Superior has been uniquely embraced...

“Minnesotans treasure their natural resources”

By Jill Pepelnjak
Staff Writer | August 19, 2022

Starting a new job can be a mix of challenging and exciting. According to two local women—who have recently started their new jobs in the...

Hunting for medallions and finding friends

By Janna Goerdt
Staff Writer | August 19, 2022

GILBERT — What delights lurk below the calm waters of Lake Ore-Be- Gone? For some, it’s a sunken helicopter. For others, it’s a school of...

Veterans

State veterans homes receive $80,000 donation from VFW post

February 3, 2023

The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) was honored to receive a donation of $80,000 from the Department of Minnesota Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)...

Free emergency care is now available for veterans in crisis

February 3, 2023

As of January 17, veterans in acute suicidal crisis are able to go to any VA or non-VA health care facility for emergency health care...

United for Veterans offers family winter retreat event in Ely

January 27, 2023

ELY — Local veterans, service members, and their families are invited to a winter veteran family retreat scheduled for Friday through Sunday, February 24 –...

Iron Range Engineering (sponsored)

The tallest bridge in Minnesota

June 28, 2021

https://youtu.be/OEgsTbWt67g Driving over the tallest bridge in Minnesota may take you by surprise (hint: it is in Virginia). My name...

Floating Bridge on the Mesabi Trail

June 25, 2021

https://youtu.be/OksgPW-zuS8 The Mesabi Trail is a bicycle trail nearing its completion as a continuous path from Grand Rapids to Ely....

Rock Ridge Public Schools (sponsored)

News from LAURENTIAN – Grades PREK-6

January 13, 2023

MEDIA CENTER NEWS Laurentian Elementary students have been greatly enjoying time spent dedicated to classwork and learning, catching up on...

News from PARKVIEW – Grades PREK-2

January 13, 2023

CAN’T CATCH ME! Mrs. Davidson-Teff’s and Mrs. Streier’s kindergarten classes celebrated the holidays with a 12-day countdown to break! Together,...

UMD Professor Profiles (sponsored)

MEET YOUR PROFESSOR

January 13, 2023

I have the best job as a Professor of Chemical Engineering. After graduating with a Ph.D. from the University of...

James Sellers: Mathematics

November 18, 2022

My name is James Sellers, and I was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, where I lived in my...

Essentia (sponsored)

Essentia remodels Virginia hospital’s birthing suites

September 9, 2022

VIRGINIA — Essentia Health-Virginia is making the baby-delivery experience more comfortable for mothers, partners, and families. The birthplace in the...

Essentia APRN joins general surgery team

July 29, 2022

VIRGINIA — Essentia Health-Virginia has welcomed advanced practice registered nurse and certified nurse practitioner Jennifer Jacobson to the general surgery...