By DANA KAZEL

St. Louis County's three newest Public Works facilities - in Culver and Kugler Townships, and near the Whiteface Reservoir - are now equipped with a 40-kilowatt solar array on each roof.

The solar panels were produced locally by Heliene in Mountain Iron, and made possible thanks to $336,000 in grants ($112,000 for each building) from the Minnesota Department of Commerce's Statewide Solar on Public Buildings Program.

Each solar array is capable of producing 55 megawatts of electric energy annually, which is expected to cover 73% of the facilities' electrical energy usage. This estimation takes into account average snowy and cloudy days at each location. 

Additionally, the non-fossil fuel energy generated equates to a reduction in approximately six metric tons of carbon emissions for each system annually, or 18 metric tons for all three. Over a typical life expectancy of 25 years, that is a reduction of 450 metric tons of carbon emissions.

"Everything about this project is a win," said County Board Chair Mike Jugovich. "We are using domestically produced solar panels installed by local trade labor. And they are generating renewable energy, and reducing utility costs, which will save money for our taxpayers for decades to come."

These three Public Works garages were completed in 2024, and the roofs were designed with the intent to add solar panels once funding was available.

Solar on Public Buildings is designed to provide incentives for installation of solar energy systems on Minnesota local government buildings. The program offers benefits to communities across Minnesota by reducing energy costs and electricity-based greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, the local economy benefits from investments made in expanding energy infrastructure, and from adding clean energy jobs, like solar installations.

With Minnesota currently importing 100% of its fossil fuels, solar power adds “homegrown” renewable sources of energy to the building and the state’s electrical grid.

To learn more about the Solar on Public Buildings Program, visit Solar on Public Buildings / Minnesota Department of Commerce - Energy.

By DANA KAZEL

St. Louis County's request for funding to stabilize the eroding shoreline of the privately-owned Scandia Cemetery, has cleared an important hurdle. The Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) today voted to include $1.44 million for the project on its list of recommendations for 2027 allocations. The list will next be presented to the Minnesota legislature for final approval during next year's session. 

Scandia Cemetery dates back to 1881 and is located overlooking the shore of Lake Superior in Duluth. Erosion from the Great Lake has uncovered human remains and left numerous other graves precariously close to the edge. The private association that owns the cemetery does not have the means to address the issue, so St. Louis County stepped up to address the concern in a permanent way.

County engineers estimate it will cost $2.3 million to construct a permanent concrete retaining wall, stabilize the Lake Superior shoreline, and construct an access road for future maintenance and operation needs. The county will continue working to identify other sources for remaining needed funds.

"While this is by no means a done deal, it's an important step toward correcting this serious situation," said Commissioner Patrick Boyle, whose district incudes the Scandia Cemetery. "Major credit goes to Representative Roger Skraba and Senator Jen McEwen who both sit on the LCCMR. They recognized the need to find a respectful solution for the people who have loved ones buried there, and rreally advocated on our behalf.

Funding for the project would come from the state's Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF)

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. — The Nashville Kats placed a league-high eight players on the 2026 Arena Football One All-Arena first team and 11 overall as the league announced its top two all-star units ahead of Saturday’s Arena Crown championship game.

Nashville claimed five of the nine first-team offensive positions and three of eight defensive spots. The Kats added three second-team selections, giving the league’s top-seeded championship finalist nearly one-third of the 34 available positions.

Expansion finalist Michigan finished second with nine total selections, including eight on the second team. Minnesota placed four players on the first team, while Albany had four selections across the two units.

Nashville quarterback Tyler Kulka headlined the first-team offense after leading AF1 with 2,835 passing yards and 2,817 yards of total offense. He finished second with 56 touchdown passes while guiding the Kats to an 11-1 regular-season record and the No. 1 playoff seed.

Kulka was joined by first-team receivers Malik Honeycutt of Nashville, Darien Townsend of Albany and Jovohn Tucker of Oceanside. Desmond Maxwell of Nashville was selected at fullback, while Nashville’s Derrick Ziegler, Minnesota’s Toree Boyd and Michigan’s Alex Westcott formed the offensive line. Nashville kicker Kyle Kaplan completed the unit.

Honeycutt led AF1 with 1,047 receiving yards and averaged a league-best 95.2 yards per game. He caught 19 touchdown passes and scored 114 points. Townsend led the league with 24 touchdown receptions and 144 points, establishing himself as the most productive scorer on an Albany offense that finished second only to Nashville in total points.

Maxwell led AF1 with 12 rushing touchdowns, providing an important power element within Nashville’s high-volume passing offense. Kaplan scored 131 points, the second-highest total in the league and a remarkable finish for a kicker.

The first-team defense included linemen Jaquan Artis and Roderick Perry of Nashville and Claude Davis of Minnesota. Minnesota’s Chei Hill was selected at MAC linebacker, with Albany tackling machine Drew Singleton chosen at JACK linebacker. Washington’s Byron Edwards, Minnesota’s Delvon Randall and Nashville’s Omari Alexander were the three defensive backs.

Singleton produced one of the season’s most overwhelming statistical performances, setting an AF1 record with 89 solo tackles — 24 more than any other player. His range and production made him the clear centerpiece of Albany’s defense.

Edwards led the league with nine interceptions, while Randall and Alexander finished tied for second with seven apiece. Randall also led Minnesota with 56 solo tackles. Hill recorded nine sacks for the Monsters, and Artis finished second in AF1 with 10.

Minnesota’s four selections reflected the strength of a team that reached the AF1 semifinals in its first season after moving from The Arena League. Boyd represented the Monsters’ offensive front, while Davis, Hill and Randall gave Minnesota three first-team defenders.

Michigan quarterback Malik Henry led the second-team offense after throwing an AF1-best 59 touchdown passes and finishing with 2,700 yards despite the Arsenal’s difficult start. He helped Michigan recover from a 1-4 record to reach the league semifinals.

Henry was joined on the second team by Michigan receivers Daniel Williams and Jairus Grissom and Beaumont receiver Zuri Davis. Ricky Weaver of Michigan was selected at fullback. Nashville’s Payton Muljo and Pika Leota joined Albany’s Colby Byrd on the offensive line, with Michigan’s Oscar Roden selected at kicker.

Williams caught 77 passes for 829 yards and 20 touchdowns during the regular season. Grissom had 64 receptions for 807 yards and 19 scores, giving Henry two of the league’s most productive targets.

That Michigan combination reinforced its selection with a spectacular semifinal performance against Nashville. Henry passed for 452 yards and 11 touchdowns in the Arsenal’s 92-76 loss, while Grissom caught 13 passes for 232 yards and six scores.

The second-team defensive line consisted of Beaumont’s JD Griggs, Michigan’s Chris Fitzgerald and Washington’s Michael Badejo. Michigan’s Michael White was selected at MAC linebacker and Washington’s Tywon Buckley at JACK. Michigan’s Berdale Robins, Albany’s Markus Smith and Nashville’s Derrick Jones were the defensive backs.

White finished the regular season with nine sacks, while Fitzgerald recorded seven. Robins intercepted five passes for a Michigan defense that became more disruptive during the Arsenal’s late-season surge. Jones ranked second in AF1 with 65 solo tackles.

Nashville led every team with 11 selections, followed by Michigan with nine. Minnesota and Albany had four each, Washington had three, Beaumont two and Oceanside one.

The results reinforced the identities of the league’s top contenders. Nashville’s selections were spread across every phase, Michigan’s late-season charge was reflected throughout the second team, Minnesota was rewarded for its defensive strength and Albany placed the league’s most productive receiver and tackler on the first team.

Individual awards, including most valuable player and offensive and defensive player honors, are scheduled to be announced Friday at the AF1 Awards Banquet in Clarksville.

The Kats, who improved to 12-1 by defeating Michigan in the semifinals, will host defending champion Albany in the Arena Crown at 3 p.m. CDT Saturday at F&M Bank Arena. The Firebirds are 10-3 after defeating Minnesota 69-56 in the other semifinal.

Thirty-six of Hermantown’s 42 points in its final girls basketball game last season were scored by three players who are not listed among coach Eric Borndal’s early building blocks for 2026-27.

The turnover leaves Hermantown with substantial production to replace after an 18-10 season that included a 6-5 conference record, the No. 2 seed in Section 7AAA and six consecutive victories before the semifinal loss.

“We lost a lot of big contributors from last year and it will take some time for us to replace the scoring that will be missed,” Borndal said.

Hermanson finished her career with more than 1,000 points, while Aurora Decker, Danika Bolf, Brooke Wiese, Avea Harriman, Alexis Chandler and Claire Niksich formed a senior class that gave Hermantown depth, physical maturity and lineup flexibility.

The next rotation will be built differently. Instead of organizing the offense around established scorers, the Hawks will turn to a seven-player senior group expected to divide possessions, defensive assignments and late-game responsibility.

“However, we have an excellent group of senior leaders returning including Bryden Giesen, Vienna Kolenda, Kenzie Zagelmeyer, Payton Holt, Sophie Schulz, Maddi Morgan, and Greta Kiel,” Borndal said. “Their leadership will be vital for our season to be a success as we learn to play together.”

Giesen has already shown she can provide offense, scoring 15 points in a 70-55 victory over Thief River Falls last January. Her performance that afternoon came as Hermantown worked through early foul trouble, and it offered a glimpse of the larger role she could assume.

The remaining seniors will also receive opportunities that were not consistently available within last season’s veteran lineup. Hermantown will not be young, but it will be inexperienced in several of the situations that decide varsity games — creating quality shots against pressure, managing difficult stretches and executing during the final possessions.

Borndal believes the Hawks’ collective understanding of the game can shorten that adjustment period.

“Add in junior Audra Schott to the mix and we have a very smart team that will be able to become very competitive by the end of the season,” he said.

That timeline is important. Hermantown does not need to identify its leading scorer in November. It needs to establish dependable ball handlers, develop multiple shooting threats and create an offense that does not become predictable when opponents increase their pressure.

A roster without an obvious replacement for Hermanson may ultimately be harder to defend if several players become credible options. That development will require patience, however, because increased playing time does not automatically produce comfort with increased responsibility.

The Hawks will also have a new voice on the bench.

“We are happy with the addition of Coach Drew Johnson to our staff as well,” Borndal said.

Johnson joins a program that has advanced to the Section 7AAA semifinals in consecutive seasons under Borndal. Hermantown’s next step is reaching the championship game, something it came within four points of doing last winter.

Rock Ridge eventually won the section title with a 77-41 victory over Cloquet. The Wolverines, Lumberjacks, Hawks and the remainder of the bracket will enter the new season without an overwhelming favorite, creating an opportunity for the team that improves most between the opening weeks and the postseason.

“Our summer went very well with great numbers 9-12 and with a section which is wide open, it will be an exciting season for sure,” Borndal said.

The strong turnout gives Hermantown options. Varsity jobs can be contested rather than assigned, and younger players can develop without being forced into prominent roles before they are ready. Competition within the program could become particularly valuable as the staff searches for combinations that can score without sacrificing defense and rebounding.

Lake Superior Conference play will provide an immediate measure of that progress. Proctor and Duluth Marshall finished ahead of Hermantown last season, while Cloquet demonstrated its postseason danger by recovering from a difficult start and eliminating the Hawks. 

Several Hawks basketball players are still preparing for fall sports, and Borndal wants the confidence and competitive maturity gained during those seasons to follow them into the gym.

“For now, we wish all the girls the best of luck in their fall activities and hope that they can have success and growth that can carry into the basketball season,” he said.

Hermantown’s final record will depend less on finding one player capable of replacing everything that left and more on whether its senior class can make the game easier for one another. The Hawks have experience, numbers and a realistic opportunity in Section 7AAA.

What they do not yet have is a settled identity. Building one will be the season’s central assignment.