Taconite (population 323) is located east of Grand Rapids on Highway 169. Hockey on the Range started in Taconite and since the 1950s, an amateur team, the Taconite Hornets have periodically been on the ice. The city built an outdoor ice rink dedicated to Vince Saleture and Beefy Lawson.
City Government:
City Hall: 218-245-1831) City Hall hours are from 3 to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The council meets the second Monday of the month at 4:30 p.m., during summer months and at 5:30 p.m. during winter months in City Hall.
Employer: Verndale Homes sales office (245-1492).
Recreation: Phillips-Johnson Memorial Park- ball field, ice skating, tennis: Mesabi Bike Trail connecting to Grand Rapids.
Utilities: Minnesota Power (1-800-228-4966), Qwest (administrative 1-800-879-4357, residential 1-244-1111, business 1-800-603-6000), city services for water, sewer, cable TV (245-1831).
WARBA
Warba (population 183) is located in southeastern Itasca County on Highway 2. It is a unique and historic city. The Warba Liquor Store is in the original Grand Rapids State Bank building, built in the early 1900s. Several lakes are in a three-mile radius of the town which is surrounded by farming, logging, and recreational terrain.
City Government:
City Hall: The council meets the second Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m., in the City Hall, located in the community center. Website: www.warba.net
Business: Six businesses, three retail
Employers: Warba Tire (492-4111), Warba Liquor Store (492-4499), Casper Leathers (492-1903), Shallow Lake Store (492-1481), Marrier Estates Mini-Storage and Manufactured Housing Community (492-4329).
Recreation: Warba-Felley Recreation Park-playground, hockey rink, baseball; American Legion recreation area- beach, fishing pier, campground on Sand Lake; Early Childhood Family Education every Thursday.
Festival and Events: Country music at community center all year long, conducted every other Saturday.
Utilities: Lake Country Power (326-6671), Citizens Communication (1-800-483-4224), city services for water and sewer.
ZEMPLE
Zemple (population 62) is an entirely residential community south of Deer River.
City Government: City Hall: City Hall hours are open during council meetings. The council meets the first Tuesday of the month at City Hall at 7 p.m.
Utilities: Paul Bunyan Telephone (246-8228), Aquila (1800-303-0752, 24-hour emergency 1-800-303-0357), Minnesota Power (245-2150), Lake County Power (326-6671), Deer River Cablevision (246-8770).
“The source of this information is the Grand Rapids Herald Review”