GILBERT – It’s the best kept secret in town.

Range Tool Company, a little known manufacturer in the small Iron Range city of Gilbert, is growing. 

The five-year-old manufacturer of firearms components is expanding from its former 930-square-foot facility in owner Michael Peterson’s garage to the 14,000 square-foot former Gilbert Curling Club. 

“It’s been kind of the perfect storm,” said Peterson. “This building has sat empty for the last three years, and we have some other business opportunities, so here we go.”

Peterson, who grew up in Gilbert, worked as a machinist in the Twin Cities before returning to Gilbert and starting the business in 2010.

Range Tool Company manufactures firearms components such as lower receivers for original equipment manufacturers. Last year, the company manufactured nearly 5,000 parts. 

A new CNC vertical machining center will be added to the company’s array of high-tech equipment, allowing the company to expand its existing product line. 

With the expansion, Range Tool Company will expand into the manufacture of suppressors and bring work into the Gilbert facility which previously had been contracted out to other manufacturers.

Read the full article.

Pictured above: Michael Peterson, Range Tool Company owner, is expanding the firearms component manufacturer in Gilbert.

EVELETH – Since opening in 1998, the eight-sheet Curl Mesabi venue at Range Recreation Civic Center has become known as one of the best curling facilities in America.

In December, the 25,000 square-foot facility will gain an even larger profile. 

Curling Night in America, a made-for-TV international curling event, will be filmed Dec. 3-5 at Curl Mesabi.

Nine two-hour television programs filmed at the competition will air on national television in January and February. 

“It’s a huge deal for the area,” said Phill Drobnick of Eveleth, USA Curling national coach. “With it being on national TV and with us being the host community, we will get a lot of national exposure. Beyond curling, viewers will be able to see what else we have to offer up here such as skiing, snowmobiling, fishing, and the United States Hockey Hall of Fame.”

Curling Night in America, produced by World Curling TV, is in its second year. Last year, six segments of Curling Night in America were filmed in Blaine, Minnesota. The program had about two million viewers. 

“It’s a made-for-TV event produced in partnership with our organization and the World Curling Federation,” said Rick Patzke, USA Curling chief executive officer. “The program does a great job in promoting the sport and featuring the area where it’s filmed.”

Men’s and women’s teams from four competing nations, totaling 40 athletes, will participate.

Read the full article.

Pictured above: Phill Drobnick, USA Curling national coach, is looking forward to the Curl Mesabi curling club hosting Curling Night in America at Range Recreation Civic Center in Eveleth.

TOWER – A 127-year-old piece of Vermilion Range history soon will be rolling down Main Street to start a new life.

The former St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, a Victorian era structure built in 1888, is being moved from its longtime location in Tower to a prime piece of downtown real estate.

The historic church will then be renovated into the Lake Vermilion Cultural Center (LVCC). When complete, the cultural center will be a showcase for arts, music, history, and other quality of life activities. 

“It will be a cultural facility that will represent the heritage of northeastern Minnesota,” said Tom Sersha, president of the LVCC board. “Not only will it enhance the quality of life for people here, but for tourists who come here seasonally.”

On Oct. 13, house movers will lift the church off its rugged wooden beam foundation and transport the church down Main Street approximately six blocks to its new resting place. A new concrete foundation for the building is already in place across from the Tower Depot and the city’s Train Museum.

Along with development of the Tower Harbor, the cultural center will become a culture and tourism asset to the city, surrounding area, and an attraction for hundreds of thousands of tourists who visit the Lake Vermilion area and drive through Tower each year, say LVCC members.

Read the full article.

Pictured above: LVCC board members Tom Sersha, Louise Gately and Mary Batinich are anxious for the move of the former St. Mary's Church to a site in downtown Tower where the building will be renovated into the LVCC.

BIWABIK – The Giants Ridge season pass sale is underway now through Oct. 31 in Biwabik. Passes can be purchased online or by calling 218-865-8005. Alpine passes are $25 off during the month of October. Season passholders receive a variety of valuable discounts and perks.

View the season passholder perks.

On Oct. 30 and 31, the annual ski swap will be held in the Chalet. Those who bring in two non-perishable food items will receive a "2 for 1" snow tubing coupon. 

Learn more about the season pass sale and ski swap. 

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