NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Date: April 25, 2017
CONTACT:
Dana Kazel, Communications Manager
218-725-5049 (office) • 218-591-2219 (cell)
CSAH 101 renamed Representative Joe Begich Highway
County State Aid Highway 101, spanning from Highway 53 east of Eveleth to County Road 62 west of Mountain Iron is scheduled to be resurfaced this summer, and when it’s complete, new signs will be posted alongside it proclaiming it as Representative Joe Begich Highway. The St. Louis County Board on Tuesday voted unanimously to rename the road in honor of Begich who represented Iron Range residents for nearly 30 years, first as mayor of Eveleth from 1965 to 1974, and then as state representative from 1975 to 1992.
"Nobody deserves to have a lasting recognition like Joe Begich and the Begich family," said Commissioner Tom Rukavina. "They all contributed politically and have done so much for this region. Particularly Joe."
"Joe is fearless," said Commissioner Keith Nelson. "He has served with a passion and a compassion that really is the definition of what an elected official should be."
Begich thanked the County Board for the honor. "There's a lot of history about this. I lived by this road all my life, 87 years," he said. "It'll be nice to finish off my life by this new road."
Representative Joe Begich Highway is approximately eight miles long, and a portion of it - from CSAH 7 to U.S. Highway 53 - is scheduled for reclaim and overlay work this summer.
In addition to his work in elected office, Begich served four year in Korea with the United States Army Infantry. He was also a longtime employee of Erie Mining Co. where, even as part of the management team, he was known as an advocate for working people and for defending the unions' rights to collective bargaining. In addition to his own involvement in politics, Begich is the brother of former United States Congressman from Alaska, Nick Begich, and the uncle of former United States Senator from Alaska, Mark Begich.
The renaming of CSAH 101 is considered a dual name initiative, and will not affect addresses of any homes or businesses along the road.
 Former State Representative Joe Begich and his wife Carol were presented with a sample of the signs that will identify CSAH 101 as Representative Joe Begich Highway. They are surrounded, L-R, by County Attorney Mark Rubin, and Commissioners Patrick Boyle, Keith Nelson, Tom Rukavina, Mike Jugovich, Pete Stauber and Beth Olson.
 Carol and Joe Begich smile as Commissioner Tom Rukavina presented them a sign for Representative Joe Begich Highway.
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