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Hermantown Sports Notebook

Beau Christy and Ford Skytta each scored twice to lead Hermantown to a 7-2 victory over Mahtomedi on Friday night at the St. Croix Valley Recreation Center. Hermantown scored three goals in both the second and third periods. Kole Lendzyk and Bode Madill each contributed a goal and an assist

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Justice North, Legal Services of Northwest Minnesota merging

"The merger between the northeast and northwest Minnesota legal aid organizations can only provide more resources and help impoverished Minnesotans with serious civil legal problems involving health care, housing, financial and domestic relations." -- Fred Friedman, Justice North board chair

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Howie: Monsters' QB Ja’Vonte Johnson poised to have another big season
Ja’Vonte Johnson is a two-time TAL champion with the Monsters. Howie / HowieHanson.com

Howie: Monsters' QB Ja’Vonte Johnson poised to have another big season

“Winning changes the city. When you see jerseys on kids, when people are stopping you at the grocery store, when you feel that excitement start to build every season — that’s when you understand why this matters.” -- Ja’Vonte Johnson

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Monsters hire special teams coordinator

The Minnesota Monsters have hired legendary veteran football executive and longtime coach Jaysen “Yogi” Howard-Smith as the team’s special teams coordinator. Howard-Smith arrives with a uniquely broad resume across the 50-yard game and the football industry, having served in roles ranging from player personnel manager and head coach to

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Obit: Judy Sandstrom

Obit: Judy Sandstrom

The HowieHanson.com publishes obituaries free of charge. For decades, obituary pages have served as a true community record, a place to honor lives, share stories and preserve local history. We are committed to keeping this tradition available to every family. Submit obituaries to: Duluth@aol.com.

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Monsters hire prized line coach

With Derrizett Croop coaching both offensive and defensive fronts, Minnesota also gains a unified voice — consistent technique standards, shared terminology and a system built around player development rather than roster churn.

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Obit: Peter Niss

Obit: Peter Niss

The HowieHanson.com publishes obituaries free of charge. For decades, obituary pages have served as a true community record, a place to honor lives, share stories and preserve local history. We are committed to keeping this tradition available to every family. Submit obituaries to: Duluth@aol.com.

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Obit: Dean Gagne

The HowieHanson.com publishes obituaries free of charge. For decades, obituary pages have served as a true community record, a place to honor lives, share stories and preserve local history. We are committed to keeping this tradition available to every family. Submit obituaries to: Duluth@aol.com.

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Monsters sign DL, release WR

The Minnesota Monsters AF1 team reshuffled its roster this week, signing a Division I defensive lineman and releasing a wide receiver. Minnesota signed Shaki Holines, a 6-foot-4, 260-pound defensive lineman from UMass, on Dec. 3. Holines played four seasons at UMass, working primarily along the defensive line and producing steadily

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Meet the Monsters: Javonte Haynes

Javonte Haynes, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound defensive back, returns to the Minnesota Monsters as one of the most productive defensive players from the former Harbor Monsters roster, bringing championship pedigree and a reputation as a ball hawk in the secondary. The former Indiana University of Pennsylvania standout earned co-MVP honors in

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Mountain Lion spotted in Duluth
Duluth Police Department. Submitted

Mountain Lion spotted in Duluth

"As with any wild animal, we want to remind the community that you should exercise caution in their presence and never approach them." -- Duluth Police Department

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Prep Hockey Notebook

Hermantown shook off a slow start and scored three unanswered goals in the third period to beat Rock Ridge 3-1 in boys high school hockey Tuesday night at Iron Trail Motors Event Center in Virginia. Senior forward Bode Madill pulled the Hawks even early in the final period, and juniors

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Howie: Arena football battles history and perception as new and old leagues try to chart a stable future
Ja’Vonte Johnson is the Minnesota Monsters' returning starting quarterback, who led the former Duluth Harbor Monsters to back-to-back league championships. Howie / HowieHanson.com

Howie: Arena football battles history and perception as new and old leagues try to chart a stable future

Note: This is the second column in six-part series on the state of arena football — from the sport’s bruised past to its uncertain future — with a sharp focus on AF1, the upstart league the Duluth-based Minnesota Monsters will join when they relaunch in Spring 2026.

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