<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>r8k082504exhibit99a.txt
<DESCRIPTION>EX-99(A) NOTICE OF BLACKOUT PERIOD
<TEXT>
<PAGE>
                                                                   EXHIBIT 99(a)

[ALLETE LOGO]

DEBORAH A. AMBERG
VICE PRESIDENT,
GENERAL COUNSEL AND SECRETARY
218-723-3930
Fax: 218-723-3960
E-mail: damberg@allete.com


                                        August 25, 2004


TO:  Directors and Executive Officers of ALLETE


     RE:  Notice of Blackout Period to Directors and Executive Officers
          of ALLETE, Inc.


A blackout  period for the Minnesota Power and Affiliated  Companies  Retirement
Savings and Stock  Option Plan (the "Plan") is expected to begin at 3:00 p.m. on
September  10, 2004 and to end on September  23, 2004  following the spin-off of
ADESA,  Inc. (the  "Blackout  Period").  This Blackout  Period will  temporarily
prevent  participants in the Plan from engaging in transactions in ALLETE common
stock in their individual accounts.

This notice is to inform you that pursuant to Section 306 of the  Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002,  you will be unable to trade in ALLETE common stock or exercise any
stock  options   (cashless  or  otherwise)   during  the  Blackout  Period  when
participants in the Minnesota Power and Affiliated  Companies Retirement Savings
and Stock  Ownership  Account  (the  "Plan") are  prevented  from  directing  or
diversifying assets in their ALLETE stock accounts under the Plan.

The reason for the Plan's blackout is to create an ADESA stock fund, in addition
to the ALLETE stock fund,  following  completion of the spin-off of ADESA,  Inc.
The Plan transactions affected include directing or diversifying  investments in
ALLETE stock accounts.

Please be advised  that the current  policy  established  by the Board of ALLETE
restricting  market  transactions  in  ALLETE  common  stock  by  directors  and
executive  officers  of  both  ALLETE  and  ADESA  prior  to  the  spin-off  and
restricting  market  transactions  of ADESA  common stock by the  directors  and
executive  officers  of ADESA  after the  spin-off,  remain in effect.  ALLETE's
policy


            30 West Superior Street / Duluth, Minnesota 55802-2093 /
                         218-279-5000 / www.allete.com

<PAGE>

that limits trading in ALLETE common stock as set forth in ALLETE's Purchase and
Sale of Company Securities Policy, also remains in effect.

If you have any questions concerning this notice, please contact Randy Carter at
218/723-3904 or myself.

                                        Sincerely,

                                        /s/ Deborah A. Amberg

                                        Deborah A. Amberg


dml

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
