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SATURDAY - SEPTEMBER 4, 2010
CROOKSTON UNITED WAY NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR OPPORTUNITY GRANTS
The United Way of Crookston is pleased to announce that it is accepting
applications for Opportunity Grants, an initiative that was established to
respond to high priority, new, and emerging community needs, small emergencies,
and special situations.
Grants will be awarded to qualifying 501(c)(3) agency or program that will have
measurable results that improve lives and make lasting change.
The grant application deadline is September 17, 2010 at 4:00 p.m.
For more information, contact the United Way of Crookston office at
218-281-4547 or to obtain an application for funding visit us at 107 West 2nd
Street between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
NOAH FAGERLUND PERFORMING WITH OTHER 4-H YOUTH AT THE STATE FAIR
Noah Fagerlund, who will be a Senior at Crookston High School this fall, is performing all week at the Minnesota State Fair in the 4-H State Arts In program.
4-H youth prepare a musical play to perform during the State Fair. Youth gain experiences in performing arts, including singing, dancing, acting, instrumental accompaniment, costume design, set construction and technical work. Each year the 4-H State Arts In youth perform at least 40 shows with over 12,000 fairgoers taking in the performances in the 4-H building on the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. Participants continue to work on goals while putting on several daily performances, and play leadership roles for 4-H members and act as representatives for the 4-H building visitors.
Fagerlund is in the black hat and white shirt on the bottom
FRIDAY - SEPTEMBER 3, 2010
CROOKSTON SCHOOL DISTRICT TO RECEIVE AROUND $250,000 FROM JOBS BILL
PASSED BY CONGRESS
Federal aid of $167 million will be dispersed to Minnesota Schools to
help save jobs with the aid being awarded on the enrollment and number of
students with special needs in the district. "My understanding is that we should
get around a quarter of a million (dollars). We do not know exactly (how much)
and we do not know if the state has access to some of the money,” said Crookston
Schools Superintendent Wayne Gilman. “It is a one time money only, so when it is
gone the programs will go away.”
The Crookston School District will look at what they can add, look at things
that will improve test scores and achievement in reading, math and science.
"They say the money can be used in a two year period, but you never know as they
have said it needs to be spent right now,” said Gilman. “They switch the rules,
but when I get it I will spend it and now it is a little late as school starts,
but I will not spend or commit to anything until the money is in the bank."
The district should receive between $180 to $240 per student. The funds are
coming from a jobs bill approved by Congress in August.
UMC HONORS HISTORY WITH THE DEDICATION OF THE CENTENNIAL PARK FLAG PROJECT
Honoring the history of the University of Minnesota, Crookston, will be a
part of the dedication of the Centennial Park flag project on the Campus
Mall. The ceremony, hosted by the Office of Development & Alumni Relations, will
be held on Friday, September 10, 2010, at 10 a.m. The public is welcome to
attend.
The three flags that are a part of the project were raised initially in late
June in time for the Northwest School of Agriculture (NWSA) alumni reunion. The
entire project was a gift of Alumnus Harris Peterson, a 1942 graduate of the
NWSA. Peterson was also responsible for the construction of a gazebo in 2000,
also a part of Centennial Park on the Crookston campus.
The project includes the United States flag, measuring 10' by 19', flanked by
the Minnesota state flag, and a maroon and gold flag bearing the logo of the U
of M, Crookston, each measuring 8' by 12'. The flag poles measure 70 feet and 50
feet, respectively. The drawing and design were the work of Widseth Smith
Nolting and Community Contractors served as the general contractor on the
project.
In the summer of 1932, a new seventy-five foot steel flag pole, a tribute from
the class of 1929, was presented to the school during the NWSA alumni reunion in
June. The new pole replaced the wooden pole that crashed to the ground in a
heavy windstorm late in the fall of 1928.
The NWSA opened its doors in 1906 and graduated its first class of 8 students in
1909. The campus educated students for 60 years, and during its last two years
of operation, the campus transitioned to a two-year technical college, known as
the University of Minnesota Crookston Technical Institute. In 1993, the campus
transitioned again to offer baccalaureate degrees and became the first-ever
laptop university in the nation.
THURSDAY - SEPTEMBER 2, 2010
FARM MEETING BRINGS KLOBUCHAR AND PETERSON TO CROOKSTON
A good crowd of farmers and people interested in agriculture turned out
for a farm meeting hosted by Senator Amy Klobuchar and Congressman Collin
Peterson at Youngquist Auditorium at UMC. "It bothers me when the right
and left start making up things in all areas, and I hope after the election, we
can get people together to work on the deficit, food safety, and energy,"
said Klobuchar when she was asked about the
frustration in the country. " We
can't just keep pointing fingers and 
getting
nothing done. There is a lot of anger and frustration. The small business bill
is good and hopefully we can get that passed. We need to respond to several
programs." Senator Klobuchar is working on export markets which would affect
Minnesota crops. "I realized that dairy, pork, beef and all the
producers concern is export markets," said Klobuchar. "We need to get markets open like
Russia, Japan, and Cuba so then prices will go up, and I am on the commerce
sub-committee on exports so I am going to push those issues."
Congressman Collin Peterson was asked about the flood diversion project
planned for Fargo Moorhead and how it would affect upstream towns in Minnesota.
"There is money in the house Energy and Water bill for
Crookston to continue their flood project. Fargo has implemented a sales
tax and Minnesota has $63 million according to Senator Keith Langseth, so the
states have money. But, we are a long way from doing a diversion. The Minnesota
side is five feet higher than North Dakota, so, Minnesota does not need a diversion
so we could build dikes like in Grand Forks," said Peterson. "The problem is on the Fargo side
which needs to protect the south side of Fargo where they are growing. 94
percent of the diversion would go to Fargo, but, we are a long way from getting
this plan in place."
The Corp of Engineers cannot do a project without a
plan that includes the upstream towns. He used the city of Warren as an example
and said tiling in the valley could double production.
ANNIE FITZGERALD TO GO ON TOUR TO PROMOTE HER FIRST ALBUM
Former Crookston resident, Annie Fitzgerald, is starting her first album
musical tour. Fitzgerald, a graduate of Crookston High School, has produced her
first album and will
start her "In Good Time" tour on September 9th at
Rockwood Music Hall in New York City. On September 17th she'll perform at the
Ritz Theater in Minneapolis, Minnesota. September 28th at 12th and Porter in
Nashville, Tennessee. In October she'll be at Java Cabana in Memphis, Tennessee
on the 1st, at Poor David's Pub in Dallas, Texas on the 6 and at The Belmont in
Austin, Texas on the 9th.
Annie has shaped her own brand of Americana music on "In Good
Time." Fitzgerald states, "Like many people, I've gone through some
life changing events over the years. Some joyous and some that tested my
confidence and belief in myself and what I was doing. In the long run, it all
helped me focus on what's really important to me as a musician and as a human
being. I 'd been putting pressure on myself to put this record out for years but
until now something was never quite right. With "In Good Time" I
finally felt I knew what I wanted to say and how I wanted to say it." Annie
has lived in New York City for years, but her Northern Minnesota roots are never
far from the surface. Fans of Sarah McLachlan will appreciate songs about the
quieter moments like "Brother" and "Hero," while the Ray
Lamontagne/Patty Griffin crowd can zero in on the vibe of "Another Sad Love
Song" and "Little Girl." "In Good Time" was produced,
engineered and mixed by Matt Patrick, at the Library Studios in Minneapolis,
Minnesota.
To order tickets for her show at the Ritz Theater in Minneapolis, go to
Annie's website at www.anniefitzgerald.com
PIPELINE THAT BRINGS WATER TO CROOKSTON BEING REROUTED ALONG HIGHWAY 2
Along
the route of the Highway 2 renovation project on the east side of Crookston
drivers see piles of large blue pipes. "Our
contractor, Spruce Valley, is doing the job, they had to pull up last week while
the state was doing some ditch grading and had asked them to wait a bit,” said
Pat Kelly, Crookston Public Works Director.
“This week they started laying pipe about 1,000 to 1,500 feet a day.
They completed the work under Highway 9 so that is in place.” Spruce
Valley started the work on the east end of the renovation project and are
working west. Towards the end of
next week the majority of the pipe will be in the ground.
KROX INTERVIEWS MORE NEW CROOKSTON SCHOOL DISTRICT STAFF
Crookston High School will have a new Spanish teacher this fall, Christie Canfield from St. Paul. "I got interested in Spanish when I met a family who spoke Spanish and wanted to communicate with them and travel," said Canfield. "This is my first year of teaching, I come from St. Paul and my parents live in Forest Lake where he an environmental and civil engineer and Mom works for a life care center doing parenting classes and I have a sister also."
Crookston
High School will have a new science teacher Allison Warren from Toronto.
"I am a duel citizen as my mom is from America and I went to UMC where I
played soccer and got a science degree,"
said Warren. "Then
I
got a teaching degree from Moorhead
State University so this is my first year of teaching.
My Dad has retired from teaching and
my Mom is a medical secretary."
Christie
Canfield
Allison
Warren
Betsy Palmiscino
CROOKSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY TO HOST THE 8TH STREET STRING QUARTET AT UMC'S KIEHL AUDITORIUM
The Crookston Public Library
along with other Lake Agassiz Regional Libraries will be hosting the 8th
Street String Quartet for free concerts September 9-11.
The 8th Street String Quartet is
the “all-star” ensemble of the principal string chairs of the Fargo-Moorhead
Symphony Orchestra: Concertmaster Benjamin Sung and Assistant Concertmaster Jane
Linde Capistran, violin; Tim Nelson, Principal Viola, and Elise Buffat Nelson,
Principal Cello. The quartet, formed in 2008, performs a wide variety of
repertoire that ranges from masterpieces of the Classical and Romantic periods
to cutting-edge contemporary works.
Ben Sung, who received his
doctoral degree from Indiana University, is a faculty member at Minnesota State
University Moorhead and North Dakota State University, and also serves as
Artistic Director of the Cheryl Nelson Lossett Performing Arts Series at MSUM.
Jane Linde Capistran is and
Assistant Professor at Concordia College, serving as conductor of the Concordia
College Symphonia, instructor of violin and viola studio lessons and also a
superviser of the string music education majors. Jane also is Music Director of
the Fargo-Moorhead Area Senior High Youth Symphony.
Tim Nelson is Director of
Orchestras a Fargo South High School, is also Adjunct Professor of Viola at
Minnesota State University Moorhead. Tim earned his Master of Music degree in
Viola from The Juilliard School. He has performed in orchestras throughout
Arkansas, Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Elise Buffat Nelson is Adjunct
Professor of Music at Minnesota State University Moorhead, and also has
developed an extensive private cello studio. She has performed in orchestras
throughout the Midwest, and also performs with the Fargo-Moorhead Opera
orchestra.
Programming is sponsored by Lake Agassiz Regional Library and supported in part
or in whole with money from the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage fund.
Thursday,
September 9 at 7 p.m.
Historic Holmes Theatre in Detroit Lakes
Friday, September 10 at 7 p.m.
Fosston Library Theatre
Saturday, September 11 at 3:30 p.m.
Prairie Church in the Historic Prairie Village in Ada
Saturday, September 11 at 7 p.m.
Kiehle Auditorium at the U of M, Crookston
WEDNESDAY - SEPTEMBER 1, 2010
CROOKSTON FINANCE COMMITTEE OKAYS A RAISE IN PROPERTY TAX BY THREE PERCENT
The Finance committee for the
city of Crookston met this morning and discussed the levy for 2011 in order to
make a recommendation to the city council. "The
finance committee had a good conversation about our 2011 budget and they did
recommend council approval of the preliminary budget,” said City Administrator
Aaron Parrish. “It can be adjusted
as we go forward to December and as part of the overall budget they adopted the
proposed and preliminary levy for 2011 which will go on the tax statements.”
The finance committee recommended a three percent levy after
conversations of two or three percent. Due
to the uncertainty of the state the council erred on the side of caution and
wanted some flexibility going into December, so they set it at three percent
which generates about $48,000. “Every
one percent increase generates just over $15,000,” said Parrish. “In the
context of the overall budget of $10 million it is not terribly significant but
every bit helps."
A three percent increase on a $78,000 house would be $11.98 for the levy.
All recommendations will be at the council meeting on September 13.
KROX CONTINUES INTERVIEWS WITH NEW CROOKSTON SCHOOL STAFF
Elizabeth Elton will be a first grade teacher at
Washington School and has been ready to start since July. "I'm anxious to get
started and I was ready on the 4th of July. I am originally from St. Cloud and
went to Concordia College,” said Elton. “This is my first year of teaching as I
was a substitute teacher last year. My mom is a second grade teacher, my dad was
a wrestling coach for 25 years at St. John's university and my brother is going
back to be a teacher so we all love the profession." Elton is a native of St.
Cloud.
Another new teacher in the Crookston system is Andrea Horken who will be a third
grade teacher at Highland. Horken is starting her tenth year of teaching. "My
first job was in McGregor, Minnesota and then in Bagley for three years,” said
Horken. “Now I am here and my family is in East Grand Forks where I have nieces
and nephews." Horken graduated from Bemidji State University.
An English Language Learner Teacher will work at Highland, Washington and
the high school in Crookston when classes start on September 9.
Greta Krier is starting her first year of teaching. "I am excited about the
position. I graduated from Hawley High school, went to Concordia College and got
a degree in public relations and did an internship at a school and loved it, so
went back to the University of Minnesota Twin cities for a master's degree in
English as second language," said Krier. "My dad works on oil rigs in Alaska, my
Mom is a teacher in Hawley. My step-dad is a pastor and I have a brother who is
going to be a golf pro and a little brother in eighth grade and sister in sixth
grade.”
Laura Craft has taken the job as a fourth grade teacher at Highland. "This is my
second year of teaching, last year I taught in the kindergarten residence
program in Grand Forks,” said Craft. “I'm a native of Annadale and went to UND
and got a masters degree." Craft’s parents live in Annadale and her brother is
going to school in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Elizabeth Elton
Andrea Horken
Greta Krier
Laura Craft
UMC STAFF AND STUDENTS RESEARCH THE GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER
Minnesota is home to 40% of the Golden-winged Warbler population, yet very
little is known about this small forest songbird. Research by a professor at the
University of
Minnesota will help answer questions about the species currently under
consideration for placement on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services’ Threatened
Species list.
In February 2010, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service received a petition to
list the species as threatened under the Endangered 
Species
Act. In the past, only a few studies have been conducted noting the presence
and/or absence of the birds making this research of particular significance.
Loegering is intent on gathering information to answer the basic research
questions: where do the birds occur, how productive are they, how many survive
the migration to and from Columbia each winter, and what vegetative
characteristics are associated with the most productive habitat. He is currently
on a team to develop a conservation strategy and management prescriptions for
the species throughout its range.
Work started early for the students beginning 30 minutes before sunrise often in the midst of intolerable attacks by insects and constant threat of Lyme Disease, a tick borne illness, but the students relished their work. Involved in the project were two recent graduates, Ben Haarstad, Pelican Rapids; and Claire Hanson, King, Wisconsin; along with Senior Mike Johnson, Centerville; and Freshman Josh Bruggman, Cologne. All are natural resources majors on the Crookston campus. Loegering is jointly appointed to both the U of M, Crookston campus where his focus is on undergraduate education and the U of M, Twin Cities campus where he is focused on outreach and research as a wildlife specialist for the U of M Extension Service.
DOG DAYS OF SUMMER DWI CRACKDOWN BARES TEETH AT DRUNK DRIVERS
East Grand Forks and Crookston Police Officers along with Polk County Deputies will be cracking down on impaired drivers as part of a statewide DWI enforcement effort, August 20th–Sept. 6th. The three weekends this enforcement period covers were among the top 11 deadliest weekends of the year for drunk driving deaths over the last three years, 2007–2009.
The effort is coordinated by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) Office of Traffic Safety. Around 400 Minnesota law enforcement agencies will participate in the effort aimed toward taking impaired drivers off the road and encouraging motorists to make safe decisions. Last year, alcohol-related crashes factored in 141 deaths of 421 total road fatalities.Officers and Deputies will combine DWI patrols with seat belt enforcement as each year 75 percent of drinking drivers killed are also not belted. Minnesota’s primary seat belt law requires drivers and passengers in all seating positions —including the back seat — to be buckled up or in the correct child restraint. Law enforcement will stop and ticket drivers and passengers solely for seat belt violations. “If you don’t want to get arrested for DWI, if you don’t want to kill or injure yourself or others, if you don’t want your life turned upside down — get in the habit of planning for a safe and sober ride,” says Mike Swang. “It’s that simple, the fight against drunk driving has gone on long enough. There’s no excuse for driving impaired.” DPS reports enhanced DWI enforcement campaigns factored in the state tallying a record-low number of alcohol-related deaths in 2009. Last year, 141 motorists were killed in alcohol-related crashes — 2 in Polk County . Despite the drop in deaths, DPS reports alcohol-related crashes still accounted for more than one-third of all road deaths — matching historical trends. During 2007–2009, there were 1,386 traffic deaths statewide of which 494 motorists alcohol-related. During that same time period 107,376 motorists were arrested for DWI — 32,759 last year. In Polk County during 2007–2009, there were 18 traffic deaths of which 5 were alcohol-related. Another 818 motorists were arrested for DWI — one in seven Minnesota drivers has a DWI on record. The local economic impact of alcohol-related fatalities was $6,150,00.
Minnesota law states that motorists can be arrested for impaired driving even if their alcohol-concentration level is under 0.08 — the state’s legal limit — if they demonstrate impaired driving behavior. The consequences of a DWI can vary depending on many factors including alcohol-concentration, previous offenses and if there was an injury related to a crash. A first-time DWI offense will trigger an automatic driver’s license revocation for up to a year. The cost of a DWI can reach $20,000 when factoring legal, court and other administrative fees. Those arrested for DWI now have an option to regain their driving privileges sooner by having an interlock device installed in their vehicle. Potential participants of the Minnesota Ignition Interlock Program can learn more at www.minnesotaignitioninterlock.org. Interlock devices are installed in vehicles and require a driver to provide a breath sample in order for the vehicle to start. Safety officials say interlocks ensure DWI offenders are driving legally and safely. Interlocks will be required by law beginning in July 1, 2011, for certain DWI offenders.
Mike Swang reminds Polk County motorists, especially young adults, to plan ahead for a safe ride home before celebrating. Young people continue to be the primary violators when it comes to impaired driving offenses. Statewide from 2007–2009, nearly 32,000 motorists 24 years of age and younger were arrested for DWI. In Polk County 276 motorists arrested for DWI were age 24 and younger — including 96 under the legal drinking age. The enforcement and education effort is funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and is a component of the state’s Toward Zero Deaths(TZD) traffic safety program. TZD is the state’s core traffic safety program that uses a multidisciplinary approach to address traffic issues regionally through enforcement, education, engineering and emergency trauma care. The goal of the TZD is fewer than 400 road deaths by 2010.
TUESDAY - AUGUST 31, 2010
PRAIRIE SKYLINE FOUNDATION CONTINUES THE FIGHT TO SAVE THE FORMER WAYNE HOTEL
Dear Mayor Genereux and City Administrator, Aaron Parrish:
The analysis of the
architect's estimate within your response of August 26, 2010 was incorrect.
Abatement of hazardous materials was clearly included, and related work, such as
disposal, are assumed and included within the estimate. We realize there are
structural issues to be addressed, and an allowance was made for this.
Ultimately, further investigation will be required to refine an
estimate. However, based on the information currently available, we feel this
is a very reasonable statement of the potential costs to stabilize the building.
As far as implementing the stabilization, we suggest leaving that up
to experienced contractors. Our question is why hasn’t the City Council and
staff investigated thoroughly the costs on such an important anchor building as
the Palace Hotel?
In addition to the above, the County Board just turned down an opportunity for a
free engineer’s assessment as to the structural integrity of the Hotel Wayne.
The City could encourage the County to accept this offer from the National Trust
for Historic Preservation for the safety of the citizens.
For many of us fifteen and twenty-five years ago are like yesterday. Those
“old” twenty year old block grants were only to improve the image of the
downtown, a first step toward revitalization and according to the economic
development literature, a necessary step. If people hoped that beautification
alone would make a difference in the downtown economy, then they were misled.
Why the City proceeded to buy the former Crookston National Bank building,
demolish the American Legion building and the one next to it and relocate
businesses before having all the funding in place for the Wayne project is an
old mystery. Another mystery is why did the City give up the entire funding
package when only one funder didn’t come through? Why didn’t the City stay on
track and complete their task? We need to be more careful before tearing down
buildings today and work on maintaining our unique downtown historic buildings
for tomorrow.
Since those past efforts, it appears that nothing else has been done downtown. No new events have developed. No effort toward creating investment incentives over the years despite many phone calls to staff. There has been no grant writing, and no task force to improve the situation. We know there have some efforts at planning over the years. How will we grow downtown if we don’t do something right in the center of downtown?
Your letter states: “This next generation of uses cannot solely rely on non-income producing uses such as art centers, pavilions, government offices, and visitor centers.” You are right. Please don’t imply that the ideas presented are the sole savior to downtown Crookston. No one person or one idea will save downtown and that is why our first letter we suggested to go ahead and combine these ideas in any way that works for you. The literature says that the “next generation” of ideas will come from the creative class and the spin-off businesses created by them. The ideas we presented have been successfully accomplished in other communities. If the City does not do something now, Thief River Falls will grab onto the arts haven idea and beat Crookston to it. Even McIntosh is planning an arts center. So at the very least, include creative people like those that showed up at the Artspace visit in your “committee.”
The proposed “Artspace Market Survey” will show the correct number of housing units to build. It may show that a partnership between Artspace and Metro Plains could be advantageous.
There are too many quiet voices in the community who have shared their opinions with our Board but are too afraid to speak out. We do our best to represent them. I have expertise in marketing, housing, and economic development and I look forward to sharing these skills with the community now and in the future.
Yours truly,
Kay Hegge, Board Chair
Praire Skyline Foundation
NEW STAFF SETTLING IN THROUGHOUT THE CROOKSTON SCHOOL DISTRICT
Crookston Teachers and staff are busy with workshops this week and preparing
their rooms and offices for the school year. KROX has interviewed the
new teachers and staff and will introduce the new staff online over the next
week.
Marilyn Wahouske (pictured right) was recently hired as the office coordinator
at the district office. "Today is my first day without Linda, but it
is going good so far. I started as a substitute in 2005 off and on in all
the buildings," said Wahouske. "I have four children, husband
Bill works at Crookston Valley Coop, Lauren goes to school in Duluth at UMD,
Cole is sophomore at the U of Minnesota, Kaitlyn is a junior at Crookston
High and Kendall is in 6th grade. I have been involved in school for a
long time and am excited to be working here." Wahouske filled the
position held by Linda Dargus who retired this week.
Luke Dorman (pictured left) is a student teacher for Wayne Folkers, a high school math teacher. "I will graduate from Bemidji State University after student teaching,” said Dorman. “I grew up in Clearbrook, and have my secondary math license and the student teaching experience is a milestone in a teaching career."
Dorman plans to look for a job and will do some substitute teaching after graduation. Dorman is the youngest child of four and his Dad grew up in New York and his Mom grew up in Minneapolis and met at the Grand Canyon and ended up in Clearbrook.
REFURBISHING OF THE LOWER LEVEL OF THE HOPE CENTER PART OF THE P. E. O IT
FORWARD PROJECT
Members of Chapter AX of the P.E.O. Sisterhood recently completed one of their
"P.E.O. It Forward" projects. Deb Sylvester, Ann Graham, Vicki
Svedarsky, Mary Ann Odland, and Ruth Reese have been working to refurbish the
lower level of the Hope Center, a part of the Care and Share Center. Funds
raised were used to purchase furniture, shades, rugs, and toys to provide a
comfortable and functional family room for the residents.
Thanks to Dale Stainbrook for donating his time and expertise to paint the
family room, and to Crookston Paint and Glass for donating the paint. Thanks
also to John Pietron for all his help in hanging shades and pictures and for
moving furniture.
Chapter AX members Ann Graham, Deb Sylvester, and Ruth Reese,
along with Carol Gregg, Director of the Care and Share Center in Crookston.
UMC TO HOST AN ENERGY SAVING DISCUSSION SEPTEMBER 1 AND 2
It’s serious, it’s funny, it’s about making a difference, and it’s all happening at the University of Minnesota, Crookston this week. The campus will take both a serious as well as a lighthearted look at saving energy with Bill LeBlanc, president of the Boulder Energy Group. The events are free and public is welcome to attend.
The usual What’s on Wednesday (W.O.W.) event takes on the topic of energy saving with “Watt’s on Wednesday” on Wednesday, September 1, 2010. LeBlanc will blend his comedy insights with his career in energy efficiency and technology in a program at 7 p.m. in Kiehle Auditorium. The event is co-sponsored by UMC student activities, the Center for Sustainability, and Otter Tail Power Company.
UMC TO HOST TWO CONNECTING CHILDREN AND NATURE CONFERENCES
Interactions with nature when we are children make a difference in our health
and well-being. Simple steps can help reconnect young children with nature, and
create a mass movement encouraging these interactions to improve health and
wellness in every child.
The upcoming Connecting Children and Nature Conference, scheduled for September
29, 2010, at the University of Minnesota, Crookston will engage K-12 educators,
parents, and public health workers, along with community leaders and resource
managers, in an effort to reconnect children with the natural world.
Keynote speaker Cheryl Charles, Ph.D., will present The Ecology of Hope:
Building a Movement to Reconnect Children and Nature. Cheryl Charles is
President and Co-founder, with Richard Louv and others, of the Children and
Nature Network (
During the noon lunch, participants will share stories of their childhood memories of interacting with nature. During the day breakout sessions will include such topics as nature engaged families; using technology to connect students and nature; environmental education resources; organizing a community bike/walk audit; fundraising for community projects; and a look at the health benefits when children and nature connect.
The conference is funded by a grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and is sponsored by US Fish & Wildlife Services, Rydell Wildlife Refuge, Regional Sustainable Development Partnership, Extension Environmental Science Education, University of Minnesota, Crookston, NW Statewide Health Improvement Program Cluster, Northwest Regional Development Commission, and U of M Regional Extension – Crookston.
MONDAY - AUGUST 30, 2010
FIRE DEPARTMENT CALLED TO CROOKSTON AMERICAN CRYSTAL SUGAR
20
Crookston firemen responded with six
units at 4:56 this morning
(Monday) to an alarm at American
Crystal Sugar in Crookston.
"We were called to Highway 75
South, American Crystal for a boiler house fire,"
said Crookston firefighter Kent
Ellingson, "We
got together with maintenance and had the fire knocked down within 36
minutes."
A dust collector system was being
installed in the area, "The system was not on line yet but in place and
that was one of the issues we had, we are still investigating the damage, the
fire was contained to the unit.
American Crystal Sugar continues to operate the plant and is processing sugar
beets.
WSN SURVEYING THROUGHOUT CROOKSTON FOR A MNDOT PEDESTRIAN CURB RAMP PROJECT
Crookston
residents have noticed Warren Perala of Widseth Smith Nolting (WSN)
out surveying corners of the streets
in downtown Crookston. KROX
Radio asked WSN Engineer David Kildahl why the work was being done. "Next
summer the Minnesota Department of Transportation intends to replace or rebuild
all the pedestrian curb ramps at all the intersections where Highway 2 comes
through town,” said Kildahl. “That
would be Main and Broadway all the way out to Birch Street on Highway 2 coming
in from the west, down to the corner of Ash and Robert at the American Legion
corner." WSN got hired to do
the survey and design work by MnDot. The
purpose is to bring all the pedestrian accessible handicap ramps in compliance
with their standards. The main goal
is to eliminate the diagonal ramps that go out into the intersection, and the
goal is to get the ramps in line with the direction of travel on the sidewalks.
The surveying will be done this fall and the work will be done next
summer after bids are let and accepted.
CROOKSTON MAN RUNS FOR OFFICE OF MAYOR
Crookston has a man running for mayor who has relocated to town after spending 18 years in California. Espo was born in Texas but raised in Crookston. "I have run for city council three times in California and I love the field of politics. Here, it is almost the same so I am lucky to be a candidate. I just got here after 18 years so I am getting familiarized and it is a great town," Espo said. "I think Mayor Genereux is one of the greatest mayors Crookston has had. I moved here when I was seven with my family and I had to learn to speak English after learning Spanish when I lived in Texas. After high school in Crookston I went to college for one year and now I see how the town has gone forward, so, I love Crookston, so, I wanted to run for office." Espo will oppose incumbent Mayor Dave Genereux.
HIGHWAY 220 DETOUR LIFTED, LANE CLOSURES BEGIN IN OSLO
Highway 220 north of East Grand Forks to Highway 1 at Alvarado will be reopened to traffic with the detour lifted beginning late today. Motorists are asked to be extremely careful of workers and equipment in the work zone, obey flagger instructions and watch for a pilot car to guide them through the area. The 18-mile project consists of culvert replacements, lighting, bituminous milling, resurfacing and additional turn lanes, improving the condition and safety of the highway. Mn/DOT would like to thank the public for their patience and cooperation in all construction zones and reminds drivers to slow down, plan ahead and anticipate that changes can occur due to weather and other factors.
Beginning Monday, Aug. 30 motorists will encounter lane closures and short delays on Highway 1 from Oslo to two miles east of Oslo as crews work to repair damage caused by flooding. Stabilization materials will be installed in the slopes along Highway 1 in an effort to provide better protection during flooding. Although the work is done off the highway, lane closures will be required to provide adequate space for workers and equipment. The project is expected to be complete by September 30.
A reminder, MnDOT will begin paving U.S. Highway 2 and State Highway 9 East of Crookston beginning today. Scroll to Friday's news for more information.
For more information on road conditions and construction statewide, click on www.511mn.org or call 5-1-1.
THE COUNTY LINE
By Polk Warren Strandell
Polk County Commissioner, Dist. 2
It finally arrived last week… the state set levy-limit number that Polk
County needed before the first real work on the budget for 2011 could be done.
This is the number that supposedly limits the amount of increase that can occur
in a county’s operating budget from one year to the next.
This number for Polk County for 2011 is 1.6784 percent, which is just
slightly more than the 1.32 percent limit that was decreed for the county a year
ago.
While the state set levy limits give the impression that counties need the big
state watchdog to oversee and control its spending, the opposite is much more
the truth. In reality, the levy limit legislation really doesn’t accomplish
much, if anything. It is a farce, nothing more than a smokescreen for a couple
of reasons.
Not a spending limit:
First, the levy limit number doesn’t really "limit" the
amount that counties can increase their levies. The legislation, as concocted by
the legislature and governor, provides several options that allow counties to
"levy back" the County Program Aid (CPA) taken away from them in
process of balancing the state budget.
If Polk County were to exercise all of the options to recover lost CPA — more
than a million dollars — the levy could be increased by almost three times the
often highly publicized "levy limit" number —up from 1.6784 percent
to 4.7043 percent.
Second, reductions that the state makes in the CPA only places more
pressure on the property tax. Counties are an extension of state government in
that they are saddled with the task of carrying out many of the programs created
in St. Paul. That responsibility accounts for 70 percent or more of what
counties do because of what they are mandated to provide. This is especially
true in the area of social services.
Just a tax shift:
Unless counties can cut corners elsewhere, reductions in the CPA that they are
certified to receive results in nothing more than a tax shift — from the state
to county levied property taxes. Ironically, the two areas of local government services that are probably the
least controlled by state requirements and, as a result, are the most
susceptible to serious budget cuts are in the areas that most of us value very
highly… good road maintenance and good law enforcement.
Most of us who are involved in county government resent having state government
tell us how to do our business, especially when the state hasn’t shown an
ability conduct its own affairs. Counties, and cities, too, have generally done
very well. The state? Well, you be the judge.
2011 tax bill:
On the subject of the amount of increase in spending that Polk County property
owners can expect to have to bear in 2011… well, you can rest assured that it
won’t be anything close to the 4.7 percent figure.
Last year’s tax levy was held to the 1.32 levy limit increase amount. The
County Board decided then that it wouldn’t exercise any of the options to levy
back lost aids — and that thinking is likely to be repeated in developing the
2011 budget.
Whoops. There, I’ve done it again… gotten into a deep discussion about levy
limits, taxes, etc. I hadn’t planned to vent, just wanted to provide the
assurance that in spite of what the state has done in the way of a tax shift,
Polk County isn’t going to rob you blind. We will keep things running and we
will do it without destroying the financially sound status that has been built
up over the past decade and more.
Interesting facts:
Spurred by the proposed Fargo-Moorhead diversion project, the Northwest Regional
Development Commission has put together these facts:
10 million-acre feet — That was the estimated run-off into the Red River
in 1997 from the accumulation of about 10 inches of rain.
1 million acre-feet — The estimated amount of storage needed to mitigate the
downstream impact from the proposed diversion project.
1.3 million acre-feet — The estimated amount of storage needed to mitigate
(reduce by 5 feet) the level of the 1997 flood in East Grand Forks-Grand Forks.
$1 billion — The estimated cost of providing 1 million-acre feet of storage.
400,000 acres or 700 square miles — The estimated number of acres of land
needed to create 1.3 million-acre feet of storage at 3 feet deep.
Quotes from yesteryear: In general, the art of government consists of taking
as much money as possible from one party of the citizens to give to the other.
— Voltaire (1764)
And from the often-quoted Yogi Berra — It ain't the heat, it's the
humility. ??
Disclaimer: Thoughts expressed in this column are those of the author and are
not necessarily a reflection of the opinions of the other members of the Polk
County Board.
RED RIVER VALLEY SUGAR BEET MUSEUM HONORING JAMES DRISCOLL FAMILY DURING
FESTIVAL
The Red River Valley Sugar Beet Museum in Crookston, Minnesota has chosen
September 12, 2010 as the date for the 6th Annual Harvest Festival.
Sugar beets will be harvested that day using restored vintage equipment from the
30’s, 40’s and 50’s. The grounds will open at 10:30 AM with a pork and potato
salad dinner being served at 11:30 AM. Numerous pieces of sugar beet equipment
will be on display including a newly restored JD 430 harvester. Wheat in
bundles will also be threshed using a steam engine and threshing machine.
The Museum is proud to announce the choice of the James Driscoll Family of East
Grand Forks as the Honored Family for 2010. James first started growing sugar
beets in the early 20’s. His son Leonard who was 20 years old at the time took
charge of raising the crop including the loading of the topped beets into a
wagon by forking them on by hand. He then delivered them to a railroad siding
just north of the site of the former River Bend Restaurant for shipment to
Chaska, MN as the East Grand Forks factory had not been built yet. Leonard’s
son’s, Ray, Keith and Jerry continued to raise beets and they have been
succeeded by their sons.
The family will be featured in the Crookston Oxcart Days parade on Saturday
August 21 and again at the Harvest Festival on Sept.12. They will officially
honored at the Museum’s Volunteer Appreciation banquet in November.
For a preview of the Festival go to “You Tube” and enter Crookston Sugarbeet
Museum in the search box and watch a video taken at the 2008 festival.
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