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WEDNESDAY - JULY 2,  2008

TWINS CLINIC COMES TO CROOKSTON

TUESDAY -  JULY 1, 2008

ICE ARENA ADVISORY COMMITTEE WANTS THREE RINKS AND AT LEAST A 1,000 SEATS, BUT!!!

The Crookston Ice Arena Advisory Committee for the City of Crookston met again on Monday night and came to a bit of a priority. They want a three rink complex and at least 1,000 seats. The question that hasn’t been answered is how to pay for it, and that probably won’t be totally answered for at least a couple months. The Committee, which consists of 23 members, had 22 in attendance, plus a number of others were in attendance including other City Council and Crookston School Board members.
After a meeting on June 16^th that had seen the project construction estimated cost balloon to over $16 million, Crookston mayor David Genereux had stated that this meeting would be discussing priorities of items that they wanted to be included in the facility to bring the estimate down to a workable budget without sacrificing what the committee feels the project should have.
Ron Jasmer of Widseth Smith Nolting, the project designer came back to the committee with some suggestions. Reduce the ceiling in the two practice arenas and lobby, reduce four locker rooms by five feet each, cut out 600 permanent seats and rearrange lighting for an adjacent outdoor rink would save $1.65 million.
Jasmer said that with the remaining 500 permanent seats there would be over 1,000 seating capacity when adding in the standing room number. The committee seemed to be unanimous that the main event arena should have more than 500 permanent seats in a facility this size. Dan Kegler of Crookston who attended the meeting agreed, “I’m not a hockey fan, I’ve never been to a game at the present arena, but if I am going to attend a game, I sure don’t want to have to stand to watch it.” The committee agreed and suggested that there be at least a minimum of 1,000 permanent seats in the main arena.
The current Civic Center Arena where the high school and college play their games has a seating capacity of 1,189 seats.
The committee also stated that the three rinks were pretty much non negotiable. Scott Riopelle with the City of Crookston and runs the present current arenas, suggested that the main arena plus one of the practice rinks could have concrete floors while the other practice arena have a sand floor to save money.
Kegler asked the question if three rinks were needed with the number of athletes that use the present facilities. Scott Kleven, the Crookston Director of Parks and Recreation said, “Right now we do. We have a hard time finding ice times for our teams right now, and have reduced most of their practice times to an hour. We have no times for open or recreational skating right now and with the explosion of girl’s hockey, we definitely feel that three rinks are a priority.” Mike Tiedemann, an area farmer on the committee who also has children in the hockey programs and is a coach said, “I would dress my kids in the car for practice, if we could get more than an hour a week for practice at the youth level.”
The current facility design is 9,600 square feet and according to Jasmer is currently at $167.00 a square foot and since there are two levels about $80.00 per square foot for each level.
Steve Biermaier, a local chiropractor and also coaches in the youth level and was an assistant boy’s hockey coach at Crookston High School last season, thought some changes could be made on the main entrance to save money and maybe help in the alignment of locker rooms, something that Jasmer said was possible. “We have such a large project that is so large on our dollar amount, that we need ways to cut," said Biermaier, " I was looking at our plans back on 2006 that was a smaller project at that time, so I thought we should look at those plans to see if we could cut things from the current plans to make it a more realistic project.” Right now the project has two locker rooms dedicated to Crookston High School, one for the girl’s hockey team and one for the boy’s. One larger locker room dedicated to the University of Minnesota, Crookston (UMC) and eight other locker rooms for visitors and youth teams in the practice arena’s area.

FOR DETAILS OF EARLIER COMPLEX PLANS AND CURRENT PLANS AND NUMBERS, CLICK HERE
(MIGHT TAKE A WHILE TO LOAD)

So where is the money going to come from? The project received $10 million from the State of Minnesota in bonding money last legislative session. The City has dedicated $1.7 million as part of the requirement for receiving the bonding money. This brings the total to $11.7 million. How much more can be raised will determine how many rinks and how many seats among other amenities the complex will have. It seems a lot of things will hinge on how much money, if any, that Crookston might get in what is called tax credits. Crookston City administrator told the committee, “ When combined with a successful fundraising effort, securing New Market Tax Credits has the potential to provide the necessary funding to deliver a project the community can be proud of. 
While the mechanics are somewhat complicated, this program has been used for similar projects in communities that can meet the necessary economic and demographic criteria.  The amount of funding that this could translate into is highly dependent on what, if any, tax credits the Midwest Minnesota Community Development Corporation, elects to allocate to the project.
With that in mind, it is hard to be specific in terms of what it might ultimately mean to the project.  Midwest Minnesota Community Development Corporation is located out of Detroit Lakes and currently administers the entire New Market Tax Credit allocation for all of Minnesota.”  The amount of money that some entity applying for the tax credit allocation could be up to 39% of their project, less administrative fees. The City and the committee can hope for a high amount, while $2 or $3 million would be outstanding and greatly enhance the project, at the same time the amount could be nothing!!
The Midwest Minnesota Community Development Corporation meets every other month to decide allocations and one would assume consider Crookston’s request, but won't meet again until late August.
The Crookston Housing and Economic Development Authority (CHEDA) will have a meeting on Tuesday morning (July 1^st) to discuss arena fund raising. Their agenda includes:

1)      Discuss Marketing Materials, Progress To Date, Current Draft

2)      Discuss Content of Single Sales Sheets (FAQ?, Contribution Form?, etc.)

3)      Outstanding Issues

a) Arena Project Update – Total Est. Cost & Financing (Aaron)

b) Fundraising Budget – Naming rights, pricing, etc. (General Discuss)

c) Impact Statement – Discuss Draft (Dan/Scott)

d) Timing of Seed Money (Blueline or CHEDA Contributions)

e) Targeting Membership – Who Will Approach Who
      (potential large benefactors, foundations, clubs, etc.)

The Director of CHEDA, Dan Johanneck told the ice advisory committee on Monday night that all information he has received and other fundraising efforts for a project of this size, that a $1.5 to $2 million fundraising goal would be feasible.

Mike Gasper, Crookston area farmer and businessman, who also has coached in the youth program asked, “How can you start a building process when you don’t know how much money you have? In some of my own personal projects, while not on this large a scale, I have the plans, get a bid and then make adjustments according to my budget.”  Crookston City Administrator Aaron Parrish said they would love to do it that way, but “the private sector can do that, but the City has rules to follow in a public bid. We have the design, get the bids and then build. We certainly wish we didn’t have to do it that way, but it’s the public process.”

Crookston City Councilman Wayne Melbye agreed with Gasper, "It's really hard to figure out what kind of facility you're going to get until you know what you can pay for. The general consensus the committee is looking at is we would like a three sheet arena with about a 1,000 seats and 11 locker rooms. But it really is hard to make the cuts until you know what kind of dollar amount you are working with."  Fellow Councilman Keith Mykleseth also wanted to know how much money they will have to work with, "Before we move ahead with construction I would like to have better numbers on the revenue side. We don't want to start building something we don't have money for."


The high cost of oil is certainly affecting the numbers of the project. Jasmer said because of the cost of asphalt, just the Civil Site Work project in two weeks had risen $334,700!!!
On June 16, 2008 the Civil Site Work was estimated at $896,300 and on June 30, 2008 it was $1,231,000 as a recent bid for another project came in with the asphalt figures.

These figures have added to the possibility that all the parking lots and some entrances to the facility would be gravel instead of paved!!!

The project which has been on a fast track, might have had a little hiccup in the last two weeks and it appears that the Site Preparation, which has to be done no matter what type of facility it ends up to be, will be done in August at a cost of about $1 million. The foundation work could be also done this fall, but it is uncertain at this time. If the City receives some good news in way of Tax Credits and Fundraising can get some more concrete figures in the next couple months, then the track could be back on schedule, with the target date for completion in September of 2010.

“We got a lot of feedback tonight, which hadn’t surfaced for many of the meetings before, which was really the point tonight” said Committee Chair Craig Morgan, “Let’s get things out that we need to, come to a consensus as a group, and present to the public something that seems reasonable. I think tonight our group was really focused on the three-rink complex. Simply from a programming standpoint, the data shows that we are not able to deliver the programs that are needed in our community. With this gift, it’s the one opportunity that we have to get this done. We have to see where we are on the fundraising side and other avenues.”

Mayor David Genereux said, “We have discussed a lot of things tonight and will have to be making some decisions in the near future, but let’s not forget that this is going to happen, it will be a financial boom to Crookston and it’s an exciting time.”
Biemaier agreed, “We’ve had a lot of great discussion from a lot of different people that have not said a whole lot, so to me, tonight was probably our best meeting we’ve had yet.”

The next step will be for Parrish, Morgan, Kleven to meet with Jasmer over the next couple weeks to try and work out things the committee suggested tonight at the meeting, and then call another meeting for the whole Advisory Committee later in July.

THURSDAY -  JUNE 23, 2008

EAST GRAND FORKS STRIKES LATE TO BEAT THE CROOKSTON REDS

The East Grand Forks (EGF) Heaters scored three times in the sixth inning and then added four insurance runs in the top of the ninth to defeat the Crookston Reds in an amateur Norman-Polk League baseball game at the Jim Karn Field in Crookston.
Crookston had taken an early lead with a run in the third when Mike Holte singled and eventually scored on a passed ball.
EGF scored a run in the fourth on three singles to tie it at 1-1 and the Heaters then scored three in the sixth on three rbi singles in a row by Nick Kulas, Kyle Gast and Matt Puente.
The Reds answered with a run in the bottom of the sixth to make it 4-2. Brandon Wolf singled with one out, stole second and scored on an Eric Deisler single.
Crookston made it a 4-3 game scoring a run in the eight inning when Brandon Wolf reached on a fielders choice, was pinch ran for by Elliot Hulst, who stole second and scored on a Mike Moran single.
East Grand Forks put it away with the four runs in the ninth inning on four hits including a big double by Casey Solem.  Matt Marek, the EGF pitcher struck out two Reds batters in the ninth to pick up the win.
Crookston is 8-7 on the season and will be at Ada on Wednesday for another Norman-Polk League contest.

Eric Deisler tags and EGF baserunner who got caught in a rundown 

Mitch Bakken pitches to an EGF batter while everyone looks on

Pitching                                   IP     H    R   ER  BB   K
Mitch Bakken-Crox              6.0     8     4     3     3       4
Brandon Wolf-Crox               3.0     4     4     3     1       5
Matt Marek-EGF                 9.0      9    3     2      2      9

For Reds
Justin Johnson   2-4
Brandon Wolf   2-4, double
Eric Deisler   2-4
Mike Holte  2-3

For EGF
Jabby Backhit    2-4
Kyle Gast   2-4
Matt Puente   2-2, 2 walks, run, rbi
Casey Solem  1-1, double, run, rbi

MONDAY -  JUNE 22, 2008

CROOKSTON BOY'S SOCCER DEFEAT PELICAN RAPIDS

The Crookston U16 Boys soccer team defeated Pelican Rapids Monday night by a score of 4 to 1 at Lincoln Field in Crookston.
Alex Navarro scored the first goal for Crookston, followed by a score by Jordan Brewster, both goals were unassisted.  Alex scored the third goal off a pass from Tori Rhode to give Crookston a three goal lead at halftime. 
In the second half, Navarro again scored off a pass from Matt Gregg to give us Crookston a four goal advantage. 
Pelican Rapids scored their only goal with six minutes left in the game.  This was Crookston’s fourth win to keep them in first place in their league. 
Crookston head coach for the summer team is also the Crookston Pirate boy’s head soccer coach, Don Cox, “This is a GREAT season these kids are playing!”
The team will host Alexandria on Wednesday, June 25^th at 7:00 PM at the Lincoln Fields in Crookston.

                          (Picture submitted by Tracy Allrich)

Members of the Crookston summer team are: (Listed randomly) 
Alec Boike, Jordan Brewster, Brett Delage, Adam Donarski, Ross Forney, Matt Gregg , Scott Grunewald, Abe Guerrero, Emilio Gutierrez, Alex Navarro, Javier Portillo, Mariano Portillo, Tori Rhode and Sean Williams. 



SATURDAY -  JUNE 21, 2008

CROOKSTON REDS SWEEP WARROAD IN A PAIR OF NORMAN-POLK LEAGUE GAMES

The Crookston Reds with a key hit from Aaron Motl scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning and held on to defeat the visiting Warroad Warriors and then sent 16 men to the plate and scored 11 runs in the second inning to beat Warroad 16-0 and a sweep of a Norman-Polk League doubleheader at the Jim Karn Field in Crookston.

GAME #1
After Warroad scored two in the fifth inning and then a run in the top of the sixth to take a 6-5 lead, the home standing Crookston Reds scored twice in the bottom of the sixth, as Aaron Motl doubled in a run and then scored on a Brandon Wolf single to take a 7-6 lead.  Warroad threatened in the seventh with runners on second and third, but Brandon Wolf got a strike out and a fly out to end the threat and a Reds win. "We played just terrible," said Reds player-coach Brent Stahlecker, "and almost gave them the game. Our defense was lacking and we made a number of mental mistakes and to be honest, I was pretty mad in the dugout.  Brandon really struggled with his control, walking nine and hitting a couple batters, but showed that a good pitcher can battle through it and that is what he did.  It was a much needed win for us, after losing the two league games earlier this week in the late innings."

Pitching                                   IP     H    R   ER  BB   K
Brandon Wolf                        7.0      5     6     3     9     7

For Reds
Brock Hanson    4-4, 2 doubles
Aaron Motl  2-3, double
Brandon Wolf   2-4
Chance Keefe  2-4
Mitch Bakken  2-3

GAME #2
The Crookston Reds sent 16 men to the plate in the second inning and made quick work of Warroad 16-0 in five innings to make it a Norman-Polk League sweep. The Reds had 26 hits in the two games, including a 2-3 game from Brock Hanson, and the centerfielder was 6-7 on the afternoon. Brandon Wolf and Chance Keefe both had two hits in both games. Mitch Bakken only had to work five innings, but the lefthander gave up just one hit, walking nobody and striking out seven for the win. "We took care of business early this time," said Reds player-coach, Brent Stahlecker, "Wolf, Keefe and Rainer Simmons had three rbi's each and we had a lot of singles and walks in that big second inning. Mitch pitched another strong game for us.  It was a good day for us and gets us back on track in the league."
The Crookston Reds are now 8-6 on the year and will host East Grand Forks on Thursday in another Norman-Polk League game at the Jim Karn Field with a 7:30 PM game time.

Pitching                                   IP     H    R   ER  BB   K
Mitch Bakken                       5.0     1     0     0     0      7

For Reds
Brock Hanson    2-3
Brandon Wolf   2-3, 3 rbi
Chance Keefe  2-2, double, 3 rbi
Rainer Simmons  2-3, 3 rbi

THURSDAY - JUNE 19,  2008

EGF SCORES THREE RUNS IN BOTTOM OF NINTH TO BEAT THE REDS

The East Grand Forks Heaters used five Crookston Reds errors in the last two innings of the game to come from behind to win 5-4 in East Grand Forks.
EGF got on the board first with a run in the bottom of the first inning before the Reds countered with two runs in the top of the second.  Eric Deisler reached on a single, and Dominic Hamre reached on a fielders choice before Mitch Bakken  walked to load the bases.  Mike Holte then walked scoring Deisler before Justin Johnson singled in Hamre to give the Reds a 2-1 lead.  
Crookston added another run in the fifth inning and what looked to be an insurance run in the eight inning to take a 4-1 lead.  
In the bottom of the eight inning the Reds defense imploded as the EGF leadoff batter reached on an error and later came around to score on another error to get within a 4-2 score.
In the bottom of the ninth inning EGF's leadoff batter singled and advanced to second on an error on the pitcher.  The next batter walked to load the bases.  Brandon Wolf struck out the next batter before a single to knock in a run to bring EGF within a 4-3 score.  The next batter reached on an error on the shortstop knocking in another run to tie the game at 4-4.  The very next batter hit a ball to the third baseman where another Reds error was committed allowing the winning run to score to give East Grand Forks a 5-4 win.
Crookston is now 6-6 on the season and will host Warroad in a Norman-Polk League doubleheader on Saturday starting at 1:00 PM.

Pitching                              IP   H    R   ER  BB   K
Eric Deisler -Crox             8     5     2     1      4     5
Brandon Wolf - Crox         1     3     3     1      1     1

For Reds
Eric Deisler was 3-5 with a run and an rbi
Justin Johnson was 2-4 with an rbi
Aaron Motl was 2-5 with a run

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