RiverView Health invites community members to attend a casual open house and Meet & Greet on Monday, May 18, to connect with local healthcare providers and learn more about services available close to home.
The come-and-go event will take place from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at RiverView Health, 323 S. Minnesota Street in Crookston.
Attendees will have the opportunity to:
Meet RiverView healthcare providers.
Learn about services available locally.
Ask questions and make connections.
Enjoy light refreshments
Participate in clinic and hospital tours.
All community members are welcome to attend this relaxed, informative gathering.
The Crookston High School Leo Club was the recipient of the Community Service Challenge 2025-26 from the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) in partnership with Team Up 4 Community, and Student Advisory and Leadership Team (SALT). The award was presented to the club in a ceremony at the high school on Wednesday, according to Leo Club advisor Linda Morgan.
Morgan says this is the first time that the MSHSL has done this, and the Crookston Leo Club is the first recipient of this award for the community service that they have done. According to Team Up 4 Community, the club, which includes 93 members, had submitted over 18,800 hours of community service for the school year.
About 40 Leo Club members were in attendance to accept the award, during which they received a banner and a plaque to be displayed in the Crookston High School commons.
The South Carolina Supreme Court has overturned the double-murder convictions of disgraced attorney Alex Murdaugh, ruling that he did not receive a fair trial in the killings of his wife, Maggie Murdaugh, and son, Paul Murdaugh.
In a unanimous 5-0 decision issued Wednesday, the court vacated Murdaugh’s 2023 convictions and consecutive life sentences, citing misconduct by former Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca “Becky” Hill. The justices concluded Hill improperly influenced jurors during the high-profile trial, writing that she “placed her fingers on the scales of justice.” The ruling sends the case back for a new trial.
Murdaugh, once part of a powerful South Carolina legal family, was convicted of fatally shooting Maggie and 22-year-old Paul at the family’s hunting estate in June 2021. Prosecutors argued he committed the murders to gain sympathy and divert attention from mounting financial scandals threatening his career and reputation.
Although there were no eyewitnesses, prosecutors relied heavily on cellphone evidence, including a video recorded by Paul shortly before the killings that captured Murdaugh’s voice near the kennels where the bodies were later discovered. During the trial, Murdaugh admitted he lied to investigators about his whereabouts that night, blaming paranoia linked to longtime opioid addiction. “I’m not quite sure how I let myself get where I got. I battled that addiction for so many years. I was spending so much money on pills,” Murdaugh testified, while continuing to deny involvement in the murders.
Defense attorneys later appealed the verdict, accusing Hill of making inappropriate comments to jurors, encouraging them to distrust Murdaugh’s testimony, and pressuring them to reach a quick guilty verdict. One juror stated in an affidavit that Hill allegedly told the panel, “[T]his shouldn’t take us long,” before deliberations began. The juror also said lingering doubts about Murdaugh’s guilt were overshadowed by pressure from fellow jurors. Another juror testified Hill referred to Murdaugh’s testimony as “an epic day,” while a third claimed she advised jurors to “watch his body language.” Although some jurors said the comments did not affect their decisions, the Supreme Court ruled the conduct compromised the fairness of the proceedings. The court also criticized prosecutors for presenting extensive evidence about Murdaugh’s financial crimes during the murder trial, saying much of it created “considerable danger of unfair prejudice.”
Despite the overturned convictions, Murdaugh will remain behind bars. He is already serving lengthy federal and state prison sentences after pleading guilty to numerous financial crimes, including stealing millions of dollars from clients and associates. Among the victims was the family of longtime housekeeper Gloria Satterfield, whose settlement funds were misappropriated after her death.
As for Hill, she later pleaded guilty to separate misconduct charges tied to the case after admitting she shared sealed court exhibits with a photographer and lied about it. She received a year of probation and acknowledged wrongdoing, telling the court, “There is no excuse for the mistakes I made. I’m ashamed of them.”
Editorial credit: Dennis MacDonald / Shutterstock.com
The Senate voted Wednesday to confirm Kevin Warsh as the next chair of the Federal Reserve, handing President Donald Trump a key economic appointment as the central bank faces mounting pressure over inflation and interest rates.
Warsh secured confirmation in a 54-45 vote that largely followed party lines, with Democratic Sen. John Fetterman joining Republicans in support. His approval concludes a lengthy search for a successor to outgoing Fed Chair Jerome Powell, whose term officially ends Friday.
Earlier this week, Warsh also won confirmation to the Fed’s Board of Governors, a necessary step before assuming the chairmanship. He previously served on the board from 2006 to 2011, becoming its youngest governor at age 35.
The leadership transition comes at a tense moment for the U.S. economy. Inflation remains above the Fed’s 2% target, while rising oil prices tied to the conflict involving Iran have added new concerns about consumer costs and economic stability. Recent reports showing persistent inflation have also weakened expectations that the Fed will cut interest rates anytime soon.
Although Trump has openly pushed for lower borrowing costs and frequently criticized Powell’s policies, Warsh said during confirmation proceedings that he would make monetary decisions independently. Powell, unlike most former Fed chairs, plans to remain on the central bank’s governing board after stepping down as chair, allowing him to continue voting on interest-rate decisions while keeping a lower public profile.
Warsh’s nomination faced delays after controversy surrounding a Justice Department investigation into the Fed. Sen. Thom Tillis initially blocked committee action on the nomination before later dropping his objection once federal prosecutors agreed to end the probe.
A former Morgan Stanley executive and longtime critic of recent Fed policies, Warsh has argued that the central bank became too aggressive during past economic rescue efforts, including large-scale asset purchases following the 2008 financial crisis. Since leaving the Fed, he has taught at Stanford and remained active in finance and corporate leadership roles.
Warsh is expected to chair his first Federal Open Market Committee meeting on June 16-17, where officials will weigh whether inflation pressures justify keeping rates elevated or shifting toward cuts later this year.
The University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagle Men’s Basketball team has signed another outstanding area basketball player with the signing of Bridger Wilcox of Thief River Falls.
Wilcox scored over 1,000 points in his career and was one of the top players in northwest Minnesota. Another great signing by Coach Brian Beamish and his staff.
The incoming recruiting class coming in as of today is below – Signees
G Reggie Winjum, 6-2 175, Crookston, Minn./Crookston H.S. G Bridger Wilcox, 6-2 195, Thief River Falls, Minn./Lincoln H.S. G Blake Spiczka, 6-0 165, Pequot Lakes, Minn./Pequot Lakes H.S. F Jake Williams, 6-5 220, Sacramento, Calif./Consumnes River College G/F Q On’gele, 6-6 215, Portland, Ore./College of the Sequoias C Ethan Koltz, 6-11 240, Sioux Falls, S.D./Southwest Minnesota State University
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University of North Dakota announced on Monday the UND Letterwinners Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2026. The group will be honored Friday, Oct. 2 at the Alerus Center. One of the inductees is Crookston High School graduate, Jenny (Boll) Christopherson, who played basketball at UND from 1999 to 2003. Others that will be inducted will be – Brian Strom (Swimming & Diving, 1990-2016), Weston Dressler (Football, 2004-07), Jeff Panzer (Men’s Hockey, 1997-01), Chad Mustard (Men’s Basketball, 1996-00), Michelle Karvinen (Women’s Hockey, 2011-14), Jen (Cilz) Hodny (1999-01, 2003, Soccer), Becky (Moen) Behrens (1999-03, Women’s Basketball) will be inducted as individuals, while the 1957-58 and 2000-01 men’s hockey teams will be inducted into the team category.
The 51st annual Athletics Hall of Fame event will take place with a dinner and induction ceremony on Friday, October 2 at the Alerus Center. The Class of 2026 will also be recognized the next afternoon during UND’s home football contest against Murray State.
This year’s eight inductees bring the total number of individuals in the UND’s Letterwinners Athletics Hall of Fame to 304, with the team total at 50. Fans can visit the virtual Hall of Fame here or see the all-new, in-person display in the Hawkway, which connects the Hyslop at Memorial Village to the Nodak Insurance Company Sports Performance Center to see all the previous inductees.
UND Hall of Fame Class of 2026 Inductees are listed in alphabetical order
Jenny (Boll) Christofferson, Women’s Basketball 1999-03 Boll provided one of the best 1-2 punches for the Fighting Sioux women’s basketball team at the turn of the century, teaming up with fellow inductee Becky Moen.
Boll scored 1,651 points over her career to rank eighth all-time in program history while her 771 rebounds are just outside the program’s top-10. She earned three straight All-NCC Team selections and was an All-Region selection over her final two seasons while also earning multiple academic conference and national accolades.
She helped the Fighting Sioux capture two NCC titles, three conference tournament crowns and four NCAA Division II National Tournaments, including a run to the Elite Eight as a sophomore.
Jen (Cilz) Hodny, Soccer 1999-01, 2003 Cilz sits as one of the most dynamic scorers in UND soccer history, ranking near the top of practically every offensive category.
In her four seasons with the Sioux, Cilz scored 38 goals and dished out 11 assists for 87 points and ranks second all-time in program history in goals, points, game-winning goals and penalty kicks made. She finished either first or second on the team in both goals and points in each of her four seasons and helped UND reach its first NCAA Tournament in program history as a senior.
The Grand Forks, N.D., native is one of only two players in program history to earn All-America and First Team All-Region honors, joining former inductee and teammate Stephanie Pfeiffer.
Weston Dressler, Football 2004-07 Dressler is still one of the most dynamic players to ever wear the green and white for the football program, earning the title “Mr. Electricity.”
He set 19 school records during his four seasons with the program and is the most nationally decorated player in program history with 14 All-America selections. He was a four-time All-NCC First Team selection and became the first player in NCC history to be named an all-conference player at three-different positions. He is also one of only two players at UND to have multiple 1,000-yard receiving seasons and the only player to have multiple 2,000-yard all-purpose seasons.
After his UND days, Dressler enjoyed a stellar professional career in the Canadian Football League, where he is one of only 17 players in league history with over 10,000 career yards. He was inducted into the Saskatchewan Roughriders Plaza of Honour (2022) and the CFL Hall of Fame (2004).
Michelle Karvinen, Women’s Hockey 2011-14 Karvinen shined on the ice for UND in her collegiate career, helping the women’s hockey program reach new heights.
She scored 56 goals and notched 75 assists for 131 points to rank top-5 all-time in program history in each of those categories to earn All-WCHA honors in just three years at UND. During her freshman campaign, Karvinen was named WCHA Rookie of the Year and an All-USCHO Rookie Team selection to help the Fighting Sioux reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. One of the most decorated international players of all-time, Karvinen has appeared in five Winter Olympic Games and captured a trio of Olympic bronze medals for her home nation of Finland. She recently tied the all-time record for Olympic women’s hockey games player with 29 in Feb. 2026.
Becky (Moen) Behrens, Women’s Basketball 1999-03 The other half of the 1-2 punch for the UND women’s basketball team during her time, Moen was a dominant scorer and guard for the Fighting Sioux.
Moen currently ranks seventh all-time in program history with 1,762 career points and scored over 600 points in each of her final two seasons. A two-time All-NCC and All-Region selection, Moen exploded for 657 points as a junior to earn NCC Co-MVP honors and a trio of All-America honors. Her 22.7 points per game in 2001-02 still sit as a school record while her total point output in that season is third all-time at UND for a single year.
She is the only player in program history to have multiple 600-point seasons in her career and went a whopping 104-20 during her four seasons with two NCC titles, three conference tournament titles and four NCAA DII National Tournament appearances.
Chad Mustard, Men’s Basketball 1996-00 Mustard was a force in the paint for the men’s basketball program, shining on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball.
The forward was dominant on both ends, ranking top-10 in program history in both points and rebounds. His 1,568 points currently sit 10th in program history while his 741 rebounds are eighth. Mustard also ranks top-10 in program history in field goal percentage, free throws made and free throw attempts to earn All-NCC honors and an All-America selection as a senior. He is one of only 15 players in program history to be named an All-American.
Following his basketball playing days, Mustard helped the UND football program capture the 2001 NCAA Division II National Championship before enjoying a five-year career in the NFL.
Jeff Panzer, Men’s Hockey 1997-01 Panzer is arguably one of the most dynamic scorers in program history and lit up the scoreboard in his four seasons with the men’s hockey program.
In 164 games, Panzer scored 80 goals and dished out 148 assists for a whopping 228 points over his career to sit third all-time in program history in points and assists. He is one of only five players ever at UND to eclipse 200 career points in the green and white and is the only player in the program’s top-10 scoring list to play this century.
Panzer earned a trio of All-WCHA Team selections and was named WCHA Player of the Year in 2000-01. He also was a two-time All-America First Team selection and is one of only for players in program history to be a multi-time finalist for the Hobey Baker Award. He captured three WCHA titles and helped UND win its seventh NCAA National Championship in 1999-00.
Brian Strom, Swimming & Diving 1990-2016 One of the most influential coaches ever at UND, Strom had an illustrious career with the swimming and diving program for nearly 30 years.
Strom earned multiple accolades at the local, conference and national levels, as he was named NCC Diving Coach of the Year 10 times – including a stretch of three straight years from 2003-05. He was also a two-time NCAA Division II Diving Coaching of the Year in 2003 and 2004.
During his tenure, 21 divers earned a total of 69 All-America honors while competing for UND. Strom also coached UND to 44 NCAA Division II top-five finishes and 16-different divers captured NCC Diver of the Year. In 2003, Strom guided Erin Borgschatz to an NCAA DII National Championship before coaching Kasey Moseley to a NCAA DII title the following season.
1957-58 Men’s Hockey Team The 1957-58 North Dakota men’s hockey team provided many “firsts” for the now-historic program with its 24-7-1 overall record.
Coached by Bob May, the Fighting Sioux were the first team in program history to win 20 games in a single season and captured the first of a now NCAA-record 22 conference titles. The conference crown helped UND advance to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history.
In the national tournament, UND defeated Harvard by a 9-1 score before eventually falling to Denver in the program’s first national championship game appearance.
2000-01 Men’s Hockey Team The 2000-01 UND men’s hockey team was an appropriate bookend to a dominant five-year stretch for the program, a stretch that saw two NCAA National Championships.
Coming off the program’s seventh title, the 2000-01 Sioux were captained by fellow inductee Jeff Panzer and finished 29-8-9 and went 18-4-6 to capture yet another WCHA title before reaching the conference tournament championship game. UND rolled to another NCAA Frozen Four and defeated Michigan State, 2-0, to advance to its second straight national title game.
Head Coach Dean Blais, known for his unique antics, pulled his goaltender with over four minutes remaining and UND struck twice to force overtime before eventually seeing its bid for back-to-back championships come up just short in overtime to Boston College.
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JOKES
Bob was sitting at the table one morning, reading the paper after breakfast. He came across an article about a beautiful actress who was about to marry a football player known for his lack of IQ.
He turned to his wife and said, “I’ll never understand why the biggest jerks get the most attractive wives.”
She replied, “Why, thank you, Dear!”
— —
Two kids are arguing over whose father is the biggest scaredy-cat. The first kid says, “My dad is so scared that when lightning strikes, he hides underneath the bed.”
The second kid replies,”Yeah? Well, that’s nothing. My dad is so scared that when my mom has to work the nightshift, he sleeps with the lady next door.”
— — —
A guys car broke down. He pulled over to the side of the road.Luckly there was a farm near by.He asked the farmer if he could help. The farmer said “sure just let me get my horse, Bruce. So they hooked the car up. The farmer called out to his horse,giddyup Sonya! The horse did’nt move. Giddyup Tonya! The horse did’nt move. Giddyup Bruce! The horse moved. So when they got back they fixed the mans car. The man said thank you and then asked the farmer why he called different names.”
Well” the farmer started, “Bruce won’t do anything if he knows he’s the only one doing it.”
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How are former Crookston Pirates athletes doing in college or elsewhere? ****LET ME KNOW OF OTHERS TO ADD TO THE LIST. Email me at chrisjfee@yahoo.com
Matt Contreras is a freshman playing baseball at Concordia College in Moorhead.
Teagen Lubinski is playing Junior Hockey for the Badlands Sabers in the NA3HL.
Parker Kelly is playing Junior Hockey for the Badlands Sabers in the NA3HL.
Addie Fee is a freshman playing tennis and hockey at Wisconsin-Superior.
Kambelle Freije is a freshman playing hockey at Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Riley Helgeson is a freshman playing football at Northern State.
Emily Bowman is a freshman playing Softball at North Dakota State College of Science.
Halle Winjum is a sophomore playing basketball at Minnesota Crookston.
Blake Melsa is a sophomore playing soccer and baseball at Alexandria Tech
Jackson Reese is a sophomore playing soccer at Alexandria Tech
Matt Contreras is a freshman playing baseball at Concordia College.
Naomi Johnson is a freshman playing soccer at Alexandria Tech
Paul Bittner is an assistant coach on the University of Wisconsin-Superior Men’s Hockey team.
Reese Swanson is a sophomore playing hockey at St. Olaf.
Carter Coauette is a sophomore playing football at Minot State.
Isaac Thomforde is a sophomore playing Tennis at Northwestern College in St. Paul.
Halle Bruggeman is a Junior on the University of Wisconsin-Stout Women’s Rugby team.
Ethan Boll is a Sophomore on the University of North Dakota Football team.
Breanna Kressin is a Junior on the Hockey Cheer Team for THE University of Minnesota Golden Gopher Hockey team.
Jacey Larson is a Junior playing hockey at Dakota College at Bottineau.
Aleah Bienek is a Senior playing hockey at Trine University in Indiana.
Seth Heppner – Head Coach of Men’s and Women’s Golf at Jessup University
Brady Heppner – Head Coach of Women’s Golf at UMC and Assistant Hockey Coach
Crookston School District Coaches Blake Bergeron is the head Pirate Wrestling Coach. Colton Weiland is an assistant Pirate Wrestling Coach Jason Cassavant is a Jr. High Baseball Coach and Head American Legion Baseball coach Sarah Reese is the Pirate Head Girls Soccer coach Marley Melbye is an assistant girls golf coach Connor Morgan is the Pirate Boys Hockey assistant coach Ben Trostad is the Pirate Boys Hockey assistant coach Ethan Magsam is the Pirate Boys Hockey assistant coach
Non-Crookston High School coaching/Admin/etc
Elise Tangquist is the Head Girls Golf Coach at Horace High School in Fargo, ND.
Carmen (Kreibich) Johnson is the head Little Falls Volleyball coach.
Tim Desrosier is an Assistant Coach for Warren-Alvarado-Oslo Pony Boys Basketball
Pat Wolfe is the head wrestling coach for Fosston/Bagley.
Austin Sommerfeld is an Assistant Athletic Director for Strategic Communication at the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth.
Collin Reynolds is the head baseball coach for the University of Colorado Buffalo Club Baseball team.
Trent Stahlecker is a School Security Specialist & he works for the Brevard Public Schools, Florida.
Cody Weiland is an assistant wrestling coach at Proctor/Hermantown.
Josh Edlund is the head football coach and phy ed teacher at Flandreau, South Dakota.
Allison Lindsey Axness is Assistant Varsity Volleyball Coach at Champlin Park
Jeff Olson is the Head Wrestling Coach and Head Baseball coach at Delano.
Jake Olson is an Assistant Football Coach and Head Boys Tennis coach at Delano.
Matt Harris is an Assistant Principal/Athletic Director at Saguaro High School in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Marty Bratrud is the Superintendent and High School Principal at Westhope High School.
Gordie Haug is an assistant football coach at the University of North Dakota.
Mike Hastings is the Wisconsin Badgers Men’s head Hockey coach.
Mike Biermaier is the Athletic Director at Grand Forks Schools.
Stephanie (Lindsay) Perreault works with the North Dakota State stats crew for Bison football, volleyball, and basketball in the winter. Stephanie’s husband, Ryan, is the assistant director for Bison media relations.
Jason Bushie is the hockey athletic trainer at Colorado College.
Chris Myrold is the Director and Fitness at Mission Ranch and Fitness in Camel, California. Kyle Buchmeier is a Tennis Pro at the Reed-Sweatt Family Tennis Center in Minneapolis
Jaren Bailey is serving our country and is Lance Corporal in the Marines.
Ben Andringa is serving our country in the Army and is now a Ranger.
Philip Kujawa class of 2004, from Crookston High School. He is an Army recruiter in Rochester.
Rob Sobolik is the General Manager of the Fargodome
That’s it for this week. Thanks for the comments, and if you have anything to add or share, please e-mail chrisjfee@yahoo.com or call. Thanks for reading and listening to KROX RADIO and kroxam.com..
Lionsgate has unveiled the new trailer for ‘The Hunger Games Sunrise on the Reaping,’ offering a glimpse into the next chapter of the blockbuster franchise.
Directed by Francis Lawrence and written by Billy Ray, the movie is based on the 2025 novel by Suzanne Collins. It follows the success of the previous prequel, The Hunger Games The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, continuing to expand the history of Panem.
Set for release on Nov. 20, 2026, the dystopian film “will revisit the world of Panem 24 years before the events of The Hunger Games, starting on the morning of the reaping of the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell,” the studio said in a synopsis. In this edition of the Games, each district must send double the number of tributes, forcing 48 young competitors into the arena.
At the center of the story is a younger Haymitch Abernathy, played by Joseph Zada (the character was famously portrayed by Woody Harrelson in the original films.) The prequel also introduces earlier versions of key figures in Panem, including President Snow, played by Ralph Fiennes, and Plutarch Heavensbee, portrayed by Jesse Plemons. The ensemble cast expands further with Elle Fanning as a young Effie Trinket, Kieran Culkin as Caesar Flickerman, alongside performers like Glenn Close and Mckenna Grace — these roles were previously brought to life by actors such as Elizabeth Banks, Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland, and Philip Seymour Hoffman in earlier installments.
See the trailer for ‘The Hunger Games Sunrise on the Reaping’ – HERE.
Prime Video is moving forward with a third season of Cross, shortly after the show’s second season wrapped-up. The upcoming installment will consist of eight episodes, though a premiere date and production timeline have yet to be revealed.
Led by Aldis Hodge as detective Alex Cross, the series draws inspiration from James Patterson’s bestselling novels while telling largely original stories. Created by Ben Watkins, the show expands the world of Cross with familiar characters like John Sampson (played by Isaiah Mustafa) and a reimagined FBI agent Kayla Craig (Alona Tal). The cast also includes Matthew Lillard, Jeanine Mason, and Wes Chatham, alongside returning ensemble members.
Season 2, now fully available, followed Cross as he investigated a high-profile case involving a threatened billionaire and a connected murder, teaming up with federal agents to track down a killer leaving disturbing clues behind. Looking ahead, the next chapter is expected to “continue to expand the high-stakes world of the iconic character, building on the show’s gripping storytelling and powerful performances.”
The Alex Cross character has previously appeared on the big screen, portrayed by Morgan Freeman in Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider, and later by Tyler Perry in 2012’s Alex Cross.
Representatives from the Crookston School Board and the Crookston Educators Association (CEA) met Wednesday afternoon to discuss clarifying language regarding family and medical leave policies for the catastrophic sick leave bank. Human Resources Director Wendy Ault said the meeting was productive, with some questions and concerns receiving clarification on both sides moving forward.
Ault says the catastrophic sick leave bank is a provision in the CEA contract that allows teachers to submit one of their allotted sick leave days each year to the sick leave bank, where those who are enrolled in the policy have access to sick leave hours in the event of a catastrophic medical situation to themselves or their families. The issues at hand during Wednesday’s meeting concerned required donation of sick leave to the bank annually to remain eligible, notification to union members about how much sick leave is available in the bank, and
“We have a catastrophic sick leave bank, and it is for our employees to take advantage of some leave hours if they need it for some sort of catastrophic medical illness for themselves or their families, but in order to be eligible for it, they have to contribute a day of their own sick leave,” says Ault. “So we just met with our educators’ union to talk about some contract language or policy language, the hours currently available, and the process and policies going forward to utilize that sick leave bank.”
The school board representatives said the next step is to send this clarifying language to a policy committee before a review by the full school board. Ault said both sides walked out with more information than they entered with and feel the policy will be much clearer and help prevent issues in the future.
Ault explained, “It was just a kind of come together meeting to talk about the ins and outs of the policy, how to use it, what information they want available to the folks in their union and all of our employees, and just making sure we’re all on the same page.”
The school board and CEA have another meet and confer scheduled for Wednesday, May 20 at 4:00 p.m. in the choir and orchestra room at Crookston High School.
The Crookston Civic Music League is thrilled to bring M5–The Mexican Brass to the Crookston High School Auditorium on Saturday, May 16, 2026 at 7 p.m. as the final concert in the 2025-2026 Entertainment Series.
Celebrating 20 years as a brass quintet in 2025, M5 is a world-class ensemble seamlessly blending virtuosic musicianship, nonstop audience interaction, and showmanship to deliver a great musical-theatrical experience every night!
M5 has toured the world–literally–having played across Europe, Asia, North Africa, North America, South America, and their home base of Mexico. M5’s program will mix classical with opera, jazz, and pop–a terrific blend for everyone.
You will not want to miss this evening of entertainment. Admission is by season ticket only. Season tickets can be purchased at the door before the concert on Saturday, May 16, 2026. For ticket information please call Elaine Metzger at 218-281-2681 or Emily Luckow at 218-281-5907.
Northland Community & Technical College proudly announces the 2026 Student of the Year awards presented to East Grand Forks student Vanesa Gomez and Thief River Falls student Sierra Westberg. This honor is awarded annually to graduating students who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to their chosen profession, academic excellence, and meaningful contributions to the campus and community.
Gomez is a radiologic technology student from East Grand Forks, Minn. Originally from Kentucky, she moved to East Grand Forks in 2012 and graduated from East Grand Forks Senior High School. After working full-time and earning a Spanish certificate at the University of North Dakota, Gomez discovered her passion for healthcare and enrolled at Northland.
Gomez’s path into healthcare is deeply personal. As a child, she often served as an interpreter for her mother during medical visits, witnessing firsthand how language barriers can create fear and confusion for patients.
“I know first-hand the positive impact it can make when healthcare workers take the time to explain what they are doing and make patients feel at ease,” Gomez said.
At Northland, Gomez was actively involved in the X-Ray Club, helping organize community activities such as bake sales, blanket-making projects, and volunteer efforts with Journey Home Animal Rescue and the East Grand Forks Campbell Library. She also supported outreach efforts by sharing her experience with middle and high school students through Scrub Camp and Northland EXPO events, encouraging others to explore careers in healthcare.
In addition, Gomez served in the Student Senate and represented Northland at the statewide Advocacy in Action leadership summit, where she engaged with peers on the importance of student advocacy and campus leadership.
“Being named Student of the Year came as a complete shock,” Gomez said. “This award is an honor, and I’m so humbled to receive it. It reflects all the long days and late nights balancing school, work, and service.”
After graduation, Gomez will begin working full-time as an overnight radiologic technologist at Altru Hospital while continuing her education through Boise State University to earn a bachelor’s degree in imaging. She hopes to give back to the community by providing empathetic care to patients of all backgrounds.
Westberg is a Criminal Justice student from Middle River, Minn. Drawn to Northland for its proximity to home and the opportunity to continue competing in athletics, she quickly found a sense of belonging within the campus community.
Westberg was a dual-sport student-athlete, competing in both volleyball and women’s basketball. She credits athletics with shaping her college experience and building lifelong friendships.
“The biggest factor that led me to Criminal Justice was the desire to help people,” Westberg said. “I want to be someone people can turn to in a time of need and give back to the community that raised me.”
Westberg’s dedication to both academics and athletics, along with her commitment to service, earned her recognition as Student of the Year.
“When I found out I was selected, I was speechless,” she said. “This recognition means a lot to me—it shows that hard work really does pay off.”
Following graduation, Westberg plans to complete the Minnesota Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) exam to become a licensed peace officer. She hopes to serve as a deputy in Marshall County, bringing an open mind, strong work ethic, and commitment to making a positive impact in her community.
Northland will celebrate its 2026 graduates during commencement ceremonies on both campuses. The Thief River Falls campus will hold its ceremony at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 14, in the Northland Gymnasium, while the East Grand Forks campus ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 15, at the Chester Fritz Performing Arts Center in Grand Forks, N.D.
Student of the Year recipients will deliver remarks reflecting on their experiences and encouraging fellow graduates as they begin the next chapter of their journeys.
Friends, family members, and community members who are unable to attend in person will have the opportunity to view the ceremonies via live stream. Additional details, including ceremony times and streaming links, will be available on the college website.
For more information about spring commencement exercises, visit www.northlandcollege.edu or call 1-800-959-6282.
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