Billy Joel’s upcoming tour will be postponed for four months while legendary singer/songwriter recovers from surgery due to an unspecified medical condition. The postponement news comes just weeks after Joel, 75, fell onstage during a concert in Montville, Connecticut, on Feb. 22, but was able to get back on his feet and continue performing.
A press release posted to social media states that “Billy Joel’s upcoming concert dates will be rescheduled due to a medical condition. The current tour will be postponed for four months to allow him to recover from recent surgery and to undergo physical therapy under the supervision of his doctors. Joel is expected to make a full recovery. The tour will resume at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on July 5, 2025. “
Joel said in a statement: “While I regret postponing any shows, my health must come first. I look forward to getting back on stage and sharing the joy of live music with our amazing fans. Thank you for your understanding.”
Most of the affected concerts have been rescheduled (with the exception of Milwaukee), including shows in both the U.S. and U.K. All previously purchased tickets will automatically be valid for the rescheduled shows.
Editorial credit: Adam McCullough / Shutterstock.com
The Downtown Crookston Development Partnership presents “Music and Movies at the Grand.” This series of DCDP-sponsored movies has three events left. The first one is just around the corner on March 20. “Our next show is the evening of March 20. The doors and concessions open at 6:30 p.m., and the show is at 7:00 p.m.,” says Shirley Iverson from the DCDP. “We are going to be featuring Mary Poppins, and we encourage you to dress up. Wear costumes, there are prizes for the top three costumed folks.”
To keep with the theme of music and movies, the next movie in the series definitely does not disappoint. “We are going to go on to April 3. Again, doors open at 6:30 p.m., the show is at 7:00 p.m.,” says Iverson. “That one is the classic Music Man. That is a musical that has been performed locally and regionally and was the winner of multiple awards, so was Mary Poppins, so we look forward to sharing those with you.”
The final show in the series is lots of fun and may be more familiar to some younger viewers. “The final one in the series will be shown on April 24, and that’s more of a classic rock series called School of Rock,” says Iverson. “It really featured a breakout role for actor Jack Black, and again, we encourage you to dress up like Jack or dress up like some of the folks in the band and come out and enjoy another great night to support our Grand Theatre.”
These three shows are all family-friendly, and Iverson hopes everyone will come out and support downtown Crookston and The Grand Theatre. “The Downtown Crookston Development Partnership has a great collaboration with the City of Crookston and with the Crookston Visitors Bureau to help us market the events,” says Iverson. “The showings are free, doors open at 6:30 p.m., and shows are at 7:00 p.m. Concessions are at cost, and we know movies are always better with Bo’s popcorn, so be sure to dress up, buy popcorn, and come to the movie.”
But wait, we are not done. There is one more movie event coming up on Sunday, March 23. “Snow White opens in theatres national on the 21, but on the matinee on Sunday, Downtown Crookston Development Partnership will be offering free kids concession boxes to the first 25 kids who come to the movie,” says Iverson. “Be sure and check that out. It is a brand-new Snow White, very, very highly anticipated, and we just wanted to support Sunday at the Movies and bringing the kids to the show and making it a little more reasonable for the whole group to join in.”
The application period for many healthcare scholarships through the RiverView Foundation is now open. Applications for the following scholarships are due to the Foundation office by noon on April 15, 2025.
Bishop Afonya Healthcare Scholarship:
In memory of his father, Bishop Afonya, Dr. Idatonye Afonya offers the Bishop Afonya Healthcare Scholarship through the RiverView Foundation. Dr. Idatonye Afonya is a retired general surgeon who served RiverView Health as a valued medical staff member. This $1,000 scholarship is given to any RiverView service area resident within a 30-mile radius of Crookston. The recipient must either be enrolled or with an intention to enroll in a post-secondary program in a healthcare field.
Lenertz Family Healthcare Scholarship:
In recognition of the time and efforts Thomas C. Lenertz provided to the establishment and advancement of the RiverView Health Foundation, its Board of Directors established the Lenertz Family Healthcare Scholarship. As one of the RiverView Foundation’s original founders in 1990, Lenertz was instrumental in all development stages of the Foundation. As RiverView Health CEO, he continued to serve the Foundation as an ex-officio member of the Board of Directors until his December 2000 retirement. The $1,000 Lenertz Family Healthcare Scholarship will be awarded to three recipients from RiverView’s service area pursuing post-secondary education in a healthcare field.
June E. Shaver Healthcare Scholarship:
In memory of long-time Crookston community and healthcare champion June Shaver, this scholarship is for area students who have completed one semester of college, are enrolled in a second semester and are pursuing a healthcare degree. The scholarship is open to students from the communities of Crookston, Climax, Fertile, Mentor, Erskine, Red Lake Falls, Warren, Argyle, Stephen, Fisher, and East Grand Forks. A stipend of up to $1,000 will be awarded to each year’s scholarship recipient. Shaver served as the administrator of the Northwestern Clinic in Crookston from 1953 until her retirement in 1983.
Richard Maves Healthcare Scholarship:
In memory of Crookston community member Richard Maves, the Richard Maves Healthcare Scholarship is for area high school graduates who are enrolled and are pursuing a degree in a healthcare field. A stipend of up to $1,000 will be awarded to each year’s scholarship recipient. Applicants must be RiverView employees or live within a 30-mile radius of RiverView Health in Crookston. Maves’ legacy was his career as a pharmacist and successful business owner. He managed Eagle Drug in downtown Crookston for thirty-plus years.
Lynette “Pud’’ Joseph Healthcare Scholarship:
This scholarship is in memory of Joseph’s dedication to the nursing profession and the countless number of patients she so compassionately cared for over the years at RiverView. Joseph spent 49 years providing patient care and training nurses and students to be their very best. She passed away in 2020. The scholarship is open to residents within a 30-mile radius of RiverView. Applicants must be accepted into a LPN or initial (pre-licensure) RN nursing program (Associate degree or Baccalaureate degree). A stipend of $750 will be awarded to each year’s scholarship recipient.
Rongen Family Healthcare Scholarship:
Established in memory of Charles and Laverne Rongen, this $500 scholarship is open to high school graduates from Crookston, Beltrami, Fertile, and Fisher. Applicants must have completed one semester of college, enrolled in a second semester, and be working toward a degree in healthcare. Chuck and Laverne Rongen were both born and raised in Fertile. In 1964, they moved to Crookston, where they were an active part of the community, serving in most service clubs. Laverne was passionate about the RiverView Auxiliary and active in RiverView’s Limited Addition Gift Shop.
RiverView/Glenmore Foundation Scholarship:
The Glenmore Foundation established this scholarship to provide advanced training for professional development for those serving the therapeutic needs of individuals and families suffering from the disease of addiction. Eligible applicants must be seeking a degree and/or licensure in the field of addiction studies, addiction counseling, co-occurring disorder treatment or mental/chemical health fields. Preference will be given to candidates intending to work in the NW Minnesota region. A stipend of up to $2500 will be awarded to each scholarship recipient.
Guidelines and applications are available online at www.riverviewhealth.org/foundation/scholarships/, by calling the Foundation office at 281-9249, emailing Foundation Director Randy Schoenborn at rschoenborn@riverviewhealth.org, or by stopping at the Foundation office located at 721 S. Minnesota
The Crookston Ambassadors stopped by to catch up with the current owner andoperator of True Value, Matt Maves.
In 2021, the Ambassador Team stopped by to celebrate and congratulate Scott Maves,as he bought the business from Sheryl and Dean Adams. Four years later, they areback to honor Scott’s son, Matt, as he takes over the reins.Matt takes us back several months and shares how it went from the hands of oneMaves to another. Matt reminisces that he is no stranger to the hardware world. He was acclimated swiftly as it was his job to unload trucks, and he quickly became familiar withthe business side of things. Matt’s techy abilities complemented the store well whileScott did other things. Matt shares some of the day’s highlights, includingvisiting with regulars, meeting new customers, and catering to the older population patronizing the hardware store for decades.
Merrie, Matt’s mother, is an integral contributor to the success of the hardware store andwas quick to rattle off several of Matt’s strengths as a business owner. Matt alsosupports other small business owners and hobby farmers by sharing some self-space.You can expect to see mittens, honey, and jelly, so it’s a bit unique in that aspect. He shares upcoming events such as sales on rust-fighting water softeners, new spring arrivals, and other March discounts. Matt also plans to increase his presence onFacebook and other social media outlets and is proud to have something on sale ineach aisle.
In Matt’s spare time, you can find him enjoying outdoor activities such as kayaking and metal detector hunting. Store hours are Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Pictured here to congratulate and celebrate Matt are Kristy Morris Leas (Bremer Bank), Annie Behm Raymond (The Jeweler), Maves, Tracy Kuchan (LeBlanc Realty), andLindsey Erdman (Benedictine Living Community in Crookston).
If you would like to join our Ambassador Team, please call or text Carrie Bergquist at218-289-1823. Activities and responsibilities include gathering to recognize, honor, andcongratulate innovative businesses in Crookston. Ambassadors also participate in networking events, ribbon-cutting ceremonies, and other communitygatherings. They offer support, encouragement, and resources to local entrepreneurs.
Paul Barrett, aged 72, passed away at home on Saturday, March 8th, 2025, surrounded by family and friends after a battle with cancer.
Paul was born to Richard and Joyce of rural East Grand Forks. Growing up on a dairy farm, he learned to be a jack of all trades. He was always on the go, eager to learn, and willing to share the vast knowledge that he collected from his years of experience as a tow truck driver, mechanic, radio operator, high school teacher, surveyor, census taker, NWS Storm Spotter, and most recently USDA Enumerator.
But at heart, Paul was a farmer. Even if he was not actively farming for himself, you could find him driving the midnight shift during sugar beet harvest, going to ag-expos, or galivanting around the countryside interviewing other farmers for the USDA. He seemed to know everyone, and everyone knew him.
Always willing to lend a helping hand, Paul loved people. More importantly, he loved to make people laugh. He always had a joke, limerick, or cartoon ready to share to lighten any mood. However, the laughter he cherished most came from his one true love, his wife of over 50 years, Marilyn. Her laugh lit up his eyes and his laugh made her giggle even more – especially when he laughed at his own bad jokes.
Paul believed in the value of fixing, repairing, and repurposing anything he could. His supply of “I might need it in the future” items was vast. Some may question the method of his madness, but he always managed to get “something figured out” when he put his mind to it. His presence will be noticeably missed by all who knew and loved him.
Paul was a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather, and brother to his surviving family including his wife, Marilyn, daughters Liz and Emily, grandchildren Alex and Ronin, and his siblings John, David, Carolyn, Glenn, Sandy, and their respective families.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you follow in Paul’s footsteps, donating to a charity, such as a food pantry or the Red Cross, and help those in need without expectation of anything in return. The family will also be donating in his name to the Cancer Center in place of Thank You notes as appreciation for all their kindness and care in his final years.
To commemorate his personality, please wear your most comfortable T-shirts, jeans, and farmer hats when you come to celebrate his life at United Lutheran Church on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at 11 a.m.
Reception and Luncheon to follow services.
Arrangements by Dahl Funeral Home, East Grand Forks, Minnesota. www.stennesfuneralhome.com
LOL (laugh out loud) is more than just an acronym; it’s a fun way to exercise your lungs and enhance lung capacity. However, when you are struggling to breathe, laughing is often the last thing on your mind. If you want to improve your lung health, check out RiverView Health’s Pulmonary Rehab program. The team can help you breathe easier and LOL.
March 9-15 is Pulmonary Rehab Week. According to RiverView’s Cardiopulmonary Coordinator Wanda Sorum, BS, RRT, pulmonary rehab programs are few and far between in the region, with Crookston, Grand Forks, and Fargo offering the few programs available.
Pulmonary rehabilitation is a supervised program that helps people with lung disease breathe and live better. RiverView’s program includes
-Exercise to improve strength, energy, and oxygen use
-Education to help the patient understand their condition, symptoms, medications, and
breathing techniques
-Nutritional counseling to ensure the patient maintains a healthy diet
-Psychological counseling to address mental health issues that can accompany
chronic disease
-Energy-saving techniques to teach the patient how to conserve energy
The program may benefit people with chronic lung diseases like COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), bronchiectasis, or pulmonary fibrosis. While it is best to start pulmonary rehabilitation before the disease becomes severe, it can also help people with advanced lung disease.
COVID-19 Increases Patient Load
RiverView’s program demand has increased since COVID-19 began, according to Sorum.“We have had quite a few post-COVID patients that have benefited from pulmonary rehab to decrease their shortness of breath and improve their functional capacity,” she stated. “With rehab, they were able to return to work or their daily activities.”
Even patients who had COVID but did not have to be hospitalized have found that the pulmonary program has improved their lung function, Sorum reported. Patients also benefit from the accountability the program requires and the camaraderie of being with others who understand their circumstances and can share tips and experiences.“Pulmonary patients come in with many concerns about what they can do and what we may expect them to do,” Sorum said. “We take each patient individually and work with them in a slow, steady fashion toward the goals they choose. The most satisfying part of working in pulmonary rehab is seeing the patients progress further than they ever thought possible.”
From Cardiac Rehab Graduate to Pulmonary Rehab Patient
Linda Aanenson of Fertile exercises in RiverView’s Cardiopulmonary Rehab several days a week. After having a heart bypass, Aanenson was a patient of RiverView’s Cardiac Rehab program and now the Pulmonary Rehab program, which she says is much easier because of the strength she gained from the cardiac program.Patients’ heart, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation are monitored as they exercise. If needed, participants use supplemental oxygen while exercising.“The girls are awesome,” Aanenson shared of RiverView’s Cardiopulmonary Rehab Team. “They explain a lot and keep an eye on you. If you need to go through a program and you have a choice of where to go, come here. Do your best and go from there.”
RiverView’s Pulmonary Rehab Team consists of Sorum, Stephanie Korynta, RRT, Brook Lambert, CEP, and Alecia Perry, RN. Sorum said the team has worked with patients with a variety of needs, including one waiting for a lung transplant. Through pulmonary rehab, RiverView’s team helped the patient prepare for the surgery and then helped with recovery afterward.
Along with a transplant, other qualifying conditions include
– COPD
– COVID-19
– Bronchiectasis
– Sarcoidosis
– Pulmonary Hypertension
– Pulmonary Fibrosis
– Interstitial Lung Disease
– Lung Cancer and Lung Cancer Surgery
– Lung Volume Reduction Surgery
– Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
RiverView’s Pulmonary Rehab program runs on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Participants usually attend sessions three times a week for eight to 12 weeks for up to 36 sessions.
If you have shortness of breath, talk to your primary care provider about your options. Pulmonary rehab may be what you need to get back to your LOL status. For more information on RiverView’s program,call 281.9411.
Karren Yvonne Egstad, age 75 of Gand Forks, died on Thursday, March 6, 2025 at her home.
Karren Y. Egstad, a daughter of Harold and Ruth (Patzloff) Thompson, was born on March 5, 1950 in Grand Forks, ND. She moved with her family at a young age to Crookston, MN where she attended school. After her education she began working with disabled individuals at group homes in Crookston. In the early 2000’s Karren moved to Grand Forks where she worked at Altru hospital in housekeeping for several years until an injury forced her to retire.
She enjoyed spending time on her tablet, often being banned from Facebook for her political posts. Karren loved to watch episodes of Flip or Flop on HGTV. HGTV was her favorite program to watch. She was perfectly content spending time at home with her one and only loving son, Eric.
She is survived by her son, Eric of Grand Forks, ND; a sister, Marlys (Jimmy) Johnson of Crookston, MN a brother, Daryl (Diana) Thompson of Crookston, MN; and many nieces and nephews.
Karen was preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Ruth Thompson, and a brother, Rodger Thompson.
John LaCrosse, 86 of Red Lake Falls, MN passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 6, 2025 at Villa St. Vincent in Crookston, MN with his loving family by his side.
Visitation will begin at 5:00 PM with the Mass of Christian Burial at 7:00 PM on Friday, March 14, 2025 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Red Lake Falls, MN with Father Bob Schreiner presiding. Burial will be at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery at a later date.
John Frederick LaCrosse was born on May 10, 1938 in Crookston, MN to Henry and Hazel (Zaiser) LaCrosse. He was raised on a farm in Lake Pleasant Township until the age of 10 when his father semi-retired and moved the family into town. Jack attended Lafayette High School, graduating in 1957. He participated in various activities including band, basketball and baseball and was well liked by all. Jack started dating his wife Glady while in high school on a dare from his friends. Jack and Glady were married at St. Joseph’s Church on May 16, 1959. They made their home in rural Terrebonne Township where Jack farmed for 40 years. From this union they were blessed with five children John, Cindy, Keith, Mark, and Tony. Upon his retirement in 2000 he sold the farm to his son Mark where he continued to work and help out until recently when his health began to decline.
Jack was very involved in many organizations over the years. He was a member of his church’s men’s guild, and choir. He was chairman for many years on his local elevator board, chaired the ASCS board for 11 years, and served on the Terrebonne Township board for 42 years until his retirement in 2019.
Jack and Glady loved traveling together, going on multiple cruises and bus tours. Some of their travels included exploring the Caribbean, watching the Winter Olympics in Canada, exploring the beauty of Alaska, trips around Lake Michigan, and experiencing the New England coast area during the fall. Jack enjoyed playing cards with family. He taught his kids to play pinochle, whist, cribbage, and the kids taught him the family favorite game Oh “Shucks” (if you know you know). He also enjoyed watching anything western and cheering on his favorite team the Vikings.
Jack is survived by his children; John (Dianne) Thomas, Cindy (Perry) Barnes, Keith (Jenipher) LaCrosse, Mark (Melanie) LaCrosse, Tony (Sue) LaCrosse, grandchildren; Matt Thomas, Brandon Thomas, Dave (Rebecca) Forsberg, Beth (Chad) Griffith, Zack LaCrosse, Abby LaCrosse, Andrew LaCrosse, Adam LaCrosse, Megan LaCrosse, Ashley LaCrosse, Heather Uriell, Cory Uriell, and several great grandchildren.
Jack is preceded in death by his parents, wife Glady and two infant children born in 1964.
On Friday, March 7th, Industrial Tech teacher Mr. Travis Oliver took 25 students from his Industrial Tech classes to visit American Crystal Sugar in Crookston.
The visit included an overview of what the plant does daily. The students also heard about all the great job opportunities available at Crystal Sugar and the great benefits that come with employment, which included Scholarship programs that can cover everything for a student in college.
The students’ visit also included a tour of the factory, which Mr. Oliver says anyone who has not been to the factory will see is pretty overwhelming. Mr. Oliver would like to thank Cory and Nicole of Crystal Sugar for hosting his students and for their continued partnership each year.
The Office of the Registrar recently announced students named to the Fall Semester 2024 Dean’s List. To qualify for a place on the Dean’s List, students must have at least 12 earned credits as of the last day of the semester, and a semester grade-point average of 3.5 to 3.74 must be achieved.
Students named to the Dean’s List include the following: sorted alphabetically by last name, according to hometown.
