Month: April 2020

RiverView Health is pleased to announce the addition of Kevin Murphy, MD, to its medical staff.

A graduate of Mayo Medical School, Rochester, MN, Dr. Murphy specializes in rehabilitation services for children with physical disabilities and adults with childhood-onset conditions. His practice is located in RiverView’s Specialty Clinic, Crookston.

He specializes in care for patients with:

• Genetic functional impairment
• Musculoskeletal issues
• Neurologic impairments
• Neuromuscular disorders

Dr. Murphy is the medical director of pediatric rehabilitation for Sanford Health Systems in Bismarck, ND, and Northern Minnesota. He is also the CEO and chief medical officer for Northland Pediatric Rehabilitation LLC, a private practice consulting service for pediatric rehabilitation medicine. His clinical expertise includes rural specialty healthcare, pediatrics, adults with childhood-onset disability (lifespan care), musculoskeletal medicine, and ultrasound. He holds subspecialty certification in pediatric rehabilitation medicine. He is also the editor, along with two co-editors, of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine, Principles and Practice, 6th edition, Demos Medical, NY, NY, 2020.

A proud member of the military, Dr. Murphy served 24 years, including four combat tours in Iraq.

In his free time, he enjoys scuba diving, hiking, reading, and practicing martial arts. He also enjoys spending time with his family and being on Rainy Lake.

To make an appointment with Dr. Murphy, call 218-281-9553.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation announced the opening of the Highway 2B Sorlie Bridge over the Red River in East Grand Forks.  It has been inspected by the North Dakota Department of Transportation and the Minnesota Department of Transportation and is safe to open to motorists. Additional load limits and weight restrictions are in effect and the bridge may not be able to accommodate some oversize vehicles or farm equipment.

As the water receded and exposed the driving surface, MnDOT crews conducted routine maintenance activities in order to take advantage of the closure and not further impact motorists in the near future.

MnDOT crews continue to monitor water levels along with the remaining highway segments that are closed due to flooding. Highways impacted by floods need to be inspected for damage and safety prior to opening.

The highways in northwestern Minnesota that remain closed due to flooding include:

• Highway 1 from Oslo to CR 17
• Highway 175 between North Dakota and CR 34, west of Hallock
• Highway 220 north of Oslo, between Highway 1 and Highway 11
• Highway 317 between Highway 220 and North Dakota border
• Highway 102 northwest of Fertile from Hwy 32 to CR 44

Areas that have water on the road or are closed because of flooding are marked on MnDOT’s road conditions map www.511mn.org. When a road is closed it is illegal to travel in that area. Motorists can be fined up to $1,000 and/or 90 days in jail. In addition, if travelers need to be rescued from a closed road, other expenses and penalties will apply.

Today, Governors Gretchen Whitmer (MI), Mike DeWine (OH), Tony Evers (WI), Tim Walz (MN), JB Pritzker (IL), Eric Holcomb (IN), and Andy Beshear (KY) announced that they will work in close coordination to reopen the economy in the Midwest region.

The governors said, “We are doing everything we can to protect the people of our states and slow the spread of COVID-19, and we are eager to work together to mitigate the economic crisis this virus has caused in our region. Here in the Midwest, we are bound by our commitment to our people and the community. We recognize that our economies are all reliant on each other, and we must work together to safely reopen them so hardworking people can get back to work and businesses can get back on their feet.

“Today, we are announcing that Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky will work in close coordination to reopen our economies in a way that prioritizes our workers’ health. We look forward to working with experts and taking a fact-based, data-driven approach to reopening our economy in a way that protect families from the spread of COVID-19.

“Our number one priority when analyzing when best to reopen our economy is the health and safety of our citizens. We will make decisions based on facts, science, and recommendations from experts in health care, business, labor, and education.

“We will closely examine at least these four factors when determining when best to reopen our economy:

• Sustained control of the rate of new infections and hospitalizations.
• Enhanced ability to test and trace.
• Sufficient health care capacity to handle resurgence.
• And best practices for social distancing in the workplace.

“Phasing in sectors of our economy will be most effective when we work together as a region. This doesn’t mean our economy will reopen all at once, or that every state will take the same steps at the same time. But close coordination will ensure we get this right. Over time, people will go back to work, restaurants will reopen, and things will go back to normal. We look forward to working together as one region to tackle this challenge together.”

The Crookston Area Chamber and Crookston Housing and Economic Development Authority announced last month they were going to run an incentive program that turns receipts from shopping local into Chamber Bucks.  Chamber Executive Director Terri Heggie said that as of Wednesday night, the Chamber had received more than $13,500 in receipts spent at Crookston businesses. “We had somebody that last night who submitted $536 in receipts,” said Heggie.  “Another household submitted $913 worth of receipts, that is fabulous spending locally, but we do have a cap of $500.00 of reimbursable receipts per household. For example, submit $200.00 in receipts receive $20.00 in Chamber Bucks, submit $400.00 in receipts receive $40.00, any receipts which add up to more than $500.00 will receive $50.00 in Chamber Bucks. Doing this gives you money to go right back out and support local.  We have seen so many receipts come in that I wonder what we are going to hit by April 30 when this is done.  We’ve already surpassed $13,500 in 18 days with two weeks left to go.  I’m excited to see what number we can hit.” 

Heggie said the Chamber Buck program incentive is simple, shop local, and collect $10 in Chamber Bucks for every $100 spent. “The Chamber Buck program incentive that we have going right now is going fabulous,” said Heggie.  “This started on March 30 and runs until April 30.  It’s so simple to take part in; simply do shopping locally.  That can be any retail, restaurant; the only thing excluded from this would be alcohol or tobacco.  Go out, do your shopping here in Crookston.  Get your food to go, shop at Hugo’s, at Walmart.  Wherever you are gathering your receipts from, we want to see them.  For example, yesterday afternoon, I saw a line out at Taco John’s that went well out into the street.  Anybody that was there eating yesterday, that’s a perfect thing to do, is to submit your receipts from eating out yesterday.  What we are doing with every $100 increment is returning to you Chamber Buck dollars that may be used at area Chamber members.”

Receipts can be submitted through a dropbox at the Crookston Chamber office, mail, or via email, explains Heggie. “It’s very easy to submit your receipts,” said Heggie.  “You can put them in an envelope and have your name, address, and phone number.  And put them in our mailbox outside of our office at 103 S Broadway.  If you would prefer, you can mail them to the Crookston Chamber PO BOX 115.  You can make copies of them as well and can email them off to me or send them to me through messenger.  My email address is theggie@visitcrookston.com.”

Heggie said Crookston’s businesses appreciate the support and encourages keeping dollars local. “It’s clearly showing that our Crookston community is supporting local and keeping those dollars here, which is so important right now,” said Heggie.  “And I can tell you that our businesses appreciate it.  As I’ve been out and about, either face-to-face or over the phone talking to area businesses, they appreciate the support.  They are still seeing consistent traffic.  Let’s keep that up.  Let’s not head west to go shopping.  Let’s keep those dollars right here in the Crookston community and keep us going.”