Month: June 2020

Northland is set to virtually host Minnesota State Week on its East Grand Forks and Thief River Falls campuses June 22-26. Thirty state colleges and seven state universities of the Minnesota State system will participate in this second annual event.

“We are looking forward to hosting our second Minnesota State Week at Northland. We hope to encourage anyone that is considering beginning their education or making a career change to take the first step in that journey at Northland,” explains Director of Enrollment Management and Admissions Nicki Carlson, “Education can have a significant impact on an individual’s future and Northland is a nationally ranked institution that delivers an exceptional education without the high-end price.” 

During this notable week, Northland will be offering virtual information sessions with admissions, academic advising, and financial aid professionals as well as virtual tours to help students and their families gather advice and have their questions answered on the college admissions and enrollment process. 

“Minnesota State Week is a wonderful opportunity for students to virtually explore Northland’s campuses,” Ben Hoffman, Director of Advising and Registrar, illustrates, “Students can see first-hand the close-knit relationships that will be built with their advisors and staff at Northland.  Students will learn how their educational goals will be met and how Northland is the perfect fit to help students from every background fulfill their career goals”.

As has been the case for twelve months, there is no fee to apply for admission to Northland, however, financing a college education can seem daunting at best. Students should feel confident that they are getting the best return on this investment.  

“Financing a college education may be a burden for many and the process of applying for financial aid can be confusing and formidable,” reveals Lisa Bottom, Director of Financial Aid, “We hope to mitigate some of the anxiety associated with that process and demonstrate how truly affordable a Northland education can be.”

Those that apply for admission, request program information, or take a virtual tour of Northland during this week will be eligible to register for the Northland is a Go Scholarship. One $500 scholarship will be awarded on each of Northland’s campuses.

Minnesota State Week is open for recent high school graduates, workforce professionals, and anyone looking to get an in-depth look at Northland’s 80+ program offerings. To learn more about Minnesota State Week and to sign up for a virtual information session, go to northlandcollege.edu/mnstateweek.

Northland is set to virtually host Minnesota State Week on its East Grand Forks and Thief River Falls campuses June 22-26. Thirty state colleges and seven state universities of the Minnesota State system will participate in this second annual event.

“We are looking forward to hosting our second Minnesota State Week at Northland. We hope to encourage anyone that is considering beginning their education or making a career change to take the first step in that journey at Northland,” explains Director of Enrollment Management and Admissions Nicki Carlson, “Education can have a significant impact on an individual’s future and Northland is a nationally ranked institution that delivers an exceptional education without the high-end price.” 

During this notable week, Northland will be offering virtual information sessions with admissions, academic advising, and financial aid professionals as well as virtual tours to help students and their families gather advice and have their questions answered on the college admissions and enrollment process. 

“Minnesota State Week is a wonderful opportunity for students to virtually explore Northland’s campuses,” Ben Hoffman, Director of Advising and Registrar, illustrates, “Students can see first-hand the close-knit relationships that will be built with their advisors and staff at Northland.  Students will learn how their educational goals will be met and how Northland is the perfect fit to help students from every background fulfill their career goals”.

As has been the case for twelve months, there is no fee to apply for admission to Northland, however, financing a college education can seem daunting at best. Students should feel confident that they are getting the best return on this investment.  

“Financing a college education may be a burden for many and the process of applying for financial aid can be confusing and formidable,” reveals Lisa Bottom, Director of Financial Aid, “We hope to mitigate some of the anxiety associated with that process and demonstrate how truly affordable a Northland education can be.”

Those that apply for admission, request program information, or take a virtual tour of Northland during this week will be eligible to register for the Northland is a Go Scholarship. One $500 scholarship will be awarded on each of Northland’s campuses.

Minnesota State Week is open for recent high school graduates, workforce professionals, and anyone looking to get an in-depth look at Northland’s 80+ program offerings. To learn more about Minnesota State Week and to sign up for a virtual information session, go to northlandcollege.edu/mnstateweek.

Mandy and Gunnar Holte thanked the community in a press release sent out by the North Dakota National Guard on Friday afternoon.  Mandy Holte is the wife of Cody who was killed while on duty as a Grand Forks Police officer.  The letter is below –
It’s now been over three weeks since the tragic death of our beloved Cody, adoring husband and devoted daddy. Although our grief remains strong, Gunnar and I have been able to rejoice in the persistent, steadfast support from the community of Grand Forks and across the region.
It’s impossible to fully express our gratitude to the countless individuals, businesses, and organizations that took time to send cards and notes, share meals and stories or contribute to the myriad of fundraisers, campaigns, etc. Search #GrandForksStrong, which has evolved from a social media tag into something tangible and meaningful to Gunnar and me, and you’ll get an idea of the magnitude of supporters. The solidarity and camaraderie exhibited in honor of Cody’s legacy have been truly remarkable.
We can only hope all those involved feel any measure of our sincere and eternal gratitude through this all-encompassing THANK YOU. Take care and God bless.
– Mandy and Gunnar

Mandy and Gunnar Holte thanked the community in a press release sent out by the North Dakota National Guard on Friday afternoon.  Mandy Holte is the wife of Cody who was killed while on duty as a Grand Forks Police officer.  The letter is below –
It’s now been over three weeks since the tragic death of our beloved Cody, adoring husband and devoted daddy. Although our grief remains strong, Gunnar and I have been able to rejoice in the persistent, steadfast support from the community of Grand Forks and across the region.
It’s impossible to fully express our gratitude to the countless individuals, businesses, and organizations that took time to send cards and notes, share meals and stories or contribute to the myriad of fundraisers, campaigns, etc. Search #GrandForksStrong, which has evolved from a social media tag into something tangible and meaningful to Gunnar and me, and you’ll get an idea of the magnitude of supporters. The solidarity and camaraderie exhibited in honor of Cody’s legacy have been truly remarkable.
We can only hope all those involved feel any measure of our sincere and eternal gratitude through this all-encompassing THANK YOU. Take care and God bless.
– Mandy and Gunnar

In-office visits are picking up at RiverView Health as COVID-19 cases decrease throughout the state, and adults realize the importance of routine checkups for themselves and well-child visits and immunizations for their children.

“Our parking lot was packed this morning, and there was a line in the Cafeteria at lunch,” shared an optimistic Carrie Michalski, RiverView President/CEO. “It feels kind of like old times.”

On June 15, the Minnesota Department of Health reported 230 new cases of COVID-19, the lowest one-day total for new cases reported since April 27. Six new deaths were reported, accounting for the fewest since there were zero reported deaths on April 13.

With businesses reopening, restaurants allowing customers back inside, and surgeries resuming health care providers are seeing more and more patients in-person rather than through video visits. While telehealth visits are available for patients not needing a physical exam, Amy Seaver, director of RiverView Clinics, said providers are happy to see an uptick of patients back in the clinics after the fear of COVID-19 slowed traffic for a few months.

GETTING BACK TO ROUTINE EXAMS

Delaying routine exams or follow-ups for fear of contracting COVID-19 could put patients at high risk when RiverView has yet to treat a patient diagnosed with COVID-19 in the hospital.

“Annual visits and immunizations are very important for prevention and to catch things early, so they are more treatable,” Seaver reported.

Regular health exams and tests can help find problems before they start. By getting the right health services, screenings, and treatments, you are taking steps that help your chances of living a longer, healthier life.

SAFE TO COME BACK
Heading back to RiverView clinics for care is safe. Already stringent cleaning protocols and safety procedures have been pushed into overdrive to assure the wellbeing of patients and staff during the pandemic. RiverView policy now also requires every person who enters the building to be screened for COVID-19 and wear a mask.

“We really have put safety and infection control in place since the very beginning,” Seaver stated. “We have patients waiting in cars until we are ready to room them, we do registration over the phone, we have sick patients coming in a different door than healthy patients, and we have separate exam rooms where sick patients are seen versus healthy. If patients do need to wait in our waiting room, we have removed chairs so they are safely socially distanced. We also clean thoroughly between each patient, which we have always done.”

If you need to schedule routine care, call your primary care clinic at one of the numbers below. A Patient Access representative will help you determine the care option that best meets your needs.

• Crookston, North Clinic: 218-281-9595
• East Grand Forks: 218-773-1390
• Fertile: 218-945-6695
• Red Lake Falls: 218-253-4606

As a reminder, if you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, call RiverView’s Coronavirus Nurse Screening Hotline at 218-470-7983 before visiting any of our locations.

Updated June 19, 2020The Minnesota Department of Health has released the latest COVID-19 numbers.  The state conducted 14,216 tests with 362 positive tests and 17 deaths.  Most counties in northwest Minnesota haven’t seen a positive case in several days.  All the numbers are below.
Updated daily at 11 a.m., with data current as of 4 p.m. the previous day.

Data is for cases that were tested and returned positive. All data is preliminary and may change as cases are investigated. Many data points are collected during case interviews. Data presented below is for all cases, regardless of interview status. Data for cases pending interview may be listed as “unknown/missing.”

Not all suspected cases of COVID-19 are tested, so this data is not representative of the total number of people in Minnesota who have or had COVID-19. Cumulative numbers are since Jan. 20, 2020.

• Minnesota COVID-19 Public Dashboard
• Minnesota’s COVID-19 Response and Preparation Capacity
• CDC: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Cases in the U.S.
• Minnesota COVID-19 Modeling

Data in the data tables is correct as of 11 a.m. daily. Dynamic images and maps for case demographics, likely exposure, residence, and residence type will update shortly after 11 a.m. daily and will not work if your browser is in compatibility mode.

Governor Tim Walz today issued a proclamation to officially recognize June 19, 2020 as Juneteenth Freedom Day in the State of Minnesota to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States. Governor Walz is also calling on the legislature to work with community to establish a state holiday recognizing Juneteenth.

“Juneteenth marks our country’s second Independence Day, celebrating freedom and justice and emphasizing education, achievement, and tolerance,” reads Governor Walz’s proclamation. “We must do everything in our power to come together to deconstruct generations of systemic racism in our state so that every person in Minnesota – Black, Indigenous, Brown, and White – can be safe and thrive.”

“It took more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed for news of freedom to reach enslaved African-Americans in Texas,” said Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan. “Juneteenth is both a celebration and a reminder that justice does not come in one action nor is it quick. It is the work we must never stop doing.”

The proclamation notes the significance of this year’s Juneteenth Freedom Day, as we grapple with our state’s racial injustices during the 100th commemoration of the lynching of Elias Clayton, Elmer Jackson, and Isaac McGhie on June 15, 1920 in Duluth, and the killing of George Floyd on May 25, 2020.

The Minnesota Legislature would need to pass legislation to establish Juneteenth as a state holiday. The Governor is asking the state legislative leaders to work with the community to draft and advance a bill that he could sign into law.

Polk County Public Health works with local, regional, and state organizations as well as public, private, and non-profit entities to ensure the safety and security of citizens and the availability of emergency resources for all.  Polk County MN Responds is a local unit whose function is to provide medical, public, and mental health support services during emergencies. MN Responds is a nationwide initiative to pre-register, manage, and mobilize volunteers in times of need explains Polk County Public Health’s Terri Oliver. “Minnesota Responds is a nationwide initiative to pre-register, manage, and mobilize volunteers, so that we have them in times of need,” said Oliver. “Each local unit is organized through a local public health agency such as Polk County Public Health. Pre-registration allows the local volunteer administrator to access the skills of registered volunteers and determine where they might fit in during an event. It also allows for those local volunteers to be called up quickly should the need occur.”

Oliver said Polk County is seeking medical and non-medical volunteers to assist in preparing for and responding to public health emergencies. “We’re looking for volunteers in all walks of life that could use their skills in the event of a health emergency or natural disaster,” said Oliver. “They can be health care professionals, physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, nursing assistants, veterinarians, in the behavior health field, psychologists, social service professionals, social workers, counselors, chaplains, and interpreters. They can also be support staff such as clerical workers, data entry, greeters, traffic control, or canteen workers.”

Oliver said volunteers can help their community regardless of their age, or employment status, and can also choose to volunteer nationally. “Volunteers donate their time and expertise in the area where they live making it easier for them to help their own family, neighborhood, and community,” said Oliver. “Volunteers can be practicing, retired, college students, or otherwise employed. Volunteers who register with Minnesota Responds have the option to say if they want to deploy nationally or stay local. We are looking for local volunteers.”

Minnesota Responds has been around for a long time, but Oliver said it hadn’t been heavily pushed until COVID-19 hit. “It never really has been heavily pushed,” said Oliver. “We did recruit several years ago. We’re just reawakening with COVID at hand and realizing that volunteers are needed within our community. Not for COVID, but for upcoming events. Say if a vaccine comes out, we’d possibly use volunteers for our points of dispensing to get our residents through quickly for vaccination. There could be a number of events that we would call up a volunteer for.”

The county is not only looking for new volunteers but hoping the current database of 88 volunteers will log-in to update their information said, Oliver. “If you’re willing to volunteer, please register at www.minnesotaresponds.org,” said Oliver. “If you are already a registered volunteer, please log into your account and update your information. If you need technical assistance navigating the registration process, please contact Terri at 218-521-7736. Thank you.”