Month: June 2020

On Saturday, June 13, at 3:40 p.m. the Polk County Sheriff’s Office received information of a found Service Dog in rural Fertile MN, Andy Lake Area. 

The dog is medium size, gray, spotted with tan legs.  No other information is available. 

If anyone has any information as to who may own this dog, please call the Polk County Sheriff’s office.  

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Sunday, June 14 is Flag Day. Flag Day commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States on June 14, 1777, by resolution of the Second Continental Congress.  It is also the birthday of the U.S. Army which was adopted by Congress after reaching a consensus position in the Committee of the Whole on June 14, 1775. Flag Day was first proclaimed by President Woodrow Wilson in 1916 and established by an Act of Congress in 1949.

The Crookston American Legion Auxiliary submitted two historical writings in honor of flag day – “Hello, Remember Me?” and “I am Your Flag”. The two pieces are written from the perspective of Old Glory.

HELLO, REMEMBER ME?
Some people call me Old Glory, others call me the Star Spangled Banner, but whatever they call me, I am your Flag, the Flag of the United States of America. Something has been bothering me, so I thought I might talk it over with you, because it is about you and me.

I remember some time ago people lined up on both sides of the street to watch the parade and naturally I was leading every parade, proudly waving in the breeze. When your daddy saw me coming, he immediately removed his hat and placed it against his left shoulder so that the hand was directly over his heart. Remember?

And you, I remember you. Standing there, straight as a soldier. You didn’t have a hat, but you were giving the right salute. Remember little sister? Not to be outdone, she was saluting the same as you with her right hand over her heart. Remember?

What happened? I’m still the same old flag. Oh, I may have a few more Stars since you were a boy. A lot more blood has been shed since those parades of long ago.

But now I don’t feel as proud as I used to. When I come down your street, you just sand there with your hands in your pockets. I may get a small glance and then you look away. Then I see the children running around and shouting; they don’t seem to know who I am. I saw one man take his hat off, then look around. He didn’t see anybody else with theirs off so he quickly put his back on.

Is it a sin to be patriotic any more? Have you forgotten what I stand for and where I’ve been? Europe, Anzio, Guadalcanal, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq. Take a look at the Memorial Honor Rolls sometimes, of those who never came back to keep this Republic free. One Nation Under God, when you salute me, you are saluting them. Well, it won’t be long until I’ll be coming down your street again. So, when you see me, stand straight, place your right hand over your heart and should you be a veteran render a military salute and I’ll salute you, by waving back, and I’ll know that YOU REMEMBERED!

I AM YOU FLAG
Traditionalists say I was born of a woman’s hand…fashioned from bits of cloth by a seamstress in Philadelphia a year after the new country was born.

Historians are less certain of my origin. Yet, no one doubts my existence. I was created out of necessity to serve as the emblem of a people whose experiment in nationhood was as unique as the arrangement of my stars and stripes.

I have proven my adaptability to change. I’ve accommodated growth. I’ve stood up to time and troubles. I fluttered in the fall air with General Washington and his loyal French allies at Yorktown. My fabric was shredded by cannonballs from British frigates in the War of 1812, and I was carried in triumph by Andy Jackson at New Orleans. The British could see me clearly in the mists of “the dawn’s early light” waving from the standards of Fort McHenry.

I’ve witnessed turmoil and bitterness, even lost some of my glory in mid-century in a war between brothers, but I was restored as a Nation’s emblem at Appomattox.

I traveled West with new frontiers. I flew from the headlamps of the Iron Horse in Utah. I was with the prospectors at Sutter’s Mill, and with the Rough Riders at San Juan Hill.

I crossed the Marne with the doughboys anxious to make the world safe for democracy. I was raised over a shell-pocketed hilltop at Iwo Jima, and I stood by grim-faced negotiators at Panmunjom. I was on the last helicopter from Saigon.

I have been around in victory and defeat. I’ve seen pain and pleasure. I’ve been folded smartly by soldiers and handed gently to weeping widows. I’ve covered the coffins of those who’ve served country and community. But I’ve also decorated bandstands and concert halls. I am saluted to in parades, in schools, and at ball parks.

I’ve felt the heat of the tropics, the cold of the frozen north and the searing sands of the “Desert Storm.” I’ve flown proudly as food is distributed to the less fortunate and cried tears of shame that caused my red, white, and blue to run together as I was spat upon, trampled in the ground and burned before a mocking crowd.

I am a part of political campaigns, high holidays and ice cream socials. I fly from skyscrapers and bungalows, I’ve been to the moon and the ocean floor.

So, I am everywhere my people are. Saluted, scorned, held with pride, ridiculed because I am everything my people are: proud, angry, happy, sad, vengeful, argumentative, ambitious, and indifferent.

I was created to serve a people in struggle and a government in change. There are now more stars in my blue field than there were in the beginning and if need be, there’s room for more.

But this I promise, those red and white stripes will remain in the future as I have kept them in the past, always clearly visible through whatever struggle I am put through. I will always remain a symbol of “The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.”

I am your past. I am your future. I am your flag.

The Minnesota Department of Health reports 394 new cases of COVID-19 and 9 new deaths for Saturday, June 13.  Minnesota has now topped 30,000 cases with 30,172 cases and 1,283 deaths. There are 25,620 patients no longer requiring isolation. All the numbers are below –

Updated June 13, 2020
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.

The governor has again extended his peacetime emergency declaration, and since we were not in session at the time, he was required to bring the legislature back for a special session.

I have heard from many people in our community who are opposed to this expansion of the governor’s executive authority. House Republicans brought a resolution during the session today to end the governor’s peacetime emergency powers, but despite receiving bipartisan support, the resolution, unfortunately, did not pass.

If you would like to follow along with the special session, you can watch committee hearings and legislative sessions, and find the legislative schedule, on the MN House of Representatives website here.

If you have thoughts on any issue that may come in front of the legislature during the special session, please feel free to contact me.

It’s an honor and privilege to work for you at the Capitol. Don’t hesitate to contact my office at any time this session to share your thoughts, concerns, or ideas. I am here to serve you!

Deb Kiel

Agricultural producers who have not yet enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for 2020 must do so by June 30. Although program elections for the 2020 crop year remain the same as elections made for 2019, all producers need to contact their local USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) office to sign a 2020 enrollment contract.

“The Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs are critical safety-net programs for farmers, helping producers weather market distortions resulting from natural disasters, trade disruptions and, this year, a pandemic,” said FSA Administrator Richard Fordyce. “Contact your FSA county office today to complete enrollment before June 30. This can be done in concert with filing your acreage report and applying for other FSA programs.”

To date, more than 1.4 million ARC and PLC contracts have been signed for the 2020 crop year. This represents 89 percent of expected enrollment. FSA will send reminder postcards to producers who, according to agency records, have not yet submitted signed contracts for ARC or PLC for the 2020 crop year.

Producers who do not complete enrollment by close of business local time on Tuesday, June 30 will not be enrolled in ARC or PLC for the 2020 crop year and will be ineligible to receive a payment should one trigger for an eligible crop.

ARC and PLC contracts can be mailed or emailed to producers for signature depending on producer preference. Signed contracts can be mailed or emailed back to FSA or, arrangements can be made in advance with FSA to drop off signed contracts at the FSA county office – call ahead for local drop off and other options available for submitting signed contracts electronically.

Producers are eligible to enroll on farms with base acres for the following commodities: barley, canola, large and small chickpeas, corn, crambe, flaxseed, grain sorghum, lentils, mustard seed, oats, peanuts, dry peas, rapeseed, long grain rice, medium- and short-grain rice, safflower seed, seed cotton, sesame, soybeans, sunflower seed and wheat. 

More Information 

For more information on ARC and PLC including web-based decision tools, visit farmers.gov/arc-plc.

Personal protective equipment, or PPE, is necessary to protect farmers and other agricultural workers from pesticides, grain dust, mold, and other hazards.  The COVID-19 global pandemic, however, has stressed the supplies of PPE since the emergency needs of our medical care providers and first responders must be met.  The following are some considerations if you are a farmer, applicator, or other agricultural professional facing a shortage of PPE.

WHAT LEVEL OF PPE DO YOU NEED?
For pesticide applications, a long-sleeve shirt, long pants, shoes and socks are typically the minimum required PPE when mixing, loading, and applying a product.  Protective eye-wear including goggles or a face shield, chemical-resistant gloves, additional clothing such as a chemical resistant apron or coveralls, and/or a respirator may also be listed on the label. 

Always check the pesticide label for specific PPE requirements – the label lists what is required to lawfully use a particular product and restrictions exist for personal health and safety.  Note, the label will list the minimum level of PPE required, you can always wear a higher level of protection. 

RESPIRATORS: WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS
Respirators are one of the PPE items most likely to be in short supply at this time. 

They can be required for numerous agricultural activities, including when working with grain, livestock, hay, manure pits, silos, and certain pesticides.  The following resources summarize the types of respirators needed for various activities:

• Agriculture Respirator Selection Guide:  http://umash.umn.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/respirator-options-guide-8×11-june-2017.pdf. 
• Respirator Worksheet:  http://umash.umn.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Website-August-2018-Respirator-Worksheet.pdf   

With current demand being extremely high for N95 masks, masks that provide a higher filtering capacity (e.g. N99 or N100) may be easier to find, even if they might be more expensive.  A half-mask respirator with a cartridge or a full-face respirator are options to consider as well and they may be easier to find since they are less likely to be used in the medical field.  These can last a long time, but may be more uncomfortable, more costly, and require more parts than a mask. 

Check for availability through your local farm supply store or online options such as (but not limited to) Gemplers, Grainger, PK Safety, Northern Safety & Industrial and Amazon.  Ensure all respiratory protection is marked NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) approved with the filtering capacity it provides. 

RESPIRATOR FIT TESTING
When a tight fit is required when wearing a respirator, a fit test is needed to ensure you are getting the proper protection.  For more information on fit testing and sites that offer this service to farmers in MN, see Respirator fit testing resources in Minnesota:  https://blog-crop-news.extension.umn.edu/2018/05/where-can-i-get-fit-tested-to-wear.html.  

WHAT IF I CAN’T FIND THE LEVEL OF PPE THAT I NEED?
If you can’t find the level of PPE that’s required for your planned activity, consider selecting an alternative product or method.  Is there a less toxic product you can use, for example, that requires a lower level of PPE?  Product label databases such as CDMS.net, agrian.com, or greenbook.net can help you search pesticide labels for PPE requirements.  Another possible option is to hire someone who has the proper PPE to do the needed task. 

Do not skimp on PPE if you cannot find what is needed for a particular activity – your health and safety depends on it. 

MORE INFORMATION
National Pesticide Safety Education Center Respirator Decision Tree:  https://npsec.us/wp-content/uploads/200420-2-Respirator-Infographic.pdf

UMASH Respirator Q & A Toolkit – Can’t find your Respirator?  http://umash.umn.edu/respirator-q-and-a/ 

Four steps to choosing the right respirator and wearing it safely:  https://extension.umn.edu/pesticide-safety-and-certification/four-steps-choosing-right-respirator-and-wearing-it-safely

Laundering Pesticide Contaminated Work Clothes:  https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/publications/crops/laundering-pesticide-contaminated-work-clothes/ps1778.pdf

The Miss Crookston Pageant Committee met Thursday and decided to move forward with hosting the pageant this summer.  Committee Chair Jean Ann Bienek said Miss Crookston may end up looking different but will happen. “We met as a committee last night and decided, yes, we are going to go forward with the pageant,” said Bienek. “We have sent out donation letters at the beginning of the year and we have received donations from our wonderful community. And we really just wanted to do this for the gals and the community, so we’re excited. We’re tentatively planning it at the High School. Obviously, as things change and move forward, we may have to look at a different venue, but we have some ideas and things we could do in place of that. And of course, we’ll be following all the CDC guidelines.”

The pageant is scheduled for Friday, August 21. This summer will be the 30th Miss Crookston Pageant. Bienek said they had been planning a big celebration but just having it will be great. “This is going to be our 30th year, so we were planning a big celebration and now it’s going to be different, but it will be great and we’re excited,” said Bienek. “I have not been with it for 30 years, so this is our fourth year going into it having the pageant. It’s so much fun to get to know all the ladies in the community and what they have to offer.  We always get a great group of girls.”

The Miss Crookston Pageant takes all the donations and money raised and puts it into scholarships for the ladies in the pageant said Bienek. “Our pageant is strictly all scholarships, so all the money we raise and donations we put back in scholarships for the ladies,” said Bienek. “That’s one of the reasons we wanted to still do it this year and not postpone. We just appreciate the community’s support and the donations. And while the pageant may look a little bit different this year, we’re still doing it and we’re proud to say that.”

Normally the Miss Crookston Pageant works closely with the Little Miss and Junior Miss Crookston Pageant.  However, the committee for the Little Miss and Junior Miss Crookston Pageants announced Thursday their pageant would be canceled for 2020.

The University of Minnesota Board of Regents voted Friday to open all five campuses for the fall semester. Students will have the ability to take classes across various modes from fully in-person to full distance learning based on their unique needs. Residence halls, dining facilities, and other campus services will also be available in line with public health guidelines.

Regent Steven Sviggum said he believed the board action was hopeful and positive. “The Board of Regents took, I thought, very hopeful and positive action today opening up in-person classes for all five campuses for the University of Minnesota,” said Sviggum.  “In Crookston, the best information I have is the date of August 25 will be the opening day for Crookston.  In the Twin Cities and Rochester campuses, it will be September 8. I think that this is a really positive move forward so the students and parents can do planning. It’s kind of a message of hope and confidence as opposed to anxiety.”

Sviggum said the resolution includes offering classes in different modalities to take care of people that might be more at risk and to transition back to full online after Thanksgiving to complete the semester. “Included in the resolution will be a recognition of the different modalities that might be necessary to take care of persons that might be in more risky situations,” said Sviggum. “We certainly will have a different type of in-person teaching within classes as each class may have different modalities. The plan is to open this fall and go on-campus in-person through Thanksgiving. And then, continue in an alternative format online after Thanksgiving through the end of the semester. I think that is a wise thing. It reduces the back and forth of the students, faculty, and staff going home during the holiday season and coming back again with the potential of transmitting any virus there might be.”

Besides different options for classes, the system will have a team responsible for ensuring the university is following guidelines related to COVID-19 explained Sviggum. “There will be a potential mix, a portfolio of modalities if you will, including in-person, fully-distanced, a hybrid or others that might come forward,” said Sviggum. “We want to accommodate individuals of greater risk from complications of COVID-19. Understand that we are looking at making sure we take care of all health guidelines the experts have given us. That could be anything from social distancing in the classrooms to the dormitories on campus to wearing a mask. That has not been mandated or determined but all those things from the health care professionals will be considered and subject to the guidance of these health experts.”

Another aspect of the action is each campus will decide how they operate in coordination with the health team put together on the Twin Cities Campus said Sviggum. “There will certainly be some individual decisions made from campus to campus within our five-campus system,” said Sviggum. “But I would guess most of the health experts, Dr. Michael Osterholm, Jakub Tolar probably reside within the Minneapolis campus. I’m sure their advice will be followed by the campuses throughout the state understanding that there will be local campus-specific alternatives or options available in the flexibility we’re bringing forward.”

We will update with more from UMC Vice-Chancellor John Hoffman this afternoon.